TUESDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER 2022

FG Eyes $4bn Annually from Cashew Exports Country currently has 15 active processing plants with estimated capacity of 55,750 metric tonnes James Emejo in Abuja The federal government yesterday said it was working to improve the country’s earnings from cashew exports to about $4 billion annually.

Nigeria currently generates about

$450 million from the export of the commodity which had been described as too low for the country.

Speaking at a media briefing on the 16th Annual Conference of the African Cashew Alliance holding in Abuja, the Minister of

Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Niyi Adebayo, also said the country currently produces about 260,000 metric tonnes of cashew nuts annually, adding that plans were ongoing to raise the annual production capacity to over 500,000

metric tonnes.

He added that out of the current production figure of 260, 000 metric tonnes, 180, 000 metric tonnes are traded as raw cashew nuts.

Represented at the event by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr.

Evelyn Ngige, the minister said the conference would sensitise Nigerians on the investment opportunities that abound in the cashew value chain as well as the benefits accruable from the hosting of the event in the country.

Adebayo said there was a myriad of investment opportunities in the cashew sub-sector which could generate immense wealth and employment for Nigerians, stressing Continued on page 10

Ekweremadu’s Daughter Appeals to Public-spirited Persons for Kidney Donation... Page 8 Tuesday 13 September, 2022 Vol 27. No 10017. Price: N250

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Nigeria Had Special Place in Queen Elizabeth's Heart, Says Laing... Page 10

Buhari: Despite Our Challenges, Other Nations Still Believe in Nigeria’s Potential President, Tinubu cheer Fayemi on election as Africa's regions' leader Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari says in spite of the security challenges facing Nigeria, other countries,

especially, in Africa, still believe in the country’s immense potential.

Buhari congratulated Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi on his recent election as President

of the Forum of Regions of Africa (FORAF), in his capacity as Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

The presidential candidate of

All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, also cheered on the selection of the Ekiti governor as FORAF president, saying the honour is beyond him as an

individual but for the entire country.

The election was held after a conference in Casablanca region, Morocco, at the weekend.

Speaking yesterday while host-

ing a delegation, which included Fayemi, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, and their Kano Continued on page 10

The Economist: Nigeria Missing Out On Rare Global Oil Boom Opportunity Says woeful economy contributing to violence Describes N4bn Tompolo contract as bizarre Prosecute suspected oil thieves, Senate orders military, security chiefs Falana: I have evidence govt knows those behind crude oil theft, smuggling Obi estimates N1.3trn worth of crude oil stolen Emmanuel Addeh, Sunday Aborisade and Emameh Gabriel in Abuja Nigeria has continued to waste the rare opportunity presented by the

global rise in oil prices to grow its economy like other oil-producing countries, London-based The Economist has stated.

Continued on page 10

Air Strikes Hit Terrorists' Hospitals in Sambisa Forest... Page 35

CLIMATE ENVOY AT THE VILLA...

President Muhammadu Buhari (L) welcoming the United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate , Sen John Kerry to the State House in Abuja where he hosted the visiting envoy to dinner... yesterday PHOTO: SUNDAY AGHAEZE.

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

NEWS

AUDIENCE WITH THE PRESIDENT...

L-R: Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; Newly-Elected President of the Forum of Regions of Africa (FORAF) and Ekiti Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; President Muhammadu Buhari and PHOTO: SUNDAY AGHAEZE. Nasarawa State Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, during an audience at the State House Abuja...yesterday

Report: FG Lacks Willpower to Confront Daring, Sophisticated Oil Thieves Says oil cartels funding elections in Nigeria Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja A report by Proshare, a market intelligence and data analytics firm, has said that oil theft persists in Nigeria because all the institutions of state lack the will and determination to end the menace.

In the report which dived deep into the magnitude of crude oil theft in Nigeria, the firm stated that the ‘business’ has become the soft underbelly of Nigeria's economic cash cow.

“Nigeria's oil sector has seen turbo-thievery in recent years as state institutions have lacked the will and determination to address the problem frontally. Oil thieves have become increasingly daring, sophisticated, and prosperous. “ The financial power of the oil thieves has reinforced their sophistication and encouraged them to morph from pussy cats into lions. Redemption of the sector will require the federal government to be intolerant of crude oil theft

and determined to stop it, including placing surveillance over its personnel and adopting top-of-the range technology to monitor the network of domestic onshore pipelines,” it noted.

The report observed that making a comparison between the actual gross earnings from oil and the estimated value of stolen oil, for instance, N1.03 trillion, up to 54 per cent of actual gross oil revenue earned in the first half of 2021, was lost to crude oil thieves. “This marks

a notable deterioration compared to previous years,” it said.

In 2017 with an average crude oil price of $54.3/barrel, Nigeria, it said, lost an estimated N1.56 trillion, an equivalent of 38.2 per cent of actual gross oil revenue of N1.89 trillion.

“Except for 2020, when average crude oil prices tanked to $42/barrel, lost revenue on account of crude oil theft has continued to increase," the report stated, stressing that “there are no garlands for efforts, only

EU: We've Committed over €150m to Support Key Electoral Institutions Since 1999 Says INEC must be allowed to operate freely without pressure Electoral commission restates commitment to electoral justice

Adedayo Akinwale and Ifeanyi Ohagwa in Abuja

The European Union (EU) has revealed that it has committed over €150 million in the provision of technical support to key electoral institutions and stakeholders since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999.

The EU ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Amb. Samuela Isopi disclosed this yesterday in Abuja, at the EU Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU SDGN) Programme: Closure Ceremony of Phase I and the launch of Phase II. She said the EU believes that only a functioning democracy could address citizens’ needs and build prosperous, resilient and strong societies.

Isopi noted that it was against this background that the support to electoral processes was a key element of the EU’s cooperation policy with its partners.

She explained that the Phase I of the EU-SDGN programme contributed to the reform of the electoral process by building capacities, strengthening institutions, strengthening the role and participation of civil society, and contributing to the reform of the legal framework.

Isopi noted that building on the success of the first phase, the Identification and Formulation of Phase II of the programme was done in consultation with the federal government and key stakeholders such as the Independent National

Electoral Commission (INEC) and civil society organisations.

She stressed: "The EU has provided technical support to key electoral institutions and stakeholders since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999, with over a hundred and fifty million euros (150 million euros) committed so far."

The Ambassador added that the overall objective of the programme was to foster a functioning pluralistic, inclusive, participatory and representative democracy in Nigeria.

Isopi said though yesterday marked the official launch of the programme, implementation started five months ago, April 2022 precisely, a month before the end of Phase 1.

She added: "The programme of which the total amount is €39 million - will be implemented until 2027, with a focus on six specific components."

The components, Isopi said included: Improve the quality of electoral administration in Nigeria; Strengthen capacities for legislative and judicial reform in compliance with democratic principles and standards; Enhance pluralism, internal democracy and equality of opportunity in the political parties and the political party system; Empower media, including new media to promote fair and ethical coverage of the electoral process and combat hate speech, among others.

She said the EU would continue to provide targeted support by

building on the successes of the past electoral cycles and taking forward the very significant lessons learned within the period.

Isopi noted: "As the largest democracy in Africa, elections in Nigeria matter. They matter to Nigeria and Nigerians, they also matter for Africa as their outcome will be watched and felt well beyond its borders. Nigeria has the responsibility to lead and inspire other democracies on the continent six months ahead of the 2023 general elections, Nigeria is at a pivotal moment in the process.

"As a longstanding partner, the EU shares Nigeria’s interest to see a solid process leading to peaceful, free, fair and credible elections.

"We would like all Nigerian voters to peacefully and freely cast their vote to choose their leaders and contribute to strengthening their country’s democracy and good governance."

Isopi added that the EU was keen to see greater participation of youth, women and people with disabilities.

According to her, “the mobilisation we have been witnessing across the country - especially among the youth - to register in view of next elections is a strong sign: it is a message from the Nigerians, from the youth in particular, that they believe in democracy.

"It is also a sign of trust in the electoral process that has made tremendous progress over the past few years and months, thanks to the reforms and the technical

innovations introduced by INEC to make elections more transparent and more credible, and to reassure voters that their vote will count and will be respected."

The EU pointed out that it would like to see peaceful and issues-based campaigns, while also encouraging all stakeholders to take a firm stance against violence and hate speech as political campaigns begin in Continued on page 34

results.”

The report noted that the government must be purpose-driven and result-oriented to reduce revenue leakages from the activities of oil thieves and improve the country's debt-to-revenue ratio. The report writers noted that hard work towards eliminating crude oil theft was not an option but the only game in town.

“Nigeria needs to improve its fiscal revenue, and one relatively quick fix would be to block the revenue leakages caused by pipeline vandals and oil pirates. To win the peace, the government may first need to wage war,” the market intelligence firm explained.

In its executive summary of the report titled: “Anatomy of Crude Oil Theft in Nigeria: Understanding the Graft, Impact and Implications”, it also reviewed some feasible alternatives to resolve the industry challenges.

The report noted that the pricing economics of the oil business must be suitable to avoid theft and diversion of crude oil. It recommended that a market-oriented perspective of the sector should be adopted.

The report's authors argued that the sectorial governance of the industry should prioritise price discovery through a market mechanism that ensures efficiency, effectiveness, and equity. It also concludes that the concept of a blue economy is a national economic

strategy whose time has come.

Crude oil theft in Nigeria's Delta area, it argued, is not the casual roguery of a ragtag band of militants but a well-structured and coordinated criminal enterprise.

The enterprise, it maintained, comprises a network of highly placed individuals from different walks of life, from the military to politics, commerce, and banking. “ The players are entrenched, ruthless, and unforgiving. The oil vandals' vast connections and deep pockets make them formidable and explain the difficulty in dislodging them.

“The prominent role of nonstate actors in crude oil market disruption will not be ended by the finer points of fiscal economics alone; it would require the political firmness and commitment of the federal government to take on the illegal local oil cartels.

“Unfortunately, this outcome is far-fetched. Oil pirates and their political associates are pod partners.

Rich oil vandals support the funding of election campaigns of politicians who would be remiss in supporting any decisive government action that would adversely affect the interests of their electoral piggy banks.

“The complex relationship between politicians, illegal oil bunkers, and local oil communities makes a firm resolution of the problem more improbable than impossible,” it said.

Heritage Bank Appoints GeorgeTaylor Acting MD as Sekibo Retires Nume Ekeghe Heritage Bank Plc has announced the appointment of Akinola GeorgeTaylor as its acting Managing Director as Dr. Ifie Sekibo who has served his 10 years tenure at the bank retires.

Heritage bank in a statement also announced two new executive directors all having received approval from its Board of Directors as well as the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The new Ag. Managing Director would be overseeing all of Heritage’s banking operations across Nigeria effective immediately.

George-Taylor is an experienced banker with over two decades working in the banking and financial services sector.

“Akinola George-Taylor has a proven track record in managing multi-billion Naira operations. He started his banking career in 1993 with GTBank where George-Taylor rose to the position of Executive Director in charge of Public Sector Group, Abuja & North Central.

“Whilst at the Bank, he has held various positions in different business sectors. He was also the Managing Director of GTBank in Sierra Leone between 2005 to 2009,” the statement added.

Further the appointment of Osepiribo Ben-Willie and George Oko-Oboh were also announced as Executive Directors.

“Osepiribo Ben-Willie is an accomplished banker with over two decades of experience of

which she has been leading business transformation initiatives at various levels within the financial service space.

“Ben-Willie is currently the Directorate Head South-South, South-East & Private Wealth Management Team in Heritage Bank Plc. She has worked in the following banking institutions Credite Bank Nigeria Limited, Diamond Bank, Zenith Bank and Stanbic IBTC. “George Oko-Oboh currently heads the Abuja and North Directorate Business of Heritage Bank Plc where he plays a pivotal role in the business growth and daily operations of all businesses and transactions as it relates to his area of supervision.

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MOURNING THE QUEEN...

Cross River State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade at the British High Commission signing the condolence register in honor of late Queen Elizabeth 11 while the British High Commissioner, Catriona Laing looks on

MTEF: FCCPC Targets N14bn Revenue in 2023 as TCN Laments Inadequate Funding Udora Orizu in Abuja The Executive Vice Chairman, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) Mr. Babatunde Irukera, yesterday said the Commission was targeting revenue of N14.3 billion in the 2023 financial year.

Irukera made this known, while addressing members of House of Representatives Committee on Finance at the ongoing interaction on the 2023-2025 Medium Term Expenditure Framework/Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP).

This was just as the Director of Finance Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Mr. Allen Dutse yesterday said the agency was underfunded by the government.

Irukera said before assuming office in April 2017, the commission had zero remittance into government coffers, and under his watch at the end of 2017, the sum of N41 million was remitted and that N34 million remitted at the end of 2018.

He also said that in 2019, after the establishment law was amended, N98 million was remitted and the commission pulled out from being funded by the treasury and became

self-funded.

He added that in 2021, the sum of N1.3 billion was remitted while a total sum of N1.26 billion had been so far remitted in 2022.

“In the process of leaving the government treasury, as at today with the budget performing at 70 per cent, we have received N163 million in overhead, N296 million in capital and not a naira is waiting to be swept at the end of the year; that’s about N500 million.

“As at this year, we have given the government N1.2 billion and we will give more; our revenue target for 2023 is N14.3 billion, I feel relatively confident that we will be close or hit the target.

“We, however, need to find a balance, we are not a revenue generating agency, and we must not be portrayed or perceived as doing our work so revenue will come in.

We will lose our credibility and it will affect the economy,’’ he said.

Reacting to issues of expenditures raised by the committee, Irukera said hazard allowance are paid to members of staff who go out on surveillance and enforcement.

The FCCPC boss said the agency was exposed to so many dangers especially when they face loan sharks and digital lenders that

send defamatory messages.

He noted that the increase in insurance premium from three million to N30 million was because of his arrival, adding that the commission acted irresponsibly about insurance which he has corrected.

“They were buying brand new cars and were doing third-party insurance so there was potential for loss, but now, we insure all

the vehicles comprehensively, we do all the appropriate insurance to make sure that not only are people comfortable, we make sure if there is a loss of government property, we do not have to pay for it,’’ he said Responding, the Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Abdullahi Saidu said in the banking sector, when a member of

Ministry launches World Bank-backed IDEAS Project Deji Elumoye in Abuja Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayide Fayemi, has challenged stakeholders in the Nigerian education sector to evolve a new approach to making education competitive and skills-armed in the country as the ‘white-collar-focused’ system could no longer support national development.

Fayemi, gave the charge

yesterday in a keynote address, delivered at the official flag-off of the Innovation Development and Effectiveness in Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) Project in Abuja The Federal Ministry of Education organised the workshop in collaboration with the World Bank in its determination to ensure the success of the IDEAS project. World Bank is supporting the IDEAS Project in each of the participating states (Ekiti, Benue, Edo, Abia, Gombe and

Court adjourns till September 16 Attempt by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) to be joined in a suit filed by the federal government challenging the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) yesterday suffered a temporary setback.

This followed the refusal of Justice P. I. Hamman, to join the rights group as an interested party in the suit at this stage.

The federal government had last week dragged ASUU before the Industrial Court sitting in Abuja, over the protracted industrial action that is running into the seventh month.

The government in addition had urged the court to grant accelerated hearing of the matter in the interest of justice.

However, when the matter

was called on yesterday, SERAP's lawyer, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, informed the court of an application by his client, seeking the court's permission to include Serap as a party in the federal government suit.

Adegboruwa told Justice Hamman that SERAP had filed a similar suit seeking to compel the federal government to honour its 2009 agreement with ASUU, adding that granting the joinder request would forestall duplicity of outcomes concerning the industrial dispute.

"We filed a similar suit on September 8, asking the court to compel the Federal Government to honour an agreement it willingly entered into with ASUU," he said.

But this request, was however, challenged by Mr. Tijjani Gazali, counsel to the federal government, who argued that SERAP could not be allowed to come in at this stage because the case of the plaintiff at

agency's report on ground that many of the line items of their budget were severally repeated.

The lawmakers directed the Clerk of the Committee to invite the Managing Director of the agency to appear in person after their resumption and asked that the Director should go back and rework their revenue remittances report.

Fayemi: It’s Time to Refocus Education as Competitive, Skills-armed

SERAP's Bid to Join FG's Suit against ASUU Suffers Setback Alex Enumah in Abuja

staff meets a target of N1 billion, the next day a N2 billion target is given to such person.

He therefore urged the agency to gear up and shore up its revenue generation to surpass N15 billion next year.

Meanwhile, the Committee, following submission made by Dutse that the agency was underfunded by the government, dismissed the

yesterday’s proceedings was just for mention.

Meanwhile, counsel to the striking lecturers, Mr. Femi Falana, responding, informed the court that he was aware of efforts by the lawyers to file court papers in the suit on Monday.

In a bench ruling, trial judge, Justice Hamman agreed with Gazali, that the suit was not yet ripe for consolidation, adding that he was only presiding as a vacation judge and that the case would be assigned to another judge for adjudication after vacation.

He subsequently ordered parties in the suit to file and exchange their processes and fixed Friday, September 16, for further mention of the case.

The ongoing strike started on February 14, with an initial four weeks period, but has persisted owing to the failure of the govern-

ment to meet ASUU's demands.

On 29 August, ASUU announced an indefinite extension of the strike, accusing the government of insincerity, an action which necessitated the current litigation.

Specifically, the federal government by the suit sought the court's interpretation of Section 18 LFN 2004, "especially as it applies to the cessation of strike once a trade dispute is apprehended by the Minister of Labour and Employment and conciliation is ongoing,” a statement from the Ministry of Labour said on Sunday.

It disclosed further that the federal government also, "requested an order of the Court for ASUU members to resume work in their various universities while the issues in dispute are being addressed by the NICN in consonance with the provisions of Section 18 (I) (b) of the TDA Cap T8. LFN 2004."

Kano) with the sum of $200 million credit facility for implementation.

Fayemi, who was represented by the Ekiti State Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Mrs. Olabimpe Aderiye, spoke on the topic: “Re-engineering the Nigerian mind from white collar to blue collar enterprises”.

He noted that the focus of education in Nigeria, which he said was bequeathed by the colonial administrations, and has so far been retained by successive indigenous administrations, has drastically fallen behind in the contemporary world, making it mandatory for governments at all levels, in the country to seek a more fitting system of education for today’s world.

According to him, today’s world requires digital, entrepreneurial and vocational skills, accompanying the conventional education, for any nation to catch up with the rest of the world, charging all stakeholders, including government, to urgently come up with the needed redirection to a system able to proffer solutions to Nigeria’s myriad of challenges.

“On a general note, education is an essential aspect of civilisation and it is an impetus for individual and societal growth and development.

Therefore, no contemporary nation can toy with her educational system because the educational system of a country will speak volume about her progress.

“The educational system bequeathed to us by our colonial masters and the current system of education in Nigeria are gradually being overtaken by civilisation

and technological advancement, manifesting in artificial intelligence, automation robotics and the likes, thereby resulting in educational policy summersault and labour market congestion, with its attendant vices.

“Arising from this standpoint, therefore, there is the urgent need to rejig our educational system to proffer solutions to the avalanche of challenges confronting us as a nation. It is high time we tackled the menace with strong determination for a paradigm shift from the white collar to the blue-collar enterprises,” he said.

Also speaking, the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, noted that the successful implementation of the IDEAS Project would further help Nigeria to grow its economy, just as he emphasised the importance of monitoring and evaluating towards achieving the objectives of the project.

The minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Mr. Andrew David Adejoh, stressed that the training workshop provides monitoring and evaluation officers with the opportunity to better their capacity to effectively carry out their assigned activities across all four project components.

On his part, the Country Director of World Bank in Nigeria, Mr. Shubham Chaudhuri, urged the benefitting states to make a judicious use of the funds to improve the education sector in their states, adding that, the IDEAS project, if well-implemented, would help address the problem of unemployment in Nigeria.

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SENATE MEETS SERVICE CHIEFS...

L-R: Senate President Ahmad Lawan; Senate Leader, Ibrahim Gobir; Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, and Deputy Leader, Ajayi Boroface, during a Security meeting between the Service Chiefs and PHOTO: JULIUS ATOI Senate Leadership in Abuja...yesterday

Ekweremadu’s Daughter Appeals to Publicspirited Individuals for Kidney Donation Says former Deputy Senate President also diagnosed with kidney disease Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The daughter of former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Sonia, yesterday appealed to members of the public to help donate a kidney to replace her damaged one.

In a statement on her Instagram page, Sonia, whose parents got into trouble in the United Kingdom in the process of trying to get her a donor, revealed that she suffered

a rare kidney disease.

The Nigerian lawmaker and his wife, Beatrice, are facing charges bordering on conspiracy to arrange/ facilitate the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.

Ekweremadu and Beatrice were arrested on June 23 and remanded in a prison in the UK over allegations of plotting to harvest the organ of one David Nwamini for use by their

ailing daughter, Sonia.

But Ekweremadu said the boy was undergoing medical investigations for a kidney donation to Sonia, his daughter, who was in need of a kidney transplant.

The Instagram statement said, “I, Sonia Ekweremadu, hereby appeal to the general public to come to my aid and save my life.

“I am 25 years old and a graduate of Media and Communications,

University of Coventry. I dropped out of my post-graduate studies at the University of Newcastle in 2019 when I was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease, FSGS Nephrotic Syndrome.”

The young Ekweremadu stated that her family had battled to save her life and had taken her to various hospitals, but said the illness persisted and kept degenerating.

According to her, “I am presently

in London, UK, receiving five hours of dialysis three to four times a week.

This is at the expense of my family as I am not qualified for NHS due to my immigration status.

“The last three years have been extremely challenging. The charges being faced by my parents in London presently are directly connected to my illness and have complicated matter for me and my family.

"I do not intend to delve into

2023: INEC Delists 1.126m Voters over Invalid Processes Says cost of elections is FG's responsibility

Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, delisted 1,126,359 fresh registrants because their registration processes were invalid.

INEC said the registrants involved were those that registered between June 28, 2021 and January 14, 2022.

The commission said it was the duty of the federal government to bear core costs of Nigeria’s electoral activities, including the acquisition of sensitive and non-sensitive materials for all elections.

It disclosed that the collection of voters’ cards would commence end of October through early November.

INEC explained that the invalidation of the registrations and their subsequent delisting were as a result

of the application of the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) used in the clean-up of the voter register.

The commission said the delisted registrants were part of several double, multiple, and ineligible registrants that were detected. It added that they included entries that failed to meet requirements.

In a statement by the National Commissioner in charge of Information and Chairman Voter Education, Festus Okoye, INEC said, "The commission informed Nigerians that out of the 2,523,458 (two million, five hundred and twenty-three thousand, four hundred and fifty-eight) fresh registrants that registered between 28th June 2021 and 14th January 2022, 1,126,359 (One million, one hundred and twenty-six thousand,

Osinbajo Jets to Kenya to Represent Buhari at Presidential Inauguration Today The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, will represent Nigeria today in Kenya at the East African nation’s inauguration of William Ruto as its 5th President.

According to a statement by Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Office of the Vice President, Osinbajo departed late yesterday night for Kenya and would join other leaders across Africa and beyond for the swearing-in ceremony scheduled to hold in Nairobi with about 20 heads of state expected to grace the ceremony.

During the event, according to local media reports, outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta would

hand over the instruments of power, including a ceremonial sword and a copy of Kenya’s constitution to the new president, whose electoral victory in last month's election was affirmed by the country’s Supreme Court only last week.

Nigeria and Kenya share very warm and long standing diplomatic relations underpinned by strong economic cooperation and cultural affinities.

The vice president is accompanied on the trip by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada, and the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu.

He would return to Abuja after the event tomorrow.

Collection of voters’ cards starts October ending

three hundred and fifty-nine) records were found to be invalid and consequently delisted."

The statement said Nigerians were aware that the clean-up of the register of voters, using the ABIS was on-going since the suspension of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) on July 31, 2022. It said and the ABIS, for the period – January 15 to July 31, 2022 – was almost completed.

It further said several double, multiple and ineligible registrants had been detected and invalidated, including entries that failed to meet the commission's business rules.

INEC explained that it took the responsibility seriously, because a credible register was at the heart of electoral integrity.

It stated, "As soon as the process is concluded, the commission

will provide the public with full information as usual. Thereafter, valid registrants will be added to the existing national register of voters before publishing same nationwide for scrutiny, claims and objections by citizens as required by section 19 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022."

The commission assured Nigerians that a thorough process was being undertaken to clean up the registration data, reiterating that card collection would start soon.

Similarly, INEC appreciated the support of international development partners in enhancing training and capacity building of officials, stakeholder engagement for peaceful election, production and dissemination of messages for voter education, and sensitisation.

It also appreciated such support in the areas of enhancing the active

and meaningful participation of all segments of society in the electoral process, with particular reference to women, youth, Persons with Disability (PWD), and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and election conflict mitigation, management, and resolution.

INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu stated these at the close of Phase I and launch of Phase II of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (the EU-SDGN) programme. Yakubu said the closure of the Phase I and simultaneous launch of Phase II of the EU-SDGN programme was a further affirmation of the enduring commitment and support of the European Union towards strengthening democratic institutions and the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria.

details of this unfortunate development as the matter is still in court.

I am, however, optimistic that the truth will prevail and it will end in praise to God.” Sonia appealed to anybody whom it might please to assist her willingly with a kidney donation.

She stressed, “This appeal would have been utterly unnecessary as every member of my family is eager to donate their kidney to me, knowing that I would do the same for any of them.

“Regrettably, comprehensive medical examination showed that my case of nephrotic syndrome is a genetic illness and the doctors advised against donation from any of my family members, as it would likely reoccur.

“In the time that my father has been incarcerated, he has been diagnosed with acute kidney damage.

“Anybody that is moved by this appeal and wishes to donate his or her kidney to me may send an email to helpsonialive@gmail.com and include his or her name, phone number, email address and place of residence.

“Please, note that under the laws of England and Wales, organ donation must be purely driven by compassion and, therefore, no reward is involved.”

In addition, Sonia said she had decided to commit and dedicate the rest of her life to helping people with the challenge of kidney disease, upon her full recovery.

Elon Musk Knows Fate Today over Twitter’s Takeover Deal Emma Okonji with agency report The controversial deal to buy over Twitter for $44 billion by billionaire businessman, Elon Musk, may come to an end today as Elon Musk would know his fate after stakeholders vote that would either allow or disallow the move.

Twitter Inc. announced that it had scheduled its special meeting where shareholders would vote on whether to approve Tesla Inc. TSLA Chief Executive Elon Musk's $44 billion takeover of the company. The meeting would take place today.

Meanwhile, Twitter’s shares

dropped by one per cent yesterday on the New York Stock exchange, ahead of today’s scheduled vote.

Twitter had urged shareholders to approve the deal for a takeover at $54.20 per share, after shares closed at $39.34 in July this year.

Analyst recently opined that Twitter shares could trade in the mid-teens without the support of the deal, given recent pressure on the advertising market illustrated in part by Twitter's recent downbeat earnings report.

Musk however had terminated the deal, citing concerns over the accuracy of Twitter's public disclosures around bot accounts. A Delaware judge sided with Twitter

earlier in July, and had agreed to an expedited trial on the matter expected to take place next month But Twitter said Elon Musk’s current move to cancel his agreement to buy the social network was invalid after the billionaire said the company’s treatment of a whistle-blower gave him another reason to walk away from the $44 billion deal.

“Musk’s latest move to terminate the deal is ‘invalid and wrongful’ and Twitter has breached none of its representations or obligations,” the company’s lawyers said in a letter yesterday, according to a regulatory filing.

It’s Musk’s third attempt to

withdraw his offer because of what he says are violations of the buyout agreement. Musk previously raised concerns about the number of ‘bot’ accounts on the platform, and now has said that Twitter should have notified him before it spent $7.75 million in a separation agreement with Peiter Zatko, the company’s former security chief.

A whistle blower, Zatko, is due to testify this week about his whistle-blower report, in which he raised concerns about lax security, privacy issues and the number of bots on the platform. He has been subpoenaed to testify in the Twitter lawsuit as well.

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Nigeria Had Special Place in Queen Elizabeth's Heart, Says Laing Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ms. Catriona Laing has said Nigeria had a special place in the heart of Queen Elizabeth II who died last Thursday at the age of 96.

Addressing journalists in Abuja yesterday, Laing commended the federal government for the honour done to the late Queen by ordering the country's flags to be flown at half mast.

She said: "She was able to

travel so widely where she was inspired by the amazing spirits of the people of Nigeria…So I think she was passionate about Africa, the Commonwealth, but I personally think Nigeria has a special place in her heart."

The High Commissioner added that King Charles 111 had for a long time prepared for the throne, adding that the new King was passionate about environment and climate change.

Laing added: "He was well

ahead of the curve in identifying the importance of protecting our environment if we want to be able to pass that on to our future generations."

She said that another area that the new King was interested in was the history of the Commonwealth, adding that having taken over from his mother, the new King would make it an absolute commitment and passion to bring fresh life into the Commonwealth.

"Perhaps to modernise the Com-

monwealth a little bit, to particularly engage with youth, what do they want from a modern Commonwealth? So I think the environment and using the Commonwealth to promote those interests and to ensure that above all, that we all think about protecting our planet so we can hand over something that is salvageable for all future generations," Laing added.

Asked if the new King would address the grievances some people have against the British government

as expressed by some people on social media, Laing noted that while there were different views which would be engaged later, they would like to focus on the positive legacy of the departed queen at the moment.

She added: " I think this is probably not the time to fix particularly on that issue. But one positive thing I will say that she took her responsibility for the transition from Empire to the Commonwealth very seriously.

“And I think she has invested

huge amounts of leadership and positive energy in creating that Commonwealth family.

"So, that's the positive stamp and the legacy that she wanted to bring as we transition from Empire to the Commonwealth. And I think it's been a great success. There are obviously different views out there, and we will hear those views and we will engage with his views but for now, I want to focus on the positive legacy that she left us with any questions."

nobody, no matter how high that person is, can go scot free if he or she decides to get involved in this kind of criminal activities.

"Of course, I will appeal to our courts - judiciary - once we have cases like this, we must give expeditious consideration, because these are the issues that, today, are militating against our stability and even against our democracy.

"We lose so much of our oil. As at the last count, the report was that we export just little above 900,000 barrels. And that is just about 50 percent because it is supposed to be 1.8million barrels per day and that is halving our revenues and our resources for development.

"So I want to appeal to the judiciary to give a special consideration once a suspected oil thief is taking to Court. We must prosecute them.

It is not enough to just take away whatever they have stolen and say go and sin no more."

Lawan said the meeting was to review the earlier one held early in August meant to look into the security situation in the country.

He expressed delight that the security situation in the country had improved tremendously after the August engagement with the security and military chiefs.

He said, "Before we closed for our annual summer recess, Distinguished Senators and indeed, members of the National Assembly expressed so much concerns with respect to the security situation prevailing and we felt we must engage our security agencies so that together, we will continue to fight these challenges in our country.

"I am happy and I'm sure I'm speaking the mind of my colleagues, that after that meeting, till today, we have seen remarkable difference in the fight against insecurity in our country by our Armed Forces and other security agencies and we are very proud of that.

"We pray that this continue because we have seen the initiative and it is for us to finish the job. When Mr. President spoke of ensuring that we return to normalcy

by December 2022, I'm sure he had in mind what you have been doing recently.

"I believe that you, our Armed Forces and other security agencies have everything in terms of the morals and determination, even though we still have to give some other support. This meeting therefore is to review what has happened so far.

"While we fight the insecurity in the country, sometimes we capture bandits alive.”

Lawan also appealed to the Security Chiefs to take them (lawmakers) into confidence during

the closed door session.

"We are responsible people.

There are things that we know are very sensitive but some things are treated better when we are on the same page so that we also don't legislate blind folded or without the necessary background information.

"Where there are requests or requirements to enhance the capacity and the competence for Armed Forces and other security agencies, I think we should consider that as a priority as well," the Senate President said.

THE ECONOMIST: NIGERIA MISSING OUT ON RARE GLOBAL OIL BOOM OPPORTUNITY While a surge in oil prices could do astonishing things, like in Saudi Arabia where a futuristic city was planned to rise from the desert or Angola where its currency has suddenly become one of the strongest performers against the dollar, it noted that in Nigeria, the reverse was the case.

The report came just as the leadership of the Senate yesterday asked heads of military and security agencies in the country to start prosecuting suspected members of the public who are involved in oil theft.

The upper chamber of the National Assembly also tasked the Judiciary, to grant accelerated hearing to matters on oil theft and other forms of economic sabotage.

This was just as yesterday, Nigerian lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana disclosed that he has evidence to show that people in government were involved in crude oil theft and smuggling of petroleum products in the country.

Also commenting on the matter which is largely behind the country’s economic woes, the Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, who yesterday said he was not going to blame past government in the country for their failure when elected president next year, but would rather focus on fixing the economy, alleged that trillions of naira of crude oil had been stolen from the country.

In the Middle East and Central Asia, The Economist stressed that exporters could pocket $320 billion more in oil revenues this year than previously forecast, adding however that Nigeria has been a conspicuous absentee from the merry petro-party.

“Africa’s most populous country, around 220m-strong, desperately needs the money an oil boom could bring. Some 40 per cent of its people live on less than the equivalent of $1.90 a day.

“The government is struggling to service its debts. Social services are dire. The woeful economy has contributed to the violence that afflicts much of the country. In the first half of this year, nearly 6,000 people were killed by jihadists, kidnappers, bandits or the army,” the paper stated.

According to the news outlet, price controls remain the biggest

reason the boom was ruining the public purse, noting that whereas elsewhere, as the price of crude rises, drivers pay more at the pump, it was not so in Nigeria.

“In January, President Muhammadu Buhari reneged on his latest promise to reform the system, leaving the government to pay for the vast gap between Nigeria’s low fixed price and the global one,” the report added.

With the subsidy covered by the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Company, the paper stated that the “prognosis is grim”.

Recalling that in June, the World Bank projected that the government will spend N5.4 trillion or $12.6 billion on fuel subsidies this year, more than three times what it coughed up last year, the news medium said that that is more than the increase in revenue the government will get from higher crude oil prices.

“As a result Nigeria’s net oil revenues are likely to be about 40 per cent lower than last year, despite the high global price. That squeezes everything else. In this year’s amended budget the government allocated more to the fuel subsidy than to education, health care and welfare combined.

“Price-fixing has other ill effects. Because petrol is artificially cheap, Nigerians burn more of it.

Consumption of petrol has risen from about 58 million litres a day in 2021 to around 70 million this year,” quoting NNPC’s figures.

Another reason Nigeria’s public finances benefit so little from high oil prices, it reasoned, was that production itself has slumped to 1.13 million barrels per day, the lowest in more than 50 years, which is partly why the oil industry has also been a drag on headline economic growth.

“One reason for falling output is that the NNPC is so short of cash after paying for petrol subsidies that it struggles to cover production costs for pumping crude oil.

Yet another is that a lot of oil is never counted as part of Nigeria’s output because it has been stolen,” it stressed.

Though estimates vary, it quoted the oil industry’s regulator as disclosing that thieves are snaffling 108,000 barrels a day, about seven per cent of production. This, it said,

FG EYES $4BN ANNUALLY FROM CASHEW EXPORTS that investment in the sector cuts across the cashew value chain from cultivation, harvesting, processing, storage, and marketing to exporting of either the raw cashew nuts or partially processed products.

He said presently, Nigeria has 15 active processing plants with estimated capacity of 55,750 metric tonnes and eight inactive plants with an estimated capacity of 8,500 metric tonnes.

According to him, new investments are being planned for the development of six new plants, with an estimated capacity of 23, 910 metric tonnes, adding that the effort was expected to provide over a million direct and indirect employment for the teeming youths.

The minister also said that cashew production is currently limited to only about 10 states out of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He said since the inception of the present administration, the government has continued to pursue deliberate policies to diversify the economy away from

its over-dependence on the oil and gas sector.

The minister said the government had sustained its commitment to the provision of enabling environment and incentives for the development of the cashew value chain, adding that these efforts have enhanced activities in the sub-sector, resulting in an increase in the commodity's production in the country.

However, President, African Cashew Alliance (ACA), Mr. Tola Faseru, said investment in the sector remained critical for economic diversification.

He said the sub-sector could help the country earn the much-needed foreign exchange, and create the much-desired employment opportunities.

Faseru said Nigeria must change the narrative by adding value to its raw cashew exports in order to benefit significantly from the activities, adding that the conference, which has over 30 countries from around the world participating, will hopefully stop job exports to other countries.

cost the government $1 billion in the first quarter of this year alone.

“The Trans Niger pipeline, which can transport 180,000 barrels a day (about 16 per cent of the country’s current production) suffers so much theft that its flow has been halted since June.

“Another big pipeline that carries 150,000 barrels a day has also been repeatedly attacked. Shell, a big oil firm, has declared force majeure since March on all its exports of Bonny light, a high-quality crude, permitting it not to meet its contractual obligations,” The Economist added.

According to the report, one way to steal the commodity was to overload legitimate shipments with more oil than is declared.

Another, the report stated was to break into pipelines and siphon oil off, then cook it up in bush refineries before selling.

Plenty of stolen crude goes straight into the international market, it noted, adding that small boats glide along the delta’s canals, filling up from illegally tapped pipelines.

“They deliver it to offshore tankers or floating oil platforms.

Sometimes the stolen crude is mixed with the legal variety, then sold to unknowing buyers. Much of it, however, is bought by traders who pretend not to know it is stolen, or do not care,” it maintained.

"Buhari has promised a crackdown. The NNPC’s first move was to hire private security firms to protect the pipelines—a telling indictment of the army. But it is unlikely to solve the problem.

“Two of the firms are part-owned by a former warlord, Government Ekpemupolo, better known as Tompolo. He led a guerrilla campaign in the 2000s for the locals to control the delta’s oil, before agreeing to a deal whereby he would stop blowing up the pipelines in exchange for an amnesty—and for lucrative security contracts.

“That has fallen apart under Buhari’s government, which in 2016 issued a warrant for his arrest. Yet Tompolo is now bizarrely both a government contractor and still on the wanted list of Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, which says he has earned $105m through graft.

He denies wrongdoing,” the paper added.

Prosecute Suspected Oil Thieves, Senate Orders Military, Security Chiefs

Meanwhile, the leadership of the Senate yesterday asked heads of military and security agencies in the country to start prosecuting suspected members of the public who are involved in oil theft.

The upper chamber of the

National Assembly also tasked the Judiciary, to grant accelerated hearing to matters on oil theft and other forms of economic sabotage.

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, stated this in his remarks before a closed session involving the principal officers of the red chamber and the military and security chiefs to review the progress made in the fight against insecurity in the country.

With Nigeria’s petrol subsidy bill skyrocketing in 2022, the estimates for the whole year would exceed the total expenditure by all the states of the federation in 2021, which was $9.8 billion, a new report by a member of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Economic Advisory Council and Chief Executive Officer of Financial Derivatives Company Limited (FDC), Mr. Bismarck Rewane, indicated on Monday.

The report came as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) also revealed that crude oil theft was taking a severe toll on its performance.

NNPCL disclosed that it lost 470,000 barrels of crude oil per day, which amounted to about $700 million monthly, saying this is in addition to security challenges that hinder oil production in some terminals.

Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPMS), Bala Wunti, made the revelation during an interview with journalists in Abuja.

The meeting with the Senate was a follow up to a similar one held early in August and it was presided over by Lawan.

It was attended by the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, other principal officers of the Senate and Chairmen of security related committees of the Senate.

Also in attendance were the Chief of Defence Staff, the three Service Chiefs, Inspector General of Police, Directors-General of National Intelligence Agency(NIA), and the State Security Service(SSS).

Others were, the Commandant General of the National Security and Civic Defence Corps while the Acting Comptroller General of the Immigration Service was represented.

Lawan lamented the massive theft of the nation's crude oil and insisted that the development must be halter while the perpetrators must be arrested and prosecuted immediately.

He said, "Those who have made every effort to steal our oil at an industrial scale, I'm sure some of them may not be that lucky to escape.

"We want to see trials of people who are caught because when that happens, citizens will know that

Falana: I Have Evidence Govt Knows Those Behind Crude Oil Theft, Smuggling

In the meantime, Falana has disclosed that he has evidence to show that people in government were involved in crude oil theft and smuggling of petroleum products in the country.

This was just as he threatened to expose those in government behind crude oil bunkering and smuggling cartel.

Falana made the disclosure yesterday, at a two-day leadership retreat organised by Labour Party in Abuja, with the organised labour, captains of industries and other stakeholders both in the private and public sector.

Falana, who spoke at the event titled: ‘Nigeria at Cross Road; Labour Party the Only Option,’ said the government cannot feign ignorance about the identities of criminals in the up and downstream sectors of the country, adding that until this was addressed, ordinary Nigerians would continue to live at the mercy of a few criminals.

He said: "Today the government is thinking of increasing fuel price to N500. I want to say this here publicly, about seven years ago, the government spent a colossal sum of N50 billion to acquire a software by the Petroleum Equalisation Fund to track and monitor all tankers that load fuel in any part of the country.

"Today you are being told Nigerians deserve to be punished because of the criminal activities of a few people. That the government will punish the people because of the criminal activities of a few.

"We have heard now that the Comptroller General of Customs has come out publicly to say that it's impossible to smuggle daily about 10 million litres of fuel. Where did they pass?

"Nigeria is the only country where the government will come out and say we are losing $7 million every day because of oil theft.

Nigeria is the only oil producing nation without data to know how Continued on page 35

BUHARI: DESPITE OUR CHALLENGES, OTHER NATIONS STILL BELIEVE IN NIGERIA’S POTENTIAL State counterpart, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, at the State House, Buhari said, “In spite of the security challenges we have, it is good to see that other countries still believe in our potentialities.

“Congratulations for doing justice to Nigeria. We thank you.”

Buhari also thanked other countries that queued behind Nigeria to elect one of its citizens as FORAF president, saying it is a good show of brotherhood and solidarity.

Earlier, Sule told Buhari the conference was well-attended by governors and participants from about 22 African countries, where regional issues were discussed, and

memorandum of understanding (MOUs) signed on different areas, like agriculture, mining, education, scholarships, and many others.

The Nasarawa State governor stated that while Nigeria, from West Africa, clinched the presidency, vice presidents emerged from South Africa, for Southern Africa; Kenya, East Africa; Morocco, North Africa; and Cameroon for Central Africa.

Fayemi, who will relinquish the presidency to the next NGF president at the expiration of his tenure as governor next month, said the idea of FORAF was for sub-nationals to become engines of growth, “And reduce pressure on central governments.”

He added that FORAF was a unifying force for states (called Regions, Counties, or Provinces in other countries) “to create a globally respected continent.”

The governor said Nigeria’s election was a testimony to the huge respect Buhari enjoyed in Africa.

“Other countries simply withdrew their bids once they saw that Nigeria was interested in the position,” he disclosed.

Tinubu, in his congratulatory message, praised Fayemi for enjoying the trust and confidence of his peers across Africa, who deemed it fit to make him their leader. He added that the Ekiti State governor

had always demonstrated capacity and competence in handling responsibilities entrusted to him.

The APC presidential candidate said of Fayemi, "I am particularly happy that his peers across the continent found him worthy of this rare honour, which goes beyond him as an individual. Dr. Fayemi's emergence is another resounding recognition for Nigeria's preeminent position in Africa.

"I have no doubt that Dr. Fayemi will justify the trust and confidence in him by his peers and provide credible leadership for the fledging organisation as it seeks to play its role in the development of our continent.”

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POLITICS

Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com (08033025611 SMS ONLY)

Ayu, Atiku, Wike and Fight for Soul of PDP

As the main opposition People’s Democratic Party heads for another showdown, Emameh Gabriel writes that the party might be in for a rude shock if it fails to put its acts together.

Ayu

Atiku

D

espite last week’s vote of confidence passed by the National Executive Council (NEC) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on its National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, the crisis rocking the party seems far from over.

The Iyorchia Ayu led PDP looks like one that will be going into the 2023 general elections with bruises from its internal leadership battle, perhaps with a divided house. With campaigns for the general elections set to commence days from now, it is not certain if the party will come out healthy from its current leadership crises, even at its various state chapters.

That the PDP sailed against the strong wind of the presidency that was blowing South, has become the storm threatening to capsize the party and sink it into oblivion as permutations have shown that it will lose in the North and in the South to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as the sentiment continues to build up just as Governor Wike continues to blow hot.

The feud between factions loyal to the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, seems to have taken another dimensionthe battle line has been drawn- a situation that invokes memories of incidents that played out in the build up to the 2015 presidential election leading to PDP’s defeat at the polls that year.

Atiku Abubakar will not trade Ayu, a man who contributed largely to his success at the PDP presidential primary election to appease Wike. Wike on the other hand wants Ayu, the same man who crushed his presidential ambition out; he wants his pound of flesh at all cost.

The bone of contention is the insistence of some stakeholders, including governors on the platform of the party, led by Wike, that

Wike

its national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, vacates his position to give a sense of inclusiveness and even distribution of key positions in the party.

The argument is that the national chairman and other key positions of the party cannot remain in the north where the presidential candidate of the party emerged from.

Like the emergence of former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 as PDP’s flag bearer against the wish of some powerful northern forces in and out of the PDP, the emergence of Atiku Abubakar has also provoked agitations from some southern forces, splitting the opposition party into three factions.

Observers have advised the party to learn from the electoral misfortune it suffered in 2015 due to the topsy-turvy paths it threaded before the elections that year.

While the PDP seems not to have fully recovered from its 2015-2019 electoral bruises, it has also not learnt from experience as it continues to expose itself to attack from within and outside its ranks.

The party has even become a subject of ridi-

cule to the ruling party, who recently offered to provide solution to its unending internal squabbles.

Minister of State for Labour and Productivity and Spokesperson for the APC presidential campaign, Festus Keyamo, recently twitted: “If PDP begs us, we may consider donating the real UNIFIER, @officialABAT to assist in unifying their ranks to get them ready for their comprehensive defeat in 2023. We want a healthy opposition during the election. We don’t want the excuse that we fought with a disabled opponent”.

Last Thursday, at its 97th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, the PDP passed a vote of confidence on its national chairman, Ayorchia Ayu, entrusting him with the responsibility to lead the party to next year’s general elections. Meaning Wike has lost another round of the battle to remove Ayu. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

Not Yet Uhuru with Enugu PDP Governorship Ticket The decision of some former PDP gubernatorial aspirants in Enugu State, to ditch pre-primary accords to support any eventual winner from their senatorial zone have, once again, raised the questions of principle in Nigerian politics, reports Deji Elumoye

P

olitics without principle is the seventh on the list of Seven Social Sins, which Mohandas Gandhi published in his weekly newspaper, Young India, on October 22, 1925.

But almost 97 years after, the malaise is not about to wane; at least not in Nigeria where political promises and pacts are made and broken without qualms and shame.

And certainly not in Enugu where tongues are seriously wagging over how some gubernatorial aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Enugu East Senatorial Zone have made 360 degrees turn from the pacts they signed ahead of the primary election. While some have defected and picked the ticket of other parties, some others were said to be working for other parties while still in the PDP. Enugu East Senatorial zone, which is predominated by the Nkanu clan, had laid claim to the 2023 governorship slot. They predicated their stake on what they advanced as the zoning principle, which would see the governorship seat rotate to them at the end of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s tenure in May, 2023.

According to them, Enugu East took the first turn at the dawn of the current democratic dispensation in 1999 through their son, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, who handed over to Enugu West-born Sullivan Chime in 2007.

In 2015, the incumbent, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who hails from Enugu North

on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA. However, there were also those, primarily the camp of the former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who contested the zoning argument, saying there was never any such arrangement. Citing several examples where people from other zones contested each of the governorship elections since 1999, they contended that since power had gone round, any zone could restart the rotation.

Ugwuanyi

Mbah

Senatorial Zone, was elected, thus completing the cycle.

Consequently, as many as 17 aspirants from Enugu East Zone purchased the governorship nomination form of the PDP, which has been in firm control of the state since 1999 and is therefore seen as the surest path to Enugu’s Lion Building. They were Prof. Bart.

Nnaji, Dr. Peter Mbah, Hon. Chi-

jioke Edeoga, Senator Gil Nnaji, Rev. Ifeanyi Nwoye, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa, and Dr. Gabriel Ajah, and Dr. Kingsley Udeh. Others were Prof. Hilary Edeoga, Chief Everest Nnaji, Chief Godwin Ogenyi, Pastor Beloved Dan Anike, Hon. Nwabueze Ugwu, Dr. Josef Onoh, Engr. Erasmus Anike, Prof. Jehu Nnaji, and Dr. Chukwudi Nnaji.

Meanwhile, former Minister of Information, Frank Nweke Jr, left the PDP from the outset to pursue his gubernatorial ambition

The Accords In what many analysts saw as a demonstration of tact and determination, political leaders and traditional rulers of Enugu East Senatorial Zone waded in to moderate the contest among their sons in a way that would ensure that the zone went into the contest for PDP’s ticket and governorship seat as a united house.

A meeting of all the contestants was convoked by the Enugu East Senatorial Zone Traditional Rulers Council at the Nike Lake Resort Hotel on May 19, 2022, a week to the PDP primary. The aspirants came up with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work collectively and to support any one among them picked by Ugwuanyi as his preferred successor.

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

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THE ALTERNATIVE

with RenoOmokri

Dispelling Myth Queen’s Death Exposes About Biafra

W

hen on Thursday, September 8, 2022, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II passed on into ancestor-hood, I was not particularly moved. I like England. I schooled and worked there and those years were some of the best of my life.

The English people are by far some of the most decent peoples on planet Earth.

However, I am rather indifferent about their monarch. I did not like or dislike Queen Elizabeth II. The only thing I can think of that I admire in her is her stoicism. Her ability to take pain and pleasure with equanimity. She is the epitome of duty and a stiff upper lip.

But I doubt that I bothered much about her and her goings on. I was just aloof.

So, I was not one of those mourning, not because I had some grudge against the House of Windsor. No. It is just that the House of Ginuwa (the first Olu of Warri), mattered more to me than Buckingham Palace.

The above notwithstanding, I was absolutely mortified by the hideous and historically inaccurate things that were said about the Queen and her family by a Nigerian woman living in America, whose name I will not dignify by mentioning.

I later found out that this woman has other issues, which made me understand her bitterness better, though I still vehemently reject her indecorous words.

She was one of the people who famously celebrated the death of TB Joshua and called him all sorts of unprintable names when he died. So it is no big surprise that she has turned her vitriol in the direction of the late Queen.

And so now, let me tackle what the death of Queen Elizabeth II reveals about Biafra. It shows us as a people, we are not aware of our history, and because we are not aware of our own history, we have distorted it, such that propaganda and pseudo history has been orally passed down from one generation to the other, feeding unfounded bitterness that is destroying those who harbour it, and having no effect on those against whom they are embittered.

That is why some people believe they were just sitting down minding their business and Hausa people came to fight them (all Northerners are Hausa to some people) because they hate them. There was absolutely no provocation, or igniting events that preceded the Nigerian Civil War. Hausa people just woke up on the wrong side of the bed and for some strange reason decided to pounce on the people of Eastern Nigeria.

But of course, that is not what happened.

However, because we do not write our history, and even worse, we have refused to teach it in our schools, there are millions of people who believe this version of events. In fact, they swear by it.

One fellow named Uche Nnaya even tweeted at me that the Igbo of Southeast Nigeria had a right to rail against the British monarch and the rest of Nigeria, because “you can’t push people to the wall and dictate how they react.”

Really? But do those who hold such views not know that some other persons were FIRST pushed to the wall? Uche’s response will also justify how those who were first pushed to the wall reacted.

We cannot keep holding grudges as if other people do not have their own grudges that they have let go for the peace and unity of this country called Nigeria.

My great uncle, Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh, was shot and killed in the street by Major Chris Anuforo on January 15, 1966. Ironically, I went to school with Anuforo’s son. Should my people carry that grudge forever?

Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was shot in the street like a common criminal by Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna. Ifeajuna tried to deny it, and claimed that Alhaji Balewa died from an asthma attack, until his body was taken to LUTH and examined by the then minister for health, Dr. Moses Majekodunmi. It was established that the body was riddled with bullets in a front-page story in Daily Times, written by Segun Osoba, who later became the Governor of Ogun. He is still alive.

This was an incorruptible gentleman. He lived a very ascetic life. Materialism was FAR from him. He was an author. His book, Shaihu

The late Queen Elizabeth Umar, was the first novel written in Hausa.

He surrounded himself with Southerners (in hindsight, was that a mistake?). His best friend was Matthew Mbu. Should the Tafawa-Balewa family and the people of Bauchi, where he was from, hold a grudge forever?

I could go on and on and list the people killed on January 15, 1966, and the identities of their killers, but that would just be reopening old wounds. These are historical facts, which some people deny and pretend as if the Civil War happened in a vacuum.

So, please let us stop pretending as if the late Queen Elizabeth II came to Nigeria and ignited a war. The Nigerian Civil War was ignited by a series of unfortunate events that began with the cold-blooded murder of 22 people from the Northern, Western, and MidWestern regions by people of mostly Eastern region origin, which led to a counter coup by Northern Nigerian military officers on July 29, 1966, and the unfortunate pogrom of 66-67.

Many people now spewing vitriol against the late Queen Elizabeth II for her alleged role in the Nigerian Civil War conveniently forget that between August 9, 1967 and September 20, 1967, Biafran forces invaded and occupied the Midwest region, and named Albert Nwazu Okonkwo, as military Governor of the Midwest.

A number of non-Igbo speaking Mid-Westerners lost their lives during the Biafran occupation of the Midwest.

After the Midwest was liberated by forces led by colonels Murtala Muhammed and Benjamin Adekunle, more Mid-Westerners, this time those linguistically linked to the Igbo (especially in the Asaba axis), were killed.

Please research it before you insult me.

I need to add that the killings by the liberating forces were worse than the killings by the Biafrans, and should truly have been declared war crimes.

Yet, in that same Midwest, we accepted Nigerians of Southeast origin back after the war. We did not seize their properties in the abandoned property saga that occurred in the Port Harcourt area and its environs. We let bygones be bygones.

The truth of the matter is that if the January 15, 1966 coup had never happened, it is most unlikely that the Nigerian Civil War would have occurred. The perpetrators of that coup

opened a Pandora’s Box that the rest of Nigeria is still suffering from today!

There was wild jubilation all over Nigeria after that coup, because Nigerians believed it was a patriotic and nationalistic coup. Then the names of those killed were announced over the radio, and it was discovered that only people from the North, West and Midwest were killed, but NOBODY from the East was killed, whereas the vast majority of those who carried out the coup were from the East.

That is the remote cause of the Nigerian Civil War. We will remember it. We will also teach it to our children, so that it does not reoccur.

So, to just keep nursing grudges and reopening old wounds will do no one any good. You can bully others into submission, but you cannot do it to Reno Omokri. I know history and I am a meticulous record keeper!

It is only those who are ignorant about how the British government works that will blame the late Queen for the actions of the British government. She was a titular and ceremonial head of state, whose actions were limited to appointing the candidate who has won election directly or indirectly as prime minister, and declaring open the parliament.

She was a symbol. She was not the initiator of the policies of the British government.

And even the British government is not to blame for the Nigerian Civil War. We must learn to take responsibility for our own actions.

That war was the result of the ill-advised January 15, 1966 coup.

The coup itself was led by Majors Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu and Ifeajuna. It was executed by the following persons: 1. Kaduna Nzeogwu 2. Emmanuel Ifeajuna 3. Timothy Onwuatuegwu 4. Adewale Ademoyega 5. Chris Anuforo 6. Humphrey Chukwuka 7. Donatus Okafor Of these seven people, only one, Adewale Ademoyega, was non-Igbo. The rest were all Igbo, although Major Nzeogwu was referred to at that time as Midwest Igbo (later colloquially referred to as Bendel Igbo and now as Delta Igbo). Major Donatus Okafor’s mother was Tiv. However, his father was Igbo.

22 people were killed during the coup, including 1. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa 2. Ahmadu Bello 3. Ahmed Ben Musa 4. Hafsatu Bello 5. Ahmed Pategi 6. Samuel Ladoke Akintola 7. Festus Okotie-Eboh 8. Brig. Samuel Ademulegun 9. Brig. Zakariya Maimalari 10. Col. Ralph Shodeinde 11. Col. Kur Mohammed 12. Lt. Col. Abogo Largema 13. Lt. Col. James Pam 14. Lt. Col. Arthur Unegbe 15. Sergeant Daramola Oyegoke 16. Mrs Latifat Ademulegun 17. Zarumi Sardauna 18. PC Yohana Garkawa 19. Lance Corporal Musa Nimzo 20. PC Akpan Anduka 21. PC Hagai Lai 22. Philip Lewande As is clear from the list above, none of them were from the then Eastern Nigeria.

After the coup, Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi took over. Rightly, or wrongly, the rest of the nation felt that a coup carried out by overwhelmingly Eastern officers, and of which the victims were entirely non-Easterners, and which supplanted a Northern minority leader (Tafawa-Balewa), with an Igbo leader, (Aguiyi-Ironsi) was a set-up.

However, Major General Aguiyi-Ironsi’s promise to try the coup plotters placated the rest of the country. Sadly, the plotters were jailed, but were never tried. And the immediate cause of the July 29, 1966 counter coup was when rumours circulated that the coup plotters had been receiving full salaries in jail and were to be promoted.

These are facts that we all should address, rather than blaming the late Queen Elizabeth II for a war she did not cause, nor had any way of stopping. And if we do not learn from our history, there is every possibility that another war might erupt in Nigeria.

The Biafrans inflicted a very harsh occupation on present-day Rivers, Cross Rivers and Akwa-Ibom, as well as present-day Delta and Edo before they were flushed out by federal forces. The Bayelsa area escaped the brunt of Biafran occupation due to the fight back from Isaac Adaka Boro. They invaded Ore and hundreds of soldiers and civilians died. There is still a Yoruba proverb about the number of people that died in Ore. Ask a Yoruba person to tell you the meaning of ‘o le ku ija Ore. We have all forgiven and moved on. Yet, you want to reopen these old wounds and make them cancerous by blaming Queen Elizabeth II 50 years after the war?

And when you point this out, the very same people castigating the late Queen will accuse you of creating ethnic tension? Do you want to be victims and victors at the same time? Leave the woman and her family to grieve in peace. By celebrating the Queen’s death, you are giving Nigeria a very nasty reputation that will affect all of us, not only you. We cannot afford to be seen as a nation with anti-British and American sentiments, when we are not able to get a better deal from China and Russia.

Reno’s Nuggets Dear men, As long as a river is dry, fish won’t come.

Stop looking for women in your poverty. The first thing that a dry river needs is water, not fish. Look for water for your river and fish will come naturally. Look for prosperity and the right woman will come naturally. Eve came as soon as Adam secured the job of tending the garden. And until you have a salary or income, you should learn to control your libido. Most of the world’s challenges are caused by adult males who increase the population when they have no remuneration.

Be productive in the boardroom before being reproductive in the bedroom! #RenosNuggets #FreeLeahSharibu

18

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

FOREIGN DESK

COMPILED BY BAYO AKINLOYE

King Charles III, Siblings March Behind Queen’s Coffin Britain’s King Charles and his three siblings walked silently behind a hearse carrying the body of Queen Elizabeth Monday in a solemn procession through the crowd-lined streets of Edinburgh, Scotland.

Charles, dressed in a military uniform, was accompanied by Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward -- as the hearse carried their mother’s coffin from the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland, to St. Giles’ Cathedral.

Elizabeth died Thursday at Balmoral Castle in the Scottish Highlands, a place she cherished.

Thousands of residents of Scotland lined the streets of Edinburgh to pay their respects to the late monarch.

After the procession reached St. Giles’ Cathedral, members of the royal family, along with political leaders, attended a service inside for the queen.

Queen Elizabeth’s body will lie in the cathedral overnight so the public can pay their respects before it is flown to London on Tuesday.

Xi to Meet Putin in First Trip Outside China Since COVID-19 Began

Xi Jinping will leave China for the first time in more than two years for a trip this week to Central Asia, where he will meet Russia’s Vladimir Putin, just a month before he is set to cement his place as the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong.

The trip, Xi’s first abroad since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, shows he is confident about both his grip on power as he heads for a third term in office and about his role as a world leader at a time of renewed great power friction.

Against a backdrop of Russia’s confrontation with the West over Ukraine, the crisis over Taiwan and a stuttering global economy, Xi is due on a state visit to Kazakhstan on Wednesday.

China’s president will then meet Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s summit in the ancient Silk Road city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and the Kremlin said. China confirmed the trip on Monday.

Ukraine Claims Russian Forces Pushed Back to Northeast Border

Ukraine claimed Monday it had recaptured several more villages in the northeastern part of the country, pushing some Russian forces back to the border between the two countries.

After months of only incremental territorial gains and losses by Kyiv’s and Moscow’s forces, Ukrainian leaders exulted in the sudden advance since the beginning of September in the Kharkiv region. The Russian Defense Ministry acknowledged over the weekend it was pulling back forces, saying they were regrouping them in the eastern Donetsk region.

Oleh Syniehubov, the Ukrainian governor of the northeastern Kharkiv region, said, “In some areas of the front, our defenders reached the state border with the Russian Federation,” with Russian troops chaotically retreating.

“The Russians were here in the morning.

Then at noon, they suddenly started shouting wildly and began to run away, charging off in tanks and armoured vehicles,” Dmytro Hrushchenko, a resident of recently liberated Zaliznychne, a small town near the eastern front line, told Sky News.

The general staff of the armed forces of Ukraine said its troops had recaptured more than 20 settlements within the past day.

The British Defense Ministry said that in recent days Kyiv’s forces had reclaimed territory at least the size of the London metropolitan area.

Bangladesh PM: Prolonged Rohingya Threat to Stability, Security

Bangladesh’s prime minister said Monday that the prolonged stay of more than 1 million Rohingya refugees in crowded camps in the country had become a serious security and stability concern.

“Apart from their own miseries, their prolonged presence is causing a serious impact on the economy, environment, security and sociopolitical stability of Bangladesh,” Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said at the opening ceremony of a three-day meeting of military officials from 24 countries in the Indo-Pacific region.

The United States is the co-host of the gathering, called the Indo-Pacific Armies Management Seminar, along with the Bangladesh army.

While the militaries of the participating

countries are discussing disaster management, transnational crime, security issues and women’s empowerment, Bangladesh is using the platform to highlight the issue of Rohingya refugees who have fled from violence in Myanmar.

Ahmed said the military leaders are being taken to the camps in Cox’s Bazar district to give them “a clear perception” of the gravity of the refugee crisis and why their repatriation to Myanmar is necessary.

Alarming Rise in Human Rights Violations, Violence Worldwide

Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada al-Nashif, highlighted the growing desperation of millions of people trapped in a never-ending cycle of human rights violations, violence, and political instability in dozens of countries worldwide.

She addressed the worsening situation in numerous African countries, including Burkina Faso, Burundi, the Central African Republic, and Mali. She offered a rare glimmer of hope regarding the nearly two-year-old conflict in northern Ethiopia’s Tigray province.

She dwelled at length on the unbearable levels of violence and human rights abuses by heavily armed gangs in Haiti. She called on the international community to help contain the scourge of violence in that country.

However, she only referenced China’s incarceration of more than a million Uyghur and other Muslim minorities in so-called vocational centres. This is despite growing demands by human rights activists for a special debate on this issue at the council.

Bezos Rocket Fails During Liftoff

Jeff Bezos’ rocket company suffered its first launch failure Monday. No one was aboard, only science experiments.

The Blue Origin rocket veered off course over West Texas about a minute after liftoff. The capsule’s launch abort system immediately kicked in, lifting the craft off the top. Several minutes later, the capsule parachuted onto the remote desert floor.

Blue Origin’s launch commentary went silent when the capsule catapulted off the rocket, later announcing: “It appears we’ve experienced an anomaly with today’s flight.

This wasn’t planned.”

The mishap occurred as the rocket was travelling nearly 700 mph (1,126 kph) at an altitude of about 28,000 feet (8,500 meters). There was no video shown of the rocket — only the capsule — after the failure occurred. The rocket usually lands upright on the desert floor and then is recycled for future flights; clearly, that did not happen this time.

Launch commentator Erika Wagner said the capsule managed to escape successfully, with the webcast showing it reaching a maximum altitude of more than 37,000

feet (11,300 meters). Thirty-six experiments were on board, half sponsored by NASA.

Dubai Court Rejects Danish Extradition Request for Financier

An Emirati court ruled on Monday that a British man suspected of masterminding a $1.7 billion tax scheme cannot be extradited to Denmark to face charges.

The decision in the high-profile case grants the hedge fund trader, Sanjay Shah, a victory against Danish authorities who sought him for his role in one of the country’s largest-ever fraud cases. Monday’s court ruling, delivered after a closed-door hearing and without explanation, can be appealed by prosecutors.

The elaborate scheme, which ran for three years beginning in 2012, allegedly involved foreign businesses pretending to own shares in Danish companies and claiming tax refunds for which they were not eligible.

“Of course, we will try to get him [out] on bail now immediately,” Shah’s lawyer, Ali al-Zarooni, told The Associated Press at court.

The 52-year-old financier has maintained his innocence in past interviews with journalists but never appeared in Denmark to answer accusations. Al-Zarooni had contested the extradition, arguing that Denmark had “breached” the rules of international extradition treaties in unspecified ways.

Shah’s lifestyle on Dubai’s luxurious palm-shaped island over the past few years had sparked outrage in Denmark.

After the countries signed an extradition treaty, Dubai police arrested Shah in June.

said the two neighbours need to rebuild relations.

In June, Lopez Obrador boycotted the Summit of the Americas hosted by the US because the talks excluded leaders from Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

Ethiopia’s Tigray Forces Call for Truce, Accept AU-Led Peace Process

Ethiopia’s Tigrayan forces called for an immediate cease-fire Sunday and said they would join an African Union-led peace process after three weeks of renewed fighting ended a fragile truce.

Tigrayan forces from Ethiopia’s northern region have said they are prepared to participate in an “immediate” cessation of hostilities followed by peace talks mediated by the African Union.

In a statement to mark the beginning of the Ethiopian new year, the Tigray region’s leadership called for a “comprehensive negotiated” cease-fire and said they had established a negotiating team that is “ready to be deployed without delay.” “[T]he Government of Tigray is prepared to participate in a robust peace process under the auspices of the African Union,” the statement said.

The statement came as heavy fighting was reported along Tigray’s northern, eastern and southern borders.

The latest round of hostilities erupted on 24 August, bringing an end to a ceasefire agreed by the parties in late March.

Each side blamed the other for starting the fighting.

Thousands have been killed and millions displaced since the conflict first broke out in November 2020.

US Secretary of State Heads to Mexico for Economic Talks Somali Military Says Offensive US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Retakes 20 Villages from senior trade officials are heading to Mexico Militants on Monday for high-level economic talks to repair ties that have frayed over immigration and other issues.

“In addition to the High-Level Economic Dialogue, Secretary Blinken plans to meet with President (Andres Manuel) López Obrador and Foreign Secretary (Marcelo) Ebrard to discuss the bilateral economic relationship and other shared policy priorities such as irregular migration and stopping fentanyl smuggling,” said the State Department’s top official for Latin America, Brian Nichols, on Friday.

Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Jayme White are also in the US delegation.

Mexico is consistently among the United States’ top three trading partners.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, Mexico was the US’s second-largest export market in 2020.

Blinken’s meeting with Lopez Obrador in Mexico City comes two months after US President Joe Biden met with the Mexican president at the White House, where Biden

Somalia’s military says an offensive in the central Hiran region has captured 20 villages occupied by the Islamist militant group al-Shabab.

A Somali National Army commander, Captain Mohamed Ibrahim Daud, told VOA by phone Monday that army troops backed by armed locals have killed more than 100 al-Shabab fighters and also “liberated” 20 villages from the al-Qaida-affiliated group.

He said the retaken villages include several key locations in the Hiran region, including the small town of Fidow near Somalia’s border with Ethiopia.

Daud said troops captured another 20 militants alive.

He acknowledged that the army received air support during the operations without naming a country.

In a statement issued Sunday night, the Somali Information Ministry said the operations were the first step in implementing the government’s vision of fighting terrorism and getting rid of al-Shabab “all over the country.”

19

T H I S D AY ˾ DAY ͯͱ˜ 2022

FEATURES

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

Creating Framework for Competent Leadership in Nigeria Sunday Ehigiator writes that the need to create a sustainable framework that would encourage good and competent leadership in Nigeria was the centre of discussion at the recently held seventh Colloquium of the Akinjide Adeosun Foundation, AFF, themed, Are Good Leaders Scarce in Nigeria?

L-R: MD, Megamound Investment Limited, Otunba Olumide Osunsina; SSG, Oyo State, Pharm (Mrs). Olubamiwo Adeosun; Chairman, The Akinjide Adeosun Foundation (AAF), Pharm Akinjide Adeosun; Former CBN Governor and 14th Emir of Kano State, Professor Sanusi Lamido; Pharmacist and Politician, Jimi Agbaje and CEO TowerCross Limited, Mrs Foluso Onabowale, at the 2022 AAF's Colloquium and Awards - Chapter 7 in Lagos

F

or a long time, the political environment in Nigeria has witnessed several controversies among the country’s diverse ethnic groups. This legacy of contestations has created a multi-layered and multi-faceted political structure that is peculiar to Nigeria.

In Nigeria, politics is interspersed with ethnicity, making it a collective means to rights and ownership. The Nigerian federation remains sloppy, contested and conflict-infected; from independence in 1960, Nigeria has been struggling to survive not only in managing society but also in improving the socio-economic conditions of the people.

Nigeria’s political landscape has been inundated with military interventions and unhealthy inter-ethnic and religious competition. To a large extent, these incidents have shaped how we can understand the different forms and dynamics of politics in Nigeria today.

They have also influenced democratic practices, the degree of peace and tranquillity and Nigeria’s development trajectory.

The country, with over 200 million population; has had a turbulent political history, with the First Republic lasting only five years, while the life of the Second Republic had an even shorter life span of four years. The Third Republic did not even take off due to military adventurism.

The Fourth Republic has endured for 23 years.

Political parties are the central players in the democratic process, and the consolidation of democracy requires that they improve the quality of their engagement with the democratic process, as they grow and develop.

The reality, however, is that Nigerians are yet to taste the luxury of good leadership embedded with a transformational vision, targeted at improving the quality of life and wellbeing of the people.

Instead, they have been made to accept the norm of poverty, inflation, corruption, insecurity, poor infrastructure, lack of quality education and healthcare, and insensitive governance, among other vices.

These issues fueled the background for the quest for good leadership as discussed at the colloquium which also coincided with the 54th birthday of the Founder of the foundation and CEO of St. Rachael’s Pharmaceuticals Nigeria, Mr Akinjide Adeosun.

Who is a Good Leader?

In his welcome address, Adeosun described a good leader as one with vision, focus, courage, humaneness, resilience, firmness, compassion, knowledge, integrity, and communication ability to listen and learn.

According to him, the Human Development Index of Nigeria is appalling and in need of urgent attention.

“Our constitution gives us right to life; property right; right to dignity of the person; right to freedom of association and all these rights are being taken from us by terrorists.”

He said he supports the call by the Governors of Zamfara and Katsina States for self-defence and urged citizens to apply for arms.

He equally advocated for an increase in local production, removal of petrol subsidy and patronage of made-in-Nigeria goods.

“Why are we addicted to foreign goods? I suggest a gradual removal of Petrol Subsidy.

Maybe this will lead to the rational use of fuel; reduce consumption thereby leading to less spending on Forex to import Petrol.

South Africa is an example of an African nation with thriving local production of several brands.”

He, therefore, encouraged Nigerians not to lose hope, as “after rain comes sunshine, after darkness comes the glorious dawn.

There is no sorrow without its alloy of joy; there is no joy without its admixture of sorrow.

“It’s of no use griping over spilt milk. I believe free education and free health care are the Siamese twins needed in Nigeria to chase away poverty and lengthen life expectancy.”

Are Good Leaders Scarce?

Speaking on the theme of the event, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the 14th Emir of Kano State, Professor Sanusi Lamido said good leaders aren’t scarce in Nigeria, but the people must first have to create a political structure capable of producing good leaders.

According to him, the lack of a clear vision in the leadership of the country is a major challenge for Nigerian leaders.

“Where is leadership in the security services, and the economic management of the country? Look at what the country has become, you have to wonder, where did we get it wrong?

“Those who have taken over this country from various leaders have not been concerned about a vision for Nigeria. Ask many of them who are in a leadership position today what their vision for the country is, they

have not even thought about it.

“There is no change or sense of urgency.

If you were running a company and your sales revenue cannot pay interest, you know you are bankrupt. When the total revenue of the Federal Government cannot service debt and we are smiling.”

He said Nigeria is the only oil-producing country that is grieving at this time as every other oil-producing country is celebrating and smiling to the banks due to the price of oil that has gone up appreciably because of the Russian-Ukraine War. “It is more disturbing that the country’s revenue is not enough to service the debts let alone meet peoples’ needs.”

He added that there were so many Nigerians that if given the opportunity would lead Nigeria better, but cannot contest in the Nigerian political space, else they may end up losing their lives.

“They can't compete, you can't, or else you will be dead. You go in, you will be dead. You don't have the money, you can't pay thugs or send anyone to kill anyone or burn somebody's house to win an election or shed the blood of innocent people because you want to be in office, and certainly cannot make compromises with certain characters that are responsible for destroying this country to get into office.

You can't sell your conscience for that.”

He however said despite the varying challenges, Nigerians need to be strong, never give up or lose hope, and must start calling out incompetence.

“We need the courage to stand up and speak because, at the end of the day, this is our country.”

He, therefore, concluded that good leadership is about having a vision, and until we begin to insist that “we want to see what the vision is for Nigeria from these candidates, we may not have a better Nigeria.”

Leadership and Mental Health Speaking on leadership from a mental health perspective while delivering his keynote address, Professor of Psychiatry, Department of Behavioural Medicine, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Prof.

Ayodele Coker, said leaders must ensure that

Nigerians need to be strong, never give up or lose hope, and must start calling out incompetence. We need the courage to stand up and speak because, at the end of the day, this is our country

they stay emotionally healthy to lead successfully and create an environment where the citizen’s mental health can be effective and productive.

He said leaders must have fantastic emotional intelligence, and resilience, and communicate innovatively with their group members.

According to him, “Leaders without stable mental health find themselves overwhelmed, anxious, burned out, depressed and exhausted because of the demands of their office.

“So if you are not physically sound and mentally healthy, you are likely to experience these mental health conditions as I mentioned.”

He said before leaders can promote the mental health of their people they must first take an honest look at their mental wellness.

“When leaders invest in the mental health of the people, they have an increased sense of belonging, loyalty, respect and trust towards their organisation, state, country, thereby limiting their stress and increasing productivity.”

He concluded that it is important that leaders are made to undergo psychological fitness examinations before they are elected.

Looking Inward for Leadership Outcomes Earlier, seasoned Human Resources Executive, Mrs Alero Onosode noted that the quality of a leader is dictated by the outcome of the leadership.

“It’s the outcome of leadership that dictates the quality of leadership. Leadership is not a rank or a position; it is a choice to look after the person next to you. A good leader is not the one that has only eyes, but the one whose minds are open to see.”

She said a leader must first have to master and conquer 'self before he can conquer any other.

“If you have not mastered or conquered yourself you cannot conquer anyone else. A leader is only a leader because he’s part of the work. Leaders should not just give instructions but also be part of the work; a good leader builds others.”

She concluded that above all, a good leader must be able to create other good leaders.

Pharmacist and Politician, Jimi Agbaje urged everyone to think inwards and sincerely imagine at least three persons they could consider as role models or good leaders and why they considered them so.

Agbaje, who was a former governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, said that thinking so would give a clue to whether good leadership existed in the country and the consistency.

The high point of the event was the presentation of the 2022 Integrity in Leadership Award as well as 2022 Excellence in Leadership to the MD of Megamound Investment Limited, Otunba Olumide Osunsina, and CEO TowerCross Limited, Mrs Foluso Onabowale, respectively.

20 T H I S D AY TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2022 TR

UT H

& RE A S O

Tuesday September 13, 2022 Vol 27. No 10017

N

opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

RMAFC: IS THIS A NEW ERA? The high court ruling on the finance act has provided a breath of fresh air, writes DELE OLOWU

See page 21

NNPC’S STRATEGY ON OIL SECURITY PHILIP AGBESE argues that government’s contract to secure critical oil infrastructure is a step in the right direction

See page 21 EDITORIAL THE PLIGHT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT WORKERS

See page 22

1

Despite the drawbacks, political communicators will depend on the guidelines provided by INEC and the electoral act to perform their duties, writes KEHINDE BAMIGBETAN

POLITICAL COMMUNICATIONS AND 2023 ELECTION

Professionals in polling, strategy, messaging and fundraising to win elections and legitimise democratic governments, in short, political consultants have a lot to learn from the recent changes in the rules governing the electoral environment in Nigeria in terms of the innovations and the consequences of enforcement.

Besides the new Electoral Act 2022, signed

by President Muhammadu Buhari on February 25, 2022, there are other regulations of campaigns by the Independent National Electoral Commission such as the Guidelines for Political Rallies, Guidelines for the Registration of New Political Rallies, Political Parties Finance Manual and the highly VLJQLÀFDQW &RPPXQLFDWLRQ 3ROLF\ INEC is not the only body constitutionally intervening in the electoral process. There is the Advertising Registration Council of Nigeria whose recent call for compliance with the code on political advertising and threats of enforcement against quacks promises VDQLW\ LQ WKH SROLWLFDO FRPPXQLFDWLRQV ÀHOG The Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists adopted by the Nigerian Press Organisation comprising the Newspapers Publishers Association of Nigeria, Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, the Nigeria Guild of Editors and the Nigeria Union of Journalists is expected to guide journalistic reportage in the age of the social media.

The Electoral Act 2022 must be commended for extending the duration of the execution of electoral exercises such as election notices, nomination, primaries and general election.

For instance, the law mandates INEC to issue election notices 360 days before the event (section 28), parties to conclude nomination through direct, indirect or consensus primaries 180 days before the poll and that ÁDJ RͿ FDPSDLJQV GD\V WR WKH SROOV Hitherto, the time frame for campaigns was 90 days to poll and primaries 60 days to poll.

The positive consequence is that parties and candidates now have more time to plan.

For the political consultant, a campaign starts with the survey of the constituents to ascertain the issues which would determine the elections and the disposition to the parties and candidates. From the analysis of the results of the poll, the consultant develops a winning strategy and it is the strategy that determines the messaging to target the demographic components most likely to deliver the votes.

Messaging begins with the creative process of speaking to the heart or the mind of the target using verbal, visual and textual ODQJXDJH PRVW HͿHFWLYH LQ KRRNLQJ KLP RU her to the appropriate symbol. Context and meaning are maximised to predispose the receiver to believe the promise and sign up.

The impact of the message is determined E\ WKH HͿHFWLYHQHVV RI LWV GLVWULEXWLRQ DFURVV media and channels. The more the voters commit themselves, the more the evidence

that the strategy is working.

Completing this process in the old election time-table was tough and led to many hasty decisions which undermined the performance of many parties and candidates. However, with the extension of the time-frame, political consultants will have no excuse to prove their worth.

The second feature of the Electoral $FW WKDW EHQHÀWV WKH EXVLQHVV RI SROLWLFDO communications is the digitalisation of the voting infrastructure and criminalisation of negative interventions in the electoral process which had denied the process credibility and integrity.

Since elections involve political behaviour of voters, they can be researched and VFLHQWLÀFDOO\ SUHGLFWHG E\ FRQVXOWDQWV candidates and parties, all things being equal.

But those who make sure that all things are never equal are the riggers who sabotage the process. Sections 121 and 127 of the Act, which increased the severity of sanctions for contravention, will, hopefully take care of the human factor.

The stronger weight in this matter goes to the electronic transmission of results from accreditation, counting and collation to the central server, technologically excluding XQR΀FLDO LQWHUYHQWLRQ DQG HQVXULQJ WKDW the votes counted count. The provision that penalises over-voting by cancelling the results of polling units which exceed the number of accredited voters is an appropriate rap on the knuckles for electoral fraudsters.

7KXV WKH FOHDUHU GHÀQLWLRQ RI HOHFWRUDO RͿHQFHV DQG KHDYLHU SHQDOWLHV LQ VHFWLRQV WR LI HQIRUFHG ZLOO LPSURYH WKH UDWLRQDOLW\ RI WKH FDPSDLJQ SURFHVV DQG HͿHFWLYHO\ enable social science develop the country’s democratic process.

One of the challenges political consultants face in the survey stage of their work is access to the voters’ register. Often, the INEC obliges the political parties with copies but discourages individuals from accessing WKLV FULWLFDO GRFXPHQW <HW LW LV GL΀FXOW WR strategise the survey without this important database. It is therefore gladdening that the Act follows up its mandate to create a National Voters Register in section 9 with the guarantee of access to individuals in section 15. Rather than insist on selling the Voters Register procured with public funds to individuals, INEC should allow us to download from the website in line with its external public communications policy to provide the public with information about all aspects and stages of the electoral process.

However, I dare say that the Act’s SURYLVLRQV RQ FDPSDLJQV VHFWLRQV WR 97) seem invasive and idealistic giving the impression that the drafters took the tree for the forests. For example, binding public media institutions to provide equal air time and space to candidates and parties may be morally sound but to the extent

that distribution of messages and media engagement are the products of the strategy and initiative of individual candidates and SDUWLHV LW ZRXOG EH XQMXVWLÀDEOH WR SHQDOLVH a public medium for the inability of certain parties or candidates to make use of its facilities moreso when the Act admits that the services are to be paid for.

This provision in fact invades the managerial purview of public media enterprises and may undermine their ability to generate revenue during a once in four years political season.

A political consultant who pushes his candidate’s messages aggressively in the public media will be frustrated if he has to wait on less skilled competitors and a public medium trying to meet airtime quota after paying for such services. Future reviews should take out the penalties and amend the prescription.

While the Act’s seeks to sanitise content of campaign conversations, unless the INEC liases with the Nigerian Press Council to monitor the press and the National Broadcasting Commission to monitor broadcast stations, one is at a loss how it intends to monitor the infringements in the law to bring perpetrators to book. Is INEC going to create BOTs to crawl over websites to detect the rude and foul expressions which tend to dominate comments sections on the web and social media?

INEC had set the tone for these laws when it issued the Guidelines for Political Rallies DQG &DPSDLJQV LQ ZKLFK DPRQJ RWKHUV GHÀQHG FDPSDLJQ PDWHULDOV SROLWLFDO UDOOLHV and political campaigns. This document is still very crucial to anyone seeking to manage candidates or parties in the run-up to the 2023 polls because it not only speaks the language of political communications but limits campaign activity to electoral phases.

According to the Guidelines, illegal campaigns shall include campaigns by associations not registered as political parties (section 10 (b)). Political parties are required to submit the particulars of their websites and social media handles for monitoring (section ,WV VHFWLRQ UXQV LQ FRQÁLFW ZLWK WKH law setting up the Advertising Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) when it SURYLGHV IRU WKH SUH FHUWLÀFDWLRQ RI SXEOLF DQG political advertisements of political parties, candidates, aspirants and their supporters.

The dilemma for a political consultant is that he or she has to submit the same advertising materials to ARCON and INEC IRU SUH FHUWLÀFDWLRQ DQG PD\ EH ÀQHG E\ ERWK for non-compliance. For many enthusiastic supporters of candidates running campaigns without professionals, the dire consequences of being caught by the law are obvious.

Bamigbetan, president of the Association of Political Consultants-Africa, APCA, writes from Lagos

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TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2022

The high court ruling on the finance act has provided a breath of fresh air, writes DELE OLOWU

RMAFC: IS THIS A NEW ERA?

PHILIP AGBESE argues that government’s contract to secure critical oil infrastructure is a step in the right direction

NNPC’S STRATEGY ON OIL SECURITY The politics of discontent is an unchanging theme in Nigeria. This customary disgruntlement has powered the drive for a restructuring of the of the Nigerian Federation, which many propose in the expectation of selective UHJLRQDO RU SDUWLVDQ DGYDQWDJH %HKLQG the chorus for restructuring is the yearning for a more equitable Revenue Allocation Formula. And even though the creation of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation And Fiscal Commission is a direct response to the need to supervise Revenue Allocation and monitor accruals to the Federation, the Revenue Allocation formula itself has remained in a state of suspended animation. For 29 years, it has not truly EHQHÀWHG IURP DQ\ SROLF\ LQLWLDWLYH

and even the statutory requirement which demands that the formula be UHYLHZHG HYHU\ ÀYH \HDUV KDV EHHQ disrespected. It seems that the RMAFC has been consumed by issues of selfGHÀQLWLRQ DV ZHOO DV E\ D GHWHUPLQDWLRQ WR proclaim and maintain the integrity of its MXULVGLFWLRQ %XW LW DSSHDUV WKDW D QHZ HUD of much greater assertiveness and clarity PD\ EH LQ WKH R΀QJ There is probably little or no truth in the apocalyptic view sometimes expressed that a new revenue allocation formula would solve half of Nigeria’s problems. %XW VWLOO LW LV LPSRUWDQW WR EURDFK WKH issue honestly. The Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission is itself a part of the constitutional order. In FDUU\LQJ RXW LWV IXQFWLRQV DQG GHÀQLQJ LWV jurisdiction it must be guided by lawful warrant. RMAFC was established by Decree no 49, later amended by Decree 98 Of 1993. It is now referenced as RMAFC and forms part of the Nigerian constitution. The body has a chairman as well as members from each state and the Federal Capital Authority all appointed by the President. RMAFC is charged with the responsibility of monitoring accruals to and disbursements from the Federation Account. It is also charged with the task of conducting periodic reviews of the revenue allocation formula to ensure that it is compatible with prevailing realities. ,W À[HV UHPXQHUDWLRQ IRU SROLWLFDO R΀FH KROGHUV 7KLV HQWLW\ LV VR VLJQLÀFDQW WKDW LW LV R΀FLDOO\ OLVWHG LQ WKH 1LJHULDQ constitution as one of the nation’s 15 commissions. The Commission is now KHDGHG E\ 0RKDPPHG %HOOR +H WRRN over from Elias Mbam who slipped out of R΀FH WR MRLQ WKH JXEHUQDWRULDO SULPDULHV in Abia in June 2022. There is some

suggestion that a strong anti-litigation lobby exists within RMAFC even at its KLJKHVW HFKHORQV %XW WKHUH LV DOVR D VWURQJ body of opinion which acknowledges that in the event of any ambiguity over jurisdiction, it would make sense to clear the pathway by embracing the option of jurisprudence.

The Finance Act passed on the 31st December 2021 therefore came under the scrutiny of the Commission. In its view WKH ÀQDQFH PLQLVWU\ GRHV QRW KDYH WKH power to stop its operation in monitoring accruals and disbursements of the IHGHUDO JRYHUQPHQW ,W WKHUHIRUH ÀOHG D suit against the Minister of Finance, the $WWRUQH\ *HQHUDO %XGJHW DQG 1DWLRQDO Planning and the Federal Inland Revenue Service. It sought an interpretation of the provisions which empower these entities to carry out their obligations.

Sensing an intrusion into its own turf, the &RPPLVVLRQ LQ VSHFLÀF WHUPV FKDOOHQJHG parts of the Finance Act which seek to subject the RMAFC to the FIRS or indeed reduce its legroom for carrying out its RSHUDWLRQV 7KH VXLW ZDV ÀOHG EHIRUH Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo at the Federal High Court and judgement was delivered on the 29 July 2022. Justice Taiwo Taiwo’s ruling held that the question for determination ought to be held in favor of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission. RMAFC asked for six reliefs of which the Judge granted ÀYH ,W YRLGHG WKH SURYLVLRQV LQ WKH ÀQDQFH DFW ZKLFK DUH LQFRQVLVWHQW ZLWK all laws in operation before it. It also ruled that the provisions for the FIRS are inoperable to the extent that they make WKH ÀQDQFH DFW SUHYDLO RYHU DQ\ RWKHU law as it relates to the RMAFC; the Judge YRLGHG WKH SURYLVLRQV RI WKH ÀQDQFH act as it relates to the FIRS, saying that they criminalize the RMAFC. He ruled that in consequence, RMAFC cannot EH VDLG WR EH FRPPLWWLQJ DQ RͿHQVH LQ WKH SHUIRUPDQFH RI LWV GXW\ DQG ÀQDOO\ Justice Taiwo ruled that that amendment 68 (5) of the Finance Act is void in so far as it imposes an obligation on the RMFAC to report to the Minister of Finance incidents requiring tax investigation, enforcement or compliance. This ruling has provided a breath of fresh air for an agency which has often trod on unsteady steps because of the fogginess of the road ahead. There is no attempt to dance on the grave of the loosing parties to the suit. Management it said, is more interested in the clarity of jurisdiction and purpose the judgement KDV SURGXFHG 0RKDPPHG %HOOR DW KLV 6HQDWH FRQÀUPDWLRQ ZDV GHVFULEHG DV an excellent choice for the job. No other LQFXPEHQW KDV FRPH LQWR R΀FH ZLWK more favorable winds or in circumstances in which a remodeling of the revenue sharing formula has enjoyed more momentum.

The platitudes are enough. It is time for work. There are huge amounts of leakages which the system is unable to capture. At a time as this in which lean purses and unmet social obligations are lengthening, RMFAC should have no time for distractions.

Olowu writes from Abuja

I think we have a way of mixing up issues in the country. This has been a common attribute. I wasn’t surprised when reactions poured in concerning the contract awarded WR D ÀUP WR VHFXUH FULWLFDO RLO LQIUDVWUXFWXUH LQ the country.

The fact that the government thought of ways to reduce oil theft should be commended, even on the heels that the country loses hundreds of billions of dollars yearly to oil theft. Instead, the rumour mills went agog for the wrong reasons, giving it a religious and ethnic colouration. /HW PH VWDUW ZLWK WKHVH VFDU\ IDFWV 1LJHULD

loses about $1.9 billion monthly to the activities of oil vandals, with its attendant HͿHFW RQ HQYLURQPHQWDO GHJUDGDWLRQ 2I WKH PLOOLRQ EDUUHOV SURGXFHG LQ WKH ÀUVW quarter of 2022, only about 132 million barrels of oil were received at export terminals. Crude oil theft has increased to a daily average of EDUUHOV LQ WKH ÀUVW TXDUWHU RI from 103,000 barrels in 2021.

The theft resulted in the declaration of IRUFH PDMHXUH DW %RQQ\ 2LO *DV 7HUPLQDO a pipeline transporting crude from the Niger Delta to export vessels, creating a hostile environment and disincentive to investors.

If these facts do not call for concern, I wonder what else would do. Hence it could VX΀FH WR VD\ WKDW WKH JRYHUQPHQW·V FRQWUDFW to secure critical oil infrastructure is a step LQ WKH ULJKW GLUHFWLRQ %XW WKRVH EHQHÀWWLQJ from the theft are neck-deep in spreading falsehood about the government’s intention.

Their spin doctors have raised the SURSDJDQGD WR D YHU\ KLJK OHYHO %XW WKH\ forgot that the contract was not awarded to an LQGLYLGXDO EXW WR D ÀUP WKDW KDV GHPRQVWUDWHG capacity in times past. Obviously, the focus is 0U *RYHUQPHQW (NSHPXSROR EHWWHU NQRZQ as Tompolo. And I dare say, and so what?

Is Tompolo not a Nigerian? Does his company have the capacity to deliver? Was the process that led to the award of the contract transparent? Did the government act in the right direction? If the answers to the above questions are yes, then there is no MXVWLÀFDWLRQ IRU WKH UHDFWLRQV WKDW JUHHWHG WKH contract.

I believe there are terms of reference for the execution of the contract and not a bazaar or jamboree, as some would want unsuspecting members of the general public to believe. /HW·V QRW IRUJHW WKDW WKH EXON RI WKHVH FULWLFDO oil assets is in the Niger Delta region, and the possible solution should be inwards and to someone that understands the dynamics of the Niger Delta region.

The award of the contract, in my opinion, is a masterstroke. It goes a long way in expressing the government’s seriousness in

addressing the threat posed by oil theft to RXU HFRQRP\ :H QHHG WR UHÁHFW RQ VRPH of our actions as Nigerians. Everything should not be about politics. This stance has led us nowhere and would not now.

It is about practical and indigenous solutions to our challenges.

It is also about ensuring that government oil earnings improve. One of the ways to go about that is ensuring that our oil infrastructures are secured. The production capacity of our country can increase, and the country would be better for it. In tackling this kind of security challenge that oil installations face anywhere in the world, the paramount consideration is usually what and how it can be done and not who is doing it.

Some might what to argue about the role of the Nigerian Navy, and the question I would like to ask is why the problem has persisted despite the presence of the Navy. There are apparent lapses because of the terrain and other complexities, which is the gap the private FRQWUDFWRUV ZRXOG ÀOO /HW PH DOVR VWDWH that the Navy has not been completely taken out of the equation, but rather the coming onboard of private contractors is to assist and complement because the overarching objective is to secure the country’s oil assets.

And I beg to ask, what is the role of religion or ethnicity in protecting oil infrastructures? Sometimes I feel we are not serious in this country. I also wonder if we think through some of our public outbursts. Why would any individual or group think a contract of such magnitude and complexity would be awarded without due process and terms of reference?

This is indeed a sad tale. It goes a long way in stating that those vested interests that have milked the country dry through oil theft are angry and would go any length to jeopardize the government’s HͿRUWV LQ WKLV UHJDUG %XW , WKLQN WKH\ failed and woefully. The truth remains WKDW ZH FDQQRW DͿRUG RLO WKHIW RI VXFK magnitude at this critical point of our existence, with various sectors of the economy demanding attention.

The era of monies meant for the country being diverted to private pockets must stop. And these thieves can go to hell for all we care. What matters to us is the country’s interest, which has happened.

I must commend the leadership of the NNPC for taking the bull by the horns.

I, therefore, beg to disagree with anyone insinuating that the contract should be cancelled simply because Tompolo is from a particular part of the country. That would be a joke of the century, potentially making Nigeria a laughing stock.

I think we should concentrate our energies on measuring results rather than calling for the cancellation of the contract.

7KLV LV UDWLRQDO %XW DV WKH\ VD\ FRPPRQ sense is not common. I think the NNPC has acted in good faith, and it behoves well-meaning Nigerians to ensure that WKH HͿRUW DW VHFXULQJ WKH FRXQWU\·V FULWLFDO oil assets succeeds.

Agbese is a human rights activist based in Abuja

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TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2022

EDITORIAL

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

THE PLIGHT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT WORKERS The states should do well by paying workers’ salaries promptly

W

ith less cash available to share from Abuja due to the national economic downturn, workers across the states are increasingly being subjected to harsh living conditions. But this is perhaps more pronounced among local government workers for whom there is little attention from critical stakeholders.

A fortnight ago, the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) raised the alarm that the rising indebtedness of state governments to local government workers is now in excess of N40 billion. This has serious implications for social sector like education and health, especially at the grassroots level.

In a bid to address the problem, the NULGE had in the past embarked on strikes across the country, while calling on the authorities to stop the open discrimination between state and local government workers, “because we go to the same PDUNHW µ :LWK KLJK LQÁDWLRQ DQG DQ HFRQRP\ LQ GLVWUHVV many of the workers can barely meet their basic needs.

“Some (states) owe as much as N40bn,” said NULGE national president, Olatunji Ambali. “Many (council workers) died because they were unable to provide little medication that would have helped them when they were sick.”

Local government workers in Zamfara, one of most terrorised states in the Northwest, are increasingly being impoverished. Besides owing many months’ wages, their plight is worsened because the state reportedly still pays a minimum wage of N7,500, eleven clear years after the national minimum wage was reviewed upwards to N18,000 in 2011 and N30,000 by the Buhari administration in 2019. Enugu and Ebonyi are a bit better, but they are yet to pay the minimum wage of N30,000, an amount that has been rendered worthless by today’s market forces. Anambra and Ekiti States are also said to be owing local government workers. Besides Jigawa and Rivers States, which NULGE says are up to

date in payment of salaries, others have more or less turned workers to beggars, because the governors are “using the local government funds as personal funds.”

Over the years, local government administration KDV WKURZQ XS PDQ\ FKDOOHQJHV ZKLFK LQKLELW H΀FLHQW service delivery. State governors have been consistently accused of frustrating the local councils by unnecessarily dipping their hands into their statutory allocations.

Indeed, President Muhammadu Buhari once expressed misgivings on the relationship between the local governments and states, saying that “the states feel like they own the local governments.” The guidelines stipulating direct allocation to the local councils are designed to enhance the ÀQDQFLDO DXWRQRP\ RI WKH local governments and check the abuse of the Joint State/LG account by state governors.

The challenge has now been compounded as most VWDWH JRYHUQPHQWV ÀQG LW hard to pay salaries, and thus failing to meet the essential requirement of governance and employee compensation. A national survey conducted by BudgIT, a civic tech group, found for instance, that several states are guilty of non-payment of salaries, and civil servants are often “at wit’s end at month end.” Going by available statistics, no fewer than 12 states owed their workers at least one month’s salary as of July 2022. According to the report, Abia State currently owes its state tertiary institution workers six months’ salary, while Ebonyi has not paid its pensioners in the last six months. Similarly, Secretariat workers in Taraba have not been paid for six months, while lecturers at state tertiary institutions and midwives in the state-owned hospital in Ondo State “have not been paid a dime in the last four months.”

The states must prioritise employees’ rights by paying all accrued salaries. It is a contractual obligation. They must trim wasteful spending by returning to the path of prudence. And they should improve their resource mobilisation and become less dependent on federal allocation to meet their obligations to their workers.

The states must prioritise employees’ rights by paying all accrued salaries. It is a contractual obligation. They must trim wasteful spending by returning to the path of prudence T H I S D AY EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITORS 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 D AY 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 OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

Letters to the Editor Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-300 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (750- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive. com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer.

LETTERS 2023 AND PDP’S SINKING SHIP As political preparations and activities gather momentum ahead of the 2023 general election, the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seems to be embroiled in a turbulence of its own making just few days to the lifting of ban on campaign activities. While the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is putting its house order and waxing stronger by the day, the PDP since its presidential convention which witnessed an intense competition between the duo of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and Rivers State governor, Nyesome Wike, has been locked in a war of attrition.

The latest salvo in that combo is the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of last Thursday, which though saw embattled national chairman of the party, Prof. Iyorchia Ayu surviving D FRQÀGHQFH YRWH FRPLQJ RQ WKH KHHOV RI FDOOV IRU KLV UHPRYDO by the Rivers governor and his cohorts from the South, also witnessed the group abstaining from the meeting as a way of registering their displeasure.

The resignation of Walid Jibrin as PDP BOT chairman and his replacement by former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara alOHJHGO\ WR DSSHDVH WKH 6RXWKHUQ FDXFXV LV DSSDUHQWO\ DQ HͿRUW LQ IXWLOLW\ DV *RYHUQRU :LNH KDV YRZHG WR FDUU\ RQ ZLWK KLV ÀJKW

for the soul of the party.

As a show of the party’s double standard and wholesale hypocrisy, Wike and the southern bloc which had been instrumental to the continued relevance and the fortune of the party since its abrupt displacement from power in 2015, is being taken for a ride, despite the magnanimity displayed in 2019, which saw the party ceding the presidential ticket to the north, which eventually produced the same Atiku Abubakar as presidential candidate.

What the current situation shows is that a party that is promising to unite and stabilize the country cannot even unite and stabilize itself. While their apologists and ideologues have been issuing remarks and innuendoes to conceal the reality on ground, it is clear that the Nigerian public and masses that were the victims of the old order during its 16-year-rule, won’t be surprised as the leopard rarely shed its spots. The pledge of rescue is nothing but another hackneyed phrase designed to hoodwink their way back to power, as they rally their marauding gang for yet another push.

But like the popular phrase, there is no honour among thieves, and without sincerity of purpose and objective, how can any organization, let alone a political party maintain its unity and co-

herence? In sharp contrast, the APC has shown itself a party of inclusiveness and common interest. Atiku has never been loyal to any PDP past president. He betrayed them by decamping just WR ÀJKW DJDLQVW WKHP 1RZ KH ZDQWV JRYHUQRUV WR EH OR\DO WR him and support his own ambition never. PDP caucus knows that Atiku wouldn’t have been in PDP by now, if he had lost to Wike. He wouldn’t have supported Wike. This is a man who told Goodluck Jonathan to step down, that it was the turn of the north to rule in 2015; he didn’t even stop there. He joined a second force (APC) to ensure that the north grabbed power in 2015.

Now he has returned to PDP to contest without considering that it is the turn of the south to succeed Buhari. My question is this, has he lost that sense of justice and fairness he preached in 2015 to ensure power is shifted to north?

So those people you are counting on as PDP members in South east, South south and South west are not with Atiku despite the IDFW WKH\ DUH VWLOO LQ 3'3 <RX PD\ WKLQN :LNH·V ÀJKW DJDLQVW $WLku is between both of them. Wike is just the arrow head, Atiku will be disgraced in 2023 election, mark my word.

Dr. Tom Ohikere, Publisher of APC NewsOnline, Abuja

LAWYER TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022

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GOVERNOR BABATUNDE SANWO OLU

Is the Lagos State Parking Levy Legal?

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Queen Elizabeth II’s Death: Queen’s Counsels Become King’s Counsels

QUOTABLES

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‘We should begin to make sure that our laws are serious, by ensuring enforcement. That is a major agenda, for anyone who wants to rule this country.’ Professor Paul Ananaba, SAN ‘Security has become the main means of syphoning funds for us, in our nation.’ - Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN

Court of Appeal at 45: Towards an Enhanced Judicial Prowess Page VI

LAWYER

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE: EDITOR, JUDE IGBANOI: DEPUTY EDITOR, PETER TAIWO, STEVE AYA: REPORTERS

III THE ADVOCATE

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022

Judicial Process, Prisons, Law Enforcement: A Case for Reform

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ur illuminating interview with Human Rights Lawyer and Activist, Mr Inibehe Effiong last week titled, ‘I was Tortured in Prison’, in which he narrated his experience from court to prison, drew out several important points about the administration of justice sector in Nigeria that require immediate attention; that is, there is a need for urgent reform. Some of the issues Mr Effiong raised bordered on lack of independence of the Judiciary; abuse of authority by some judicial officers; the deplorable conditions of Nigerian prisons which I had previously written about in my editorial of 28/2/17, ‘Imprisonment in Nigeria'. A Fate Worse than Death’; lack of respect for the rule of law and human rights by the authorities; and the recruitment methods, not just for officers of the Nigerian Correctional Centre, but the security agencies and armed forces generally; and discrimination in favour of the richer inmates.

Lack of Independence of the Judiciary & Abuse of Judicial Authority The fact that most State Judiciaries are beholden to their Governors, and the State Chief Judges have been rendered more or less subservient to their Governors because of inadequate Judiciary funding, is no longer a secret. State Judiciaries depend a lot on the Governors/State Governments for allowances to augment their meagre salaries, even for housing and vehicles. Who will then bite the hand that more or less feeds them? Forget about Baron de Montesquieu's Doctrine of Separation of Powers and Sections 4-6 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) (the Constitution), which clearly set out and separate the roles of the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary; because in Nigeria, not only do the roles of the three arms of government overlap in a way that they shouldn’t, the Executive is supreme - the numero uno!

The Hon Sir Gerard Brennan AC, KBE, QC Chief Justice of Australia (1995-1998) (of blessed memory), in his Paper “The Role of a Judge” delivered on 13/10/96, stated inter alia thus: “A Judge’s role is to serve the community, in the pivotal role of administering justice according to the law…..It is only when the community has confidence in the integrity and capacity of the Judiciary, that the community is governed by the rule of law…A second, and more important point can be made about the function of presiding at a trial. A trial - including a criminal trial - is not the occasion for diminishing the dignity of any person in the courtroom. It is an occasion for the dispassionate finding of facts and applications of law, not for the humiliation of any of the trial’s participants….The Judge’s role is to keep the ring, not to enter the fight….I should say something about impartiality, the supreme judicial virtue, and the appearance of impartiality….A bastion of impartiality is independence - independence not only from the Executive Government, but from other centres of power…..”.

It seems that some judicial officers do not play this role. Instead, they serve their Governors or Executive, instead of serving the community and being impartial. They are partial to their masters, connoting dependence on the Executive, and then take exception when counsel requests that they recuse themselves from cases on the ground of bias or likelihood of same. Counsel also complain that, sometimes, judicial officers can be unnecessarily verbally abusive to them. Mr Effiong has called for the record of proceedings of that day to be made public; If only there was a video recording of the court proceedings.

From Mr Effiong’s explanation, it is crystal clear that the Governor of Akwa Ibom took precedence in the court of the Chief Judge, and not necessarily justice. From Mr Effiong’s account of the events that transpired in court on that fateful day, the Chief Judge not only descended into the arena and entered the fight, she bent over backwards to please the Governor, whether by wrongfully citing Mr Effiong for contempt when there was no evidence of contemptuous conduct, or committing him to prison for 30 days without following due process. That there was an attempt to humiliate and break Mr Effiong, by telling him to remove his robe and step out of the Bar, is obvious; while committing him to prison without revealing the charge and giving Mr Effiong an opportunity to defend himself and show cause why he shouldn’t be committed for contempt, is quite the opposite of what CJ Brennan referred to as the ‘supreme judicial virtue’ - impartiality, expected of the Chief Judge. On the contrary, it smacked of intolerance and bias. See 36(1) of the Constitution on fair hearing. See the case of Candide-Johnson v Edigin (1990) LPELR-20108 (CA) on the twin elements of contempt of court - interference and disrespect. We didn’t observe either of these two elements of contempt of court in facie curiae, from Mr Effiong’s catalogue of events.

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE onikepo.braithwaite@thisdaylive. com onikepob@yahoo.com

The

Advocate “This shows that the appalling conditions in the prison, is very much known and condoned by the establishment.

In my aforementioned 2017 editorial, I actually drew a comparison between the conditions in Nigerian prisons, and one of the worst and toughest prisons in the world, Antanimora Prison in Madagascar, Eastern Africa” Solution: Judicial Officers should be faithful to their Judicial Oath, and not allow their personal interest to influence their official conduct or decisions; they must also play their roles as enunciated by CJ Brennan. The budget of the Judiciary at the Federal and State levels should be a First Line Charge, payable to the National Judicial Commission (or Heads of Court) in the case of Federal, and to the State Chief Judges in the case of State High Courts. When the Judiciary is truly financially independent, only then will judicial officers no longer have to dance to the tune of the Executive. Apart from increasing the salaries and allowances of judicial officers, the inconsistencies in the constitutional provisions with regard to judicial remuneration must be addressed and corrected. See Sections 81(3)(c), 84(2), (4), (7), 121(3)(b) of the Constitution and Part 1 Paragraph I National Judicial Council Section 21 (e) to the Constitution and JUSUN v NJC, AGF & 70 Ors Suit No. FHC/ABJ/ CS/667/13 delivered on 13/1/14 per A.F.A. Ademola J. Deplorable Prison Conditions, Recruitment of Law Enforcement Agents & their Mental Capacity Even though Section 36(5) of the Constitution presumes that a person is innocent until proven guilty; from Mr Effiong’s account, once an individual has the misfortune of being remanded in a Nigerian prison, such individual is deemed guilty, and is deprived of fundamental rights, especially the right to humane treatment, and in some cases, the right to life. See Sections 33 (1), 34 (1)(a) & 35 (1)(a) of the Constitution.

Mr Effiong stated that Government has abandoned Custodial Centres. This is not surprising. If majority of law abiding Nigerians feel that Government has abandoned them,

how much more people who are incarcerated?

They are obviously seen as unimportant by Government.

Mr Effiong talked about the ridiculously high number of awaiting trial inmates, gross overcrowding, disgusting food and filth, deplorable living conditions, the fact that he was tortured openly by one Eyoren (despite the Anti-Torture Act 2015 and punishments prescribed for torture). In my investigation, I discovered that some of the companies who feed the prisoners food which is unfit for human consumption, are connected to high powered people. This shows that the appalling conditions in the prison, is very much known and condoned by the establishment. In my aforementioned 2017 editorial, I actually drew a comparison between the conditions in Nigerian prisons, and one of the worst and toughest prisons in the world, Antanimora Prison in Madagascar, Eastern Africa.

Last week, a petition went round social media concerning one Mr Bernard Ogbu who was arrested by the Police in 2019, and has not been seen ever since. All attempts by his family to see him, were rebuffed by the Police. The reason for his arrest, is also unknown. Some say suspicion of ‘one chance’ crimes. Then I did some investigation into the matter, and when I mentioned the name of the Police Station in Abuja where Mr Ogbu was taken to upon his arrest - the Station was referred to as “the Abattoir”, and I was told that he is probably dead! It seems that the particular Police Station is known for extra-judicial killing. I was also told that, sometimes, extra-judicial killing is necessary in law enforcement!

The question is, what kind of system and law enforcement officers do we have? A system that does not necessarily frown at jungle justice

being meted out by their staff it seems; maybe except the activities of such erring staff become public, may they face sanctions. Some of these law enforcement agents are outright criminals involved in heinous crimes like robbery and murder, while others are vicious psychopaths. It’s no surprise therefore, that torture and extra-judicial killing may be their hobbies.

How are Nigerian Law Enforcement agents recruited? Mr Effiong stated that Eyoren had previously been remanded for murder, and his case mates who were found guilty of murder, are now inmates of Port Harcourt prison. In the UK for example, they have the three-step Police Psychological Exam which includes a pre-test self-evaluation self-interview, survey and multiple choice tests, and finally, an in-person interview with a Psychologist.

Even though the tests evaluate many issues like history of drug use, personal biases, integrity, honesty and general intelligence, stress management, mental capacity to handle violence, it isn’t an evaluation of an individual’s mental health per se. However, if an individual fails these tests, it means they are not suitable for a Police career. In the US, Police Departments usually require candidates to undergo psychological evaluations, before they get badges and guns. How effective this is, is another matter, because, for example, white racist officers who kill blacks extra-judicially, still slip through the cracks (recall the ‘I can’t breathe’ case of George Floyd who was murdered by Minneapolis Police Officer in 2020).

It is obvious that whether Police, Armed Forces or Correctional Officers, in Nigeria, no proper background checks are done on them, they do not undergo any psychological tests or assessments before recruitment, nor do they undergo any continuous, periodic assessments while on the job. It is also obvious that extra-judicial activities like torture and killing, are not frowned upon by law enforcement agencies, and perpetrators are mostly not held accountable.

Solution: Aside from the fact fact that psychological exam is required for new law enforcement intakes, continuous assessment should be introduced for those already in service. Someone like Eyoren should immediately be suspended from duty, properly investigated and punished. It is time for the Anti-Torture Act to be enforced against erring law enforcement agents. Non-enforcement of a law, is akin to having no law at all.

The mindset of guilty until proven innocent for inmates (accusatorial instead of inquisitorial) must change, especially as our Constitution says the opposite; so also, the belief that inmates have no rights and must be treated in an inhumane manner.

The prison system must be completely overhauled.

While I’m not saying that they should be converted into five star hotels, prison conditions require much improvement, not just a change in nomenclature.

Treating people worse than animals, giving them rotten food etc, is unacceptable. Prison is not meant to be a death camp or torture chamber; it is meant for society to be protected against crime, for punishment of erring individuals, their rehabilitation, so that they can be reintegrated into society upon release. To this end education, vocational training and work etc, should be offered to inmates. The issue of those awaiting trial for years and prison congestion, must be addressed.

In my 2017 editorial, I referred to a piece written by the Attorney-General of Ekiti, Olawale Fapohunda, SAN and myself, where we made proposals for Prison Reform like the establishment of a Prisons Commission instead of the combined Immigration, Prison and Civil Defence Board; appointment of a Chief Visitor of Prisons to conduct regular inspections of prisons and take complaints from prison officials and inmates, and provision of adequate medical facilities for inmates. Mr Effiong stated that the prison clinic didn’t have more than Paracetamol, and he had to have his malaria medication purchased from outside.

Discrimination in Favour of Richer Inmates At Ikot Ekpene Prison, Mr Effiong was able to stay in a special cell with less number of inmates, for a fee of N50,000. Upon his transfer to Uyo Correctional Centre, he opted to stay with the general population, in order to be able to experience prison life firsthand.

We see that even in prison, preferential treatment for the privileged which is the norm in our society, is also practised.

Conclusion The campaign season for the 2023 election, is upon us.

What is the manifesto of the Presidential candidates, with regard to the reformation of the administration of justice sector? Many of the offences that people are incarcerated for, are State offences. Is it therefore, time for prisons to be decentralised? From the issue of the poor remuneration of judicial officers and their consequent dependence on the Executive for sustenance, thereby impeding the independence the Judiciary; to the appalling conditions in the prisons; to the increase in criminality within the ranks of law enforcement - candidates must articulate their plans for our sector.

IV LAW REPORT

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

Accrual of Cause of Action in Determining Limitation Period

Facts By a Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim filed on 1st August, 2005, the Appellants, as Plaintiffs at the trial court, sought against the Respondents, an order directing them to render account of all moneys, rents and benefits from all properties of the Appellants’ company – Compete Sardine Canning Plant in Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos; all the Cold-room equipment for the 4,000 ton Cold-store, including condensing units and evaporator, located in Port Harcourt; rents collected from the tenants on the property in Port Harcourt; rent from tenants occupying the four bungalows at G.R.A. Port Harcourt which the Respondents have received or are in possession of from 15th December, 1990, till judgement is delivered. The Appellants also sought an order setting aside any appointment, removal and resignation of any Director made after 15th December, 1990 and before May 2004, on ground that the appointment, removal and/or resignation were made without proper procedure and consequently, null and void.

The processes were served on the Respondents, further to which they filed a Motion on Notice, challenging the jurisdiction of the court and sought to have the suit struck out on grounds that the claim was statute barred, disclosed no reasonable cause of action and constitutes an abuse of court process. The Appellants opposed the referenced Motion on Notice. In its ruling, the trial court held that it was premature to raise the issue of limitation law, without first filing the Statement of Defence pursuant to Order 26 Rule 6(i) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2000. This decision was appealed by the Respondents. In its judgement, the Court of Appeal allowed the appeal in part. The appellate court held that the issue of limitation of action/ statute bar, being a jurisdictional issue, could be raised at any stage of the proceedings, and same was not prematurely raised by the Respondents herein. Further to its general powers under Section 15 of the Court of Appeal Act, 2004, the appellate court proceeded to consider the merits of the application and came to the conclusion that the claim was statute barred and same was struck out.

Dissatisfied with the outcome of the appeal, the Appellants appealed to the Supreme Court. At the Supreme Court, the Appellants filed three Grounds of Appeal and distilled three issues for determination therefrom. The Respondents filed a Notice of Preliminary Objection to the competence of the three Grounds of Appeal, and the issues distilled by the Appellants. The arguments on the Objection were contained in the Respondents’ Brief, wherein the Respondents posited that Appellants’ ground three involved issues of mixed law and facts, in respect of which the Appellants cannot appeal as of right, and the leave of court was not sought and obtained before filing the appeal. Another ground of objection raised by the Respondents was that the Appellants had indicated that they were only appealing against part of the decision of the Court of Appeal striking out the claim for being statute barred; however, ground two and the issue formulated thereon sought to appeal generally against the decision of the Court of Appeal. The other ground of the objection was that all the three Grounds of Appeal filed by the Appellant and their particulars were argumentative, narrative and failed to disclose any reasonable Grounds of Appeal against the decision of the Court of Appeal.

Issue for Determination The following sole issue was considered by the court, in its determination of the substantive appeal: Whether the Court of Appeal was right in resorting to the exercise of its powers under Section 15 of the Court of Appeal Act, 2004, to determine the claim for being statute barred in all the circumstances of this case.

Arguments Arguments on the Preliminary Objection: On the first ground of the objection, counsel argued for the Respondents that the Appellant failed to seek and obtain leave of court to raise ground three which touches on question of mixed law and facts in line with Section 233(2)(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999. Therefore, the ground and issue distilled therefrom are incompetent, and should be struck out. On the second ground, counsel submitted that the Appellants, who had expressly indicated in Paragraph 2 of their Notice of Appeal that the appeal is against part of the decision striking out the claim for being statute barred, could not thereafter, appeal generally against the decision of the court. Submitting on the third leg of the objection, counsel argued that the Notice of Appeal is defective because grounds one and two are argumentative, narrative, verbose and disclose no reasonable Ground of Appeal. Counsel urged the court to strike out and/or dismiss the appeal.

Reacting to the arguments on the objection to

two of the Notice of Appeal at the lower court, they raised the issue of statute bar before the court.

Honourable John Inyang Okoro, JSC

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 8th day of April, 2022 Before Their Lordships Mary Ukaego Peter- Odili John Inyang Okoro Amina Adamu Augie Abdu Aboki Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa Justices, Supreme Court SC. 371/2010 Between 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Frozen Foods Nigeria Limited Alhaji Hanzad Awokoya Shuaib Mohammed Saliu Obatayo Amodu Biola Awe Hiro Kishnani

Appellants

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

And The Estate of Oba John Agbola Ojomo Mrs Olajumoke Adebiyi (Nee Ojomo) Olori Aina Ojomo Prince Adetunji Ojomo Chief Thomas A. Senaike

Respondents

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable John Inyang Okoro, JSC) the competence of the appeal, counsel for the Appellants contended that ground three of their Notice of Appeal raised solely question of law and not facts, and leave of court was not required thereby. On the second and third leg, he contended that the Respondents failed to pin the Appellants to the particular aspects of Order 8 Rule (2) (1) of the Supreme Court Rules that was offended. He posited further that, assuming without conceding that the grounds violate the provisions of the Supreme Court Rules, such is mere irregularity which cannot vitiate the appeal, as the court has the power to waive such non-compliance in the interest of justice.

Arguing the main appeal Submitting on the issue in the substantive appeal, the Appellants posited that although Section 15 of the Court of Appeal Act confers the court with powers to make orders in the interest of justice, the powers so ascribed by the Act are, however, not at large. Relying on the authority of OBI v INEC (2007) 11 NWLR (Pt. 1046) 565 at 639-640, counsel outlined the conditions to be satisfied before the Court of Appeal would

“It is the date of the happening of the alleged wrongful act of the Defendants as pleaded in the Statement of Claim, that is to be considered as the date of accrual of the cause of action from which the limitation period is reckoned”

exercise its powers under the Section thus: (i) the trial court must have the legal power to adjudicate in the matter before the appellate court can entertain it; (ii) the real issue raised in the claim at the trial court must be seen to be capable of being distilled from the Grounds of Appeal; (iii) all necessary materials must be available to the court for consideration; (iv) the need for expeditious disposal of the case to meet the ends of justice must be apparent on the face of the materials presented; and (v) the injustice or hardship which will follow if the case is remitted to the court below, must clearly manifest itself. Counsel contended that save for the first condition referenced above, every other condition was absent when the Court of Appeal invoked its powers under Section 15 of the Act to determine the matter instead of remitting it to the trial court.

Counsel argued further that by the mandatory provisions of Order 26 Rule 6(1) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2000, the Respondents ought to have filed their Statement of Defence and therein, raise the issue of limitation law, as rightly held by the trial court. Counsel submitted that the Court of Appeal ought to have confined itself to the issue of whether the Respondents’ Preliminary Objection was premature or not, and remit the case to the trial court for its determination.

Responding to the submissions above, counsel argued for the Respondents that all the requirements of law for the Court of Appeal to exercise it powers under Section 15 of the Act were duly fulfilled, when in their ground

Court’s Judgement and Rationale Deciding the Preliminary Objection, the Apex Court referred to the provisions of Section 233(3) of the 1999 Constitution which provides that an appeal shall lie to the Supreme Court with leave of court where the Grounds of Appeal are based on facts or mixed law and facts. Where leave is not obtained, the appeal is incompetent and liable to be struck out – NNPC v FAMFA OIL LIMITED (2012) 17 NWLR (Pt. 1328) 148. Ground three of the Appellants complaint about the decision of the Court of Appeal to the effect that the cause of action in this matter arose on 15th December, 1990 and that the action which was commenced on 1st August, 2005 was statute barred in view of Section 16 of the Limitation Law of Rivers State. The court held that ground questions the evaluation of facts by the Court of Appeal, before application of the law. It is thus, a ground of mixed law and facts, which requires leave of court before it can be successfully raised and argued. Having failed to seek and obtain leave in this instance, the court held the said ground three to be incompetent and the issue distilled therefrom, invalid.

Regarding the second and third grounds of the objection, the Supreme Court decided the grounds complained of mere irregularities which are waivable in the interest of justice – BELLO v ATTORNEY-GENERAL, OYO STATE (1986) 5 NWLR (Pt. 45) 828.

In its determination of the main issue, the Apex Court emphasised on the jurisdictional issue of the Respondents’ objection before the trial court. The court held that objection to jurisdiction of court to entertain a matter, is certainly not an ordinary point of law contemplated under the rules of court – ELABANJO v DAWODU (2006) 15 NWLR (Pt. 1001) 76. To determine when the cause of action arose where the action is challenged as being statute barred, all that the court is enjoined to consider is the originating processes filed by the Plaintiff, comparing the date of the wrong giving rise to the enforceable claim with the date the suit was initiated. It is the date of the happening of the alleged wrongful act of the Defendants as pleaded in the Statement of Claim, that is to be considered as the date of accrual of the cause of action from which the limitation period is reckoned. It is not the date the resulting damage manifest, and as such, it does not matter that any resulting damage from the alleged wrongful act may have continued or the injury sustained, continued ad infinitum – SANDA v KUKAWA LOCAL GOVT. (1991) 2 NWLR (Pt. 174) 379.

A limitation law removes the right of action of a Plaintiff, his right of enforcement and his right to judicial relief, leaving him with a bare and empty cause of action which cannot be enforced in any court of law. In this case, the Appellants instituted the action on 1st August, 2005 against the Respondents, whom they alleged were unlawfully appointed in December, 1990. The Appellants argued there was continuance of injury which subsists from the persistent failure to render account of action, and this vitiates the accrual of cause of action on 15th December, 1990.

By Section 16 of the Limitation Law of Rivers State, 2004, action founded on contract, tort or any other action not specifically provided for in parts I and II thereof, cannot be brought after the expiration of five years from the date on which the cause of action accrued. By the originating processes filed in this case, the Appellants’ complaint was against the supposed illegal takeover of the management of the 1st Appellant between December 1990 and May 2004, and the refusal of the Board to render account for monies collected on management of company’s assets. It is clear that the fulcrum of the Appellants’ claim at the trial court was the management takeover of the 1st Appellant on 15th December, 1990 by the Respondents. Given the provisions of Section 16 of the Limitation Law referenced above, the suit which was commenced on 1st August, 2005 was statute barred.

Their Lordships held further that, issue of limitation of action is an issue of jurisdiction which goes to the root of the matter. Objection in this regard ought to be taken at the earliest opportunity. The court has no business continuing with the proceedings, without first determining whether the suit was properly brought before it or not. It follows that the Court of Appeal rightly invoked its powers under Section 15 of its Act, to strike out the suit.

Appeal Dismissed.

Representation O. Wali, SAN with C.T. Amadi, Esq. for the Appellants.

Mark S. Agwu with O.J. Iheko and O.U. Igwe for the Respondents.

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

V

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II

Tiwalola Osazuwa

Ugonna Ogbuagu

Ice Prince

Suit Challenging DSTV, GOTV Subscription Price Hike Dismissed Stories by Steve Aya A suit challenging the recent price hike by DSTV and GOTV, has been dismissed by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal sitting in Abuja. The dismissed suit was filed against MultiChoice Nigeria Limited, the operator of satellite televisions – the DSTV and GOTV by Mr Festus Onifade, on behalf of himself and the coalition of Nigerian consumers The three-member panel tribunal headed by Mr Thomas Okosun, in its judgement, dismissed the suit for lacking in merit.

In the suit, MultiChoice

was the 1st Respondent, while the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission was cited as the 2nd Respondent.

The Claimants approached the tribunal just after MultiChoice announced its plan to increase subscription tariffs on all its products, from April 1.

In his amended claim on June 20, Onifade asked the tribunal to issue an order, directing and mandating the cable service provider to adopt a pay-as-you-view model of charging for its products and services in Nigeria. He also demanded damages be awarded against the company, to the tune of N10 million.

Alleged Assault: Court Grants Ice Prince Bail Popular Nigerian rapper, Ice Prince, who made headlines for allegedly assaulting a Police officer in Lagos last week, has been granted bail.

Lawyer to the embattled musician, Folarin Dalmeida, confirmed the development on Friday afternoon.

Mr Dalmeida said his client, whose real name is Panshak Zamani, was released from the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday evening. “His bail conditions have already been met, and he was released yesterday (Thursday)”, he added. The bail conditions set for the rapper by the Magistrate Court in Ajah Lagos, was N500,000 with two responsible sureties.

The case was however, stalled on Wednesday, following the absence of the prosecution witnesses. Mr Dalmeida, however, did not make any comment or reference to the absence of the prosecution witnesses at the last hearing.

The rapper was arrested on September 2, 2022, and is currently facing a three-count charge of the alleged assault, obstructing police duties, and abduction.

The Lagos State Police Command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, had, in a Twitter post, broken the news of the singer’s arrest. In the tweet, Mr Hudenyin alleged that the rapper threatened to throw the officer into a river at the point of arrest.

The Police officer also posted a photo of the rapper in handcuffs, and said he would be prosecuted.

The musician was arraigned at the Ajah Magistrate Court the same day. On resumption of his trial on 7 September, the prosecution counsel asked the court for an adjournment due to the absence of his witnesses. The trial has been adjourned to October 24, 2022.

The rapper and his management team, are yet to make an official statement about the incident.

Ice Prince rose to fame after releasing “Oleku”, one of Nigeria’s most remixed songs. He won the 2009 Hennessy Artistry Club Tour. He released his debut studio album ‘Everybody Loves Ice Prince’ in 2011.

“Oleku”, “Superstar”, and “Juju” were the three big hits off the album.

It was gathered that the tribunal initially granted an ex-parte motion that directed the parties to maintain status quo ante bellum, but the company allegedly proceeded with the price increase on DSTV and GOTV subscriptions.

MultiChoice’s Lawyer, Mr Jamiu Agoro, challenged the jurisdiction of the tribunal to entertain the case. He urged the tribunal to set aside its interlocutory order, arguing that the Claimants lacked the locus standi to institute the action.

The tribunal, however, dismissed the matter for want of merit, despite affirming its jurisdiction to hear the case.

The tribunal noted that “Only the Presiºdent has the powers to regulate or fix prices of goods and services, under stipulated

circumstances which do not apply in this instance.”

It also posited that the Claimants could not prove how they suffered psychological trauma, hardship, or how their rights were trampled upon by the said hike.

AELEX Admits Two Into its Partnership AELEX Partners, a law firm with offices in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Accra, Ghana has admitted two new Partners into the practice with effect from 1st September, 2022. The appointments reflect the firm's culture of organic growth, and further enhance the firm’s continuing pursuit to be the foremost legal services solution provider in the West African Region.

Together, the new Partners have specialisations across a range of practice areas, that are critical to the firm's clients and their strategic needs. The new Partners are members of the firm’s Dispute Resolution, Corporate/Commercial, Taxation,

Intellectual Property and Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Groups, where they have been Team Leaders for several years, coordinating some of the firm’s complex and multijurisdictional transactions, as well as domestic and cross-border commercial dispute resolution.

Tiwalola is a member of the Corporate/Commercial, Intellectual Property and Mergers & Acquisitions practice groups at AELEX. She has also advised local and multinational companies on corporate structure, regulatory compliance and acquisitions. She is the General Secretary of IPLAN, and a member

of the Non-Traditional Marks Committee of the International Trademark Association, Corporate and M&A Law Committee of the International Bar Association (“IBA”), Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law Committee of the IBA, International Franchising Committee of the IBA, Intellectual Property Law Group of the American Bar Association (“ABA”), ABA Forum on Franchising and Business Law Group of the ABA. She was the winner of the coveted Rising Star Award at the IFLR 2021 Africa Awards.

Ugonna is in the firm’s Dispute Resolution, Corporate/ Commercial and Tax Practice

Groups. He has represented a broad range of clients in actions arising from commercial transactions, employment and labour disputes, taxation, real estate, criminal law and matrimonial matters.

Speaking on their elevation, the Managing Partner at AELEX, Adedapo TundeOlowu, SAN stated that “Tiwalola and Ugonna have demonstrated leadership and commitment to excellence in their respective practice areas.

The duo exemplify AELEX’s commitment to providing outstanding legal support to our clients, while making a positive difference to our people and our communities.

I am proud to welcome them into our partnership”.

Queen Elizabeth II’s Death: Queen’s Counsels Become King’s Counsels Following the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, and the ascension of her son, King Charles III, the Australian legal community has announced the change in title for senior Barristers previously appointed Queen’s Counsel, who now automatically become King’s Counsel.

In a statement issued first to Lawyers Weekly, the Australian Bar Association (ABA) confirmed that persons appointed as QCs will automatically become KCs, following the ascension to the throne of

King Charles III. Following the passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II on 9 September, the appointments of persons as Queen’s counsel by letters patent continue automatically, the ABA has confirmed. By custom, those persons, upon the passing of Her Majesty, became ‘King’s counsel’ (or ‘KC’). They did not need to seek new letters patent or take any further action,” the association explained in a statement.

Similarly, the UK-based Bar Council has been

advised by the Crown Office, that QCs become KCs with immediate effect.

Speaking following the death of her majesty, ABA President, Dr Matt Collins AM, KC, said that Queen Elizabeth II “served the people of Australia, the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth with unfailing dignity, compassion, intelligence and grace, over seven remarkable decades”.

“Throughout that period, Australia has been very well served by, and owes much of its stability and

prosperity to the institutions and Westminster traditions of which Her Majesty has been a vital and wise custodian”, he proclaimed.

“On this sad day, the legal profession joins in mourning the death of Her Majesty, and in offering our best wishes to her successor, King Charles III.” The ABA, on behalf of Australia’s more than 6,000 barristers, offered its heartfelt condolences to the royal family in the wake of the passing.

#upjudicialsalaries “Unlike their counterparts in other parts of the world who enjoy a periodic pay raise, the salaries and allowances of Nigerian Judges have remained stagnant for 14 years.” - Dr Ise-Oluwa Ige

VI

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

Court of Appeal at 45: Towards an Enhanced Judicial Prowess Hafizu Isah Esq

The period came with opportunities and challenges; IPXFWFS UIF OFX 1SFTJEFOU DBNF QSFQBSFE From the different view points, Covid-19 engulfed the world with such a speed faster than the speed of MJHIU &WFSZPOF CFDBNF XPSSJFE TDJFOUJTUT JOUFOTJàFE research into the causes and possible vaccines to curb further spread and deaths.

“Look at the past, then you learn about the future.” - Chinese proverb History

W

hen the Federal Court of Appeal was established in 1976 following Decree (now Cap. C36 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004), the aim was to help lighten the burden of the Supreme Court.

In other words, it came to serve as a bridge between the Lower Courts and the Apex Court.

Owing to the 31st December, 1983 Military Intervention and the promulgation of the Constitution (Suspension and Modification) Decree, 1984 the name of the Court was changed from Federal Court of Appeal to the Court of Appeal.

The little things that we do can become powerful if we reinvent ourselves "U UIF $PVSU PG "QQFBM UIF )PO 1SFTJEFOU +VTUJDF M.B. Dongban-Mensem brought the conversation to the front burner by engaging the services of virologists, %S 1BUSJDL %BLVN $IJFG &YFDVUJWF 0GàDFS *OTUJUVUF PG )VNBO 7JSPMPHZ BOE 1SPG "CEVMTBMBN /BTJEJ former Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to parley with some Justices and Senior Management Staff, on veritable opportunities GPS SFGPSN JO $PVSU 1SPDFTTFT UISPVHI UFMF BEKVEJDBUJPO imploring the use of zoom as a veritable platform to engage her brother Justices and Staff.

Armed with this knowledge, Dongban-Mensem said that the Covid-19 pandemic was a wakeup call for the court, as a professional organisation to have full grasp while complying with the lockdown directive; “but considering that the court has to adjudicate on urgent, essential and time-bound matters we should not completely close our doors to the public”. For the first time in 45 years of the Court, she experimented UIF VTF PG ;PPN UP IPME NFFUJOHT BOE DPOGFSFODFT with Justices and Sectional Heads, while beefing up the ICT Department with the required technology to ensure that Court of Appeal is at par with other Judiciaries across the globe.

The Court of Appeal was established as an Appellate Court to entertain: r $JWJM PS $SJNJOBM BQQFBMT GSPN UIF 'FEFSBM High Court, High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, High Courts of the 36 States, as well as National Industrial Court, Customary Courts of Appeal of States and the Federal Capital Territory, Sharia Courts of Appeal of States and the Federal Capital Territory. r &MFDUJPO 1FUJUJPO 5SJCVOBM "QQFBMT GSPN .BSUJBM Court, Code of Conduct Tribunal, Investments and 4FDVSJUZ 5SJCVOBMT -FHBM 1SBDUJUJPOFST %JTDJQMJOBSZ Committee, and most recently, the Alternative Disputes Resolution (ADR) which was established on 28th June, 2018.

Growth At the onset, the Court of Appeal started with three +VEJDJBM %JWJTJPOT -BHPT ,BEVOB BOE &OVHV Lagos Division recorded its first criminal appeal on the 10th of March, 1977 between DURO AJAYI, BAMIDELE AJAYI and DARAMOLA DADA v THE STATE, brought before their Lordships Hon. +VTUJDFT % 0 *CFLXF )PO + 0NP &CPI PG CMFTTFE memory and Hon. D.O. Coker. On the 9th of May, 1977 in Kaduna Division, the first culpable homicide appeal involving ONOBERE SUNMONU v THE STATE was brought before their Lordships Hon. +VTUJDFT MBUF .BNNBO /BTJS MBUF 4 * &UF BOE . - Uwais. The late Hon. Justice B.O. Kazeem sat with Hon. Justice D.G. Douglas and late M.M.A. Akanbi, BU UIF &OVHV 'FEFSBM $PVSU PG "QQFBM %JWJTJPO PO 12th May, 1977 to adjudicate its first criminal appeal that involved NWEKE UNUGU v THE STATE. With the three operational Divisions, the need arose for expansion. As a result, in June, 1977, additional Divisions were established in Ibadan and Benin and in January, 1983, Jos Division came alive.

5IJT FYQBOTJPO DPOUJOVFE JO BT 1PSU )BSDPVSU Division was established, and subsequently, Abuja Division came to light in 1996.

With increase in demand for services of the Court of Appeal, two Judicial Divisions sprang in Ilorin and Calabar in February, 1999 totalling 10 Judicial Divisions. 1999 to 2009 witnessed the establishment of six more Divisions namely: Owerri, Sokoto, Yola, &LJUJ "LVSF BOE .BLVSEJ CSJOHJOH UIF %JWJTJPOT to 16. To further take justice delivery closer to the people, four Divisions: Asaba, Awka, Gombe and Kano, were added between 2014-2019. 45 years on, the Court of Appeal boasts of 20 Judicial Divisions, spread across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

"T UIF TFDPOE MPOHFTU TFSWJOH 1SFTJEFOU PG UIF Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Umaru Abdullahi, CON, the Walin Hausa puts it, “the Court of Appeal is where the decisions are made; the Supreme Court merely whitewashes it”; hence, the need for justice delivery to be taken seriously and closer to the people.

From the above perspective, the need beckoned to increase the number of Justices adjudicating in this Noble Temple from the initial 36 it started with, to 41 in 1990. Again, it rose to 50 in 1993 and to 70 in 2006. With the Court of Appeal Amendment Act of 2013,the number increased to 90. Currently, the Justices are 85 in number.

5IF $PVSU IBT QSPEVDFE TFWFO 1SFTJEFOUT OBNFMZ r 5IF MBUF )PO +VTUJDF % 0 *CFLXF $'3 1976 – 1978 r 5IF MBUF )PO +VTUJDF .BNNBO /BTJS ($0/ 1978 – 1992 r 5IF MBUF )PO +VTUJDF .PIBNNFE .VTUBQIB Akanbi, CFR 1992 – 1999 r )PO +VTUJDF 6NBSV "CEVMMBIJ $0/ m r )PO +VTUJDF *TB "ZP 4BMBNJ 0'3 m r 5IF -BUF )PO +VTUJDF %BMIBUV "EBNV JO "DUJOH capacity) 2012 – 2013 r )PO +VTUJDF ;BJOBC "EBNV #VMLBDIVXB 0'3 CFR 2014 – 2020 r )PO +VTUJDF .POJDB #PMOB BO %POHCBO

Fallout of Her Steady Strides

President, Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem

Mensem 2020 – to date Sitting in the former Federal Capital of Nigeria, the Court was accommodated in the old Supreme Court Complex now Lagos Division. With the movement from Lagos to Abuja, the Court of Appeal is domiciled at the Area 3 office complex which now houses the National Industrial Court (NIC). It was during the tenure of the UIFO 1SFTJEFOU $PVSU PG "QQFBM )PO +VTUJDF Umaru Abdullahi, CON, that all hands were put on deck to build a befitting office complex, commissioned by the Ambassador of the Rule of Law and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed 'PSDFT MBUF 1SFTJEFOU 6NBSV .VTB :BS BEVB GCFR, on 15th December, 2008.

The Court of Appeal on top of history right now, is a melting pot where justice is justice without colour, section or place of origin, where all the Justices must sit together in a quorum to take decision in any matter devoid of sentiment. This is the reason some Senior Advocates of Nigeria have been speaking on the developments, as the Court turns 45 years old.

COA: A Confluence Where Justice Delivery meets with Information Technology “A Justice without basic computer knowledge should not be appointed into the Appellate

Court, against the backdrop that today’s Information Technology (IT) has completely taken over all human endeavours that there is hardly anything one can do without it.’’

- Chief Folake Solanke (first female SAN) Annual Justices Conference 2020 The use of information communication technology is considered one of the key elements, to significantly improve the administration of justice. In the knowledge, the world has rapidly developed into a global village which has opened new opportunities that were unthinkable some years ago.

Around the world, several reforms have been introduced to allow the use of enhanced electronic data and documents within the judicial systems. The availability of web services, the possibility of consulting online legislation, the use of electronic filing, electronic exchange of legal documents are spurring the judicial administration across the globe to rethink their functions and activities, enhance efficiency, access, timeliness, transparency and accountability that will help the judiciaries to provide adequate services.

At a point when the world was almost shutting down as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, was UIF QFSJPE UIF UI 1SFTJEFOU PG UIF $0" )PO Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem assumed office.

“45 years on, the Court of Appeal boasts of 20 Judicial Divisions, spread across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria….With the Court of Appeal Amendment Act of 2013, the number increased to 90. Currently, the Justices are 85 in number”

No doubt, the year 2020 had been eventful, not only in the history of Nigeria, but the Judiciary as well; especially the Court of Appeal with over 34,000 pending appeals spread across its 20 Divisions.

Recall that all through the lockdown from 25th March, to 30th June, 2020, Hon. Justice DongbanMensem confronted the fear that surrounded Covid-19 pandemic with faith to lead her colleagues, by setting VQ 4QFDJBM 1BOFMT XJUI UIF +VTUJDFT ESBXO GSPN all the Divisions. Special permits were obtained GSPN UIF 1PMJDF 'PSDF UP DPWFS UIFJS NPWFNFOUT UP expeditiously determine a total of 1356 Appeals and 1960 Motions.

More significantly was that a total of 528 Judgements (16.97% of the total number of +VEHFNFOUT XFSF EFMJWFSFE WJB UIF ;PPN 0OMJOF 1MBUGPSN EVSJOH UIF DPVSTF PG UIF -FHBM :FBS XIJMF IFBSJOHT XFSF IFME CZ 1BOFMT PG UIF Court using this platform.

5IF 1BOFMT BU UIF ,BEVOB BOE +PT %JWJTJPOT respectively, delivered six and five Judgements via UIF ;PPN 1MBUGPSN XIJDI XBT B àSTU GPS UIF $PVSU The Court has begun to redesign structures for internet bandwidth, throughout the 20 Divisions BOE +VTUJDFT 3FTJEFOUJBM 2VBSUFST 5IJT QJMPU TDIFNF has connected Divisions like Calabar, Kano and Asaba to the online network for optimal smarter justice delivery.

At the Court of Appeal Headquarters in Abuja, an *1 UFMFQIPOZ JOGSBTUSVDUVSF IBT CFFO TFU VQ UP BMMPX the use of an intercom system, which works with the computer network. The plan is to extend this to cover all other Divisions so that inter-divisional communications will soon be effortlessly conducted on intercom, thus, improving efficiency and productivity.

5IF )POPVSBCMF 1SFTJEFOU $PVSU PG "QQFBM harped on the need to move with the change, as one can never be too trained. In walking the talk, since assumption of office, she has, through the ICT and Training Departments continuously trained Justices and Staff based on their professional needs.

She hosted the maiden edition of a training collaboration between the Court of Appeal and the Ministry of Communications, where the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) trained 50 Justices on productivity tools to uplift the quality of justice delivery, with a view to reliving them of the old method of judgement writing and researches in longhand.

The ICT Committee of the Court has also been avidly involved in the provision of digital research tools: “We have begun a partnership with the Nigeria Weekly Law Reports (NWLR) to provide web access to their reports, thus, empowering our Justices to conduct easier online research. An active ICT culture will drastically reduce the incidence of conflicting judgements”, she disclosed.

To further tackle the issue of conflicting judgements, UIF )PO 1SFTJEFOU DPNQJMFE TPNF MBOENBSL QSPOPVODFNFOUT PO 1SF &MFDUJPO "QQFBMT +VEHFNFOUT of the Court that sat in Abuja, Awka, Calabar and Kano Divisions, which was circulated to the Justices.

Hafizu Isah Esq, Chief Registrar, Court of Appeal

VII BOOK REVIEW

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

Fundamental Principles of Law: Practice & Procedure Book Review Title:

Fundamental Principles of Law: Practice & Procedure

Author:

Hon. Justice J.O. Pedro

Publisher:

AuthorHouseLimited

Hardcover:

ISBN: 978-1-5462-6870-3 (sc) ISBN: 978-1-5462-6868-0 (hc) ISBN: 978-1-5462-6869-7 (e)

Number of Pages:

841

Name of Reviewers: Professor Taiwo Osipitan SAN, FCArb and Mr Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, FCIArb

T

he Book; ‘Fundamental Principles of Law: Practice & Procedure’ is an encyclopaedia and compendium of basic principles of law, carefully selected and filtered from the decisions of the Superior Courts in Nigeria, which proffers deep insight into legal principles through the eyes of the courts. The Book documents a vast array of principles of law which the Author had come across and applied, in numerous years of the Author’s practice, both at the Bar and on the Bench.

About the Book Book Design & Contents The Book is tastefully contained in a box, which is adorned with a photograph of the Author. It is designed in such a way that over one hundred and fifteen (115) legal topics are aptly captured and arranged alphabetically, with several legal principles mined from over 1154 decided cases. Given the wide range of topics discussed, the contents of the book strikes a delicate and measured balance between civil litigation and procedure, the law of evidence and substantive legal issues. The book proffers quick answers to several legal questions, bordering on abuse of court process, address of counsel, cause of action, exercise of discretionary power by court, enforcement of foreign judgements, principle of stare decisis, locus

standi, law of evidence, jurisdiction, election petition, judgement of court, judicial review, matrimonial causes, presumption, debt recovery, service of court process, standard of proof, submission of counsel and many more.

Arrangement, Chapters & Layout The Book of 841 pages opens with Table of Contents and Foreword by the immediate past Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Lagos State, Adeniji Kazeem, SAN. It ends with table of cases and profile of the Author. The Book is published in fine print by AuthorHouse, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America. It is eco-friendly, printed on acid-free paper, and the hardcover paperback protective binding guarantees its durability and easy referencing respectively. The letters are alluring to the eyes, and reader friendly.

The Book has 115 chapters, each chapter being concise and allowing for easy reading. The 115 chapters can be segregated into three separate compartments. Given the wide range of topics discussed, the Book strikes a delicate and measured balance between civil and criminal litigation and procedure. 15 Chapters deal with selected topics on the law of evidence; another 15 chapters are devoted to cases on substantive law. The remaining 85 chapters deal with cases on principles of civil and criminal litigation (practice

“The Book of 841 pages…..has 115 chapters, each chapter being concise and allowing for easy reading….segregated into three separate compartments…. This Book is not only intellectually stimulating, but thought provoking and solution oriented, as it guarantees a solid understanding of many of the basic principles of legal practice in Nigeria“

and procedure).

An Encyclopaedia & Excellent Resource Material for the Conscientious Advocate and Judge’s Companion The Book is an encyclopaedia resource for the conscientious advocate. The Author has done a phenomenal job of condensing relevant principles of law, into a detailed but concise and easy to read resource. The sub-headings in each chapter of the Book are arranged in a logical and coherent manner, with relevant legal authorities cited for ease of reference. This enables the reader to quickly find specific answers to their burning legal questions, under each topic discussed.

The layout, presentation and language of the book is reader-friendly, making it an accessible resource for both experienced legal professional and the curious mind yearning to learn more about the law. The richness of the text and extensive research put into writing this Book, lend proof to the Author’s wealth of knowledge and years of experience, both at the Bar and on the Bench. The reviewers entertain no doubt that this

Book will be valuable resource for the Bench, Legal Practitioners, Academics and Law Students alike.

This Book is not only intellectually stimulating but thought provoking and solution oriented, as it guarantees a solid understanding of many of the basic principles of legal practice in Nigeria. To the Bench, this Book can serve as Judge’s companion, in writing rulings and judgments. For the Bar; it will alleviate the stress that comes with the drafting of pleadings, writing briefs and aid quick responses to many issues raised either by the court or adverse counsel during the trial.

A Veritable Tool for Law Students To the law students, it will serve as a veritable tool, through which they see the law in actual practice and prepare themselves ahead of it. In fact, Fundamental Principles of Law; Practice and Procedure should form part of the curriculum for law students particularly at the Law School, since it is the first phase that introduces the aspirants to the Bar, to the procedural aspect of law.

VIII

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

COVER

CROSSFIRE!

Is the Lagos State Parking Levy Legal?

A few weeks ago, the inhabitants of Lagos State awoke to yet another levy, in addition to the multiple taxes already foisted on them by the State Government. This time, it’s the Lagos State Parking Levy which stands at N80,000 per vehicle, and a non-refundable Administrative/Processing fee which applies based on the location. Humans Rights Lawyer and Activist, Femi Falana, SAN tackles Haroun Adebayo of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, on what he describes as unconscionable multiple taxation and illegal levies. This is Crossfire!

‘LSG Parking Levy is Illegal, Overtaxation’ - Femi Falana, SAN

T

he Lagos State Parking Authority, an agency of the Lagos State Government, has recently imposed a controversial parking fee of N80,000 per car slot per annum on residents of the State. The parking fee may fetch the Government billions of Naira from owners of business premises, whose car parks may accommodate scores of cars. No doubt, the parking fee is an additional burden on residents who are required to pay taxes and levies fixed by the Federal Government, State Government and Local Government Councils, on their private houses or business premises.

Multiple Taxes and Charges Indeed, the taxes paid by some enterprises, are not less than 25 in number. They include land use charge, business premises levy, development levy, annual entertainment development charge, sewage management fees etc, in respect of the private house or business premises.

Apart from the payment of such multiple taxes and levies, residents are also compelled to pay astronomical bills for epileptic supply of electricity and spend colossal sums of money on purchase of generators and diesel, security and cleaning

“Indeed, the taxes paid by some enterprises, are not less than 25 in number. They include land use charge, business premises levy, development levy, annual entertainment development charge, sewage management fees etc….”

‘It’s Lawful, It’s the Norm’ - Haroun Adebayo Unpacking the Legality of Parking Authority in Lagos State The Lagos State Parking Authority (LSPA) has been part of the Agencies created by the Laws of Lagos State since 2004. When the Laws of Lagos State were compiled in 2015, the Lagos State Parking Authority Law formed part of the laws in Volume 6 cited as (Lagos State Parking Authority Law Ch. L50 Vol. 6, Laws of Lagos State).

The law was thereafter reviewed, and a holistic law was enacted in 2018 known as Transport Sector Reform Law of Lagos State. In this law, all the relevant Agencies involved in the transportation sector in Lagos State, were brought together in a single law.

A look at the provisions of the law will take us to Section 78 which states the functions of the LSPA as follows: The functions of the Authority shall be to: (a) develop truck parks, bus parks, garages, multi-level parking, on and off-street parking spaces throughout the State; (b) implement the policy and directives of the State Government on parking; (c) take necessary steps to prevent

indiscriminate or illegal parking of vehicles in collaboration with the relevant Government Agencies; (d) provide, operate and maintain parking meters for the purposes of this Part; (e) provide and maintain proper records containing particulars of each impounded vehicle, and the designated vehicle park in which it is kept; (f) issue permit for development of private parking facilities; (g) register members of recognised transport union or associations as may be recommended by the union as agents under this Part; (h) provide private park operators with tickets to be used at the Parks.; (i) regulate the activities of private park operators by issuing appropriate guidelines which shall include provision of approved kitting for the park agents. (j) charge fees on private commercial parks; (k) charge and collect fees on parking lots, or any facility provided by it; and (l) review the parking fees charged by the Authority.

There have been arguments and counter-arguments in the public space, about the constitutionality of the actions of the Lagos State Government, to demand

IX COVER

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

CROSSFIRE!

Femi Falana, SAN

Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN

‘LSG Parking Levy is Illegal, Overtaxation’ - Femi Falana, SAN of houses and business premises. The multiple taxation cannot be justified in a democratic society. More so that the laws for fixing and collecting the taxes are enacted by the Lagos State House of Assembly, without any public hearing or input from relevant segments in the State. Such anti-people's policy is called ‘taxation without representation’ in the United States of America.

Challenging Legal Validity of Parking Fee However, the legal validity of the parking fee has been challenged, on the ground that it is the exclusive responsibility of local governments to fix and collect the fee by virtue of Section 7(5) of the Constitution and the Fourth Schedule to the Constitution.

Not unexpectedly, the Lagos State Government has attempted, albeit unsuccessfully, to justify the parking fee.

Thus, in a press statement titled “Lagos Parking Levy is Constitutional” dated August 29, 2022, Adebayo Haroun Esq, the Senior Special Assistant to the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, issued a press statement wherein he asserted that the parking fee was validly enacted.

In the said press statement, Mr Haroun further stated that the Lagos State Parking Authority 2018 “empowers the Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) in Lagos State to assign their power in respect of collection of fees relating to the State Government.” In support of his argument, Mr Haroun referred to the case of Ola Animashaun Harimot Oluwabukola v Attorney-General of Lagos State & 5 Ors in Appeal No. CA/L/1046 delivered on 19th November, 2018 where it was held by the Court of Appeal that the intendment of Section 1(3) of the Land Use Charge Law of Lagos State is “to give powers to the Local Government to permit a contractual relationship between it and State on the collection of taxes”.

It is curious to note that Mr Haroun did not refer to the more relevant case of Airtel Nigeria Limited v AttorneyGeneral of Lagos State & 3 Ors (2019) 1 NCLR 1, where the Court of Appeal held that it was unable to agree with the Appellant that the 3rd Respondent (Eti-Osa Local Government) does not have power to make a law that relates to private parking, since there was nothing in the bye law that is inconsistent with Section 7 and

Paragraph 1 of the Fourth Schedule to the Constitution.

However, with respect to the case of Ola Animashaun Harimot Oluwabukola v Attorney-General of Lagos State & 5 Ors (supra), the Court of Appeal did not pay attention to the case of Knight Frank & Rutley Nigeria Limited v Attorney General of Kano State 1998 7 N.W.L.R. (Pt. 556) 1 at 24 where Kutigi JSC (as he then was) stated as follows: "The Court of Appeal must therefore, in my view be right, when it opined thus: Could the powers of the State and Local Government Councils to order for valuation of rateable hereditaments co-exist and be complimentary? I believe that once the State passes a legislation assigning the functions of valuation of tenement rates to the Local Government as the Constitution has directed, only the Local Government Council will have the power to deal with that subject. The State has no power to deal with the matter, and the Local Government Council cannot, even if it wants to, divest itself of those powers”.

Conclusion In view of the authoritative pronouncement of the Supreme Court on the illegality of usurping the powers conferred on Local Governments by State Governments, it is indisputably clear that the Local Governments cannot be legitimately divested of the powers conferred on them by Section 7 of the Constitution to fix and collect parking fees in Lagos State. Therefore, the Lagos State House of Assembly ought to take urgent steps to repeal the law, since it was enacted in contravention of Section 7(5) of the Constitution and Schedule Four to the Constitution.

However, if the law is not repealed by the House, its constitutional validity ought to be challenged by some concerned members of the public in Lagos State.

Femi Falana, SAN, Human Rights Lawyer; Recipient of the prestigious Bernard Simmons Award of the International Bar Association

‘It’s Lawful, It’s the Norm’ - Haroun Adebayo and collect fees in respect of parking in Lagos State. Most arguments against the move have been anchored on the position that it is the responsibility of Local Government, and not that of the State to control parking in the State.

The provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) is very clear on this issue. The relevant provision of the Constitution here is Section 1(e) of the Fourth Schedule which provides: The main functions of a local government council are as follows: (e) Establishment, maintenance and regulation of slaughter houses, slaughter slabs markets, motor parks and public conveniences; A cursory look at the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution would reveal that, Parking is not one of the functions bestowed on the Local Government. The position of the law is that what is not expressly mentioned, is not included. In the construction of statutory provisions, where a statute mentions specific things or persons, the intention is that those not mentioned are not intended to be included. See FRN v George Osahon & Ors (2006) LPELR – 3174 (SC).

Since parking is not mentioned in the Constitution as part of the functions of local government, then it is, at best, a residual matter and remains a legislative item within the competence of the State Government. In AG OGUN STATE v ABERUAGBA & ORS (1985) LPELR-3164 (SC) the Supreme Court concluded on the respective powers of the Federal Government vis-à-vis State governments when it held thus: “A careful perusal and proper construction of Section 4 would reveal that, the residual legislative powers of government were vested in the States. By residual legislative powers within the context of Section 4, is meant what was left after the matters in the Exclusive and Concurrent Legislative Lists and those matters which the Constitution expressly empowered the Federation and the States to legislate upon had been subtracted from the totality of the inherent and unlimited powers of

a sovereign legislature. The Federation had no power to make laws on residual matters.”

Assuming without conceding that motorparks as contained in paragraph 1(e) of the Fourth Schedule in the Constitution is interpreted to include parking, the provisions of Section 78 and 79 of the Transport Sector Reform Law of Lagos State, 2018 and the agreement executed

by Local Government Councils and Local Council Development Areas in Lagos State will avail the State Government.

Section 78 has been produced above, and the provisions of Section 79 of the Transport Sector Reform Law of Lagos State, 2018 is as follows: For the purpose of this Part, each Local Government Area may delegate to the State by a written agreement, its function with respect to parking activities.

The power of Local Government to donate functions as contained in the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution was considered in the case of Ola Animashaun Harimot Oluwabukola v Attorney General of Lagos State & 5 Ors in Appeal No CA/L/1046 delivered on 19th November, 2018 where the Court held that: “The intendment of Section 1(3) of the Land Use Charge Law of Lagos State is clearly not to take away the function constitutionally donated to the Local Government, but to give powers to the Local Government to permit a contractual relationship between it and the State on the issue of collection of taxes which is clearly within the responsibility of the Local Government, without breaching any law or constitutional provision. The Constitution recognises that, any person that has a power can exercise such power through other persons or institutions. For example, the Attorney-General can exercise his powers through other persons”.

It is imperative to state that the act of imposing and collecting parking fees is universal, and not peculiar to Lagos State Government.

Haroun Adebayo, Chambers of the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice

“It is imperative to state that the act of imposing and collecting parking fees is universal, and not peculiar to Lagos State Government”

X

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

TALKING CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY DR. MIKE OZEKHOME, SAN

0809 889 8888 SMS ONLY

See How President Buhari Turned Me into A Nostradamus and Clairvoyant (Part 3) Introduction discussed these predictions, in my last two outings. We shall attempt to end this trilogy today, to enable me deal with other emergent critical national issues, even though there are still more already fulfilled predictions of mine. The present write-up is a collector's item, consisting of reminiscences of what I had written and predicted as far back as 19th July, 2015, just after only 50 days of Buhari’s tenure! They have all come to pass. Now, read on please.

media for you, and see how the tide is turning frighteningly fast against you. Just within three months of your popular and populist emergence as President of 175 million Nigerians, after four gruesome attempts, of sweat, pains, pangs and hear blood. Come out of your shell, and become the Abraham Lincoln of our time. Times like these need very strong men. PMB, you can do it.

Nigerians want you to be used. I am one of them.

I

“PMB’s State VISIT to U.S.A “It was good that PMB seized the first available opportunity to visit U.S.A, on President Obama’s invitation. Whilst we may be rolling out the drums to celebrate this diplomatic move, we must not over- indulge ourselves as having scored any major breakthrough in the icy relationship between Nigeria and U.S.A. The reason is simple. Whilst PMB was still in the U.S.A meeting with other groups during the State visit, Obama trips to Africa, specifically to Kenya, his pedigree, and to Ethiopia.

Don’t forget that Obama had visited Ghana, a neighbouring country to Nigeria some years ago, while ignoring Nigeria maximally. All the same, congrats, PMB, even if not much was achieved during the State visit. The most outstanding of the minuses is that U.S.A still refuses to sell arms to Nigeria, to curb the malignant Boko Haram insurgency.

“Boko Haram Insurgency and Sundry Challenges “The Boko Haram insurgency has intensified geometrically, with power supply getting worse, and more epileptic. Internally, PMB appears to have no control over his APC party, which he ought to be leader of, perhaps, because they regard Bola Tinubu as the national leader.

“The party is imploding instalmentally.

Impunity in all facets of life has increased.

PMB is still running the government solo, in the manner of a military dictator, contrary to the provisions of the Constitution which compels him to have Ministers.

“Refusal to Declare Assets Publicly “PMB has refused to make public, the declaration of his assets as he promised during electioneering campaigns, to the applause of Nigerians. Yes, he satisfied the mere constitutional requirement of doing so before the Code of Conduct Bureau.

But, like Yar’adua, he needs to do more by declaring them publicly, if only to oil the wheels of his change talisman. He had promised to do so. Voluntarily. So, no one should tell Nigerians that he has satisfied the provisions of Section 140 of the 1999 Constitution, by declaring his assets as a precondition for taking the oath of office. That is the letter of the Law. What about its spirit, the morals?

“There is despondency and hopelessness everywhere, with the government exhibiting no real sense of direction, mission or vision. The ship of State appears rudderless and directionless, with his ruling APC party still talking and behaving tough, as if it is still in the opposition.

It still shadow boxes with imaginary enemies, forgetting it is now in power.

“Corruption “Corruption, which has become the 37th State of Nigeria and indeed, the wealthiest at that, is not climbing down from its imperious monstrous height. Rather, it is waxing stronger and becoming more and more endemic, ravishing the weak fibre of the Nigerian society with reckless abandon and impunity. Corruption now mocks all of us with utmost derision. It dares us. It spits in our faces. What is PMB doing about it?

“Worsening an Atmosphere of Insecurity Insecurity is becoming more frightening, with Boko Haram which had been massively degraded and nearly decapitated before PMB’s oath of office on May 29, waxing stronger and stronger, and indeed, becoming more daring and defiant.

Over 600 people have been mindlessly killed in the last few weeks in the renewed upsurge of violence and attacks. Innocent Nigerians are murdered in cold blood.

President Muhammadu Buhari

“Kidnapping cases have since increased on a monumental scale, with Judges, Pastors, Rev. Fathers, Monarchs, Women, Children and Men, becoming daily victims in the nefarious activities of these marauders. There is still no major national broadcast to Nigerians as to the direction of PMB’s government, regarding his policies on education, infrastructural development, national ethos, anti-corruption war, or how to grow the economy, and give jobs to the teaming unemployed youths of Nigeria, unemployed of whom he had promised Five Thousand Naira (N5,000.00) monthly stipends before they get employed.

“What is PMB’s Policy Direction?

“There is no single statement about oil subsidy and emergency oil subsidy merchants, who are bleeding the Nigerian economy dry and threatening to asphyxiate and vanquish already hapless Nigerians.

“The bi-cameral National Assembly is in turmoil with no positive presidential intervention to save Nigeria’s hard earned democracy, except threats to impose external leadership. Nigeria appears to be wobbly, groggy, fumbling and near prostrate. What is the policy direction of PMB regarding the above issues? I don’t know. I do not know if you know.

“Frittering Away Nigeria’s Goodwill “PMB, in my humble opinion, is busy frittering away the groundswell of goodwill and affection Nigerians bestowed on him on March 28. Ex-President GEJ did it and paid dearly for it. Although he was sworn in on May 29, the truth is that he became aware he was the elected President of Nigeria since April 4, nearly

“Nigeria appears to be in a state of suspended animation, dancing in uncomfortable limbo, like a yoyo, virtually on auto-pilot. PMB, Sir, don’t allow the usual bootlickers, grovellers and fawners deceive you, by telling you that you are doing very well. It’s a complete lie”

100 days ago, when GEJ called to concede defeat and congratulate him. Till now, he has not even appointed a Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the clearing house and heartbeat of any government, Chief of Staff, Principal Secretary, etc.

Government business has literally ground to a halt, with no money in circulation. All ministries are virtually dead, with Permanent Secretaries afraid to take major decisions or sign any contract.

“Nigeria, We Hail Thee “Nigeria appears to be in a state of suspended animation, dancing in uncomfortable limbo, like a yoyo, virtually on auto-pilot. PMB, Sir, don’t allow the usual bootlickers, grovellers and fawners deceive you, by telling you that you are doing very well. It’s a complete lie. You have so far performed dismally, with no spark to ignite national passion and enthusiasm.

No endearing leadership traits, have so far been exhibited to key Nigerians into line.

“Be informed that Nigerians are very interesting and impatient people, easy to govern, difficult to satisfy, and impossible to tyrannise, intimidate or browbeat.

“Vain Shuttle Diplomacy “Your missions to Niger Republic, Chad, G7 and AU in South Africa cannot help us. No slave masters like those western imperialists and neo-colonial slave drivers, will want freedom for slaves or servants.

Our neighbours who are jealous of our size and natural wealth, have always loathed us.

“These countries won’t help you Sir, beyond mere tokenism, crumbs from the masters table.

Don’t tell Nigerians you are not a miracle worker or magician. They won’t listen to you Sir. They want you to approximate the two at once, a merger of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and Prof Peller rolled into one. They expect abracadabra from you.

“I support you Sir. Nigerians support you greatly. But, so far, your performance has been below average. Certainly not what Nigerians are yearning for. Time is not on your side, whether in age or in performance. The clock is ticking away. Very fast. Inexorably. Seize the sliding tide before it is too late, sir.

“Tell your media aides to scrutinise the social

Now This “The Amicable Resolution of NASS Crisis “It is gratifying to note that NASS has finally resolved its crisis, which threatened to tear APC apart and snowball into a national calamity of monumental proportions. It took PMB only 20 minutes to give a hard talk to the warring factions. The meaning of this is twofold. First, PMB can assume leadership of APC and call the shots, without necessarily interfering in the internal affairs of a separate arm of government. the National Assembly. In other words, he cannot act like chichidodo bird envisaged by Ayi Kwei Armah, the authoritative Ghanaian author, in his epic novel, “The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born”, which hates human excrements with a passion, but feeds on maggots that wriggle out of human faeces. Lesson: Be in charge without interfering.

“Second, whilst party supremacy should be encouraged and respected, it has its limit, which is that it must never dictate to any of the three arms of government under its governance. It must restrict itself to policy formulation and party path finding, but never to act as a tyrant that dictates to duly elected representatives of the people. PDP did it, and got its fingers badly burnt and its toes badly bruised.

“Are Nigerians, PMB, APC, Proprietors and Managers of the old football clubs of those glorious days, Enugu Rangers, Raccah Rovers of Kano, Mighty Jets of Jos, Bendel Insurance football club of Benin, IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan, Stationery Stores football club of Lagos, and the Nigerian Football Federation, reading, digesting and utilising these tips, these Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 “The Great Gatsby” recollections, where, in his magnum opus, this celebrated Author explored the themes of idealism, resistance to change, social upheaval and decadence, amongst others? For their future improvement? All from the unputdownable weekly Sunday sermon on the Mount of the Nigerian project, by Chief Mike A. A. Ozekhome, SAN, OFR?”. (The end).

Serious and Trivial “Instead of buying insecticide N1k, why don’t you allow the mosquitoes bite you then buy malaria drugs N600 and suya N400”. - Anonymous.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK “A self-fulfilling prophecy is an assumption or prediction that, purely as a result of having been made, cause the expected or predicted event to occur and thus, confirms its own 'accuracy.” (Paul Watzlawick)

13.9.2022

/XI

XII/

13.9.2022

13.9.2022

/XIII

XIV/

13.9.2022

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/XV

XVI/

13.9.2022

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022

23

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

A T

REPO

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

08056356325

S E P T E M B E R

S & P INDEX

1 2 , 2 0 2 2

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OPR

11.25%

CALL

10.25%

INDEX LEVEL

613.31%

1/4 TO DATE

-0.85%

N416.86/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

11.50%

1-MONTH

9.56%

1-DAY

0.16%

YEAR TO DATE

7.64%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10.52%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.44%

At 182.4m Barrels Deficit, Nigeria Barely Able to Drill Half of Projected 2022 Oil Output

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Pegged against the country’s oil benchmark of 1.88 million barrels per day in the 2022 budget, the country’s crude production only hit 51.3 per cent of the forecast between January and August, THISDAY analysis of latest data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has revealed.

Specifically, Nigeria was only able to produce a cumulative 283.77 million barrels during the period as against the 466.2 million barrels forecast in the 2022 budget for the period.

In addition, with a 58.2 million barrels per month estimate approved benchmark by the national assembly in December 2021, the difference between actual and projected output was a whopping 182.47 million barrels in unproduced oil.

Nigeria’s oil sector challenges have recently worsened, with production hitting a record low of 972,394 barrels per day in August, according to the NUPRC data reported by THISDAY last week.

The development marked a new low in the over a year-long downward spiral in Nigeria’s capacity to drill enough oil to

boost its desperately needed foreign exchange even at a time that the commodity has continued to sell around a rarely seen price of $100.

The decrease below the 1 million bpd mark in production in August despite months of assurances of planned improvement by the Nigerian authorities, was more than 10 per cent compared to the previous month.

However, with an estimated price of $100 per barrel for the period, the review showed that while a $46.62 billion gross value was supposed to be realised from sales of 1.88 million barrels in eight months, only $28.3 billion was realised, as

the country continued to experience production shortages.

On a daily basis, production for July 2022 averaged 1.083 million barrels per day; in June the country’s production was 1.158 million bpd; it was 1.024 million bpd in May; 1.219 million bpd in April, 1.237 million bpd in March; 1.257 million bpd in February and 1.398 million bpd in January.

The quota given by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to the country for the month of August was 1.826 million barrels per day, meaning that Nigeria under-produced to the tune of

about 853,606 bpd last month.

But the country has recently taken a rash of measures to curtail the oil theft menace, which so far appears to have defied all solutions.

A few of the measures include the renewed deployment of security personnel in the Niger Delta and the real-time monitoring of activities around the pipelines by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

In addition, the national oil firm has introduced the whistleblower strategy as well as the handing over of a N4 billion monthly surveillance contract to exmilitant, Government Ekpemupolo,

popularly known as Tompolo.

The federal government has variously blamed massive oil theft, vandalism of major assets, dilapidated infrastructure as well as declining upstream investment for its inability to drill more of the commodity.

Still on the latest data from the NUPRC, whereas the monthly production projection in the 2022 budget was 58.2 million barrels given the 1.88 million barrels per day forecast, the actual output for the period told a different story.

A breakdown of the data Continued on page 24

Global Consumption of Aquatic Foods Surge by 3% in 61 Years Gilbert Ekugbe The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has stated that global consumption of aquatic foods, excluding algae, has increased at an average annual rate of 3.0 per cent since 1961, reaching 20.2 kilogram per capita.

According to the FAO, the increase is more than double of consumption in the 1960s, adding that the growth in aquaculture,

particularly in Asia, lifted total production of fisheries and aquaculture to an all-time high of 214 million tonnes in 2020.

In a statement obtained from its website tagged, “FAO 2022 Flagship Report,” the United Nation (UN) food body said that the state of world fisheries and aquaculture revealed that aquaculture has witnessed dramatic growth, projecting that consumer demand is expected to drive further expansion.

The statement added that the FAO is committed to the “Blue Transformation,” a visionary initiative to meet the twin challenges of food security and environmental sustainability while ensuring equitable outcomes and gender equality.

The FAO stressed that fisheries and aquaculture could contribute more to improve global food security and nutrition, but advocated that efforts must be stepped up to

FOOD

COMMODITIES

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

RICE

100KG

ABUJA

N23,000–N25,000

SORGHUM

50KG

OYO

N22,000-N25,000

50KG

PLATEAU (JOS)

N23,500-N25,000

50KG

KWARA N24,000–N27,000

50KG

LAGOS

50KG

RIVERS N23,000–N26,500

50KG 50KG

ensure further development is efficient, inclusive and sustainable while recognising the vital role of small-scale fishers and fish farmers.

The FAO Director General, Mr. Qu Dongyu, said at the 35th session of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI35), which is the only global inter-governmental forum that provides recommendations and policy advice to governments, regional fishery bodies, civil society organisations, as well as the private

SIZE

PRICE

STATE

100KG JIGAWA

NAME OF COMMODITY

N9,000

C O C OA

BENUE

N8,500

100KG

KADUNA

N8,500

50KG

ENUGU

N23,000

50KG

LAGOS

N17,000

SOKOTO N11,500–N13,000

100KG

DELTA

N23,000

N17,000–N20,000

100KG

ABIA

N23,000

EDO

to ensure biodiversity conservation and sustainable development of fisheries and aquaculture in the context of a changing climate.”

Qu also announced the launch of the first-ever FAO fish recipe book, the product of his initiative at the last session of COFI, and invited members and FAO staff to share how they experience fish as food in their lives.

Continued on page 24

T O D AY

PRICE

100KG

N23,000–N26,500

sector and international community, said that as the world is facing acute food shortages, fisheries and aquaculture play an increasingly important role in providing food, nutrition and jobs across the world.

Dongyu said: “This week’s COFI meeting will discuss how to grow global aquaculture sustainably and equitably, improve fisheries management and increase efforts to eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, and how

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

1 TON

ONDO

N740,000 – N760,000

1 TON

OSUN

N730,000 – N750,000

1 TON

EDO

N720,000 – N740,000

1 TON

CROSS RIVER

N700,000 – N720,000

1 TON

AKURE SOUTH, ONDO

N730,000 — N755,000

24

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS FOOD

NAME OF COMMODITY

PALM OIL

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

25CL LAGOS N20,000-N25000 25CL

PH

NAME OF COMMODITY

TOMATOES

N19,500 – 25,000

COMMODITIES SIZE

STATE

40KG BENUE

PRICE

N15,000

40KG

KADUNA

N5,000

40KG

ABIA

N18,000

25CL IBADAN N18,000-N22,000 25CL

IMO

N21,000–N24,500

25CL

EDO

N19,000–N21,000

25CL ABUJA

N19500- N25000

25KG LAGOS 40KG DELTA

N9,500 N17000

PRICE

T O D AY

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

ONIONS

100KG

IBADAN

N25,000

100KG

KANO

N10,000

100KG

BENUE

N27,000

100KG GOMBE

N12,000

100KG DELTA

N21,000

100KG LAGOS

N25,000

100KG ENUGU

N15,000

100KG

N29,000

ABIA

NAME OF COMMODITY

MAIZE

LOCATION

PRICE

100KG JIGAWA

N9000

100KG ENUGU

N24000

100KG DELTA

N15000

100KG ABIA

N14000

50KG LAGOS

N13500

SIZE

Report: OPEC+ Production Fell Short by 3.4m bpd in August Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Oil producers subject to quotas raised their output by only 30,000 bpd in August and undershot their combined target by a massive 3.4 million barrels per day, according to data from Argus.

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) coalition was due last month to have fully unwound the

production cuts of 9.7million bpd it agreed in April 2020 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, but many members have struggled to restore supply.

Years of underinvestment combined with the effects of sanctions against Russia and disruption and sabotage elsewhere have left a number of countries producing well below target.

The shortfall of 3.4mn bpd in

August relative to the quota was wider by more than 600,000 bpd on the month, Argus estimates revealed. OPEC member countries with quotas raised supply by only 200,000 bpd, leaving them 1.27 million bpd below their target.

Non-OPEC members of the coalition underperformed to a greater extent, as output fell in Russia and Kazakhstan.

Among OPEC producers,

West African countries were responsible for most of the shortfall. Disruption continues to affect loadings of Forcados, Bonny Light and Brass River in Nigeria. Abuja had sought to implement security measures and meet its quota by the end of August, but came up to over 700,000 b/d short. A lack of investment and declining output at mature fields has also put

a cap on Angolan production.

The decline in west African supply was more than offset by a sharp rebound from Libya, which brought back online fields and terminals following a period of sustained disruption.

Libya, which is exempt from targets, raised its output above 1 million bpd for the first time since March, leaving it 450,000 bpd higher on the month. This

helped push total OPEC output to its highest in over two years at 29.77 million bpd, up by 670,000 bpd in July. Mideast Gulf producers contributed to the increase. Saudi Arabia’s production edged closer to 11 million bpd, a level it has exceeded only twice since 2002 according to the Joint Organisation Data Initiative (Jodi) data.

NEITI to Activate MoUs with NFIU, EFCC to Recover N900bn Outstanding Oil Sector Debts Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) may activate its recent Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to recover an outstanding sum of N900 billion owed government by the oil sector.

The Dr Ogbonnaya Orjiled organisation has in the last couple of months begun collaboration with anti-graft agencies to ramp up collections from some companies operating in the industry.

Speaking in Abuja during an interview with journalists, Orji explained that the audit report had earlier resulted in the recovery of N1.5 trillion outstanding debts from taxes and fees from oil companies.

But he stressed that there was yet an outstanding N900 billion adding that NEITI may

activate its MoUs to ensure full recovery.

He recalled that the 2019 NEITI oil and gas audit report had revealed that 77 companies were owing oil Value Added Tax (VAT), Withholding Tax, Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) totaling about N2.6 trillion.

Orji added that prior to the NEITI pronouncement on the

N2.6 trillion debt, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) recovered $810 million while the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NURPC) was able to collect $1.416 billion amounting to $2.226 billion.

According to him, between 2021 and so far in 2022, the agency worked with the National Assembly review

committee and pushed the debtors to pay more. From this, he explained that FIRS got $662.9 million while NUPRC got $913.5 million, reaching $1.576 billion or N600 billion.

NEITI said the outstanding taxes and fees from the oil companies remained at about $2.674 billion with $18.98 million for FIRS and $2.655

billion for NUPRC, which is an expected N1.07 trillion for Nigeria.

He explained that this would be updated in the 2021 report planned for release this year.

The industry extractive industries watchdog conducts is empowered to conduct financial, physical as well as process audit yearly to

probe cash flows in Nigeria’s extractive sector.

In the 2019 NEITI report, it stated that 77 oil and gas companies owed the federal government over N2.6 trillion in petroleum profit tax, company income tax, education tax, value added tax, withholding tax, royalties, penalties and concession on rentals.

Shell: We Are Spending Significantly Higher Security Bills in Nigeria Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Shell Nigeria says it is spending a significantly higher amount to secure its assets in Nigeria, stating that the measures it had taken to prevent illegal actions on its facilities in Nigeria were way beyond the precautions it had taken in other countries where it operates.

In its 2021 Briefing Notes, Shell disclosed that majority of the oil spills recorded in the Niger Delta were caused by “crude oil theft, the sabotage of oil and gas production facilities, and illegal oil refining, including the distribution

of illegally refined products.”

Specifically, it noted that in 2021, in all its oil and gas operations globally, Nigeria solely accounted for all the oil spills it recorded, that was caused by sabotage and crude oil theft.

Sweet Crude reported the company as stating that while the number of oil spills caused by theft and sabotage dropped by 13.11 per cent from 122 in 2020, to 106 in 2021, the volume of oil spilled increased by 120 per cent to 3,300 tonnes, from 1,500 tonnes in 2020.

It further noted that as a result of heightened security risks, production had to be suspended in some areas.

It stated that six people working for a contractor, in one of the joint ventures that it operates, were killed in 2021, in addition to a government security agent who was also killed.

According to the multinational, seven other people were injured, when gunmen attacked a convoy of buses travelling to the Assa North/Ohaji South gas development project site.

Following the attack, the company stated that its subsidiary operating the asset, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), immediately stopped work on the site, noting that work would resume on

the site when the partners are satisfied that security has been restored around the project site.

To reduce spills caused by theft and sabotage, the oil major disclosed that over the years, it had continued to introduce a number of measures, noting that in 2021, it sustained the on-ground surveillance of its areas of operation, including its pipeline network, to mitigate third-party interference and ensure the detection of spills, as well as ensure quick response to spills.

“SPDC has introduced antitheft protection mechanisms

for key infrastructure such as well heads and manifolds. A programme to protect well heads with steel cages continues to help deter theft.

“In 2021, a total of 283 cages were installed, including 62 that were upgraded with closed-circuit television (CCTV). This compared with a total of 364 installed cages by the end of 2020.

“The year-on-year reduction is a result of the 2021 divestment of SPDC’s interest in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 17. In 2021, 29 breaches were successful, out of around 1,700 registered attempts,” it stated.

GLOBAL CONSUMPTION OF AQUATIC FOODS SURGE BY 3% IN 61 YEARS Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Deputy Business Editor Chinedu Eze Comms/e-Business Editor Emma Okonji Asst. Editor, Money Market Nume Ekeghe Senior Correspondent Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) KayodeTokede(CapitalMarkets) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Reporters Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy) Ugo Aliogo (Development)

The book combined food recipes from around the world with FAO’s technical information on the ecology, sustainability and nutritional content of the fish used in the recipes, some submitted by renowned chefs.

He said: “We can all do more, and we must continue to listen to the voices and needs of smallscale, fishers, fish farmers and fish workers. We are paying tribute to the “women, men, youth,

indigenous peoples and rural communities who are the backbone of the small-scale fisheries and aquaculture sub-sectors.

“Today, we are here to recognize and support this historic, yet

dynamic and innovative way of living, and to preserve it for future generations.”

Qu stressed the importance of developing national plans and strategies in support of small-scale

fisheries and aquaculture, building on established instruments such as the voluntary guidelines for securing sustainable small-scale fisheries in the context of food security and poverty eradication.

AT 182.4M BARRELS DEFICIT, NIGERIA BARELY ABLE TO DRILL HALF OF PROJECTED 2022 OIL OUTPUT indicated that there has been a steady decline in production levels. In January, total crude oil production output was 43,353,723 barrels; in February, it was 35,217,997 barrels while in March, production was 38,364,770 barrels.

In April, production fell to 36,576,449 barrels; in May, it fell further to 31,755,488 barrels while in June, July and August, the data showed that output were 34,748,214; 33,600,878 and 30,144,212 million barrels respectively.

Speaking on the situation recently, the Group Chief Executive

of the NNPCL, Mallam Mele Kyari said the increasing rate of vandalism had caused massive disruptions in oil production noting that it was the worst the country had ever witnessed.

“As we speak now, there is massive disruption to our operations as a result of the activities of vandals and criminals along our pipelines in the Niger Delta area. This has brought down our production to levels as low as we have never seen before,” he stated, but added that the company was “not hopeless.”

A significant improvement may, however, be experienced soon when the repair work on Forcados, a key Nigerian oil terminal is expected to be completed in late September, comes on stream.

The repairs to a subsea hose have stopped exports of Forcados crude, which is the single largest export grade.

Last week, THISDAY reported that with an estimated average oil price of $100 for the month, the country lost as much as $756 million to shut-ins in July,

according to an analysis of data from NNPCL. Aside the Forcados terminal which curtailed supply to the tune of 258,000 barrels as a result of the closure of the facility, following reports of a ‘sheen’ in the vicinity of the facility, a number of other facilities have also been negatively impacted. The Forcados asset is operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

Bonny terminal has also been taking a hit, with force majeure declared as a result of the shutdown of the terminal. The facility lost a

humongous 3.545 million barrels in July.

Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer and a member of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has tried to stamp out sabotage on its pipeline network in recent years without much success.

Some operators have said they receive as little as 5 per cent of crude volumes pumped through the TNP pipeline, for instance, reflecting a larger issue for the country which is already facing shrinking investment in the sector.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022

25

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Spain: Agriculture Infrastructure in Nigeria Significantly Underdeveloped The Chief Executive Officer, Pandagric Novum Limited, Mr. Bruce Spain, in this interview with THISDAY shares his thoughts on the rising cost of poultry feeds in the country and his plan to become number one choice producer of poultry feeds in Nigeria. Gilbert Ekugbe brings the excerpts According to the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), agri-food systems are failing because of drought, flood, COVID-19, insecurity, etc. What is your thought on these as they affect global food security? he agricultural infrastructure in the country is significantly underdeveloped.

This leads to enormous challenges within the value chain and the agricultural industry. One challenge is low yields. Low yields are not a result of the climate because Nigeria has fantastic rainfall and good heat units. It is mainly because of the available plant genetics and general farming practices implemented in the country. Another challenge is commodity market stability, which leads to enormous unpredictable swings in commodity availability and price in the market.

This is because of the fragmentation and lack of formalisation in the trading space. Once we move towards improved data availability across the industry and adopt formalised platforms that farmers can gather information from, we will notice predictability in the market. The risks around food security are not necessarily a result of COVID or drought.

It is around having the right genetics and right farming practices within the agriculture space and moving towards formalisation of the buying and selling of commodities. Finally, the road and transport infrastructure across the country are severely hampered, due to the tough economic state of the country. The road networks in the rural areas are underdeveloped, which means that majority of the commodities from the farms are brought on small vehicles or motorbikes which is an inefficient way of transportation because there are no centralised aggregation points. There are small markets where farmers bring their produce and it gets aggregated in a small way. The produce moves on to a larger market and is aggregated in a larger manner before it gets to the final consumers. In this process, the produce is transported multiple times on different-sized vehicles which add costs to the actual logistics part of the commodity pricing. This makes the commodities quite expensive and leads to food insecurity.

T

You will agree that Nigeria’s food import cost is quite huge at $22 billion annually.

What advice can you give to the federal government to bring this down to the barest minimum?

This is one of our key driving focuses at Pandagric because it is a value-adding area. As a country, we need to reduce imports and become net exporters of agricultural commodities with a focus on our yields. The yield is critical and it comes down to crop genetics, plant varieties, and improved farming practices. At Pandagric, we primarily farm and consume maize and soy.

The national average for maize cultivation sits around about 1.5 tonnes per hectare or less.

Our target is to achieve over 10 tonnes per hectare in the coming few years. However, if we can double our national average of maize from 1.5 tonnes per hectare to 3 tonnes per hectare using good genetics and good maize varieties, then we will double our output in a single year. Nigeria very quickly will become a net exporter of maize and create food security.

In addition, we will reduce the amount of environmental impact associated with opening and farming more land, particularly focusing on improved genetics and improved registration of solid varieties. We can get those into the farming communities and start to see yields and agricultural output rise in Nigeria.

How vital is agricultural technology in addressing food losses? From an agro technology perspective, there are information technology apps, improved genetics technology, improved fertilization practices, and all other technologies, specifically, food waste management technology.

Farmers often experience post-harvest losses where they do not have a guaranteed market and cannot immediately sell their farming produce, and thus, suffer degradation of product quality.

Through information technology, we can create links for the farmers to have a guaranteed off take when he needs to sell and not when he is forced to sell. There are a lot of apps that create this digital market for farmers to link with buyers in a strong, cohesive manner. There are other technology schemes, like storage technologies that enable farmers to look after their commodities and avoid post-harvest losses.

Can you describe Nigeria’s poultry feed value chain, its challenges and prospects?

When we think of the poultry feed value chain, the inputs are a key focus area. The challenges we face within the country across

Spain the value chain with relation to the production of high-quality feeds, sit primarily with the availability of raw materials, and pricing predictability. Over the last year, the price of feed increased by 100 per cent. This continually affects the upstream value chain, farmers’ production costs, and the ultimate price of poultry products that go into the market. There is also a challenge in the transportation networks in getting the finished feeds to the farmers.

The general quality of feeds is another challenge. It is important that farmers adopt the appropriate hygiene and management practices to benefit from high-quality feeds. With these challenges come enormous opportunities. Pandagric has an opportunity to transform the lowest stream value chain through the work that we do. We focus primarily on raw materials. We have a large commercial farm where we invest significantly in understanding the right methods, protocols, and frameworks for achieving high yields on maize and soy, which are the core ingredients that go into feed. This will ultimately result in the improvement of the quality of the inputs that go into feed, couple with the possibility of cost reduction.

We are investing significantly in feed technology. There are different types of feeds being produced in the country; some of reasonable quality and some of particularly poor quality.

We do not want to increase the cost of feed but we want to make sure that farmers are receiving high-level performance feeds. By investing in research and working with local and international poultry specialists, we can formulate the feed suited to the Nigerian poultry farmer which makes them profitable and in the long run, it translates to industry growth. Thus, we do performance monitoring of our feed, look at how farmers grow their chickens and formulate diets to meet their farming practices to drive eventual cost-down and make feed and farming more affordable and profitable for the farmers.

What plans do you have in terms of product innovation and development?

Pandagric works with international poultry specialists, as well as local specialists in Nigeria. With our international partners and specialists, we are aware of appropriate technologies and include them in the formulation and production of our own feeds.

From a nutrition and feed formulation perspective, we are using international best practices. In addition, we work with feed milling technologies to make

sure that we are producing in the most efficient possible manner.

How do you cope with competition and maintain customer loyalty? We do not necessarily worry about competition.

Nigeria is a big country with over 200

million people. There is space for everyone to participate. We focus on our mission to be the number one choice producer of feeds.

Our core strategy is to have the correct supply chain of raw materials, either from our own farm, throughout-grower farmers around us, or chosen suppliers who can supply the right quality because quality raw materials will result in a quality finished product. We focus on ensuring profitability for farmers and if we remain focused on these areas, farmers will naturally understand the value they get from using Supreme Feeds.

Where do you see Supreme Feeds in the next five years? We have a great vision for what we want to achieve in five years. Our key mission is to be the number one choice producer. So, we expect to be within the top five producers in Nigeria, but we aim to be the first choice for customers and poultry farmers that are commercial and profitability-focused.

We want to support the commercial players in the poultry market because we know that they can fully extract the value that we offer from Supreme Feeds.

What were some of the outcomes of the recently concluded 2022 Distributors Conference? The conference was extremely successful. The Distributors’ Conference was our opportunity to recognize and appreciate those clients, distributors, and partners that have been with us over the last 12 months.

During the conference, we expected to get some feedback from the market in terms of what our distributors want beyond consistency in quality and stability in the supply that we offer. Our strap line for the conference was ‘Partners for Growth’. So, we wanted to know how to aid their growth, whether through finance for working capital or capital expenditure, business technology or training through our existing networks. The feedback we received will be useful in shaping our strategy over the next 12 months.

26

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022 • T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 09Sept-2022, unless otherwise stated.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Dollar Fund N/A N/A N/A AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AIICO Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 7.45% Anchoria Equity Fund 139.57 141.15 0.23% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.17 1.17 2.55% info@anchoriaam.com ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 21.12 21.76 4.14% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 509.13 524.49 12.85% ARM Ethical Fund 42.45 43.73 8.97% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.08 1.08 0.25% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.06 1.06 4.25% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.09% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 93.03 93.03 -3.89% AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Naira 1,080.69 1,080.69 8.07% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 143.09 144.09 7.53% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.82% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) N/A N/A N/A CAPITALTRUST INVESTMENTS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED halalfif@capitaltrustnigeria.com Web: www.capitaltrustnigeria.com; Tel: 08061458806 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Capitaltrust Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.02 1.02 5.85% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.20% Paramount Equity Fund 19.12 19.47 9.86% Women's Investment Fund 146.14 147.92 2.96% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 9.74% Cordros Milestone Fund 130.99 131.91 5.29% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 111.09 111.09 4.97% CORONATION ASSETS MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com, Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 9.37% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 10.38% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,117.94 1,137.60 0.58% EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-asset-management-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.87% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.04 1.04 8.69% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.04 1.04 4.28% Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 103.32 103.32 2.13% FBNQUEST ASSETS MANAGEMENT LIMITED invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Bond Fund 1501.21 1501.21 11.47% FBN Balanced Fund 194.28 195.61 10.85% FBN Halal Fund 123.34 123.34 10.72% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 10.18% FBN Dollar Fund (Retail) 125.80 125.80 6.02% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 159.97 162.13 5.95% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.55% Legacy Debt Fund 3.56 3.56 -11.08% Legacy Equity Fund 1.89 1.92 8.47% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.24 1.24 2.79% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn

Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

N/A N/A N/A

N/A N/A N/A

N/A N/A N/A

FSDH Dollar Fund N/A N/A N/A GUARANTY TRUST FUND MANAGERS LIMITED 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 10.10% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.93 2.97 2.88% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 6.00% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 142.73 142.73 4.01% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.23 1.27 2.20% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.06 1.06 0.78% 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 1.61 1.64 13.36% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,168.54 1,168.54 6.42% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: www.meristemwealth.com/funds/; Tel: +2348028496012 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 12.12 12.20 11.25% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 9.09% NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 102.48 102.48 9.67% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 11.43% 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 1.63 1.67 3.82% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.82 11.87 5.85% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 7.82% PACAM Equity Fund 1.42 1.43 -0.26% PACAM EuroBond Fund 119.80 122.85 5.25% 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 125.10 127.65 0.05% 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 1.06 1.06 9.24% 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 3,535.70 3,569.66 4.38% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 241.61 241.61 2.56% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.39 1.41 11.11% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 325.88 325.88 4.07% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 258.37 262.20 10.77% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.31% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 11,792.53 11,953.36 8.09% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.34 1.34 3.59% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 119.67 119.67 2.36% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 112.15 112.15 5.42% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Equity Fund 0.95 0.98 7.67% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.34 1.36 2.82% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.12 1.14 8.84% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.08 1.08 4.94% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 1.91 1.91 4.33% United Capital Eurobond Fund 123.17 123.17 3.95% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.48% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund 13.61 13.73 3.16% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 15.60 15.75 6.67% Zenith Income Fund 23.10 23.10 5.25% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.12% VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD funds@vetiva.com Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund 3.82 3.92 -4.73% Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund 6.03 6.13 3.13% Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund 17.96 18.16 1.58% Vetiva Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.33% Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund 17.84 18.04 -10.65% Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund 140.44 142.44 -10.92%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

118.56 51.93

4.66% 2.11%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

14.18 127.30 99.04 16.40 17.10

14.28 130.54 101.21 16.50 17.20

1.37% 0.16% -0.72% -2.87% 15.38%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.59

0.00%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund MERGROWTH ETF MERVALUE ETF

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

27

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2022

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT African, Global Leaders Meet in Rotterdam, Say Continent Needs Climate Adaptation Action Bennett Oghifo

A

frican and other global leaders have rallied in Rotterdam, to highlight the urgency of climate adaptation funding for the continent.

The meetings that were held two months to the 27th global climate summit (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt, was

co-convened by the President of the African Development Bank Group Dr Akinwumi Adesina, CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) Professor Patrick Verkooijen, and African Union Commission Chair Mousa Faki Mahamat—was unanimous about the need for concrete action and finance.

Former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and GCA Co-Chair said: “The world has a fever. It

burns hotter and higher with every day that passes… Statistics tell us that Africa is where the fever is at its most intense and people at the most vulnerable.”

GCA Co-Chair and Honorary Chairman of Royal DSM Feike Sijbesma spoke about the importance of support from the global private sector. He said 80% of the funding for adaptation needs to come from the private sector in both the developed

north and the developing south.

GCA Chief Executive Officer Patrick Verkooijen emphasized the disastrous impacts of climate change hitting all parts of the world. He said it is in Africa, however, that climate shocks will hit the hardest. He said Africa was resolute about its economic advancement and would not stop. “Adaptation in Africa is like climbing a mountain. With all of you here today, we have

the dream team that will climb the mountain together.”

Verkooijen added: “The next summit after today is Sharm El-Sheikh, the Africa COP. But success in Egypt will hinge on whether Africa’s needs are met or not. Africa has the commitment and the plan. That plan is the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAA-P). It is Africadeveloped and Africa-owned.

It was launched by Africa’s

leaders, who are here today. It is the vehicle for delivering the Africa Adaptation Initiative.”

Established in 2020 by the GCA and the African Development Bank, the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program lies at the center of climate action on the African continent. Participants acknowledged Verkooijen’s and Adesina’s joint efforts as the driving forces behind the program.

Collapsed Building at Oniru Estate, Lagos 9-Storey, Not 7, Says BCPG Bennett Oghifo The Building Collapse Prevention Guld (BCPG), a non governmental organisation, has said that the unfortunate incident of the collapse of a building at 11,

Oba Idowu Oniru Road, Oniru Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos has again exposed the inaccuracy and lack of understanding in the use of the terminology, ‘Storey’ in this part of the world.

Chairman, Lagos State

Chapter, Building Collapse Prevention Guild, QS. Mrs. Adekemi Okusaga, FNIQS, said this in a statement, explaining that “The collapsed building was referred to severally in the media as a seven- storey

Waste Managers Insist on Recycling for Better Environment Fadekemi Ajakaiye Members of Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN), has said that sustainable waste management in the country will depend greatly on a circular economy’recycling.

They expressed this position at their 2021 Annual General Meeting, held in Lagos, at the weekend.

President of AWAMN, David Oriyomi said circular economy was the new approach to waste management, and that the era of collecting refuse, transporting and disposing it by waste managers had gone.

Oriyomi said waste managers were now “looking into the issue of recycling to make sure that all the recyclables are sorted out, sold to the relevant sectors for the purpose of recycling thereby generating income for waste generators and pickers.”

According to him “Our association has written to the state government for collaboration and to ensure that it pilots the affairs of recycling and circular economy. ”Recently, we even travelled outside Nigeria to see what they are doing vis a vis the issue of circular economy. We are glad to tell you that we are making a bold move in this direction to make sure that we reap the most out of recycling.”

Also, the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), has said it is determined to begin the enforcement of use of waste bins by Lagos households in January 2023.

The Managing Director of LAWMA, Ibrahim Odumboni, who stated this during the AWAMN’s AGM, said Odumboni said LAWMA would collaborate with AWAMN to ensure that households used bins to dispose the waste they

generated appropriately, insisting that households in the state ought to have two bins – one for plastics and the other for organic waste, thereby, ensuring sorting of waste, a step toward circular economy.

He said the authority had printed out the first batch of 250,000 abatement notices, and from Oct. 1 would issue them to households that do not own bins, pointing out that the law stipulated a minimum fine of N50,000 and maximum of three months imprisonment for erring individuals.

He said, ”So, we are going to enforce it now. We are going to give them a notice on October 1, and by January 1, 2023, the three months period has gone, we will then start enforcing the law.”

The public affairs officer of AWAMN, Olugbenga Adebola, said the association “is now thinking of handling waste in a modern way, by going circular economy.”

NCF Offers to Assist Banks in Achieving NSBP Fadekemi Ajakaiye The Director-General of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Dr. Joseph Onoja has said the foundation was interested in the environmental and social impact of the Nigerian Sustainable Banking Principles (NSBP) to promote environmental sustainability.

The NSBP are guidelines for managing environmental and social risks, footprints, and governance, as well as improving human rights and women’s economic empowerment, among others.

This was one of the highlights at the opening of a two-day workshop on “The Nigerian Sustainable Banking Principles,” in Lagos, recently.

Onoja said the NCF wants to understand how the NSBP was implemented, the challenges and gaps. “We as NCF engage in this process so that we will see where we can plug in,

where we can bring expertise from within and without.

“To be able to help banks, or even the CBN or other groups to be able to push this agenda forward.

“When we have healthy banking principles, we will have a healthy environment and promote environmental conservation, which is our life support system.”

In a keynote address, the Managing Director, of Access Bank Plc., Mr. Roosevelt Ogbonna, who was represented by Omobolanle Victor-OLaniyan, said sustainability is a philosophy and value system.

Ogbonna said, “Sustainability dictates that organisational activities must not only benefit its staff and shareholders but also its customers and the wider economy, while at the same time preventing any undue effects on society and the natural environment.”

Ogbonna said the increas-

ing threat of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic has caused threats in sustainability to rapidly accelerate with more energy being put into lasting solutions to shape our future.

According to him, the NSBP were guidelines for managing environmental and social risks, footprints, and governance, as well as improving human rights and women’s economic empowerment, etc.

The CEO of Flame Consulting, Mr. Orji Udumezue, said, “There is widespread commendable progress by most banks by paying more attention to energy consumption, carbon footprints, waste management, paper usage, and water management.”

An area of success on the NSBPs, he said, was that Nigerian banks were now being sustainability certified by global authorities in sustainable development.

building while in fact it was a nine- storey building. This wrong description is a misnomer that has grave implications. The attached photograph of the building before it collapsed revealed that it had a ground floor, 7 suspended slabs/floors and a penthouse floor making a total of 9-storeys. As observed in the photograph and video clips of the building while it was still standing, the ninth storey, which was on top of the building, was a penthouse.

“The importance of appropriate determination of the height of a collapsed building cannot be overemphasised. In the post mortem analysis or investigation, knowing the actual number of storeys would show if the building exceeded or complied with the approved building plan or the height restrictions in the model city plan of that area ( density regulation ). Moreover, the number of storeys is a critical variable in the structural calculation and analysis of loadings exerted on the foundation of the collapsed building.”

She said there was a significant difference in the sizes, types and details of the foundations expected to carry a 7-storey building and those of a 9-storey building, with varying degrees of soil bearing capacity.

She said, “In building lexicology, the meaning and use of storey is constant and the same across the world. However, conflict exists in the Britanica and American use of ‘Floor’ in the counting of a building height.

Ground floor in Britain means first floor in America. The need to correct the constant wrong use of ‘Storey’ in Nigeria is very important.”

The meaning of storey is the same all over the world. Storey is defined as the floor or level in a building, including rooms on that floor. This means that a storey extends from the floor to the ceiling or suspended slab. It is used for horizontal division of buildings.

Hence, a bungalow which usually is a house that has only the ground floor is a one-storey building. A building that has a ground floor and an upper floor is a two-storey

The building on before its collapse

9mobile, FCT to Host Essay Competition on How Overpopulation Impacts Environment Fadekemi Ajakaiye Riding on UNESCO’s International Literacy Day marked on September 8 annually, Nigeria’s telecom provider and youth-friendly brand, 9mobile, has announced the introduction of an essay competition for senior secondary schools’ students in the country beginning with Abuja. The telco announced the competition at a media conference to kickoff the competition’s call for entries.

Speaking on the rationale behind the initiative, the Executive Director, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, 9mobile, Abdulrahman Ado, represented by the PR Lead, 9mobile, Chineze Amanfo reiterated the company’s commitment in contributing and strengthening the education sector in the country.

She said, “At 9mobile, we understand that young people are the bedrock of change, and it is imperative to support them when it comes to cultivating values that promote environmental sustainability.

These values will shape their behavior and help to change society for the better. This year’s essay competition is

exclusive to Senior Secondary School students in FCT, Abuja in collaboration with the FCT Education Secretariat.”

“In coming up with this initiative, we have carefully constituted a team of a reputable panel of Judges with impeccable track record and qualifications who have designed judging criteria to evaluate entries such that only the best emerges as overall winner,” Amanfo added.

According to Amanfo, the competition, which has as its theme, ‘How is overpopulation becoming a global pandemic to the environment?’ will be focused on the environment and sustainability awareness.

Speaking further on the mode of entry and submission deadline, Amanfo emphasized that entry is free and that the call for entries will last for two weeks to enable students to submit their entries. The submission deadline will be September 22, 2022, and judging will commence thereafter.

The Director of Admin & Finance, Education Secretariat, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Mallam Leramoh Abdulrazaq, on behalf of the Secretary for Education, Hon. Sani Dahir El-katuzu, lauded

9mobile for the well-thoughtout initiative and expressed the willingness to collaborate and provide the necessary support to ensure the success of the essay competition in FCT, Abuja. He underscored the importance of improving the writing skills of students and called on other brands to emulate the good work 9mobile is doing.

A member of the panels of judges, Johnson Abbaly who spoke on behalf of the other judges said, “We have been fully briefed and we will justify the confidence reposed in us by doing a thorough job that will be seen by all to be transparent and fair to all participants. He emphasized that only one entry per school will be accepted.” “All entries will be sent online to 9mobileenvironmentessay@gmail.com and the top 10 entries will be shortlisted, thereafter there will be a virtual engagement with the short-listed candidates by the judges to enable the contestants to defend their entries.

Announcement of the winners will be made on September 30, 2022, and winners will be presented with their prizes at the 9mobile regional office in Abuja,” Abbaly added.

28

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯͱ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Ecobank Group CEO to Retire, Awori Appointed Incoming CEO Nume Ekeghe Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), the parent company of the Ecobank Group, yesterday announced that the current Group Chief Executive Officer, Ade Ayeyemi, will retire after he attains the age of 60, in accordance with ETI policy.

The bank in a statement said the Board of Directors selected Jeremy Awori to succeed Ade Ayeyemi as Group Chief Executive Officer.

Ecobank Group Chairman, Alain Nkontchou, thanked Ade for his immense contribution during his seven years at the helm of the Ecobank Group as Group CEO. He added that, “Ade can be rightly proud of his success in leading the implementation of the Roadmap to Leadership strategy, navigating Ecobank through challenges, seizing opportunities, and positioning Ecobank for sustainable long-term growth. Ade’s deep knowledge, unrivaled vision, commitment

and infinite passion made all the difference. It has been a real pleasure working with him.

I count on his continuous support to ensure a smooth transition as we onboard Jeremy Awori as the new Group CEO.” “Jeremy Awori is a highly respected leader in the banking industry with significant achievements in his previous capacities.

The Board of Directors strongly believes that his drive and strong focus on results will be vital in steering the Group in its next phase” Alain Nkontchou stated.

Ayeyemi expressed his deep gratitude for the opportunity to lead the Ecobank Group and stated: “It is a privilege to lead an amazing team of Ecobankers in bringing the Ecobank Group back to growth and continuing to realise our commendable pan-African mandate.” He also expressed his commitment to a smooth transition and onboarding of his successor.

The incoming Group CEO,

Jeremy Awori, responding to the announcement of his appointment said: “It is a great honour to be appointed Ecobank Group’s Chief Executive Officer. I look forward to consolidating the transformation of Ecobank, a truly pan-African institution full of talented people, while innovating to create value for all Ecobank’s stakeholders. I am humbled by the opportunity to contribute to the continent’s economic development and financial integration with Ecobank Group.”

Jeremy Awori is joining Ecobank Group following a twenty-five-year long career in the banking industry, with almost a decade leading Absa Bank Kenya Plc as the CEO & Managing Director.

Before joining Absa, Jeremy held multiple leadership roles at Standard Chartered Bank across the Middle-East and Africa. He brings a wealth of experience, skills, and industry know-how to the Ecobank Group.

R-L: President and Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) Mr. Oluwole Adeosun presenting a plaque to Group Head, Agric and Solid Minerals Finance, Sterling Bank Plc, Dr. Olushola Obikanye at the 26th annual conference of CIS held in Benin City, Edo State over the weekend

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

MTN Nigeria Considers N23bn CP Issuance Kayode Tokede MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has announced plans to issue N23billion series 3 Commercial Paper (CP) notes under its N150billion CP issuance programme.

The Company who announced the plans on the floor of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) said the CP is an unsecured debt instrument issued typically for the financing of a firm’s short-term liabilities.

The telecommunication giant in a notification signed by its Company secretary, Uto Ukpanah said the issuance is part of the company’s strategy to diversify its financing op-

tions with the funds deployed towards working capital and general corporate purposes.

MTN Nigeria had issuance a historic N127 billion Series 1 & 2 CP under its registered N150 billion programme.

The issuance consisted of two tenors – a 184-day series issuance priced at a 7.50 per cent yield and a 254-day Series 2 issuance priced at an 8.50per cent yield.

While speaking at the signing ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria Communication, Mr Karl Toriola had said the N127 billion CP issuance would go into the record books as the largest CP issuance in Nigeria.

According to him, “The success of our CP issuance is a clear demonstration of the strength and acceptance of the MTN brand, and the trust placed by the investor community in MTN Nigeria’s company’s leadership, strong financial performance and corporate strategy.”

He noted that MTN Nigeria with the completion of the N127 billion CP aimed at improving customer services and high-quality bouquet services that included 5G spectrum that awaits regulatory approval.

“This CP allows us funding at an efficient rate to continue our products deployment and distribution network,” he said.

MacTay Launches Employee Ambassador Program Oluchi Chibuzor MacTay, one of Africa’s leading management consulting firms has launched its first-ever employee ambassador program, designed to leverage employees’ expertise, experience, and network to position the brand strategically and its offerings locally and globally.

This, the company said, is because employees can be a much more reliable source for broadening a brand’s influence.

Commenting on the launch recently, the head of Communications, MacTay, Omotoyosi Ajayi, said brand promotion should become a part of company culture as their businesses evolve.

According to her, ‘The MacTay Ambassador Program’ (MAP) is aimed at putting MacTay on the map and a collaborative effort between the employees and the company to increase brand awareness and drive sales.

She maintained that the MAP program is a marketing strategy that utilizes MacTay’s message, content, and employee creativity to improve areas of the business-like sales, brand recognition, and corporate reputation. She revealed that the overall goal of the MAP program is to build relationships and partnerships with employees to genuinely align with the company’s content,

product, and services.

“Having dedicated employee advocates who are willing to endorse MacTay personally reflects well on the brand. Brand ambassadorship reflects the quality and value of a brand and customers see this individual endorsement from employees as more organic and credible than the brand’s direct marketing and advertising Employee ambassadors were commissioned as leaders and brand influencers to spread goodwill and spread positive messages about their MacTay experience and brand offerings, which would in turn build brand awareness and positive brand perception, “she said.

Vitafoam Bags West Africa Innovation Excellence Award A frontline manufacturer of rigid foam in Nigeria, Vitafoam Nigeria PLC, has bagged the much-coveted West Africa Innovation Award of Excellence following the company’s continuous development of innovative products and sustenance of exemplary customer care.

Presenting the award at the company’s corporate headquarters in Lagos at the weekend, the Project Director, West Africa Innovation Award, Mr Bidemi Adesanya, explained

that Vitafoam had always been associated with professionalism, quality products and services.

“We looked at the goods, product innovation, quality of product and customer service, professionalism and processes that bring forth the product. Vitafoam excels in all the parameters. We have a panel of judges that comprises respected executives across different sectors both within and outside the country that make the final decision, ”Adesanya said.

Vitafoam’s Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Taiwo Ayodele Adeniyi, who received the Award noted that it was an objective justification of the Company’s unique ways of doing business.

According to him, Vitafoam placed premium on Research and Development while the Company ensures that its products are designed for different segments of the customers, based on the customers’ needs.

(MILLION NAIRA)

JUNE 2022 Money Supply (M3)

48,865,823.53

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

167,956.2

Money Supply (M2)

48,797,867.32

-- Quasi Money

28,405,330.1

-- Narrow Money (M1)

20,392,537.22

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,722,785.91

---- Demand Deposits

17,669,751.32

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

6,242,394.29

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

42,623,429.24

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

57,267,178.05

---- Credit to Government (Net)

17,996,690.06

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

39,270,488

--Other Assets Net

5,566,430

Reserve Money (Base Money

11,320,304

--Currency in Circulation

3,259,269.15

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

11,320,303.72 384,377.56

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

June 2022

Inter-Bank Call Rate

11.10

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

13.00

Treasury Bill Rate

2.45

Savings Deposit Rate

1.38

1 Month Deposit Rate

3.48

3 Months Deposit Rate

4.55

6 Months Deposit Rate

4.97

12 Months Deposit Rate

5.30

Prime Lending rate

12.29

Maximum Lending Rate

27.61

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE ˜ ͵

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).

29

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯͱ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

Stock Market Slips by 0.14% to Commence Week on Negative Note Kayode Tokede The stock market of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) yesterday opened the week on a negative note, reversing prior session gains as the All-Share Index depreciated by 0.14 per cent.

The NGX All-Share Index (ASI) decreased by 69.41 basis points or 0.14 per cent to close at 49,625.71 basis points. Similarly, the overall market capitalisation

size shed N38 billion to close at N26.767 trillion.

Consequently, the year-to-date (YTD) return fell to 16.18per cent.

The downturn was impacted by losses recorded in medium and large capitalised stocks, amongst which are; Beta Glass, Lafarge Africa, NEM Insurance, FBN Holdings (FBNH) and Fidelity Bank.

As measured by market breadth, market sentiment closed at par, recording both 13 gainers

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

and losers. Multiverse Mining and Exploration recorded the highest price gain of 9.32 per cent to close at N2.58, per share.

FTN Cocoa processors followed with a gain 6.67 per cent to close at 32 kobo, while Chams Plc up by 6.45 per cent to close at 33 kobo, per share.

Academy Press went up by 4.76 per cent to close at N2.20, while Regency Alliance Insurance rose by 4.17 per cent to close at 25 kobo, per share.

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

On the other hand, Beta Glass led the losers’ chart by 9.96 per cent, to close at N46.10, per share. NEM Insurance followed with a decline of 7.96 per cent to close at N5.20, while Japaul Gold & Ventures fell by 6.90 per cent to close at 27 kobo, per share.

Fidelity Bank went down by 6.58 to close at N3.41, while FCMB Group shed 5.71 per cent to close at N3.30, per share.

Meanwhile, the total volume

T R A D E D

VALUE TRADED ( N )

MAIN BOARD

A S

traded declined by 72.86 per cent to 86.594 million units valued at N1.170 billion and exchanged in 3,377 deals.

Transactions in the shares of Guaranty Trust Holing Company (GTCO) topped the activity chart with 19.471 million shares valued at N385.589 million.

Sterling Bank followed with 6.213 million shares worth N9.351 million, while Zenith Bank traded 5.915 mil-

O F

1 2

lion shares valued at N118.676 million.

Fidelity Bank traded 5.829 million shares valued at N20.022 million, while Chams transacted 5.634 million shares worth N1.868 million.

Analysts at United Capital Plc said, “looking ahead, we expect market activity to remain quiet, as investors would stay on the sidelines following the continued hike in Nigerian Treasury Bills (NT-Bills) stop rates.”

/ 0 9 / 2 0 2 2 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

30

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2022 • T H I S D AY

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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TUESDAY, ͹ͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

COMMENCEMENT OF THE LEGAL SERVICE YEAR...

L-R: Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; Chief Judge of the state, Mosunmola Dipeolu and the President, Customary Court of Appeal, Mobolaji Ojo, at the Legal Year Service held at St. Peters Cathedral, Ake, Abeokuta…yesterday

Non-release of Funds Threatens Constitution of Election Tribunals, Says Dongban-Mensem Malami: Judges’ welfare uppermost on Buhari's agenda Alex Enumah in Abuja The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica DongbanMensem has warned that the non-release of funds to prosecute the 2023 general elections’ petition tribunals may, "impede plans to constitute the various tribunals and courts," that would handle litigations that may likely arise from the conduct of the 2023 General Elections.

Justice Dongban-Mensem who revealed that the court has put all necessary machineries in place, including the review of the Judicial Electoral Manual, to ensure smooth trial of election cases, lamented that the court was yet to receive necessary funding in that regard.

She made the disclosure yesterday in Abuja, at a ceremony to herald the appellate court’s 2022/2023 legal year.

While noting that election tribunals are an integral part of the electoral process in Nigeria, whose, "function is pivotal to the just and timely resolution of election matters," stressed that it "must be done cautiously, conscientiously and diligently."

The appeal court president added that, "The funds to prosecute the 2023 general election petitions’ tribunals have still not been released."

Barring any last minute changes, the 2023 general elections would commence in February 25, next year, with the conduct of the presidential

and National Assembly elections.

And by provisions of the law any aggrieved contestant not satisfied with the process and outcome of the particular election he or she contested is required to file his or her petition at the tribunal for such case within 21 days from the date results of the particular election were announced.

Dongban-Mensem disclosed that in preparation for the 2023 polls, nominations of judicial officers to serve in the tribunals have been received from the Heads of Courts across the country, including nomination of staff who would man the Registries of the tribunals.

"The Election Judicial Proceedings Practice Directions, 2022 have been reviewed and signed. It will serve as a guide to all stakeholders in providing an improved and efficient electoral adjudicatory process", she said, adding that the usual dispute in each electoral circle has impelled the court to review the Judicial Electoral Manual in order to bring it in line with the Electoral Act, 2022.

She, however, appealed to the relevant authorities to ensure that the funds for running of the tribunals are released urgently because, "the existing tribunals have taken up a whole chunk of the very limited resources of the court."

Meanwhile, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has reiterated that the improvement

of the remuneration and conditions of service of judicial officers remains uppermost on the agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari.

While recalling that one of the cardinal issues raised by the President of the Court of Appeal last year was the issue of the welfare of, "our meticulous and committed judicial officers", the AGF said, "the government of the day is not oblivious of this persistent challenge."

He said while the budget of the Judiciary declined from N95

billion in 2010 to N68 billion in 2014, there was an upward swing in 2015 from N73 billion to N120 billion in 2022 (being the highest in the history of the judiciary).

He said the government also makes special budgetary provision to cater for special assignments associated with national elections.

"The federal government under the leadership of President Buhari will not rest on its oars in its quest for increased funding for the judiciary," he said.

Malami commended the foresight

of the President of the Court of Appeal in taking proactive steps towards an effective discharge of the onerous constitutional mandate over the outcome of elections.

Also speaking, National President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Yakubu Maikyau, who identified the disregard for the rule of law for all the ills plaguing the country, expressed worry that, "none of the presidential candidates for the upcoming 2023 election.... spared any thought on the independence of the judiciary.”

2023: Abiodun Warns Judiciary against Frivolous Court Injunction James Sowole in Abeokuta As the nation prepares for the 2023 general elections, the Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun has admonished officers of the judiciary to be wary of the antics of politicians who would want to use frivolous court injunctions to thwart the smooth running of the poll.

Abiodun gave the advice yesterday, at the Special Church Service to usher in the 2022/2023 legal year held at the Cathedral of St. Peter, Ake, Abeokuta.

The governor noted that the election period has always been the time when politicians use court processes for their selfish end, calling on the judiciary not to allow any politician to tarnish the image of the third arm of

government.

He said, "We are all aware that this country is preparing for another election in a few months’ time beginning from February, 2023.

There will be heightened political activities and politicking. You should expect barrage of applications for injunctions.

“I trust that members of the Bench in the Ogun State Judiciary appreciate the fact between objectivity and machinations of selfish politicians who just want to take advantage of the judicial process to thwart the smooth running of the elections.

"Therefore, I admonish you to be wary of entertaining frivolous injunctions from the political class, in particular, as we move towards the 2023 general elections."

However, Abiodun urged the legal officers to recognise that in a fledgling democracy, they must continue to be a strong pillar for the survival of democratic principles and preserve the rights of the people, who are the sole essence of government while at the same time act as balancing scale between the Executive and the Legislative Arms of government.

The governor emphasised that judicial processes and procedures have direct link to economic development, saying local and foreign investors must have trust in the judicial processes.

He added that, "this would give them the assurances that they would get fair hearing in any case of probable misunderstanding."

"Your processes are directly

Ilorin Emirate, ASUU, NASU, Others Laud Appointment of New Unilorin VC Hammed Shittu in Ilorin The Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressives Union (IEDPU), the umbrella union of Ilorin indigenes both at home and abroad have urged indigenes of the town to cooperate with the incoming Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Egbewole in order to sustain and improve upon the giant strides recorded by the university.

Besides, various union leaders in the university said the appointment was well-deserved, describing it as round peg in a round hole.

Egbewole, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria emerged as the 12th vice chancellor of the university after a vigorous selection process

embarked on by the governing council of the university.

Since then, the new vice chancellor has been receiving encomiums from various stakeholders in the university and outside the institution.

The National President of the IEDPU, Alhaji Aliyu Otta Uthman in a statement on the appointment of Egbewole yesterday, said that the union believed that the appointment was God's ordained.

He added that, "since the development was made public by the Chairman of the Governing Council of the University, Mallam Abidu Rafindadi Yazidu, the union had been inundated with calls from concerned stakeholders considering the fact that quite a

He stressed that for the government to recover and develop Nigeria, it must, "deliberately invest in the welfare of judges and justice by strengthening the human capital within the justice sector and meeting all the infrastructural needs of the judiciary."

Maikyau, also call on the federal government to revisit the 2018 Report of the Committee on the Review of Judicial Salaries and Conditions of Service, to bring same in tune with present day realities.

number of indigenes of Ilorin Emirate contested for the same position.

"Though, the union had anticipated the emergence of one of the candidates from Ilorin Emirate as the next Chief Executive of the University considering their exceptional academic, professional and administrative qualifications and competencies as well as untainted integrity but since it has happened otherwise, we believe that the development was the wish of Allah who we worship and ask for help."

Uthman insisted that the people of Ilorin emirate, as Muslims, must consistently demonstrate their convictions that nothing happens without the desire of Allah and

that "it is only He who gives and takes dominion".

While appreciating the fact that the University of Ilorin remains the biggest investment of the federal government in Ilorin Emirate and the entire Kwara State, the IEDPU president opined that, "those of us who are hosts of the institution cannot and must not behave in a manner that would put our piety, learning and exposure to question simply because of the outcome of the selection process of the new vice chancellor.”

Meanwhile, various unions leaders in the university have lauded the appointment of Egbewole.

The union leaders include the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Senior Staff Association

of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), and the National Association of Academic Technicians (NAATS) as well as other stakeholders of the university.

The Chairman of the ASUU, Prof. Salihu Moyosore Ajao, lauded the appointment of Egbewole as the incoming vice chancellor of the university, saying the union was ready to work with him as the tasks ahead were huge and challenging.

He urged Egbewole to be magnanimous in victory by reaching out to all those who contested against him in order to benefit from their visions so that the University would remain better by far among its peers.

linked not just to crime reduction, but also to employment generation, poverty alleviation and food security. In fact, when the people are gainfully employed there will be less criminal tendencies.

"The courts will have fewer criminal cases to attend to. In short, as an important and the third arm of government, the judiciary must continue to place itself in good stead as a reliable and trusted institution which is the last bastion of hope for the common man," Abiodun said.

The governor who lauded the judiciary in the state for keeping the legacy bestowed by the founding fathers, maintained that the state had played a pioneering role in the evolution and development of a modern system of laws in Nigeria and in the West Africa sub-region, urging the current crop of members of the bench to keep the tradition of integrity, diligence, industry and excellence Ogun judiciary is reputed for.

"It is also important that our members of the bench also recognise the fact that the project called Ogun State is still a work in progress.

The bench and the wig place on your shoulder a big responsibility to the society.

“Your pronouncements on or off the bench must continue to reflect wisdom, credibility, tact and all other positive values that which the wig symbolises. You must continue to ensure justice at all times irrespective of whose ox is gored," the governor submitted.

In his sermon, the Bishop of Methodist Church, Remo Diocese, The Revd. Bamidele Ibikunle, noted that justice was being tested daily in Nigeria as greed and covetousness have assumed a new dimension.

34

TUESDAY, ͹ͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

EUROPEAN UNION SUPPORT TO DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE...

L-R: Former Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega; Chairman, National Population Commission (NPC), Alhaji Nasir Kwarra; EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador PHOTO: KINGSLEY ADEBOYE Samuels Isopi, and INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, during the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Programme in Abuja ...yesterday

Nigerian Indicted, Wanted for Defrauding New York State over $30m Chigozie Obasi posed as ventilator seller at the height of the COVID-19 crisis Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Jacqueline C. Romero, said a 29-year-old Nigerian man, Chidozie Collins Obasi, was charged by indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

A statement from the Federal

Bureau of Investigation (FBI), sent to THISDAY, said Obasi was also charged with six counts of mail fraud and 16 counts of wire fraud, all stemming from a complicated, evolving fraud scheme that initially targeted Americans through a spam email campaign offering illegitimate “work from home” jobs.

It said during the COVID-19 pandemic, Obasi shifted to target-

ing U.S. hospitals and medical systems by offering non-existent ventilators for sale beginning in March 2020, and finally shifted again in June 2020 to using stolen identity information of American citizens to apply for and obtain Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EID Loans”).

The FBI stated, "The indictment alleges that Obasi perpetrated this

fraud from Nigeria, with the help of co-conspirators in Canada and elsewhere. The defendant and his co-conspirators are alleged to have obtained more than $31,000,000 through this multi-faceted fraud scheme, with the overwhelming majority of that money – more than $30 million – coming from the State of New York for the intended purchase of ventilators.

2023: Tinubu Won’t Withdraw from Presidential Race on Health Grounds, Says Campaign Council Berates Obi for allegedly circulating hate-filled video Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, has denied what it described as false and misleading, posts on various social media handles of people believed to be supporters of the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, that the presidential candidate of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, was withdrawing from the race on health grounds.

Spokesperson of the council, Mr. Festus Keyamo, in a statement

yesterday, said it was nothing but a figment of their warped imaginations, insisting that Tinubu was strong, healthy and fit enough for the coming campaigns.

"We also wish to use this medium to debunk the false and misleading posts on various social media handles of supporters of Mr. Peter Obi that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is withdrawing from the race on health grounds.

"This is nothing but a figment of their warped imaginations. Our candidate is strong, healthy and fit

EU: WE'VE COMMITTED OVER €150M TO SUPPORT KEY ELECTORAL INSTITUTIONS SINCE 1999 two weeks.

Isopi emphasised that the 2019 Peace Accords facilitated by the National Peace Committee played an important role, saying it welcomed new efforts and commitments towards that goal.

She further stressed that there was a need to support and respect the fundamental and independent role of INEC as it fulfils its constitutional mandate.

Her words: "INEC must be allowed to operate free from outside pressure, and in turn must demonstrate full neutrality and professionalism.

"Tremendous progress has been achieved. The new Electoral Act is a major step forward and its full implementation together with the technical reforms introduced by INEC have the potential to make the 2023 general elections a milestone in Nigeria’s democratic history.

"For this to happen, everyone has to do its part.

INEC, but also political actors, civil society groups, media, security

agencies — that will need to act with neutrality and professionalism to provide a safe and secure environment - citizens and voters.

And also partners, in providing critical technical assistance and support."

On his part, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, assured that the electoral body was committed to electoral justice in Nigeria.

He said INEC was a key beneficiary of the first phase of the EU-SDGN Programme conceived under the National Indicative Programme 2014 - 2020.

Mahood said under the Programme implemented by the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES), the Commission received various support mainly in the areas of training and capacity building for our staff, engagement with stakeholders, voter education and public enlightenment and the promotion of inclusivity.

Continued online

enough for the coming campaigns.

The opposition will hear loud and clear from him soon," Keyamo said, berating Obi for allegedly circulating hate-filled video, advising him toquit the race if he had nothing more to tell Nigerians.

He noted that purported message, according to Obi, forewarned the Yoruba that a vote for him would be a vote for a seaport in South/ South and South/East.

The transcript purportedly from Obi, according to Keyamo read: “Yoruba shine your eyes o, if you vote for Peter Obi, it is automatically voting for seaports in South South and South East. The Igbos will stop coming to Lagos State to invest, rather, they will go to Delta and

Rivers States, they may even stop building houses in Lagos. It will affect a lot of Yorubas. Yoruba ronu o.”

However, Keyamo denied the existence of such a group that made and circulated the message, stressing that groups supporting Tinubu and his running-mate had clear designations with well-known promoters.

He said only messages released by the APC Presidential Campaign Council were officially authorised and for which the council would take responsibility.

He therefore, challenged Obi to reveal the source and name(s) behind the obscure WhatsApp message.

"The scheme alleged in the indictment began in September 2018, with a spam email campaign that offered phony ‘work from home’ jobs. When a person responded to the phony job offer, Obasi or a co-conspirator posed as a representative of a legitimate company, often a supposed medical equipment supplier based outside the United States, and offered the person a job as the company’s U.S. representative with responsibilities including collecting on outstanding invoices."

It added, "A co-conspirator in Canada then sent the new ‘employee’ counterfeit checks purportedly from customers of the company, and the new ‘employee’ deposited the checks, took a commission, and wired the rest of the money to a foreign bank account ostensibly owned by the fake company. As alleged in the indictment, Obasi and his co-conspirators obtained more than $1 million in this manner."

The indictment further alleged that in approximately March 2020, soon after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States and ventilators were in high demand, Obasi posed as a representative of an Indonesian-based medical supply company offering ventilators for sale, and claimed to have a large stockpile of ventilators manufactured by a German company whose headquarters was in Telford, PA. The defendant allegedly

convinced a medical equipment broker in the U.S. to broker sales of these non-existent ventilators, and ultimately deceived the State of New York into wiring more than $30 million for the purchase of ventilators that did not exist.

Obasi continued to target other potential customers with this same scam, including hospitals.

Later, in approximately June 2020, the indictment alleged that Obasi and his co-conspirators took advantage of the EID Loan programme by using stolen identities of U.S. citizens to apply for and obtain more than $135,000 in EID Loan proceeds.

The FBI statement issued Friday said, "Obasi is presently a fugitive, and the United States is seeking to locate and arrest him.

Anyone with knowledge of his whereabouts should contact their local FBI office."

If caught and convicted, Obasi faces a maximum sentence of 621 years in prison, a five-year period of supervised release, and a $5,750,000 fine. Obasi also will be required to make full restitution of the more than $31,000,000 that he obtained by fraud.

The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael S. Lowe.

An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation.

A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty, the statement further clarified.

Wike to Amaechi:You're a Failure, Disappointment to Rivers Says his govt spent N50m on Graham-Douglas health Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has called out his predecessor, and immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, over his comments at the burial of a former Minister of Petroleum, Chief Alabo Tonye GrahamDouglas, saying Amaechi was a failure and disappointment to the Rivers people.

Amaechi had lamented the absence of the state government at the burial of the statesman, who was laid to rest at the weekend, because the deceased played a role in the development of the state.

But Wike fired back, saying he

shunned the event, when he noticed it had been politicised and went on to lambast Amaechi, whom he described as a total failure.

Speaking at the formal inauguration of the reconstructed former Riv-Bank Insurance building in Port Harcourt, Wike said as far as the state was concerned, Amaechi was unable to attract any meaningful project to the state in seven years as a minister.

He stressed that a man, who failed in attracting projects to his state and has exhibited poor leadership within his depleted party, should hide his face in shame and stop talking about Rivers politics.

"We have taken all your people.

Nobody is in your party again.

Why not manage and stay quiet, because of your poor leadership.

Tell Rivers State people, as Minister of Transportation, what did you do for your people? Seven good years, all you were interested in was doing business with CCECC, doing standard guage and the other gauge until now. We have not seen anyone in Port Harcourt to Maiduguri," he said.

Wike boasted that while he was a junior minister, he attracted the the Faculty of Law to the University of Port Harcourt, and established the Oil and Gas Polytechnic in Bonny, in addition to making grants

available to Kenule Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic in Bori and Ignatius Ajuru University, while renovating several secondary schools in Rivers State.

"Tell us, as a grade A minister, what you brought. You think you can deceive Rivers State again?", Wike said, noting that the state government stayed away from the burial activities, because it was politicised and he did not want to be associated with such trivialities.

"I saw you people have brought politics to the man's burial. I said, ok, let me withdraw myself. I don't want to be involved in this kind of politics," he said.

35

TUESDAY, ͹ͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

5TH NIWE INTERNATIONAL WATER CONFERENCE...

L-R: Former Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Nkem Okeke; National Chairman, Nigerian Institution of Water Engineers (NIWE) Engr. Nnanna Igwebe; National President, Nigerian Society of Engineers/ Chairman of the occasion, Engr. Tasiu Gidari PHOTO: KINGSLEY ADEBOYE Wudil, and Executive Director/CEO, Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission, Engr. Magashi Umar Bashir, during the 5th NIWE international Water conference in Abuja…yesterday

Air Strikes Hit Terrorists' Hospitals in Sambisa Forest Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Air strikes conducted by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) under the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai struck a target known as Somalia in Sambisa Forest suspected to be a terrorist hospital and health care facility.

The air interdiction carried out on September 9, 2022, followed credible intelligence on the location of the insurgents.

Somalia, a location near Sambisa Forest, was believed to be where the terrorists have a medical facility, where wounded fighters as well as those critically ill were treated.

A war update issued by military authorities said after the air strikes, several structures were observed destroyed and numerous terrorists neutralised.

Air interdiction missions were also carried out at Abdallari, a terrorist enclave located in the North-east of Maiduguri on September 10, 2022. Several terrorists were further neutralised and structures destroyed after the strike, hence degrading their capacity to attack troops.

In Niger and Kaduna States, the Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch sustained the onslaught against the terrorists' hideouts and safe havens to decimate, degrade and deny them freedom of action.

The update said air strikes

were undertaken in Kaduna on September 7, 2022, following series of intelligence from various sources on terrorists’ hideouts at Gidan Waya, in Chikun Local Government Area (LGA).

"There, the air component of Operation Whirl Punch discovered terrorists’ structures hidden under clusters of trees at the location with terrorists’ activities noticed within the vicinity.

"Subsequently, the targets were acquired and attacked with bombs.

Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) footages and feedback from locals as well as Nigerian Army troops deployment within the location revealed that the terrorists’ hideouts were destroyed while several terrorists were neutralised or suffered varying degrees of injuries," it said.

It said air operations were also carried out on September 8, 2022, at Gaude, a terrorists' hideouts at Shiroro Local Government Area after series of intelligence confirmed that terrorists usually gathered at the location for planning of their nefarious activities.

Intelligence also disclosed that most attacks around Shiroro axis were mostly being orchestrated from Gaude and Kurebe. Consequently, the target was acquired with several terrorists observed at the location.

Sources revealed that the hideouts were destroyed while scores of

terrorists feared killed.

Similarly, the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD) sustained its onslaught against terrorists’ locations in the North-west region.

"These has led to the decimation of large numbers of terrorists led by a terrorist kingpin simply known Babaru at Gidan Guga axis in Faskari LGA of Katsina State. Intelligence had revealed that the Babaru-led had reportedly dislodged the locals from the village and occupied it.

"Accordingly, ISR aircraft of the Air Component on September 9, 2022, were dispatched for confirmatory ISR and subsequent BDA over

the location. Overhead the location, several terrorists were sighted within the buildings with lots of human activities. Consequently, the location was struck with bombs, rockets and cannons," it said.

In Katsina State, similar operations were also conducted same day as the air component of Operation Hadarin Daji decimated scores of terrorists at Kawari axis in Dan Musa LGA. It said the air strikes became expedient after intelligence revealed plans by terrorists to plant improvised Explosive Devices (IED) for troops deployed at Dunya Village and along Dunya – Maidabino road in Dan Musa LGA of Katsina State.

National Assembly that increased the budget to N4 trillion. The National Assembly did not debate, they passed it.

"Now the Minister of Finance is saying that that figure will go to N6.5 trillion, that in the budget of next year, there would be no money for capital project.

"I challenge the Nigerian Labour Congress, TUC and others that you must get to the root of this criminality once and for all. We will decide today. We will set up a committee. I have all the right information to expose all the criminals behind smuggling of fuel and criminal behind oil theft."

Also speaking, Obi said he was not going to blame past government in the country for their failure when elected president next year, saying he would focus on fixing the economy of the country.

Obi who was welcomed at the event by the founding fathers of Labour Party; its National Chair-

When contacted, NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, confirmed the strikes in all the operating theatres and stated that, "for the NAF, its ability to continually dominate troubled parts of the country in collaboration with the surface forces in order to eliminate terrorist elements and restore normalcy should never be in doubt."

He enjoined Nigerians to continue to provide security agencies with credible intelligence that will enable the agencies track and neutralise the terrorists and all criminal elements especially, as schools across the nation prepare to resume.

Lori-Ogbebor: Revoke Pipelines Surveillance Contract, Don’t Ignite War in N'Delta Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja A rights activist and prominent leader in Niger Delta, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor has cautioned the federal government against igniting war in the oil-rich region, and called for the immediate revocation of the pipelines surveillance contract awarded to former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), Govern-

ment Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo.

The activist who also called for the full implementation of the Niger Delta Development Commission's (NDDC) Master Plan and wrest it from the grip of a few selfish individuals, warned that rather than better their lives, the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) clearly undermines the interest of host communities and create problems in the region.

THE ECONOMIST: NIGERIA MISSING OUT ON RARE GLOBAL OIL BOOM OPPORTUNITY much oil it is producing daily.

"Five hundred tankers loading 36,000 litres of fuel. The NNPC has confirmed that yes, this is what is going on. Who are the oil thieves? They know them. Oil theft, oil snuggling, all have official partner,” said Falana.

He pointed out that there was an organisation called Lloyd, which have records of all oil transactions in the world, saying the federal government has access to that it, "and yet we are saying we don't know who is stealing our oil or where the oil is being taken to?

"So the government knows and if they want information, we can make it available to the government.

If they are sure they want to know those who are stealing us and those who are spoiling our country.

"In 2023 budget, the government said they are going to spend N453 billion on fuel subsidy. By June, the president presented a supplementary budget to the

The intelligence further revealed that the terrorists were based in the West of Kawari village.

"Consequently, the strikes were authourised. The battle damage assessment later revealed the location in flame with few surviving terrorists seen fleeing. Reports from several sources revealed that scores of terrorists were killed in the attack. Air and ground operations in all the theatres is crucial towards minimising to a large extent the ability of the terrorists to pick on soft targets anywhere in the country. This is because the various locations or enclaves have continued to serve as their staging and recruiting points," it said.

man, Julius Abure; leadership of the NLC, led by its President, Ayuba Waba; the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chairman; Prof. Pat Utomi, Sam Amadi, Doyin Okupe, among other dignitaries and party leaders across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, said his assignment was to solve problems.

He said has no intention to go into government to victimise past leaders, but to address the challenges bedeviling the nation's economy.

Obi said: "My assignment here is to listen and take note. It would be disappointing and grave bondage to Nigeria's existence, if Labour goes through this efforts and support somebody to lead this country and it fails. God forbid.

"For me, I want to listen. I want to take note. That note is important to me because I don't want to give excuses. I don't want to get in there and start blaming past leaders.

“If they have done better, there

wouldn't have been need to hire me. I am being hired to solve problems, not to remind Nigerians of where they are coming from" "By the time you ask yourself what is wrong with Nigeria, ASUU has been on strike for seven months.

What ASUU is asking for is an agreement entered into since 2009, when I was governor of Anambra State. ASUU is asking for N1.3 trillion. Are we saying Nigeria cannot raise N1.3 trillion to support education in 12 years?

"Our Oil is today being stolen.

For oil to be stolen, a ship has to be cleared by the Navy to enter Nigeria’s waters. Who is approving the ship coming in and who is stealing Oil? N1.3 trillion is involved in this shady deals.

“Apart from Venezuela that is facing sanctions, Nigeria is the only OPEC country that is not meeting its quota. In fact, other countries are asking to produce more.”

Addressing journalists in Abuja yesterday, she faulted the federal government's recent award of a monthly N4 billion pipelines surveillance contract to Ekpemupolo, expressing total support for Asari Dokubo who had similarly voiced his opposition to the deal.

The activist said she decided to raise the alarm on the looming anarchy and crisis that threaten to envelop the Niger Delta, and urged the federal government to act fast to stem the impending disaster occasioned by the recent beating of war drums in the region.

The pipelines surveillance contract award, she noted, was already inflating passions in the region and should be revoked.

Lori-Ogbebor stressed that if allowed to fester, the insecurity in the northern part of the country would be a child's play to what is currently brewing in the Niger Delta.

Noting that the region remains home to the resources that accounts for the nation’s mainstay, she said: "The insecurity we should worry about is not the one in the North, but the insecurity in the Niger Delta is the one they should worry about.

"What we have today will be a child's play if the insecurity in the region fully manifests itself. There is anarchy in the land."

She lamented that it was disturbing seeing people brazenly displaying deadly weapons and threatening to resort to violence.

According to her, it was a matter for concern for a country to descend to the level where non-state actors openly display weapons of the high-

est calibre across the country while the federal government allegedly watches and abets such acts.

Expressing dismay over the way the federal government had handled issues in the Niger Delta over the years, she regretted that each time problems occurred in the region, the government would look for a few prominent people and push money into their hands and walk away, believing that such problems would fizzle out.

She stated that handing over the contract for the pipelines surveillance in the region to Tompolo as an individual was tantamount to the abdication of responsibility, wondering why Tompolo alone should be vested with such a huge task in various communities across the Niger Delta states.

On the NDDC, Lori-Ogbebor said the laudable objectives of the interventionist agency had been compromised by a few individuals who hijacked it over the years, and continued to milk the agency through their cronies.

She therefore, demanded the full restoration and implementation of the original Master Plan, as well as the release of the forensic audit report.

The activist regretted that the recently passed Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) seeks to undermine the interest of the host communities by a provision that says that such communities would not be entitled to whatever accrues to them should there be a breach of any pipeline within their domain.

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NEWS

SIGNING OF TAJ BANK’S N100 BILLION SUKUK BOND...

L-R: Executive Director, TAJBANK Mr. Sherif Idi; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Hamid Joda; Chairman of the Board, Alhaji Tanko Gwamna, and Managing Director, Greenwich Merchant Bank, Mr. Bayo Rotimi, at the signing of TAJ Bank’s N100 Billion Sukuk Bond Issuance Transaction documents in Abuja…. Yesterday

Sunday's Attack on Ifeanyi Ubah Heightens Fear of Insecurity Atiku, Obi, Soludo, Abaribe, others condemn incident David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka Sunday night's attack on Senator Ifeanyi Ubah of the Young People’s Party (YPP), representing Anambra South Senatorial zone, has heightened fear of insecurity in the state.

This is as prominent Nigerians, including the President candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar; his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi and the Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, among others, have condemned the incident.

Anambra had been under siege since last year, until lately, when the Soludo started flushing out criminal elements in the state, and

opening some local government areas that had previously been declared 'no-go areas'.

Thus, normalcy had gradually returned to the state, and people were already feeling safe again, until Ubah’s convoy was attacked, indicating that criminal elements had not been totally flushed out of the state.

Consequently, the state which was already recovering from the obnoxious Monday sit-at-home by.

IPOB, relapsed yesterday. Market, motor parks, streets were totally deserted, just as many expressed new concern about security.

Some prominent Nigerians, including sons and daughters

of the state, who reacted to the news of the attack, have called for a renewed resolve by the state government to sack all criminal elements in the state.

Other Nigerians, who had condemned the incident, included the senator representing Anambra Central, Senator Uche Ekwunife; the member representing Nnewi South, Nnewi South, Ekwusigo federal constituency, Hon Chris Azubogu and former governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress, (APC), Senator Andy Uba, who called on Soludo to swiftly ensure the arrest of the culprit.

But Soludo, who in a press release by his Chief Press Secretary,

Christian Aburime, condemned the attack, also assured the people that state would give security agencies all the support, to ensure that the state was totally rid of criminals.

"Governor Soludo has condemned in strong terms, the attack by yet-to-be identified gunmen on Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah's convoy.

Governor Soludo said government is fully determined to wipe out every act of criminality in the state.

He reiterated that this is the last ditched-effort of a sinking boat by these criminal elements," the statement stated.

Soludo said all security agencies were already on full alert to fish out the perpetrators of this heinous

Atiku, Obi Will Be Massively Humiliated in 2023 Election, Oshiomhole, Giadom Boast Former Edo governor condemns refusal to inaugurate 14 elected APC lawmakers in Edo Assembly Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City A former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Adams Oshiomhole and the party's National Vice Chairman, South-south, Chief Victor Giadom, have declared that the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and his counterpart in Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, would be massively humiliated on election day, in a civilised manner.

The APC's leaders said they were sure that the standard bearer of the party, Mr. Bola Tinubu would emerge victorious during next year's election, and move Nigeria to greater heights.

Oshiomhole and Giadom spoke yesterday evening in Benin City, capital of Edo State, at the Southsouth zonal stakeholders' meeting of the APC, with the zonal chairman publicly apologising to the former Edo Governor (Oshiomhole) over the roles he played, that led to his removal as the party chairman in Abuja.

The meeting was attended by the governorship candidate of APC in Edo, during the 2020 election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the state's Chairman of the party, Col. David Imuse (rtd.), and many leaders of the party from the Southsouth zone.

Oshiomhole said: "Just four years ago, we had a combined ticket of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi in PDP, but in unity, the presidential candidate of APC, President Mu-

hammadu Buhari, defeated them.

“Now that Atiku and Obi are divided, do you really need a political scientist to tell you that what a united ticket could not achieve, that divided, they will achieve it?

"Atiku and Obi will be massively humiliated on election day in a civilised manner, without violence or cheating, with emphasis placed on one man, one vote, as Asiwaju Tinubu will emerge victorious.

Asiwaju Tinubu, upon victory,

by God's grace, will do a lot to move Nigeria forward.

"We must work hard to deliver Asiwaju Tinubu in February 2023.

Many APC members in Edo State worked so hard and we defeated PDP in 2015 and again in 2019, with a wider margin. This time round, we will so defeat Atiku, that he will not contest for president again.

“Hard work does not kill, it pays.

Let members of APC continue to work hard."

The former national chairman of APC also declared that members of the party in Edo state felt betrayed that 14 elected members of Edo House of Assembly were not allowed by Governor Godwin Obaseki to sit, along with 10 other lawmakers.

He said: "We, in Edo State, feel betrayed that our people voted for 24 members of Edo House of Assembly four years ago and we are the governing party in Abuja at the federal level, but 14 of our members are not sitting.

“Laws are being made in Edo state, if there are laws, by a minority of 10, out of 24. It is not just humiliation for the 14 persons who have not been inaugurated, it is a dent on the image of our party.

"The two chambers of the National Assembly sent a team to Edo state to verify the facts and they were satisfied that the nonswearing in of the lawmakers-elect was unlawful. Yet, as a governing party, this has remained the case.

It is shameful.

"With a new national leadership of APC, chaired by a former senator and ex-governor, efforts should be made for the needful to be done. As a former senator, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu knows the rules of the parliament. In Edo State now, we do not have a parliament."

Oshiomhole also hailed Giadom on the initiative of the stakeholders' meeting.

He said: "As individuals, we are not a party. It is when we meet that we can speak as members of a political party. Having people from across the six states of the South-South zone shows that we are speaking with one voice.

"We need to work much harder for APC to retain power at the federal level, state level, the two arms of the National Assembly and the Houses of Assembly in the 36 states of Nigeria.

"We do have challenges, even though Edo state Chairman of APC, Col. David Imuse (rtd.), earlier stated that the party in the state

does not have challenges. Part of the challenges is that we had taken over the governance of Edo state, we worked hard and we defeated PDP in 2007, 2012 and 2016, but the person who won decided to return to PDP. Our spirit cannot be returned to PDP, because we are not PDP. There is no PDP in our DNA. Continued online

attack, who would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

Atiku, in a statement posted on his Facebook account said, "The attack on the convoy of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah stands condemned.

My condolences go to the families of those injured and killed in the attack. I share my sympathy with the Distinguished Senator.

"May the souls of the departed Rest In Peace. We've got work to do to ensure that safety and security returns to our dear country," Atiku stated Obi also strongly condemned the attack and described it as “unfortunate and condemnable”.

Speaking to newsmen at the Abuja Airport, Obi said he was sad, when he heard about the news, especially, when lives were lost, and called on the perpetrators of such crimes nationwide to have a re-think about their actions, which he described as “injurious to the growth and development Nigeria urgently needs now that suffering abounds in the land.

“I have continued to lay emphasis on the urgent need for enhanced security and protection of life and property in our society. I reiterate my unwavering commitment to put an end to all forms of violence in different parts of the country by seeking the root causes, under my watch, when elected the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Violence and killings of Nigerians under any guise whatsoever will

not be accepted or tolerated under my watch as President.”

Former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, also condemned the attack and described it as despicable and evil.

In a statement in Abuja by his Media Adviser, Uchenna Awom, he said the incident was among many others across the country that were clear indication of total collapse of security.

While refusing to read political motives behind the attack, but cautioned against such, because no political aspiration is worth any human life, he called for a thorough investigation on this and other related ones to unravel the culprits and perhaps the motives for the rising attacks coming on the eve of the 2023 general election.

Azubogu in his own reaction said the news of the attack came to him as a rude shock. "Even more painful was the confirmation that some of his police escorts and aides lost their lives in that reprehensible and condemnable attack.”

Ekwunife expressed shock, while condemning the incident and described it as unimaginable.

"My sincere condolences go to the families, who lost their loved ones in the senseless carnage.

Government must leave no stone unturned in arresting the security situation in our state and ensure that the perpetrators of this dastardly act are brought to justice," she said.

Lado: Masari's Peace Deal with Bandits Has Yielded No Result Francis Sardauna in Katsina

Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Katsina State, Senator Yakubu Lado, has said the peace deal struck with bandits by Governor Aminu Bello Masari-led government, has not yielded any result in the state.

He kicked against engaging the marauding criminals that have been attacking communities in the state in any dialogue, describing them as deceitful criminal elements that have no ideology.

Lado, who spoke in an interview with journalists in Katsina, said the rapprochement between the government and the bandits, has not tackled the prevailing security challenges bedeviling communities

across the state.

Masari had in 2019 granted second amnesty to bandits after a tour to Fulani settlements and strong enclaves of the bandits in Rugu Forest between September 4 and 9, during which the famed bandits and their forest commanders denounced banditry.

The peace accord was adopted by some of the North-west governors following a Peace Summit convened in Katsina by the former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, that facilitated discussions with representatives of the bandits from the affected states of Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Kaduna, and Zamfara States.

But Lado, at a media chat, described the negotiation with

the bandits and other revolving security measures adopted by the state government as a futile exercise.

He added that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government and its 2023 governorship candidate, Dr. Dikko Umar Radda, have nothing new to offer to the citizens, adding that returning them to power would not make any difference.

According to him, "I didn't know if he (Radda) was the one that advised the governor to go into the bush to have a peace deal with the bandits. But certainly the governor went into the bush and negotiated with the bandits but that didn't bring any development.

And that is to say all his strategies are not viable."

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NEWS

COURTESY VISIT…

National Youth Service Corps( NYSC) Director General, Brigadier General Muhammad Kaku Fadah, (right), presenting some publications of the scheme to the Managing Director/CEO, FHA Mortgage Bank, Hayatudeen Awwal, Fadah paid a courtesy visit to Awwal in Abuja…recently

Lagos/Ibadan Expressway:Julius Berger Killing People, Businesses, Stakeholders Cry Out Segun James Transporters and commuters using the Lagos/Ibadan have accused construction giants,

Julius Berger Nigeria Plc of being responsible for the accidents and robberies happening along the long bridge at Kara axis of the expressway.

‘Ikpeazu’s Anointed Candidate Unprepared for Governorship’ Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia Elders from the political block of Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, have given a damming assessment of the governorship candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying that he is “unprepared” to be a governor of the state.

Ikpeazu had in the run-up to the governorship primary insisted that he must “point the torch”, meaning to anoint his successor, just like his predecessors had done.

Consequently, he picked a former Vice-chancellor of the Abia State University Uturu (ABSU), Prof Uche Ikonne, who went on to

win the PDP governorship ticket.

But the Ukwa la Ngwa Council of Elders with area of influence spanning the entire Abia South and half of Abia Central Senatorial districts said they have now realised that the governor made a wrong choice following Ikonne’s alleged “confession” before the elders that he was not ready to be governor.

In a press statement signed by the Chairman of the Elders Council, Dr Max Nduaguibe obtained by THISDAY in Umuahia, the elders said they arrived at their verdict after interaction with governorship candidates of Ukwa-Ngwa extraction.

The Secretary of the Freedom Branch of transporters union operating from Berger in Ojodu, Mr. Olaniyi Bashorun cried out that some vehicle, which left for Sagamu in Ogun state at about 7.00 am, a mere 30 kilometre away were yet to reach their destination as at 2.00 pm.

According to him, hoodlums have capitalised on the traffic gridlock to rob and disposes off people their properties.

He specifically accused Julius Berger of not helping in ameliorating the problems along the busiest road in the federation, saying that unlike its counterpart, the Reynold Construction Company (RCC), which handled the Ibadan-Sagamu Interchange of the road, “Julius Berger has been particularly slow in the handling of their part of the road construction. We expect them

to provide us with alternative route, but they have not, despite the fact that they are handling the shorter part of the road,” he said.

Bashorun also accused the police of causing the nuisance on the road, adding that the refusal of the police to station their men at intervals along the long bridge is responsible for incessant attacks on motorists along the road, and at some days

the robbers operate with no police to confront them.

A commuter who arrived Lagos after a grueling five hours on the road, Mr. Adewale Adebayo Onabakun lamented that “during go-slow, the hoodlums take advantage of the situation to attack. Even today, they break some vehicles windows as they threatened people with daggers and machetes,”

PDP Reconciliation: Wike, Associates Keep NWC, BoT Members Waiting Chuks Okocha in Abuja For six days after the National Executive Committee (NEC) mandated the National Working Committee (NWC) and the Board of Trustees (BoT) to ensure a reconciliation between the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike and his associates, the embattled governor is yet to respond.

Both NWC and the BoT are

billed to meet all aggrieved persons this week before the release of the members of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council.

Wednesday last week, the NWC mandated a committee of the whole members to engage Wike, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state governor.

Also, enlarging the

reconciliatory engagement, the NEC mandated the BoT led by the new acting chairman, Adolphus Wabara to ensure reconciliations with Wike and his political associates.

However, while THISDAY gathered that the NWC and the BoT have written to the Wike, Makinde, Ikpeazu and others, an NWC member said: “We are expecting their responses before we commence.”

The mandate, the source said, “ is to meet the aggrieved governors one by one.”

It was also gathered that the party has nominated all officials that would head the presidential campaign council, but will have to wait till the committee of the NWC meet all the governors of the party one by one and ensure proper reconciliation, that will bring everybody on board.

Gov Urges Electorate to Vote Wisely in 2023 Osun Varsity Suspends Six Students for A’Ibom charge yesterday while declaring to save it from eventual collapse. noted that the gathering in the Okon Bassey in Uyo a four-day retreat organised Represented by the State nation’s capital in few days was Cultism, Produces Five PhD Holders As the 2023 general elections open by the Correspondents’ Chapel of Commissioner of Information strategic as deliberations will have

Yinka Kolawole inOsogbo

As Osun State University, (UNIOSUN) suspended six students at Ikire Campus of the institution for their involvement in cultism activities, the University is also producing first set of five holders degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

The Vice Chancellor of the State University, Professor Clement Adebooye, who made this known yesterday at the 11th Convocation press conference held at the institution’s premises said he felt on top of the world that a total number of 2,033 graduands

will be conferred with first degrees across the colleges of the university.

He said for students to have sense of belonging in the University a good vice-chancellor would not isolate any students saying they are being taken good care under the Dean students affairs and students’ leaders for them to do away with all social vices.

However, the Vice-chancellor also emphasised that out of this number, 45 First Class (Honours) degrees will be awarded to those students who have separated themselves from the lot academically.

Taraba Decries Low Implementation of FG Projects in the State Wole Ayodele inJalingo The Taraba State Government has decried the low performance of some agencies implementing federal government zonal and constituency projects in the state.

The State Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Solomon Elisha, who lamented the development at a press briefing yesterday in Jalingo, said the performance ratio of the agencies were gotten from the reports obtained by his ministry.

Besides, he noted that some of

the zonal interventions are now being credited to individuals rather than the federal gsovernment as he described the development as worrisome.

According to Elisha, “Since 2020, some executing agencies (MDAs) used in implementing the National Budget in Taraba State as its customary for zonal intervention projects (ZIP) and consolidated capital projects from the economic recovery and growth plan (ERGP) under Buhari administration have so far been observed with dismay.” “

approach, electorate across the country have been told to be cautious on who to vote into the leadership position in the country in order not to put those who could destroy the nation.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel gave the

the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom state chapter for members in Abuja.

The advice, the governor said became imperative as Nigeria was in a critical stage of her economic and political developments hence now requires the right leadership

and Strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the governor stressed that any attempt to make wrong choice in 2023 would take the country many years back.

In a goodwill message, the Akwa Ibom State Chairman of the NUJ, Comrade Amos Etuk

the listening ears of leaders at the centre.

“At the end of this retreat, we must return to our bases with strong conviction to get things done properly for the first time as we build-up to the general elections in 2023.

Immigration Operatives, Police Swoop on Illegal Immigrants in Bayelsa OlusegunSamuelinYenagoa Operatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) of the Bayelsa State Command and men of the Nigeria Police yesterday apprehended scores of illegal immigrants over alleged improper travel documents, residence cards and permits.

The raid, which is tagged “Operation Flush” was jointly

carried out with the state owned police security outfit known as Door Akpor, was sanctioned by the Comptroller-General, Isah Jere Idris, and supported by the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri.

Those mostly affected by the raid were water vendors popularly called ‘Meruwa’, scrap metal scavengers and some tricycle (Keke Napep) riders in the state capital THISDAY gathered that among

the illegal immigrants being screened at the State NIS headquarters include Nigeriens, Togolese and Ghanaians. Three Nigeriens were actually confirmed by the leadership of the Association of Nigeriens Citizens in Nigeria as without proper documentation.

It was also gathered that the exercise is expected to investigate foreign nationals and expatriates working within the state. Operatives

of the NIS have also been deployed to coastal communities and local Government council headquarters to flush out illegal immigrants.

Operators of the Bureau-dechange and key stakeholders were enlightened ahead of the exercise and it was conducted with high level of civility and respect for fundamental Human Rights. All security agencies including the Department of State Security were informed.

ASUU Slams Lalong for Issuing ‘No Work, No Pay’ Threat Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Plateau State University (PLASU), has slammed Governor Simon Lalong of the state over its ‘no work, no pay’ threat, describing it as ill-advised.

In a statement yesterday by the chairman and secretary of the union, Dr. Monday Zitta and

Deme Bitrus, the union said it was in receipt of government’s letter written to the branch on the ill-advised directive to apply ‘no work, no pay’ rule on members of the union.

The union reminded the state government that PLASU could not thrive in isolation, and that the issues the national body was fighting against also affect the state public schools

and as such, the union in PLASU would not abandon its other counterparts in the fight.

“We wish to draw the attention of the state government that Plateau State University can not thrive in isolation, it needs the support of the universities within and outside the county in the same way that all universities in the

world collaborate with each other,” it said, adding that ASUU was demanding that government act responsibly in ensuring quality education in the county.

According to the union, PLASU is facing myriad of challenges that would have led to total closure of the university if it were not ASUU that came to its rescue.

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWSXTRA

PERSONAL TRUST MFB OPENS NEW HEAD OFFICE…

L-R: Director, First Ally Capital, Dr. Biodun Arokodare; Director Personal Trust Microfinance Bank (MFB), Mr. Anthony Uponi; Director, Personal Trust MFB, Mr. Anthony Owuye; Group Managing Director, First Ally Capital, Mr. Ebenezer Olufowose, Special Guest, Major Gen Obi Umahi (rtd); Chairman, Personal Trust MFB, Dr. Okey Nwuke; Director, Personal Trust MFB, Dr Ayoola Oduntan; Managing Director, Personal Trust MFB, Mr. Edeki Bakare, and Director, First Ally Asset Management, Mr. Segun Omidele, at the opening of the head office of Personal Trust MFB in Lagos...recently

Use 2023 Election to Reshape Nigeria, CAN President Urges Electorate

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has expressed optimism that the forthcoming 2023 general election will provide a valid chance for Nigerians to turn around the fortunes of the country for good.

In a goodwill message delivered by the CAN president, Archbishop Daniel Okoh at the opening ceremony of the second Plenary meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria at the Sacred Heart Pastoral/Retreat Centre, Orlu, Imo State, he said Nigeria

has very rich potential but lack patriotic, visionary and committed leadership over the years.

According to him, there has been brazen embezzlement of public funds, entrenchment of bribery and corruption in almost every aspect our public life, falling economic fortunes and joblessness among the youths which now

confront us on a daily basis.

“In all these we shall not lose hope. 2023 general election is one valid chance that we have to turn around the fortunes of Nigeria for good. I urge you my dear revered fathers in the Lord to continue to support election monitoring team set up by the Christian Association of Nigeria to do a good job,” he said.

He urged all Christians in Nigeria to realise the danger of not participating actively in partisan politics as this is where all the decisions that affect our life, choice of worship and economy are decided.

Speaking on the challenges facing Nigeria, Okoh said the country has witnessed an unprecedented spate of insecurity,

which calls for serious concern.

He also lamented the decay in our education sector, adding that as result of long closure of our federal universities, the country is faced with unprecedented exodus of highly skilled professionals.

In addition, he said Nigeria now ranked high as one of the most terrorized nations of the world

Rebecca Ejifoma

confirmed the development in a statement to Channels Television.

He said, “NEMA received a distressed alert on a sinking storey building where nine people are said to be trapped. The building is located at 47 Akinwunmi street, Akinwunmi North, Estate Mende, Maryland, Ikeja.”

“All nine trapped ladies have

been successfully rescued,” he added.

Other agencies who were on the ground include the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA); the State Fire Service, and Police Disaster Management Unit.

Meanwhile, two men, were swept away at two locations in

Iyana Ipaja and Command areas of Lagos State following the heavy downpour.

One of the victims, simply known as Alfa was swept in the heavy flooding that took over communities including Ajayi Street, Olubodun Ifesowapo, Olubodun, Fafunwa, Ipaja West and TiOluwani in Alimosho LGA.

Hundreds Stranded as MinnaBida Bridge Collapses in Niger Lagos Rain: Nine Persons Rescued from Sinking Building LaleyeDipoinMinna Hundreds of passengers and vehicles have been stranded following the collapse of a portion of the Minna-Bida road in Niger State.

Motorists and their passengers are now left in dilemma as crossing from Kakapangi to Minna or vice versa has become almost impossible.

The collapse of the road ‘which has now become an annual event’ is as a result of heavy rains in the last one week.

As a result, THISDAY learnt that a long queue of vehicles has been formed on both sides of the road.

According to the findings, some of the private and commercial

vehicles plying the road either returned to Bida or Minna while those from Bida have been forced to follow the longer route of Lemu to Zungeru to Minna.

The vehicles from Minna, according to the findings, turned back to follow the long route of Minna-Lapai-Agaie-Bida road.

Also, articulated vehicles that could not turn at the damaged section of the road hired locals to evacuate their goods into rented vehicles at the other end.

Some of those caught in the mess were those going to Bida to felicitate with the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, on his 70th birthday and 19 years of ascension to the throne.

GTBank Close UNILAG Branch for One Month over Fire Incident Nume Ekeghe

Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) Plc will close its branch located at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) for one month, following a fire incident, which occurred last Sunday. Chief Communication Officer, GTCO, Mrs. Oyinade Adegite, told THISDAY that there were no casualties and that the fire started from university’s alumni building.

She said: “There were no casualties and money was lost. The fire started in the alumni building at our branch and it only affected the external of the branch. We have

put out a notice that the branch would be closed for a month.”

Furthermore, in a statement to its customers, bank said: “We write to inform you that our Unilag branch will be closed from Monday, 12th of September for a month, due to a fire incident at the branch, Sunday, 11th of September. This is to allow us to carry out the necessary renovation works that will make the branch conducive to serve you again.

“We implore you to kindly use our alternative branches in the Yaba environment for this period and strongly encourage the use of our secure, convenient and always-on-e-banking channels.”

Oyo Park Management Denies Attacking Opposition Members KemiOlaitaninIbadan The Chairman, Disciplinary Committee of the Park Management System (PMS) in Oyo State, Alhaji Mukaila Lamidi, yesterday denied any involvement of the agency and its members in the attacks of members of the opposition in the state.

This is just as he reiterated his commitment to ensure that the PMS as a legally constituted body performs its duty of overseeing the affairs of motor parks and garages across the state.

Lamidi in a statement titled, “Media attack on Alhaji Mukaila

Lamidi (aka Auxiliary)”, issued yesterday by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the agency, Hon. Jelili Emiola, said the allegation of attacks by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, was to tarnish the image of the PMS and its members most especially himself as the Chairman.

He maintained that the allegation of attacks raised by a member of the House of Representatives representing Oyo Federal Constituency, Hon. AkeemAdeyemi andAPC candidate for Ibadan North East II, was false, stating that he had nothing to do with the attacks.

Nine persons have been rescued from a sinking building in the Maryland area of Lagos on Monday, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said.

The Lagos Territorial Coordinator of the agency Ibrahim Farinloye

Don’t Assent to Anti-union Bill, Aviation Workers Tell Buhari Kasim Sumaina inAbuja Aviation Workers Union, yesterday, staged a peaceful protest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, against the new insertion in the Aviation Bill before the National Assembly that classified them as essential service providers.

The workers took their protest

from the international wing of the airport to the gate carrying different placards that read: ‘Buhari don’t assent to anti-union aviation bill/ act’, ‘our voices must be heard, protest is our right’, ‘when injustice becomes law resistance becomes a duty’ The state Council Chairman of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE),Abuja,

Comrade Dauda Nambol, while speaking to newsmen, stated that the protest was prompted, following the illegal clause inserted into the Aviation Bill Nambol explained that, classifying them as essential workers meant that they would be exempted from all the instrument of their actions and in turn, they would not be allowed to carry out

strikes, picketing or lock-out, which he said were the instrument of their struggles as enshrined in the International Labour Organization (ILO) convention.

He said: “We are comrades and this is our right as workers.

If we feel dissatisfied over any issue, we have the right to protest and we will not allow anybody take away that right.”

Benue Government Alleges FG Sabotaging Ortom’s Administration George Okoh in Makurdi The Special Adviser to the Benue State Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Terver Akase yesterday said the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government was frustrating efforts of Governor Samuel Ortom to access funds meant to offset the backlog of salaries and pension

of state and local government workers.

Speaking when he featured on Brothers FM 90.5FM current affairs programme, ‘Burning Issues,’ the Special Adviser berated the federal government for victimising Ortom on critical issues of governance such as security and the welfare of the people.

Akase expressed displeasure

over the insensitivity of some Benue politicians whom he noted were collaborating with the federal government to play politics with the welfare of workers and retirees, describing such conspirators as enemies of the state.

He described as punitive, the decision of the federal government to block Benue State Government from accessing the

N41 billion loan approved by the State House of Assembly.

He stated that the governor was not relenting on his efforts, saying he remains committed to the welfare of the people, disclosing that payment of salaries, pensions and gratuity was ongoing, despite the frustration faced by the State Government.

Libya-bound Ogun Girl Rescued by Immigration in Kebbi Ismail Adebayo in Birnin Kebbi The Kebbi State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has rescued and handed over a 13-year-old girl, Temitope Marvellous, to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

While briefing journalists before handing over the girl to NAPTIP officials in her

office, the state Comptroller of Immigration, Rabi Bashir Nuhu, said the girl was intercepted at Koko border post in Kebbi State by patrol team of the Service in a commercial bus coming from Ogun State to Sokoto through Kebbi State.

Comptroller said after interrogating her, they found out that she is a 13-year-old girl and the phone contact they gave her

belongs to some people in Libya, which was very suspicious.

She said: “All the contacts were for someone in Libya, which made the officers to have the belief that the girl was being trafficked.”

The comptroller added that the girl claimed that she was going to Libya as a house help, “which may not be true.”

Nuhu assured Nigerians that

the agency would not fold its arm and allow people commit such crimes as it will arrest and prosecute anyone found in such act.

While handing the girl to NAPTIP representative from Sokoto office of the agency, Head of the team, Rilwan Mohammed Buhari, stated that the agency would investigate and unite the victim with her family.

Scores Displaced, Property Destroyed as Flood Ravages Communities in Ekiti Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti Many residents of some communities in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, were yesterday dislodged, as flood surged into their residential buildings after a torrential downpour lasted for over

six hours last Sunday night.

The victims also lost valuable property in areas like Oshodi, Ilupeju Avenue, Ureje, Ita Eku, and Temidire Eminrin, a suburb of Ado Ekiti metropolis located on Federal Polytechnic Road.

The heavy downpour began

around 10p.m. last Sunday and subsided at about 3:22a.m. yesterday.

The incident became worse for the residents of Temidire Emirin community, as running water from Ureje River swelled and overflown the bank, thereby preventing students,

civil servants and artisans from going to schools and their places of work yesterday.

The overflown bridge only subsided around 12:30p.m. to give way for residents to have access to the Ado-ABUADIjan-Ekiti highway that leads to Ado Ekiti metropolis.

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TUESDAY, ͹ͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

TUESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

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Alcaraz:The New King onTennisThrone Duro Ikhazuagbe with agency report New men’s tennis Number 1, Carlo Alcaraz, walked the familiar path towed by past teenage male Grand Slam champions in the 1980s and 1990s in reaching the summit of the sport on Sunday night in Flushing

Meadows, New York.

The Spanish kid, at just 19-yearold, is the youngest male Grand Slam champion since his compatriot, Nadal, won the French Open in 2005.

Alcaraz defeated Casper Ruud 6-4 2-6 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 at the US Open 2022 final to win his first Grand

Slam title as well as climb to the Number 1 spot of tennis.

The likes of Mats Wilander, Michael Chang and Boris Becker all won their first major title at the age of 17. But what makes Alcaraz’ feat special is the fact that since 1990 when the game became more physical, winning

seven best-of-five-set-matches over a two weeks period has become a mountain too high to climb for so many ambitious kids. Only Rafael Nadal and now Alcaraz have proved worthy teenagers strong enough to ‘dine’ with the elders of the game at the biggest stages and come out smelling roses!

It was sweet early hours of Monday (in Lagos) watching Alcaraz dismantling Ruud to replace Russia's Daniil Medvedev at the top of men’s ranking. It was history-making for Alcaraz as the first teenager to climb to the summit in the 49-year history of the ATP rankings. If he had failed in the final, Ruud, 23, would have become the new world number one but has now lost both of his two major finals in 2022! Ruud was a beaten finalist at the French Open. Nadal rolled over the lad to claim his second major in 2022. The Spaniard had started the year Down Under in Melbourne, Australia defeated Medvedev in the final, 2–6, 6–7, 6–4, 6–4, 7–5.

For many tennis buffs, Alcaraz’ rise to the summit didn’t come as a surprise. Since switching to an academy run by Spain's former French Open champion and world number one, Juan Carlos Ferrero, in 2018, it was just a matter of time for him to claim his place amongst the immortals of the sport. The only surprise was attaining the feat as a teen!

After hitting a routine forehand in his first championship point, Alcaraz took his second with a service winner out wide and

instantly fell flat on his back in celebration in New York.

Alcaraz, who saved two set points in the third which would have put Ruud ahead, ran up to his team in the stands and danced with them in a huddle, before returning to his seat where he was crying at the same time smiling.

"This is something which I dreamt of since I was a kid, being number one in the world and a champion of a Grand Slam," said Alcaraz, who saved a match point against Jannik Sinner in the last eight to reach his first major semi-final.

"It is something I have worked very hard for. It is really, really special,” he was quoted by BBC Sport.

The young Alcaraz, born in Murcia, was always likely to play tennis - as his father, Carlos senior, was academy director at a club in the city.

He was just 16 when he made his ATP main draw debut in February 2020, at the Rio Open.

He defeated tour veteran Albert Ramos Vinolas in round one: the tennis world took note.

In the two and a half years between that win in Rio and his Grand Slam title triumph in New York, Alcaraz firmly established his reputation.

He won the Next Gen ATP Finals towards the end of 2021, then broke into the world's top 20 in February, becaming the youngest winner of an ATP 500 event by taking the Rio Open title.

More success followed quickly.

There was a first Masters 1,000

semi-final in March - where he was beaten at Indian Wells by Nadal. Then came a first Masters title in April as Alcaraz, then still 18, became the youngest Miami Open men's champion.

There was more glory, and more history, before the month was out. In winning the Barcelona Open - another ATP 500 event - the teenager became the youngest player to break the world men's top 10 since Nadal in 2005.

In May, he won the Madrid Open for his second Masters 1,000 crown and his fourth title of the year - again becoming the tournament's youngest champion.

He lost in the French Open quarter-finals and the last 16 at Wimbledon, but in late July became the second-youngest player in the 21st century to be ranked in the world men's top five, after Nadal.

Then came the US Open. On his Flushing Meadows debut last year, Alcaraz reached the quarterfinals - the youngest man to do so in the Open era, and at any Slam since Michael Chang at the French Open in 1990.

He entered this year's tournament as the number three seed - and in becoming champion, he set records as the youngest Grand Slam men's finalist since Nadal won the 2005 French Open, and the youngest US Open men's finalist since Pete Sampras won in 1990.

The success has been financially rewarding too: His rapid rise has earned him more than $9million (£7.8million) in prize money.

How Alcaraz Compares to Other Greats Federer

Carlo Alcaraz...New Tennis Number 1 after winning at Flushing Meadows Sunday night

Nadal

At 19 years and four months, Alcaraz is the youngest number one in ATP ranking's 49-year history. He beats Australia's Lleyton Hewitt, who was 20 years and nine months when becoming number one in November 2001.

What is striking about this is how fast Alcaraz has risen to the top. He was world number 55 one year ago, having first entered the

Djokovic

Murray

top 100 in May 2021. In August 2020, he was ranked 310th.

For 18 years, four men shared the world number one position - Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Andy Murray.

Nadal was the youngest of those to become number one, aged 22

in August 2008. Federer was also 22 when he first topped the charts, Djokovic was 24, while Murray had to wait until he was 29.

Daniil Medvedev rose to the top earlier in 2022, and the 26-year-old will be a tennis force for years. But Alcaraz looks like something else.

Federer

Djokovic

Nadal

Murray

Akinwunmi, Dikko, Nine Others Cleared for NFF Presidential Race Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The picture of those in the race to replace Amaju Pinnick as President of the Nigeria Football Federation at the Elective Congress scheduled for September 30 in Benin City has become clearer following the nod

Sadiq Ruled out for Rest of the Season Real Sociedad announced yesterday that Sadiq Umar will miss the rest of the season after a scan showed he raptured his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL).

Sadiq suffered a major injury in last weekend’s La Liga clash vs Getafe and that could sideline him for as long as eight months.

The 25-year-old striker joined Sociedad from UD Almeria on transfer deadline day and went ahead to score on his La Liga debut for them.

His transfer fee could rise to 26 Million Euros with various add-ons.

He was a direct replacement for Sweden star Alexander Ishak, who moved to Newcastle United in the Premier League.

given to 11 stakeholders yesterday.

NFF’s Electoral Committee 2022 yesterday released the list of those qualified to run for the various offices as well as those disqualified.

Top on the list of those cleared to run include; current 1st Vice President, Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi; current 2nd Vice President, Mallam Shehu Dikko; current Chairman of Chairmen, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau; current Member of Board, Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande; immediate past General Secretary, Barr.

Musa Amadu and; Head of Safety and Security of the Confederation of African Football, Dr. Christian Emeruwa.

Also cleared for the exalted post, to be vacated by Pinnick, are

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (Today’s Fixtures) V’Plzen v Inter Milan Liverpool v Ajax Leverkusen v Atletico FC Porto v Club Brugge B’Munich v Barcelona Sporting v Tottenham Marseille v E’Frankfurt

former NFF 1st Vice President, Mazi Amanze Uchegbulam; Chairman of the FCT Football Association, Mallam Adam Mouktar Mohammed; former Nigeria international goalkeeper, Peterside Idah; former Chairman of Kano Pillars FC and respected technocract, Alhaji Abba Abdullahi Yola and; UK-based David-Buhari Doherty.

Mr. Paul Yusuf from Plateau State was disqualified as a result of invalid nomination; the same axe that swept Mr. Marcellinus Anyanwu from Imo State out of the race.

Three persons, viz current Member of Board, Chief Felix

Anyansi-Agwu; current Member of Board, Senator Obinna Ogba and; Mr Chinedu Okoye will battle for the post of 1st Vice President.

Current Member of Board, Alhaji Yusuf Ahmed ‘Fresh’ was the only one who obtained the form, and has been cleared for, the position of Chairman of Chairmen.

Contesting for seats on the Executive Committee from the South East are: Pastor Emeka Inyama (Abia State); Mr. Chikelue Iloenyosi (Anambra State); Mr Karibe Pascal Ojigwe (Abia State); Mr. Jude Benjamin Obikwelu (Anambra State) and; Sir Emmanuel Ochiagha (Imo State).

BOWFT: Edo Queens, Nasarawa FC, Secure S’final Spots Robo FC, Delta Queens also in Last Four race

Edo Queens, Nasarawa FC, Robo Queens FC and Delta Queens have advanced to the semifinals of the Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament (BOWFT) after impressive displays in the quarterfinal matches played yesterday.

The host team sailed through to the next round after crushing Heartland FC of Owerri 4-0. Eunice Godwin scored a hat-trick with Heartland FC’s Kelechi Orji scoring an own goal in the 76th minute.

The hat trick goals were scored in the 40th, 44th and 46th minutes of the match.

Similarly, Robo FC comfortably qualified for the semifinals after hitting six goals past their rival, Confluence Queens.

Shukurat Oladipo opened the goal rush for Robo FC in the 19th minute. Rukayat Oladiti and Nwokodia Favour netted the second and third goals in the 42nd and 44th minute, ending the

first half 3-0 in favour of Robo FC. Barely ten minutes into the second half, Kehinde Akinwande increased the tally for the Lagosbased Robo FC before Taiwo Lawal pulled in her brace in the 59th and 77th minutes to humble Confluence Queens.

In the other games of the day, Delta Queens defeated Royal Queens 2-1 to progress into the semis.

Favour Ijeje converted the

penalty awarded to Royal Queens in 31st minute before Chinansa Agoh equalised three minutes after returning from first half break.

Vera Samuel’s 71st minute strike sent the Royal Queens into jubilation of making it to the semi final.

Similarly, Dooshima Tarnum, scored the decider in the clash between Nasarawa Amazons FC and Naija Ratels which ended 3-2 in favour of the ladies from Lafia.

Tuesday, September 13, 2022

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Price: N250

MISSILE

PENGASSAN to Oil Thieves

“The big men doing the crude oil theft are in government. They say they load vessels, but we don’t see any. Is it a needle? We will shut down the country for 30 days until we all come to the round table to unravel the mysteries surrounding the thefts… by withdrawing members, both onshore and offshore, should the government fail to hearken to this warning” --- PENGASSAN Zonal Chairman, Prince Audu Osihiokhamele, threatens showdown against crude oil theft in the country.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI abati1990@gmail.com

Queen Elizabeth II: Neither Saint nor Sinner P

ost-colonial relations between former European countries and their former colonies have always been coloured by the memory of colonialism, the heritage of slavery and despite the passage of time, this has remained a continual element between former colonial masters and the sovereign, independent states that emerged after the end of colonialism.

It is therefore not entirely surprising or shocking that this is being played out as Queen Elizbeth II begins her final journey, having died at the age of 96, after 70 years on the throne, the longest reigning monarchy in British History since the Stuarts took the throne in 1066. Leaders of the world have paid tributes to her distinction as one of the most influential figures of the 20th and 21st centuries who personified dignity, selflessness, graciousness and decency in public life, with great authority on the world stage.

The government of Canada declared ten days of mourning, Brazil has also declared three days of mourning, in countries across the world, including the United States, Australia and Nigeria, flags are being flown at half-mast in honour of a monarch who was a commanding presence in British public life for seven decades, and indeed the only monarch that many Britons have ever known, justifying PM Liz Truss’s statement that Elizabeth II was “the rock upon which modern Britain was built” She led the monarchy and her people through the best of times and the worst of times – 15 Prime Ministers from Winston Churchill’s second coming (1951 -1956) to Liz Truss whose formal appointment as Prime Minister was one of her last duties, more than 10 Summer Olympics, seven Popes of the Catholic Church and 14 American Presidents – whom she met personally with the exception of Lyndon Johnson. She was an exemplar of duty, and a force for moderation and reconciliation, through milestones and traumas at both personal and public levels. But just as there are many who share these views and have continued to pay tributes to her, there are others who object.

Even before the announcement of Her Majesty’s demise, a Nigerian Professor, Uju Anya of the Department of Modern Languages at the Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), United States had written on twitter that she wished the Queen would die an “excruciating death…in agony.” She said: “I heard the chief monarch of a thieving raping genocidal empire is finally dying. May her pain be excruciating.” Professor Anya accuses the Queen of having had a hand in the genocide against her people, the Igbos of Nigeria, during the Nigerian civil war, 1967 -70. Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and others have since taken her to task. Twitter has taken down her tweet. Carnegie Mellon University has since distanced itself from her statement. But she remains adamant. She blames the Queen for the Nigerian Civil War. In Australia, Prof. Sandy O’Sullivan, a Wiradujuri, sounding very much like her CMU colleague, says Elizabeth II was not a bystander to the effects of colonization and colonialism, rather she was an architect of it. “She had a job for decades” says O’Sullivan, “that oversaw action that made indigenous people’s lives worse.”

Other politicians have also had their say. In South Africa, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) issued a statement in which the political party describes the Queen as “the head of an institution built up, sustained, and living off a brutal legacy of dehumanization of millions of people across the world...We do not mourn the death of Elizabeth, because to us her death is a reminder of a very tragic period in this country and Africa’s history.” Specifically, the EEF blames Queen Elizabeth II for the British Royal family’s war against the Xhosa, and for the exploits of Cecil Rhodes in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Here in Nigeria, Omoyele Sowore, Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) has flayed the Nigerian Government for directing that flag should be flown at half-mast for Queen Elizabeth. In an official tribute, Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari had declared that the history

The late Queen Elizabeth of Nigeria would be incomplete without a chapter on Queen Elizabeth. She first visited Nigeria in 1956, she sent Princess Alexandra of Kent to represent her at Nigeria’s independence in 1960, and was again in Nigeria in 2003 when the country hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). I observe, however, that Elizabeth II remains popular among ordinary Nigerians. Since her death, there has been an outpouring of tributes from persons who either sighted her in 1956, or 2003, or had the opportunity to meet her or work with the British during her reign. Families have been exhuming pictures of their parents with the Queen or of themselves.

Nigerian diplomats who have had cause to serve at the Court of St. James or the Commonwealth have been forthcoming with praise. Nigerian communities in the UK have even announced different patterns of family attires (known locally as “aso ebi”) at the high price of between 50 and 100 pounds per yard, which at the rate of the standard five yards would come to a tidy sum of 250 pounds or 500 pounds.

Nigerians love to celebrate the death of a person who lives up to a ripe age, and the Queen did, and she lived well too.

Out of excitement, some Yoruba in the UK are even circulating the news that they intend to perform Oro rituals in honour of the Queen. The Queen was a patron of many charities, trusts and societies around the World. How the Oro cultists would enforce a restriction of movement and insist that all women must stay indoors around Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey at certain ritual hours remains to be seen. Also here in Nigeria, a young politician, Ahmed Garba has suggested that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, established in the year of Nigeria’s independence, 1960 should be renamed after Queen Elizabeth. This has been condemned by Alaigbo, an Igbo socio-cultural group, which asked that it is Aso Rock, Nigeria’s Presidential Villa that should be named after the Queen.

This writer has deliberately painted the foregoing picture to document as much as possible, an impression of responses to the Queen’s exit, as dictated by emotions, politics, memory and ideology. In Edinburgh, Scotland, and also in London anti-monarchy protesters who held up signs, or asked “Who elected him?” - disciples of Walter Bagehot, and promoters of Republicanism, were arrested as Charles III was proclaimed King and as the Queen’s cortege travelled to Edinburgh.

In Scotland, anti-monarchists, booed and heckled.

But would all this taken together, taint the legacy of

Queen Elizabeth II? Certainly not. While it is true that no one should speak ill of the dead, it is also true that some people have inherited ancestral pains that they feel obliged to express. The mixed responses from parts of the Old British Empire are an affirmation of how the sun has since set on that Empire and how the foregoing truly represents the burden of service and duty that the late Queen carried and the price she has had to pay for her hereditary privilege.

Blaming the Queen for the heritage of imperialism, slavery and colonialism is a bit rather dramatic, and many of the reactions are overdone. Elizabeth II may have inherited privilege but she had nothing to do with the character of that heritage. When she was born in 1926, the Empire was at the height of its splendor. By 1947, India, the jewel of the British Crown gained its independence. By 1952, when she assumed the throne at the young age of 25, the Empire was already in transition. She became Queen while holidaying, with her husband Prince Philip in Kenya. It subsequently became her lot to lead what remained of the Empire through several transitions. In 1957, Ghana or Gold Coast as it was then known gained independence. Other countries would follow, including Nigeria in 1960. In 1926, the British Empire had a population of 600 million, by 1952, that population had shrunk badly, and by the time of her death in 2022, what remained was Great Britain, and 14 countries where she was Queen and Head of State, and a Commonwealth that is no longer the British Commonwealth, but a Commonwealth of Nations and Friends. Concerns have been expressed legitimately about the future of the monarchy, with calls for Republicanism in Australia and Scotland. But the narrative about imperialism and its heritage overlooks the complicity of the former colonies in the construction of that history. It must be said that Queen Elizabeth II was a down-to-earth, relatable person who did her best to put a positive spin on the legacy of the British Empire. She grew to become a treasured link between Old and Modern Britain and shared communities across the world.

She was a great diplomat, who though impartial, and politically neutral, visited every country that made up the Commonwealth, with Canada where she was Queen, a record 22 times!

She didn’t invent imperialism. She was not the architect of colonialism. Instead, she managed the transition from colonialism to democracy to Twitter, the tabloid era and its melodrama, and Tik Tok, in addition to family home troubles, with enormous grace.

It can be said of her that she did her duty well. The anti-monarchists who hold Elizabeth II responsible, as symbol and architect of everything that befell their ancestors, overlook the fact that those same ancestors were as guilty as the imperialists, for the evils of the past. An idyllic reading of the roles of our ancestors in the heritage would fall flat on its face. British imperialism was possible because there were local collaborators. Indigenous peoples benefitted by selling their own kith and kin into slavery. They collected the Bible and mirrors and clothes in exchange for the lives of their own people. Our ancestors were glad to be used as tools, exactly the same manner in which African leaders and other leaders in the once conquered territories continue to worship the imperialists. Kemi Badenoch, the British politician of Nigerian origin, who is now UK Secretary for International Trade, once put her finger on the dilemma when she said “there were terrible things that happened during the British Empire, there were other good things that happened, and we need to tell both sides of the story.” The guilt for that heritage was shared. When the company colonialists arrived in Asia, Africa, and elsewhere, they were assisted by significant others who worked against their own people.

When conflicts erupted, the outsiders were helped by insiders. The great Ovonramwen Nogbaisi of Bini Empire would not have been deposed, and the Benin Expedition of 1897 would not have succeeded if the Bini Kingdom was not sabotaged by insiders!

In the Lagos Colony, Oba Akitoye, in the fight for

the throne with Oba Kosoko went to the British for help in 1851. Akitoye got the throne after Kosoko was defeated with the help of the British in Ogun Agidingbi; Akintoye became King but Lagos later became a colony of the British Empire in 1861/62: quid pro quo. In 1956, when the Attah of Igalla, Ameh Oboni, Ugbakolo (1945- 56) refused to remove his cap for the Queen of England, his brother-kings turned against him. They thought he, Agabaidu, was being disrespectful. They were stung by a thousand bees.

The same stories can be told across the old British Empire. The likes of Professors Anya and O’Sullivan and the EEF and Omoyele Sowore may be entitled to their own views of the coin, but they need to be reminded that the colonized were not entirely victims but architects also of their own woes and this has nothing to do with Elizabeth II as person and monarch. Our ancestors were not saints.

Their descendants too are no saints either. India got its independence from Great Britain in 1947 but it soon splintered into three countries. The countries of Africa that gained independence from Britain in the 60s have not moved beyond the past in any significant manner. There are Nigerian analysts who continue to blame the British for every problem after 60 years of independence. They forget that the same treasures that they say the British looted, Nigeria can’t even manage them. Shell discovered oil in the Niger Delta in 1956. We have mismanaged that asset so badly even foreign oil companies are running away from our shores. We are told that the British structured Nigeria to fail, and gave power to Northerners, hence the civil war. How is that a problem caused

by Elizabeth II? Former colonies must begin to take responsibility for their own failures and stop whining about stolen treasures. In those days when there was a general clamour for Nigerian independence, there was a little-known female Nigerian politician who campaigned vigorously that Nigeria was not ready and that we were better off with the British managing this country. Adunni Oluwole.

She vehemently opposed Nigerian Independence.

In 1954, she founded the Nigerian Commoners Liberal Party. She became so popular she later won a seat in Ikirun, defeating the NCNC and the Action Group.

She didn’t think Nigeria was ready for independence in 1956 or any other time thereafter, because African politicians simply wanted to replace the British and become colonialists over their own people. She became the leader of a group known in Western Nigeria as “Egbe Oyinbo Mailo” meaning “The White Man Must Not Go Party”. Adunni Oluwole was called a harlot for her political views and her insistence on the rights of women. She has since been vindicated, more or less. Professor Uju Anya may well be reminded that it was the same wannabe African colonialists who have caused the Nigerian civil war, and every other thing that has held Nigeria down, and certainly not Elizabeth II. Former colonial subjects must simply learn to get their acts right and stop blaming the past and the outsider. It is ironic today that many members of these same former colonies would rather elect for British citizenship than embrace the post-colonial realities in their own countries. In Nigeria, our leaders regard the UK as their second home. They all have houses, wives and children in the UK. They go there for medical treatment. They hide their stolen loot in that second home.

We must look to the future, represented by the emergence of King Charles III, who had to wait for 70 years to succeed his mother, but nonetheless well prepared for the job. As the accepted, chosen and anointed Head of everything connected with what he inherits, he should have no problems sustaining the legacy. The Elizabeth II story has taught us so much about the resilience of culture, pomp and tradition, the continued relevance of the British monarchy, and the simple fact that royalty is no protection from mortality. People of the Commonwealth, learn to look inwards. Her work is done… The gavel sounds…

May her soul spring into the newness of life. Farewell, Elizabeth II. So mote it be.

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