THURSDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER 2022

FG: Port Harcourt Refinery Will Resume Production By December Approves N2bn for facilities in Bayelsa Gas Hub Okays N28.1bn for augmentation of FCT infrastructure Gives nod to local production of COVID-19 vaccines Deji Elumoye in Abuja The end appears to be in sight to the perennial scarcity of petroleum

products across the country as the federal government yesterday gave an assurance that the rehabilitation work on the Port Harcourt Refinery

would be completed for it to resume full production by December, 2022.

Answering reporters' questions at the end of the Federal

Executive Council (FEC) Council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, the Minister of State

for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, disclosed that the rehabilitation of the four refineries was on course and would be completed

as scheduled.

Responding to a question as Continued on page 10

Buhari to Present N19.76trn Appropriation Bill to National Assembly Next Month... Page 5 Thursday 15 September, 2022 Vol 27. No 10019. Price: N250

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End of COVID-19 in Sight, Says WHO Chief... Page 6

NNPC, NASS on Collision Course as National Oil Company Shuns Senate Summons Senate backs scrapping of 400 federal agencies to save economy Sunday Aborisade in Abuja Trouble seems to be looming

between the National Assembly and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) over

powers of the federal parliament to summon the nation's major oil firm following its new status as a

limited liability company.

The development occurred just as the Senate declared its support for

the implementation of the Stephen Orosanye-led Presidential Committee on rationalisation of federal agen-

cies in order to save the country’s Continued on page 10

2023: Ayu Must Go, South-west PDP Tells Atiku

Resolves to back party’s presidential standard bearer Ex-VP says request achievable, but must follow due process PDP candidate has capacity to unite Nigeria, Makinde declares Ikpeazu: PDP needs genuine reconciliation to be victorious Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan Speaking with one accord yesterday in Ibadan, South-west leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presented a “corporate demand” to the party’s presidential candidate,

Atiku Abubakar, insisting that the PDP national chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, must resign in the collective interest of the party.

The leaders made their demand at the South-west PDP Stakeholders' Continued on page 10

WINS AWARD FOR EXCEPTIONAL CONTRIBUTION TO INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT...

Embattled Chairman of Police Service SANWO-OLU L-R: Chief Executive Officer, International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC), Dr Nelson Ogunshakin; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide receiving the FIDIC President’s award for exceptional leadership and contribution to infrastructure development in Lagos from the Commission, Musiliu Smith, Resigns...Page34 Sanwo-Olu President of FIDIC, Mr. Anthony Barry, during the FIDIC Global Infrastructure Awards ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland…recently

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

NEWS

KERRY AT NNPC TOWERS...

L-R: United States (US)Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard; US Special Envoy on Climate Change, Senator John Kerry; Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, and Group Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mallam Mele Kyari, after a meeting between Sylva and Kerry, at NNPC Tower, Abuja…recently

Buhari to Present N19.76trn Appropriation Bill to National Assembly Next Month Gbajabiamila inspects chamber renovation ahead of Tuesday resumption Udora Orizu in Abuja The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila yesterday disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari would in the first week of October, 2022, present and lay before the two chambers of the National Assembly, the proposed N19.76 trillion budget for the 2023 financial year.

THISDAY had reported that the federal government plans to spend N19.76 trillion in 2023, a 15.37 per cent increase from the amount in the 2022 budget as well as a projected deficit of N11.30 trillion.

Gbajabiamila who made the disclosure of the 2023 budget presentation during the inspection of the ongoing renovation work on the green chamber as well as the construction of the National Assembly Service Commission office, said the temporary chamber would be ready for use when the House resumes from its two months recess next week Tuesday.

The Speaker said the 10th Assembly would most likely be inaugurated in the temporary chamber, except the project managers would be able to complete the renovation of the main chamber months before the scheduled deadline.

On whether the temporary chamber would be able to accom-

modate all the 360 lawmakers, Gbajabiamila said: "You can see the configuration, it is not just this place, it is also upstairs."

He said, "You see that the old chamber has been ripped apart.

The renovations are going to be like state of the art. We will at the end of the day be proud to have chamber that match the best standard all over the world. I'm quite impressed with the work so far.

“I will encourage them to double the pace. Because as it is, unfortunately or fortunately, this is not for the benefit of the 9th Assembly it is for the benefit of the 10th Assembly.

"The old chamber is not going to be ready until sometimes in August 2023 so we are talking about close to one year. But so far so good, we are happy and this temporary site where we will be sitting for the next 9, 10 months

is honestly a far cry from where we used to be but they have done well in adapting, this used to be hearing room to a legislative chamber. Adaptation - you made a lot of innovations.

“We are ready to work. The 10th Assembly is most likely (taking off here) unless work can be accelerated but we don't want to accelerate work and compromise quality of work. So is better late but done well, everything worth

are various: security, proximity to the service targeted functions. Here we have enough space, we are presently at an occupied rented apartment and here we carter for all our needs."

On his part, a senior architectural consultant for the project, Michael Baka, said it was 70 per cent completed and would be ready next year, adding that the project has provided direct employment to over 200 Nigerians.

Osinbajo: Use of Gas as Transition Fuel Will Help Nation's Development Goals Says Nigeria has one of the largest gas reserves in world Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has stressed that the use of gas as a transition fuel would not only help in stemming deforestation, but also advance Nigeria's broader development goals, especially as Nigeria has one of the largest gas reserves in the world.

According to him, other

developing countries would also benefit from the adoption of gas as a transition fuel.

Speaking while playing host at the State House, Abuja, to the US Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Change, Mr. John Kerry, who is on a working visit to Nigeria, the vice president highlighted the need for Nigeria to continue the exploration and use of gas as a way of arresting

deforestation, transiting away from dirtier fuels like diesel, kerosene and petrol, while at the same time ensuring that the country has the necessary energy baseload for industrialization.

Pointing out that Nigeria has one of the largest gas reserves in the world and should benefit from its exploitation, Osinbajo also highlighted the significance of Nigeria’s Energy Transition

Marwa, 20 Governors' Wives, Others for BOWFT ‘Say No to Drugs’ Seminar Today The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and wives of 20 governors across the country are among guests expected at the ‘Say No to Drugs’ lecture/ seminar, taking place today in Benin City, Edo State.

The seminar/lecture is part of activities for the ongoing Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament (BOWFT), holding in the state’s capital between September 7, 2022 and September 17, 2022.

According to a statement, Marwa is the keynote speaker, while the

doing is worth doing well.”

Also speaking with journalists at the construction site of the National Assembly Service Commission, Bassey Olusegun Etuk, a Commissioner in the Commission said the 400 capacity building was pegged at the cost of N11.6 billion.

He said: "This project is the permanent site of the National Assembly Service Commission and the reasons we are moving here

governors’ wives would be led to the all-important event by the Chairperson of the Nigerian Governors' Wives Forum, Bisi Fayemi.

A paper “Drugs in Sports,” would be presented by Professor of Sports Medicine, Prof. Ken Anugweje, who is the Chairman, National Anti-Doping Committee and Director, University of Port Harcourt Sports Institute, Rivers State.

Others expected at the event are the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Samuela

Isopi; UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, and the Representative, UNODC Country Office, Oliver Stolpe; Executive Chairman, Edo Sports Commission & Commonwealth Long Jump Record Holder & Chairman organizing Committee BOWFT, Mr. Yussuf Alli OLY, and the Former Executive Chairman Lagos State Sports Commission and Consultant on Sports to Edo State, Dr. Kweku Adedayo Tandoh, among others.

The tournament in its second edition is aimed at checking social

vices among the girl-child, with this year’s edition focused on raising awareness on the adverse effects of drug abuse among youths.

Thirteen teams are participating in the 10-day pre-season tournament which has been ranked as the best in Africa.

The teams include Edo Queens FC, FC Robo, Royaltoms FC, Confluence FC, Osun Babes FC, Bravehearts Ladies FC, Rivers Queens, Naija Ratels FC, Delta Queens FC, Nasarawa Amazons, Royal Queens FC, Fortress Ladies FC and Heartland Queens.

Plan, which is the first in Africa.

The vice president had discussed the Energy Transition Plan during his recent visit to Washington D.C., where he met with his American counterpart, VP Kamala Harris at the White House, among other top US government officials.

Before the recent US trip, the federal government had launched the Energy Transition Plan at a global virtual event.

In addition to a review of the Energy Transition Plan, including a discussion about its implementation, both the vice president and Kerry also discussed the issues of renewable energy sources and the global transition.

In his remarks, Kerry had high praises for the plan and also for the efforts already being made in Nigeria to step up the use of renewables, especially solar and hydropower, as major components of the energy mix.

While acknowledging that Nigeria ought to benefit from its gas reserves, the Special Envoy urged an even more rapid adoption of renewables, especially electric vehicles, which are certainly the next wave in auto manufacturing.

He observed that the technology of renewables keeps improving daily adding that batteries are

already in production which last far more than those that are now in the market.

Upon a request by the vice president, Kerry promised to assist Nigeria with the necessary expertise to scientifically determine the most appropriate energy mix that will move the country toward the goal of energy for all by 2030 and net zero carbon emissions by 2060, without compromising the country’s energy security.

He also affirmed the readiness of the US Government to assist Nigeria in a bilateral partnership to realise its Climate Change adaptation and resilience capacity, thereby consolidating the nation’s place as a model for other countries on the planet.

Kerry added that he looked forward to Nigeria presenting an inspiring position, which will no doubt attract all necessary global support at the upcoming COP 27 in Egypt later in the year.

The Special Envoy who was accompanied by other US officials including the American Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms. Mary Beth Leonard, praised the VP’s leadership in urging the global community towards a just transition and coordinating Nigeria’s efforts on the climate change agenda.

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NEWS

UNITY AMID DISSENT...

L-R: Sokoto State Governor, Hon Aminu Tambuwal; Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; former Vice President and PDP Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; his running mate and Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa and Osun State Governor elect, Senator Ademola Adeleke, during the Interactive session with the Southwest PDP Stakeholders held at Ogunlesi Hall, Ibadan.

End of COVID-19 in Sight, Says WHO Chief NPHCDA: Over 47 million Nigerians vaccinated against the virus Nigeria receives 604,000 vaccines from MTN Onyebuchi Ezigbo, James Emejo and Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja with agency report The world has never been in a better position to end the COVID-19 pandemic, the head of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Tedros Ghebreyesus, said yesterday.

This was just as the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) yesterday revealed that over 47 million eligible persons in Nigeria have so far received the COVID-19 vaccines.

Executive Director of NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, disclosed this while taking delivery of the 604,000 Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccines donated by mobile telecommunication firm, MTN-Nigeria It was Ghebreyesus most optimistic outlook yet on the years-long health crisis which has killed over 6 million people, Reuters reported.

"We are not there yet. But the end is in sight," the WHO DirectorGeneral , told reporters at a virtual press conference.

That was the most upbeat assessment from the UN agency since it declared an international emergency in January 2020 and started describing COVID-19 as a pandemic three months later.

The virus, which emerged in China in late 2019, has killed nearly 6.5 million people and infected 606

million, roiling global economies and overwhelming healthcare systems.

The rollout of vaccines and therapies have helped to stem deaths and hospitalisations, and the Omicron variant which emerged late last year causes less severe disease.

Deaths from COVID-19 last week were the lowest since March 2020, the UN agency reported.

Still on Wednesday, he again urged nations to maintain their vigilance and likened the pandemic to a marathon race.

"Now is the time to run harder and make sure we cross the line and reap the rewards of all our hard work."

Countries need to take a hard look at their policies and strengthen them for COVID-19 and future viruses, Tedros added.

He also urged nations to vaccinate 100 per cent of their high-risk groups and keep testing for the virus.

The WHO said countries needed to maintain adequate supplies of medical equipment and healthcare workers.

"We expect there to be future waves of infections, potentially at different time points throughout the world caused by different subvariants of Omicron or even different variants of concern," said WHO's senior epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove.

With over 1 million deaths this year alone, the pandemic remains

an emergency globally and within most countries.

"The COVID-19 summer wave, driven by Omicron BA.4 and BA.5, showed that the pandemic is not yet over as the virus continues to circulate in Europe and beyond," a European Commission spokesperson said.

WHO's next meeting of experts to decide whether the pandemic still represents a public health emergency of international concern is due in October, a WHO spokesperson said.

"It's probably fair to say most of the world is moving beyond the emergency phase of the pandemic response," said Dr Michael Head, senior research fellow in global health at Southampton University.

Governments are now looking at how best to manage COVID as part of their routine healthcare and surveillance, he added Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States have approved vaccines that target the Omicron variant as well as the original virus as countries prepare to launch winter booster campaigns.

In the United States, COVID-19 was initially declared a public health emergency in January 2020, and that status has been renewed quarterly ever since.

The US health department is set to renew it again in mid-October for what policy experts expect is the last time before it expires in

January 2023.

US health officials have said that the pandemic is not over, but that new bivalent vaccines mark an important shift in the fight against the virus.

They predict that a single annual vaccine akin to the flu shot should provide a high degree of protection and return the country closer to normalcy.

NPHCDA: Over 47 Million Nigerians Vaccinated against COVID-19

Meanwhile, the NPHCDA yesterday revealed that over 47

The Nigerian Government and the French Development Agency (AFD) have signed a grant agreement of €25 million for the Northern Corridor Project, a power project.

The project is jointly funded by the European Union and the AFD. The Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mr. Clem Agba and the AFD Country Director in Nigeria, Xavier Muron, signed the agreement yesterday in Abuja, in the presence of the Ambassador of France to Nigeria, Emmanuelle Blatmann, and the Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Cecile Tassin-Pelzer.

The Northern Corridor Project being implemented by the Trans-

mission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is meant to strengthen a low-carbon economic growth in West Africa by improving the quality of the electricity network in Nigeria and supporting the development of a regional electricity market under the West African Power Pool (WAPP).

A statement yesterday by the Embassy of France in Nigeria, explained that the specific objectives of the project, in line with the Nigerian Energy Transition Plan (ETP) were to: reinforce globally the north-west network and develop access to electricity for the population; help evacuate/distribute the solar generated power from future projects in the North; participate in the WAPP interconnection project with Niger Republic.”

According to the statement, the project would build more than

800km of 330 kV double circuit transmission lines and construct or upgrade 13 sub-stations.

The statement further read that: “The grant agreement signed today represents the EU’s contribution to the project while the AFD contribution of €202 million was signed in December 2020. The total cost of the project is around 238 million Euros including a 12 million Euros contribution from TCN.” The expected impacts of the project include: 5GW additional evacuation capacity to be created under the project; Potential Transmission of 17TWh additional electricity every year; Possibility of several millions of people to have access to electricity and a better electricity service on a short term; creation of 600 jobs (500 during the construction phase and 100

According to him, 34,242,083 persons have been fully vaccinated, representing 30.6 per cent of eligible persons, while 3,678,412 of the fully vaccinated persons have received their booster doses, While commending MTN for their generous offer, Shuaib said the company has demonstrated its wish to see an end to COVID-19 in Nigeria.

"One can imagine what our dear country would have been facing by now if we did not have support like the one, we are receiving from MTN today.

Continued online

Pipeline Contract: N/Delta Groups Tackle Ogbebor Over Opposition To Tompolo Sylvester Idowu in Warri Three prominent groups, the Niger Delta Movement For Radical Change (NDMRC), the Ijaw People's Development Initiative (IPDI) and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) yesterday berated rights activist and prominent Itsekiri leader, Mrs. Rita-Lori Ogbebor over her opposition to the award of a N4.5 billion surveillance contract to former leader of Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger

FG, EU, AFD Seal Deal to Boost Nigeria’s Power Supply Michael Olugbode in Abuja

million eligible persons in Nigeria have so far received the COVID-19 vaccines.

Executive Director of NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, disclosed this while taking delivery of the 604,000 Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccines donated by mobile telecommunication firm, MTN-Nigeria.

The NPHCDA Boss who was represented at the event, Dr. Bassey Okposen, said as, "at 14th of September 2022, 47,172,937 eligible persons have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine representing 42.2 per cent of the eligible population."

in the operation phase).

In his remarks, Muron, highlighted the importance of the project as a technical enabler for the integration into the grid of the expected solar farms in the north-west part of the country.

He noted that poor transmission network had been a significant bottleneck in many countries Speaking at the agreement signing ceremony, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Budget and National Planning said: “This project will help TCN to operationalize its “Transmission Expansion Plan”, through the construction of additional Transmission Lines and Substations across nine states in the northern part of the country – Niger, Kebbi, Sokoto, Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi and Nassarawa.”

Delta (MEND) Chief Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo.

The groups expressed sadness that a Niger Deltan like Ogbebor would be against the move by the federal government to sustain the peace enjoyed in the region and also increase the nation's revenue that has nose-dived due to the unwholesome activities of oil bunkering.

Ogbebor had in a publication on Tuesday cautioned the federal government against igniting war in the oil rich region and called for the immediate revocation of the pipelines surveillance contract to individuals in the area Reacting to her call however, the NDMRC condemned Ogbebor and Asari Dokubo over their respective positions on the N4.5 billion monthly pipeline contract awarded to Tompolo.

The NDMRC described both Ogbebor and Dokubo as enemies of the Niger Delta region who were promoting tribal war.

According to a statement by its President, Nelly Emma; Secretary, John Sailor, and Public Relations Officer, Stanley Mukoro, NDMRC urged the Itsekiri leader to shun tribal sentiment and promote unity among the people of the region.

The group stated that it was only those into illegal bunkering that would oppose the award of the pipeline contract adding "For the avoidance of doubt, we want to let Chief (Mrs) Rita-Lori Ogbebor to know that Tompolo has magnanimously sublet the Itsekiri

aspect of the pipeline contract to an Itsekiri son, Chief Emami Ayiri in his determination to carry everybody along as far as the pipeline contract is concerned.

“Chief (Mrs) Rita-Lori Ogbebor is certainly on her own because only recently Itsekiri youths stormed Oporoza, headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta where they declared their support for Tompolo and promised to work with him on the pipeline contract awarded to him by the federal government.”

With the award of the contract, NDMRC expressed confidence that the time was up for, “those deeply involved in the illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta Region that have destroyed the ecosystem in the area and led to loss of revenue by the federal government and it is Tompolo that can help the government to halt the illegal bunkering."

On its part, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) maintained that instead of anarchy, the award of the contract to Tompolo would usher sustainable peace and increase the dwindling revenue fortunes of the country.

The IYC Western zone made up of Edo, Delta and Ondo, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Dr. Doubra Collins Okotete; Secretary, Omaghomi Olu-Derimon and Information Officer, Lugard Izoukumor insisted that the contract would bring stability to the Niger Delta region.

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ESAMA OF BENIN, GABRIEL IGBINEDION MARKS 88...

L-R: Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Osaigbovo Iyoha, during a birthday visit to the Esama of Benin at his residence in Benin City.

PIA: Nigeria’s Planned Deepwater Projects to Unlock 2.3bn Barrels of Crude, Says S&P Warns disagreements between govt/JV partners may leave assets stranded Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Nigeria’s deepwater projects which are expected to come on stream between 2025 and 2030 will have the capacity to add at least 2.3 billion barrels of crude oil to Nigeria’s existing reserves, S&P Global Commodity Insights, a market intelligence agency has stated.

In a just-released report, S&P stated that deepwater projects hold the key to Nigeria's production growth and ultimately stability, explaining that if properly implemented , the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) could transform the fiscal side of the Nigerian oil industry.

“The deepwater projects that are due to start up between 2025 and 2030 are estimated to hold recoverable resources, of 2.3 Bbbl. Without the sanctioning and commissioning of currently unsanctioned projects, Nigeria's overall production will likely decrease from the end of the decade.

“It's the deepwater projects that can provide this extra production required to offset the expected production decrease. Therefore, unsanctioned deepwater projects are seen as the prime target area for fiscal and regulatory improvement which is thought to have occurred if the assets convert to the new PIA fiscal terms,” it stated.

A number of oil companies have recently begun to exit Nigeria’s shallow waters as well as divesting their onshore assets for the deepwaters as a result of frequent attacks on their facilities in the Niger Delta.

According to the report, some of the deepwater projects on legacy

terms upon conversion will see their combined Net Present Value (NPV) increase by as much as 89 per cent.

According to the firm, this is positive news for the projects and their operators and has spurred some of them and other joint venture (JV) partners to release news that the changes in the fiscals have stimulated progression towards a possible Final Investment Decision (FID).

“An example is Preowei, where operator TotalEnergies announced that it is to accelerate the development with a possible early conversion to the PIA terms due to the new fiscal structure which contains tax advantages,” S&P said.

It listed one of advantages of the document as the new incremental production-based royalty which went from a 10 per cent for water depths of greater than 200m to either 5 per cent for less than 50,000 bpd or 7.5 per cent when greater.

“These projects should remain an area of particular focus for the government. Indeed, they could become stranded if the terms available are not acceptable to licence holders.

“However, as the May 2021 renegotiation of the Bonga Southwest PSC terms demonstrated and the subsequent August 2022 renegotiation of a further six blocks including OML 125 & 130, if the government and international oil companies (IOCs) are able to find common ground on such projects, this could raise Nigeria's production outlook towards the end of the decade, which would also likely help to

secure the country's output over the longer term,” the report said.

Further important large projects that are key to Nigerian production remaining steady, it said, are the deepwater producing Agbami field which has also benefitted from the new terms.

If implemented, it stated that this will have an NPV increase of around 50 per cent as well as the deepwater producing Erha field which would see an NPV increase of over 400 per cent.

Titled: “A Deepwater Dive: Has the PIA unlocked the key

to Nigeria’s long-term production stability?”, the report stressed that the PIA seeks to provide a regulatory, legal, fiscal and governance framework for the Nigerian petroleum industry as well as funding the development of host communities.

According to S&P, the new PIA has attempted to improve the country's fiscal attractiveness by altering many facets of the regimes that apply to oil and gas assets, including royalty tax as well as Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT).

“One area of particular interest

and that is crucial in preventing Nigerian production from declining is the sanctioning and timely construction of new deepwater projects such as Bonga Southwest and Owowo.

“These increases are significant and illustrate the intentions of the government, moving forward, that on its designing of the PIA they have put project partners and fiscal attractiveness at the forefront.

“The trajectory of Nigeria's future oil and gas production largely hinges on the PIA and if it is considered to be sufficiently

No Fraud in Nigeria’s HIV Fund Management, Says Global Fund Mary Nnah The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has denied any misappropriation or fraud in the fund it made available for managing HIV treatment and prevention activities in Nigeria.

The clarification was made by the Global Fund Portfolio Manager for Nigeria, Dr. Jean-Thomas Nouboussi, who was reacting to media enquiries regarding allegations of fraud and misappropriation of HIV fund management in the country.

In a statement made available to THISDAY by the Head of Communications Department, External Relations and Communications, Global Fund headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, stated that what was insinuated as fraud was mere audit review and not an investigative report that could establish fraud or misappropriation

or any other problems.

According to Global Fund, there is a lot of difference between an audit review, which is periodically carried out to examine the design and adequacy of internal control mechanisms and risk management processes, and an investigation, which is usually a more comprehensive study of all the records to examine whether fraud or misappropriation has taken place.

While stressing that Global Fund’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) has several tools to ensure Global Fund investments have the most impact possible, it clarified that, “there was no fraud or misappropriation of Global Fund funds identified in the review.”

Feig, who made the entire report of Global Fund’s OIG’s audit review available, also admitted that audit reports could be quite technical and

complex to read through. Global Fund was also effusive in its praise for Nigeria, saying the country has a success story to be proud of in HIV and malaria management.

“Thank you for your question about the audit report of our Inspector General’s Office (OIG) conducted in Nigeria. An audit mainly examines the design and adequacy of internal controls, governance and risk management processes of the auditee.

“This includes adherence to national and implementers’ policies.

An investigation is a comprehensive and careful study of the records to examine whether fraud or misappropriation of funds as well as other problems took place.

“As this was an audit, there was no fraud or misappropriation of Global Fund funds identified in the review.

“Nigeria is an important country

NCDMB Trains, Empowers 1,000 Youths in GSM Repair, Computer Software Devt Bassey Inyang in Calabar The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has trained 1,000 youths from the three senatorial districts in Cross River State on computer repair and software development.

The youths were also empowered with starter packs to use the new skills they have learned in plying their various trades.

Speaking in Calabar yesterday, at the closing session of the three weeks training, the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr.

Simbi Wabote, said aside providing training for the young men and women, they were equipped with

end-to-end entrepreneurial facilities which included starter packs, shops, stipends, among others, to enable them contribute meaningfully to the nation's economy.

"This is the sixth graduation ceremony by NCMBD which has taken place in Kano, Kaduna, Yobe, Cross River and Bauchi where 4000 youths have so far been trained and provided the needed skills to help them become entrepreneurs," Wabote said.

Wabote said the NCMDB was mandated to provide youths with high impact software in development, oil and gas, agriculture, and technological skills that would help engage them in future meaningful

favourable to investors. This is widely unknown as operators and partners have remained generally silent apart from the announcements made by the Preowei and Bonga development JVs,” it added.

However, it stated that it remains to be seen if Nigeria's boldest attempt to overhaul the country's petroleum sector will work, but stressed that it has been a positive step which so far has been commended and should help retain and attract further investment ultimately benefitting the country.

endeavours Urging the youths to take the trainings they have received seriously, Wabote said, "If 10 per cent of beneficiaries of this programme become successful, we would be satisfied because that number can make impact on the society and can move Nigeria forward."

Speaking at the event, the member representing Obanlikwu/Obudu/ Bekwara Federal Constituency and Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on NCMDB, Hon. Legor Idagbo said the organisers ensured that the selection of youths for the training had nothing to do with partisanship, noting that youths from every part of the state were

offered the opportunity to participate in the training.

The lawmaker disclosed that each of the trainees would be given N125,000 stipends, a furnished shop, and a laptop to practice their vocation.

Idagbo charged them to make effective use of the knowledge, and the empowerment facilities they have received.

"As Chairman of Local Content in the House of Representatives, I brought this training to my constituency some months back and saw the benefits therefrom, which is why I thought it wise to expand it to the entire state to better the lot of more youths", Idagbo said.

The State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ivara Esu who represented Governor Ben Ayade, declared that the state government would grant youths that benefited from the training three years tax exemption to operate their businesses.

Esu also promised that the state government would provide the necessary support to those of them that would like to access loans from the Bank of Industry.

"We want to advice you because in the past we had seen experiences like this, and some youths began by selling off their starter packs.

But, you should use what is given you to become entrepreneurs and change your life for better", Esu said.

for our work to end HIV, TB and malaria. As you will see in the report, our grants there are mostly performing well across the three diseases. The Global Fund commends Nigeria for the progress the country is making in the fight against the three diseases.

HIV performance has improved greatly, with 90 per cent of people living with HIV knowing their status, 98 per cent of those who know their HIV-positive status on treatment and 95 per cent of those on treatment having suppressed viral loads. Because of this progress, HIV infections have decreased by 28 per cent over the last 10 years.”

It added: “During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigeria’s ability to innovate and adapt made it one of the few countries in the world that had positive progress in HIV. When COVID-19 struck in Nigeria in 2020, many clinical facilities were swiftly turned into COVID-19 isolation centers.

“The country acted quickly to bring HIV services closer to the people. Integrating health services meant that when community health workers were out looking for cases of COVID-19, they were also looking for cases of HIV and TB.” Recently, there were reports of purported misappropriation of $19.6 million worth of COVID-19 procurement grants awarded to Nigeria by the Global Fund – an allegation the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has roundly refuted.

The Director-General of NACA, Dr Aliyu Gambo, had described media reports of alleged fraud of HIV management fund as “lacking in facts, misleading to the public and capable of inflicting reputational damage on the country.”

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Moody’s: Higher Inflation Will Hamper Investment, Economic Activities Says lending to households, small businesses risk default

James Emejo in Abuja Higher inflation and interest rates tend to discourage investments and economic activity, coupled with slower real growth which would in turn weaken banks' business generation and loan quality in most African countries including Nigeria, according to a report by Moody’s, one of the global rating agencies.

The report noted that since the outbreak of the Russian/Ukraine conflict, inflation had risen sharply in several countries globally, far exceeding most expectations.

Many African countries are grappling with rising prices driven primarily by higher food and energy prices.

In response, central banks have ratcheted up their policy interest rates to try to quell demand.

In Nigeria, the Central Bank

of Nigeria (CBN) increased key benchmark rate by 250 basis points to 14 per cent. In South Africa the policy rate has risen by 175 basis points since the end of 2021 to 5.50 per cent while Egypt has increased its rate by 300 bps so far to 11.75 per cent as well as Kenya which raised its policy rate by 50 basis points to 7.50 per cent.

Also, in 2023, Moody’s forecasted real GDP growth of four per cent in Nigeria, 4.5 per cent in Egypt, 1.5 per cent in South Africa, 3.5 per cent in Morocco and 5.3 per cent in Kenya.

The rating agency stated however that interest rate increases have so far not kept pace with inflation, adding that in South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria and Morocco, real interest rates (excluding inflation) remained negative as in many parts of the world.

The report stated: “Some central banks may tighten monetary policy further to keep inflation under control and to forestall local currency depreciation - particularly as interest rates in US rise, drawing capital away from riskier African economies.

“In Nigeria, competition for longer-dated deposits to satisfy Basel III liquidity requirements2 has resulted in growth of price-sensitive term deposit products, which will gradually increase funding costs and moderate margin expansion as those deposits are rolled over at higher rates.

“In addition, regulations require Nigerian banks to pay 30 per cent of the current monetary policy rate (MPR) on their savings deposits, which translates to an interest rate of around 4.2 per cent at the current 14 per cent MPR. This will increase the banks' funding costs.”

The report also predicted loanloss provisions to rise across the board, adding that banks that lend heavily to households and small businesses would be more vulnerable to loan defaults than those that focus on large companies.

It added, “Kenyan and Moroccan banks have lent extensively to households and SMEs. South African banks also have large quantities of household loans but these are primarily mortgages, which tend to be more resilient. Nigerian banks will fare better. They have wide exposure to corporates, with a significant number linked to the oil and gas sector, a beneficiary of the current crisis.”

The ratings agency also stated that imported services, charged in dollars, particularly for software as banks protect themselves against cyber threats, would increase across all systems and a weakening local

currency would add to the costs.

However, it noted that Nigerian banks have a high cost-to-income ratio despite low staffing costs, which indicates that they face high regulatory charges and branch network expenses, adding that “We expect all these overheads to rise with inflation”.

Essentially, Moody’s pointed out that higher interest and inflation rates will increase loan-loss provisions across the board.

It said, “We expect bank's exposure to sectors most vulnerable to inflation, such as households, will be a key factor impacting their provisioning costs. Higher inflation will diminish the borrowers' repayment capacity because income will be needed to meet other competing and rising costs.

“Higher interest rates will also add to borrowers' debt burdens by increasing the nominal repayments.

We expect high inflation and interest rates to increase provisioning needs in all systems.

“In general, we expect banks most exposed to household borrowers will face the highest loan-loss provisioning charges.

While inflation will reduce the real value of outstanding debt, household incomes may not increase fast enough to service the rising repayment costs.”

Continuing, the ratings institution stated, “In addition, unlike in some developed economies, most households in these systems did not receive cash handouts from governments during the pandemic which would have eased the debt service burden.

“In contrast, banks with high exposure to corporates may fare better because many companies will be able to pass on some of price increases to their customers.”

NNPC, NASS ON COLLISION COURSE AS NATIONAL OIL COMPANY SHUNS SENATE SUMMONS dwindling revenue.

The NNPC status changed from full to partial government ownership following the enactment of the new Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

The Senate Committee on Finance had on Tuesday summoned the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the NNPCL, Mele Kyari, to appear before it yesterday.

The GCEO did not appear but he was represented by the General Manager, Public Affairs of the oil company, Mr. Garbadeen Muhammed.

The committee however insisted on seeing the GCEO in person.

The GCEO, according to the Chairman of the Senate panel, did not honour the summons because he thought that since the NNPCL was now a limited liability company and that it had no business appearing before the legislature.

The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Solomon Adeola, gave the explanations adduced by the NNPCL at the second day of an interactive session on the 2023 2025 Medium Term Expenditure

Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP).

He said the NNPCL Liaison Officer in the National Assembly had approached the Clerk to the National Assembly to the effect that it was wrong for the Senate to have invited the GCEO in view of the new status of the national oil company.

Adeola, however, insisted that even though the corporation had been fully privatised, it was still 100 per cent owned by the federal government until private investors acquire needed shares in the company.

He stressed that the company must continue to remain accountable to any arm of government that needed its attention.

He added that the law passed by the National Assembly only empowers the NNPCL to be a regulator and an active participant in the oil industry.

Addressing the General Manager, Public Affairs of the NNPCL, Mr. Garbadeen Muhammed, the Senate panel said, “Your Liason Officer

told the Clerk to the National Assembly that you are now a limited company and as such the need to be appearing before us is not there.

“And I make it known on national television and am repeating myself: We will summon you, we will invite you, we will call you at any time of the day, at any moment, at any hour that we need your attention.

“You are limited by our laws passed by this National Assembly.

That was what changed your status.

But you are still 100 per cent owned by the Nigerian government.

“But the powers we have given you is your ability not to only be a regulator but to be an active participant in the industry. That is what we changed in your status.

“Whatever accrues to you, whatever business you enter into is on behalf of the federal government.

So please, call that Liaison Officer of yours and correct that impression and that his office erred.

“Tell him that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited is still 100 per cent owned

FG: PORT HARCOURT REFINERY WILL RESUME PRODUCTION BY DECEMBER to when the refineries would be operational, he specifically stated that the 60,000 barrels per day capacity Port Harcourt refinery would become operational by the end of this year.

"The rehabilitation of the refineries is ongoing. The old refinery in Port Harcourt, which is about 60,000 barrels per day capacity, will be functional by December and, of course, we still have some time in the contracting time to conclude the rest of the Port Harcourt Refineries.

"Works in the Kaduna and Warri refineries are also progressing very well. We will soon be embarking on an inspection visit," he added.

He also disclosed that FEC approved the sum of N2.044 billion for the construction of internal road and facilities at the Gas Hub in Paloco, Bayelsa state.

According to him: "The Council today approved a contract to Messrs Black Springs Limited to construct internal roads and drainages in NCDM gas hub located at Paloco in Bayelsa State.

“The gas hub is to encourage the development of companies that will process our gas and develop our gas and to deepen the use of gas internally and to be able to process gas for export and to also construct cylinder.

"Already there are companies that are in the gas hub - Shell Nigeria gas is already located in the hub, Roll gas is already located in the hub. So these drainages and roads and the developments in that hub is expected to encourage more companies to come into that hub to be able to deepen the development of gas. This is in furtherance of commitments to the decade of gas as declared

by Mr. President, from 2021-2030."

FEC also approved the sum of N28.1 billion for the augmentation of road and other infrastructural projects in Wasa District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Minister of the FCT, Mohammed Bello, who disclosed this while speaking to newsmen said, "Council approved the revised estimated total cost of the contract for the provision of engineering infrastructure to Wasa Affordable Housing District in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

"Council augmented the cost of the project to be completed in 42 months by N28,117,904,027.00 from the sum of N56,925,048,940.98 approved in 2014 to a new contract figure of N85,042,952,967.98 . The District has a total area of 367.11 hectares."

Also briefing newsmen, Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, blamed the recent traffic on the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway on the attitude of some drivers and the weather condition which slowed down the progress of work on the remaining six-kilometre to be completed.

He added that: "I also heard that some aggrieved students, under the aegis of NANS, are also going on to the road in order to protest. My respectful view is that that is not helpful at all to the citizens. The right to protest is a very well protected right in our Constitution, but it does not include the right to inflict pain and inconvenience on other people.

“So, whilst their protests can go on, they should refrain from blocking the road in order to do their protest, that in itself is a violation of law, if they are well advised."

On his part, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, disclosed that FEC also approved the contract for

local manufacture of COVID-19 vaccine in collaboration with Bio Vaccine Limited.

According to him, the Bio Vaccine Limited billed to commence production of vaccine at the expiration of the subsidies expected from GAVI in 2028, has 49 per cent federal government investment.

He added that Nigerians are currently being trained in South Africa, South Korea and India to ensure technology transfer ahead of the planned production of vaccines by the Bio Vaccine Limited.

Ehanire said: "By 2028 the support we used to get from GAVI to subsidize our vaccines will expire.

And by that time, we should be producing our own vaccine domestically. And we are supporting Bio Vaccine Nigeria Limited to be that manufacturer soon in Nigeria.

"The contract for manufacturing that was approved today will be done for bio vaccine. But before the end of this year, the groundbreaking will start because they already draw the plan, the structural plan everything is already completed, the survey has been done, the approval has been given and then with this partnership now, they will now break the ground and start building right away.

"Yes, of course, it's technology transfer. And it's like bringing new technology and domiciling it with Bio Vaccine Nigeria limited. In fact, the staff training has already begun.

Part of the training has been in South Africa, part of the training has been in South Korea and then of course, Serium Institute of India will now do the rest. And during the technology transfer of course, there will also be the handing over of knowledge and skills."

by the federal government until and otherwise stated and that is when we have a major investor coming in to partner with you, that is when our investment in NNPC is divested.”

Speaking further, he said: “There are pertinent issues which were raised here yesterday that are begging for answers and we don’t want to get the answers by proxy.

We believe in your expertise and your wealth of experience to attend to everything we want to ask of you.

“But the question and the fact remains that these are decisions and positions that I believe will be beyond you. And that is why we demand that the Group Managing Director of NNPC PLC appear before the National Assembly.

“If we want representative by proxy, it would have been contained in our letter and that is why we directed our letter to him.

“All major players in the MTEF/ FSP were here. They included the Hon. Minister of Finance, Director General of Budget Office, Customs, Federal Inland Revenue Service, it was only the NNPCL that gives the figure upon which the MTEF is predicated upon vis-a-vis the benchmark of oil that is absent.

“And given the data and statistics reeled out by the finance minister yesterday which is worrisome in terms of production cost, oil benchmark, oil theft, lack of meeting our set target, consumption of petroleum products as a country and oil subsidy.

“For all of these, we ask and demand of is not by proxy. To that end we demand that he appear in person. If you are the man that will now speak on his behalf, he must be seated with you. Please, I will allow you to go for now for him to return 10 am tomorrow.”

In his reaction, Muhammed said, “Thank you very much sir. May I give you an information that is relevant to this invitation. Am not addressing you.

“The reason why he is not here is not because he does not want

to come. I will find out who that Liaison Officer is and talk to him as you said.

“That is number one. Number two is that tomorrow the GMD will be traveling to Morocco to sign the Nigerian-Morocco Transafrican gas Pipeline (agreement).

“This has to do with another country and it will be difficult to shift it forward. And then by the 18th of this month he will be in the President’s contingent to attend the United Nation’s General Assembly.

Within this timeframe it will be a bit difficult for him to be here.”

In his response, Adeola said: “Tell him to appear by 5pm today (Wednesday). Thank you.”

The NNPC boss however did not appear before the committee as requested by its chairman before it adjourned proceedings.

Senate Backs Scrapping of 400 Federal Agencies to Save Economy Meanwhile, the Senate has declared its support for the implementation of the Stephen Orosanye-led Presidential Committee on rationalisation of federal agencies aimed at saving the country from its dwindling revenue profile and economic collapse.

It also advocated the cultivation of cash crops like cocoa, groundnut, rubber and palm oil plantations in the country to further diversify the economy from crude oil.

Adeola, stated this at the second day of an interactive session on the 2023 - 2025 MTEF/FSP. Adeola expressed confidence that the implementation of the Oronsanye report would help the dwindling revenue situation of the country.

He said over 400 out of the 541 federal government owned Ministries, Departments and Agencies ( MDAs) , would be scrapped as recommended by the report.

The lawmaker explained: "Revenue generation is the most critical factor being considered by the federal government to decide the 106 MDAs to be retained and over 400 others to be scrapped.”

The imminent scrapping of low

revenue generating MDAs by the federal government as stated by Adeola , came to the fore when the Director General of National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), Dr. Rufus Ebegba made his presentation of low revenue generation by the agency to the committee .

The DG in his submission said only N2 million had been generated

by NBMA this year as against N5million it usually generates on yearly basis, adding that out of the N2 .5 billion appropriated for capital budget this year, only N1.3 billion had been released.

Irked by the poor revenue generation, Senator Adeola told the Biosafety Management Agency boss, that it was unacceptable for an agency spending N500 million a year outside capital projects to be remitting N5 million into government coffers .

“Government needs revenue for impactful budget implementation, particularly in the area of projects execution and can no longer afford to be dolling money to MDAs without corresponding returns on yearly basis.

"We in the Senate, are in support of implementation of the Orosanye led panel report to save the economy from self - inflicted bleeding," he said.

The committee expressed dissatisfaction with the submission made by the Managing Director of Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority ( SRRBDA) , Mr. Buhari Bature Mohammed who said out of the N7 billion collected from government as funding for year 2022, the agency was only able to generate N7 million as revenue.

Adeola said, "There is no way, with the current economic situation that we will not implement Oronsanye report.

"It is part of the report that some staff will stay while others have to go because government can no longer continue to fund agencies that are liabilities and government cannot continue to be a Father Christmas."

2023: AYU MUST GO, SOUTH-WEST PDP TELLS ATIKU Interactive Session with Atiku and his running mate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, held at the Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall, Ibadan.

But the South-west leaders resolved to back Atiku and Okowa in the 2023 presidential election.

On his part, Oyo State Governor ‘Seyi Makinde noted that Atiku had the capacity to unite the country.

Responding, Atiku said the demand of the zone’s leaders was attainable. But he said the party’s constitution, rules, regulations and procedures must be adhered to.

In a related development, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State said yesterday that for PDP to win the 2023 presidential election, it must be courageous enough to engage in genuine reconciliation of

aggrieved members. Ikpeazu stated this at his Umuobiakwa country house in the state, when members of the PDP Board of Trustees (BOT), led by its new acting chairman and former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara, visited him.

Makinde, who spoke on the details of the meeting of the South-west PDP leaders, said the zone had classified its demands from Atiku into pre-election and post-election demands. He said for the party to reassure members of inclusivity, the lopsided sharing of its national positions must be reversed before the elections.

Makinde explained that the South-west leaders believed Atiku was capable of moving Nigeria out of the doldrums the All Progressives

Congress (APC) had plunged it in since the last seven years.

A statement by Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted Makinde as describing Atiku as a unifier. It added that the governor was confident the party’s presidential candidate had the capacity to reposition the country. But Makinde believed Atiku needed to first support the restructuring of the party and uniting its members before the elections.

The position of the South-west leaders seemed to be in exact unison with that of Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, and Makinde himself.

Continued on Page 35

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2022

POLITICS

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

Adeyemi: Why I’m Passionate About Amendment to 2022 Electoral Act Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Smart Adeyemi, in this interview speaks on the proposed amendment to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill which seeks to prevent same faith presidential ticket in future polls and the chances of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in the February, 2023 election. Deji Elumoye brings excerpts:

H

ow possible is it for President Muhammadu Buhari to append his signature to a new electoral amendment bill a few days to election?

You should understand the concept behind the amendment to the electoral act. It is not to undo what has been done. As it is today, you cannot go to the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC ) to withdraw anybody’s name. The time for changing of names or substitution of candidates is over. However, we are trying to look at this: putting in place a legislative provision that will make it compelling for political parties to take into consideration, the sentiments of Nigerians.

As lawmakers, we have the responsibility to make laws for good governance of the country, not just for good governance but laws that will enhance the peace and unity of the nation and by extension, a nation where people will be united and live in peace.

After Shettima emerged as running mate, a lot of apprehension and fears by the Christians came up. Some Christians have to refer to Abiola and Kingibe and said the situation at that time which made Christians not to talk about it was that Nigeria was not as troubled as it is today; the insurgency, banditry and other problems that emanated from Boko Haram were not visible. Today, Churches have been pulled down and of course, quite a number of mosques and

Adeyemi

Imams have equally been killed.

But in politics, people look at probably what concerns them; they don’t look at what the other person is talking about. So I felt there was the need for us not to allow religion to be an issue. And the major thing is to give confidence to all the major faiths in this country. The problem we have today is there are leaders but they don’t know this country. They know Nigeria from the angle of

their communities, zones and visit to some cities, but mine is different.

No one can tell me that Christians are more than Muslims or Muslims are more than Christians. I just read a book written by a white man. He talked about religion in Nigeria and he said Nigeria is made up of half Christians, half Muslims. And I think he is very correct because people speak out of ignorance. There is no state in Nigeria I don’t know. I don’t want to go into the percentage of Christians and Muslims in each state. But if there is going to be any religion that will be more than another, it won’t be more than five percent. So Christians and Muslims are well spread. But I think we don’t require that. Nobody cares about who is the President as far as there is freedom of religion. What we have experienced in this country, when you seem to see a domination in appointment or contracts, people tend to be apprehensive.

If you throw up one inadequacy in the current act, people will begin to point out others and seek for plethora of amendments.Take the issue of diaspora funding for instance. Have you taken this into consideration?

It’s just one or two lines that will be added to it. The amendment is not seeking to reverse the train that is already on track. We are talking about the next dispensation. The proposal is not about Tinubu or Shettima.

Laws can not be retroactive. It is futuristic.

If you commit an offence before a law is in existence, you will be judged by what was available that time.

What we are proposing is in order to ensure the peace and stability of Nigeria. Because in this country, you have a large army of pastors and Imams who probably have no jobs. So they look for opportunities like this to ignite problem so they can be seen to be championing their faith. I love this country and I don’t want Nigeria to break in pieces.

I want to see Nigeria where there is justice, fariness, equity; where whatever is good for the north is good for the west and for the east.

I want to see a nation where everybody will be proud to say I am a Nigerian. This can only happen when there is fairness, equity and justice.

APC deliberately zoned the presidential slot to the South so that there can be peace.

And that is why some of us have remained in the APC. The northern governors came together and said there was an agreement that power should rotate to the South. Well, other parties are having problems now because they don’t believe in the unity of Nigeria.

For the Northern governors to come together to say all aspirants should concede to the South, I think they deserve commendation.

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

Fabikun: Lagos Assembly Cleared Tinubu of Certificate Forgery Based on Evidence Before It A former Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Finance, Hon. Adeniyi Fabikun, in this interview with Sunday Aborisade, absolves his colleagues of any wrong doing for clearing the certificate forgery allegations levelled against the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the 2023 poll, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, when he was the state governor.

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here was an allegation that the Lagos State House of Assembly was complelled to investigate Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s alleged certificate forgery when he was governor. As a member of the parliament then, is it true?

We were not compelled by anybody. Nobody coerced us to do so. As a matter of fact, there was no formal petition before the legislature on the matter until we took it upon ourselves when the issue was being discussed on the pages of newspapers. A member, during plenary, drew the attention of the then Speaker to the issue and there was a resolution that the matter must be looked into, dispassionately.

A committee was subsequently set up to look at the whole issue. The panel met, did a thorough job and after some weeks, submitted its report which was considered at the Committee of the Whole House. Having painstakingly considered the report based on the steps taken by the panel to arrive at the conclusion, the Lagos state House of Assembly gave Asiwaju Tinubu a clean bill of health and he was exonerated of any wrong doing.

But why did Tinubu refuse to submit his primary and Secondary School certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission if he has nothing to hide?

It will be foolhardy for anybody to think or insinuate that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu did not go to school. Whoever is saying that, knows nothing about the APC candidate.

was not teleguided to arrive at the conclusion which exonerated the former governor?

No. Nobody teleguided the Committee. I can confirm to you that we were not coerced.

Even after the investigation, some people were insinuating that we had been bribed but there was nothing like that.

Fabikun

Were you personally convinced that the Committee set up by the House really did a thorough job in its investigation?

I can categorically confirm that the committee did a thorough job based on the report it submitted and considered by the House. I saw all the certificates he presented. He even had a Second Class Upper Degree Certificate at the Chicago State University. I saw the photocopy of the certificate. He read Bsc. Accounting.

Are you saying that the panel

How will you defend the allegation that the governor converted your official residences to your personal apartments to compensate you for the job done There was nothing like that. I can provide the receipt with which I bought my own when we were given the option of first refusal based on a federal government monetisation policy which was replicated in the state. The houses we bought was not a bribe from the executive.

Due process was followed.

Are you now saying that the report of the House of Assembly which exonerated Tinubu is enough to lay his alleged certificate forgery to rest, once and for all?

As a parliamentarian, I know that the issue of educational requirements or qualifications to contest election in Nigeria is the easiest to comply with. I have the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and the 2010 Electoral Act, also as amended and I can tell you that the provisions there adequately enables Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to contest the presidential election. The educational requirement is a school certificate or it’s

equivalents, which in fact, includes, ability to read and write. Even, if anybody can come out to testify that the man can read and write, he is already qualified. His certificates is not an issue at all. From what the committee presented to us, he had the requisite certificates to contest any election in Nigeria.

Did the Committee actually travel to the schools that Tinubu claimed that he attended, for proper verification of his claims?

I was not a member of the committee. I can not also confirm that now, whether they actually travelled to carry out physical assessments at the schools.

Are you saying that the committee in its report, did not explain how they arrived at the conclusion? Didn’t they indicate that they travelled to the schools to verify the claims presented to them?

The committee explained in the report, every step they took, in arriving at their conclusion. That of physical assessments of Tinubu’s schools could be part of it. I can’t remember right now it was a long time ago but I’m sure they did everything they were supposed to do as a committee. That was why the Whole House adopted the Panel’s report and passed it.

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

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FEATURES Akwukwu-Igbo Oil Palm Plantation's Testimonial

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

With Akwukwu-Igbo Oil Palm Plantation, Precious Ugwuzor reports that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s testimonial comes to light four years after he planted the first seedlings to now that the joint partnership has seen to the successful planting of over 250,000 oil palm trees in over 1,400 hectares of land

F

our years after he planted the first seedlings of the 3,000 acre palm oil plantation in Akwukwu-Igbo, Delta State, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on his return two weeks ago could not hide but praise the positive product of the collaboration between government and the private sector.

The Managing Director of Northsworthy Farms and Allied Industries Limited, Dr Gabriel Ogbechie on his part could also not but thank Governor Okowa for the support from government and the governor’s vision for the project.

The project which is a joint venture between Northsworthy Farms and Allied Industries Limited and the Delta State Government has seen to the successful planting of over 250,000 oil palm trees in over 1,400 hectares of land.

Besides the land and access road facilitated by the Okowa government is a N6 billion investment by the equity partners, Northsworthy and Allied Industries.

For an administration that is pushing forward human capital development through nurturing small scale business enterprises, the Delta Government’s interests in the Akwukwugbo plantation project is instructive of the direction of a forward looking administration. It also shows that the big players are not out of the government’s radar.

For starters, the oil plantation according to the management regularly has at least 300 persons employed engaged in the business at any point in time. The direct employment is a positive influence as it will no doubt increase the economic worth of many people who probably could have remained unemployed.

The value chain that the Akwukwugbo project would also bring to the state is also invaluable.

Reminiscing two weeks ago when he visited during an inspection of the project and against the background of his expectation when he inaugurated the project, Okowa said: "Four years ago, the management of Norsworthy Farms spoke to me when they were to commence and I thought it a worthy venture to have the state government stay supportive and in partnership with them to develop this oil palm plantation, now with a mill already being installed.

“Where we are now is quite interesting because we have had the opportunity to go round the one thousand four hundred

Governor Okowa hectares of land, all planted with oil palm seedlings that have grown so much; some are already producing.

“As a state government we believe in this worthy partnership because beyond the fact that it will help to grow the economy of this environment and also help the immediate communities that are around here, we are very mindful of the fact that it is going to generate a lot of employment for our people.

“I have been told that on the average, 300 persons are working on a daily basis in this place and I believe that when the mill comes on stream, we are going to have

more persons engaged.”

Okowa further added that the partnership would create more opportunities for outgrowers, especially in the oil palm development value-chain and just as he urged Deltans to key into the opportunity provided by the partnership.

Four years ago when he inaugurated the project the governor had pledged to use the plantation project to show the positives that can come out of a collaboration between government and the private sector.

He had said: “I see this exercise as a

good example of private sector participation in the economy. It is really ennobling when private sector organisations partner with government in the pursuit of sustainable development.”

“There are many avenues through which the private sector and non-governmental organisations can partner to bring sustainable development to the doorsteps of the people. " I am convinced this is a major step forward in the development of viable business in the agricultural sector, which is a part of the key element of private sector participation in the development of our dear state,” the governor added.

“This farm which comprises 3, 000 hectare Oil Palm Plantation, a 10-ton per hour palm oil mill, a palm oil refinery and a palm kernel crushing plant, will no doubt, change the face of Oil palm industry not only in the state but, the country,” the governor stated.

It is noteworthy that four years after that, the project was not turned into an abandoned project as is the hallmark of many projects elsewhere.

The administration has on its part fulfilled its own contribution by not only making the acquisition of the land easy for the investors, but also gone ahead as Okowa promised to make the access road between Ugbolu and Akwukwu-Igbo accessible.

Given the historic role played by oil palm in Nigeria’s development in the past it is instructive that a government has arisen to reenact the feat accomplished by the country’s earlier administrators.

It is also significant for Delta State given the fact that crude oil revenue had in the past been a central part in its revenues.

With oil revenue continuing to dwindle it is worthwhile that the Okowa administration is laying the background for another stream of income that would oil the wheel of development.

Okowa who is the vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP also has his job cut out as a prospective vice-president.

With the experience he has garnered in bringing such a massive project to near fruition, he has been positioned to also guide the rest of Nigeria in re-enacting such projects across the country and ensuring that the value chain will bring about speedy development of the area and boost job and wealth creation for the people.

Navy Seizes 627 Bags of Smuggled Rice, 57 Parcels of Cannabis r 0OF TVTQFDU OBCCFE Rebecca Ejifoma

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he Nigerian Navy has arrested and seized 627 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice and 57 large parcels of cannabis in the Jegeme community along the Badagry Port-Novo Waterways.

The smuggled items and a suspect were handed over to the officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigerian Customs at the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) Badagry on Thursday.

Addressing newsmen, the Commanding Officer, Forward Operating Nigerian Navy Base Badagry, Captain James Otache confirmed that the NDLEA and the Customs have mounting aggressive patrols aimed at protecting the national economy from economic saboteurs and drug traffickers.

"Not resting on our oars, and having the fact that these individuals are not relenting in their nefarious activities, our men have continued to monitor the waterways, creeks and Badagry Coastline to keep these unpatriotic individuals at bay," Otache added.

In the course of operations with one of its ships, NNS SOKOTO, two boats loaded with 627 bags of foreign parboiled rice and a suspect were apprehended.

The seized Illicit drugs The FOB Badagry also effected the arrest of 57 parcels of Cannabis Sativa at Jegeme community along the Badagry Port-Novo Waterway.

The commanding officer believes that these arrests would send a strong signal to both the local crime syndicate and their international collaborators that Nigeria

is not a dumping ground for illegal goods.

He, however, assured the public that the Nigerian Navy is always ready to thwart any illegality through persistent and aggressive patrol to enforce national laws to engender our economic growth and national

prosperity.

Otache emphasised their stand. "I want to assure Nigerians that in line with the strategic responsibilities and drawing from the Strategic Directives of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, we will maintain a posture of zero tolerance to smuggling, narcotics trafficking and other crimes.

The Deputy Comptroller in charge of Enforcement, Seme Area Command, Mr Sunday Enogela, commended the Navy and the NDLEA for the teamwork.

He hinted: "We are doing our bid from our side and that is why we need this synergy from other sister agencies. If other sister agencies come on board against this crime, together they would be able to nip it in the bud."

Enogela described the collaboration of the agencies as cordial. "The synergy between the sister agencies is very cordial and robust. I have to thank the Commanding Officer of FOB Badagry for his wonderful support. Even the Nigerian customs service is doing the same."

On his part, the Chief Superintendent, Narcotic, NDLEA, Mr Abdul Maiyaki told newsmen that "We are doing our part to track down the cartels. "As you can see there is no suspect. Our intelligence unit is being activated to follow up and see how we can arrest the perpetrators or the importers of this illicit substance".

20 T H I S D AY THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 TR

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& RE A S O

Thursday September 15, 2022 Vol 27. No 10019

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opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

BUILDING SOCIOECONOMIC RESILIENCE IN NIGERIA In spite of being the economic powerhouse of Africa, Nigeria has pockets of systemic and structural socioeconomic vulnerabilities, write PAUL AKIWUMI and CHUKWUKA ONYEKWENA

See page 21 BRINGING BACK BENIN BRONZES AYODELE OKUNFOLAMI argues that returning the artefacts is of no economic value as Nigerians do not visit galleries

See page 21 EDITORIAL IMPUNITY AND FOREIGN MISSIONS

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*297 &2))(56

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*297 )81'6

See page 22

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The bigger parties should lead in deepening the electioneering processes, argues MONDAY PHILIPS EKPE

AS APC AND PDP TRUDGE ON… In terms of size, physical structures and national spread, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the leading opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), are clearly ahead of the other political organisations in Nigeria. That’s the reality today. In most established democracies around the world, national elections are usually straight contests between the party in power and its main rival. In the United States, for instance, the Republican Party and Democratic Party predictably and constantly alternate the occupancy of White House between themselves. Same for Britain where the Labour and Conservative parties dominate.

For Nigeria, however, considering the relatively young age of her democracy, that phenomenon has not yet become a tradition. The interplay of contending variables is ongoing and the wish of lovers of the preferred system of government is to ultimately arrive at the desired destination marked by equilibrium. For most citizens, these are not the best of times which may translate to unpredictability especially in the thought processes and decisions of electoral solicitors, their followers and voters.

Just a year ago, not many pundits saw the symbolic emergence of, say, Mr. Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), and Senator Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso, Á DJ KROGHU RI WKH 1HZ 1LJHULD 3HRSOHV 3DUW\ (NNPP). While skeptics and cynics are busy ZULWLQJ RͿ WKH IRUPHU DV D PHUH VRFLDO PHGLD sensation and the latter as nothing more than a Kano State tiger, upsets cannot be ruled RXW DV WKH À YH PRQWKV EHIRUH WKH SROOV FDQ still produce shocks if adequately utilised.

Nothing is impossible, after all. By 2023, APC and PDP will have cumulatively run WKH DͿ DLUV RI WKLV FRXQWU\ IRU \HDUV VLQFH the beginning of the current republic in 1999.

The generality of citizens wouldn’t agree that their existence has now fared better. Critical VRFLR HFRQRPLF LQGLFHV EHDU ZLWQHVV WR WKLV sad situation. If Nigerian people then decide, LQ D PRPHQW RI UDUH VHOI GLVFRYHU\ DJJUHVVLYH dissatisfaction or illumination, to go for fresh platforms in search of pragmatic progress, the two giants can be taught lessons.

Even though discontentment with the prevailing bitter conditions may point to possible surprises in next year’s polls, a FDUHIXO ORRN DW WKH FXUUHQW FRQÀ JXUDWLRQV and tendencies within APC and PDP would position us to better understand and digest WKH RYHUDOO SROLWLFDO À UPDPHQW DV WKH UDFHV for various seats get underway. In about two weeks’ time, campaigns will commence, pushing onto the centre stage the promises the JODGLDWRUV KDYH WR RͿ HU WKH SHRSOH RI 1LJHULD many of whom are hoping against hope that they would witness the country’s desperately needed rebirth in their own lifetime.

How have the two parties fared since their primaries in late May and early June this year?

As expected, the focus and thrust of analyses have dwelt largely on the preparations put in place by the presidential trains. The APC, having elected a former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, must be fully aware of the task of convincing Nigerians that continuing with its legacies in government is the best option left to it. It’s noteworthy that the choice of Tinubu, while not completely ruling out lingering grievances and reservations among his erstwhile competitors, has so far not visibly threatened the cohesive energies within the party. It’s on record too that as far as eyes could see, the proceedings inside Eagle Square in Abuja during that election were transparent.

Equally remarkable is the choice of Tinubu’s running mate, a former Governor of Borno State, Senator Kashim Shettima.

The anger, resentment and confusion that JUHHWHG WKH VDPH IDLWK WLFNHW ZRXOG KDYH ebbed considerably but may in fact not clear up totally before the contest next February.

The factors that inform Tinubu’s obstinacy KLV UHIXVDO WR GURS 6KHWWLPD IRU D QRUWKHUQ &KULVWLDQ DUH QRW YHU\ FOHDU DW WKH PRPHQW except that what appears to mean a lot to him is to be seen by Nigerians as someone who is moved only by his convictions and who can stick to his guns no matter the vicissitudes that surface. Since the APC presidential campaign organisation was inaugurated, its imagemakers have had their plates full ZLWK VRFLDO PHGLD VDWXUDWHG JLVW OLNH WKH controversies surrounding Tinubu’s origin, DJH KHDOWK VWDWXV FHUWLÀ FDWHV DQG VRXUFH V of his stupendous wealth. Past and potential scandals like the presence of some Christian clerics (believed to be rented) at Shettima’s R΀ FLDO XQYHLOLQJ FDQ EH WUXVWHG WR À ]]OH DZD\ as Nigerians are blessed with short memory, PXWXDO LQGLͿ HUHQFH DQG D GLVWXUELQJ LQDELOLW\ to frontally and collectively confront threats to their general wellbeing. To put it coolly, Nigerians ‘move on’ easily.

The PDP, a group that once dreamt of UXQQLQJ WKH DͿ DLUV RI WKH QDWLRQ IRU DW OHDVW years, has unwittingly managed to attract to itself the image of an institution that is unsure of what to prioritise in its own shopping list.

With only seven years out of the nation’s

They should also rise to the occasion and yield themselves as agents of enduring, resultoriented socio-political engineering. Hopefully, they have enough robust frameworks, programmes and operations to creatively engage the electorate

driver’s seat in the present dispensation, PDP, after what seemed to be a successful staging of its presidential primary at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja less than four months ago, has been at war with itself since then. Interestingly, like APC’s outing, no direct rigging was reported.

But Governor Nyesome Wike of Rivers State, arguably the party’s most dependable pillar at a time has now turned its worst intractable personality. All the major matters WKDW KDYH WURXEOHG 3'3 LQ UHFHQW WLPHV WKH HWKLFV DQG LQÁ XHQFHV WKDW PLGZLIHG :D]LULQ Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate, the choice of Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, as Abubakar’s deputy, and the retention of Senator Iyorchia Ayu as national FKDLUPDQ DUH WUDFHDEOH WR :LNH ,Q P\ YLHZ ODVW ZHHN·V YRWH RI FRQÀ GHQFH SDVVHG on Ayu by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) should have been Wike’s point to soften up and accept the supremacy of his party. Posterity can still judge him DV D À JKWHU IRU QREOH FDXVHV ,QVWHDG KH KDV continued to avoid the conciliatory path.

While his supporters see him as a champion of social justice and equity, his foes label him DV VHOI VHUYLQJ DQG EHOOLJHUHQW :KDW H[DFWO\ to do with Wike has been a debate subject in concerned circles. Sanction him. Pamper him. Compensate him in whatever form is agreeable. Ignore him. Whichever option is taken has its consequences. One thing PDP FDQQRW DͿ RUG QRZ WKRXJK LV WR IXUWKHU ZDVWH housekeeping time. One other thing: Solving one man shouldn’t be too tough for an entity WKDW UXOHG 1LJHULD IRU XQEURNHQ \HDUV and now seeks a return to the saddle at the various tiers of government. The party could be steering itself along a road to electoral misadventure and corporate ruin if it doesn’t take decisive steps soon.

Another critical political transition is by the corner as the incumbent president will not be on the ballot. The only time that has happened in the country’s democratic sojourn was in 2007 at the end of President Olusegun Obasanjo’s two terms. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has repeatedly given assurances about its readiness to organise excellent elections.

Good for all. The parties, most especially APC and PDP, should also rise to the occasion and yield themselves as agents of enduring, UHVXOW RULHQWHG VRFLR SROLWLFDO HQJLQHHULQJ Hopefully, they have enough robust frameworks, programmes and operations to creatively engage the electorate.

Our democracy can seriously no longer be called nascent. But then, there are too many gaping holes in the one we practice to be left in its existing form. Much would depend on the productive participation and success of the parties.

Dr Ekpe is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board

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THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2022

In spite of being the economic powerhouse of Africa, Nigeria has pockets of systemic and structural socioeconomic vulnerabilities, write PAUL AKIWUMI and CHUKWUKA ONYEKWENA

BUILDING SOCIO-ECONOMIC RESILIENCE IN NIGERIA Nigeria is the economic powerhouse of Africa. As the largest economy of the continent at US$ 440,777 (in 2021, using the World Bank’s atlas method for calculations) and the most populous country at 211 million (in 2021), it has VLJQLÀFDQW SRWHQWLDO DQG FULWLFDO UROH to play in the economic revival of the entire continent. Undoubtedly, Nigeria can provide added momentum to the process, with its growing middle class, expanding labour force and market opportunities. In the last 20 years, Nigeria’s economic growth has mostly been positive, peaking at an impressive 15.3% in 2002, with periods of mild recession in 2016 (-1.6%) and 2020 (-1.8%). The country has witnessed a VWHDG\ GHFUHDVH LQ SRYHUW\ VLQFH

however, the poverty ratio remains high DW RI WKH SRSXODWLRQ OLYLQJ EHORZ WKH SRYHUW\ OLQH RI D GD\ Performance varies markedly between the northern and southern regions.

While the poverty level stands at around 30% in the South, it hovers above 60% in the North, with states, such as Zamfara and Sokoto, with poverty rates above 80% (in 2020). Human capital underdevelopment is also prevalent in these high-poverty regions, signalling a connection between poor education, poor health access and poverty. This is UHÁHFWHG LQ WKH GLVSDULWLHV LQ +XPDQ Development Index, with Lagos at 0.686 ² D PHGLXP KXPDQ GHYHORSPHQW and comparable to that of Morocco, and Yobe, Sokoto and Kebbi States at 0.368, DQG UHVSHFWLYHO\ ² D ORZ human development and comparable to that of Somalia.

Pressing Economic Challenges: When we look at the overall performance of the Nigerian economy, it becomes apparent that there are structural and institutional challenges that need to be addressed.

Nigeria’s economy is oil dependent with RI H[SRUWV DWWULEXWDEOH WR IRVVLO IXHOV Although it brings substantial revenue to the state, this makes the country excessively vulnerable towards external economic shocks in the form of the ÁXFWXDWLRQ RI WKH LQWHUQDWLRQDO SULFH RI oil and, secondly, inhibits the country’s ability to diversify its economy, create new employment opportunities and advance structural economic transformation to reduce poverty. At the same time, the services account for 46% of GDP (in 2020), though largely dominated by the informal sector, which limits state revenue and negatively DͿHFWV SUROLIHUDWLRQ RI GHFHQW MREV Agriculture continues to be important,

contributing about 24% of GDP, but it is concentrated around subsistence farming. Poor productivity in the service and agricultural sectors inhibit strong and inclusive growth as well as structural economic transformation. The oil sector which accounted for 8.8% of the GDP between 2010-2020, contributed about 60% of the government revenue in the same period. Recent revenue shortfalls KDYH LQFUHDVHG GHÀFLW UDLVLQJ SXEOLF GHEW IURP RI *'3 LQ WR LQ :LWK WKH &29,' SDQGHPLF the revenue problem is aggravated, and ÀVFDO VXVWDLQDELOLW\ LV HPHUJLQJ DV D major concern to the long-term growth.

A closer look at some aspects of Nigeria’s economic development and related indicators reveals pressing challenges.

First, the largest economy in the continent ranks 18th in Africa in terms of per capita income. This is not only the result of sheer population size but an indication of the prosperity (or lack thereof) of the population and contributions of citizens to the national wealth. By enhancing productivity of labour, through training and technological catch up, the GDP per capita of Nigeria could be improved.

Second, being extractive sectordriven economy, Nigeria has inherent rigidities in terms of absorbing labour in the national economy. This is because, extractive sectors by their nature are capital intensive and generate relatively small employment opportunities. Third, as the Nigerian economy is dependent on natural capital and export of raw or unprocessed commodities, it is subject to the vagaries of external shocks- be they economic, political or health related.

'XH WR WKH &29,' SDQGHPLF Nigeria’s economy is expected to face the most severe recession in decades: GDP dropped by nearly 4% in 2020 and the recovery for 2021 and 2022 has remained sluggish, particularly when compared with the growth rate of the population. As a result, the gains in poverty reduction achieved after several decades have started to reverse.

Some estimate puts that extreme poverty is expected to increase with the number of poor likely to grow by 15-20 million by the end of 2022. Finally, as with most economies of Africa, these are the results of weak economy-wide productive capacities and a lack of structural economic transformation. PCI of Nigeria or where does Nigeria stand in its productive capacity development?

Using UNCTAD’s innovative Productive Capacities Index (PCI), it is possible to measure Nigeria’s performance and capacity to grow and develop. With its HLJKW FRPSRQHQWV ² 1DWXUDO FDSLWDO Human capital, Energy, Private sector, Institutions, Structural change, ICT DQG 7UDQVSRUW ² WKH 3&, GUDZV D EURDG multidimensional picture of countries’ domestic capacities.

Akiwumi is Director, Division for Africa, LDCs and Special Programmes, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), while Dr. Onyekwena is Executive Director, Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA), Abuja

AYODELE OKUNFOLAMI argues that returning the artefacts is of no economic value as Nigerians do not visit galleries

BRINGING BACK BENIN BRONZES Nigerians received the news that Horniman Museum in London would be returning over 70 artefacts that had been looted from the ancient Benin Kingdom at WKH WZLOLJKW RI WKH WK FHQWXU\ 7KH H[SHFWHG return follows years of ongoing negotiations between Nigeria’s federal government led by the Ministry of Information and Culture and the governments of Britain, Germany and a few other former colonialists that must have been involved in looting of symbols of our early civilisations. Personally, I am not too excited about it, and I would use the following lines to express myself.

First, there are concerns about the notorious maintenance culture in Nigeria.

If and when these artefacts are given back, how decently would they be kept? Is there provision for the oils and perfumes that should be regularly applied on them for them to maintain their beauty and durability?

What about the museums that would house them? Are they well air-conditioned? Do the citizens appreciate such arts, or some people MXVW ZDQW WR XVH WKHLU SROLWLFDO R΀FHV WR WLFN some achievement boxes?

The National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) Lagos revealed it receives less than 50,000 visitors annually with a little above 80% of them students and just 2% foreigners. What this indicates is that, but for school excursions, a museum located at the heart of Lagos hosts less than 10,000 adult Nigerians yearly. One can only imagine how much less would be touring exhibition sites farther away from airports with much fewer populations and hotels.

With that in mind, of what economic value would these artefacts bring to the nation when the inhabitants do not visit galleries?

Would it not be better it remained in the London Museum that welcomes almost a million viewers yearly?

We cannot separate tourism from aviation.

The many troubles of the aviation industry where only the Lagos-Abuja route is viable will not help tourism at all. A nation where there are more private planes than commercial planes will only be known more for terrorism than tourism.

For those Benin Bronzes and the other artefacts to attract the needed views, Nigeria needs to rework its overall infrastructure. ,W PDNHV QR HFRQRPLF MXVWLÀFDWLRQ IRU anybody to leave mainland Lagos to spend unpredictable hours amidst highway robbery just because he wants to visit some ancient

sites in Badagry. Or due to an absence of high-speed rail, one spends over six hours from Calabar airport because he wants to visit Obudu cattle ranch. Or fear being kidnapped along between Abuja and Kaduna just because one wants to go and see Gobarau Minaret in Katsina. The cost of visiting a tourist site in Nigeria is QR GLͿHUHQW IURP SXWWLQJ RQ JHQHUDWRU to charge your phone. Until we make the cost of visiting our tourist attractions cheaper, more accessible, and safer, Benin bronzes and other related artifacts will only be in Nigeria for sentimental motives.

Let’s even argue that the homecoming of these artefacts is for us to get in touch with our history. There has been calls for history to return to our schools across the federation. Lagos State Government followed up the Federal Ministry of Education directive with its recent memo for the reintroduction of History as a stand-alone subject in primary and junior secondary schools which was addressed to schools in the state. Besides the fact that it was lack of teachers that took History away from our schools and I am unaware of any deliberate attempt to recruit teachers for those subjects, history is not just about what children in their formative years learn about their land, it is also about what they encounter in their everyday lives outside their classrooms.

Take Civic Education for instance which is aimed at the development and ingraining of national and social values in children before they attain adulthood. These youngsters encounter a contradiction when the school bus driver who has D MRE WR SURWHFW EUHDNV WUD΀F UXOHV WR get them to school on time. Similarly, WDXJKW KLVWRU\ ZLOO RQO\ EH HͿHFWLYH LI these museums and galleries of diverse aspects of our culture and past are readily accessible and visible. London alone has more than 170 museums. What we have today is that even a visit to our palaces, one gets little or no exhibits of the history of the traditions, culture or customs they are supposed to be custodians of. Other parts of the world, visits to palaces fetches tens of millions of dollars from visitors that don’t get to see the royals.

The whites are so good in keeping their materials that the British Museum displays only 1% of what it has at a time. Do the maths. It means they can DͿRUG WR NHHS DZD\ IURP YLVLWRUV For a nation like Nigeria that is also, if not richer in culture to be able to do likewise, I propose that incentives and grants from the government be made available for artefactual institutions that showcase and preserve our culture. This ZD\ DUW FHQWUHV ZRXOG EH D SURÀWDEOH venture for anybody, private or any tier of government, that wants to set up such.

By the way, what happened that these artefacts aren’t replicated? Why are they not made as replicas even as toys for children or portraits in greeting cards for grownups? Did the white men steal the technology and science of making these items along with them?

Okunfolami writes from Festac, Lagos

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EDITORIAL

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

IMPUNITY AND FOREIGN MISSIONS Government should act quickly and protect the image of the nation

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involved in contract splitting, an exercise which contravenes he impunity that characterises government the Public Procurement Act. It engaged two contractors agencies and parastatals is increasingly being to repair the roof of one building and paid about €226,000 replicated in many Nigerian foreign Missions. It for the repairs, while another €66,730 was incurred on the is therefore no surprise that the Auditor General *297 &2))(56 renovation of six government properties. Curiously, all the of the Federation’s latest report indicted some of payment vouchers did not have any supporting document ',9(56,21 them for extra-budgetary spending to the tune *297 such as Priced Bills of Quantities (BOQ), the list of the six of N13 billion between 2010 and 2019. In addition, a separate )81'6 properties that were renovated, the engagement letters to PHPR DGGUHVVHG WR WKH 0LQLVWHU RI )RUHLJQ $Ϳ DLUV E\ WKH the contractors for the renovation, and others. The Nigerian Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) revealed High Commission in the United Kingdom is also highly sharp practices that led to the recovery of N370 million from indebted. In February 2020, the United Kingdom’s Foreign two diplomatic missions.

DQG &RPPRQZHDOWK $Ϳ DLUV 'HSDUWPHQW GLVFORVHG WKDW WKH The over 450-page audit report which is being investigated High Commission owed over £7 million arising from 58,102 by the House of Representatives Committee on Public unpaid charges in 2018 alone.

Accounts has alleged that For many years, Nigeria’s many foreign missions foreign missions have been UHEXͿ HG DWWHPSWV E\ WKH The Nigerian High Commission in the United Kingdom is also highly characterised by poor funding, auditors to look into their poor working conditions books while others refused indebted. In February 2020, the United Kingdom’s Foreign and and crumbling infrastructure to remit internally generated Commonwealth Aff airs Department disclosed that the High Commission which help to dent our image revenue into government abroad. The embassy in FRͿ HUV DV SURYLGHG IRU LQ WKH owed over £7 million arising from 58,102 unpaid charges in 2018 alone Brazil is a typical example nation’s extant laws. Besides, where the landed properties the properties housing most in Brassilia have been left to of the Missions have fallen into disuse and have become a T H I S D AY rot.

The embassy has resorted to spending hefty amount of source of international embarrassment to Nigeria.

EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DQQXDOO\ RQ UHQW IRU WZR RI LWV VWDͿ DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA The report, for instance, cited the 22-storey Nigeria House MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO To be sure, embassies are needed to maintain useful in New York which also houses the Nigerian ConsulateDEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU relationships with foreign governments and in smoothening General, the National Boundary Commission of Nigeria and CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI the path for citizens and businesses in foreign markets. But the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) as fast deteriorating EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN poor funding has made it almost impossible to meet up and underutilised. The property, strategically located a MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI with some diplomatic obligations. The sorry state of the few blocks to United Nations Headquarters, is crying THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE foreign missions was graphically captured by the Speaker for rehabilitation. At the embassy in Washington, D.C. of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, who, properties owned by the government were reportedly sold ZKLOH PHHWLQJ ZLWK WKH )RUHLJQ $Ϳ DLUV 0LQLVWHU *HRͿ UH\ and the proceeds used to open a “property account” which T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D 2Q\HDPD GHSORUHG WKHLU SRRU IXQGLQJ À OWK\ HQYLURQPHQW gradually disappeared.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA poor working conditions and deteriorating infrastructure.

Similarly, the Nigeria Embassy in Berlin incurred an GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, As a way out of the problem the House of Representatives ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI average of €50,000.00 annually on utility bills, with additional DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, recently called on the federal government to allow each of N32 million spent to maintain the former ambassador’s ANTHONY OGEDENGBE the Missions abroad partake in the revenue generated from residence in Bonn, Germany in 2014 and part of 2015. This DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI activities within, to enhance their work environment. We is despite that the property has remained unoccupied since SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH will add that some of the Missions, particularly those that the embassy relocated to Berlin in 2001. What is even more ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI are not viable, be shut down and the proceeds used to prop embarrassing is that the consulate is deeply indebted to CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI up the others. Government must act quickly and save the DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO VHYHUDO FUHGLWRUV VRPH RI ZKRP KDYH WDNHQ WKH R΀ FH WR TO SEND EMAIL: fi rst name.surname@thisdaylive.com nation from global disgrace. court. At The Hague, Netherlands, the embassy is reportedly 1

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 NIGERIA AND THE FUEL SUBSIDY CONUNDRUM If Nigeria`s economic woes are today well-documented it is because for many years, those charged with managing the country`s resources have been clueless and careless.

For many years now, while Nigeria has continued to disappear behind a thicket of debts, not enough has been done by successive administrations to make the country self-sustaining.

The net result of this is a country almost brought to its knees, one which is broke and broken.

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) recently revealed that N13.7 trillion ($74.386 billion) was spent on fuel subsidy) in 15 years. This much was revealed

by Ogbonnaya Orji, the Executive Secretary of NEITI to the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee investigating fuel subsidy regime between 2013 and 2022. According to Orji, the amount was expended from 2005 to 2020.

According to the document presented to the House committee, a breakdown of the subsidy payments showed that it was N351 billion in 2005, N219.72 billion in 2006, N236.64 billion in 2007; 360.18 billion in 2008, 1.98.11 billion in 2009 and N416.45 billion in 2010. In 2011 it was N1.9 trillion, N690 billion in 2012, N495 billion in 2013, N482 billion in 2014, N316.70 billion in

2015, N99 billion in 2016, N141.63 billion in 2017, N722.30 bilOLRQ LQ 1 ELOOLRQ LQ DQG À QDOO\ 1 ELOOLRQ IN 2020. Only recently, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed had in her presentation of the 2023-2025 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper disclosed that the federal government was projected to spend the sum of N6.7 trillion on petrol subsidy payments in 2023. The disclosure unsurprisingly drew a lot of Á DNV IURP 1LJHULDQV Whenever fuel subsidy crawls into conversations, the question has remained if it is worth it, and whether by continuing the regime, Nigeria is not plunging into economic self-destruction.

What makes discussions and debates about fuel subsidy so heated in Nigeria is that there is always a pool of those who propose its removal and those who oppose same. The World Bank has repeatedly warned that Nigeria`s huge subsidy bill poses an existential crisis to the country and its more than two hundred million citizens.

Experts have long foretold that with Nigeria`s revenue constantly dwindling, it is only a matter of time before subsidy is

ditched. Many of these experts have been consistent in maintaining that the trillions of naira spent by the country on fuel subsidy can be deployed to other creative sectors of the Nigerian economy, particularly education.

The fear over subsidy removal has always been the impact it will have on Nigerians. This has always been a source of friction between the government and labour unions.

The government has often sought to soft-pedal on the issue.

However, it appears that the removal of subsidy is only a question of time. The huge sums going into the payment of subsidies every year can be taken to other sectors of the economy so that with time Nigeria can grow into an economy that is strong enough to survive shocks of any nature.

There will be a price to pay when subsidy is removed. But the earlier it is done, the better for everyone. The question is whether those who should take the step have enough political will to do so and whether they have it in them to do whatever it will take in the interim to ameliorate the hardship subsidy removal will bring on Nigerians.

Kene Obiezu, Twitter: @ kenobiezu

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

08056356325

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Report: Exporting Tech Savvy Skills Out of Nigeria Will Present New Development Path for the Country

Emma Okonji Exporting brain capital that are technology savvy from Nigeria to the global market will put Nigeria on the path to become a developed nation in record time, as most countries of the world face tech related skill shortages, a report by leading professional services firm, PwC Nigeria, which analyses the best development path for the country has revealed.

After significantly evaluating relevant trends impacting today’s global business landscape and

Nigeria’s unique circumstances as well as her position in the world today, the report titled, “Nigerian Brain Exports: The Optimal Path to Growing the Nigerian Economy,” recommends placing Nigerians in high-end Global Value Chains (GVCs) as the best path forward.

Brain export occurs when a Nigerian physically in Nigeria is inserted into global value chains and exchanges their brain capital for foreign currency, which is then remitted to the country where the talent is physically located.

With such a large population

that has an average age of 19 years, Nigeria, according to PwC report, has significant Brain Capital advantage, especially considering the ageing population in countries such as Germany, Japan, Italy and the United States. It is estimated that the worldwide working-age population would see a 10 per cent decline by 2060. Japan in particular tops this list with 28 per cent of its population above 65 and Italy comes second with 23 per cent. In contrast, only 2.7 per cent of the Nigerian population is above 65, which means Nigeria is strategically

positioned to supply labour to the global market, thus presenting a strong comparative advantage.

Analysing the report, Partner and Chief Economist, PwC Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Nevin, said: “Nigeria can transition from a developing to a developed nation within 10 to 20 years. To achieve this however, the country must seek and follow a path different from the traditional development path. We believe that the traditional strategy for development is not the most efficient path to improve the quality of life for Nigerians. It takes too long to

deliver the expected benefits and Nigeria has not been successful in following this path. Most developed countries adopted the traditional path, but it required significant financial investments spread over a long period. Unlike these countries, Nigeria lacks the finances and cannot afford to waste time.

“Given the times we live in, with advancements in research with technology and changes in the ways of working, there is a new optimal development path, one that is strengthened by changing circumstances and Nigeria’s unique

assets and attributes. That path is one where Nigeria exports Brain Capital into higher value-added global services markets.”

With case studies of India and Kenya and a few local examples of companies already exporting Brain Capital from Nigeria and actively participating in the GVC’s, the report created a plausible scenario in which Nigeria captures 17 per cent of the global programming and software development jobs.

The earnings that will accrue to Continued on page 24

Dry Ports: MOWCA to Facilitate Transit Trade Deal Between Chad, Nigeria Eromosele Abiodun Secretary General Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), Dr Paul Adalikwu has promised to facilitate seamless transit cargo movements from Nigeria’s dry ports to the Republic of Chad.

Adalikwu who said this in ND’jamena, the Chadian capital during his maiden working visit to the, Chadian

Minister of Transportation, Fatima Goukouni Weddeye where he expressed readiness to support the country’s Ministry of Transportation and the Shippers’ Council for the facilitation of transit transport of Chad destined cargoes.

He also promised to make arrangement for officials of Chad government to to visit the proximate dry ports in northern Nigeria as a way of preparing

grounds for the promotion of intra African trade in line with the focus of African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCTA).

The MOWCA SG reassured that all 25 member countries of the organisation, including landlocked states will enjoy technical support to uncover and harness the economic benefits of a thriving blue economy.

Weddeye who commended

Adalikwu for championing a reawakening in MOWCA, described the SG as a dynamic leader who has shown transformational traits within a short period.

She said the Ministry of Transportation of Chad and the country’s shippers council will deepen collaboration with MOWCA and requested Adalikwu to enable the visit of the technical staff of the Ministry

to the dry ports established in northern part of Nigeria.

She described the upcoming Regional Maritime Development Bank as a laudable initiative of MOWCA adding that it will fill the gap of sustainable funding of transport activities that are the backbone of foreign trade.

The minister said upon study of the bank’s charter by her ministry’s technical team, an informed decision will be taken

on the country’s endorsement of the bank.

On capacity building, Weddeye was pleased to know the existence of training institutions under the auspices of MOWCA, and requested to have more details on the curriculum for prospective students from Chad to benefit.

Both parties pledged to work assiduously to strengthen ties and deepen cooperation.

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT W E D N E S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 4 , 2 0 2 2 BILLS

BONDS DESCRIPTION Price ^14.20 14MAR-2024 13.53 23MAR-2025 ^12.50 22JAN-2026 ^16.2884 17MAR-2027 ^13.98 23FEB-2028

103.65 101.08 98.69 110.80 103.73

Yield 11.50 13.01 12.98 13.05 13.00

Change Updated Time (%) -0.01 September 8, 2022 0.00 September 8, 2022 0.00 September 8, 2022 0.00 September 8, 2022 0.00 September 8, 2022

MATURITY NTB 13-Oct22 NTB 10Nov-22 NTB 26-Jan23 NTB 9-Feb23 NTB 9-Mar23

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Change Updated Time (%) 8, 0.00 September 2022 8, 0.00 September 2022 8, -0.01 September 2022 8, 0.00 September 2022 8, 0.00 September 2022

MATURITY NENL CP I 24-OCT-22 FSDH CP VII 27-OCT-22 SIBP CP III 27-OCT-22 DLMG CP IV 11-NOV-22 FDHP CP III 17-MAR-23

Discount Yield 20.67 21.22 14.78 15.08 13.95 14.22 17.62 18.19 15.42 16.76

Change Updated Time (%) 8, -0.01 September 2022 8, -0.01 September 2022 8, -0.01 September 2022 8, -0.02 September 2022 8, 0.01 September 2022

OTC F X F U T U R E S CONTRACT Current Updated Time TENOR Contract Rate ($/₦) (MONTH) NGUS SEP 28 439.60 September 8, 1 2022 2022 NGUS OCT 26 441.81 September 8, 2 2022 2022 NGUS NOV 30 444.01 September 8, 3 2022 2022 NGUS DEC 28 446.22 September 8, 4 2022 2022 September 8, NGUS JAN 25 448.43 5 2023 2022

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SECURING RECORDS SOLUTIONS…

L-R: Head of Support and Server Administrator, Omojuyigbe Tosin; Support Intern, Princess Ebirim; Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Sam Nwosu and Warehouse Manager, Emmanuel Iteghete, all of Secured Records Management Solutions, during the launch of the company’s Warehouse in Abuja… recently

Startup Bill Will Enhance Nigeria’s Tech Ecosystem, Says NITDA Emma Okonji The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has stated that the recently passed Nigeria Startup Bill by the National Assembly will help institutionalise legal frameworks that will enhance the growth of startups in the country.

The Director General at NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, who stated this while delivering a keynote address at the Google Black Founders Fund in Africa

2022 Launch event, which took place at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja recently, said the bill, will provide enabling environment for growth, attraction and protection of investment in the sector, The DG noted that part of the challenge being faced by startups especially in Africa, was legal backing. According to him, starting and growing businesses in Africa used to be a big challenge, but with such bill in place, it will be easier to start a business.

Speaking about the importance

of the event, Abdullahi said the gathering was an opportunity for startups to get funding and start a business, adding that it is also coming with other incentives like the training Google offers, which can be accessed via their Cloud.

While affirming government’s commitment to the growth of digital economy in Nigeria, Abdullahi said: “We believe our own responsibility is to come up with policies that can enable a level playing field, and the government has been doing

a lot in this area, starting with expanding the mandate of our ministry to cover digital economy, and the ongoing implementation of National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy for a digital Nigeria, which outlined its strategic pillars that are key to the ecosystem.

“We are currently working on a project called ‘Talent Gap Assessment’, because we believe talent is the people side of technology. In Africa, we cannot compete with the rest of the

world in terms of hardware and any technology infrastructure, but when it comes to talent, we have a competitive edge over the rest of the world.”

Advising the startups about how technology can impact businesses, Abdullahi noted that customers’ demand was changing rapidly, and advised them to come up with innovative products that would be sellable in the future market.

“Don’t waste your time on what is happening today, the problem of today may be irrelevant tomorrow,

focus on emerging technologies and change the way we do things in this world. What helps you to succeed today may not help you succeed tomorrow.

“Try and turn your products into services because the world is moving to a service platform markets. You will make more money in service than in products.

It is easier to provide a service in Africa because of our challenging infrastructure. Let us explore what will help us to excel,” Abdullahi added.

Accelerex Registers N20bn Bond Programme, Issues First Tranche of N2.3bn Ugo Aliogo Accelerex Holdings, has announced that its Nigerian subsidiary, Global Accelerex Limited, has registered a N20 billion bond programme and successfully issued a 5-year senior unsecured bond of N2.3 billion via a special purpose vehicle (Accelerex Funding SPV Plc).

A statement by the company said FBN Quest Limited, Renaissance Securities Limited, Greenwich Merchant Bank Limited and Nova Bank Limited acted as Arrangers.

The statement further explained that the Bond is rated BBB+ (Stable Outlook) by Global Credit Ratings (GCR) andBbb+ (Stable Outlook) by Agusto & Co. and is listed onthe FMDQ Exchange.

The statement revealed that the issuance attracted participation from a broad array of institutional investors, including local pension funds,insurance companies and

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)

asset managers.

According to the statement, “The relativestrong demand despite the very difficult economic and operating environment confirms the market’s confidence in the Company’s creditworthiness, long term resilience, and significant growth

potential.

“The bond issuance, coming after Accelerex’s successful private equity round in 2020, provides its Nigerian subsidiary with critical long term and local currency capital to fund expansion and support its mission of accelerating the financial inclusion

of businesses and individuals across Africa.”

The Managing Director of Global Accelerex Limited, Mr. Olukayode Ariyo, stated that: “We are very happy with the result of this bond issuance as it confirms the market’s interest in advancing digital payments

and financial inclusion across Nigeria. It is an attestation of the confidence reposed in us, despite the difficult market environment.

We thank our bondholders for their belief in our Company.”

The Director at Accelerex Holdings, and Chief Investment Officer at Africa Capital Alliance

(ACA), Mr. Paul Kokoricha, said: “The medium-term bond issuance significantly strengthens the balance sheet and liquidity of Accelerex’s Nigerian operations and provides it with much needed local currency funding and duration to support its expansion plans.”

Report: 77% of Global Retail Organisations Hit by Ransomware in 2021 Emma Okonji A recent survey report released by Sophos, a global leader in nextgeneration cybersecurity, showed that global retail organisations had the second highest rate of ransomware attacks last year.

According to the report, globally, 77 per cent of retail organisations surveyed were hit last year, which was a 75 per cent increase from 2020, and 11 per cent more than the cross-sector average attack rate of 66 per cent.

Analysing the report, the Principal

Research Ccientist at Sophos, Chester Wisniewski, said: “Retailers continue to suffer one of the highest rates of ransomware attacks of any industry. With more than three in four suffering an attack in 2021, it certainly brings a ransomware incident into the category of when, not if. In Sophos’ experience, the organisations that are successfully defending against these attacks are not just using layered defenses, they are augmenting security with humans trained to monitor for breaches and actively hunting down threats that bypass the perimeter

before they can detonate into even bigger problems.

“This year’s survey shows that only 28 per cent of retail organisations targeted were able to stop their data from being encrypted, suggesting that a large portion of the industry needs to improve their security posture with the right tools and appropriately trained security experts to help manage their efforts.”

As the percentage of retail organizations attacked by ransomware increased, so did the average ransom payment, the report

further said, adding that in 2021, the average ransom payment was $226,044, a 53 per cent increase when compared to $147,811 in 2020. The report however said that this was less than one-third the cross-sector average at $812K. “It’s likely that different threat groups are hitting different industries.

Some of the low-skill ransomware groups ask for $50,000 to $200,000 in ransom payments, whereas the larger, more sophisticated attackers with increased visibility demand $1 million or more.

“With Initial Access Brokers

(IABs) and Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS), it’s unfortunately easy for bottom-rung cybercriminals to buy network access and a ransomware kit to launch an attack without much effort. Individual retail stores and small chains are more likely to be targeted by these smaller opportunistic attackers,” Wisniewski said.

The report said 92 per cent of retail organisations hit by ransomware said the attack impacted their ability to operate and 89 per cent said the attack caused their organisation to lose business and revenue.

Foundation Moves to Raise Entrepreneurs to Grow Cottage Industries Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia An Abia State based non-profit organisation, the Connak Foundation has launched a programme aimed at raising a new breed of entrepreneurs across the nation as part of programmes to mark its 10th anniversary of its youth empowerment activities.

To realise this vision, the Foundation

has launched the Connak Foundation Entrepreneurship Initiative (COFEI) under which well-trained entrepreneurs would emerge from among 500 persons selected from different parts of the country, who are camped for training programme.

The Chief Executive Officer of Connak Foundation, Mrs. Carol Sunday told the participants in the Bootcamp training programme at Trinity Theological College

Umuahia that they should grab this opportunity to become better and successful entrepreneurs.

She stated that entrepreneurial development was needed in order to create wealth and boost the nation’s economic development through the emergence of a new breed of entrepreneurs.

The Bootcamp programme, which commenced at Umuahia is scheduled for three centres - Abia for

Southeast/South South, Lagos for South West and Abuja for North. It would be used to groom and impart new knowledge and entrepreneurial skills on the participants.

General Manager, Connak Foundation, Rosemary Etisiame told THISDAY that “doing business in Nigeria is not for the fainthearted” hence the 500 entrepreneurs shortlisted for the camp programme would come out well equipped to

drive the economy.

The lead facilitator of the project, Dr Emeka Unachukwu, said that over 8,000 persons from across the nation had registered for the programme and underwent 12 weeks of virtual training and evaluation.

He said that the 500 people that were selected for the Bootcamp stage would, after the training, be required to present and defend their business ideas and plans before a team of experts.

REPORT: EXPORTING TECH SAVVY SKILLS OUT OF NIGERIA WILL PRESENT NEW DEVELOPMENT PATH FOR THE COUNTRY Nigerians performing these jobs is about $50 billion.

Based on the market size and the growth potential, Nigeria should have a target of two million remote workers inserted into GVCs within ten years. This number, the report reckons, will

drive growth in other sectors of the economy through the increased purchasing power of the people inserted into the GVC, the report said. According to the report, it is essential that the talent are plugged into GVCs are not in a few selected locations but

adequately distributed across the country to ensure prosperity for the nation.

The report added that Nigeria needed to start treating education as an infrastructure for development, not a social service, especially digital education, as

screen-based interactions have become as fundamental as reading and writing.

The report acknowledged that it might be complex for the government to tax Brain Export workers at the moment, but it noted that the advantages

outweigh that concern.

“With increased Brain Exports, burdens such as extreme poverty and high unemployment would lessen, and the government would also gain indirect tax benefits, like Value Added Tax,” the report further said.

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AT INTERNATIONAL MONETARY CONFERENCE…

Group Managing Director/CEO, Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu (left), and Chairman, Citigroup Inc. and current President of the International Monetary Conference (IMC), John Dugan at the meeting of IMC in Munich, Germany...recently

CORRIGENDUM: In the above picture we published yesterday, we erroneously stated that Ebenezer Onyeagwu attended the IMF conference instead of the International Monetary Conference in Germany, the error is regretted – Editor

FG Mulls Use of Compressed Natural Gas Vehicles for Mass Transit Kasim Sumaina in Abuja The federal government is considering the use of Compressed Natural Gas, which the country has in abundance to reposition transportation in urban cities across the country.

The Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adewole Adegoroye, made the disclosure when he received the report on, “ImplementationReady Report on National

Strategy Development for the Adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) based Transportation System in Nigeria’s Urban Cities,” in Abuja.

While assuring that the report would be given prompt attention, Adegoroye appreciated his erstwhile colleague, stating: “I appreciate that the last Minister who was here before, Sen. Gbemisola Ruqayyah Saraki, had the

initiative to set up a committee to work on this, i think it is a wonderful Initiative.”

Mindful of the time frame of this administration, he said: “I assure you that Nigerians must say something about us that when we were here, that we took steps to getting things done and being in tandem with what the world wants or what the world desires at this time.”

He noted further, that green house gas emissions poses

health and dire environment consequences and Nigeria cannot afford to lag behind considering that she is a signatory to Green House Emission Policy aimed at reducing carbon emissions in the environment.

Presenting the report to the Minister earlier, the Permanent Secretary stated that the report was sponsored by World Bank and done by Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management

Project (NEWMAP), through the Federal Ministry of Environment with highlights on strategic steps to take in the adoption of CNG vehicles in the transportation sector in the country.

According to Ajani, It would help us in kick-starting the revolution in the change of the transport sector, with vehicle conversion to CNG on the adoption of CNG vehicles, for our road transport mode within

the urban city to start with.

She hinted that, “Original Equipment Manufacturers in couple of years down will probably not be supporting vehicles that are powered by diesel or gas as everyone is moving towards Electric Vehicles (EV)” adding that the report takes into cognisance how Nigeria can move from diesel and Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) to natural gas and in about 10 to 15 years.

Stakeholders Brainstorm on Food Security, R e d S t a r E x p r e s s Economic Development in Nigeria Celebrates 30 Years, Seriki Adinoyi in Jos As part of activities for the 45th sessions of the National Council on Agriculture and Rural Development, stakeholders in the Agriculture Sector have converged in Jos, the Plateau State capital to brainstorm, strengthen agricultural value chains to ensure food security and economic development in Nigeria.

Speaking at the event holding at Langfield Leisure Park, Rayfield Jos, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agricultural Rural Development, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, who declared the technical session

open, said that the focus of the session is on fine-tuning, developing and improving the commodity value chain development process.

Represented by Director Agricultural Land and Climate Change Management Services, Mr Shehu Bello, Umakhihe said the value chain approach to developing Agriculture was intensified during the Agricultural Transformation 2011-2015.

He said, “The present administration had sustained and enhanced it via the successive frameworks of the Agricultural Promotion Policy (APP) 2016 – 2020 and the National Agricultural

Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP) 2022-2027. The ministry through the launch of NATIP has demonstrated commitment of the sector to address all conceivable challenges besetting the sector with a focus on strengthening and developing agricultural value chain.

“The foundation to achieving the desired success is the commitment to the provision of incentives to increase the output and quality of agricultural commodities to meet and surpass national requirements.

It is ultimately to achieve a diversified economic base with agriculture leading the way for

the non-oil sectors of the economy.”

He said that it contributed enormously to food security, increased productivity and efficiency, engenders diversification, generates higher incomes and reduces post-harvest losses and above all generated employment opportunities.

While speaking, Commissioner for Agricultural and Natural Resources, Dr. Hosea Finangwai urged the Council to proffer a permanent solution to potato blight, a disease ravaging Irish potatoes in the state, adding that the disease caused monumental financial losses to farmers in the state this year.

NAICOM Tasks State Governments on Implementation of Compulsory Insurance Ebere Nwoji The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has urged state governments to support the implementation of compulsory insurance nationwide adding that it would reduce the burden of negative occurrences like fire outbreak that affects major markets in the country.

NAICOM stated this at the sensitisation workshop it organised for top government officers in Kastina, the Katsina state capital.

The Commissioner for Insurance, Sunday Olorundare Thomas while addressing the government workers noted that the cardinal objective of

insurance is to protect people against such natural disasters.

“We cannot in some cases, stop it from happening but we can pre-empt and minimise its impact. Having the markets and goods insured will ensure stability and comfort for the people and also save the government some cost that ordinarily would have gone into compensating traders,” he said.

According to him, during the Commission’s visit to Governor Aminu Bello Masari, the CFI did mention that going by the population of farmers in Katsina state, it is obvious that the state was a critical stakeholder in increasing

insurance penetration and growth of the sector by ensuring that farmers are adequately protected.

Represented by the Head, Corporate Communications and Market Development, he said partnership with the Commission would be a golden opportunity to assist Katsina state peasant farmers, traders and civil servants when they need it most and for the financial services sector to also increase financial inclusion which is one of the cardinal thrusts that has been a forefront policy of the federal government for a sustainable economic development and lifting families out of abject

poverty.

“The inherent benefits to the people and government of Katsina state were well articulated during the visit of management of NAICOM to the Governor, but let me add that with the introduction of Islamic insurance (Takaful) and Microtakaful for small businesses, Katsina state will not be let down by the insurance industry, we indeed need each other to grow.

Having Takaful Insurance as an alternative to conventional insurance makes it more beneficial that whatever you contribute is not lost at the end of the year”, he said.

Harps on Technology Emma Okonji Red Star Express has confirmed its readiness to scale on technology to advance its operations as its clocks 30 years of doing business in Nigeria and transforming the country’s logistics industry.

Speaking at a Media Round Table recently, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Red Star Express Plc, Mr. Auwalu Badamasi Babura, explained that the timing was right for the firm to embrace technology in solidifying its authority as an industry leader within the courier and logistics sector and further expand its market share.

In spite of its international interest, Babura said Red Star would continue to deepen its expansion plan in Nigeria, where it currently has about 166 offices, over 1,600 vehicles, a fleet of trucks, bikes and world-class warehouses.

As part of its strategic rapid expansion, Red Star is also scheduled to soon unveil her world class warehouse at International Airport in Lagos and a Vehicle Service Centre on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway corridor to take care of its large fleet.

Babura attributed the company’s remarkable success to her highly skilled members of staff.

According to him, “In the last 30 years, Red Star Express has

achieved several milestones, which includes a sustainable business partnership with FedEx since 1994”.

Further detailing some of its milestones, Babura said: “In 2007 the company went public and got listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX). In 2008, it created and registered three subsidiaries namely Red Star logistics (RSL), responsible for haulage of dry products like pharmaceuticals, computer consumables and agro products; Red Star Freight that focuses on providing clearing and forwarding services, handling bulky air and sea freight packages and General Sales Cargo Agents to major airlines in the country. There is also Red Star Support Services, which provides outsource services of personnel, material and vehicle outsource.”

He applauded the company for remaining strategic, focused and committed to its shareholders, noting that it has never defaulted in payments of dividends to its shareholders since inception, even during the COVID-19 period.

Executive Director, Sales and Marketing, Charles Ejekam, provided highlights of scheduled activities to mark the anniversary, which will culminate on the 12th of October, 2022, with a public lecture and hosting of key stakeholders.

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NITDA Trains 200 in IT Skills, Emerging Technologies Emma Okonji National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has urged Nigerian children trained in Information Technology (IT) skills to open up their curious

minds and embrace emerging technologies.

The Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi stated this at the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Bootcamp organised for over

200 kids, tagged (NITDA SB4Kids), which held recently at Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.

Abdullahi advised them to explore all that the STEM education has to offer them and to continue with the journey

towards becoming technology leaders that will steer the country towards prosperity.

According to him, the internet has changed the way people access information, and the way they interact with one another, adding that there are many

digital technologies disrupting the people’s lifestyle.

Speaking also at the Bootcamp, the Consultant, Mayowa Ajiboye, explained that there were lots of pupils with good IT skills in Alimosho Local Government Area of

Lagos State, compared to those on the Island in Lagos.

He therefore urged them to put into practice, what they have learnt, while appreciating the parents who allowed their children to attend the Bootcamp.

Kano Dairy Stakeholders Commends Outspan’s Investments in Backward Integration Dike Onwuamaeze

L-R: Secretary General Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa(MOWCA), Dr. Paul Adalikwu,with the Minister of Transportation, Republic of Chad,Hajia Fatima Weddeye during Adalikwu’s maiden working visit to N’Djamena… recently

Stakeholders in the Kano’s dairy sector have commended the backward integration programmes embarked upon by Outspan Nigeria Limited, to stimulate growth, generating valuable employment opportunities and tackle long-standing issues in the sector. Speaking recently, a Veterinary Doctor and a Dairy Consultant, Dr. Suleiman Musa Suleiman, revealed that Outspan Nigeria has been providing solutions to various challenges in the agro value chain by making investments that had been bringing milk collection centres (MCC) closer to the dairy farmers in the different clusters. Suleiman said: “I happened to be part of the beginning of this whole partnership between Outspan Nigeria Limited and the Kano Dairy & Livestock Husbandry Cooperative Union (KADALCU); I even partook in the MoU signing process.

“To be honest with you, I am impressed. I am impressed in the sense that they made a promise, and they are fulfilling it. We have not had to start running after them to perform what they promised.”

Speaking in the same vein, the Chairman of the Kano Dairy and Livestock Husbandry Cooperative Union (KADALCU), Mr. Usman Abdullahi Usman, said that “one of the goals of the union is to generate direct and indirect employment opportunities for the youth. With the intervention of Outspan Nigeria Limited, we have been able to secure motorbikes and tricycles, which have been issued out to the youth vendors to go to the Fulani clusters and collect the milk for processing at the milk collection centres.”

Speaking recently at the commissioning of a newly procured cold truck for its MCCs, the Vice President of OFI Dairy in Nigeria, Mr. Paulsamy Praveen, said: “We prioritise the actualisation of the federal government’s economic development agenda, especially, in the dairy sector. The current value chain development initiatives, especially, the ‘Milk Mission,’ encapsulate our absolute commitment to raising the productivity level in the dairy sector while engendering a performance scale that would push the sector towards fulfilling its economic contributory potential.”

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BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

AVEVA Launches 2023 Operations Control Software to Strengthen Workforce Nosa Alekhuogie AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software, driving digital transformation and sustainability, has launched the 2023 release of its operations control software, the first major

coordinated release of its HMI/ SCADA software portfolio, available in both perpetual and subscription purchases.

The new release further supports the delivery of AVEVA Operations Control, a flexible, subscription-based solution

of integrated capabilities that promotes greater efficiency and workforce collaboration at the scale that best suits the business.

Announcing the product launch, the Executive Vice President, Operations Business, AVEVA, Rashesh Mody, said:

Galaxy Backbone, 9mobile, Others Back NITRA ICT Growth Conference 2.0 Nosa Alekhuogie More key technology companies have indicated their interests to participate in the second edition of the ICT Growth Conference 2.0, being organised by the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA).

The event, which is slated to hold at the Lagos Oriental Hotels on September 29, 2022, with the theme: ‘Creating A Digital Ecosystem In Nigeria: The Hurdles, The Gains’, will have the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami as the lead speaker.

The technology companies

include: Galaxy Backbone, 9mobile, SecureID, Rack Centre, Arravo Global Services and Phase 3 Telecoms.

Announcing the partnership in Lagos, Chairman of NITRA, Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi, explained that the conference would present realities in Nigeria as both the industry regulators and the supervisory ministry are working assiduously to set Nigeria on the apex list of digitally empowered countries, and make it a forerunner in global technology index.

Onwuegbuchi noted that the partnership with these organisations would add to the event as they will bring their

wealth of knowledge in Cloud Computing, Financial Security, Social Engineering, Data Center, Telecommunication, and other relevant fields to the conference, and join the dialogue on the growth ingredients needed to drive the country towards a digitized society.

“Specifically, the Forum will offer stakeholders the opportunity of reassessing and reinvigorating some policies to make maximum impact in the growth of ICT in Nigeria. This is a growth conference, and stakeholders will be allowed to speak out on what the growth indices should be,” Onwuegbuchi further said.

“Digital technologies now comprise the beating heart of industrial enterprises. But operations teams do not yet have the ability to contextualise decisions within a cohesive and sustainable framework. AVEVA Operations Control leverages

this information environment with a comprehensive set of applications that empowers users from edge to enterprise with real-time visibility of critical processes in every industry,” AVEVA’s extensive portfolio is a core strength that supports

customers in achieving the outcomes they seek. The 2023 operations control release focuses on worker empowerment with UI/UX enhancements, increased flexibility for web and mobile users, and greater connectivity.

9mobile Offers Customers MoreValue with Upgraded Data Plans Emma Okonji Telecommunication Company, 9mobile, is again demonstrating care for its customers by offering them more value for money with its new and upgraded data plans.

With the exciting data plans, customers will do more online without incurring extra costs.

The Director of Product Innovation and Business Development, 9

mobile, Kenechukwu Okonkwo, who disclosed the new data plan, said: “Given the prevailing economic realities, we deemed it fit to empower our customers to do more without depleting their resources by retaining the prices of some existing data plans but increasing their data volumes while introducing new ones.”

He added that with the data upgrade, customers would receive

50MB for N50 instead of 25MB and 100MB + another 100MB for social networks access at N100, instead of the former 100MB, adding that both plans are valid for one day.

“We have also introduced a fantastic daily plan, which offers 300MB (200MB any time browsing and 100MB night browsing) + 300 bonus secomds to call any network in Nigeria, all for N150,” Okonkwo said.

Unilever Repositions Sunlight with New Packaging Raheem Akingbolu Sunlight, a leading household brand from Unilever Nigeria Plc, has unveiled a new, refreshed and exciting packaging for its range of products as a master brand.

The brand has also launched a new television commercial deeply rooted in its purpose – to support

entrepreneurial Nigerian women in their desire to contribute more to their households and society.

At the unveiling of the master brand, which took place at Marriot Hotel, Lagos, the Category Manager, Homecare Oladapo Oshuntoye, explained that “the Sunlight Masterbrand is an initiative to unify all the brand’s product offerings

under one umbrella in terms of packaging, marketing communication and brand purpose. This re-launch also signifies the brand’s commitment to continue to deliver best-in-class quality products that provide a better washing experience, offer burst after bursts of uplifting fragrance, and come in a range of sizes to cater to everyone’s washing needs.”

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2022

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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

Advocating Therapy for Trauma Victims To tackle the scourge of trauma, which has become a global public health problem, a non-governmental organisation, Arogi TraumaCare Foundation, was recently launched, Mary Nnah writes

T

he essence of the foundation is to provide a platform for all relevant stakeholders to engage and proffer sustainable solutions to the problems surrounding trauma care and emergency response in our country.

More so, trauma is one of the leading causes of death globally and because it contributes extensively to the hundreds of deaths recorded every year in the nation it has become imperative to begin to find ways to address the menace that is fast becoming a public health burden in Nigeria.

Business guru and founder of Brands Optimal, Grey Cottage and Arogi Trauma Care Foundation, Otis Ojeikhoa said the Foundation opted for trauma care because they understand what a lot of people are going through, especially in traumatic situations and needs help. The reason why they created the awareness for a toll-free call, is for people to have access to care from a specialist as a way of saving lives.

“If you think toothache is painful wait until you are faced with traumatic situations. I was a victim of emotional trauma and I almost died after I was traumatised. I was thinking about ending it all but was rescued by Dr. Rukayyah Abiola who gave me therapy.

“Once you are in trauma, you need to seek professional help. The experiences I had before the sessions with a specialist were extremely difficult.

“Persons in traumatic situation encounters physical, emotional, spiritual, or psychological harm. The person experiencing the distressing event may feel physically threatened or extremely frightened as a result.”

Ojeikhoa said in some cases, they may not know how to respond or may be in denial about the effect The person will need support and time to recover from the traumatic event regaining emotional and mental stability.

“We have raised concern on the need to strengthen and improve the state of trauma care using emergency response services in the health care delivery system.

“Arogi is touching lives in immeasurable ways.

In the last three months, we have over 781 people who have received one form of help or the other for their emotional and mental health experiences.

It is amazing how many people are depressed, how many people are unhappy, how many people have not been able to heal from difficult emotional traumas.”

He explained that although people know that they are traumatised, they stay in denial because they believe that “somehow, someday, things will get better.

“Things getting better means that on your own, you have to be better. You have to heal, you have to recover, and know how to develop better coping mechanisms. Through qualified interventions, people can develop proper and positive coping

L-R: President, Arogi Foundation, Mr. Otis Ojeikhoa, Speaker/Broadcaster, Mrs. Andrea Oduobi-Teke, Speaker/Associate Professor of Psychology, Prof, Andrew Zamani, Vice President, Arogi Foundation, Mrs. Joy Tim-Ayoola and another Speaker,/Lecturer, University of Lagos, Dr. Charles Umesh during the launch of Arogi Foundation in Lagos recently mechanisms.

“Alcohol and drug use are some of the readily available and horrible coping mechanisms that people sadly resort to instead of reaching out for interventions. But we have been here, and now we have officially launched to offer these health interventions to people.”

The maiden conference themed “Dealing with life’s emotional struggles” held the presence of renowned professor of psychology, Professor Andrew Zamani who addressed the conference on “Dealing with marital traumas; Award-winning radio broadcaster, Andrea Oduobi-Teke spoke on “Dealing with life’s emotional struggles”; whilst Consultant clinical psychologist, Dr. Charles Umeh highlighted “How to find happiness”.

Guest speakers at the event commended the team for “launching the trauma care at a time when Nigerians are saddled with depression, traumas, suicidal tendencies, and worry” among other things.

According to the professionals, there are a lot of “hidden pains” masked behind smiles and laughter that people are yet to identify as depression and trauma.

Highlighting viral slang such as “we move”, “going through a lot”, and “easy, Jeje”, as some methods of escapism that the Nigerian social media community has adopted, Dr. Fred Nnadi said: “We won’t be lying if we state the obvious that Nigerians are going through a lot.

And the foundation couldn’t have come at a better time. People need a place where they can go for therapy, in fact, free therapy, because finance is another constraint.”

“The whopping amount of alcohol consumed by Nigerians in the first half of 2022, a figure which sat at an alarming N599.11 billion, Nnadi said: “People need to be able to talk about their emotions, instead of drowning it in

alcohol. Alcohol is not the way out. Nigerians have always had that “we move” capabilities, like we just move on from anything, and get up from anything. But you realize that people just subdue those emotions with entertainment and alcohol, instead of addressing the issue.”

Validating Nnadi’s position on the relationship between trauma, depression, and alcoholism, Professor Andrew Zamani said: “Trauma has been a very elusive mental situation in this country, and right now, I think we are taking the bull by the horn. Research has it that most alcohol abusers are depressed, and alcoholism is a means by which people try to cope with their daily life challenges; albeit maladaptive.”

“And when people who abuse alcohol discover that they can bury their woes and escape the reality of their stresses, they tend to repeat and increase their indulgence. That eventually leads to depression because they soon realize that alcohol does not solve the problem.”

Shedding Light on Heart Attack, Its Facts, Myths Medical Expert, Dr. Okoh Basil Ewere, a cardiologist at EverCare Hospital, recently shed light on heart attack, its facts and myths, Tosin Clegg reports

T

he 21st century has experienced an upsurge on both communicable and non communicable diseases.

Prominent amongst the non communicable diseases has been Cardiovascular diseases which refer to a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels.

Examples of cardiovascular diseases include heart failure, strokes, rhythm abnormalities of the heart( arrhythmias),hypertension, diseases of the peripheral blood vessels( peripheral vascular disease) and heart attack (Myocardial infarction) amongst others.

Shedding more light on this disease, Cardiologist Dr Okoh Basil Ewere at EverCare hospital stated that, “Cardiovascular diseases are the major cause of death worldwide. In Nigeria, reports of sudden death of previously apparently healthy individuals either by slumping or not awakening from sleep is on the incline.

“The possibilities here are as a result of heart attack or stroke( brain attack). This has been attributed to the influence of witches, wizards and “ Village people”.

The average life expectancy in Nigeria as at 2022 is 55.44years as against 36.73 years in 1960. Thus statistically we live longer now as we now have better health care facilities and probably better balanced nutrition ( though my grand ma will disagree) than in 1960.

This coupled with ,more industrialization has brought sedentary lifestyle, more westernised diet and attending obesity. Thus creating a paradigm shift from communicable diseases like cholera to non communicable diseases like hypertension, diabetes and heart attack.”

“Heart attack occurs when a part of the heart muscle does not get enough blood to function and when this persists, leads to death of that muscle. This shortage of blood results from a blockage within the lumen of the vessel.

“This blockage typically consists of fat deposition( arteriosclerosis) and platelets within the lumen leading to narrowing of the lumen and

eventually complete occlusion.

“This process of fat deposition did not just suddenly occur but has been accumulating gradually over months to years.

Fats are naturally and gradually deposited in our arteries as we age and may be part of our normal ageing process and not necessarily harmful but this process is accelerated by some risk factors; Hypertension, Diabetes, Cigarette smoking, Abnormal cholesterol levels, Family history of heart attack, Obesity, Sedentary life style and Age.” Heart attacks amongst younger generation may not be due to fat deposition but illicit drugs like cocaine which speeds up the heart to dangerous rates that its blood supply can no longer cope with the demand from the heart.

Some individuals pass a transition from chest pain on activity( Angina) which is a demand and supply mismatch and pain disappears when the exercise is stopped as heart rate returns to a point when the blood supply from the narrowed artery can cope. The other

end of the spectrum is complete blockage of the artery and heart attack results.

When symptoms of a heart attack occur,the sooner you get to an emergency room, the sooner you can get treatment to reduce the amount of damage to the heart muscle.

At the hospital, health care professionals can run tests to find out if a heart attack is happening and decide the best treatment.

The blockage in the cardiac arteries can be ameliorated by dilating the lumen of the artery,hence blood can flow through.

This is done in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory. The numbers of such laboratories thankfully are increasing in Nigeria though not sufficient for a population of over 200million people.

On prévention of the devastating effects of cardiovascular diseases, the Doctor advices that lifestyle adjustments and dietary modifications such as quiting smoking, exercises, diet and healthy eating, alcohol limit, stress control among other would be helpful.

Summarily, Mortality from a heart attack is significantly high-so prevention and early detection is key.

29

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2022

FEATURES

AvonHMOHostsNew,Expecting MothersforWorldBreastfeedingWeek Uzoma Mba -FBEJOH IFBMUI NBJOUFOBODF organisation, Avon Healthcare -JNJUFE "WPO ).0 SFDFOUMZ held a breastfeeding forum, further emphasising its unwavering dedication to maternal and child health.

The forum which was the first-ever of its kind by "WPO ).0 XBT IFME JO DPNNFNPSBUJPO PG 8PSME #SFBTUGFFEJOH 8FFL The event, which was based PO UIF UIFNF i4UFQ 6Q 'PS #SFBTUGFFEJOH &EVDBUF BOE Support”, was designed as a safe space for mothers to connect, relax, and learn.

The forum also had in attendance, leading experts in various areas of maternal and child health, including Titilayo Medunoye, Nigeria’s àSTU -BDUBUJPO $POTVMUBOU BOE $&0 .JMLZ &YQSFTT 5PTJO 0MVGFNJ $&0 /FX .VNT )VC %S "ZPEFMF 3FOOFS $POTVMUBOU 1BFEJBUSJDJBO %S 0MVCVONJ 4BMBLP $POTVMUBOU Paediatrician at Avon Medical 1SBDUJDF BOE 0MVCVONJ #SBIFFN -BHPT 4UBUF T /VUSJUJPO 0GàDFS SFQSFTFOUJOH UIF $PNmissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi.

Speaking on the event,

0MVCVONJ #SBIFFN TBJE UIBU JU was a welcome development, especially considering the dwindling breastfeeding rate in the country and the rise of malnutrition in children. i1SFTFOUMZ JO -BHPT 4UBUF the exclusive breastfeeding rate is 52 per cent. However, the national rate stands at 29 percent according to the last survey and this must be improved on. I am happy that private organisations like Avon are beginning to partner us as we work on policies that will further encourage breastfeeding and ensure proper nutrition for babies,” she said.

Titilayo Medunoye, echoed these sentiments, saying that the easier breastfeeding becomes, the more mothers will embrace it.

“Mothers struggle with breastfeeding for various reasons, including hormonal and anatomical. It is important that we see how we can properly educate mothers on the various challenges faced during breast feeding and proffer solutions.”

0OF XBZ UIFTF DIBMMFOHFT could be overcome, according UP %S 4BMBLP PG "WPO .FEJDBM was for mothers to begin their

preparations before childbirth, adding that cooperation and support of fathers was crucial.

According to her, “Breastfeeding preparations should start the moment the woman JT QSFHOBOU 8PNFO TIPVME speak with their doctors during antenatal for clear directions BOE TUFQT &EVDBUJPO JT BT important for the fathers as it is for the mothers.” %S +BOFU 0HVOLPZB UIF )FBE PG 6UJMJTBUJPO "WPO ).0 TVNNFE VQ UIF QPTJtion of the company, stressing UIBU "WPO ).0 IBT BMXBZT been vocal about the need for improvements in maternal and child health, and was open to more collaborations towards that goal. i"WPO ).0 IBT BMXBZT been passionate about maternal and child health, and this is why most of our health plans include antenatal and neonatal care as core benefits. i&WFO BGUFS CJSUI XF SFBMJTF that mothers still face challenges and this necessitated us going the extra mile to QBSUOFS XJUI .JMLZ &YQSFTT New Mums Hub and other key partners to give them the required support they face in breastfeeding and other areas of childcare.”

Head Utilisation & Case Management Avon Healthcare Limited, Dr Janet Ogunkoya; Group Head, Human Resources Avon Healthcare Limited, Faith Nelson – Ojeaga; Consultant Paediatrician Avon Medical Practice, Dr Olubunmi Salako; Founder, Noisy Naija Paediatrician, Dr Ayodele Renner; Founder, New Mums Hub Africa, Olutosin Olufemi; CEO, Milky Express, Ttitilayo Medunonye; and Lagos State Nutrition Officer – Olubunmi Braheem at the Avon HMO Breastfeeding Forum in partnership with Milky Express which held recently in Lagos

NEPWAN Trains Groups on Health Grant Implementation in Nasarawa Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia The Network of people -JWJOH XJUI )*7 BOE "*%4 JO /JHFSJB /&18"/ MBTU XFFL trained 30 different advocacy groups and organisations in Nasarawa State for the JNQMFNFOUBUJPO PG 'FEFSBM (PWFSONFOU BOE (MPCBM 'VOE Multi Billion Naira Resilience and Sustainable Systems for )FBMUI (SBOU 1SPHSBNNF JO the state.

Consequently, as part of efforts to ensure effective implementation of the programme in the state, leaders of Community Based 0SHBOJTBUJPOT SFMJHJPVT CPEJFT /BUJPOBM 0SJFOUBUJPO "HFODZ /0" UIF QPMJDF BT XFMM BT UIF NFEJB DPOWFSHFE PO -BàB the Nasarawa State capital, for a three-day training on stepping up advocacy aimed at identifying and strengthening the health sector for optimal service delivery.

Addressing newsmen after the three-day training,

Programme Manager of UIF /&18"/ .S *TNBFFM %BOJTF TBJE UIF QSPHSBNNF was focused on improving the standard of health care facilities in rural communities due to JNQBDUT PG $07*% QBOEFNJD on the health sector.

The Programme Manager continued that, Nasarawa State was implementing the "*%4 5VCFSDVMPTJT BOE .BMBSJB DPNQPOFOU PG UIF QSPKFDU JO five local government areas of "LXBOHB ,FGà ,BSV -BàB BOE %PNB 5IF -FBE 'BDJMJUBUPS BU UIF USBJOJOH %S 3VUI #FMMP XIP JT BMTP UIF &YFDVUJWF %JSFDUPS of the Nasarawa State Agency GPS UIF $POUSPM PG "*%4 QPJOUFE PVU UIBU UIF $07*% pandemic had weakened the health sector, hence the need for persistent robust engagements and commitments towards strengthening the system, given its important to humanity.

The Nasarawa State CoPSEJOBUPS PG UIF /&18"/

.S 1IJMJQ -PLPLP PO IJT QBSU noted that the programme had given hope to people affected CZ )*7 BOE "*%4 JO UIF TUBUF who were not given adequate attention during the peak of UIF $07*% TDPVSHF In an interview, some of the participants who include: UIF TUBUF 4FDSFUBSZ (FOFSBM +BNB BUVM /BTSJM *TMBN +/* and the state Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Imam Muhammad Ali and Reverend Sunday &NNBI SFTQFDUJWFMZ TBJE the programme had given them a new approach to advocate for better health care services, especially at the grassroots.

High points of the training were questions and answers sessions, discussions, practical demonstrations and inauguration of a five man health advocacy team to coordinate activities of the Community #BTFE 0SHBOJTBUJPOT UP FOTVSF successful implementation of UIF QSPKFDU

FERTILITY

With Dr. Kemi AILOJE drkemi@lifelinkfertility.com www.lifelinkfertility.com +2348033083580

Anti-Mullerian Hormone (Amh) On Female Reproduction (Part 2)

M

enstruation is a normal vaginal bleed that occurs in which the endometrium (inner lining of the womb) of a woman of childbearing age who has not become pregnant in that cycle sheds and is discharged spontaneously in response to the hormone secretion cycle. This week our discussion will be on Premenstrual syndrome.

WHAT IS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME (PMS)?

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a group of symptoms that occur repeatedly before menstruation and are accompanied by changes in emotional, behavioral, and physical symptoms.

It is a syndrome that typically begins 2 to 10 days before menstruation and disappears immediately before or after menstruation begins.

(PMS) is a collection of physical and emotional symptoms that many women experience following ovulation and prior to the start of their menstrual period. According to research, PMS occurs in the days following ovulation because estrogen and progesterone levels begin to fall dramatically if you are not pregnant.

PMS symptoms subside a few days after a woman’s period begins, as hormone levels begin to rise again. PMS is a very common issue. PMS affects nearly 48 percent (48%) of women of reproductive age, with about 20 percent (20%) of them experiencing symptoms severe enough to disrupt their daily routine.

Contrary to popular belief, PMS is a real condition that can disrupt daily life and cause significant physical and emotional discomfort.

BMI greater than 30 are three times more likely to have PMS than women of normal weight. r 1PPS QIZTJDBM DPOEJUJPO r (FOFUJDT BOE GBNJMZ IJTUPSZ r *G ZPV ESJOL IFBWJMZ PO B SFHVMBS CBTJT you increase the chances of getting PMS. SYMPTOMS OF PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME &WFSZ NPOUI UIF NBKPSJUZ PG XPNFO FYQFSJence at least one PMS symptom. But it is not the same for everyone. It may change as you age. PMS symptoms can be both physical and emotional. Physical symptoms of PMS may include: r "DOF 5IJT JT POF PG UIF NPTU DPNNPO symptoms of PMS, and it is not limited to teenagers. Hormonal changes may cause skin glands to produce more sebum. This oily substance may clog the pores, resulting in a breakout and a visible reminder that your period is approaching. r 'PPE DSBWJOHT 8IFO 1.4 TUSJLFT NBOZ women experience specific cravings for sweet or salty foods such as chocolate cake. r "CEPNJOBM CMPBUJOH r 6OVTVBM DMVNTJOFTT r $SBNQJOH r %JHFTUJWF VQTFUT JODMVEJOH DPOTUJQBUJPO and diarrhea r 'MVJE SFUFOUJPO r 8FJHIU HBJO

CAUSES OF PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME The main cause of premenstrual syndrome is unknown. However, several factors may contribute to the condition such as:

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r $ZDMJD DIBOHFT JO IPSNPOFT 5IFTF IPSNPOFT naturally fluctuate throughout your menstrual cycle. Hormones reach a peak during the luteal phase, which follows ovulation, and then rapidly decline, causing anxiety, irritability, and other mood changes, which disappear with pregnancy and menopause. r $IFNJDBM DIBOHFT JO UIF CSBJO $IBOHFT in serotonin and norepinephrine, two brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) thought to play an important role in regulating emotion, mood, and behavior, may cause PMS symptoms. This happens when a small amount of estrogen causes the release of norepinephrine, which causes the production of dopamine, acetylcholine, and serotonin to decrease.

Inadequate levels of these hormones may contribute to premenstrual depression, fatigue, food cravings, and sleep issues. r %FQSFTTJPO 4PNF XPNFO XJUI TFWFSF 1.4 have undiagnosed depression, even though depression does not cause all of the symptoms. r &YJTUJOH NFOUBM IFBMUI DPOEJUJPO -JWJOH with a mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety, may increase your chances of getting PMS. A family history of PMS, bipolar disorder, or depression, including postpartum depression, may also raise the risk. r 4NPLJOH 4NPLFST BSF UXJDF BT MJLFMZ to have severe PMS symptoms compared to non-smokers. r 0WFSXFJHIU BOE PCFTJUZ 8PNFO XJUI B

Emotional and behavioral symptoms PMS-related changes in your mood, emotions, and behavior may include: r "OYJFUZ BHJUBUJPO PS B TFOTF PG CFJOH on edge r *SSJUBCJMJUZ JODMVEJOH SBHF àMMFE PVUCVSTUT r $POGVTJPO r %FQSFTTJPO BOE B MPX NPPE XIJDI NBZ include thoughts of suicide r -PTT PG TFMG FTUFFN BOE DPOàEFODF SFTVMUJOH in social isolation r 'FFMJOHT PG JTPMBUJPO BOE QBSBOPJB r "QQFUJUF DIBOHFT JODMVEJOH JODSFBTFE food cravings, particularly for sweets r 4MFFQ QBUUFSO DIBOHFT TVDI BT GBUJHVF and difficulty sleeping r " TBE PS EFQSFTTFE NPPE XIJDI NBZ include tears or uncontrollable crying r &NPUJPOBM PVUCVSTUT BOE NPPE TXJOHT r 4FYVBM EFDSFBTF PS PDDBTJPOBMMZ JODSFBTF r %JGàDVMUJFT DPODFOUSBUJOH PS SFDBMMJOH information, as well as memory lapses Physical pain and emotional stress are severe enough for some people to interfere with their daily lives. Regardless of symptom severity, most women’s symptoms disappear within four days of the start of their menstrual period................................................. t5P CF DPOUJOVFE

30

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯͳ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Heirs Insurance, Life Assurance Commence Bancassurance Partnership with UBA Nume Ekeghe Two of the leading insurance companies in Nigeria, Heirs Insurance Limited (HIL) and Heirs Life Assurance (HLA) have commenced a bancassurance partnership with global banking group, the United Bank for Africa (UBA).

The company in a statement said the partnership will permit the distribution of affordable and dependable insurance products for all, “at UBA Nigeria branches, providing a wider range of financial security options for individuals, families, and businesses, whilst driving financial inclusion, a strategic objective for both groups.

“The bancassurance partnership offers customers of all three entities an expanded distribution network and the

ability to seamlessly transact banking and insurance needs in a single location. Customers will be able to purchase insurance from all UBA Nigeria distribution channels, including the branches.

“Heirs Insurance and Heirs Life have demonstrated their unique approach to insurance and customer experience, that emphasises simplicity and accessibility, propelled by their innovative digital insurance processes. The new bancassurance partnership underlines their mission of improving lives and transforming Africa, while democratising access to financial services.”

MD/CEO, Heirs Insurance, Adaobi Nwakuche, said: “We are pleased to partner with a trusted and innovative bank such as the United Bank for Africa.

This partnership will offer

millions of people nationwide the financial security that is so needed. We are committed to our transformative path of improving the lives of Nigerians, while ensuring that insurance is made accessible to all.”

MD/CEO, Heirs Life Assurance, Niyi Onifade, said: “We promised Nigerians accessibility to insurance, and this bancassurance partnership is one of the key ways we are fulfilling that promise. The new bancassurance partnership with UBA reaffirms our shared digital-first approach and innovation culture, which inspire us to provide the utmost value to our customers. We appreciate our regulator, the National Insurance Commission, and of course, the Central Bank of Nigeria for granting us the necessary approval and placing their confidence in us.”

L-R: Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Abbey Mortgage Bank, Geoffrey Amaghereonu; MD/ CEO,Mobolaji Adewumi; ED, Treasury & Business Growth, Dipo Adeoye and GM, Group Head IT & Operations, Lolita Ejiofor during a Strategy session in Lagos...recently

Reb360 to Return Lagosions to Nature, Launches Renewable Community A real estate firm, Reb360, has launched a 50-acre, 202,000 square-meter mixed development community called “Kairos.”

According to the firm, Kairos is a combination of a resort, a nature-dominant residential area and a work and play zone.

Speaking at the site of the development, the CEO of Reb360 Limited, Mrs. Tope Mark-Odigie said that the project was the first of its kind and has been received by enthusiatic investors.

She said, “We established Reb360 just 18 months ago,

and have embarked on several project including four residential estates covering 100 acres in different locations within Nigeria.

This is our most ambitious project till date.”

She added that Reb360 was established to encourage safe and profitable Real Estate investment for Nigerians home and abroad, while using Real Estate as job and wealth creation platform.

“We have always known there were opportunities in this sector, but harnessing them and making it work for

everyone is why we exist, “she said.

Mark-Odigie also said that the the Kairos project is very novel in its approach to development, leaning towards the sustainable development goals 9 and 13, with a focus on sustainable infrastructure and climate respectively.

“We have partnered with technology companies to provide clean, renewable energy, and, despite the high cost of land in Lagos, we have designated large portions of the project as green zones.”

Abbey Mortgage BankTurns 30, Focuses onTransformative Growth Abbey Mortgage Bank has said that its 30-year journey in the real estate space is on a transformative course towards repositioning the bank to meet the demands of contemporary times.

For the first time in decades, Abbey closed the year 2021 with a profit of N622.19m and a whooping N354.12m profit after tax in Q2 of this year.

A statement by the firm said the COVID-19 pandemic had negatively affected business, and that it was able to bounce back and close the 2021 financial year with a profit of N622m, and N354m after tax.

The statement said Abbey had continued to make waves

in the banking industry with continuous expansion. As a publicly traded company, Abbey is ranked 10th on the NGX in terms of year-to-date performance, the statement added.

According to the bank, it started the year at a share price of N1.04 and had gained 63.5 per cent on the initial price valuation and leaving its share price at N1.70 as at September 7, 2022.

It said a strategic investment

by VFD Group had sparked the start of an amazing partnership that had brought with it a new management and structure and a reshaping of the work culture within the organisation.

The Bank’s Executive Director,

Treasury and Business Growth, Oladipupo Adeoye, said, “The growth we have seen in the last two years is a product of the collective hard work of our people and we will continue with the same zeal to make the bank the very first choice in our subsector and the financial services industry at large.

“With the success of our 30th Annual General Meeting, which held on July 19, 2022, our long-anticipated Abbey at 30 Breakfast Panel Session with industry stakeholders, taking place in November, and back-to-back End-of-year activities lined up, we fully expect to bow out of the year 2022 with a resounding success.”

International Breweries Holds RBS Training in Lagos Kayode Tokede International Breweries Plc has taken its Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) training campaign to key Local Government Areas in Lagos State.

The Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) is an intervention by International Breweries to address the harmful use of alcohol through the various channels and features of the sales environments such as staff, management, and consumer behaviours. The initiative seeks to prevent binge drinking, drunk driving, and sales of alcohol to minors and pregnant women among other harmful use of alcohol.

The RBS initiative, which was

flagged off at Zara Garden Event Centre at Ibeju Lekki had in attendance owners and managers of hotels, bars, restaurants, and other hospitality businesses where beer and other alcoholic beverages are served.

The participating Local Government Areas include Ibeju Lekki LGA, Amuwo-Odofin LGA, Surulere LGA, Eti-Osa LGA, and Kosofe LGA among other key LGAs will benefit from the project implementation which involves conducting baseline surveys and training on RBS activities. Scenario simulation of bartender-customer relations will be deployed by the expert trainers to enable participants to fully internalise the essence of

the training.

According to the facilitator, Responsible Beverage Service Training for Owners and Servers of IBPLC Sales Outlets, Bunmi Olatunde, “Responsible Beverage Service is an initiative of International Breweries Plc aimed at preventing the harmful use of alcohol in the sales environment.

The discussions have been very interactive and honest. Many operators say they gained new knowledge and insight into their role in enabling safer drinking habits and enforcing “alcohol rules” such as the age of minors to refuse alcohol service, and their responsibility not to serve or offer alcohol to pregnant women.”

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JUNE 2022 Money Supply (M3)

48,865,823.53

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

167,956.2

Money Supply (M2)

48,797,867.32

-- Quasi Money

28,405,330.1

-- Narrow Money (M1)

20,392,537.22

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,722,785.91

---- Demand Deposits

17,669,751.32

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

6,242,394.29

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

42,623,429.24

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

57,267,178.05

---- Credit to Government (Net)

17,996,690.06

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

39,270,488

--Other Assets Net

5,566,430

Reserve Money (Base Money

11,320,304

--Currency in Circulation

3,259,269.15

--Banks Reserves --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).

31

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯͳ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

Alawuba: UBA Strategic Investment, Expansion to Boost Revenue, Dividend Kayode Tokede United Bank of Africa (UBA) has assured that its strategic investment and expansion into Africa countries and beyond would boost its revenue, as well as translate into robust dividend payout to shareholders.

The new Group Managing Director of UBA, Oliver Alawuba stated this yesterday at the Bank’s closing gong ceremony on the

floor of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX).

The Board of Directors of UBA had announced the appointment of Mr. Oliver Alawuba as the GMD/CEO of the company effective 1st of August, 2022.

He stated that the bank is well positioned to leverage its increased visibility and pan African features to increase shareholders’ value on a consistent basis.

According to him, we are

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

expanding our services beyond Africa, bringing in capital inflow and investment into Nigeria and Africa. Africa constitute over 50 per cent of our revenue and we will do more.

He said, “We will pay more dividend and grow our capital base. The bank has a future and we will continue to ensure that the shares of UBA continue to grow.”

Speaking, the CEO of NGX, Mr. Temi Popoola congratulated

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

Alawuba on his recent appointment as the Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of UBA, saying Alawuba on his illustrious career, having acquired over 25 years of work experience in the banking industry. He encouraged UBA and other private issuers alike to utilise the NGX platform in meeting future financing needs to support their business expansion in line with their overall corporate strategy.

T R A D E D

VALUE TRADED ( N )

MAIN BOARD

A S

He emphasised on the digital strategy of the Exchange and its commitment to leveraging technology to drive retail participation and increase liquidity in the market.

He said the successful introduction of the first digital offer platform attracted a large amount of retail participation, encouraging UBA to take advantage of the digital platform for future equity capital formations and to broaden

O F

1 4

its shareholding structure.

The chairman, NGX Real Estate, Erelu Angela Adebayo, also congratulated the new team of UBA, saying that Alawuba commitment in the financial service sector over the last two decades has brought about great transformation on the economy.

“I trust you will deliver on this mandate that you have received and continued to promote Africa capitalism,” she said.

/ 0 9 / 2 0 2 2 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

32

THURSDAY, ͹ͽ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

ʬ ʬ

ʬ

7 R S 7 U D G H V E \ 9 R OX P H

7 R S * D LQ H U V T ic k er

P ric e

T ic k er

5.65

7.6%

ST ER LN B A N K

173.8

0.0%

0.31

6.9%

UB A

54.1

3.4%

FCM B

3.50

6.1%

Z EN IT H B A N K

14.0

0.0%

UB A

7.55

3.4%

CHA M S

14.0

6.9%

30.30

3.4%

T R A N SC OR P

6.4

-2.7%

8.85

2.3%

FCM B

5.6

6.1%

WA P C O

24.90

1.8%

GT C O

5.2

-0.5%

ET ER N A

6.30

1.6%

F ID ELIT YB K

4.8

1.4%

C UT IX

2.15

1.4%

OA N D O

4.1

-1.2%

F ID ELIT YB K

3.65

1.4%

FB NH

3.8

0.0%

7 R S 7 U D G H V E \ 9 D OX H

7 R S / R V H U V T ic k er

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

UB A

400.6

3.4%

-8.9%

M TNN

289.5

0.0%

-7.7%

Z EN IT H B A N K

281.4

0.0%

ST ER LN B A N K

252.1

0.0%

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

H ON YF LOUR

2.25

-10.0%

LEA R N A F R C A

2.25

LIN KA SSUR E

0.48

WA P IC

0.38

-7.3%

J A IZ B A N K

0.85

-4.5%

N EST LE

119.2

0.0%

103.8

-0.5%

C OUR T VILLE

0.48

-4.0%

GT C O

UA C N

11.00

-3.5%

WA P C O

63.9

1.8%

40.3

0.0%

A B CTRA NS

0.28

-3.4%

FB NH

J A P A ULGOLD

0.29

-3.3%

GUIN N ESS

34.1

0.0%

-2.7%

P R ESC O

21.1

0.0%

T R A N SC OR P

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

P ric e C hg %

CHA M S

A C C ESSC OR P

Vo lum e

N EM

F LOUR M ILL

P ric e C hg %

1.07

Investment Research

Brokerage

Asset Management

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com

Taiwo Ogundipe | togundipe@afrinvest.com

Christopher Omoh | comoh@afrinvest.com

Damilare Asimiyu | dasimiyu@afrinvest.com

33

THURSDAY, ͹ͽ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

UBA NEW EXECUTIVES AT NGX...

L-R: Deputy Managing Director, United Bank for Africa(UBA) Plc, Mr. Muyiwa Akinyemi; Executive Director, North, UBA, Ms Emem Usoro; Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Ltd , Mr. Temi Popoola and Group Managing Director/CEO, United Bank for Africa(UBA) Plc, Mr Oliver Alawuba; Director, Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Ltd , Erelu Angela Adebayo; Executive Director Finance and Risk Management, UBA, Mr Ugo Nwaghodoh; and Executive Director/GCOO, UBA, Mr Alex Alozie, during the ceremonial strike of the closing gong at the floor of the Exchange by Alawuba in honour of recently appointed UBA’s executive management, in Lagos... yesterday

Buhari Flays Attack on Ubah as Ngige Wants Criminals Arrested President says act condemnable, barbaric Deji Elumoye and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, condemned last week’s attack on Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, in Anambra State, which resulted in the killing of some of the senator’s aides, and described it as “barbaric and condemnable.”

In the same breath, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has urged Ndi-Anambra not to succumb to fear over the attack, even as he charged the security agencies to arrest the criminals.

The President, in a release by his spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, expressed deep concern about the

activities of armed groups in the South East Zone and in other parts of the country.

"We are closely monitoring the situation and waiting for further details on the response to the worrisome situation by the police, the military and other security agencies. The nation has lost four brave policemen and other aides

of the Senator.

“On behalf of the government and the people, I pay homage to these security men and the aides, who were brutally murdered. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families at this difficult time.”

President Buhari prayed for the quick recovery of the Senator and all those that were injured, and

30% of Parents Pay Illegal Exam Fees for Their Children, Says JAMB Registrar

also for the early return of peace and security in Anambra State and all other areas.

On his part, Ngige, in a statement by his Media Office, tasked the security agencies to hunt down and bring the murderous perpetrators to justice, because according to him, the attack was as atrocious, wicked and evil, and a big setback to a relative calm restored to the state in the past few months.

His words: “It is certainly a setback at a time many had thought reprieve has come from the dreadful darkness that lately enveloped our dear state. However, we must not allow that daylight

horror to trip our determination to the crosshair of another cycle of tragedies. Evil must not win.

“I hence charge the security agencies to double efforts to fish out the criminals as quickly as possible. Ndi-Anambra must not succumb to fear but rally round the government and the security agencies to track the criminals terrorizing our state.

“I send deepest condolences to Senator Ifeanyi Uba over this huge loss. I thank God Almighty for sparing his life while also praying for His mercy on the families of his aides and security agents who lost their lives,” he said.

Examination board seeks autonomy, increased registration fee Google Loses Appeal Against plead with you to allow us render in 2017, after remitting N7.5 billion, everything is free. We are hearing Udora Orizu in Abuja what is the surplus to the federal adding that the amount charged for that you are planning to borrow Record EU Antitrust Fine registration fees was then reduced billions. We are all going to sink The European Union’s (EU) of the 4.3 billion euros decided by The Registrar of the Joint Admission government. and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede yesterday told members of the House of Representatives Committee on Finance that about 30 per cent of parents in the country were in the habit of paying illegal examination fees for their children with a view to achieving positive results.

The JAMB Registrar who spoke at an interactive session with the House Committee on Finance on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper, said that there were so many fraudulent figures going around the country which Nigerians use to judge the admission process, out of the number of candidates that sit for the annual Unified Tertiary Matriculation Education.

While insisting that Colleges of Education across the country today were operating at less than 20 percent installed capacity because of lack of students to meet up their admission quota, he dismissed calls by some Nigerians that UTME results should be allowed to expire after three years.

He further said the board has N6 billion saved which it would be returning to federal government coffers.

He said, “We, as JAMB feels that we want to return revenue surplus to the federal government, but we are not comfortable with being categorised as revenue centre because this has created a lot of problems for us. I want to

“Two years ago, we asked permission to retain N2 billion of our operating surplus and you approved that. I am happy to report that we have N6 billion saved from that which is meant to create what will make our cost of operation to come down. We are in the procurement process for that and unfortunately, we are not comfortable with the process. So, we had to cancel the entire process because there are so many other factors.

“N6 billion is too much money to waste. I will rather return it than spend the 6 billion and not being able to achieve the purpose for which it was meant. We may have to start the process all over again, but I don’t know if I will have the stamina to go through it all over again. If we are not able, we will have to return the money.

One of our problem however is the disclosure we make. You just discover that because you said it, everybody wants to get that money.”

Also, Oloyede asked the House of Representatives Committee on Finance to remove the agency from the annual national budget by granting it total autonomy.

He, however, pointed out that were conditions before JAMB could be removed from the annual budget.

According to him, one of the conditions was that JAMB would be allowed to review the examination fees upward.

He explained that the board decided to review the fees downward

from N5,000 to N3,500.

Oloyede said given the current economic realities, the federal government should allow JAMB to revert back to N5,000 and be autonomous.

While claiming that no country, except Finland—charges as low as Nigeria, he added that no country funds such an examination body fully.

He said, “There is nowhere that government funds this type of examination. They actually provide some support for the institution because students pay some token as registration fees and from it, they bear the responsibility of salaries and provide some succours.

“We are comfortable to be taken off the budget but there are conditions. One of the conditions for example, when students registered in 2016, we collected N5,000 and that had been on for five years before I joined. When we came in, we remitted N7.5 billion. We felt it was too much and approached the federal government to reduce the fees. We have not added a kobo since.

“I believe we should revert to the N5000 we were charging. Given the inflation, if we charge N10,000– I am just giving it as example, nobody will ask the federal government for one kobo. I am not aware of anywhere in the world, except maybe Finland— that charges as low as JAMB is charging.

“In Finland, we know that

at the end of the day. If there is any way anybody believes he can save this country, we should start doing that. The earlier we start the better for us."

Responding, the Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Saidu Abdullahi, said the lawmakers were concerned about the impact on the disposable income of Nigerians.

While commending Oloyede for his prudence and transparency in managing the affairs of JAMB, the lawmaker however argued that reverting to N5,000 means transferring the burden of operating the board to parents and guardians.

second-highest court yesterday overwhelmingly upheld the EU’s record fine against Google over its Android operating system for mobile phones, reducing it only slightly for technical reasons.

In a statement, the EU’s General court said it “largely confirms the commission’s decision that Google imposed unlawful restrictions on manufacturers of Android mobile devices” in order to benefit its search engine.

The court, however, said the fine should be slightly reduced to 4.125 billion euros ($4.1 billion), instead

the commission in 2018.

Google, however, said it was disappointed at the EU court’s decision to mostly uphold a record fine for the dominance of the tech giant’s Android mobile-phone operating system.

“We are disappointed that the court did not annul the decision in full. Android has created more choice for everyone, not less, and supports thousands of successful businesses in Europe and around the world,” the AFP quoted the company to have said in a short statement.

Nigeria Leading in Africa as Global Bitcoin Transactions Hit $3tn Bennett Oghifo

Despite economic loses from cryptocurrency trade and caution by financial experts, global trade in the Bitcoin industry has hit $3 trillion.

Coming at a time that Nigeria had been ranked as the fastest leading country in Bitcoin adoption in Africa, followed by Togo, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal, Kenya and South Africa, the Convener of Bitcoin Africa conference, Farida Nabourema, yesterday, said in the past five years, the industry has

been the fastest on the planet and has surpassed card transactions.

She said the African continent has the fastest adoption rates in the world, saying at such rate, the continent may surpass America, Europe, or even Asia.

She noted that the maiden African Bitcoin Conference scheduled to hold in Accra, Ghana between December 3rd and 5th would attract about 800 people across the globe to speak about new innovations in the sector.

Speaking on Bitcoin investment, she urged Nigerians to be careful.

Nabourema said, "when people say can I invest in Bitcoin? I just tell them, can you invest in naira? Can you invest in dollars? The whole idea of Bitcoin making money out of Bitcoin is buying it and holding it."

The Convener of the conference pointed out that a lot of scamming were happening in the cash industries and governments don't talk about.

She said Bitcoin would check fraudulent activities, stressing the need for the government to understand the Blockchain so as to make sound policies.

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THURSDAY, ͹ͽ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

COMMISERATING WITH CHIEF IKIMI...

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (left), with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Tom Ikimi, during a condolence visit to Chief Ikimi, over the passing of his sister, Theresa Namorie Ikimi, at his residence in Benin City... yesterday

Embattled Chairman of Police Service Commission, Musiliu Smith, Resigns Union calls for IG's resignation over constitutional breach Wants Buhari to appoint civilian to head commission Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Embattled Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Musiliu Smith, yesterday, resigned his appointment.

THISDAY gathered that Smith left on health grounds.

Another account said the board of the commission demanded that he stepped down and he accepted.

Spokesman of PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, told THISDAY that the retired Inspector-General of Police resigned his appointment because of his health.

Ani said, "Yes, I can confirm that he has resigned. He resigned on medical grounds and the president has accepted his resignation."

But striking workers of the commission, while welcoming Smith’s resignation, also called for the resignation of the InspectorGeneral of Police, Usman Baba.

The workers alleged that Usman had connived with Smith to usurp the constitutional powers of the commission to conduct recruitment and appointment of police officers.

In a chat with THISDAY, Chairman, Joint Union Executives of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Mr Adoyi Adoyi, called on President Muhammad Buhari not to appoint another retired police chief to head the commission to enable it work effectively.

Adoyi stated, "We welcome his resignation because that is the honourable thing to do. If you are given an assignment and you cannot discharge your responsibility, the natural thing to do is to toe that part of honour and resign.

"There are people he collaborated with in committing constitutional breaches, including the Inspector-General of Police.

We are calling on the IG to do the right thing and resign his appointment for his involvement in this constitutional breach.”

The union also called for the appointment of a civilian as head

of the commission.

According to Adoyi, "Of all the former chairmen of the commission, Chief Simon Okeke was the best. He handled issues dispassionately.

"The Bureau for Public Service Reforms (BPSR) had also recommended that the commission be headed by a civilian since the police has a permanent representative on the board of the commission."

On the strike action embarked upon by workers of the commission, Adoyi said the union's congress would meet today to take a decision. He said with the PSC chairman's resignation, the protesting workers might soften their position and consider calling off the strike action.

Workers of the commission had on Tuesday passed a vote of no confidence on Smith. They alleged that he connived with the leadership of the Nigeria Police to usurp the constitutional powers of the commission.

It would be be recalled that a commissioner with the PSC, Naja’atu Bala Muhammad, petitioned the anti-graft body over alleged multi-million naira contract scam and other corrupt practices at the commission under the leadership of the former police boss.

Muhammad, who represents North-west, accused the commission’s chairman of mismanagement of resources and breach of due process by arbitrarily awarding bogus contracts, in a petition dated June 29, 2022.

She stated in the petition to EFCC that the PSC chairman lacked the power to approve expenditure for and on-behalf of the commission, except as approved by the commission’s management. She also disclosed that the management committee responsible for approving capital expenditure only met twice since its inauguration in 2018.

Muhammad stated, “The

management committee is akin to the Federal Executive Council, where government expenditures are approved. Sections 12, 13, and 14 of the commission provide for the funds and expenditure of the Commission.

“However, since we came in as commissioners four years ago, management meeting has only been held twice.”

She further revealed in the petition, “On May 11, 2022, without the management committee's approval, the PSC chairman awarded or caused to be awarded a contract and paid the sum of N34, 749,375, being payment of 50 per cent down payment made to EMPLUG LTD for the design and development of police e-recruitment portal for the commission.

“The contract was awarded regardless of a memo stating clearly that the ICT Department designed the website free of charge and has the capability for upgrade. Yet, due to the fraudulent intentions embedded in the decision, a contract was awarded to do the same thing that the ICT department has already done.

“Another contract payment of major concern is the payment of N36, 228,453.90 to Wedewood Integrated Investment Limited as the final payment of less than five per cent retention fee for the partitioning of office space, installation of wall panel and customised cabinet at the PSC head office building."

The petition also revealed, “The total sum of this contract paid to the contractor is N447, 473,613.00 without due process or management approval. The payment voucher is attached as Annexure 17.

“From the commission’s account No.2994350018, fraudulent transfers of about N200 million were made to Vita Construction between 9th April 2021 and 14th April 2021 in the tranches of N10 million.

“These payments are typical

of the fraud being perpetuated.

The reasons for the payment are unknown to the management of the commission, as no approval for payment was given by the management for this expense.

“In your investigation, you will request for the contract executed by this company for the commission to justify such payments and review the process through which the contract was awarded.

“From the same approval that paid Ogo Edward, a staff of the commission, N7, 000,000.00 for the procurement of COVID-19 protective items, approval was also given and he was paid the sum of N25, 000,000.00 for security and other related matters in respect

of 2020 Police Recruitment Medical Screening Exercise.

“It must be noted that security coverage is provided by the various Police Commands or Zonal Commands for all police recruitment and the associated exercises.

“The question that the chairman and the Permanent Secretary need to answer is, when did it become the responsibility of the commission to provide security for these exercises.”

Head, Press and Public Relations of the PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, confirmed receipt of the petition by the commission.

Ani said, “The requests, approvals and expenditures were carried out in line with government

approved financial regulations.

“Those that required the approval of the Ministerial Tenders Board were brought before the Board and approval received.

“Some others got the certificate of no objection from the Bureau of Public Procurement. Approvals were also officially granted for staff and members of the commission to execute some special projects, such as police recruitment.

“The payments for this special assignment were retired according to laid down rules. But, ironically, the petitioner is confirmed to be in default of this.

“The commission is putting together a response on the petition for the attention of government."

Lack of Substantive NDDC Board Impeding Devt, GroupTells Buhari Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa A group, the Niger Delta Youths Leadership Forum (NDYLF) has attributed the alleged ‘ground zero’ activities of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in the region to the non-appointment of a substantive board.

It also declared that the president could only finish strong in the region when if he sets up a substantive board for the commission to meet the aspirations of the region.

The Group, made up of youth leaders from the six states of the region, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to confirm the appointment of Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd) as the substantive Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) because of his performance and coordination of the amnesty office as Interim Administrator

According to the group, the Amnesty office under Col. Dikio (Rtd)have witnessed a paradigm shift in the programme in terms of relative peace across the region, change in the mindset of ex-agitators on the need for self-reliance through entrepreneurship, engagements with stakeholders, scholarship to ex-agitators to some of the best institutions within the country and his credible performance record was still counting.

The National Coordinator of the Group, Mr. Richard Akinaka, said the performance of the Niger Delta Development Commission was not about the person in charge at the moment, but about the need for a substantive board to pilot the affairs of the commission.

"The Niger Delta under President Muhammadu Buhari has become a neglected people.

The lack of a substantive board has impeded the development

of the region. The people no longer have an input in the affairs of the NDDC,” he said.

Akinaka noted that people were considering Buhari’s attitude towards the NDDC Board as deliberate show of malice toward the Niger Delta region.

The NDDC, as it is now, is a disservice to the people of the region, he argued, saying Buhari should prove to the people of the region that he does not have malice and disgust toward the people of the region.

He also pointed out that the politicians appointed from the region as supervising Ministers of the region have not helped matters, “those struggling to get appointed as supervising Ministers are only out to exploit their people. It has become so bad that the commission over the years has been under the mercy supposed leaders of the region in this government.

35

THURSDAY, ͹ͽ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

PROMOTING RENEWABLE ENERGY...

L-R: Commissioner for Energy & Mineral Resources, Lagos State, Olalere Odusote; Chairman Senate Committee on Industry, Senator Adetokunbo Abiru; Co-founder/President, d.light, Sam Goldman; , Chairman, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, Nigeria’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Mr. Niyi Adebayo, and Co-founder/CEO of d.light, Ned Tozun, during a ceremony to officially launch d.light in Nigeria held in Lagos…recently

2023: CUPP Alleges Plot to Stop Use of BVAS, Sack INEC Chair Udora Orizu in Abuja

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), yesterday, alleged

that there were moves to use a secret court action to stop the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machine in the upcoming

2023 general election and also remove the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor

Mahmood Yakubu.

Addressing a world press conference in Abuja, spokesperson of the opposition parties, Ikenga Imo

Hunkuyi: There May Be Re-run in 2023 Presidential Polls John Shiklam in Kaduna Governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, has predicted a re-run in the 2023 general election as no political party might score the required winning votes prescribed by law.

Speaking during an interactive session with some journalists on Tuesday in Kaduna, Hunkuyi said, “It does not appear any political party, including the NNPP, may make it in the first election,” given

the strength of the presidential candidates.

According to him, neither the NNPP, APC, PDP or the Labour Party, could score the 25 per cent of votes in a minimum of 25 states to win the election.

Hunkuyi noted that before now, it was only two political parties – PDP and APC – pointing out that, “Now, you have NNPP, APC, PDP, LP and other smaller parties, which have changed the dynamics.”

He said his chances of winning the Kaduna State governorship

election was bright, because the people were disenchanted with the ruling APC in the state and the PDP, which had dominated the political scene without impacting positively on their lives.

He maintained that as somebody, who had been in politics for over 35 years, and having led the election of three people to be elected governors, he was optimistic about his chances, adding that, the NNPP was a credible alternative, because people were tired of the APC and the PDP.

“People have suffered so much from hunger and unemployment,” he said, adding that, in the Southern part of Kaduna, which had been traditional stronghold of the PDP, people were beginning to turn their back against the party.

According to him, “I have been a very active participant in Kaduna State for the past 30 years. That gives me the opportunity to see things from a prism,” stressing that, if elected, he would strengthen the traditional institution in the state to tackle insecurity.

Ugochinyere, said their vigilance team following credible intelligence, discovered the Suit at the Owerri Federal High Court, where it was filed since the 24th August, 2022.

The opposition parties also displayed extracts of the National Voters register, which it claimed were part of at least 10 million fake registrations done by one of the political parties.

They alleged that the names were sourced from both within and outside Nigeria, including some African countries such as Ghana, Cameroon, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Togo, Guinea, Gambia and countries outside Africa.

The parties further alleged that Yakubu was under pressure for the commission to announce a change to its hard stance on the compulsory use of the BVAS machine for accreditation or get sacked

as Chairman of the Commission.

"The intelligence CUPP intercepted, which has led to the discovery of the suit filed seeking to nullify the BVAS and exposure of the massive compromise in the voters register cannot now be wrong that the third leg of the plot is to sack the National Chairman through a suspension as the plotters know they cannot get the required numbers from the National Assembly for an outright sack.

"We call on international partners, local and international observer groups, civil society and the general public to help it and protect democracy as the success of any of these plots will erode the integrity and credibility of the electoral process and deny Nigerians the sovereign right to freely choose their leaders," CUPP said.

But asked if the leaders would have adopted the same stance if Wike had been chosen as vice presidential candidate, the source simply resorted, “Well, it’s a matter of conjecture, since that occasion does not exist currently.”

The Rivers State governor’s failure to secure either the PDP presidential ticket or vice presidential ticket, owing to perceived betrayal, is believed to be at the core of the party’s crisis.

The Wike camp demands as an irreducible minimum request for peace, the removal of Ayu, who is currently in Europe.

Ayu recently returned from a Caribbean country, where he spent more than a month before travelling, again, to an unnamed European country for unknown reason.

power, adding that the party must correct the mistakes that made it lose the 2015 election.

He said it was better for the party not to wash its dirty linings outside, maintaining that PDP has the capacity to solve its problems internally.

Ikpeazu enjoined the BoT members to look at the issues dispassionately, expressing the hope that the new BoT chairman, as a career diplomat, would rise to the occasion.

He assured that Abia was a PDP state, hence, there was no reason PDP would not win all the elections in the state. The governor stated that the party’s campaign slogan in the state was 5 over 5, meaning securing victory for the presidential, governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives, and House of Assembly candidates.

The governor congratulated Wabara on his appointment as acting BoT chairman, saying he must have been appointed to the position at this critical period because of his background and capacity to speak the right words at the right time.

Earlier, Wabara, also a native of Abia State, said he was in the state to officially inform the governor of his new appointment. He said he deemed it fit to start his assignment from his home state.

Wabara pledged that the BoT would look into the problems in PDP objectively, hence, the decision to move around to call on governors and other stakeholders of the party with a view to presenting a united, strong, and victorious party in next year's elections.

2023: AYU MUST GO, SOUTH-WEST PDP TELLS ATIKU The Oyo State governor said PDP must play politics of inclusion by allowing the post of national chairman move to the south. He said the above governors should not be seen as having any problems with the party or its presidential candidate because, according to him, they had left the issue of presidential primaries behind them.

He maintained that the message of the South-west PDP to Atiku was that Ayu must step down and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party should be restructured to reflect national unity.

Makinde was quoted as saying at the meeting, “I want to thank everyone for coming for this meeting and, I think, at this point, we have to tell ourselves nothing but the truth. What we will do here is to speak the truth to ourselves. Yes, others have spoken here about the positive side of things, but we do have challenges and issues to address in our party.

“But one good thing is, we have the capacity to address those issues.

Of course, I have seen people abuse me on social media, saying this issue is about Wike, Makinde, Ortom and Ugwuanyi, but the truth is, we don’t have any issue either with our party or our presidential candidate.

"If there are challenges, we must bring them on the table so that we can address them to ensure that our journey is smooth and we can get to our destination. So, this is not about individuals.

“I see some people talk about what cropped up during and after the presidential convention, when somebody was selected as vice

presidential candidate.

“Truth is, those are issues that are behind us. They have happened and they have happened, but this is where we are. Are there issues coming out of those that we really need to address so we can be successful at the end of the day? The answer is, yes, and we will address them. Integrity and honour must be a part of our national psyche.

“We have spoken about the movement, the youth, and we have spoken about what they are looking for. Our people are in a state of hopelessness, which the APC brought upon us and it is the reality.

But we are supposed to give hope to our people. We want them to listen to us, to hear our message to them. For us to be able to do that, we must lay a good example.

“We say we want to rescue Nigeria. Our candidate is a unifier and he will unify Nigeria. We want to restructure Nigeria. I have listened to our candidate, both publicly and privately, and we have had several interactions. Our party is talking about a government of national unity, because close to eight years of APC has left us badly divided.

Well, the issue is, we must practise what we preach.

“If we want to unify Nigeria, we must unify the PDP first. If we want a government of national unity, the faces in the PDP must reflect national unity. If we want to restructure Nigeria, we must have the willingness to do what is right to bring inclusivity into PDP. Do we have the capacity? Do we have a candidate with the capacity? The answer is a resounding yes."

Atiku agreed that the demand of the South-west leaders was achievable. He said, “I feel happy to be in Ibadan today to interact with you, the stakeholders of our party in the South-west. The most important event facing us today is the election of 2023 and how to win.

From what I have seen in Lagos and Ibadan, I can tell you that we can win the election if we want to and it is possible for us to take over all the south-western states.

“More so, the new Electoral Act has improved our electoral processes and has made it difficult for people to write results. They cannot do it anymore and they cannot rig. If they send thugs to snatch ballot boxes, they will not be counted. So, the era is over. The most important thing for you is to make sure you are registered to vote and protect your vote.

“PDP is the oldest political party in Nigeria and since the return of democracy. Over time, the PDP has developed its own constitution, electoral processes, zoning of offices, power sharing and others, which will bring about the unity of the party and that of the country.

“I have no problem with wherever any of the members of the party comes from but it must be done in accordance with our constitution, regulations and practices.

“Therefore, what Governor Makinde is calling for is achievable under our constitution, rules, regulations and procedures. So, those institutions must serve as guides to whatever changes we make. That is why we cannot do anything outside the constitution,

unless it is amended to reflect what we want them to be.

“Of course, we don’t say people should not have different views, but all views must go through our constitution, rules and practices.

Otherwise, we cannot give this country the kind of leadership they want. So, it is time for us to return the PDP back to power.”

Earlier, Okowa; chairman of the PDP Governors' Forum, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; Osun State Governor-elect, Senator Ademola Adeleke; acting National Chairman of PDP, Umar Iliya Damagun; former governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; and Senator Biodun Olujinmi all spoke on the need for the party to forge ahead as a united front.

They maintained that PDP had demonstrated the readiness to win the presidency and liberate Nigerians from the hardship brought upon them by APC. Atiku, Okowa, Makinde, and some stakeholders had held a closed-door meeting Tuesday night, ahead of the stakeholders meeting in Ibadan. THISDAY learnt that the meeting was summoned by Atiku to resolve the differences in the various camps within the party.

The calls for Ayu’s resignation was also, allegedly, tabled and addressed at the meeting.

A source at the meeting told THISDAY that the PDP zonal leaders, in their insistence on Ayu’s resignation, were only demanding his adherence to his own prior commitment to resign as national chairman if the party’s presidential candidate emerged from the north.

Ikpeazu: PDP Needs Genuine Reconciliation to be Victorious in 2023

Ikpeazu said the main opposition party must courageously engage the aggrieved and dissenting voices in the party for genuine reconciliation if it hoped to win the next presidential election.

The governor told visiting members of the BoT, led by its acting chairman and former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara, that he was available for assistance in resolving the problems confronting the party with a view to ensuring its victory in 2023. He said truth and justice must be prioritised for PDP to overcome its current challenges.

The governor stressed that PDP must remain angry and hungry for

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NEWS

TINUBU RECEIVES AMBASSADOR FOR CHANGE MEMBERS...

All Progressives Congress Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and members of the Ambassadors for Change Initiative comprising Nollywood artistes and filmmakers across the country on a solidarity and endorsement visit to Tinubu at the APC Presidential Campaign Office, in Abuja

Yakubu: Managing 2023 Polls Huge, But INEC’ll Stand for Justice Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, yesterday, said though managing the forthcoming general election would be a huge task, the commission would ultimately stand for electoral justice.

Yakubu spoke at the opening

ceremony of INEC’s retreat to review the recent Ekiti and Osun off-cycle governorship elections as well as the lessons learnt for an improved performance in the 2023 general election.

The retreat had in attendance, INEC National Commissioners, Resident Electoral Commissioners, Civil Society Organisations, Election

Experts, and development partners among others.

Yakubu said there had been a huge public expectation from INEC to sustain successes recorded in recent off-season elections and raise the bar higher.

“The commission draws vital lessons from the conduct of the most recent off-cycle elections, managing

the forthcoming general election is huge. The voter population, number of polling units, election personnel, security considerations, logistics and so on are enormous.

“The willingness of civil society organisations, election experts and development partners to work with the Commission to further improve on our processes is a great source

NAHCON to Undertake Hajj Passport Management Duties as Preparation for 2023 Pilgrimage Begins James Emejo in Abuja The Chairman/Chief Executive, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan, yesterday said the commission’s staff were being prepared to take on an additional challenge of hajj period passport management, which was hitherto the exclusive preserve of Saudi agencies for a huge fee.

He said the commission remained committed to advancing Nigerians’ interest in Saudi Arabia, adding that it would deploy all relevant endowments in this direction, particularly its experiential assets.

Speaking at a media briefing, Hassan said the commission was fully prepared to domesticate President Muhammadu Buhari’s

subscription to Open Government Partnership (OGP), in the Hajj sector, deriving from the enactment of the Freedom of Information Act of 2011.

He added that the commission has started preparations for Hajj 2023, adding that discussions with relevant Saudi authorities on Hajj and Umrah for early information dissemination had also commenced.

The NAHCON chief executive said, “We are happy to announce to you that on account of the enhanced performance in this year’s hajj

by NAHCON, all other African countries consensually deferred to us to lead them in interfacing with the Saudi authorities.

“It was not for nothing that the concession for compensation that NAHCON secured from Saudi service providers for Nigerian

pilgrims before returning home after the Hajj on the poor quality of some services have just been secured by other countries like Indonesia weeks after the end of the Hajj exercise.”

He also said the commission had remained resolute in insisting on good health services for Nigerian pilgrims, stressing that “Members of our medical team are as versatile as those of other top-rated countries in addition to supportive facilities and drugs”.

Hassan, among other things, also revealed that the proposed Hajj Institute of Nigeria (HIN) will be formally inaugurated by Buhari later in the year.

He said efforts were ongoing to professionalise the management and administration of Hajj in Nigeria

as well as increase the revenue of the commission.

He listed the successes so far recorded by the commission on his assumption of office in 2020 to include, the pegging of Hajj fare to its barest minimum despite the obviously daunting global and local economic challenges; organised Hajj operations in less than a month compared to at least five months previously as well as Nigeria achieving low mortality rate during Hajj 2022.

He said 95 per cent of the pilgrims traveled despite challenges while their return journey ended earlier than scheduled, including a reduction in the cost of Makkah accommodation and a reduction in the number of days pilgrims spent in Saudi Arabia.

Zulum Appoints Usman Accountant General Governor Babagana Zulum has approved the appointment of Baba Bura Usman as Borno State’s new Accountant General.

The appointment was announced by the Governor’s spokesman, Malam Isa Gusau, in a statement yesterday.

Usman was, until his appointment, the Director of Treasury Operations at the Borno State Ministry of Finance, Budget and Planning, since 2020, Gusau said.

Fifty-seven years old Usman who hails from Kaga Local Government Area in northern Borno State, has over 20 years experience in financial management and internal control systems, the statement noted.

It added that the accountant general had, since 1990, worked as Accounts’ Assistant with a private firm, Premier Property Dev Co.

Ltd, before joining Borno State Civil Service as Senior Accountant deployed to Borno State Council for Arts and Culture, Maiduguri, in 1998.

Usman was Principal Accountant (Expenditure) at the Government House in Maiduguri back in 2001 and was Chief Accountant at the Department of Budget and Planning in 2003, at the Borno State Universal Basic Education in 2010 and at the Borno State Pensions Office in 2017 before he rose to become Director of Borno State Pensions also in 2017, the statement recalled.

In 2018, the statement continued, Usman became the Head of the state’s Project Financial Management Unit (PFMU) and in 2019, he became a Director of Finance & Accounts,

retaining headship of the Project Financial Management Unit.

Usman also served at the Borno State Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) before he became Director of Treasury Operations in 2020 until today’s appointment.

The statement noted that the new Accountant General holds a Bachelor of Science degree (BSc) in Accountancy, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Finance and Masters Degree in Disaster Risk Management & Development Studies, all from the University of Maiduguri.

He also holds a national diploma in accountancy and a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Business Management both from Ramat Polytechnic in Maiduguri.

Usman has attended financial

management courses within Nigeria and the United Arab Emirate, and holds certificates in Advanced Financial Management, Information Technology and International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) as well as on computer skills, Gusau also said.

The new Accountant General is a Fellow of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) and Fellow of the Association of Chartered System Accountants.

Usman is also a member of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Institute of Managements.

The new accountant general takes over from Mai Adamu Ya’u who retired recently.

of encouragement.

“We are fully aware of the reality that good elections have resulted in even greater expectations on the Commission to do better,” the INEC boss said.

According to him, following the successful conduct of the Ekiti governorship, some people wondered if the same could be repeated in Osun, because of its much bigger size and population, but that the Osun election was an improvement on Ekiti.

“This gives us confidence that working on the same principles, the general election will also be successfully delivered. I want to assure and reassure Nigerians that the commission will stand for electoral justice. Only the votes

cast by Nigerians will determine, who win elections and this is our commitment to the nation,” Yakubu said.

On cleaning of voter register, Yakubu assured Nigerians that no ineligible person would participate in the elections.

Describing elections as a multistakeholders’ responsibilities, he said tas far as INEC roles and responsibilities were concerned, the commission had made a lot of progress in terms of preparations.

On the challenge of vote buying, Yakubu said INEC would continue to do whatever it could through voter education to discourage the menace as well as working with security and anti-graft agencies to check the trend.

Ayade: Private Sector Investment Key to Economic Growth Performs groundbreaking for 5-star hotel

Cross River state governor, Professor Ben Ayade yesterday described the state as an investors' haven saying private sector participation was key to its economic growth and pledged his government's continued efforts at attracting investors to the state.

Ayade who spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony of Indigo Hotel, a Five-Star hospitality facility, along the Murtala Muhammed Highway Calabar, commended Manoj Jagtiani, the Chief Executive Officer of Indigo Hotels for opting to invest in Cross River.

According to the governor, "there is no doubt that Indigo Hotel will not only boost tourism in our state but also create employment for our people.

"We will continue to create the conducive environment for private investments in Cross River, Cross River remains an investors' haven.

"This hotel is bringing something very special. We can't be saying Cross River and indeed Calabar is the centre of tourism in Nigeria when indeed we don't even have a hotel that we can identify as a Five- star hotel for guests to stay in.

"A lot of investors coming in will start looking for where to sleep. I have a special regard for my dear friend, Mr. Jagtiani who thought it

necessary to invest in Cross River State."

Describing the hotel as, "something that is iconic and defines Calabar as an iconic, beautiful and outstanding city," Ayade appealed to the management of Indigo Hotels to stick to the seven months completion target for its Calabar branch.

He further urged the company to also consider setting up branches in the northern and central parts of the state.

Earlier in his speech, Jagtiani, a Sri Lankan, said the management of Indigo Hotels was grateful to the governor for allowing the company to expand its business to Cross River.

"This dream would not have come to reality without the special efforts of His Excellency and all involved parties here", Jagtiani said.

With branches in Abuja and Lagos and now expanding its frontiers to Calabar, Awka, Abakaliki and Port Harcourt, the Indigo boss explained that the Calabar branch when completed would be the city's first-ever Five-Star Hotel.

He said he chose to invest in Cross River "because of its hospitality, its warm and friendly people and because Cross River is the safest state in Nigeria."

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2022˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWS

FRSC OFFICIALS VISIT ARISE NEWS.…

L-R: Deputy Managing Director, ARISE News Channel, Mr. Emmanuel Efeni; Unit Commander, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), RS2.14, Esther Uzoma; Director, Engagement and Guests Liaison, ARISE News Channel, Mr. Joseph Ushigiale, and Protocol Officer, RS2.14, Maryam O Adekunle, during a visit of the FRSC officials to the television station in Ikoyi, Lagos... yesterday

Police Operatives Kill Two Suspected Kidnappers in Kwara Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Operatives of the Kwara State Police Command have killed two suspected kidnappers during a gun duel after they have kidnapped two persons at Shao town in Moro local government area of the state.

Already, the corpses of the deceased have been deposited at University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital mortuary.

A statement issued in Ilorin by the state police commissioner, Mr. Tuesday Assayomo signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Mr.

Okasanmi Ajayi, yesterday stated that, the incident has helped the operatives to rescue two persons that were allegedly kidnapped by the deceased.

The statement said:”Recall that on 13/9/22 at about 2320hrs a kidnapping incident occurred in Shao, Kwara State, one Afusat Lawal ‘F’ and her son one Taofeek Lawal ‘M’ were

abducted and whisked away.

“Kwara State Police Command wishes to inform the public, that the victims have been rescued after an intensive and painstaking search and rescue operation by the Command’s Tactical teams, supported by vigilance and hunters.

“The kidnappers were

accosted in the bush while sharing the ransom collected from the family of the victims, they opened fire on the operatives immediately they were sighted by the kidnappers.

“During exchange of fire, two of the kidnappers that suffered gunshot injuries were arrested and taken to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital where

they were confirmed dead.

“Consequently, their corpses were deposited in the hospital mortuary for autopsy”.

The statement added: “Exhibit recovered from the kidnappers includes one Honda Accord Saloon car with Reg. Number LAGOS GJ 52 LSR, one single barrel gun and an unspecified amount of money.

George Okoh in Makurdi

blamed the federal government for their continued stay at the camps.

Shior, who challenged the federal government to give attention to IDPs in the state, explained with displeasure that the state which has recorded over two million persons is currently faced with huge humanitarian crisis as more people are being displaced.

He recalled recent attacks in

Logo Local government area where 400 persons were displaced and in Naka where over 200 others were also displaced, saying the state is planning on expansion of the IDP camps to solve the problem of infrastructural deficits.

Shior said: “Because of the huge population of IDPs, it is not easy for the state government to cater for the IDPs alone. We have shared the concern that FG has neglected the humanitarian

crisis in Benue which also has another leg which is crisis of infrastructure.

“The attackers have not only attacked the farming communities and killed and maimed and displaced people, they have destroyed farmlands, homes, schools, bridges, churches month others. So, this is a big problem and one wonders why such a huge humanitarian crisis is neglected by federal government.

Ndoma-Egba Tasks NUJ on Welfare of Members Benue Laments Five Years of Caring for Displaced People Bassey Inyang in Calabar

The former Leader of The Senate, Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, has tasked the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to take the welfare of its members seriously, and put in place functional and effective welfare schemes for them.

Ndoma-Egba, also a former Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), stated this when the leadership of the NUJ, Cross River Council, paid a courtesy call on him on Tuesday evening in Calabar.

Ndoma-Egba said the call was necessitated in a bid to ensure

journalists carryout their work professionally.

He said there was need for journalists in the country to give very high premium to their members, and the families of their departed colleagues.

Ndoma-Egba, who is a Patron of the NUJ in the state said there are reasons to worry over activities of unregulated social media platforms in the country.

Commended the leadership of the NUJ in the state on it plans to reinvent the Union in the state, Ndoma-Egba said, “Don’t just reinvent the union.

But we need to see to the welfare of the members whether dead or alive.

2023: Our Support for Tinubu is Total, Says OPC

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

A Pan-Yoruba Socio-cultural group, Oodua People’s Congress(OPC) , has declared support for the presidential ambition of the All Progressives Congress (APC)Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 election.

The group expressed readiness to defend the Yoruba race against aggressions from kidnappers and bandits that are terrorising the nation, particularly tackling those perpetrating criminalities in Ekiti State and wreaking havoc

on the populace.

The group said this in Ado Ekiti, yesterday during the unification party held for the Frederick Fasehun, Gani Adams and the New Era groups to halt the long years of factionalisation of the security body in Ekiti State.

Addressing the crowd of OPC faithful at the event held in Adebayo area of the Ado Ekiti metropolis, the Apase Oodua of Ekiti State, Chief Niyi Adedipe, described Tinubu as the best man to lead Nigeria after President Muhammadu Buhari.

Large Crowd Welcomes Kwankwaso to Minna Laleye Dipo inMinna

A large crowd of party supporters yesterday welcomed the New Nigeria Political Party (NNPP) Presidential Candidate Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to Minna Niger state for the inauguration of the state Secretariat of the party.

This is even as some youths rejected the candidacy of Alhaji Ibrahim Sokodeke as the Governorship candidate of the party.

Alhaji Kwankwaso, who came

into Minna by road was received by supporters who wore the Kwankwasiya red caps some of them rode on horse backs chanting the party slogan.

From the Minna city gate to the new Secretariat a distance of less than three kilometers which traditional should be covered in about 30 minutes took Kwankwaso and his entourage more than three hours.

At the Secretariat some youths and supporters went round to mark X on his posters.

Benue State Government has, again, lamented the plight of displaced persons saying “it’s unthinkable to keep Internally displaced persons (IDPs) in camp for over five years. The Executive Secretary, Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Dr Emmanuel Shior, who spoke during the monthly food distribution to IDPs in the state,

Catholic Bishops Commend Uzodimma for Improved Road Infrastructure in Imo Catholic Bishops in Nigeria have offered to pray for the reign of peace in Imo State so that the government of Governor Hope Uzodimma will have the opportunity to continue with the efforts it is making in the area of infrastructure renewal.

The Bishops made particular reference to the 35 kilometres

Owerri-Orlu dual carriage way which President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated on Tuesday alongside the first phase of the Owerri-Okigwe road and the rebuilt Imo House of Assembly Complex.

The Bishops, who are currently holding their 2022 Second Plenary at Holy Trinity Catholic Cathedral

Orlu, said their trip to Owerri through the dualised road was a beautiful site to behold.

They said Uzodimma’s government deserves all the peace it needed to continue to serve the people better, and promised to uphold him in their prayers always.

President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria,

His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, who is also the Catholic Archbishop of the Owerri Metropolitan Province thanked Uzodimma for giving them the opportunity to lunch with his Cabinet, noting that the Governor’s large-heartedness is known at all levels of the Catholic Church in Nigeria.

Kano Denies Selling Shari’a Courts to Private Individuals IbrahimShuaibuinKano The Chairman, Technical Committee on Conversation and Redevelopment of Some Kano State Owned Properties, Barrister Musa Abdullahi Lawan, has described the claim that the state government has sold some Shari’a courts to private individuals for commercial purposes

as fake, unfounded and political.

The Chairman, who is also the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Kano State, was reacting to the claims by some legal practitioners, Barrister Sanusi Umar, Barrister Usman Imam and Comrade Bello Basi, who approached the Kano State High Court, seeking to restrain

the government from taking any further step on the building and premises of the courts.

The affected courts Include: Upper Sharia Court, Gidan Maitatsine, Yan Awaki, Upper Sharia Court Yan Alluna, Upper Sharia Court Shahuci, and Upper Shari’a Court Goron Dutse, Others are Upper Shari’a Court

Kasuwar Kurmi, and Upper Sharia Court Filin Hockey.

The Attorney General said there was misrepresentation of facts regarding the claims of the three plaintiffs.

“Government has no plans to relocate Upper Sharia Court Goron Dutse and Upper Sharia Court Filin Hockey, Hausawa,” he said.

N266.5m Fraud: Lawyer Debunks Claims against EFCC

Wale Igbintade

Human rights lawyer, Abdullai Dania, has debunked allegation made by the mother of convicted fake Army General, Bolarinwa Abiodun, accusing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of forcefully taking possession of her family house.

Mrs. Adetona Funke Adebowale, an octogenarian and mother of convicted fake Army General, Bolarinwa Abiodun, had accused the EFCC of illegally taking over of her family house.

Her son, Bolarinwa, was convicted, and sentenced to seven years imprisonment, by Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, Lagos, on

July 7, 2022, over N266.5million fraud, unlawful conversation and among others.

The judge also ordered that all the proceeds of his crime, which include four vehicles, a 3-bedroom bungalow at 1, Ajoke Ayo crescent, Alagbado, Lagos, recovered from him by the EFCC and the sum of N20 million, be forfeited and released

to the nominal complainant in the charge.

But Dania, who is the lawyer to the complainant in an affidavit of fact relating to Charge numbered ID/18213C/2021, stated that he took responsibilities for all that transpired in the course of taking physical possession of the house and the removal of the household items therein.

Commercial Motorcyclist Bags Life Jail for Raping Minor in Ekiti Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti has sentenced 31 years old Mr. Ojo Adebayo to life imprisonment for raping a nine-year-old girl.

Adebayo was arraigned on one-count charge bordering on

rape before Justice Olalekan Olatawura in March 2022.

The charge said that the defendant “on October 8, 2021, at Ilogbo Ekiti in Ido/Osi LGA of Ekiti State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did rape a nine year old girl, contrary to section 31(2) of

the Child’s Rights Law, Cap. C7, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

In his judgment yesterday, Justice Olatawura, said: ‘‘Identification of the defendant by the victim as the person who raped her is not only compelling but credible, same not having been discredited under cross

examination and therefore not mistaken.

“In all, I find the case well established and proved beyond reasonable doubt by the prosecution that the defendant, and no other person, used his penis to penetrate the vagina of the defendant.

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THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

ANCHOR INSURANCE UNVEILS NEW LOGO…

L-R: Former President, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Peter Esele; Managing Director/CEO, Anchor Insurance Company Limited,Augustine Ebose; Directors, Anchor Insurance, Ukpong Ekwere and Comfort Ewang, and Deputy Director, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Salami Rasaq, during the launch of the company’s new logo and television commercial in Lagos…. yesterday SUNDAYADIGUN

Ayade Locks Out Govt House Workers for Lateness in Cross River Hundreds of workers were yesterday locked out of Government House office by Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River for lateness.

According to th News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the governor, who arrived at the office at 8 a.m., was surprised to see that

many of the civil servants were not on seat.

Ayade immediately ordered for the opening of a register and asked the Chief Security Officer to lock the gate against any late-coming worker thereafter.

NAN reports that those locked out included all cadre

German Agency, Edo Train Liaison Officers on Ease of Doing Business

Adibe Emenyonu inBeninCity

In the quest to continue to promote the ease of doing business in the Edo State, the German Agency for International Co-operation (GIZ), yesterday organised a capacity development session for appointed liaison officer, Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDA’s).

The capacity building was organized, in conjunction with the Edo State Investment Promotion Office (ESIPO), with the aim to improve the business environment, create conducive investment climate and economic growth in the state.

Speaking during the programme, the GIZ Coordinator and Policy Advisor for Edo State Pro-poor

Growth and Promotion of Employment in Nigeria, SEDIN Programme, Ms. Blessing Oluwatosin Ajimoti and the Managing Director, Edo State Investment Promotion Office (ESIPO), Mr. Kelvin Uwaibi, revealed that the programme’s overall objective is to improve the employment and income situation of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

They said that SEDIN has been working with private and public institutions to improve the framework conditions, business enabling environment and promote policies favouring MSMEs, employment, and local economic development.

of workers, comprising top ranking officers of the state Civil Service as well as political appointees.

Special Adviser on Media to Governor, Mr. Christian Ita, said that the governor

had always frowned at indiscipline and shown reward to those committed to their responsibilities.

According to him, “The normal resumption time is 8 a.m, and if a governor can be

in office at that time, why can’t others be around.

“The governor has always shown reward and sanction to workers; he doesn’t hesitate to sanction when you err and also reward you when you are

committed to duty.”

NAN reports that as at the time of filing this report, several workers who were locked out, were seen hanging around the entrance gate of the Government House.

Halt Gale of Defections in APC, Former Party Aspirants Beg Tinubu Sunday Okobi Former aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the auspices of APC360 have expressed concern over defections that have hit the party in recent weeks.

The group therefore, called on the presidential candidate of the party, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to urgently set up measures to

halt the massive defection of members, especially aspirants to other political parties.

Members of the group, consisting of aspirants who paid to participate and vie for various elective posts at the parties primaries from the 36 states of the federation and Abuja, raised the alarm during an emergency meeting in Abuja yesterday.

The National Secretary of the

group, Chris Enoch, in a statement said supporters of the APC were deeply concerned about the fact that the party hierarchy has still not arrested the situation.

Aside thousands of supporters at states level, more than eight senators have dumped the APC, including the Senate Majority and Minority Leaders. And in the House of Representatives, more than 25 lawmakers have

also jumped ship.

According to Enoch, “As critical stakeholder, the group cannot close its eyes against the dangerous trend sweeping away party members like the flood of Mesopotamia. ‘’it is also hazardous and harmful to the health and wealth of our great party, particularly when we are preparing for a national election.

Abia, Victim of Visionless Leadership, Says APC Guber Candidate Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia The perpetuation of leaders with small mindset in running the affairs of Abia over the years has confined the state to abysmal level of development, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), High Chief Ikechi Emenike, has said.

Speaking at a meeting of

stakeholders at Ikwuano Local Government, Emenike noted that Abia has been so unfortunate to have been left in the hands of leaders that lack vision and the capacity to think outside the box.

He said that Abia has a government that “thinks little and does nothing” hence the state has been running on low budgets that could not lift it above ground zero where it

has remained.

“A governor envisions a huge state,” he said, adding that in a situation where the chief executive of the state cannot think and dream big and lacks the creativity to generate funds at local and international levels, development would remain afar.

“I will deploy financial engineering to attract funds with which to develop Abia,”

he assured the teeming party faithful, adding that if APC gets the mandate in 2023 “we will serve the people of Abia from day one”.

The governorship hopeful, who was at Ikwuano in conclusion of his tour of the 17 Abia local governments, galvanised stakeholders at each stop of his tour in readiness for the 2023 rescue mission.

Zulum Inaugurates 1,500 Mega School SDP Guber Candidate Promises New Society in Rivers Blessing Ibunge in PortHarcourt fairness, equal opportunity as soon as you have taken a favour to the Igbo people, that Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, has inaugurated a newly built mega school with capacity for 1,500 students at Buratai village in Biu Local Government Area of the state.

Zulum also directed the recruitment of an additional 20 teachers to be selected from the host community for deployment to the newly launched Government Secondary School.

The governor, during the inauguration of the school

last Tuesday, explained that the immediate recruitment would be on ad-hoc basis but teachers who prove their capacity and commitment will be given permanent employment and fully integrated into the state civil service.

In his welcome address, the state Commissioner for Education, Lawan Abba Wakilbe, highlighted that in the last three years, Zulum administration was able to recruit about 1,000 teachers who were trained and posted to schools.

The Police in Ogun State have ordered the arrest of a young man allegedly involved in a gang arrangement that attempted to kill his father who is a traditional ruler in the state.

The man allegedly connived with other suspects to execute their plan but took to his heels while six others were arrested.

The arrest followed a distress call to the police by the traditional ruler, Oba G. O. Olukunle of Gbokoto land, to report the presence of suspected

progress and prosperity for all.

He said: “Utility is your right to participation and citizenship.

So, for those of you who have invested so much in Rivers State, you have built your homes here, you have brought up your children here, in fact, some of the young ones that are growing up, they don’t know anywhere else apart from here.

“So please, be rest assured

this decision and you have implemented it next year, all these things will change.

“We will build a new society, based on justice, fairness, equal opportunity progress and prosperity. I don’t regard creating markets for Rivers people as doing a favour to any particular community.

“If we have an international market in Rivers State, that is not

is the economic advancement of Rivers State, because the market will generate revenues for Rivers State.

“It will create employment opportunities for Rivers people.

People, who go to buy in the market, will sleep in the hotel, they will use the taxi, they will pay taxes, they will pay revenue and they will contribute value here.

Gombe Gov Receives Report of APC Reconciliation Committee

Segun Awofadeji in Gombe

Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has received the report of the 21-man Reconciliation felons in his palace.

Committee constituted to resolve Subsequently, the police moved all grievances that arose from to the palace, where they met the the congresses and primaries of hoodlums shooting sporadically the All Progressives Congress within the palace and thence engaged the suspects in gun shootout which led to the arrest of the six men.

During interrogation, the arrested Heads of secondary schools in Kwara suspects confessed that they are State yesterday said Governor AbdulRazaq’s members of the Eiye confraternity AbdulRahman and that it was the son of the Oba, achievements in turning around who is now at large, that invited learning environment and improving them to come and eliminate his welfare of teachers are unmatched in father because of an unresolved the recent history of the state.

The teachers also commended issue the Oba has been having the introduction of KwaraLEARN with his mother.

Police Haunt Son for Attempted Murder of His Father Becky Uba Umenyili

The governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Rivers State, Senator Magnus Abe, yesterday said if elected governor in 2023, his administration will build a new society in the state.

Abe stated this at the inauguration of the SDP NonIndigenes Executives in Port Harcourt, adding that the new society will be based on justice,

(APC) in the state.

Speaking during the ceremony yesterday, Yahaya observed that no political system is immune from bickering that often arises at the point of power struggle.

The governor noted that the submission of the report could not have come at a time when political parties in the country

are gearing up for the campaign season.

He said in spite of the seeming delay in the submission of the committee’s report, the party in the state was able to reimburse state Assembly aspirants across the state, and his administration has granted appointment to some of them

who lost out at the primaries.

The governor said he is happy that no aggrieved member of the APC in the state has ditched the party, describing the maturity so far displayed as an internalisation of the spirit of sportsmanship for the greater good of the party, the state and democracy.

Kwara’s Intervention in Education Excites Teachers which they said is truly impactful, adding that the administration’s interventions have also been spread across every part of the state in a way never seen before.

The school heads made the commendations in Ilorin, the state capital, at an open engagement the Governor held to feel their pulse on

government’s focus on basic education and their welfare across board.

About 300 school principals attended the meeting, along with some key stakeholders from across the education sector in Kwara State.

The teachers, who acknowledged the improvements in their wages and teaching environment, also called on

the Governor to consider restoring boarding facilities which died off a few years ago, end the pay disparities between teachers in basic classes and their senior secondary school counterparts which he inherited, commit more funds to laboratories in the schools, and do more to offset the arrears of salaries he met in 2019.

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Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

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Amusan, Brume Unveiled as Premium Trust Bank Ambassadors

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Women’s 100m hurdles World Record Holder, Oluwatobiloba Amusan and Women’s Long Jump Gold Medalist at the last Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Ese Brume were yesterday unveiled as Brand Ambassadors of Premium Trust Bank.

At the colourful ceremony which

held at the Eko Hotel and Suites on Lagos Island, Amusan who recorded several firsts, culminating in her winning the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, USA with a new World Record in the women’s 100m hurdles as well as winning the Birmingham 2022 gold medal in her specialty and the 4x100m relay, was the toast of the event.

NPFL: Akuneto Receives Prestigious Eunisell Boot Award Former Rivers United forward, Chijioke Akuneto, yesterday received the prestigious Eunisell Boot Award for the highest goal scorer in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) sponsored

by West Africa’s largest independent chemical as well as oil and gas engineering solutions company, Eunisell.

Akuneto scored 19 goals to beat other contenders to the award last season.

The Eunisell Boot was instituted by the company in 2018 to celebrate players in the domestic league and boost the involvement of corporate Nigeria in the growth of the domestic league.

Former Kano Pillars forward, Junior Lokosa, won the inaugural edition.

For his feat Akuneto received the Eunisell Boot and N3.8 million as Eunisell placed a premium value of N200,000 per goal.

Speaking during the award presentation, Eunisell Group Managing Director, Chika Ikenga, represented by Manager, Corporate Finance, Kenneth Okeiyi, said: “Eunisell remains committed to sponsoring the Boot Award for players in the NPFL. It is our desire to inspire, recognize and

celebrate the players.

"In addition, Eunisell believes the NPFL can develop into a top class league. We are proud of the players.”

An excited Akuneto, who was accompanied by his wife, Temitope, applauded Eunisell for recognizing players in the NPFL and expressed appreciation to his coaches as well as teammates at Rivers United.

“I was inspired by the feat of my former teammate, Stephen Odey and a former winner of the award, Silas Nwankwo, who is my friend.

"My Coach, Stanley Eguma and teammates, all contributed to my success.

"The Eunisell Boot is a challenge to do more," he stated.

Akuneto already has a goal to his credit in the colours of Nigeria's Super Eagles.

The Eunisell Boot presentation ceremony was also attended by External Solicitor (AK & Co. Solicitors), Mr. Ajibola Edwards, Head, International Business Eunisell, Mr. Iain Fraser, Tech Sales Manager, (Production Solutions), Gregg Harrison as well as MD/CEO MatchRoom Sports and Media Limited, Mr. Ojeikere Glover Aikhoje.

Along with Tokyo 2020 as well as Doha 2019 bronze medalists, Brume, the two foremost Nigerian athletes signed the dotted lines as Brand Ambassadors of the bank.

Speaking at the unveiling, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, said the two athletes signpost the future of the country’s athletes.

He also called on corporate organisations and individuals not to wait until the athletes are crowned champions before associating with them. He emphasized on investing on Nigerian athletes when they are young.

“These athletes never relent, always thrive, consistent in their performances,” the minister stressed.

“Even on the big stage, they

knew they had it in them and they never stop and when the time came, they showed up big time.

They showed up for themselves first having done the sacrifices, gone through the discipline, because if you have talents and you don’t add discipline to it, you cannot excel.

“I want to thank Tobi (Amusan) for doing that job in Oregon, not just breaking the world record, but breaking it twice same night.

I am thanking you on behalf of this country, Nigeria. We are grateful,” observed the minister.

He also commended Brume for improving on the bronze she won at the Olympic Games in Tokyo at the World Championships in Oregon and the gold in Birmingham 2022.

“Brume on her part, most telling moment for me at the Olympics in Tokyo was when Tobi finished fourth in her race. The only person that could comfort her was Ese. Not even her coach could do that.

I am happy seeing the two of them here today, happy to see what they have attained so far.

“Ese came third at the Olympics, but to us, it was a Golden Bronze.

Thank you because when you came to the Commonwealth Games, you did it again.”

Also speaking at the unveiling, the MD/CEO of Premium Trust Bank, Emmanuel Emefienim, said the major goal of the bank is to support growth hence the maxim ‘Together for Growth’.

According to Emefienim, they

decided to associate with the two renowned athletes to drive towards enabling growth they put into their story.

He added: “This should serve as motivation to other athletes who dare to be different and win, no matter their background, obstacles they have been through to get to where they are today.

“The two athletes’ story is just like the bank and I am happy with where we are today and we hope the partnerships bring great impact to the athletes, the sports industry and the country.”

The two athletes appreciated the bank for counting them worthy to be the Brand Ambassador and promised to maintain the standard expected of them.

R-L: Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare; World Record Holder in women’s 100m hurdles, Oluwatobiloba Amusan; Managing Director, Premium Trust Bank, Mr Emmanuel Emefienim; and Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist in women’s Long Jump, Ese Brume, during their unveiling yesterday as Brand Ambassadors of Premium Trust Bank in Lagos...yesterday

NDLEA Boss, Marwa, 20 Governors' Wives, Others to Feature in BOWFT ‘Say No to Drugs’ Seminar Today Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Buba Marwa (rtd) and wives of 20 governors across the country, are among guests expected at the ‘Say No to Drugs’ lecture/seminar, taking place today in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

The seminar/lecture is part of activities for the ongoing Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament (BOWFT), holding in the state’s capital between September

Manager, Corporate Finance, Eunisell Limited, Kenneth Okeiyi (left), who represented Group Managing Director, Eunisell, Chika Ikenga, presenting the Eunisell Boot for the Highest Goal Scorer in the 2021/22 Nigeria Professional Football League season, to Chijioke Akuneto (right), during the event, on Wednesday, at Eunisell’s Head Office, in Victoria Island, Lagos

team poses and he will be leaving no stone unturned. “Sheriff beat Real Madrid last year, so they must be good. We have to be really well prepared to do well in this competition," he said while reacting to the group’s draw last month.

Sheriff Tirapol sit at the top of the group after defeating Omonia 3-0 last week. They can strengthen their grip on the position with another giant-killing victory over Manchester United this evening.

The game will be live on SuperSport Premier League (DStv

Others expected at the event are the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Samuela Isopi; UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, and the Representative, UNODC Country Office, Oliver Stolpe; Executive Chairman, Edo Sports Commission & Commonwealth Long Jump Record Holder & Chairman organizing Committee BOWFT, Mr. Yussuf Alli, and the Former Executive Chairman Lagos State Sports Commission and Consultant on Sports to Edo State, Dr. Kweku Adedayo Tandoh, among others.

....It’s Robo FC, Edo Queens Final Edo Queens yesterday defeated Nasarawa Amazons FC 5-4 in penalty shootouts to secure a spot in the final stage of the

Sheriff Hosts Red Devils, other Europa League Games Live on DStv, GOtv Moldovan champions, Sheriff Tiraspol will host Manchester United today for Match-day 2 of Group E in the 2022/23 Europa League season showing on SuperSport.

The Red Devils lost their group opener last week against Real Sociedad courtesy of a controversial penalty converted by Brais Mendez.

They face an uphill task of overturning their tide in the group where they are currently placed third if they hope to secure a direct slot to the Round of 16.

United Manager, Erik ten Hag is aware of the threat the Moldovan

7, 2022 and September 17, 2022.

The seminar will take place at the Edo Hotel Marquee, Okada Avenue, G.R.A Benin City .

Marwa is the keynote speaker, while the governor’s wives will be led to the all-important event by the Chairperson of the Nigerian Governors' Wives Forum, Her Excellency, Erelu Bisi Fayemi.

A paper “Drugs in Sports,” will be presented by Professor of Sports Medicine, Prof. Ken Anugweje, who is the Chairman, National AntiDoping Committee and Director, University of Port Harcourt Sports Institute, Rivers State.

channel 202)and Go Football (GOtv channel 31) at 5:45pm.

Other Europa League games include Monaco vs Ferencvaro on SuperSport La Liga (DStv channel 204and GOtv channel 32) at 5:45, Midtjylland vs Lazio on SuperSport Variety 3 (DStv channel 208) andGO Select 1 (channel 33)at 5:45pm, Roma vs HJK Helsinki on SuperSport La Liga (DStv channel 204 and GOtv channel 32)at 8:00pm and Real Betis vs Ludogorets on SuperSport Variety 3 (DStv channel 208) andGO Select 1 (channel 33) at 8:00pm.

Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament (BOWFT).

The match played at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, proceeded to shootouts after both teams failed to find the back of the net after 90 minutes of epic battle.

The second semifinal match between FC Robo Queens and Delta Queens was a piece of cake for the Lagos-based Robo FC side, who crushed their opponents 4-1 to sail through to the finals of the tournament.

The early goal by Gift Monday in the first five minutes of the match opened the scoreline for the swift and energetic Robo FC side, before the pressure from the Lagos-based team forced Fehintola Mabakonje to score an own goal in the eight minute to make it 2-0. Hope came again for the Delta Queens side when Chinansa Agoh pulled in

her goal through a fine strike in the 26th minute to make the score line 2-1.

23 minutes into the second half, Robo FC’s Taiwo Lawal registered her name in the score sheet, while a goal by Rukayat Oladiti in the 81st minute sealed the victory for the Lagos-based Robo FC side.

The final match of the competition will be played on Friday, September 16, 2022, between Edo Queens and FC Robo at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.

Speaking on their victory, the captain of Edo Queens, Onyebuchi Goodness, said: “I am happy we won the match, though the Nasarawa Amazons were tough.

I believe we will win the tournament because that has been our goal since we came third in the previous edition of the tournament held last year.”

The tournament in its second edition is aimed at checking social vices among the girl-child, with this year’s edition focused on raising awareness on the adverse effects of drug abuse among youths.

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MISSILE

Peter Obi to Opponents “Next year’s elections will not be based on ethnicity. We have had it before; it would not be on religion. There is no place that Christians buy things cheaper, there is no place that Muslims buy things cheaper. It will not be by turn, it is nobody’s turn.

It must not be by connection. The election next year must be based on character and trust; it must be based on competence.”— Labour Party presidential candidate economy on the choice before Nigerians in 2023

OLUSEGUNADENIYI Squandermania Nigeria Unlimited!

THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

T

he late Dele Giwa once wrote that Nigerians ‘have been shocked to the state of unshockability.’ He was right.

But every once in a while reports about our country are so shocking that you continue to doubt them until their veracity is confirmed. I was in such a situation on Monday when I read a report credited to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General, Bashir Jamoh, that more than four years after taking delivery of a floating dock constructed with the whooping sum of N50 billion (more like N180 billion by today’s exchange rate), it has not been put to use due to bureaucratic bottlenecks. “Now, as we are talking, I am just coming back from Abuja to get the consent and agreement of the people that will give us the location where we can place the floating dock. Up till now, we have not got a location.

And then, the other thing is that it has been there since 2018, nobody has worked on it, started it or tested it. So, we have to bring the engineers several times to come and work on it, including the Israelis,” Jamoh said in Lagos.

Dry docking is a term used when the ship is brought to dry land to enable submerged sections to be repaired, cleaned or inspected.

There are only three functioning shipyards in Nigeria where minimal repairs of cabotage vessels of 500 tonnes are carried out. Two of these—Starzs Shipyard and Niger Benue Shipyard—are privately owned. The other, Nigerdock Limited, was originally 100 per cent owned by the federal government but was privatized following the demise of the Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL). That story is already well-documented.

At its peak, Nigerdock had 29 vessels. Today, Nigeria’s flag administration is essentially dead and we no longer have a single ocean-going vessel. Our shipyards can barely repair cabotage vessels, forcing international shipping companies to other smaller African countries in order to retain their safety classification and insurance, as specified by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). In fact, we currently depend on Ghana, Senegal, South Africa etc. to dry-dock all ocean-going vessels doing business in Nigerian waters. That explains why it’s almost criminal that a prime asset (measuring 125 metres by 35 metres, with three in-built cranes, transformers, and a number of ancillary facilities) meant to fill that gap could be allowed to waste for years.

Now marooned at a Naval Dockyard, the floating dry Dock was envisioned to, and has capacity for, employing hundreds of Nigerians. It would also have served as a hub to train students in our Maritime tertiary institutions.

For those who may not be conversant with maritime matters, ships are required to dry dock at least twice every five years to retain their seaworthiness. With an average of 5,000 ships calling on our ports annually, in addition to 400 active coastal vessels and several fishing trawlers, it is estimated that Nigeria could save up to N350 billion annually (in capital flight) while also earning millions of dollars in the process. The maritime sector, like the oil and gas industry, holds considerable prospect for the development of our economy. But it is also being grossly mismanaged. Meanwhile, it costs more

Jamoh

than $1million to tow vessels out of Nigeria for repairs when the cost of dry-docking itself (for which the floating dry dock was conceived) is approximately $400,000. This is a compelling story of lost opportunity, not to mention the cost of doing business in Nigeria. Of course it is not surprising that we have ended up in this situation because those who conceive and execute projects in our country are usually more concerned about transactional details that benefit them than the more important consideration of public good.

From my investigation, this story began on 23rd October 2013 under President Goodluck Jonathan when the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the contract award for the “Construction of Ship Building Facility and Dockyard: Maritime Equipment and Structures, Ancillary Buildings and Electro-Mechanical Works and Facilities (Package 1) at Okerenkoko, Delta State for the sum of N40,243,702,763.38.” The contract period was for 36 months effective from the date of receiving the first payment of 15 per cent mobilisation which translated to N6,036,555,414.49. “The balance payment shall be based upon the following modes: 65 per cent of the total contract sum shall be paid by irrevocable confirmed Letters of Credit (LC) to enable your Company import heavy duty equipment required for the project which includes Water Treatment Pipes; Power House and Services; Travel Lift; Landing Modular Jetties; Modular Floating Dock and Cradle Set; and Quay Crane...”

If we consider that the exchange rate in 2013 was N159 to a dollar, it is easy to understand the current value of this project, especially as it was paid in dollars. I have no idea why the contract exceeded its timeframe by more than a year and the cost increased by 25 percent.

But on 29th May 2018, the company wrote

to notify NIMASA that “following successful inspections by Manufacturer (Damen Shipyards), Lloyds officials, Debaj Engineering Company ltd (NIMASA consultants), the Modular Floating Dock (MFDd NIMASA, IMO 9785639) is heading to Lagos, Nigeria as per the communicated program of works and our previous notification letter.”

After highlighting other technical details, the company then listed pending operational matters: “We kindly request NIMASA to notify the concern (sic) authorities regarding the arrival of OSPREY and the offloading of MFDd NIMASA in Lagos. We kindly request a resolution of the location subject including access to the proposed site in Apapa, Lagos in order to proceed with civil and mechanical works for the mooring of the Floating Dock.

Also be reminded that the existing old and faulty NPA floating dock should be moved/ relocated in order to allow mooring of the new Nimasa Modular Floating dock; Registration of the Nigeria Flag for MFDd NIMASA, IMO 9785639; Obtaining waiver of custom duties for the modular floating dock and Obtaining Insurance for the floating dock.”

The Floating Dock arrived Nigeria but for the past four years, what should be earning us revenue has become another huge burden.

When we eventually decide to put it to use, we may also be talking of ‘turn around maintenance’ running into billions of Naira.

In fact, the Association of Marine Engineers and Surveyors (AMES) raised the alarm last year that the dry Dock had been removed from the Lloyd’s Registers Class because it could not be surveyed for three years.

This raises several pertinent questions.

Why did the federal government embark on such an expensive and highly technical project without a firm decision on where the Dry Dock would berth? Should NIMASA, a regulatory agency, take on the role of operator which the purchase of the floating Dry Dock implies? The Nigeria government has proved incapable of managing private businesses, so why do public officials continue to promote ideas doomed to fail and, in this instance, not backed by the enabling law? And how are we sure we have not already created another monument to waste? Like Ajaokuta, most of the software in the computer-driven floating dock may have become obsolete according to some experts.

The only rational explanation I can find online on this sordid affair was one provided last year by a former NIMASA Executive Director, Operations, Rotimi Fashakin. He told reporters in Lagos that berthing the dock at the permanent site of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, as was originally conceptualized, could not be done due to insecurity. “Initially when the floating dock was acquired, the design was for it to berth in Delta State. But even at that time, there were a lot of reports advising to the contrary”, explained Fashakin who added that the contract preceded the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. “A dock is supposed to serve the shipping community as a commercial facility, but which company or vessel would be bold enough to travel to Delta State given the insecurity? When the

dock landed in Nigeria, there were various state governments that requested for it, all these are on record. When it came in, we thought of many ideas, but this is a government asset and not something you can just give to an operator. NIMASA is a regulator and not an operator, so giving the dock to an operator also needs to go through the bureaucracy of government.”

The fact that a regulator was trying to play in the same league with operators should have been clear to NIMASA before initiating the idea but like most government contracts, we pay first and think later. The more information one gets on this matter, and I have spoken to many stakeholders, the more despondent you become about our country – though some of us will not give up hope.

In his article, ‘Dealing with Corruption’, published in a 1998 edition of Travel Africa Magazine, Michael Hodd began with a wellknown anecdote that speaks to how public officials on the continent design and execute projects essentially to line their pockets. Using ministers from countries bordering the Great Lakes of Victoria and Tanganyika to illustrate his point, Hodd told of how one (minister) could build a sprawling edifice from a ten percent bribe taken from dam and power station contract while another pocketed the entire 100 percent of the contract sum in his own country. A few days ago, someone posted a video clip in which the corrupt dictator in Uganda, Yoweri Museveni used the story by inserting Nigeria as the country where the 100 percent contract sum went into the pocket of one public official! But who do we blame?

As things stand on the floating dry dock, I believe there is an urgent need for the president to wade in. He should invite the Minister of Transportation, the Chief of Naval Staff, NIMASA Director General and the Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) and give them marching orders. This is a commonsense problem. It should not take forever to decide where this floating dock should berth. Since NIMASA as regulator can also not manage the investment, the federal government must decide on the next line of action.

On the whole, the greater concern is that this is not an isolated problem. Our national landscape is strewn with projects that were not well-conceived and have become liabilities after hundreds of billions of Naira had been invested in them. In 2015, the then Chartered Institute of Project Management of Nigeria (CIPMN) president, Victoria Okoronkwo estimated abandoned projects in Nigeria at N12 trillion. I am sure if we use the exchange rate at the time these projects were conceived and expenditures incurred, we will be talking of double or triple that amount. Listing the projects by geopolitical zones, Okoronkwo said the South-east had 15,000; Southwest, 10,000; Southsouth, 11,000; Northwest, 6000; Northcentral, 7,000: North-east, 5,000 and Abuja, 2,000. I have no doubt that hundreds of others have been added to the list since then.

This extraordinary level of waste and mismanagement of scarce resources speaks volumes about the lack of accountability in the Nigerian public space.

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