TUESDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER 2022

Royals, World Leaders, Mammoth Crowd Bid Queen Elizabeth Farewell in Funeral Grandeur Osinbajo to King Charles III: I wish and pray you do better than your mother Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Bayo Akinloye in Lagos Amid pomp and glory, British and

European royals, world leaders, and a massive crowd paid their last respects to Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch the United

Kingdom has ever known, as a funeral service was held for her at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, 40 kilometres from Central

London, yesterday. Two thousand guests and dignitaries were seated in the breath-taking chapel.

After 70 remarkable years on the

throne, the queen breathed her last on September 8 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

As the world's most famous

monarch, Queen Elizabeth II spent 70 years of her life in public service Continued on page 10

Governors Brainstorm to Block Tax Leakages, Improve IGR Collection... Page 5 Tuesday 20 September, 2022 Vol 27. No 10024. Price: N250

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University Students Paralyse Activities at Lagos Airport over Prolonged ASUU Strike... Page 26

Kukah: Nigeria Doesn’t Need Messiah in 2023 Says ideally, Muslim-Muslim ticket shouldn’t be an issue Campaign language now intemperate, inconsequential, Lawan worries Politicians already violating Electoral Act, Gbajabiamila raises the alarm NBC warns broadcasters against violence-based electioneering Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano and Udora Orizu in Abuja Bishop of the Catholic Diocese

of Sokoto, Rev. Matthew Kukah, yesterday, said Nigeria did not need a messiah in 2023, but a true leader who would give the whole country,

irrespective of tribe, tongue, or faith, a sense of belonging and proper direction. Kukah said Nigerians could not afford another mistake

of pinning their hopes on some messiah-like figure.

The priest spoke yesterday in Abuja while delivering a

keynote address at a forum on political communication and issue-based campaign in the 2023 general election, organised by the

National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) Continued on page 10

At LCCI Forum, Obi Pledges to Ensure Total Privatisation of Power Transmission Describes petrol subsidy as organised crime Says his administration will borrow for investment, not consumption Dike Onwuamaeze The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, yesterday told leaders of Nigeria’s organised private sector that his administration would totally liberalise the entire power sector value chain, including transmission, to ensure steady power supply if elected president next year.

Obi also vowed to encourage the setting up of more local refineries by private firms and to supply them crude oil in naira to refine for Nigeria’s domestic consumption.

He said this yesterday when he took his turn at the Private Sector Economic Forum for the 2023 Presidential Election that was organised in Lagos, by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

The LCCI had played host to the presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubarka last Tuesday.

Continued on page 12

WEDDING RECEPTION OF GOVERNOR YAHAYA’S SON...

L-R: Vice Presidential Candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Kashim Shetima; Presidential Candidate, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu; President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, and Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, during the wedding reception of Yahaya’s son, Misbahu Inuwa Yahaya in Gombe State...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

BUHARI @UNGA 77...

L-R: Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Sanwo-Olu; Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle; Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum and Chief of Staff Prof Ibrahim Gambari; President Muhammadu Buhari, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geogrey Onyeama, Mr. Muhammed Tijjani Bande, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo and others during a strategic PHOTO: SUNDAY AGHAEZE meeting with his delegation to the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York, USA... yesterday

Governors Brainstorm to Block Tax Leakages, Improve IGR Collection Launch new database on public finance States' internally generated revenue grew by 35% in 2021 to N1.67trn Insecurity: Northern govs back southern counterparts on state police Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Fidelis David in Akure The 36 state governors yesterday commenced a brainstorming session on how to improve their internally generated revenue (IGR) and block tax leakages.

Also, it emerged yesterday that states’ internally generated finances grew by 35 per cent from N1.31 trillion in 2019, to N1.67 trillion in 2021.

The governors also announced a new finance database that would enable them share information on tax reforms in order to improve their internally generated finances.

Addressing governors at a workshop yesterday, at "the 8th IGR

Peer Learning Event and Launch of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Public Finance Database," the chairman of the NGF and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi said the essence of the workshop was to find ways to improve tax collection and subsequently improve states' revenue.

This was just as the Southern Governors Forum yesterday said it received with great relief the news of the resolution of the 19 Northern State Governors and Northern Traditional Rulers Council calling for the immediate establishment of State Police to address the continued insecurity challenges in the country.

Continuing, Fayemi who spoke at the NGF workshop said: "We

have seen total IGR of states grow from N1.31 trillion in 2019, to N1.67 trillion in 2021, and the share of IGR (as percentage of total recurrent revenue) grow from 31 per cent in 2019 to 35% in 2021. While this is good progress, we must not lose sight of the need to sustain and advance the momentum of reforms, considering the decline in FAAC receipts."

He said the workshop brought back a nostalgic feeling, saying it reminded him of a collective decision they took as governors in 2019, to be deliberate with reforming the tax administrations to become more efficient and effective.

He said consensus reforms were focused on ending multiple taxation;

professionalising and modernising revenue services as well as embracing a taxpayer-centric culture that eases taxpayers’ compliance and strengthen the existing social contract.

Fayemi said the pact birthed the State Action Plan for Revenue Generation (SAPRG), whose implementation progress the governors examined with the objective of highlighting what had worked and what they needed to do better to foster an enabling tax environment and administration that allows them to optimise their revenue potential as sub-nationals.

In view of this, the Chairman of the governors’ forum added: "Our pursuit to do things differently

EFCC Arraigns Obasanjo’s Brother in-law, John Abebe, over Alleged Fraud Wale Igbintade The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned John Abebe, a younger brother of the late former First Lady, Stella Obasanjo before the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja over allegations of fraud.

Abebe was arraigned alongside a former Head of First Bank Plc, United Kingdom Correspondent Office, Kamoru Alade Oladimeji and Inducon Nigeria Limited before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe, on a six-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, and obtaining money under pretense.

Some of the counts against the defendants read: "That you Dr. John Abebe and Kamoru Alade Oladimeji, on or about the 4th day of June 2013, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit; stealing the sum of N120 million property of Arsenal Technologies Limited.

"That you Dr. John Abebe and Kamoru Alade Oladimeji, on or about the 4th day of June 2013, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to commit

felony to wit; obtaining by false pretence the sum of N120 million property of Arsenal Technologies Limited under the pretence that your property lying being and situate at 9, Magbon Close, Ikoyi-Lagos State, which you pledged as the security to the Arsenal Technologies Limited was unencumbered, which representation you knew to be false."

It added: "That you Dr. John Abebe and Inducon Nigeria Limited, on or about the 4th day of June 2013, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud and to gain for yourself the sum of $1,000,000.00 or its naira equivalent from Arsenal Technologies Limited by false pretence to procured the execution of valuable security to wit: a deed of assignment between Inducon Nigeria Limited and Arsenal Technologies Limited, wherein you falsely claimed that the property lying being and situate at No. 9, Magbon Close, Ikoyi-Lagos was unencumbered and that you have full powers to assign and transfer the said property to the assignor; Arsenal Technologies Limited.”

The EFCC maintained that the offences were contrary to sections

280(1), (12), 8 (7), 285(1) and 278(1) (b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

After their pleas were taken, the prosecutor, Sulaimon, urged the court to fix a trial date and to remand the defendants in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services until the hearing and determination of the charge.

However, the defense counsel, Anthony Popo and Sam Etaifo urged the court to grant their clients bail in the most liberal terms.

While moving the bail application on behalf of Abebe, Popo told the judge that the matter before the court was a commercial transaction between the first defendant and the nominal complainant, which he was ready to settle out of court.

The lawyer also claimed that Abebe had paid back the sums of $100,000 and N30 million to the complainant and had also deposited the title document of 26 acres of land and the documents of a property in London to show his seriousness to resolve the matter.

He also pledged that the defendant would not jump bail

since he never violated the terms of the administrative bail granted to him by the EFCC. The prosecutor did not oppose the application but only urged the court to impose sufficient terms that will ensure the defendant's appearance in court for their trial.

In her ruling, Justice Abike-Fadipe granted the first defendant bail in the sum of N20 million with one surety in like sum.

She also directed that the surety must be a resident of Lagos and must deposit the title document of a land property whose value must not be less than N20 million.

The judge also admitted the second defendant to bail in the sum of N10 million with one surety in like sum, who must be a resident of the state.

Justice Abike-Fadipe further ordered that the defendant shall continue to enjoy the administrative bail earlier granted to them by the EFCC but if they failed after seven days to perfect the terms of the bail she granted them, they shall be arrested and remanded in prison.

The matter was adjourned till December 6, for the commencement of the trial.

has benefitted from the relentless efforts of our state officials, technical assistance programmes within our secretariat and partners’ support.

“Your collaboration and support have ensured we stay the course of implementation, delivering far reaching reforms, which have yielded the results we see today.

"Our renewed effort must take into consideration the emerging dynamics surrounding private income in Nigeria today, including the devaluation effect of the rising inflation rate, structural transition in employment, business dealings and investments, driven by the evolution of technology.

"Beyond the laws and regulations we have passed, we must occasionally by policy respond to the fast-changing tax environment, if we must stay ahead of evasion and avoidance tactics, recognise the need to support our internal revenue services and continue to empower them with the necessary political support and financial resources required for them to execute their mandate effectively," the Ekiti State governor explained.

On how to improve their revenue base, Fayemi said, "Broadly, we must seek out ways to expand the tax net and improve our taxpayers’ database. This will require ending the proliferation of taxpayers’ identification numbers and databases. It is pertinent we harmonise; leveraging a unique identification number as is global best practice."

Accordingly, he said, "For us to achieve this, information sharing between jurisdictions must be seamless, not only between the tiers of government but also inter and intra-state. I would like to encourage the Joint Tax Board (JTB) in its pursuit for a plausible solution to this anomaly."

On strengthening public acceptability of tax collection, he said, "we have improved the transparency not just around tax revenues, but the entire treasury. Today our budgets and audited financial statements are not just publicly available, but also in citizen-friendly versions.

“This will be supported by the NGF Public Finance Database which we will be launching today.

"A database that allows users

to easily filter and analyse states’ fiscal data and information. We understand the need to build greater accountability, especially showing citizens the linkage between their taxes and service delivery.

"We are working with our revenue services and other MDAs to expand our tax-for-service initiatives in rewarding compliance while ensuring citizens know where we expend their taxes annually", the chairman of the governors’ forum stressed.

Speaking further, the outgoing Ekiti State governor said, "I am optimistic about the tax reform journey and believe even within the time some of us have left, we can achieve a lot. As is often said, government is a continuum, so I trust those after us to continue in these reforms and many more, as may be necessary in guaranteeing the fiscal sustainability of our states."

With this, he said, "I officially launch the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Public Finance Database – Nigeria’s first reference database for State-level public finance data.

"This database reiterates our commitment to fiscal transparency and accountability as well as our resolve to strengthen governance in the country. We welcome your continuous support.".

In his speech earlier, the Director General of the NGF, Asishana Okauru, said the global finance database was Nigeria's first opensource database of the fiscal data of the 36 state governments.

He further said the portal would host comparable annual data on government spending, revenues and financing in all states and would feature hundreds of performance indicators that measure the quality of public spending and the intersection of public financial management and service delivery in the country.

Okuaru said the technical sessions of the event would focus on the three primary tax reforms seen as essential for all states – the implementation of state Consolidated Revenue Codes (CRCs), autonomy for tax authorities and tax-for-service programmes.

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NEWS

TÊTE-À-TÊTE WITH THE KING...

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN and King of England King Charles III in Buckingham Palace on Sunday

Buhari to Launch Nigeria's Financial Framework for Sustainable Devt in New York Friday

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari will on Friday launch Nigeria's Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) in New York, United States as part of moves to improve upon financial inadequacies in the financing of the nation's sustainable development objectives.

The event which would be one of many others that the country would participate in or host on the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA77), holding in New York, would be domesticating the policies of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda for Nigeria.

According to a statement yesterday by the Media Adviser to the President, Femi Adesina, the INFF was expected to help Nigeria in its journey of recovery from the effects of COVID-19 pandemic as well as help address lack of an integrated approach to financing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

The statement stated inter alia: "President Muhammadu Buhari will on Friday, 23rd September 2022, launch Nigeria's Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) for Sustainable Development on the margins of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly

(UNGA77) in New York.

"Proposed within the broader Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) is a planning and delivery tool to finance sustainable development at the national level.

"The INFF helps policymakers lay out a strategy to increase investments for sustainable development, manage financial and non-financial risks, and ultimately achieve sustainable development priorities.

“While a country’s national development plan spells out what needs to be financed, the INFF shows how it will be financed and implemented.

"For Nigeria, the INFF is also expected to help in the recovery from the effects of COVID-19 pandemic as well as help address lack of an integrated approach to financing SDGs, which has been a key challenge to meeting the financing requirement, estimated at $100 billon over the next 10 years.

"The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development presents an ambitious, complex and interconnected vision that countries around the world have committed to working towards.

“Realising this vision will require mobilisation of a diverse range of public and private resources".

The statement further explained

other roles the INFF was planned to achieve for the country, saying, "the INFF is a tool to help countries strengthen planning processes and overcome existing impediments to financing sustainable development at the national level. It helps governments and their partners to build more integrated approaches to financing, that strengthen the alignment between public and private investments and longer-term sustainable development objectives and build greater coherency across

the governance of public and private financing policies.

"Nigeria committed to be a champion of INFF and officially kicked off the design process as an INFF pioneer country in 2020. To steer the implementation process, Nigeria set up the INFF Steering Committee, chaired by the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning (MFBNP), represented by the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria,

per cent growth in new business acquisition for Group Life written during the period.

It also showed that its investment income grew by 30 per cent year-onyear due to a significant increase in the interest-generating assets of the company, and commission income also increased by 43 per cent during the period.

“The financial performance is a testament to the continued focus on investments, as the company remains committed to building a strong market-leading position in Nigeria by enhancing its capabilities, strengthening its digitally enabled multi-channel distribution network, and broadening the range of products and services that are

Head of Development Cooperation of the European Union mission, the Resident Representative of the International Monetary Fund, the Country Director for the World Bank, and the Co-Chair of the Private Sector Advisory Group."

According to the statement, expected at the launch are some Heads of Governments, the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Amina J. Mohammed and representatives from countries and international Organisations.

Kyari: N3.4trn Needed to Subsidise 66m Litres Daily Consumption of Petrol Per Annum National oil company resolves to extend the direct sales-direct purchase contract to avert fuel scarcity in Dec Udora Orizu in Abuja The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mr. Mele Kyari, yesterday disclosed that the sum of N3.4 trillion was required as fuel subsidy for the 66.7 million litre of premium motor spirit (PMS) daily consumption per annuam as against the N4 trillion budgeted.

Kyari made this known during

the resumed investigative hearing into the subsidy regime from 2013 to 2021, held by the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee chaired by Hon. Ibrahim Mustapha.

The NNPCL GCEO who was represented by the company's Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Umar Ajia also informed the lawmakers of the company's resolve to extend the Direct Sales Direct Purchase (DSDP) contract which was billed to end in August, 2022, in order to

Prudential Zenith Life Insurance Records 75% Profit Growth in 2021 Prudential Zenith Life Insurance Limited (PZL) has announced its audited financial results for the year ended December 31, 2021, recording a 75 per cent growth in profit after tax (PAT) of N1.13 billion, compared to the N646 million recorded in the corresponding period in 2020.

The results, which was approved by the Board of Directors of Prudential Zenith and the insurance industry regulator, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), showed that Gross Written Premium (GWP) and Annualised Premium Equivalent (APE) grew year on year by 16.3 per cent and 9.3 per cent respectively.

According to a statement, this was primarily driven by a 27

the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, the DirectorGeneral of the Budget Office of the Federation, the Director General of the Debt Management Office, and the Statistician-General of the National Bureau of Statistics.

"Others are: the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, the UN Resident Coordinator, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme, the

available to customers in order to meet their needs.

“Despite the challenges experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Prudential Zenith was able to achieve this strong growth in 2021 and is poised to continue improving its performance in the upcoming financial years. Prudential Zenith will continue to develop and launch unique products to meet customers’ needs, leveraging technology and its core corporate governance structure to deliver faster claims settlement.

“The company will also continue to prioritise the health, safety, and welfare of customers, who subscribe to its unique insurance product offerings,” it added.

Prudential Zenith Life Insur-

ance Ltd (PZL) is a subsidiary of Prudential Plc, established in 2017 when Prudential Plc acquired a 51 per cent holding in Zenith Life Insurance.

PZL is one of the most capitalised companies in the Nigerian insurance industry with a wide range of individual products including savings & investments-linked products, endowment, and protection products designed to meet the needs of individuals and their families.

For corporate clients, the company’s product offerings include Group Life, Key-Man Assurance, Credit Life, School Fees Protection, and Mortgage Protection, ensuring that the welfare of clients’ staff and families are met.

avert fuel scarcity in December and during the 2023 general elections.

He said, “We have about 1.6 billion litres incoming, land and marine. This is what is the minimum level we have to maintain, especially as we approach winter. Most of the refineries that we procure are actually shutting down their operations because of the clamour for green energy and COP26 compliance.

“Even gas that is transition fuel for us is being given an eight years. Of course, we do not agree.

When you look at PMS outlook, we want be closing each and every month with a two billion closing stock. “That is the only way you can sustain petroleum so that the marketer does not see some slack and take advantage by begin to hoard product that can create artificial scarcity which can lead to queue.

"There is a huge arbitrage for anybody to move products outside.

We are not saying that the bulk of the product is smuggled. The reality is that there is no study to validate the actual consumption.

What we are reporting daily is what the authority, which is the regulator publishes.”

According to him, they are represented at every depot in Nigeria.

“Exchange rate has been moving steadily from N195.5 per dollar to not now N390.6 to a dollar, on average. The shipping cost has doubled, therefore, the landing cost of PMS has moved from N87 per litre in 2015 to about N327.68 per litre today.

“When you compare it to what we are sell, you have a N209 on every litre. When you multiply the N209 per litre with an average of 66.7 million litre, you are talking about N3.4 trillion subsidy for the year. As you recall, in the 2022 appropriation, the national assembly.”

He further said, "The reality today is that if one were to take statistic of the number of vehicles in Nigeria, how many Keke Napep do we have? How many pumping machine, how many pumping machines do we have?

“On a routine visit, I saw nothing less than a million keke, take an average that each one uses four litres every day, that is four million litres, one city. We have not done a study to validate, people are say that how is it that we are evacuating 66 million a day, that is the reality.

Some days, what is evacuated can go as much as 100 million a day, while some weekends, we do zero.”

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NEWS

2022 HEALTH WEEK HELD AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE KANO...

L-R: Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, Governor of Kano state, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje presenting the appointment letter to one of the beneficiaries, Doctor Hafsat, and Deputy Governor of Kano State, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, during the 2022 health Week held at Government House Kano...yesterday

Portugal Says it May Face Shortages Next Winter if Nigeria Defaults On LNG Delivery OPEC production slumps to whopping 3.6m bpd in August Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Portugal could face supply problems this winter if Nigeria does not deliver all the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) it is due to, the European Union (EU) country's Environment and Energy Minister, Duarte Cordeiro , said yesterday.

Asked whether with many countries now looking for alternatives to Russian gas there was a chance that Nigeria might not meet its LNG supply volumes, Cordeiro said that while the government had given Lisbon assurances that it would do so, "there is a risk of it not complying".

"From one day to another, we may have a problem, such as not

being supplied the volume of gas that is planned," Cordeiro told a conference in Lisbon hosted by CNN Portugal.

A Reuters report stated that Cordeiro did not say what would prevent Nigeria supplying the LNG it was contracted to.

However, oil and gas output in Nigeria has been throttled by theft and vandalism of pipelines, leaving gas producer Nigeria LNG Ltd's terminal at Bonny Island operating at 60 per cent capacity, the report said.

Nigeria LNG, which is owned by state-oil company Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL) Shell, TotalEnergies and Eni , it said, did not immediately

respond to a request for comment.

Although Portugal has its gas reserves at 100 per cent of storage capacity, Cordeiro said that if fewer Nigerian LNG deliveries materialised, it would have to look for alternative supplies.

With other European countries doing the same, this would likely lead to higher imported gas prices, he said.

Portugal last year imported 2.8 billion cubic meters of LNG from Nigeria, or 49.5 per cent of total imports, while the United States was the second-largest supplier with a share of 33.3 per cent.

Its other suppliers include Trinidad and Tobago, Algeria, Qatar and Russia, the latter

accounting for just 2% last year.

Portugal is "diversifying its suppliers to increase the country's energy security", Cordeiro said, adding that it is adopting strategies to lower gas consumption, while boosting its already high production of electricity through renewables.

"Portugal has been preparing, like all of Europe, for what will be a difficult winter," he said, urging the European Commission to move forward with the implementation of a joint gas purchasing platform and defining import prices.

Meanwhile, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) fell a whopping 3.6 million bpd below its oil production target

in August, with the gap widening from 2.9 million bpd in July.

While OPEC members were 1.399 million bpd behind the quota, non-OPEC producers were more than two million bpd below their quota, according to oilprice.com.

Russia and Nigeria were the two biggest laggards of their respective groups, and OPEC+ will likely fall even further behind its production quotas in September.

The OPEC+ group continues to vastly underperform its collective oil production target, with the gap between the quota and actual output widening to a massive 3.58 million barrels per day (bpd) in August, according to delegates

In Talk with US Envoy on Climate, Elumelu Calls for Energy Justice for Africa Says Africa’s focus must be on providing energy for its citizens from both traditional and green sources Peter Uzoho The Chairman of Heirs Oil and Gas (HHOG) Limited and United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Mr. Tony Elumelu has advocated for the world to consider Africa's energy poverty and attendant underdevelopment and allow the continent to use its God-given hydrocarbon resources to industrialise and tackle its social, economic challenges as the developed countries did.

The Founder of Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) also opined that Africa’s focus in the current global campaign for energy transition, driven by climate change crisis, must be on providing energy for its citizens from both traditional and green sources.

Elumelu stated this during his conversation with the United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, Senator John Kerry, along with the Chief Executive Officer of Heirs Oil and Gas (HHOG), Mr. Osa Igiehon, at Transcorp Hilton Abuja at the weekend.

In the discussion entitled, "Africa and Climate Change – A Conversation with US Senator John Kerry towards COP27," he argued that as the world continues to experience the daily impact of global warming in several parts of the developed nations, with equally harmful, persistent environmental degradation of Africa’s Sahel region,

world leaders need to act and not just talk.

Equally, according to him, Africa should not just be in the conversation, but actively set the agenda.

Elumelu pointed out that while Africa’s 3.8 per cent contribution to global emissions was immaterial compared to others, the continent remained the most vulnerable region to the effect of climate change.

Noting that Africa’s rain-fed agriculture focus and a large share of agriculture in her Gross Domestic Product (GDP) add to the continent’s vulnerability, the business mogul said it was clear that climate change not just a threat to the future but also a threat to the present.

Elumelu said, "Global conversations around climate change are geared towards a focus on green and renewable energy. However, Africa’s focus is and should remain, providing energy from both traditional and green sources for its citizens.

“This was the focus of my discussion with Senator John Kerry, Former Secretary of State and Current United States of America’s Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, along with the CEO of Heirs Oil and Gas (HHOG), Osa Igiehon, at Transcorp Hilton Abuja, yesterday.

"We must be realistic about the

inequalities that exist between Africa and the rest of the world. Africa has a significant energy deficit, with a substantial amount of its population living with minimal or no electricity.

"Africa transiting fully to green and renewable energy sources will require considerable investment, and this cannot be at the expense of the drive to urgently address the current energy deficit. Green

energy transition must allow room for Africa to power its development and sustain its economic growth.

Anything else will be potentially detrimental to us all.

"There must be an equitable transition – that is why I welcome the US’s recent recognition of this concept in its much-awaited Africa strategy announced earlier this month."

He maintained that Africa’s green

revolution requires immediate and significant funding that is larger than the resources available to African governments, which he said, "have so many competing priorities such as poverty, economy, education, healthcare, security, and more – all of which have a direct impact on the livelihood of Africans, especially the youth."

Continued online

and OPEC data Argus had seen.

The 10 OPEC members bound by the pact saw their collective crude oil production hit 1.399 million bpd below the quota, while the non-OPEC producers in the deal were more than 2 million bpd behind quota, at 2.185 million bpd. In July, OPEC+ was already 2.9 million bpd below its target.

In August, the two biggest laggards in production quotas were Russia of the non-OPEC group and Nigeria of OPEC, the data showed. Russia’s oil production was 1.25 million bpd below its target, while Nigeria was 700,000 bpd behind its quota.

Russia’s output is constrained by the Western sanctions following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, while Nigeria has had troubles for years with a lack of investment and oil theft.

Crude oil exports out of Nigeria plunged to below 1 million bpd in August, their lowest level on record, oil export analytics firm Petro-Logistics said earlier this month.

Persistent underinvestment in the Nigerian oil industry and the perennial problem of oil theft from pipelines have plagued the sector in recent years. Oil majors are not investing in Nigerian supply, and many foreign firms have either sold assets or signalled they would pursue divestments in Nigeria’s oil industry.

Regional Shipping Line to Commence Operations in Q1 2023, NEXIM Bank Reveals The Head, Strategy and Communication, Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Mr. Tayo Omidiji has disclosed that a sub-Saharan regional shipping line, Sealink floated by a consortium would commence operations before the end of 2022 or the first quarter (Q1) 2023.

Omidiji, who was speaking at the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) 2022 Annual Conference with the theme, "Boosting Domestic Capacity for Sustainable Export Earnings," held recently in Lagos, said the Sealink Project was conceived out of the need for Nigeria to have regional shipping.

The Sealink Promotional Company Ltd (SPCL) is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement established for the purpose of promoting the development of a regional sealink company that would be private sector driven.

Omidiji noted that Nigeria currently engages the service of foreign vessels to move goods outside the country, which is expensive and has a negative impact on its foreign exchange earnings.

He noted that reliance on foreign vessels increases cost and travel time as goods are first moved from Nigeria to the point of origin of the vessels and then to the final destination.

According to him, "If we have our own shipping line, we can move our goods from other countries and bring them directly to Nigeria before moving to other countries.”

He noted that a lot had been done in terms of financing the project, though the Ebola epidemic, and inability to find a partnership agreement slowed it down.

Omioji explained further that, “We later thought of further expanding the scope of the project.

In addition to having a shipping project that allows moving our goods on international water, we also felt that we should also find scope in inland waterways.

"We need to do more in terms of infrastructure to move the goods from the cities to export destinations. We need to also develop our inland waterways.

We can use barges to carry goods in the absence of port materials.

That was why we were finding a scope in inland waterways.”

He disclosed that NEXIM is currently working with the Nigeria Shippers’ Council, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Inland Ways Authority (NIWA) and others to ensure smooth execution of the project.

“Right now, we are charting and plotting the inland waterway, so that we can use barges to move some commodities,” added.

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NUPRC Begins Stakeholders' Consultations on Frontier Exploration Funds, Assets Decommissioning Rules Concludes gazetting of host community trust fund Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) yesterday began the second phase of consultations on the much-talkedabout Frontier Exploration Fund (FEF) as well as the regulations on decommissioning and abandonment of assets by oil and gas operators.

Whereas there was no concrete framework on both industry issues before now, the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) now provides for strong rules on how oil companies would henceforth decommission or abandon their facilities without causing harm to the environment.

In addition, it also provides for a Frontier Exploration Fund (FEF) which would be deployed annually to fund search for oil and gas in the frontier basins of Nigeria under the PIA. It will be mainly extracted from 30 per cent of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL) profit from oil and gas, while 3

per cent of operating expenditure approved under the Act, would be spent on the Host Communities Trust Fund (HCTF).

Speaking during the new round of consultations yesterday in Abuja , the Commission’s Chief Executive, Mr Gbenga Komolafe, revealed that progress had also been made on the phase one of the exercise , leading to the gazetting of the host communities’ fund.

The fund is expected to provide the much-needed relief for oil producing areas of the Niger Delta who have been subjected to years of neglect by the oil companies and the government.

Other draft regulations to be considered include: Acreage Management (Drilling and Production); Regulations and Upstream Petroleum Environmental Regulations as well as the Upstream Petroleum Environmental Remediation Fund Regulations.

Also up for discussion during the three-day event are the Upstream

Petroleum Safety Regulations and the Unitisation Regulations.

Represented by the Executive Commissioner, Health, Safety, Environment and Community, NUPRC, Capt. John Tonlagha, Komolafe stated that the consultation was in furtherance of the initial rules reviewed in April.

The NUPRC chief executive recalled that six draft regulations were presented for discussion in April during the first phase of its consultations with stakeholders.

According to Komolafe, the stakeholders’ inputs from the engagement were incorporated where necessary, in the draft regulations which were forwarded to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice for vetting, legislative standardisation and approval.

While one of the regulations, the host communities’ trust fund regulation had been gazetted, Komolafe stated that the remaining five had been finalised and ready

KUKAH: NIGERIA DOESN’T NEED MESSIAH IN 2023

and the Kukah Centre.

Kukah was joined at the event by Senate President Ahmed Lawan and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.

The bishop stated that the country's identity politics had not been properly managed over time. He said the tension raised by the Muslim-Muslim presidential preference of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in saner moments, should not have arisen.

Lawan raised concern about the intemperate campaign language and seeming jettisoning of issue-based campaigns for inconsequential vituperations by parties contesting offices in 2023.

Gbajabiamila shared Lawan’s position on the need for political parties, their candidates, and spokespersons to focus on issues.

The speaker warned that some persons were already violating the provisions of the Electoral Act guiding conducts during elections.

He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to pay attention to such developments.

Relatedly, Director General of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, yesterday, cautioned broadcast media organisations against offering their platforms as tools for political campaigns capable of instigating violence and disunity in the country.

Delivering the keynote address, Kukah said, “Nigerians don't need a messiah this time. We can't make the same mistake this time. We are the children, the last generation; we are the ones they left behind. The next election should ensure every Nigerian gets a seat in the tent."

He stated that in a saner clime, issues of religion should not dominate the political discourse on the eve of a critical general election. He said Nigerians needed to be given a sense of belonging, irrespective of their ethnic, political or religious beliefs, adding that anti-corruption campaign message would not be fashionable in the forthcoming elections, as Nigerians have seen it all.

Kukah stated, "I hear conversations on the quality of campaigns and how this campaign should be conducted. A campaigner seeks to draw your attention and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s not that politicians are bad people; this is not the issue.

“It’s like people, who have won election will tell you: ‘maybe what we thought were the issues, when we were outside, now we are inside, it’s different.’ The challenge, therefore, almost like everything else in life, it’s about readjusting and figuring out how to make things work.

"The greatest challenge for us is that our identity politics has not been well managed. The most

important ingredient in politics is diversity. You have heard me in the last seven years or so, I have been relentless. I am convinced beyond reasonable doubt that, had we developed the skills to manage diversity effectively and efficiently, that’s what is happening in other parts of the world,” the Bishop said.

According to him, “The question for every politician is, what do I want to be known for? Nigeria has produced some dramatic politicians. There are people, who can hold you spellbound. Every campaign must be characterised by a slogan. Nigeria politicians need to understand that wiping out corruption campaign no longer works. Nigerians are looking for a country they can believe in.

“Our identities are not a problem.

Religion is not actually a problem.

When you talk about issue-based campaign, there has to be an aggregate of safety: how do you manage a country like Nigeria with so many religious and other differences?

"People have to get a sense that they are in this, too. I think that when we talk about what the issue should be for 2023 election, it’s basically same thing we have been talking. Every Nigerian has looked himself in the mirror and asked themselves, whether I’m a Christian or Muslim, am I better off now? Under saner moments, we shouldn’t be talking about Muslim-Muslim tickets.

“The questions Nigerians are asking are legitimate and it’s the responsibility of these politicians to deal with it. We need to re-image Nigeria. The Nigeria we have today is not something many of us can recognise.”

In his remarks, Lawan asserted that the emergence of presidential candidates for political parties and the appointment of media spokespersons had thrown up the question of how political messages should be crafted and delivered and the consequence of messaging for the broader polity.

The senate president lamented that in recent times, election campaigns had shifted from the core issues of governance to irrelevant and frankly nonsensical attacks on the personalities of the various candidates. He said politicians had once again distracted Nigerians from assessing those who sought political office based on the merit of their views.

He noted that the 9th National Assembly had taken deliberate steps to strengthen the democratic process, particularly, through the passage of the 2022 Electoral Act, which made numerous changes aimed at improving transparency and voter confidence.

Lawan said the legislature had ensured that the needed funds were provided to INEC to deliver hitch-free elections. He added that the meeting of the key players in the various political parties was intended to discuss the critical issue of campaign framing, stem the tide of negative campaigning, and create harmony.

According to the senate president, "Since independence, elections in Nigeria have been characterised by polarising rhetoric and deepseated divisions relating to ethnicity, religion and other primordial sentiments. These are well captured

to be gazetted.

“Our commitment to create an enabling environment for growth and investments in the upstream oil and gas industry in Nigeria has steered our focus towards working with all stakeholders.

“This can be seen in our efforts to ensure that regulations and key policies necessitated by the PIA are developed and gazetted timely so that the industry operators can align their operations with the PIA provisions as quickly as possible,” he stated.

Komolafe reiterated that the process of formulating the regulations had been rigorous being products of critical evaluation and hard work by the commission’s regulatory development team and the presidential implementation committee on PIA. “Please permit me to reiterate that the process of formulating the above regulations has been a rigorous and strenuous exercise.

They are products of critical

thinking and evaluation, and hard work by the commission’s regulation development team and the Presidential Implementation Committee on PIA. “ Despite this however, the process is not complete until the stakeholders’ critical inputs are obtained, discussed, and incorporated, where necessary, in the regulations.

“To this end, I am of the firm view that with the level of turnout today, we will have healthy, robust, and intellectual discussion on the regulations during the syndicate sessions to come out with robust regulations with best international best standard.

"In conclusion, this phase in our regulations development is by no means a final or exhaustive one in our drive to support the upstream industry operators. The commission will continue to embark on programmes and policies that will create enabling environment for growth and more investments

in the Nigerian upstream oil and gas sector,” he assured.

Speaking earlier, the Commission’s Head of Compliance and Enforcement, Dr Joseph Tolorunse,said that the forum served as an avenue to listen to stakeholders’ views on the regulations and secure their buy-in which would determine PIA’s implementation.

He maintained that it had been confirmed empirically that if stakeholders were part of the regulations making process, compliance would be achieved easily.

“With this procedure of rulemaking, it is believed that consensus will be built, trust between the regulator and the regulated entities will improve and ultimately the regulations will be easier to implement and sustained,” he stated.

Also in attendance were stakeholders from the oil and gas industry, officials from the World Bank, indigenous and International Oil Companies (IOCs) , among others.

in the literature on elections and governance in Nigeria that show the damaging effects of negative campaigning over the years.

“Against this background, and ahead of the commencement of campaigns, this forum assumes an even greater significance. The proliferation of the Internet and social media platforms and the growing culture of fake news pose new threats to our collective existence. Politicians at all levels must be cognisant of this and take measures to mitigate them.

"For the first time since 1999, our campaigns have moved from

substantive issues to inconsequential and sometimes, vile vituperations.

We have shifted our focus from the core issues of governance to irrelevant and frankly nonsensical attacks on the personalities of the various candidates. Inadvertently, we are also exploiting primordial sentiments for political purposes, not minding the danger this poses to our democratic experiment."

Supporting Lawan's views, Gbajabiamila lamented that some key provisions of the Electoral Act, particularly, regarding political campaigns, had been violated. He identified the use of intemperate,

slanderous and base language as well as insinuations targeted at provoking violent reactions or emotions as some of the violations.

The speaker said it was easy to hurl insults at opponents, but it took discipline, focus and political maturity to make campaigns issuebased. He warned that it was a great disservice to Nigerians to focus on frivolous and inconsequential issues.

Gbajabiamila stressed that the legislature was keen on forestalling the tendency for the political class to exploit cultural differences to Continued on page 28

ROYALS, WORLD LEADERS, MAMMOTH CROWD BID QUEEN ELIZABETH FAREWELL IN FUNERAL GRANDEUR and glare, an epitome of stateliness and immense royalty. She was 96.

The mourner-in-chief, Queen Elizabeth II's eldest son and successor, King Charles III, led other royals across Europe, and world leaders from Australia to Asia, Africa and the Middle East, at the funeral.

Nigeria’s Professor Yemi Osinbajo joined other world leaders at the event, including United States President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

European royalty and Commonwealth leaders were among the 500 foreign dignitaries at the state funeral in London on Monday.

Hundreds of people lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the queen's coffin as millions worldwide held their breath to watch her stately funeral in the majesty and grandeur of St. George's Chapel.

Across the globe, Queen Elizabeth II was one British monarch known to most people.

When the queen acceded to the throne at 25, her "life changed overnight from that of a young naval wife and mother to a busy head of state. She was to become known for her sense of duty and devotion to a life of service," a titular leader for the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. Until her death, Queen Elizabeth II ruled her kingdom and domains with majestic, momentous grace unique only to her.

As her coffin was lowered into the royal vault, a palpable note of grief coloured the countenance of King Charles in a final rite of passage that climaxed in the private burial that followed the public spectacle of the funeral service beamed across the world. The final burial was a private affair attended by the queen's family members.

At 6:30 am yesterday, the lying-in-state ended for the queen, and at 10:44 am, her coffin was carried in procession on the state gun carriage of the Royal Navy from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey for the funeral.

Immediately following the coffin was King Charles III, members of

the royal family and members of the king’s household. The dean of Westminster conducted the funeral service. Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, gave the sermon and the commendation.

The last post sounded to mark the end of the service and was followed by two minutes’ silence observed in the Abbey and throughout the UK. The national anthem drew the service to a close. At the end of the service, the monarch's coffin was taken to Wellington Arch through the Mall on the gun carriage, such as not seen before on the streets of London since the funeral of ex-UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill in 1965. When the coffin reached Windsor, the state hearse slowed down and joined a procession to be formed up on Albert Road to travel via the Long Walk to St George’s Chapel, with minute guns fired on the East Lawn, Windsor Castle by the King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, and Sebastopol Bell as the Curfew Tower Bell tolled throughout the procession.

The committal service began at 4pm, with prayers offered by the rector of Sandringham, the minister of Crathie Kirk, and the chaplain of Windsor Great Park. After that, the choir of St George’s Chapel sang during the service. Before the final hymn, the Imperial State Crown, the Orb and the Sceptre was removed from the queen’s coffin and placed on the altar.

Following the final hymn, the king placed the queen's company camp colour of the Grenadier Guards on the coffin and Lord Chamberlain broke his wand of office and placed it on the coffin.

The dean of Windsor said a psalm and the commendation before the Garter King of Arms pronounced the queen’s styles and titles as the coffin was lowered into the royal vault. Then, the sovereign’s piper played a "Lament", the archbishop of Canterbury pronounced the "blessing", and the national anthem was sung after the service.

A private burial took place at the King George VI Memorial

Chapel on Monday evening, with the queen buried with the Duke of Edinburgh at King George VI Memorial Chapel.

Osinbajo to King Charles III: I Wish and Pray You Do Better Than Your Mother

Osinbajo yesterday wished King Charles III of England well and prayed for him to have a more successful tenure than his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Osinbajo, who represented Nigeria at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in London, also stressed that the huge presence of world leaders at the burial of the queen showed the level of cooperation among nations of the world.

Speaking with newsmen after attending the state funeral for the late British monarch at Westminster Abbey in London, the vice president stated, “One wishes King Charles very well, indeed, and I think we are all anxious that he succeeds.

“And that he, perhaps, does even better than his mother, which is the hope of his mum. I am sure that the queen will really hope that all her successors and in this case King Charles, will do better than she did."

According to Osinbajo, “We are all looking forward to a wonderful reign, a reign that will bring prosperity, peace, not just to England, but to the Commonwealth and to all of us.”

He stressed that the coming together of leaders from different parts of the globe to celebrate the life of the late queen was a significant show of solidarity and goodwill, adding that it is also a testament to the brotherhood of nations.

According to the vice president, “For countries like ours, for Nigeria and for the Commonwealth, this has been very ennobling, very strengthening.

“I am sure that King Charles felt not just the honour of having so many people come by, but also the reassurance that there is a brotherhood across the world and that the Commonwealth remains

strong, a Commonwealth of free nations who willingly subscribe to coming together, to work together to achieve sometimes disparate political objectives but clear economic objectives.”

Commenting on the significance of the event, Osinbajo said, “It is a historic event and one that is unlikely to happen, perhaps, in another lifetime, just the sheer enormity of all that has happened and the gathering of leaders from everywhere, the goodwill, the good wishes, and all of that from practically everywhere around the world.

“So, I think that this has truly been a testament to the sort of person the queen was – in life and death, she brought people together and, perhaps, even more so in death."

Speaking further about the late British monarch, whom he earlier described as a monarch for all seasons, Osinbajo said in the 70 years that she was Queen, it was obvious that through practically every cycle – war, peace, economic decline, apartheid, all the various cycles, where truly major events happened – she held her own and was always able to bring a certain degree of understanding.

The vice president stated, “And just the gravity of someone who doesn’t hold political office is so well respected and well regarded. In so many ways, she was a factor in practically all of the various cycles that we have experienced, not just in the Commonwealth, but in the world itself.

“I think she was a stabilising force, that was why I thought the description (borrowed from “the man for all seasons”) that she was the Queen for all seasons.”

After the funeral service at Westminster Abbey, the vice president and all the foreign dignitaries – about 500 – were hosted to a reception by the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Mr James Cleverly.

The Queen's funeral procession then proceeded to Windsor Castle, where she was laid to rest, passing through selected streets in London.

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GLAD TO MEET YOU...

Group Managing Director/CEO, United Bank for Africa, Oliver Alawuba (right) and Vice President of Cote d’ Ivoire, Tiemoko Meyler Kone, during the visit of Alawuba to the Presidential villa in Abidjan, Cote d’ Ivoire… recently

In Historic Feat, NDLEA Seizes N194bn Worth of Cocaine Arrests four drug barons

Michael Olugbode in Abuja Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have busted a major warehouse in a secluded estate in Ikorodu area of Lagos where 1.8 tonnes (1,855 kilogrammes) of cocaine estimated at $278,250,000 (approximately N194.8 billion) were seized.

A statement yesterday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi revealed that the seized drugs were perhaps the biggest singular cocaine seizure in the history of the country.

According to the statement, at least four drug barons including a Jamaican and the warehouse manager have been arrested in the well-coordinated and intelligence led operation that lasted two days across different locations in Lagos state.

Babafemi said kingpins of the cocaine cartel in custody

included: Messrs Soji Jibril, 69; Emmanuel Chukwu, 65; Wasiu Akinade, 53; Sunday Oguntelure, 53, and Kelvin Smith, 42, a native of Kingston, Jamaica.

He said they were all members of an international drug syndicate that the agency had been trailing since 2018.

He revealed that the warehouse located at 6 Olukuola crescent, Solebo estate, Ikorodu, was raided last Sunday, while the barons were picked from hotels and their hideouts in different parts of Lagos between Sunday night and yesterday.

He said preliminary investigation revealed the class A drugs were warehoused in the residential estate from where the cartel was trying to sell them to buyers in Europe, Asia and other parts of the world. They were stored in 10 travel bags and 13 drums.

According to the statement, the Chairman/Chief Executive

of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) while commending all the officers and men of the

agency involved in the extensive investigation including those of the American Drug Enforcement

power sector to providing sovereign guarantees and policy clarity and certainty that would attract private sector investment.

“The issue of power will have to be an emergency that we will have to deal with all means possible to ensure that we have power. To have the resources to do this, we will involve the private sector.

Government does not need to be entirely involved. Government involvement will be to provide sovereign guarantees,” he said.

Obi also stated that his administration would be decisive in removing petrol subsidy, tackling the security challenges afflicting the country and putting a halt to crude oil theft, pointing out that oil theft could not thrive without people in government participating in it.

He said: “If we come to government in 2023, one thing that we must decisively and aggressively deal with is the issue of security.

Insecurity is the number one thing that is impacting Nigeria’s economic growth today. And I need to deal with it as quickly as possible.

“We need to overhaul the entire security architecture, including having multilevel policing involving the federal, state and community

warning that they will all go down if they fail to realise that the game has changed.

Flood: NEMA Summons Stakeholders Meeting to Review Emergency Situation Advises governments of frontline states to move communities to safe, higher grounds Says Kainji, Jebba, and Shiroro also expected to overflow between now and October ending Kasim Sumaina in Abuja The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) yesterday in Abuja, summoned an emergency technical meeting to urgently review the flooding situation currently ravaging all parts of the country.

Subsequently, all NEMA staff on leave were recalled back to office

in view of the present emergency situation as its staff, including those recently inducted have been deployed to most affected states.

The meeting, NEMA said would enable the agencies save lives, safeguard livelihoods and restore normalcy in all the impacted states and to plan for further action by all emergency responders.

The Director General, NEMA,

AT LCCI FORUM, OBI PLEDGES TO ENSURE TOTAL PRIVATISATION OF POWER TRANSMISSION Obi said: “Power is something everybody is worried about. I know very well that the federal government as of today has removed power from exclusive list to concurrent list. But I will go further than that. Our power problem today is that we have privatised generation and distribution but left power transmission untouched.

“For me, the first thing I will do to ensure steady power supply is to liberalise transmission. This is critical if you are going to deal with our power sector. We will support the existing companies in the distribution and generation arms by ensuring that there is a dedicated gas supply which is one of their problems today.

“We will ensure that the generation, transmission and distribution are properly aligned. We will ensure clear certainty of policy and regulatory environment for them to operate. We will support them with access to funding that is attractive and deal with some of tax incentives. We have to ensure that renewable energy is embedded in our power process.’

He said his administration would limit government involvement in the

Administration, (US-DEA), said the bust was a historical blow to the drug cartels and a strong

and equip them properly with modern gargets.

“Nobody will be able to kidnap, keep his victim somewhere and use phone to negotiate ransom with his victim’s family” without being caught.

Obi also described petrol subsidy as an organised crime and pledged to bring it to and end by encouraging the setting up of privately owned refineries.

He said: “Petrol subsidy is an orgnised crime. I have said it that 60 per cent of the subsidy is corruption. That will be dealt with decisively. Secondly, we will aggressively start to ensure the promotion of local refining that is private sector driven and supply them crude oil in Naira to refine for domestic consumption.

“If you deal with insecurity and our farmers can go back to their farms and we remove subsidy and deal with corruption our inflation rate will drop.”

The presidential candidate identified the large expanse of uncultivated lands in the northern Nigeria as the country’s greatest physical asset that his administration would invest in and cultivate to turn around the economy.

Obi, however, did not leave his audience in doubt that his administration would borrow and invest in infrastructure.

He said: “There is nothing wrong in borrowing. The difference is that if you borrow for consumption you will have a problem. But if you borrow for investments your economy will grow. The reason things are not working here is that we are borrowing for consumption.

“Debt is a component of development but it must be used efficiently and effectively for purposes that will bring value so that we get from the investment will be enough to service the debt.”

The President of the LCCI, Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole, in his welcome address told Obi that “while the chamber is non-partisan, we are however interested in the economic agenda of the candidates and their plans to make a better Nigeria in the next dispensation.

“The chamber is aware of the overshadowing effect of politics over economics in managing the Nigerian economy and would, therefore, wish to contribute to the setting of a new economic order that can take our economy from the doldrums.”

Mustapha Habib Ahmed, said this during his address at the emergency technical meeting.

He explained: "As we are all aware, quite a lot of our communities are passing through a challenging moment in respect of the flood disaster that has hit many states of our dear country."

According to Ahmed, "Based on our communication with the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), the Lagdo dam operators in the Republic of Cameroun commenced the release of excess water from the reservoir by September, 13, 2022.

“We are aware that the released water cascades down to Nigeria through River Benue and its tributaries thereby inundating communities that have already been impacted by heavy precipitation.

"The released water complicates the situation further downstream as Nigeria’s inland reservoirs including Kainji, Jebba, and Shiroro dams have already started spilling excess water from their reservoir and expected to overflow between now and October ending according to NIHSA "Consequently, we advise all governments of the frontline states to move away communities at risk of inundation, identify safe higher grounds for evacuation of persons and preposition adequate stockpiles of food and non-food items, portable water, hygiene, safety and security to enable them a fair level of comfort during periods of possible displacement.”

This actions, the agency noted, became necessary as it collectively work towards a lasting solution

to the annual threats of floods.

Speaking further, he reiterated that so far, it was on record that 29 states, including the FCT have experienced heavy flooding with more than 500,000 persons already affected.

He added that the agency's record indicated that more than 300 lives have been lost, over 500 persons had been seriously injured with more than 100,000 others displaced and living either in temporary shelters including schools, other public buildings amongst benevolent host families.

"I therefore, welcome you to this emergency technical meeting convened to urgently review the emergency situation and to plan for further action by all emergency responders.

"This meeting will enable us save lives, safeguard livelihoods and restore normalcy in all the impacted states," he added.

He further said the release of water from the Lagdo dam in Cameroun and the excess spilled water from the Kaiji, Shiroro and Jebba dams would have serious consequences on frontline States and communities along the courses of rivers Niger and Benue.

These states the NEMA DG listed included Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Niger, Nasarawa, Kebbi and Kogi states, adding that Niger Delta states including Edo, Delta, Anambra, Cross River, Rivers and Bayelsa were expected to record heavy floods due to predicted above normal rains coupled with the combined waters of rivers Niger and Benue as they empty into the region.

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POLITICS

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

Is N’Assembly’s Move to Impeach Buhari Still on the Card?

Sunday Aborisade wonders if the plan by the National Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against President Muhammadu Buhari over security skirmishes across the country will see the light of the day

Buhari

T

he Minority Caucus in the National Assembly on July 28, 2022 handed down a six-week ultimatum to President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure a significant improvement in the security situation in the country or risk impeachment. The federal lawmakers threatened to review the situation at the expiration of the ultimatum.

The leadership of the red chamber quickly convoke a security meeting which was attended by heads of the military, security, intelligence and para-military agencies in the country to find out why the insecurity situation persisted despite the consistent allocation of funds to them for the purpose of combating the scourge.

The security chiefs told the legislators behind closed doors, details of the efforts they were making to address the embarrassing situation.

They also, reportedly pledged to ensure a great improvement before the lawmakers would resume their current annual recess on Tuesday, September 20.

Just a week to the expiration of the impeachment threat ultimatum, the leadership convened another security meeting last week presided over by the Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan and had in attendance, service chiefs and heads of security and intelligence agencies.

Shortly before the meeting dissolved to close session, Lawan had on behalf of his colleagues expressed satisfaction that the military and security agencies had ensured a remarkable improvement in the security situation between when the lawmakers handed the ultimatum to Buhari and now.

The red chamber nevertheless frowned at the massive oil theft and other economic sabotage being perpetrated in the oil-rich Niger Delta area of the country, and asked the security chiefs to rise to the occasion and stem the tide.

The Senate specifically asked heads of military and security agencies in Nigeria to start prosecuting individuals and groups, suspected to be involved in oil theft and other acts of economic sabotage.

It also tasked the Judiciary, to ensure accelerated hearing of matters on oil theft and other forms of economic sabotage.

Lawan said the meeting was meant to review the progress made in the fight against insecurity in the country.

According to him, it was a follow up to a similar one held early in August which he presided over.

The follow-up parley was attended by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie OmoAgege, other principal officers of the Senate and Chairmen of security related committees of the Senate.

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

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

Lawan noted with concern, the massive theft

Lawan

of the nation’s crude oil and insisted that the development must be halted while the perpetrators must be arrested and prosecuted immediately.

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

“We want to see trials of people who are caught because when that happens, citizens will know that nobody, no matter how high that person is, can go scot free if he or she decides to get involved in this kind of criminal activities.

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

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

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

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

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

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

“I am happy and I’m sure I’m speaking the mind of my colleagues, that after that meeting, till today, we have seen remarkable difference in the fight against insecurity in our country by our Armed Forces and

Gbajabiamila

other security agencies and we are very proud of that.

“We pray that this continue because we have seen the initiative and it is for us to finish the job. When Mr President spoke of ensuring that we return to normalcy by December 2022, I’m sure he had in mind what you have been doing recently.

“I believe that you, our Armed Forces and other security agencies have everything in terms of the morale and determination, even though we still have to give some other support.

This meeting therefore is to review what has happened so far.

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

Lawan also appealed to the Security Chiefs to take the law makers into confidence during the closed door session.

He said, “We are responsible people. There are things that we know are very sensitive but some things are treated better when we are on the same page so that we also don’t legislate blind folded or without the necessary background information.

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

Findings by THISDAY revealed that the opposition lawmakers in both chambers of the National Assembly were regularly meeting to review the impeachment threat they handed down to Buhari on July 28, 2022 but observers believe that the position of the Senate President after the last meeting with the security chiefs indicated that planned action was dead on arrival.

A ranking Senator was quick to inform THISDAY that the position of the opposition lawmakers will be looked into again as soon as the National Assembly reconvened on Tuesday.

The immediate past Senate Minority Leader, who is representing Abia South Senatorial District in the 9th National Assembly, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe said the opposition lawmakers would meet to review the matter when the nation’s apex legislative institution resumes plenary from Tuesday.

Abaribe, who spoke with THISDAY in a telephone interview said the opposition lawmakers’ next line of action would be communicated to Nigerians after they had met to review the current security situation.

The Senator said: “We will resume on Tuesday and we expect the Minority Caucus leadership in both chambers to meet and convene a broad based meeting where we would review the

We will resume on Tuesday and we expect the Minority Caucus leadership in both chambers to meet and convene a broad based meeting where we would review the security situation in the country. The outcome of our meeting would determine our next line of action. I cannot categorically say what would be the decision now until our meeting

security situation in the country.

The outcome of our meeting would determine our next line of action. I cannot categorically say what would be the decision now until our meeting.”

Members of the Peoples Democratic Party in the House of Representatives had earlier in July agreed to support the moves by their counterpart in the Senate to impeach Buhari if he failed to address the insecurity situation in the country within six weeks.

The Senate Minority Leader, Phillip Aduda and his counterpart in the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu, briefed journalists after the joint closed door meeting on Thursday, July 28.

They had said the collection of signatures across party lines would be taken at the two chambers in September, if Buhari failed to tackle insecurity before the expiration of their ultimatum.

Aduda had explained that the plan to sack Buhari if he failed to honour their demands, was not the idea of the minority caucus in the Senate but a resolution taken by the entire senators at the closed session held before proceedingon annual vacation.

Aduda said, “Indeed, all of you are aware of what happened yesterday and we felt that there was the need to be on the same page with the members of the members of the House of Representatives.

“Our action was spontaneous from the issues that were raised on the floor of the Senate.

“I am sure that members of the Press must have interacted with our various colleagues to know that this issue is not just about the PDP caucus but it is a bipartisan issue.

“We all agreed that the security architecture is failing and there is need to salvage it immediately and we also agreed that we must issue an impeachment notice to the President because the primary responsibility of government is the protection of lives of the citizens.

“We have called the caucus in the House of Representatives so that we can discuss with them so that they can hear from us and understand what we did.”

Elumelu had also, on the occasion, told journalists that his colleagues in the green chambers would start collecting signatures as soon as the ultimatum expired without improvement in the disturbing security situation in the country.

He said, “They (Senators), have given six weeks for Mr. President to address the insecurity that is, of course, affecting this nation, and I want to join on behalf of my colleagues to also say that upon the expiration, we will proffer ways of ensuring that we will gather all the signatures.

“Let me make it clear. Those who are thinking that it is only the issue of PDP or the minority caucus. Many of our colleagues under the bipartisanship are affected. Many of them are affected.

“They may not be speaking but we may be speaking for them. And when them time comes.

I heard somebody this morning saying it is a laughable attempt to want do that.

“Perhaps, when the action starts, the person will find out that it’s not a laughable action. It’s real and we will not stand to allow this nation collapse”.

15

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2022

POLITICS

Electoral Manipulation Claim Raises Dust in Imo Udora Orizu writes that Imo State Government and Peoples Democratic Party engaged in a war of words over claims by the Coalition of United Political Parties about alleged plots to rig the 2023 general election

Uzodinma

T

he Imo State Government and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last week clashed over the allegation by the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) that a secret legal action had been instituted at the State High Court to stop the use of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in the 2023 general election and remove the National Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

As 2023 general election draws near, many citizens, given the escalating insecurity, while hoping for peaceful elections, are also hopeful that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will ensure that the process is free and credible.

When President Muhammadu Buhari assented to the 2022 Electoral Act, the country got an improved law to guide her electoral system and politics. Many well-meaning Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief, with great expectations, that a total departure from the ugly past and the emergence of a new order are in the offing.

The new law brought with it many outstanding changes including Bimodal Voter Authentication System (BVAS) and the electronic transmission of results directly from the polling units to INEC result portals.

On September 14, 2022, the umbrella body of some of the opposition political parties CUPP raised the alarm over alleged plots to compromise the INEC voters register.

At a press conference in Abuja, the Coalition’s spokesman, Ikenga Ugochinyere, said the plots had been perfected in 21 states under the leadership of governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in favour of the party.

He also alleged that a court case has been initiated to force INEC to stop the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in the coming general elections.

Ugochinyere, presented to journalists a copy of the suit filed at the Owerri Federal High Court on August 24, 2022 and copies of voters register with questionable names, and as well as the usage of passport photographs of long dead persons, names, gender and age of thousands of registered voters on copies of the register.

The CUPP spokesman particularly noted that Voter Registration in

Yakuu

Omuma, the home Ward of Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State was inflated with fictitious names.

This development ruffled many well-meaning Nigerians, who became apprehensive, about the sincerity of INEC, to conduct the 2023 elections, devoid of rigging and malfeasance.

Some citizens took their various social media handles to tag the electoral body, reminding them that the era of business-as-usual will no longer be tolerated, as Nigerians are now determined to enthrone leaders, irrespective of tribe or religion, with track-records of accountability, competence and result driven.

In a Twitter trend #OccupyINEC, some Nigerians threatened to take over the commission’s offices nationwide on September 27, 2022, to express their grievances.

Reacting to the outrage, the electoral body, which had conducted the Continuous Voter Registration nationwide between 28 June 2021 and July 2022, maintained that, since the end of the CVR exercise, no fresh registrant was added or subtracted from the voters’ register.

In a statement by the INEC National Commissioner in charge of information and chairman of Voter education, Festus Okocha, INEC said they are rather conducting a

Ugochinyere

comprehensive Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) cleanup of the registration data by scrutinising every record.

The commission said it was always important that caution was exercised so that such interventions did not unwittingly sow doubts in the public mind, thereby diminishing public confidence and trust in the electoral process.

INEC assured that after the cleanup and claims and objections have been completed that the final register will be published, and it would continue to provide the public with updates on the progress of these processes.

Imo Govt, PDP Bicker over Allegations Reacting to the claims by CUPP, Imo State Government called for the arrest and questioning of Ugochinyere. The State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, at a press conference said ignoring the spurious and seditious outburst of Ugochinyere will amount to condoning criminality.

He therefore called on the relevant security agencies to find out from the CUPP spokesman how he obtained the voters register even when the INEC is still at the stage of ABIS which must be concluded before an official voters register can be released to the public.

Also, members of the Imo State House of Assembly from Orlu Zone declared the spokesperson of CUPP, Ugochinyere a persona non grata for revealing the plot to stop the use of BVAS during the 2023 general election.

The caucus lawmakers led by the Deputy Speaker, Hon Amarachi

When President Muhammadu Buhari assented to the 2022 Electoral Act, the country got an improved law to guide her electoral system and politics. Many wellmeaning Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief, with great expectations, that a total departure from the ugly past and the emergence of a new order are in the offing.

The new law brought with it many outstanding changes including the Bimodal Voter Authentication System (BVAS) and the electronic transmission of results directly from the polling units to INEC result portals

Iwuanyanwu, described Ugochinyere as one who does not want development and progress of the zone.

According to the lawmakers, “We are dismayed by the allegation, the baseless spurious and irresponsible allegation by a PDP candidate for Ideato federal constituency, one Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere against His Excellency, Hope Uzodimma, His kernel of the allegation which is in the public domain is that the voter ’s list at Omuma has been inflated to give undue advantage to APC in next year ’s general elections.

Ugochinyere claimed that he and an unnamed organization investigated the voters’ list fraud in all APC states, but curiously it was only that of Imo he made public.”

While the state government faulted the claims of the coalition, Imo PDP on its part has warned against attacking and harassing the spokesperson of the CUPP. The PDP Publicity Secretary in the state, Collins Opurozor, who gave the warning in a statement in Owerri, said not a single hair shall fall from the head of CUPP Spokesman, and that he shouldn’t be jailed for displaying such patriotism that has never been seen in modern Nigeria.

The statement read in part, “Governor Hope Uzodinma further sought to drag our candidate into the insecurity miasma in Imo State. What is pressing to quickly state is that, by yet again politicizing the horrible security situation in the Imo and attempting to bring our candidate into it, our suspicion is further enriched, that the bloodshed in parts of Imo is wilfully left to fester by the Governor so as to profit from it and destroy his perceived political foes.

“Imo PDP, therefore, warns that no attack, threat, or harassment of Ikenga Ugochinyere by the failed regime of APC in Imo State will be tolerated.

Not a single hair shall fall from his head, not a scratch found on his body.

For Imo PDP, it is sheer audacity in criminality for the Governor to still find his voice to issue threats when by now he is supposed to be telling Nigerians his role in this treasonable offence which seeks to truncate our democracy. Nigerians must rise to defend our democracy.”

As the row deepens, Nigerians should however, not rest on their oars, but rather, intensify pressure on the electoral body to stick to the provision of the electoral laws during the 2023 poll.

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

UT H

& RE A S O

Tuesday September 20, 2022 Vol 27. No 10024

N

opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

ANGOLA, ALGERIA, KENYA, ZIMBABWE AND AFRICA’S GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY Okello Oculi canvasses for Africa Xi Jinping’s notion of a community in rhythm of shared development

See page 17

PETER OBI: AS TOUGH AS NAILS Peter Obi’s voice and gentle mien belie the steel in him, writes CHUKS ILOEGBUNAM

See page 17

EDITORIAL MENTAL ILLNESS AND PUBLIC HEALTH

See page 18

1

The growing resort to corrosive language speaks volumes about what we think of ourselves and what our leaders think of us, writes PAUL NWABUIKWU

THE LIMITS OF POLITICAL VAWULENCE The decision of PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar to appoint former senator and popular rabble rouser Dino Melaye as one of his campaign spokesmen was quite a surprise. Given the serious issues confronting PDP, Dino cannot be what the doctor ordered for the 2003 campaign.

The party is battling increasing public distrust, growing public disenchantment with HVWDEOLVKPHQW SROLWLFV DQG WKH HͿHFWV RI EHLQJ out of government for eight years in a political system where electoral relevance and access to resources are largely determined by proximity to power.

3'3 LV DOVR IDFLQJ WZR RWKHU VLJQLÀFDQW GL΀FXOWLHV ZLWK SRWHQWLDOO\ IDWDO FRQVHTXHQFHV the ongoing internal mutiny led by Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike and the challenge presented by the growing popularity of former Anambra Governor Peter Obi who has become a symbol of a new kind of politics that is presenting a robust alternative to PDP and APC, the two parties that have monopolized power at the federal level since 1999.

So why did Atiku, a man with a credible claim to being one of the few nationally prominent politicians with tested managerial capacity, someone who should know a few things about hiring the right hands for important jobs, pick Melaye who does not have strong antecedents in public communication, DV D NH\ R΀FLDO YRLFH IRU WKH 3'3 FDPSDLJQ" Before we confront that question, some context is necessary. Melaye, as social media can testify, is not lacking in certain kinds of talent. He is famous (or infamous depending on your capacity for tolerating nonsense) for WULYLDOLW\ DQG ÁLSSDQF\ +H OLNHV WR LQVXOW KLV political enemies in funny skits on Facebook and Twitter in Yoruba and pidgin English songs, all the while dancing and laughing maniacally. He also regularly displays his expensive houses and exotic cars on social media, apparently to show how far up he has come in the world. For some reason, the former national legislator does not see any contradiction between his alleged role as a “champion of the masses” and these crude GLVSOD\V RI D΁XHQFH LQ D VRFLHW\ ZKHUH millions are not sure of the next meal. But then no one can successfully accuse Mr. Melaye of SRVVHVVLQJ GLVFHUQPHQW RU UHÀQHPHQW It didn’t take long for Melaye to revert to his comfort zone. He soon got into a mud ÀJKW ZLWK DQRWKHU SHUVRQDOLW\ LQ WKH VDPH line of political business – former Aviation Minister and newly minted APC chieftain Femi Fani-Kayode. They have both produced and starred in video skits posted on social media in which they insult and make fun of each other. Among other allegations, they have accused each other of corruption, drug usage and of being “political scavengers”.

7KH VNLWV KDYH JHQHUDWHG D ORW RI WUD΀F IRU their entertainment value but they contain no references to the plans of the APC and PDP to À[ WKH HFRQRP\ DQG XQLWH D FRXQWU\ WKDW KDV

been serially mismanaged.

7KH DQWLFV RI WKH WZR JODGLDWRUV UHÁHFW WKH kind of crass, college dormitory-level antics that have taken over our politics especially within the past decade. Increasingly, our SROLWLFV LV GHÀQHG QRW E\ WKH LVVXHV WKDW NHHS citizens awake at night but by hot air and empty exhibitionism. It is a political theater overwhelmed by the absurd. Social media LV IXOO RI :LNH·V VRQJV DQG FRORXUIXO RXWÀWV Bola Tinubu’s rickety health condition, Aiku’s DOOHJHG VWDNH LQ D JHQHUDWRU LPSRUWLQJ ÀUP (which he has denied), the alleged gaps in Peter Obi’s statistics, etc. There is much to laugh about but not much to think about.

The rise in the noise level is at the expense of serious engagement and productive debate.

Increasingly, even Peter Obi’s focus on substance and good governance which distinguished his campaign and gave him a strong boost initially is being replaced by in-your-face aggressiveness by some of his supporters to match low ball antics of some of the supporters of other candidates. He has come out a few times to urge his supporters to be more moderate and focus on substance but his appeals have largely fallen on deaf ears.

6RPH 2ELGLHQWV KDYH FRPH RXW WR WHOO KLP “Oga, you’re too nice and niceness will not win this battle”.

And this mindset perhaps explains why the appointment of Melaye, as atrocious as it is, is understandable. It is likely that Atiku was persuaded to appoint him because in the political jungle inhabited by Festus Keyamo, Lai Mohammed and other experienced ÀJKWHUV D ´QLFHµ VSRNHVPDQ ZRXOG QRW GR WKH party much good.

One rabid, mongrel word captures what is JRLQJ RQ YDZXOHQFH 9DZXOHQFH LV NLQJ DQG everyone is falling in line. But what exactly is YDZXOHQFH" 7KH 8UEDQ 'LFWLRQDU\ GHÀQHV LW DV “an attack full of pure unadulterated vitrol”, “a wicked attack which comes with pains in an aggressive way” and “being a scary mother****er”. It explains that the word is a Nigerian slang that was invented as a means of escaping Facebook bans and restrictions

Whatever its origins, vawulence has permeated Nigeria’s political culture. It is driving a robust conviction in the current environment that attack dogs are more useful than professionals who try to persuade the electorate that a particular candidate or party has the requisite leadership qualities to turn the country’s fortunes around

for using the root word which seems to have been blacklisted. Of course, there are other GHÀQLWLRQV HOVHZKHUH Whatever its origins, vawulence has permeated Nigeria’s political culture. It is driving a robust conviction in the current environment that attack dogs are more useful than professionals who try to persuade the electorate that a particular candidate or party has the requisite leadership qualities to turn the country’s fortunes around. The growing culture of vawulence speaks volumes about what we think of ourselves and what our leaders think of us.

Of course, insults and put-downs have always been part of our politics. KO 0EDGLZH 6DPXHO $NLQWROD %ROD ,JH 8FKH Chukwumerije and others were famous practitioners of the art. However, the current wave suggests that they have become the dominant, legitimized component of political engagement in Nigeria. And they have become less elegant and cruder. There is a growing belief that political issues should be resolved not by superior facts or logic, but by which side can come up with the biggest insults or come up with the most creative ways to make the other side look foolish. ,Q WKH FXUUHQW SROLWLFDO FOLPDWH UHÁHFWLYH and rigorous politicians like Awolowo and 0LFKDHO 2NSDUD ZRXOG KDYH IRXQG LW GL΀FXOW to survive.

The genesis of the current wave was, of course, the 2015 elections in which Lai Mohammed played a starring role in the propaganda blitz that helped to decimate PDP. In government, vawulence has remained a potent component of APC’s arsenal as government communications, once the purview of respected professionals like Tunji Oseni, Stanley Macebuh and Remi Oyo, is now characterized by muscular nastiness. The distinction between mud throwing political SDUWLVDQV DQG R΀FLDO UHSUHVHQWDWLYHV LV ODUJHO\ nonexistent.

Despite its growing popularity, I’m convinced that political vawulence is not as useful as advertised. Yes, it is a useful distraction for candidates burdened by huge reputational baggage because a substantial conversation will expose their weaknesses.

But for others it has many downsides, not least the fact that it is highly disrespectful of the voter whom it assumes is a fool who will support the side that delivers the most creative abuse or screams loudest. As the popularity of Peter Obi, a candidate whose gospel of good governance and prudence has made him a political rock star shows, the Nigerian voter is not as foolish or as empty as our politicians think.

And that’s exactly why a strategy of vawulence may provide much entertainment but may not assure victory.

Nwabuikwu is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board

T H I S D AY

317

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2022

Okello Oculi canvasses for Africa Xi Jinping’s notion of a community in rhythm of shared development

Peter Obi’s voice and gentle mien belie the steel in him, writes CHUKS ILOEGBUNAM

ANGOLA, ALGERIA, KENYA, ZIMBABWE AND AFRICA’S GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY 3UHVLGHQW 7KDER 0EHNL RI 6RXWK $IULFD told ANC members that after 1994 people who did not share ANC’s commitment to WKH ZHOIDUH RI WKH SHRSOH ÁRFNHG LQWR WKH party to steal government money.

He was addressing members of the $IULFDQ 1DWLRQDO &RQJUHVV UHÁHFWLQJ DIWHU the shock of losing a large number of seats WR VFRUHV RI VPDOO SROLWLFDO SDUWLHV LQ /RFDO *RYHUQPHQW HOHFWLRQV 'HYRWHG supporters of the ANC had chosen not to vote at all rather than support new ‘’pretenders’’ promising another dawn.

-RXUQDOLVWV KHDUG FRPSODLQWV DQG GLVDSSRLQWPHQWV DERXW ORFDO $1& R΀FLDOV not giving them roads, health clinics, tap water; not collected garbage from communities; not providing toilets; and not removing poor folks from shacks

into decent housing. All signposts to freedom and good living which people KDG EOHG IRU VXͿHUHG SROLFH EDWRQV DQG torture in prisons during the struggle against ‘’apartheid’’ had not arrived. The revolution had poured honey into few mouths. ,Q -XO\ WKH ZUHWFKHG RI WKH HDUWK exploded with a looting hunger for consumer goods they had only consumed IURP WHOHYLVLRQ VFUHHQV 5DJH DOVR VHW ÀUH WR what was out of reach for poor folks. The ANC was watching its legitimacy going up LQ ÁDPHV 7KH 0RYHPHQW IRU WKH 3RSXODU /LEHUDWLRQ RI $QJROD 03/$ VXͿHUHG similar electoral rebuke by supporters.

They stayed away from voting in the $XJXVW HOHFWLRQV ,W ZRQ E\ D PHUH SHU FHQW RI YRWHV RI SHU FHQW RI WKRVH ZKR FDUHG WR UHDFK SROOLQJ ERRWKV 03/$ lacks the wide social base of the ANC. ,WV ULYDO -RQDV 6DYLPEL KDG LPSRUWHG into Angola violence and tribalism in the KLVWRU\ DQG SROLWLFV RI 6ZLW]HUODQG ZKHUH KH JRW KLV HGXFDWLRQ /LNH 6LHUUD /HRQH Libya, and Liberia, his highland region VXͿHUHG SUHMXGLFH E\ XUEDQ HOLWHV LQ Luanda, the capital.

His notion of ‘’total independence’’ UHMHFWHG ERWK 3RUWXJXHVH DQG 0XODWR UXOH When Agustinho Neto, a medical doctor, EXLOW D 62&,$/,67 PRYHPHQW 6DYLPEL EHFDPH WKH GDUOLQJ RI DQWL 6RFLDOLVW &ROG War powers. He became a potential promise for future access to Angola’s rich RLO GHSRVLWV :KHQ WKH 03/$ ODWHU VKRZHG ZLOOLQJQHVV WR GHDO ZLWK &+(9521 $*,3 and other oil guzzlers, he was assassinated.

The decline of electoral support for the $1& DQG 03/$ DV OLEHUDWLRQ PRYHPHQWV KDG EHHQ QRWHG LQ .HQ\D XQGHU -RPR Kenyatta; Zimbabwe under Robert

0XJDEH DQG $OJHULD XQGHU $KPHG %HQ Bella. In Zimbabwe loss of support came DIWHU 0XJDEH ZLWKGUHZ IUHH KHDOWK FDUH free education and transferring land from (XURSHDQ LPPLJUDQWV WR KLV OLEHUDWLRQ ÀJKWHUV 7KHVH ZHUH FRQGLWLRQV IRU UHFHLYLQJ ORDQV IURP WKH ,0) :25/' BANK. At the core of this drama was the DVFHQGDQF\ RI ¶·,1',9,'8$/,60·· RYHU ¶&20081,7<,60· %LWWHU 75,%$/ ZDUV RI WR DFURVV (XURSH HQWUHQFKHG ,1',9,'8$/,60 DV DQ LGHRORJ\ IRU organising society. In contrast, Africa’s ZDUV RI OLEHUDWLRQ IURP (XURSHDQ colonial exploitation – itself a very brutal and genocidal manifestation of ,1',9,'8$/,60 GUHZ YLWDO HQHUJ\ IURP WUDGLWLRQDO ¶&20081,7<,60· &20081,7<,60 RU ¶QDWLRQLVP· LV YLWDO IRU 'HPRFUDF\ -XOLXV 1\HUHUH QRWHG that Democracy survives where politics is not regarded as a civil war; and the welfare of losers in elections is not terminated by winners. In America’s history, however, violence against African-Americans denied her growth into a ‘NATION’’ with a shared humanity suitable for democracy.

Candidate Donald Trump used violence in his election campaigns. It was inevitable that his promise that he would only recognise the result of a presidential HOHFWLRQ RQO\ ,) +( :21 ZRXOG UROO LQWR WKH -DQXDU\ DUPHG LQYDVLRQ of CAPITOL Building to prevent the swearing of Biden as the new president.

6WDWHV ZKHUH KLV VXSSRUWHUV DUH LQ SRZHU are passing laws that disqualify AfricanAmericans from voting in the November HOHFWLRQV DV ZHOO DV DWWDFNV RQ $VLDQV -HZV +DLWLDQV 1LJHULDQV DQG RWKHU immigrants.

When President Biden hosts African OHDGHUV LQ 'HFHPEHU ZH PXVW KRSH WKDW $)5,&$1 *8(676 ZLOO RͿHU WR H[SRUW ¶&20081,7<,60 RU ¶2%8178·· WR KHDO and nurture America’s struggle to protect KHDOWK\ SRUWLRQV RI KHU ¶·'(02&5$&<·· and therapy to uproot her historic FDQFHURXV ,1',9,'8$/,60 7KDER 0EHNL ZDUQHG WKDW SXUJLQJ ¶,1',9,'8$/,60· RXW RI WKH $1& ZLOO be bitter and challenging. He probably UHFDOOHG 0$2 =('81*·6 ¶·&8/785$/ 5(92/87,21·· ZKLFK SXUJHG HQHPLHV RI China’s new revolution born from massive peasants at guerrilla war.

Trump shows that the –so-called ‘’mature democracies’’ are cancer patients with silent and open politics of violence.

7KH GHFHSWLRQ RI 0LNKDLO *RUEDFKHY over his vision of a cooperative post&ROG :DU (XUR $PHULFD PXVW EH DWWULEXWHG WR WKH ,1',9,'8/,60 ZKLFK 3UHVLGHQW (LVHQKRZHU VDZ HPEHGGHG LQ WKH ¶·0LOLWDU\ ,QGXVWULDO &RPSOH[·· $IULFD PXVW DOO\ ZLWK ;L -LQSLQJ·V QRWLRQ of a community in rhythm of shared development.

Brilliant colonised political engineers planed landmines in our FRXQWULHV ,W LV KRZHYHU $1*2/$ $/*(5,$ =,0%$%:( WKDW EHDU Africa’s responsibility for injecting ¶&20081,7<,60· LQWR JOREDO PRYHPHQW forward.

Prof Oculi writes from Abuja

PETER OBI: AS TOUGH AS NAILS 6LWWLQJ LQVLGH KLV $SDSD /DJRV R΀FH one day, just the two of us, and holding lighthearted conversation, Peter Obi suddenly said that he would forever be grateful to Onyechi Ikpeazu. Why did he say that? I didn’t put the question to him. All the time the suit to claim his stolen electoral mandate was in the courts, there was no day we met without GLVFXVVLQJ LW DW OHDVW WDQJHQWLDOO\ 6RPHWLPHV we had a full house. At other times, half a full house. On certain occasions, just the two of us. In every shape or setting we had, the case came up for exhaustive or salutary

examination. Not once did he talk of Dr. Ikpeazu being worthy of perpetual gratitude.

6R ZK\ GLG KH UDLVH LW QRZ" , ORRNHG DW KLP intently, saying nothing. +H UHVXPHG ´:KHQ ZH ZHUH JRLQJ WR FKDOOHQJH ,1(&·V GHFODUDWLRQ RI 'U 1JLJH as the winner of the governorship election, RXU SODQ ZDV WR ÀOH WKH FDVH LQ WKH QDPH RI $3*$ µ KH VDLG ´%XW 2Q\HFKL UHIXVHG DQG VDLG , PXVW ÀOH WKH FDVH LQ P\ RZQ QDPH , didn’t immediately see his point because, apart from not being a lawyer, I assumed WKDW VLQFH , FRQWHVWHG WKH HOHFWLRQ RQ $3*$·V SODWIRUP WKH SDUW\ PXVW ÀOH WKH FDVH 2Q\HFKL UHIXVHG DQG VDLG QR ¶,I $3*$ ÀOHG the case, they might run out of steam during the proceedings and throw in the towel, even if you hold a contrary opinion. File the case in your name; you contested the election. Only you can legitimately dictate whether or not to go the whole hog.’”

I saw his point. The previous night, word KDG FRPH LQ WKDW WKH $3*$ QDWLRQDO FKDLUPDQ had been in Awka, where he was received with fanfare at a press conference, after ZKLFK WKH *RYHUQRU FRQGXFWHG KLP URXQG $QDPEUD 6WDWH WR LQVSHFW WKH URDG SURMHFWV KLV government was undertaking. At the tour’s HQG WKH $3*$ FKDLUPDQ KDG DGGUHVVHG WKH SUHVV VD\LQJ WKDW $3*$ DV D SROLWLFDO SDUW\ no longer had any interest in the further SURVHFXWLRQ RI WKH FDVH DJDLQVW ,1(& DQG 'U 1JLJH 7KDW PHDQW RQH WKLQJ KDG $3*$ ÀOHG WKH FDVH WKH FKDLUPDQ·V UHSXGLDWLRQ RI continuing it would have closed the matter, without the stolen mandate recovered. That was one of the reasons why Peter Obi held 'U 2Q\HFKL ,NSHD]X 6$1 LQ DZH I tell this story as foundation for addressing charges in uninformed quarters that portray Peter Obi as paperweight and bereft of resilience. A lot of those who were vociferous LQ WKH UHVROYH WR FKDOOHQJH ,1(&·V GHFODUDWLRQ of Ngige as winner of the governorship election turned coat as the case progressed.

Their problem may have been fatigue. Or capitulation to the weariness of protracted OLWLJDWLRQ 2U ÀQDQFLDO LQGXFHPHQW 2U DQ

after-the-event realisation that the kernel of life-and-death struggles was seedless. I do not know. Nor do I care to speculate.

The point is that Peter Obi sallied forth, refusing to cave in under the pressures of the respondents’ contrived delays in the judicial proceedings, the obvious high cost of the litigation itself and the multitude of betrayals strewn like thorns along the path to justice. It took three years, but victory came in the ultimate.

That cannot underscore the character of someone without conviction, somebody not imbued with a resilient spirit.

People say that Peter Obi is softspoken. That is correct. But it is not contrived. That was a card nature dealt him. The fact that he does not believe in blustering or what Nigerians call gra- gra in common parlance, persuaded some to see the man as a weakling, a man bereft of resolve. But time and again, he proved them wrong. He was only eight months LQ WKH JRYHUQRUVKLS ZKHQ KLV ÀUVW PDMRU challenge came. Impeachment! I feared its contingency from the day he took the 2DWK RI 2΀FH EHFDXVH PRVW RI WKH 6WDWH House of Assembly members were of WKH 3HRSOHV 'HPRFUDWLF 3DUW\ 3'3 6R in one of the reception parties organised for the Obi administration, (he was not present), I pulled aside Dr. Ben Obidigbo, a House member I had known from my London days, and before he entered politics, and pointedly asked him if he thought the House could attempt to impeach Obi. “That would depend on the kind of signals that come from Abuja,” he replied.

I didn’t know what signals came from Abuja and those that were transmitted IURP LQVLGH $QDPEUD 6WDWH %XW DW DP RQH 6XQGD\ P\ SKRQH UDQJ DV , ZDV UHDG\LQJ IRU PDVV DW WKH 6W -RVHSK WKH Worker Catholic Church, which was a minute’s walk from Parktonian Hotel where I was staying at the time. The caller was Peter Obi. “Come to the Lodge,” he said the moment I picked the call, FXWWLQJ RͿ ,Q $ZND *RYHUQPHQW +RXVH ZDV ZKHUH WKH *RYHUQRU KDG KLV R΀FH *RYHUQPHQW /RGJH LQ $PDZELD ZDV KLV R΀FLDO UHVLGHQFH , JRW WR WKH /RGJH LQ OHVV WKDQ PLQXWHV DQG ZDV VXUSULVHG DW WKH ODUJH QXPEHU RI R΀FLDOV PLOOLQJ DURXQG the frontage of the main mansion. Inside the main sitting room, there were even PRUH R΀FLDOV VWRRSHG RYHU 0UV (EHOH Okonkwo, one of our secretaries, who at the time lived inside the Lodge estate.

0U 3HWHU $IXED WKH $WWRUQH\ *HQHUDO ZDV GLFWDWLQJ D OHWWHU WR 0UV 2NRQNZR 0DQ\ YRLFHV ZHUH DGGLQJ ZRUGV DQG SKUDVHV , VDZ 5HYHUHQG 6LVWHU 0DUWLQD 2EL WKH *RYHUQRU·V VLVWHU VLWWLQJ FDOPO\ at the far end. Perhaps she had used the night inside the Lodge, meaning to join WKH 6XQGD\ 0DVV WKHUH Not immediately seeing Peter, I raised P\ YRLFH ZLWK D TXHVWLRQ ´:KDW·V going on here?” That was when those standing next to the secretary noticed that I was among them. “They have started impeachment proceedings,” a voice answered.

Excerpts from The Promise of a New Era, a book on Peter Obi by Mr. Iloegbunam

18 4

T H I S D AY

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2022

EDITORIAL

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

MENTAL ILLNESS AND PUBLIC HEALTH Mental illness is assuming a worrying trend. It deserves more attention

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biological, which include genes or brain chemistry; ecent declaration that some 60 million OLIH H[SHULHQFHV VXFK DV WUDXPD RU DEXVH DQG IDPLO\ 1LJHULDQV DUH VXͿHULQJ IURP PHQWDO history. illnesses requires much more rigour.

Available reports indicate that there were over But we cannot dispute the claim by 200 diagnosable mental illnesses in Nigeria. Since Taiwo Obindo, President, Association WKRVH ZKR VXͿHU IURP DQ\ RI WKHVH LOOQHVVHV FDQ IXOO\ RI 3V\FKLDWULVWV LQ 1LJHULD WKDW PHQWDO recover, they are encouraged to seek help immediately healthcare in the country is in a sorry state as people they notice the signs. Family members who notice GR QRW KDYH DSSURSULDWH LQIRUPDWLRQ DERXW WKH FDXVHV VLJQV RI PHQWDO LOOQHVV LQ WKHLU ORYHG RQHV VKRXOG DOVR and treatment. This is a major public health issue that not trivialise it or pretend that all is well. That will be deserves adequate attention, especially since mental FRXQWHUSURGXFWLYH ,QVWHDG WKH\ VKRXOG LPPHGLDWHO\ illnesses are neither incurable nor terminal. Persons who DVVLVW WKH YLFWLPV WR JHW WR WKH SV\FKLDWULF KRVSLWDO IRU VXͿHU IURP WKLV GLVHDVH FDQ UHFRYHU LI WKH\ SURPSWO\ treatment.

VHHN KHOS LQVWHDG RI (DUO\ VLJQV RI PHQWDO allowing it to weigh them illness include eating or down. When understood sleeping too much or too and spotted on time, every This public health challenge is unfortunately on the rise in Nigeria because OLWWOH SXOOLQJ DZD\ IURP Nigerian with mental people and usual activities; no commensurate plan has been put in place to address it health challenges can seek having low or no energy; KHOS EHIRUH LW UHDFKHV WKH IHHOLQJ QXPE RU EHKDYLQJ H[WUHPH FRQVHTXHQFH RI DV LI QRWKLQJ PDWWHUV DQ\ suicide. longer; having unusual This public health DFKHV DQG SDLQV IHHOLQJ KHOSOHVV RU KRSHOHVV VPRNLQJ T H I S D AY FKDOOHQJH LV XQIRUWXQDWHO\ RQ WKH ULVH LQ 1LJHULD EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU GULQNLQJ RU XVLQJ GUXJV PRUH WKDQ XVXDO 2WKHUV DUH because no commensurate plan has been put in place DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA IHHOLQJ XQXVXDOO\ FRQIXVHG IRUJHWIXO VWD\LQJ RQ HGJH to address it. For instance, Nigeria has only about MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DQJU\ XSVHW ZRUULHG RU VFDUHG \HOOLQJ RU ÀJKWLQJ SV\FKLDWULVWV WR FDUH IRU D SRSXODWLRQ RI DERXW DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU ZLWK IDPLO\ DQG IULHQGV H[SHULHQFLQJ VHYHUH PRRG PLOOLRQ D UDWLR RI RQH WR PLOOLRQ ,W DOVR KDV CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN swings that cause problems in relationships; having DERXW ÀYH PHQWDO KHDOWK QXUVHV WR 1LJHULDQV MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI persistent thoughts and memories that you can’t get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is now a common phenomenon in Nigeria. From EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA While we counsel that everyone can avoid a sudden MXPSLQJ LQWR WKH ODJRRQ WR KDQJLQJ VHOI ZLWK URSH RU GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, GHJHQHUDWLRQ LQWR PHQWDO LOOQHVV E\ VHHNLQJ SURIHVVLRQDO GULQNLQJ SRLVRQ UHSRUWV RQ VXLFLGH KDYH PRYHG IURP ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI help when they perceive that it is necessary, it is obvious DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, an occasional blip to a very disturbing trend in our ANTHONY OGEDENGBE WKDW 1LJHULD LV QRW \HW UHDG\ WR DGGUHVV WKH LVVXH RI country.

DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI mental health. To make matters worse, no clearly According to scientists, mental health includes SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH GHÀQHG PHQWDO KHDOWK SROLF\ KDV EHHQ LPSOHPHQWHG WKH HPRWLRQDO SV\FKRORJLFDO DQG VRFLDO ZHOO EHLQJ ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI But there are so many who appear ‘normal’, yet may CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI RI SHRSOH DQG WKH\ DͿHFW WKH ZD\ VXFK DͿHFWHG DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO be having serious mental health challenge. We need to LQGLYLGXDOV WKLQN IHHO DQG EHKDYH 0HGLFDO VFLHQWLVWV TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com take them into account.

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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 AMOTEKUN CORPS AND COMMUNITY POLICING IN SOUTH WEST NIGERIA 6LQFH WKH ODXQFK RI WKH VHFXULW\ QHWZRUN 2SHUDWLRQ $PRWHNXQ E\ WKH *RYHUQRUV RI WKH 6RXWKZHVWHUQ states on January 9, 2020, ears have heard and eyes KDYH VHHQ WUHPHQGRXV IHDWV WRZDUGV VWHPPLQJ WKH WLGH RI LQVHFXULW\ 7KHUHE\ HQVXULQJ WKDW WKHUH LV WUDQ quility. The governors that developed this security QHWZRUN VKRXOG EH JLYHQ DFFRODGHV IRU WDNLQJ WKH EXOO by the horns. Despite all, the unnecessary challenges EURXJKW WKHLU ZD\ E\ WKH IHGHUDO JRYHUQPHQW 7R EH IDFWXDO $PRWHNXQ &RUSV KDYH EHHQ NQRZQ IRU LWV VZLIW UHVSRQVH VDJDFLW\ RU SDVVLRQ WR VH FXUH WKH OLYHV DQG SURSHUWLHV RI WKH SHRSOH ,QGHHG $PRWHNXQ KDV GRQH ZHOO VR IDU LI QRW IRU WKHP SRVVLEO\ WKH IDUPHUV DQG KHUGVPHQ FULVLV ZRXOG KDYH become more devastating. This provocative menace has reduced to a very large extent, which now made WKH IDUPHUV LQ WKH UHJLRQ JR WR WKHLU IDUPV ZLWK QR RU OLWWOH IHDU RI EHLQJ DWWDFNHG E\ WKH XQXVXDO XQNQRZQ bandits. ,Q WKH VRXWKZHVW WRGD\ LI WKHUH·V DQ\ LRWD RI FULP

inal suspicion anywhere, the people in that area ZRXOG SUHIHU WR FDOO RQ WKH $PRWHNXQ &RUSV LQVWHDG RI RWKHU VHFXULW\ R΀FHUV ZKR KDYH EHHQ SHUFHLYHG WR KDQGOH LVVXHV ZLWK OHYLW\ WKHUHE\ SXWWLQJ WKH OLYHV RI the people in danger. With a single call, Amotekun in their good numbers will bombard the place while returning sanity and bringing the suspected criminals to book; unlike other security agencies who might LQLWLDOO\ FRPH XS ZLWK H[FXVHV RI QRW KDYLQJ IXHO LQ WKH YDQ RU SRVVLEO\ KDYLQJ D ÁDW W\UH 7KH 2PROXD EL HWKRV KDV DWWUDFWHG WKH SHRSOH RI WKH 6RXWK WR WKH $PRWHNXQ &RUSV WKXV PDNLQJ WKHP WKHLU ODVW UHVRUW LQ WKH SURYLVLRQ RI DGHTXDWH VHFXULW\ 7KH RXWÀW KDV UHGXFHG WKH SUREOHP RI LQDGHTXDWH manpower in the Nigeria Police, as they comple ment police personnel in undertaking robust routine SDWUROV LQ WKH QRRN DQG FUDQQ\ RI WKH UHJLRQ 7KH initiative as well is to serve as grassroots intelli JHQFH QHWZRUN IRU FRQYHQWLRQDO VHFXULW\ +HQFH LW LV H[SHFWHG WKDW RSHUDWLYHV ZRXOG JDWKHU LQIRUPDWLRQ

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LAWYER TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2022

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MRS OLABISI SOYEBO, SAN

“There is a Total Feeling of Unease in Nigeria Now”

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IN THIS EDITION

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Court’s Jurisdiction on Claims for Compensation on Land Acquired for Oil Exploration Page IV

f o g n i l e e F l a t o T a s i e “Ther ” w o N a i r e g i N n i Unease

Abdu Aboki Bows Out of Judiciary After Over 40 Years Meritorious Service

QUOTABLES

Page V

‘I call on the National Assembly to consider amending the Constitution and other extant laws, to reduce the number of appeals coming to the Supreme Court; particularly in election-related matters.’ - Honourable Justice Abdu Aboki, JSC (Rtd)

Depleting Number of Supreme Court Justices Worries CJN Page V

Do you know one of the factors by which you know a failed government? When non-State actors dictate the tune to a legitimately elected government, such as we have.’ - Chief Mike Ozekhome OFR, SAN, Human Rights Lawyer & Activist

Lagos State, LawPavilion Sign Agreement on E-Publishing Page V

LAWYER

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

III THE ADVOCATE

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2022

APC’s Confessions as Failure Admittance Definition of Confession confession is a person’s admission of wrongdoing or guilt, whether to a Priest as the Catholics do, or to law enforcement in the case of the commission of an offence. It could also just be a revelation of one’s innermost feelings or thoughts to others, for example, one confessing feelings of love to another. It is trite that, in criminal law, confessional statement, if valid, is one of the strongest ways of proving that a crime has been committed. See the case of Musa v State (2013) LPELR-19932 (SC).

While I don’t know if Nigerians are big on confessing to the Priest in Church, I know that admission of guilt and taking responsibility for acts or omissions, do not seem to be a noticeable part of the Nigerian DNA; and of course, the first example that comes to mind in terms of refusal to admit guilt, is the Nigerian Government.

For instance, for this APC administration, every single thing that has gone wrong in Nigeria is the fault of their predecessor, PDP, not theirs. Admittedly, many of Nigeria’s problems predated this administration, like Insecurity, ASUU Strikes and Fuel Subsidy, but this administration having handled these situations rather dissatisfactorily, the circumstances in these three examples are now much worse; yet, this administration has neglected to confess its role in these failures. They cannot be absolved of liability, the same way a Priest gives absolution to the sinner after confession, sometimes prescribing some prayers (penance) with an admonition that the sinner goes and sins no more, because of their mismanagement of the problems.

This administration has instead, behaved like Pontius Pilate who washed his hands and absolved himself of any liability, in respect of the sentence of death passed on Jesus Christ - declaring himself innocent of the blood of Jesus Christ, and shifting the responsibility to the people (Matthew 27:24). But, the truth of the matter is that, Pontius Pilate was guilty too, because even though he didn’t join the crowd to shout “crucify him, crucify him”, he allowed Jesus Christ, an innocent man, to be crucified as a result of the verdict of the court of public opinion, instead of on the basis of due process and letting the rule of law prevail. In the case of Nigeria, the APC Administration has washed its hands and shifted the blame to PDP, and anyone or anything else that can be used as a scapegoat, for example, declining oil prices, Covid-19 pandemic, rising oil prices, Amnesty International, CNN, hate speech, demarketing the country, to mention but a few. As a matter of fact, this administration is also adept at recantation and denial when they are put in remembrance of their words, famous campaign promises, or confronted with the unfortunate state of affairs in Nigeria.

In Onyenye v State 2012 15 N.W.L.R. Part 1324 Page 586 at 610 per PeterOdili JSC, the Supreme Court held thus: "The definition of a confession as provided for in Section 27 (1) and (2) of the Evidence Act (now Section 28 of the Evidence Act 2011) are as follows: A confession is an admission made at any time by a person charged with a crime, stating or suggesting the inference that he committed that crime".

Also see Alo v State 2015 9 N.W.L.R. Part 1464 Page 238 at 284 per I.T. Muhammad JSC (as he then was).

In criminal matters, eyewitness testimony (direct evidence) and circumstantial evidence, are other ways of proving crimes in addition to confession. Proof of at least one of these, will suffice to secure a conviction - per Clara Ogunbiyi JSC in Abirifon v State 2013 13 N.W.L.R. Part 1372 Page 619. I submit that, the

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

The

Advocate “…..for this APC administration, every single thing that has gone wrong in Nigeria is the fault of their predecessor, PDP, not theirs……if their campaign promises were a confessional statement which they have attempted to retract so many times or they have resiled from….If they were before a court of law, it would be easy for a court to convict them for their failures” eyewitness testimony, that is, direct evidence of the difficulties Nigerians are facing coupled with circumstantial evidence, are more than enough to prove the guilt of this administration in the aforementioned examples of Nigeria’s insecurity problem, ASUU crisis and our economic woes, without a confession from Government. Two ways of proving crimes have been satisfied, when only one is required - Abirifon v State (Supra).

Elements of a Valid Confession A confession can be formal/judicial, that is, made in the trial court before a Judge by entering a plea of guilty.

But, confessions are also commonly made at a pre-trial stage, that is, for instance, during Police investigation or arrest. Maybe because in Nigeria, a burden of proof beyond reasonable doubt is placed on the Prosecution in criminal cases, Police are known for employing means like violence and torture to force accused persons into making confessions of guilt in order to win their cases, so much so that the Anti-Torture Act 2017 was enacted as a deterrent against this kind of Police brutality.

A confession must be voluntary, free from the influence of any extraneous disturbing cause, not influenced or extorted by violence, threats or promise.

See Section 29 of the Evidence Act 2011 (EA) and Agboola v State 2013 11 N.W.L.R. Part 1366 Page 619 at 646 per Ariwoola JSC (now Acting CJN); Isah v State 2010 16 N.W.L.R. Part 1218 Page 132 at 157-158.

Also see State v Salawu 2011 18 N.W.L.R. Part 1279 Page 580 at 604 per Ngwuta JSC. In criminal proceedings, a confession “is of greater force”, as “it comes out from the horse’s mouth”. See the case of Akpa v State (2008) LPELR-368 (SC) per Ogbuagu JSC, where the Supreme Court held that once a confession is free, voluntary, direct and positive, duly made and satisfactorily proved, it is sufficient to warrant a conviction without any corroborative evidence, as long as the court is satisfied that the confession is true. Also see R v Sykes 8 C.A.R. Page 223; James Obi Achabua v The State 1976 12 S.C. Page 63 at 68-69.

Retracted Confessional Statements and Trial-Within-Trial While it is not on every occasion that the Police obtain confessions using force, it has now become the norm for accused persons to get to court and insist that their confessions made while in Police custody were obtained under duress, with claims of torture and threats on the part of the Police to force them to make

APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu

confessional statements; accused persons are now aware that, a court will not accept such confessions which are invalidated by duress. Some say accused persons acquire this knowledge from more experienced inmates, or even their Lawyers! This results in a ‘trial-within-trial’, a process before the actual trial commences, in which the court tries to discover whether such confessional statement was voluntary or otherwise, before proceeding with the trial. Obviously if a confessional statement is obtained under duress, it will be inadmissible.

As a Law School Student doing court attachment at Ikeja High Court, I remember meeting an accused person during his trial-within-trial. He and his co-accused persons were charged with armed robbery, and he claimed that his confessional statement was obtained under duress.

This claim was rejected by the court, his confessional statement admitted, and he was eventually convicted and sentenced to 14 years imprisonment. The young man maintained contact with me, and somewhere along the way, he became a committed Catholic, and confessed to me in a letter that he had indeed, committed the crime, and his confessional statement had been voluntary and genuine.

However, possibly as a way of checkmating recanters/retractors, Section 15(4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 (ACJA) provides inter alia that the statement of a suspect may be recorded electronically on a retrievable video compact disc or such other audio visual means. However, while the provision makes taking the suspect’s statement in writing mandatory, it makes that of video recording optional. Section 15(5) of ACJA then goes on to provide that the oral confession of an accused person, is also admissible in evidence. Making visual recording of confessional statements and interviews of accused persons mandatory, will possibly make trial-within-trial unnecessary or at least drastically reduce the need for it, and will go a long way to save the court’s time and speed up the wheels of justice in criminal matters..

A court can still admit into evidence and convict an accused person on a retracted confessional statement, if the court is satisfied about the voluntariness of the statement, and that there are circumstances which make the contents of the retracted statement credible.

There ought to be some corroborative evidence aside from the confession, to further prove the veracity of the retracted confessional statement.

See the case of Ejinima v The State 1991 6 N.W.L.R. Part 200 Page 627. Also see Gira v State 1996 4 N.W.L.R. Part 443 Page 375 at 388 per Adio JSC. Conclusion In the case of this APC administration, if their campaign promises were a confessional statement which they have attempted to retract so many times or they have resiled from, there’s enough corroborative evidence to show that those promises were made voluntarily in so many audio/visual recordings for the world to see, aside from direct and circumstantial evidence. If they were before a court of law, it would be easy for a court to convict them for their failures.

For instance, the issue of the fuel subsidy.

President Ruto of Kenya removed the fuel subsidy the day after he assumed office.

In our own case, as the opposition, APC promised to revamp the Nigerian economy.

But, despite the fact that the fuel subsidy is a scam which has almost killed the Nigerian economy, government has not removed it, claiming that it is for the benefit of Nigerians, when we know that the benefit is for the few of those who import the product, and not the people. The sufferings of the Nigerian people, is enough direct and circumstantial evidence to prove the guilt of government, at least in the areas which I highlighted, and convict them, that is, security, education and the economy - see Abirifon v State (Supra).

IV LAW REPORT

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

Court’s Jurisdiction on Claims for Compensation on Land Acquired for Oil Exploration Facts The 1st to 9th Respondent commenced an action against the Appellant and the 10th and 11th Respondent at the High Court of Rivers State, Port Harcourt. They sought inter alia, a declaration that the 1st to 9th Respondent are entitled to be paid compensation by the Appellant, together with other affected persons in respect of the Gas Gathering Associated Pipeline Project Structural Assessment carried out by the Appellant on portions of land in Bakana Town of Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, to determine lands acquired for the Appellant’s Gas Gathering Project and persons entitled to compensation. They also sought an order of court, mandating the Appellant to pay certain sums as compensation due to each of them in this regard.

It was the case of the 1st to 9th Respondent that despite the identification and assessment of their properties for compensation by the Appellant through the 10th and 11th Respondent like others in the area, and their claims were verified, when the compensation was eventually paid, their names were deliberately removed from the list of persons entitled to compensation. The Appellant filed its Statement of Defence to the action, wherein it categorically denied the allegations in the Statement of Claim.

The Appellant averred that it lawfully acquired land in some communities for its gas project and duly paid compensation to all the communities, including Bakana and individuals whose properties were affected by the acquisition.

The 1st to 9th Respondent called a witness and tendered Exhibits A-A8, while the Appellant called two witnesses who testified to the effect that the 1st to 9th Respondent do not have specific right over the property acquired by the Appellant. In its judgement, the trial court upheld the claims of the 1st to 9th Respondent and granted the reliefs sought. Aggrieved, the Appellant filed an appeal to the Court of Appeal, which court dismissed the appeal and affirmed the decision of the trial court. The Appellant filed a further appeal to the Supreme Court.

Issues for Determination The Supreme Court considered the following issues submitted for determination by the Appellant: 1. Whether the Court of Appeal was right to hold that the trial court had the requisite jurisdiction, to entertain and determine the 1st to 9th Respondent’s suit.

2. Whether the 1st to 9th Respondent’s suit was bad, for misjoinder of parties and/or misjoinder of causes of action.

3. Whether the 1st to 9th Respondent’s suit was properly constituted, as a representative action.

4. Whether the Court of Appeal was right to affirm the decision of the trial court, granting the reliefs sought by the 1st to 9th Respondent.

Arguments Arguing the first issue, counsel for the Appellant submitted that the claim of the 1st to 9th Respondent at the trial court was squarely founded on the remedy provided by Section 11(5) of the Oil Pipelines Act, 1956. Counsel posited that since the claim relates to the oil and gas activities of the Appellants, specifically gas gathering, and insofar as their cause of action is a claim for compensation owing to the purported effects of the Appellant’s gas projects on their properties, the claim is strictly within the purview of the Federal High Court being the only court that has jurisdiction to entertain a cause or matter, ancillary to, relating to, arising from, connected to or pertaining to oil and gas exploration. He placed reliance on Section 251(1) (n) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended); Section 7(1)(n) of the Federal High Court Act, 2004 and SPDC (NIG) LTD v ISAIAH (2001) 11 NWLR (Pt. 723) 168.

Counsel submitted that the Court of Appeal was in error to hold that the 1st to 9th Respondent’s action was merely an action for debt, which the trial court rightly exercised jurisdiction over. Responding to the first issue, counsel for the 1st to 9th Respondent argued that the suit was a simple case of failure of the Appellant to pay compensation to the 1st to 9th Respondent, as already assessed and agreed by the Appellant and its agents; and therefore, it does not fall within the ambit of Section 251(1)(n) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

On the second issue, counsel submitted on behalf of the Appellant that the suit of the 1st to 9th Respondent was incompetent for misjoinder of parties and/or causes of action and amounted

Honourable Abdu Aboki, JSC

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, 1st day of July, 2022 Before Their Lordships Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun John Inyang Okoro Abdu Aboki Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa Tijjani Abubakar Justices, Supreme Court SC.219/2011 Between THE SHELL PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY OF NIGERIA LIMITED

APPELLANT

And CHIEF TRUELOVE ORUAMBO & 10 ORS

RESPONDENTS

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Abdu Aboki, JSC)

to a nullity. He submitted that the claim is thus, liable to be struck out for this reason.

Reacting to the submission on this issue, counsel to the 1st to 9th Respondent referred to Exhibits A-A8 and argued that the Exhibits were prepared at the same time, place, and by persons of common interest with the 1st to 9th Respondent who were cheated out of their right to compensation. Relying on Order 11 Rule 1 of the old High Court of Rivers State (Civil Procedure) Rules 1987, he submitted that constitution of the parties in the suit at the trial court was permissible and in order.

Regarding issue three, it was argued on behalf of the Appellant, that the 1st to 9th Respondent’s action was fundamentally defective because the representative nature of the action was not indicated on the Writ of Summons as required by Order 5 Rule 11(1) (a) of the High Court of Rivers State (Civil Procedure) Rules 1987, nor was leave obtained to sue in a representative capacity as required

by Order 11 Rule 8 of the Rules. Counsel relied on ADEDIRAN v INTERLAND TRANSPORT LTD (1991) 9 NWLR (Pt. 214) 155 in support of the submission. He argued further that the 1st to 9th Respondent primarily instituted the suit at the trial court in representative capacity as mere agents of certain persons listed in Exhibits A-A8 as contained in the records of the court, without establishing any common interest and/or grievance they shared with any of those persons. Countering the submission above, counsel argued for the 1st to 9th Respondent that, regardless of whether a Plaintiff did not

“….. the 1st to 9th Respondent’s claim is a simple case of breach of the promise to pay compensation for land acquired, and does not come within the purview of oil and gas exploration….. over which the Federal High Court has exclusive jurisdiction to entertain….. The jurisdiction of the State High Court is not ousted, in a claim for agreed compensation for land acquired for oil and gas exploration”

expressly sue in a representative capacity, where there is evidence to show that he is suing in a representative capacity, the capacity can be amended to bring it in line with the evidence, whether or not an application for such amendment has been applied for and granted. He placed reliance on OSAGUNNA v MILITARY GOVERNOR OF EKITI STATE (2001) 86 LRCN 1106.

On the 4th issue, counsel argued that the 1st to 9th Respondent failed to specifically plead or lead evidence of any form of ownership, whether joint or exclusive, of any property of theirs affected by the Appellant’s Gas Project, as to entitle them to the grant of the declaratory reliefs sought in their claim. He contended that they failed to call any admissible evidence to explain the purport of Exhibits A-A8, and there was no basis for the Court of Appeal to affirm the decision of the trial court that the Exhibits operate as an admission against the interest of the Appellant. Responding to the submission of the Appellant, counsel for the 1st to 9th Respondent made references to the pleadings and evidence led at trial, and argued that the sums of money claimed by the 1st to 9th Respondent as evinced by Exhibits A-A8 are liquidated money demand, and not a case of special damages requiring pleadings and strict proof. He submitted that the Appellant having failed to controvert the contents of Exhibits A-A8, or deny the commissioning of the 10th and 11th Respondents as its agents further to which Exhibits A-A8 were drawn up, it is estopped from arguing that it is not bound by their contents.

Court’s Judgement and Rationale In resolving the first issue, the Supreme Court reiterated the settled position of law that in order to determine the court’s jurisdiction to entertain a case; the court will have recourse to the averments contained in the Statement of Claim. The court held that it was evident from the averments in the Statement of Claim, that the reliefs sought by the 1st to 9th Respondent

were in relation to compensation as agreed and assessed by the Appellant for their land acquired by the Appellant for its Associated Gas Gathering Project. Their Lordships held that the 1st to 9th Respondent’s claim is a simple case of breach of the promise to pay compensation for land acquired, and does not come within the purview of oil and gas exploration or any matter connected with, pertaining to, or relating to oil and gas exploration, over which the Federal High Court has exclusive jurisdiction to entertain - NKUMA v ODILI (2006) 6 NWLR (Pt. 977) 587.

The jurisdiction of the State High Court is not ousted, in a claim for agreed compensation for land acquired for oil and gas exploration. Given the foregoing, the court held that the 1st to 9th Respondent’s action cannot come under Section 251(1)(n) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 7 of the Federal High Court Act, as to oust the jurisdiction of the State High Court.

On the second issue, the Apex Court agreed with the finding of the Court of Appeal that Order 11 Rule 1 of the High Court of Rivers State (Civil Procedure) Rules 1987, permits all persons to whom any right to relief, in respect of or arising out of the same transaction is alleged to exist either jointly or severally, or in the alternative to be joined in one action as Plaintiffs. The important thing for the operation of Order 11 Rule 1, is for any common question of law or fact to arise in the suit by such joint Plaintiffs.

In the instant case, a common question that arose was that whether the 1st to 9th Respondent, as beneficiaries of the assessment, were entitled to be paid the assessed compensation. They have the same cause of action, arising from the same transaction against the Appellant. The court held that the 1st to 9th Respondent’s suit at the trial court was thus, properly constituted and no question of misjoinder arose.

Deciding the third issue, the their Lordships, relying on its decision in OFIA v EJEM (2006) 5 SC (Pt. III) 41, held that the essential requirement for an action to be properly instituted or initiated in a representative capacity, is that there are numerous persons with the same or common interest or right of action; that the action is for the benefit of all the persons; and the action is taken by some of the persons for and on behalf of all the others. The issue of whether a suit or action was properly and competently commenced in a representative capacity is to be determined from the pleadings and evidence eventually placed before the court which must establish these essential requirements. The court held further that even where the writ does not reflect the capacity in which the suit is brought, or where the Claimants neglect or fail to seek leave to sue in a representative capacity, that factor alone would not be sufficient to defeat the claim so long as the pleadings disclose an intention to sue in that capacity - OTAPO v SUNMONU (1987) LPELR-2822 (SC) @ 20 C AND 27 E-F. In this case, there was ample evidence that there exists a common interest and common grievance as to how Exhibits A-A8 would be fulfilled. The 1st Respondent in his testimony as PW1 also stated that the suit was for himself, and others as listed in the said Exhibits. The court reasoned that all the preconditions to bring the case within the ambit of a representative action had thus, been met.

On the fourth issue, it was decided that where there is sufficient evidence to support concurrent findings of fact by the lower courts, such concurrent findings should not be disturbed.

Without any clear evidence of errors in law or fact occasioning miscarriage of justice, the Supreme Court will not interfere with concurrent findings of the lower courts - ENANG v ADU (1981) 11-12 SC 25. Having painstakingly gone through the concurrent findings of the two lower courts, the Apex Court held that it was clear that the concurrent findings of the two courts below, to the effect that the 1st to 9th Respondent had demonstrated their entitlement to the declaratory reliefs sought at the trial court, were in line with the pleadings and evidence adduced at the trial court and therefore did not occasion any miscarriage of justice.

Appeal Dismissed.

Representation O. Akoni, SAN with O. Awonuga, Esq; H.K. Salami, Esq; and A.Q. Abbass, Esq. for the Appellant.

Prof. A. Amuda Kannike, SAN with Chuks Uguru, Esq; and A.O. Yusuf, Esq. for the 1st to 9th Respondent.

Israel Obameji, Esq. for the 10th and 11th Respondents.

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

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Honourable Justice Abdu Aboki, JSC (Rtd)

Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola

Ope Olugasa

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

Abdu Aboki Bows Out of Judiciary After Over 40 Years Meritorious Service Alex Enumah in Abuja Tasks NASS on law limiting SC appeals to Presidential Election The Supreme Court last Thursday organised a Valedictory Court session to officially mark the bowing out of Justice Abdu Aboki, from the Bench of the Apex Court, having attained the mandatory retirement age of 70.

The occasion, which was chaired by the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, had in attendance, serving and former Justices and Judges of various courts in the country, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, former and serving State Governors including, Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, Aminu Masari of Katsina, Yahaya Bello of Kogi, former Imo State Governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha, among other eminent personalities.

In his remarks, the Acting CJN, noted that although Aboki spent a very short time on the Bench of the Apex Court, "his imprint on our judicature as orchestrated by his Lordship's eloquent judicial pronouncements, are glowing and indelible".

According to the Acting CJN, the Retired Justice clearly impressed on the Bench of the Apex Court "the fact that it is not always how far, but how well". He said, "our dear Valedictorian is a specimen of doggedness, integrity and humility. We admire him passionately within our fold; and I can assure you that, so many people are queueing up to follow in his footsteps in the outer world where his Lordship is now going in a blaze of glory with impenetrable judicial sagacity".

Similarly, the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, in his own remarks described Aboki as a "legal colossus and an exemplary judicial officer".

Malami, while observing that the just retired JSC creditably served in both the Executive and Judicial arms of govern-

ment, commended Aboki for excelling and reaching the zenith of his career.

"In this very succinct account of his Lordship's sojourn on the legal trail, evidence abounds, to his efforts at limiting the excesses of the Executive and Legislature, whilst also maintaining his integrity by an outward equanimity and fairness towards whatever issue is brought before the court", the AGF said.

On his part, new President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Y. C. Maikyau, SAN described Justice Aboki as an exemplary jurist, who deftly combines knowledge and integrity with the right demeanour and discipline, characteristic of a Judge.

"His Lordship is a thorough and disciplined jurist; counsel appearing before a Panel with his Lordship as a member or presiding, must be prepared to answer straight and probing questions. These questions often go to the crux of the case or appeal – an indication of his Lordship’s painstaking dedication to the adjudicatory function", Maikyau remarked.

While the NBA President observed that Aboki's judicial career, spanning almost four decades, has come to an end, he stressed that "it is the beginning of another stage of Your Lordship’s impactful life. I urge Your Lordship to enjoy the well-earned rest with your family from whom we have kept you away for far too long, even as I apologise in advance for occasional interruptions as we come back to seek your Lordship’s advice on knotty issues".

Meanwhile, in his remarks, Justice Aboki, now retired, thanked God Almighty and all those who made his sojourn in the Judiciary worthwhile.

While he called on the Executive arm of government to urgently review the remuneration of judicial officers, Aboki called on the National Assembly to re-enact laws that would reduce the number of cases that gets to the Apex Court.

According to the retired Justice, "only appeals relating

to Presidential elections should come to the Supreme Court.

Others should end at the Court of Appeal. This call is of utmost importance, in order to lessen the heavy burden of the Justices of the Court”.

Justice Aboki also suggested to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee, to

review the requirements for the conferment of the rank of SAN, explaining that the requirements is responsible for many frivolous, vexatious and needless appeals filed

by Lawyers desirous of the prestigious rank.

Hon. Justice Abdu Aboki was born on August 5, 1952 in the commercial city of

Kano. He started his primary education in Lokoja which he completed in Kano when he relocated there after his father’s death. He had his secondary education in at Government Secondary School, Hadeja, before proceeding to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he studied Law. Upon his graduation in

1976, he proceeded to the Nigerian Law School in Victoria Island, Lagos; and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1977.

Justice Aboki was appointed a High Court Judge in Kano State Judiciary in 1987. He was elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2006; from where he came to Supreme Court in 2020.

Lagos State, LawPavilion Sign Agreement on E-Publishing Last week, in a move to increase access to and ensure quick dispensation of justice, the Lagos State Government has moved to ensure that all State laws are published online.

The State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, disclosed this at a press conference held to announce the partnership between the Ministry of Justice and LawPavilion on e-publishing Laws of Lagos State.

Onigbanjo said the electronically published Laws of Lagos State will bring the administration of justice in Lagos State in line with international best practices, which technology serves as a major driver of legal initiatives. The new initiative

of e-publishing of the laws will also improve the ease of doing business in the State, as investors and other interested persons will now have access to all the Laws of Lagos State at a glance, the AG further added.

"The importance of creating awareness of the Laws that are being passed by the Lagos State House of Assembly, cannot be overemphasised.

"Therefore, the State, in its bid for continued effective and efficient administration of justice through the Law Reform Commission, entered into an agreement with LawPavilion Business Solutions, a technology solutions provider engaged in the business of publishing, distributing, and viewing electronic judicial authorities, cases and laws.

"The agreement is for annotation of the Laws of Lagos State, and conversion of these laws on agreed texts and format for publication on the LawPavilion electronic platform.

"This means that the annotated Laws of Lagos State are available to the public, and particularly to Lawyers all over the world", he said.

Onigbanjo stated that the State laws that would be available on the LawPavilion platform are the 2015 Compendium, and all the laws that have been passed from 2015 to date. He said those who want access to the Laws of Lagos State have the option of either outright purchase of the fundamental laws, or an annual subscription through

the LawPavilion platform.

The Managing Director of LawPavilion, Mr Ope Olugasa, in his remarks, described the electronic publication of Lagos State laws as the first of its kind in the country.

Olugasa said the initiative would make it easy for Judges, Lawyers, and other legal practitioners to have access to up-to-date laws of the State. He said his company has developed annotations for about 265 Laws of Lagos State, for use by Judges and Lawyers.

He also highlighted the importance of digitalising legal practice to aid dispute resolution, stressing that: "the speed of justice delivery in Lagos State has just received a boost".

Depleting Number of Supreme Court Justices Worries CJN The rapid drop in the number of Justices of the Supreme Court, has become a major source of concern to Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola.

The drop is a result of the retirement of the Justices who have reached the mandatory age of 70, but the CJN says the depletion of the number of Justices on the Supreme Court’s Vench burdens the court.

Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, at a Valedictory ceremony of retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Hon. Justice Abdu Aboki, Justice Ariwoola, said there are now very few Justices and the workload is heavy.

The Supreme Court had

announced the exit of Justice Aboki, who hails from Kano State. He retired from the court on August 5, 2022 having clocked the mandatory retirement age of 70.

With Justice Aboki’s exit, the number of Justices on the Supreme Court Bench dropped to 13, falling short by eight, of the 21 Justices the Nigerian Constitution provides as the full complement of the court’s Bench.

“His Lordship’s exit from our fold has drastically depleted our ranks, and opened a yawning gap that will hardly be filled”, Justice Ariwoola said.

Recalling that the number of Justices plummeted from 17 at the dawn of 2022, the

CJN further lamented that “a single drop in the number of Justices here, brings about a sudden increase in our workload”.

Reacting to the CJN’s concern, the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), faulted the appointment process of Justices to the appellate courts.

Onomigbo Okpoko, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who spoke on behalf of BOSAN, said the “appointment process appears to have been designed and operated to exclude good and competent Lawyers” from being appointed Justices of appellate courts. He pointed out the policy of Nigeria’s geographical spread in public service

appointments, as being “the foundation for the mediocrity and incompetence”.

Recalling the composition of the Supreme Court at Nigeria’s independence, Mr Okpoko said the Supreme Court was filled by five justices who hailed from the Igbo and Yoruba ethnic groups.

He said the replacements for English Judges at independence, were “picked from among the best Lawyers and Judges of the time”.

BOSAN queried the rejection of the nominations of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for appointment to the Supreme Court by the immediate-past CJN, Tanko Muhammad.

#upjudicialsalaries “The current condition of service of Judicial Officers in Nigeria, is pathetic. As at today, the salary of a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, is little above $1,000 (N705,000). This is the highest court of the land!!! The lower courts obviously receive less. This is grossly inadequate. I call for a quick and immediate improvement of salaries and conditions of service, of my Learned Brothers.” - Honourable Justice Abdu Aboki, JSC (Rtd)

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IMAGES

L

ast Thursday, September 15, a Valedictory Court Session was held at the Supreme Court in honour of Honourable Justice Abdu Aboki, Justice of the Supreme Court, who stepped down from the Bench having reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 on August 5, 2022. Here are some of the personalities who were in attendance…..

Valedictorian, Hon. Justice Abdu Aboki, JSC (Rtd)

L-R: Hauwa Aboki, Justice Abdu Aboki & his wife, Hon. Justice Hadiza Aboki of the Kano State Judiciary

L-R: Justice Hadiza Aboki; Justice Aboki and Editor of This Day Lawyer, Mrs Abimbola Onikepo Braithwaite

Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, JSC

L-R: Justice Hadiza Aboki; Justice Abdu Aboki; Hon. Justice Kudirat Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, JSC and her husband, Mr Akin Kekere-Ekun

L-R: Ahmed Raji, SAN; Justice Abdu Aboki and Justice Hadiza Aboki President of the NBA, Mr Yakubu Maikyau, SAN

Governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari Former President of the NBA, Mr Okey Wali, SAN L-R: Former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido; Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje and Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello

Hon. Justice Amina Adamu Augie, JSC (left) and EFCC Chairman, Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa Mr Sam Kargbo

Chief Judge of Ogun State, Hon. Justice Mosun Dipeolu

Chairman of the Council of Legal Education, Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN

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Former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN (left) and Mr Damian Dodo, SAN

L-R: Hon. Justice Dattijo Muhammad, JSC; Acting CJN, Olukayode Ariwoola and Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun

L-R: Hon. Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji, JSC; Hon. Justice Helen Moronkeji Ogunwumiju, JSC; and Hon. Justice Adamu Jauro, JSC

L-R: Hon. Justice Tijjani Abubakar, JSC; Hon. Justice Abdu Aboki, JSC (Rtd); and Hon. Justice Lawal Garba, JSC

Hon. Justice Amina Adamu Augie, JSC (left) and Hon. Justice John Inyang Okoro, JSC

L-R: Acting CJN Ariwoola; Hon. Justice Kekere-Ekun, JSC; and Hon. Justice Chima Centus Nweze, JSC

Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN Hon. Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, JSC

A cross-section of Judges

Acting CJN Ariwoola (left) and Prof Kathleen Okafor

Dr Sonny Ajala, SAN

Former Attorney-General of Lagos State, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, SAN

L-R: Duro Adeyele, SAN; former NBA President, Chief Thompson Okpoko, SAN; former NBA General Secretary, Mr Lawal Rabana, SAN; and Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN Hon. Justice Wale Abiru, JCA

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Mrs Olabisi Soyebo, SAN

“There is a Total Feeling of Unease in Nigeria Now” For most Nigerian Female Lawyers, it is a tortuous journey to the peak of the legal profession. In spite of these challenges, Mrs Olabisi Soyebo surmounted all to become the first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria from the North in 2008. She told Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi in chat last weekend, about her journey to the peak of her career as a legal practitioner, her deep seated concerns over the worsening economic situation in Nigeria, and the unprecedented mass exodus of Nigerian youths and professionals to greener pastures

Y

ou were elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate in 2008, the eighth woman to be elevated, the first from the Northern Zone and possibly the first from a younger age bracket. Tell us about your journey to elevation. Almost 50 years since the establishment of the rank, there are still less than 30 female Senior Advocates; what do you think is the reason for this? Is it discrimination against women?

The world watched in bewilderment when the National Assembly shamelessly refused to pass gender based Bills before it unapologetically. This

seems to have set the advocacy for gender rights backward. What is the way out? What would be your recommendation to the Presidential candidates with regard to inclusiveness and gender parity, as Kwara and Ekiti State have done?

My journey was a fairly traditional one. It started sometime after graduating from secondary school, Federal Government Girls College, Bakori in present Katsina State, when I was contemplating possible career choices, and my brother Jide suggested law as an option. With the encouragement of my parents, after

“It was upon conferment that my attention was drawn to the fact that, apart from being the eighth woman elevated to the rank, I was also the first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria from the Northern Region”

my A Levels, I proceeded to the College of St Elizabeth, New Jersey in the United States in 1982 with the intention of studying Pre-Law for two years before proceeding to obtain my JD in an American university.

However, after nearly two years at the College of St Elizabeth, my guidance counsellor, after reviewing my course credits noted that I only needed to take an extra year of course credits to obtain a full first degree in the social sciences, and that’s how I ended up with a BA in Sociology after three years of study, as opposed to the usual four academic years. Still yearning to study law, I proceeded to the University of Buckingham in the United Kingdom, from where I graduated with an LLB(Hons) in 1987.

I returned to Nigeria and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988.

My NYSC posting was to Kaduna State, with my primary place of assignment being the law firm of Messrs Abdullahi Ibrahim & Co. Indeed, I have been in active legal practice with Messrs Abdullahi

Ibrahim & Co to date.

Interestingly, when I first joined Abdullahi Ibrahim & Co, I’d indicated a preference for commercial solicitors work; but soon after, under the invaluable tutelage of our founder, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim CON, SAN (of blessed memory), I found myself immersed in active litigation practice and realised it was an aspect of the practice of law which I really enjoyed, despite the usual challenges and frustrations. I haven’t looked back since.

After many years of dedication to the practice of law, I was encouraged by those around me to put in my application for conferment with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria. I did so, and to the glory of God, I was privileged to be conferred with the rank in 2008. It was upon conferment that my attention was drawn to the fact that, apart from being the eighth woman elevated to the rank, I was also the first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria from the Northern Region. There is no doubt that, there is a disparity in the number of male and female Senior Advocates.

I believe the reason for the dearth of female Senior Advocates may, in part,

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“There is a Total Feeling of Unease in Nigeria Now” derive from the career choices being made. As while we qualify in higher numbers than our male counterparts, a high percentage of women leave the profession entirely within a few years of qualification, or they leave to different work environments. Each leaves with a story, and underlying these stories are most times efforts to achieve equality in the workplace or a good work-life balance.

It is certain that a career in active legal practice, can practically take over your life as a litigator. It is a profession that can easily consume all your working hours, and once you start a family, it can become tricky, especially in a traditional working environment where presenteeism reigns and flexibility is limited. From personal experience you do experience some guilt and struggles as you juggle pursuing a career and family life, especially in the early years when starting a family.

Furthermore, even though there are more women entering the legal profession than men, there is also no doubt that the issues of inequality and discrimination still arise in the workplace, and the legal profession is definitely no stranger to such. It can be covert, but it is still there. Luckily, some progress has been made, not only in the legal profession, but in the society at large. However, we still have a long way to go.

I have been extremely fortunate as a female in the legal profession. As a young practitioner, I had a boss (Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim CON, SAN) who treated all counsel in chambers equally; and, regardless of gender, assigned the same tasks across board. That was perfect mentorship! He instilled in me, amongst many other things, the importance of hard work, professional integrity and confidence. I learnt, I grew, and here I am today. I must add that, I also had supportive colleagues.

The distressing refusal of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to pass the gender based Bills presented before it, has indeed, taken gender rights many steps backwards.

However, we must call it out. It is unacceptable. Women must remain undaunted, and must continue to speak up and use their voices and influence to demand for real change.

We must not allow ourselves to be stereotyped or held back by stereotypes, and we must support other women and celebrate each other’s successes.

More importantly, in the instance, we also need law makers who are deeply knowledgeable, visionary, far sighted, courageous and committed. Finally, we need more men generally to care about this issue as much as many women do – everyone must be at the table.

Our presidential candidates for the 2023 elections, must champion true equality in their proposed policies and appointments. Nigerian women possess leadership skills, which the nation needs for the drive to prosperity. But, to harness this, they must be given the opportunity to use the best of their abilities, and all must come to recognise that diverse voices at the table ensures better outcomes. Real measures and actions need to be taken, to promote the empowerment of women.

Mrs Olabisi Soyebo, SAN

You specialise in commercial litigation and arbitration. How has the slow pace of litigation affected your commercial practice? Has it fostered the development of arbitration in Nigeria? What can be done to ingrain arbitration in Nigeria?

One of the challenges affecting Lawyers in practice, is certainly the slow pace of the judicial process.

However, I must be quick to say that this view is shared globally, except that the degree of delay has been found to be graver in certain jurisdictions. Interestingly, a lot has changed in my years of practice.

With commercial parties becoming more aware of the availability of arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution processes to resolve their disputes, the trend is now for more agreements executed by parties to contain arbitration clauses. Consequently, this drift piqued my interest in arbitration, leading me to obtaining a Diploma in International Arbitration, and I have been a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) since 2014. I started out by acting as a Registrar to arbitral panels, and over the course of time, going on to now sit as an Arbitrator both internationally and locally.

Acting as an Arbitrator has been very fulfilling, and I am sure my practice experience has been an extra bonus in enriching it.

To fully ingrain arbitration in Nigeria, it is important that the parties and practitioners alike, must be confident that the gains of arbitration are available to them, such as speedier resolution of their

“A Muslim-Muslim or ChristianChristian ticket of any party at first presentation is disquieting, bearing in mind the need for inclusivity and the fostering of unity”

disputes, confidentiality of the process, finality and enforceability of arbitral awards, support of the arbitral process by the national courts and current legislation that meets the new developments in the industry, to mention a few.

Fortunately, our legislature has now passed a new Arbitration and Mediation Bill which is awaiting the assent of the President, and which will replace the Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1988 which had been long overdue for amendments to meet the current dictates of the time. Finally, we must continue to raise awareness of Nigeria as an arbitral seat/arbitration hub, where arbitral disputes can be effectively resolved.

During President Jonathan’s tenure, a Sovereign Wealth Fund of $1 billon was established. You were listed as a member of the Committee to administer the fund. Kindly, shed some light on what that initiative achieved, and how it impacted on the economy?

In 2011, the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (Establishment) Act came into force. It established the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) with the mandate to make investments through three distinct funds namely, the Future Generation Fund, the Nigeria Infrastructure Fund and the Stabilisation Fund. The aim was to build a savings base for future generations of Nigerians, enhance the development of infrastructure locally, and promote fiscal stability for the country in times of economic stress respectively, for the benefit of Nigerians and future generations.

I was a member of the inaugural Board of Directors from 2012-2015.

The NSIA at the time, immediately resolved to apportion the available funds to each of the Future Generation Fund, the Nigeria Investment Fund and the Stabilisation Fund to kick start the laudable program.

Despite all the political distractions, the NSIA was immediately able to keep its focus and make considerable progress with respect

to the capital allocation of the seed funding of $1 billion with recorded returns in investments on each of the Future Generation Fund and the Stabilisation Fund. Capital commitments were also made to the Nigeria Infrastructure Fund in areas such as the agricultural sector, and progress was made with the flagging-off of the Second Niger Bridge project by the then President in March 2014. The Infrastructure Fund also invested in the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company, in efforts to stimulate the development of the local mortgage industry, as well as initiated the development of sophisticated diagnostic centres in the six geopolitical zones of the country.

A lot of commendation must be given to the then Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, for supporting and indeed, shielding the NSIA from a lot of the politics in the national field of play at the time. The NSIA has grown into one of the best governed Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWF), with it being the highest ranked SWF in Africa.

I believe that if the NSIA is allowed to function independently, not exposed to any politics of the day, and is properly funded in accordance with the law setting it up, it would indeed, flourish, and rise to be counted amongst the first tier SWFs. We must always remember that our SWF is for our own benefit, and that of the Nigerian children yet unborn.

The Covid-19 pandemic visited untold hardship on Nigerian Lawyers.

Along with the JUSUN Strike and #EndSARS, many Lawyers took to menial jobs to survive, including Uber driving. As a Senior Advocate, what did you learn from this, especially from the perspective of your Juniors in chambers?

The Covid-19 Pandemic was indeed, an eye opener. It was truly distressing, to learn that Lawyers had to resort to such jobs to survive. As a learning experience, it has shown that the legal profession must grow to where we can support one another. I do know that we must come together, and build a strong and virile NBA that can support its members in challenging times. It is Cont'd on page X

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“There is a Total Feeling of Unease in Nigeria Now” cont'd from page IX

noted that the NBA presently has an initiative cum insurance scheme in place, and we hope to see it fully at work.

The pandemic has also shown that the profession must not be too rigid – we must now be able to take full advantage of technology, with, for example, the advent of virtual proceedings in courts, and this must also filter down to the law firms with more mobile working policies.

I must acknowledge my juniors in chambers who appreciated that even through the lockdown and ‘downturn’, the chambers was still able to meet its commitments to each of them, despite the challenges being faced by some of their colleagues and even in the profession.

There are complaints that the quality of some of the Lawyers who are elevated to the Bench is not the best, and it has been a cause for concern for several years, given the crucial role of the Judiciary in society. You were once a member of the NBA Screening Committee to recommend Lawyers for the Federal High Court Bench. From that experience, what would be your recommendations towards reforming the process, to ensure that it is only the brightest and the best that are elevated to the Bench?

This is an issue that has attracted some attention in recent times, as we cannot close our eyes to the fact that this selection process has far reaching effects forming the foundation of subsequent elevation to the appellate courts. Therefore, the process for the appointment to the High Court Bench must be based on merit, and must be character-driven. I believe the yardsticks are already there, such as knowledge of the law, hard work, integrity, courage, previous antecedents etc. However, the question borders on the application of the established criteria. The process must be transparent, and politicians must not be allowed to manipulate the process.

We must not go back to the times when the outcry against appointments made was so loud, even the Justice Reform Project (JRP), a group made up of senior Lawyers, was constrained to challenge the appointments in court.

The Judiciary can only be effective when it has endeared the confidence of the public as the last hope of the common man, by exhibiting the highest standard of judicial independence and integrity.

Finally, I must salute the many silent Judges and Justices who stand out in brilliance, hard work and integrity, and continue to dispense justice without fear or favour.

What are your expectations of the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria? Do you have an agenda in mind for him?

My Lord, the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, is a very fine jurist, with a wealth of experience in the administration and delivery of justice. Indeed, he is from both sides of the divide – the Bar and the Bench. He is already well aware of all that needs to be put right,

Mrs Olabisi Soyebo, SAN

such as setting down a rigorous, meritorious and transparent process of appointments, zero tolerance for corruption, welfare of judicial officers and non-interference with the judicial process, etc.

My prayer is simply for the Almighty to endow him with the guidance, wisdom and strength of spirit, to leave a legacy of an independent, dignified and efficient Judiciary which will be the envy of other jurisdictions globally.

Do you have any objection to the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC? While some believe that it is unacceptable, especially vis-àvis the constitutional provisions regarding equity and inclusiveness, others argue that, given the turmoil that Nigeria is facing at the moment, what is paramount is the capacity to rescue the country, and not the religious make up of the Presidential ticket. Kindly, share your views on this Nigerians have the inalienable right to determine who governs them.

A Muslim - Muslim or Christian Christian ticket of any party at first presentation is disquieting, bearing in mind the need for inclusivity and the fostering of unity. The legitimate view of those who are disenchanted by the current events should not be ignored, or summarily dismissed.

However, I believe our first instinct should be for self-preservation.

We need to be rescued, from the precarious situation we are in right now as a nation. Our attention and focus must be on getting the most competent team as presented by any of the registered political parties, to salvage our situation and we must

“The end of the long drawn out strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is not in sight, the foreign exchange rate continues to soar, there is the unending challenge of poor power supply, our debt profile has reached a peak and corruption is staring us all in the face. There is a total feeling of unease”

not, despite how tempting it is, allow our sentiments to rule the day. Our prayer, backed by our actions, should be for progress, peace and unity to reign in our nation, and to be the legacy we leave for generations to come.

Your brother Silk, Femi Falana is in the process of filing a suit against INEC on the list of newly appointed Resident Electoral Commissioners, some of whom have been labelled partisan. Also, INEC bewildered the nation a few days ago by revealing that its website was hacked. Given these challenges, would you say the process leading to the 2023 elections is on course?

I am not privileged to have the details of the suit filed by my Brother Silk, Femi Falana.

However, it is imperative that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must remain and be seen to remain independent and nonpartisan, as we are at a critical stage in the history of this nation; and it is the actions and processes of INEC that will endear confidence in the voting public, and encourage voters to come out to vote on election day.

On the issue of INEC’s website being hacked, my understanding is that INEC confirmed that all the attempts to so do failed. There is no doubt that we are in the digital age, and cyber-attacks are a common phenomenon; however, what is important is that INEC’s cyber security system must continue to be robust enough to repel such attacks. With less than 160 days away, we have been reassured by INEC that their preparations are on course with regard to the 2023 elections. We have the new Electoral Act 2022 in place. Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) is being deployed. INEC’s outings at the recently concluded Ekiti State and Osun State Gubernatorial elections have been given a pass mark by a good number of accredited observers, and even voters.

Still a post-election audit should have now revealed all lapses and challenges encountered, to prevent future occurrences and prepare for a better outing in 2023.

It is our hope that these past outings are a warm-up and reflection of INEC’s preparations to meet the expectations of Nigerians, with regard to the 2023 elections. What is important is for the elections to be, and to be seen as, free, fair and credible; with the results reflecting the voting will of the electorate.

Finally, the question we should ask ourselves is, whether we are ready to exercise our right to vote on election day. We must not undermine this right in any way.

Kindly, share your views on the state of the nation, with emphasis on the campaign promises of this administration in 2015.

Nigerians across the length and breadth of this country, are lamenting the hardships being suffered from the high and unbearable cost of living to the state of insecurity everywhere. The price of food in the market continues to rise daily, such that it is practically impossible to make any reasonable shopping budget for any subsequent visit to the market. The end of the long drawn out strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is not in sight; the foreign exchange rate continues to soar; there is the unending challenge of poor power supply; our debt profile has reached a peak, and corruption is staring us all in the face.

There is a total feeling of unease.

17. Without mincing words, from conversations and observations, it has obviously become unbearable for a disturbingly great number of Nigerians.

The exodus of the youth and professionals, is troubling. A lot of people have been left disillusioned by this administration which came in on the mantra of change. Our understanding was that, it was to be a change for the better. Unfortunately, any strides made in infrastructural development, have been overshadowed by the avalanche of socio-economic and political challenges surrounding and bearing down on us.

Our Commander-in-Chief has reassured us that the end to our security challenges is in sight. That is a light at the end of the tunnel that we are anxiously, and indeed, desperately, looking forward to seeing. The enormity of our nation building project, is now upon us. All hands must return to deck, as we must rescue our nation from the brink.

Thank you Learned Silk.

XI

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

FOREIGN DESK US, Taliban Swap Prisoners COMPILED BY BAYO AKINLOYE

The Taliban Monday freed Mark Frerichs, the only American hostage remaining in Afghanistan, in exchange for a Taliban drug lord, Bashir Noorzai, serving a life sentence in a US prison.

Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi told reporters in Kabul the prisoner swap between his government and a US delegation took place at the Afghan capital’s airport.

Frerichs, the nearly 60-year-old American engineer and Navy veteran, was abducted in Kabul in early 2020 when the US and NATO troops were battling the then-Taliban insurgency in support of the Western-backed Afghan government.

In a statement, President Joe Biden said that Frerichs was on his way home from Afghanistan after 31 months in captivity there. Biden said he had spoken and shared the “good news” with Frerichs’ family.

“His release is the culmination of years of tireless work by dedicated public servants across our government and other partner governments, and I want to thank them for all that effort,” Biden said. “Bringing the negotiations that led to Mark’s freedom to a successful resolution required difficult decisions, which I did not take lightly.”

Zelensky: No Letup in Push to Reclaim Territory Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday there would be no letup in the effort by his country’s military to retake territory from Russian forces.

Zelensky’s comments – made during his regular nightly address – followed gains by Ukrainian forces in the Kharkiv region in northeastern Ukraine during a counteroffensive this month.

“Maybe now it seems to some of you that after a series of victories, we have a certain lull,” Zelensky said. “But this is not a lull. This is preparation for the next series... because Ukraine must be free — all of it.”

US President Joe Biden said in a CBS News interview broadcast Sunday night that Ukraine, with the aid of the United States and other allies, as well as “the incredible bravery and the incredible determination of the Ukrainian people,” is not losing the war.

Biden said winning the war means getting Russia “out of Ukraine completely” and recognising Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Asked about the military and humanitarian aid the United States has committed to Ukraine, Biden said the US will continue to support Ukraine “as long as it takes.”

Cameroon: Separatists Keeping 8 Abducted Clergy, Christians on Nigerian Border Cameroonian authorities have accused armed separatists of abducting five Catholic priests, a nun, and two worshippers from a church on its western border with Nigeria. The Catholic Church in Cameroon says the gunmen torched the church, in the town of Nchang Friday, before fleeing toward the Nigerian border.

Roman Catholic Church officials in Cameroon say fewer than 10 of the at least 200 Christians expected at Saint Mary’s Church in Nchang village attended their traditional church service Sunday after bishops reported a separatist abduction there.

Nchang is a western village on Cameroon’s border with Nigeria.

Cameroonian bishops say more than 30 gunmen stormed the church Friday evening, shooting indiscriminately in the air before setting the church building on fire. The bishops say five priests, a nun and two Christians were abducted and taken on motorcycles to the bush on the border with Nigeria.

Aloysious Fondong Abangalo, bishop of the Diocese of Mamfe, where Nchang is located, visited Saint Mary’s Church Sunday. He said a separatist attack Friday scared Christians away from attending the service.

Abangalo said he was surprised that some fighters who attacked Saint Mary’s Church were former church members.

US Carrier to Visit South Korea in Show of Strength To North Korea A US aircraft carrier strike group will visit South Korea this week, according to the US military, a significant show of strength amid concerns North

Korea will soon conduct a nuclear test.

In a statement, the USS Ronald Reagan carrier strike group will visit the southern South Korean port city of Busan, US Naval Forces Korea. It added that the strike group personnel would “visit and engage” with their South Korean navy partners and conduct a “cultural exchange” with the South Korean people.

After that, the navies of both countries will conduct joint exercises off the coast “to strengthen their military preparedness as well as demonstrate the strong will of the (South Korea-US) alliance for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula,” the South Korean navy said in a statement.

The South Korean navy statement added that the strike group would arrive in Busan Friday, a day later than anticipated, due to poor weather conditions.

It is the first time a US aircraft carrier group has conducted such drills near South Korea since 2017, during the height of tensions between former US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Five years later, following a brief period of US-North Korea diplomacy, tensions seem likely to ramp up again as each side becomes more comfortable displaying its military might.

According to US and South Korean officials, North Korea has launched a record-high number of missiles this year and has made preparations to conduct its seventh nuclear test.

Somali Military Recaptures Villages, Kills over 100 al-Shabab Fighters Somali army commanders say their forces killed more than 100 al-Shabab militants during weekend offensives to retake territory from the Islamist militant group. Witnesses say the troops also recaptured two villages that al-Shabab had held for more than a decade.

The Somali National Army said Monday that troops launched a fresh offensive against al-Shabab in the central Hiran region over the weekend.

Senior army commanders in Hiran who spoke to VOA via phone said that fierce firefights between the military and al-Shabab began early Saturday, especially in the villages of Aborey and Yasooman.

They told VOA that 75 al-Shabab militants were killed in the fighting in Yasooman and 30 in the vicinity of Aborey.

Local residents told VOA via WhatsApp that troops took control of both villages, which had been under al-Shabab control for more than a decade.

Speaking to media at the frontline, Abdifatah Hassan Afrah, the former governor of Hiran, said troops are defeating “the enemy of Somali people,” referring to al-Shabab.

EU Drafts Media Act Amid Spying Concern, State Pressure The European Union’s executive branch has unveiled plans for new laws that it said would help protect media freedom and independence in the 27-nation bloc at a time of mounting concern about the dangers of political influence in several member countries.

Spurred into action allegations of state spying on reporters, the use of political pressure on news outlets and the placing of advertising to peddle influence, the European Commission said the EU needs a European Media Freedom Act. “We see a lot of worrying trends regarding media in Europe, and it’s not only a matter of one or two countries,” European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova told reporters in Brussels. She said the proposed legislation is needed “for the times we live in, not for the times we would like to live in.”

The commission has criticised the governments of Hungary, Poland and Slovenia in recent years for trying to pressure their national media. But EU officials say they see the risk of political influence in more than 20 member countries.

Head of Hong Kong Journalists Group Charged with Obstructing Police The head of Hong Kong’s leading journalist group was charged on Monday with obstructing police officers, a case seen by critics as a further blow to media freedoms in the Chinese-ruled city.

Ronson Chan, chair of the Hong Kong Journalists Association, was detained on September 7 by two plainclothes officers while he was out reporting a story.

Chan, who requested the officers identify themselves before handing over his identity document, was handcuffed and arrested.

Speaking to reporters on Monday after he was formally charged with obstructing police officers at a police station, Chan maintained he had acted within his rights by asking to see the officers’ warrant cards.

He said he was charged with obstructing police officers and needed to appear in court on Thursday.

“Not an easy environment,” he said when asked whether media freedoms were deteriorating in Hong Kong.

Some Western governments have criticised the law as a tool of repression in Hong Kong, which was handed back to Chinese rule by Britain in 1997. Beijing and Hong Kong authorities say the law has brought stability after mass pro-democracy demonstrations in 2019.

Iran Police Tear-gas, Water Cannon Protesters over Woman’s Death People in the western Iranian city of Sanandaj, the capital of Kurdistan Province, took to the streets for the second night in a

row on Sunday to protest the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died on September 16, just days after being taken into police custody for allegedly breaking the country’s hijab rules.

Amateur videos posted online purported to show a group of women among the protesters taking off their hijab and chanting “Death to the dictator” in an apparent reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Police reportedly fired shots in the air and used tear gas to disperse the protesters. According to the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, which monitors Kurdish-inhabited areas in western Iran, security forces also used a water cannon to disperse protesters.

At least nine protesters reportedly have been injured in Sanandaj.

The protest came three days after doctors declared Amini dead on September 16 after she showed no brain activity since falling into a coma after being admitted to the hospital.

According to reports published on social networks, Amini had travelled from the western Iranian province of Kurdistan to Tehran to meet relatives when the morality police arrested her on September 13.

Ukraine: Russian Missile Struck Near Nuclear Power Plant Ukraine’s nuclear energy operator said Monday a Russian missile struck near a nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine.

Energoatom said in a statement the missile landed 300 meters from the Pivdennoukrainsk Nuclear Power Plant but did not damage its reactors.

The strike did damage nearby buildings, Energoatom said.

“Russia endangers the whole world,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Telegram in response to the missile strike. “We have to stop it before it’s too late.”

The Pivdennoukrainsk plant is Ukraine’s second-largest nuclear power plant. The largest, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, has been shut down since early September following shelling that Russia and Ukraine have blamed on each other.

Zelensky said Sunday there would be no letup in the effort by his country’s military to retake territory from Russian forces.

Zelensky’s comments — made during his regular nightly address — followed gains

by Ukrainian forces in the Kharkiv region in northeastern Ukraine during a counteroffensive this month.

“Maybe now it seems to some of you that after a series of victories we have a certain lull,” Zelensky said. “But this is not a lull.

This is preparation for the next series... because Ukraine must be free — all of it.”

XII

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2022 • T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 16Sept-2022, unless otherwise stated.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 188.74 189.89 13.07% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 8.53% Nigeria International Debt Fund 313.34 313.34 9.60% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 105.68 106.83 7.11% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AIICO Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 7.35% Anchoria Equity Fund 138.21 139.76 -0.75% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.18 1.18 2.76% info@anchoriaam.com ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 21.79 21.83 5.93% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 510.54 525.93 13.16% ARM Ethical Fund 42.50 43.78 9.10% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.09 1.09 0.35% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.06 1.06 4.41% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.05% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 90.74 90.74 -6.14% AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Naira 1,082.81 1,082.81 8.28% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.10 2.10 3.28% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.33 2.37 9.60% CAPITALTRUST INVESTMENTS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED halalfif@capitaltrustnigeria.com Web: www.capitaltrustnigeria.com; Tel: 08061458806 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Capitaltrust Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.02 1.02 6.02% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.29% Paramount Equity Fund 18.35 18.68 9.86% Women's Investment Fund 145.56 147.31 3.24% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 9.69% Cordros Milestone Fund 131.01 131.94 5.31% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 111.24 111.24 5.03% CORONATION ASSETS MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com, Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 9.72% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 9.76% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,120.40 1,140.62 0.82% EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-asset-management-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.36% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.04 1.04 8.65% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.03 1.03 2.90% Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 103.39 103.39 2.17% FBNQUEST ASSETS MANAGEMENT LIMITED invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Bond Fund 1504.48 1504.48 11.49% FBN Balanced Fund 193.06 194.37 10.16% FBN Halal Fund 123.59 123.59 10.92% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 10.23% FBN Dollar Fund (Retail) 125.95 125.95 6.00% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 157.51 159.62 4.93% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.62% Legacy Debt Fund 3.57 3.57 -10.83% Legacy Equity Fund 1.87 1.91 7.61% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.24 1.24 2.79% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn

Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

N/A N/A N/A

N/A N/A N/A

N/A N/A N/A

FSDH Dollar Fund N/A N/A N/A GUARANTY TRUST FUND MANAGERS LIMITED enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 10.13% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.92 2.97 4.94% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 6.00% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 142.88 142.88 5.69% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.23 1.27 3.39% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.06 1.06 3.35% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.61 1.64 13.77% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,170.13 1,170.13 6.56% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: www.meristemwealth.com/funds/; Tel: +2348028496012 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 11.98 12.06 10.05% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 10.71% NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 102.64 102.64 9.68% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 11.43% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM EuroBond Fund N/A N/A N/A SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 122.52 125.04 0.05% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.07 1.07 10.04% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,522.90 3,556.45 4.00% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 241.75 241.75 2.62% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.39 1.41 11.11% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 326.22 326.23 4.18% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 257.57 261.30 10.41% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.31% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 11,690.11 11,848.07 7.14% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.34 1.34 3.71% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 119.75 119.75 2.43% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 112.34 112.34 5.61% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Equity Fund 0.95 0.97 7.47% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.34 1.36 2.79% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.12 1.14 8.87% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.08 1.08 7.22% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 1.91 1.91 6.32% United Capital Eurobond Fund 123.33 123.33 5.80% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.00% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund 13.59 13.70 2.99% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 15.51 15.65 6.05% Zenith Income Fund 23.13 23.13 5.37% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.77% VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD funds@vetiva.com Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund 3.69 3.79 -7.88% Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund 6.01 6.11 2.85% Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund 17.88 18.08 1.09% Vetiva Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.73% Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund 17.82 18.02 -10.79% Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund 139.53 141.53 -11.49%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

119.15 52.07

5.15% 2.37%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

14.17 125.61 98.92 16.40 17.10

14.27 128.79 101.07 16.50 17.20

1.31% -1.18% -0.85% -3.44% 14.95%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.59

0.00%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund MERGROWTH ETF MERVALUE ETF

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

XIII

TUESDAY, S ͺ͸˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

THE ALTERNATIVE

with RenoOmokri

An IPOB Compliant President?

E

very time the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) issue their unconstitutional sit-athome order, there is widespread observance in many parts of the Southeast, and this is seriously hurting the Nigerian economy.

The Igbo of the Southeast are easily the most commercially-oriented and successful peoples in Nigeria, and each time their heartland is closed for commercial activity, the region suffers, as well as the nation. We do not yet have figures of the economic loss to Nigeria, but I will hazard a guess and say it has cost this nation almost a billion dollars annually.

But even beyond everyday people being forced to obey these illegal orders by armed and unarmed members of IPOB, what strikes me even more is that many prominent people in the Southeast avoid offending IPOB by having their events on a non-offensive day.

A good example is Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party. Without a doubt, Peter has the most hyperactive followers. They are constantly holding one or two million-man marches (that only one or two thousand attend) daily.

And especially in the Southeast. But curiously, this hyperactive bunch of people go suddenly mellow on any Monday that IPOB has its sit at home.

What is happening here? Is there a coordination or do they just honour and respect IPOB so much?

Or is it out of fear?

On Tuesday September 13, 2022, IPOB declared another sit-at-home order in the Southeast, to honour their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who was in court that day. And again, Obidients voted with their feet.

And it is not just them. What about their leader, Peter Obi? He has never held an event in the Southeast on a day the Indigenous People of Biafra have their sit at home. What is happening? Is Peter afraid of IPOB? Do they control him? Is his loyalty to IPOB or to Nigeria?

I do not like Governor Hope Uzodinma. However, I must commend him for being bold enough to host Buhari in Imo state in the Southeast on Tuesday, September 13, 2022.

The man may have gotten to his position as governor by ways we may not all accept, but he is showing leadership by defying IPOB. Something that Peter Obi is yet to do.

In 2023, Nigeria needs a President who obeys our Constitution, not one that obeys IPOB. By obeying EVERY IPOB sit-at-home order, Peter Obi shows he is an IPOB-compliant candidate. We cannot go from Buhari, with a regional mindset, to Obi, with an IPOB mentality!

We ignored the obvious telltale signs about Buhari that were self-revealing. Now, look at where that has led us to after seven years. Our economy has collapsed. Inflation is 20.52%, the highest it has been in 17 years. Our currency has shed more than 100% of its value, going from N199 to $1 on the parallel market in 2015, to N705 today.

How did we get here? Because we elected a man with a regional mindset who surrounded himself with mostly people from his own religion, region and ethnicity. And after consolidating himself in power, what did he do? He began rehabilitating

Kanu

Obi

Boko Haram, the same group that named him as their negotiator in talks with the Federal Government on November 1, 2012.

And how many times did Buhari condemn Boko Haram before 2015? Hardly ever. Instead, he defended them. On June 3, 2013, Buhari said that then President Jonathan’s military offensive against Boko Haram was “anti-North”.

And despite these obvious signs of clannishness and a regional mindset, we made the mistake of electing Buhari.

And now, we have Peter Obi, who, like Buhari with Boko Haram, is not willing to condemn IPOB. Rather, if they issue an order, he obeys them.

What hope is there for the corporate existence of Nigeria if we elect a man who cannot stand up to a group like IPOB who believes in the dismemberment of Nigeria? In fact, not only does Peter Obi not stand up to IPOB, he obeys them when they say sit at home!

He is a man that many people who were known IPOB agents now support just as militantly as they once supported and still support IPOB. Electing such a person does not make sense. It does not matter how many people Peter sponsors to lie against me, I will keep saying these truths. I was born without the fear and shame hormones.

Peter and IPOB are too close for comfort. Let Peter reassure those who believe in the corporate

existence of Nigeria, by publicly condemning IPOB and then scheduling his next 2 million-man march in the Southeast for the very next IPOB sit-at-home day. Then we will know he is for Nigeria’s unity.

We do not want to replace Buhari’s kid gloves on Boko Haram and herdsmen with Peter Obi’s caress of IPOB. We have had the Buhari experience. And it is a bitter one. We do not want a Buhari pro-max, who will do to IPOB what Buhari is currently doing to Boko Haram, viz. rehabilitating them, paying them ransoms, negotiating with them, and treating them like state actors. Once is enough!

A Nigerian president is automatically the Commander-in-Chief. What type of Commanderin-Chief would Peter Obi be if he cannot stand up to IPOB? IPOB says sit at home, and he sheepishly obeys. Is that how IPOB will order him around if he gets to Aso Rock? Tufiakwa!

If Obi cannot defy IPOB, then how can he stand up to Boko Haram, ISWAP, herdsmen, and bandits?

Weakness is conducive to terrorism. If in doubt, go to Kaduna and see whether Nasir El-Rufai’s policy of paying herdsmen and bandits has brought the peace he promised.

If you carry out a political DNA test on Peter Obi, you will find forensic markers of IPOB parentage in him. Why do I say that? Peter Obi wants to be the President of Nigeria. Therefore his Obidience

(to borrow his words) should be to the Nigerian Constitution. Yet, each time IPOB gives an order, Obi obeys it!

Now, in the Northwest, bandits are collecting taxes from communities. Just imagine if Kwankwaso paid such a tax to bandits, if Nigeria would not be on fire. They would run him out of town. Yet, IPOB orders sit at homes in the Southeast and Obi is Obidient to them. Yet, Obidients celebrate him!

I am asking pertinent questions that need to be asked. I cannot be cyber bullied by IPOB agents masquerading as Obidients and defaming me, or by sponsored lawyers petitioning the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against me. We elected Buhari by failing to ask these questions.

Peter Obi observes IPOB’s commands more faithfully than he observes his church’s doctrines.

He has been known to skip mass occasionally, when he has other commitments. But he has NEVER been known to skip Obidience to IPOB. If they order a sit at home, Peter MUST obey!

Peter Obi and his Obidients troop out en masse for their Obidient rallies. Then when IPOB announces a sit at home, they troop in. Troop out, troop in.

Their strength should not be only to cyber bully and insult online. Show Nigerians what you guys are made of. Stand up to IPOB! Let this hide and seek end. Let the cat-and-mouse game be a thing of the past and close my mouth forever. The next time IPOB announces a sit at home, Peter Obi should rally his Obidients for a 2 million-man march on the same day. Then, the rest of Nigeria can take them seriously! Absent that, they will only peter out after their electoral defeat in 2023.

And the confusion continues. The Labour Party says it is against the removal of the fuel subsidy regime and will fight it vehemently. Meanwhile, Peter Obi is vowing to remove fuel subsidy. What is happening here? Can two walk together except they be agreed?-Amos 3:3 These critical questions we will keep asking Peter Obi and other presidential candidates. No amount of blackmail will get me to back off. I was one of the lonely voices that warned Nigerians against electing Buhari. Look at what Nigeria has become under him. In 2023, we must get answers before we vote!

Reno’s Nuggets Anything God allows that happens to a believer is for their good. Nothing is bad.

For example, you fall sick. You see it as bad.

But because of that sickness, you could not travel. Others travelled and the car had an accident. In retrospect, was the illness bad or good? Have this perspective in all areas of your life, and anxiety will be far from you.

It will end in your favour. And if it is not yet in your favour, then it is not yet the end. #RenosNuggets #FreeLeahSharibu

Enugu Govt, NSIA Sign Agreement on Takeover of State Medical Diagnostic Centre The administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in Enugu State has signed an agreement with the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) for the federal agency to take over the state-of-theart Enugu State Medical Diagnostic Centre, Enugu.

The agreement was to pave the way for the NSIA to provide comprehensive medical, diagnostic and oncology (cancer) treatment services to the people of Enugu State and beyond.

Ugwuanyi’s administration had sequel to the approval of the State Executive Council (EXCO) reached an agreement with the NSIA for the upgrade of the Medical Diagnostic Centre in Enugu, built by the state government.

The agreement to take over the health facility was reached after series of negotiations between the Enugu State Government and the NSIA. According to a statement, Ugwuanyi, who was represented by his deputy, Hon. Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, signed the agreement on behalf of the Enugu State Government while the Managing Director of the NSIA, Mr. Uche Orji, signed on behalf of the agency during the ceremony held at the Kano Hall, Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

The signing of the agreement between the Enugu State Government and the NSIA was witnessed by the State Attorney General and

Commissioner for Justice, Chief Miletus Eze, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House, Enugu, Prof. Malachy Okwueze and the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Emmanuel Ikechukwu Obi. “Consequently, the Enugu State Medical Diagnostic Centre, Enugu will now be known as Medical Diagnostic and Oncology (Cancer) Treatment

Centre,” the statement added.

Speaking during the event, Orji, disclosed that the agency signed lease and collaboration agreements for the expansion of diagnostic services with three state governments (Enugu, Kwara and Kaduna) and five federal establishments, including oncology (cancer) treatment services with Enugu State.

Orji stated that the three state governments that participated in the exercise (Enugu, Kwara and Kaduna) had expedited action on negotiations with the NSIA and reached the stage of signing agreements.

He revealed that funds would be deployed to build, equip, maintain and operate modern health facilities across the country, adding that, “these

investments are expected to build new or upgrade institutions to modern medical diagnostic centres and provide access to advanced healthcare services for the benefit of lower income families with limited access to care and significantly enhance Nigeria’s ability to treat life threatening Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).”

In her remarks, Ezeilo, thanked the NSIA for the opportunity given to Enugu State to benefit from the healthcare expansion initiative.

She pointed out that the initiative was in tandem with the state government’s vision and commitment to quality healthcare service delivery for the people of Enugu State and beyond.

NSCDC Arrests 19 Suspected Crude Oil Thieves in Rivers Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Rivers State Command has paraded 19 suspects arrested over their alleged connection to oil theft and illegal dealings in petroleum products in the state.

Parading the suspects at the command headquarters in Port Harcourt, yesterday, the State Commandant, Michael Ogar decried the defiant attitude of oil thieves and those engaging in illegal bunkering activities.

He noted that in spite of the continuous sensitisation and relentless war against economic sabotage in the country, those milking from the nation's wealth through illegal oil dealings have blatantly refused to change their ways.

According to Ogar, the Marine

and Land Patrol team of the command arrested the 19 suspects at different locations in the state.

"Four suspects named: Peter Udo (20), Benjamin Godpower (16), Godgift Nicholas (19) and Goodness Sunday (19) were arrested with One Big wooden boat and a 40 HP outboard engine along Bakana River close to Bakana Community in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.

"In addition, three suspects named: Jacob Fewu (23), George George (20) and Stanley Bruce (20) were arrested with One wooden boat laden with 10,000 litres of illegaly refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), a 40 HP Outboard Engine used for propelling the boat.

"The Marine team in an all-night tactical operations arrested two additional suspects named: Ade Monday (27) and Abiola Gift (29)

with One wooden boat, 25 drums (6,250 litres) of illegal refined AGO and One 15 HP outboard engine,” he said.

The NSCDC boss also disclosed that the anti-vandal Unit uncovered a building used as dump site for storing locally refined AGO along Cornerstone junction in Ogbogoro, Obio Akpo Local Government Area.

"We discovered an underground Tanker containing unquantified litres of locally refined AGO, a Plastic Tank containing about 3,500 litres of AGO and a Pumping Machine.

The entire compound is now under seal and manned by our personnel while the Command would continue to chase the culprits till they are arrested and prosecuted accordingly," he added.

In another development, five suspects were arrested at Oyakama community in Ahoada west LGA

and Njemanze street in Port Harcourt.

The suspects included: Onorode Daniel (34), Samuel Odirode (32), Charles Okeke (43), Uche (32) and Chinedu Iroanya (36).

Ogar said the "suspects were in conveyance of an ash colour Toyota Sequoia SUV with number plate: LAGOS Epe 539 AT laden with about 1,000 litres of AGO, a Golden colour Toyota Camry Car with about 1,500 litres of illegaly refined AGO, an Ash Colour Toyota Camry Car with registration number RIVERS BER 951 MU, a green colour Toyota Camry Car with number plate: RIVERS AH 824 AHD laden with illegaly refined AGO concealed in cellophane and packed in sack bags which totalled 5,000 litres.

"Another building close to Akpos Jetty in Abuloma community in

Port Harcourt was also uncovered while the Suspects took to their heels upon sighting the NSCDC operatives; a short green and white colour DAF CF 250 Truck with number plate LAGOS EKY 206 XS laden with illegaly refined AGO and Pumping Machine were recovered as exhibits.

"The land Patrol team also arrested five suspects along Agwu/ Elechi street Mile 1 Diobu, Port Harcourt. They are: Musa Mohammed (36), Elisha Iyalla (18), Iyeneobong Emmanuel (25), Felix Ukele (45) and Mba Awajimimam (42).

"We recovered from them a green colour Sienna Car with registration number LAGOS DL 218 APP laden with 800 litres of AGO and a Truck branded liquid bulk with number plate LAGOS EKY 852 XS laden Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).”

XIV

T H I S D AY ˾ DAY Ͱͮ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

FEATURES

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

Cold Awakening for Yelwa-Shendam IDPs The Lafia Municipal Area Council had on September 1, 2022 demolished the Nasarawa State Internally Displaced Persons camp established about 20 years ago by ex-Governor Abdullahi Adamu in the Shinge area of the state capital, thereby ejecting the displaced persons caught in the web of the Yelwa-Shendam crisis of 2004, reports Igbawase Ukumba

Demolition of the IDPs Camp

I

n 2004, the clash between Muslims and Christians communities in the commercial town of Yelwa-Shendam in the neighbouring Plateau State had forced some inhabitants of the town to flee to Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State, as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Yelwa-Shendam had made its mark as an important commercial centre and was often described as a market town, roughly 20 kilometres away from Shendam town, the headquarters of Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State. With a majority of Jarawa, Jukun, Goemai, Hausa and Fulani ethnic nationalities, the two major religious outbreaks that led to the death of many had crippled the town as an economic hub in the southern Plateau.

The Yelwa-Shendam atrocity eventually led to the declaration of a state of emergency on the Plateau by the then President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Be that as it may, when the first wave of displaced persons from the Yelwa-Shendam crisis poured into Nasarawa State in March 2004, the then governor of the state; now national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, took immediate steps to assist the casualties.

Hitherto, the then governor of the Nasarawa State provided the casualties with basic relief materials and temporary shelter. This was even as Senator Adamu did whatever was necessary to reassure them that it was not in the character of the state to turn its back on those who needed its help.

Nevertheless, in a statewide broadcast to citizens of the state when the wave of the displaced persons from the Yelwa-Shendam crisis poured into the state in 2004, the then Governor Abdullahi Adamu said Nasarawa State was truly overwhelmed by the pitiable sight of the helpless men, women and children in the state, insisting that It was impossible for anyone who saw them not to be touched by their plight. He lamented that the victims were sucked into the crisis and have been ruined, hence had lost everything they ever called their own.

"They have lost their homes, their farms and other means of livelihood. They now live at the mercy of Good Samaritans. We share their loss; we feel their pain. However, as bad as their situation is, we must thank God that they were lucky to have escaped with their lives. Hundreds of other people did not. They died in the disturbances. We commit their souls into the hands of the almighty God for a peaceful, eternal rest," Adamu prayed.

The former Nasarawa State governor continued in his statewide broadcast that the Yelwa-Shendam disturbances had nothing to do with Nasarawa State, as the state was not in any way involved in them. But they were purely the internal affairs of its sister state.

But, Nasarawa State had been drawn into the disturbances by reason of geography.

Therefore, the displaced persons had become Nasarawa's problem as much as they were the primary responsibility of their home state government (Plateau).

It was a burden Nasarawa State bore as good neighbours. Difficult as the situation was, Senator Abdullahi Adamu then had only one choice before him; and that choice was to rise to the crisis forced on Nasarawa at that time.

Section of Stranded IDPs Adamu consequently responded to the task saying, "the displaced persons have run to us for succour. This is their hour of need.

We must be there for them. We cannot turn them away. We cannot deny them the milk of our kindness. We must share our food, no matter how little, with them. We must spare our clothes so they too can cover their own bodies. We must share our sleeping space with them and bear the inconveniences with grace."

The then governor concluded that the Yelwa-Shendam Displaced Persons had become Nasarawa State's challenge and responsibility. According to him, "it takes courage to take on a challenge and it takes commitment to discharge responsibilities. Let us not be found wanting in this great test of our humanity."

However, about 20 years ago, Nasarawa State might have been, either deliberately or intentionally, found wanting in that great test of humanity as the state had allegedly demolished the Shinge IDPs camp established

by Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and consequently ejected the YelwaShendam displaced persons out of their abode, not minding the torrential rains been experienced at that moment.

Perhaps, in an interview with THISDAY recently over the demolition of the Shinge IDPs camp by the authorities of the Lafia Municipal Council Area, the Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA) Mr. Zachary Allu Maga, welcomed the demolition scenario that Nasarawa State did not have any displaced persons in Shinge area of Lafia.

He maintained that any person that was there was a trespasser; and, therefore, was on his or her own.

When the NASEMA Executive Secretary was reminded that the camp was opened by ex-Governor Abdullahi Adamu in 2004 for the Yelwa-Shendam crisis' victims, he responded that the same governor who opened the camp had as well closed the camp. Insisting that the state government had explained times without number to people that it was not an IDPs camp.

Maga asked: "What are the Yelwa-Shendam people still doing there?. They are here doing business, then you say you are IDPs. Twenty years after, what are you still doing at IDPs camp?"

Be that as it may, on a cold Thursday morning of September 1, 2022, authorities of the Lafia Municipal Council Area, led by the secretary of the council, Mr. Mohammed Haliru, arrived the Shinge IDPs camp with bulldozers, in company of stern looking security operatives to carry out the demolition exercise.

Speaking to journalists on that fateful day, the council secretary explained: "The main aim of coming to this refugees camp this morning is to fulfill this assignment given to us. Before now, there has been an agreement between the state government and the local government that the refugees that are residing here should be evacuated, because the place was not given to them permanently. It was given to them on temporary basis.

"Now that government has a mission to this place, government decided that they should leave this place. We sat with them almost trice and they all agreed that they are going to pack and leave the place. Last week the Nasarawa Urban Development Board (NUDB) came and earmarked the area, they resisted. So the act of resistance exhibited by the refugees actually provoked government. This is the reason why we came here in full force."

The IDPs who were devastated by the act of the Lafia local authorities lamented that they have lived in the camp for close to twenty years when they were displaced by the Yelwa-Shendam atrocity in 2004. They went down memory lane on how the land was donated to then as an IDPs camp by the late Emir of Lafia, Isa Mustapha Agwai, alongside the then governor of the state, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

Narrating the ordeal of their abrupt sacking from the IDPs camp, an elder with two wives and four children who was also displaced to Lafia from Yelwa-Shendam crisis, Yakubu Musa, was sober that the people of Nasarawa State had insisted that they (Yelwa-Shendam IDPs) most vacate the land for them of which they don't know their offences.

"However, they are claiming that we are robbers, we are kidnappers. They are alleging that we are the people harbouring kidnappers in Lafia. But we told them that no member of our community has ever been arrested as a kidnap suspect. None of these allegations have been established on any member of our community. These are mere accusations, but they have passed the strenuous verdict on us; the displaced persons.

"It is unfortunate that all stakeholders in the state have turned deaf ears to the unverified accusations leveled against us, but

Before now, there has been an agreement between the state government and the local government that the refugees that are residing here should be evacuated, because the place was not given to them permanently.

It was given to them on temporary basis

had all concluded that the displaced persons should be ejected from the camp; moreso that kidnapping has been a nightmare in Nigeria," the displaced Musa spoke soberly.

The devastated Musa insisted that all accusations on criminalities leveled against the Yelwa-Shendam IDPs were unfounded because there was no case file in the police indicating the arrest of anybody from the camp over any alleged criminal activities.

He maintained that they have been living peacefully with their host community and other neighbours.

Musa recounted that the IDPs had since been neglected and left alone mending tents in the camp without support from neither government nor any spirited individual, but still there was no sympathy on them than the authorities to subject them to yet another severe hardship.

Musa concluded: "By and large, we have no where to go because in Yelwa-Shendam too our houses were demolished. All our assets were destroyed in the wake of the crisis in 2004. Nevertheless, we are calling on the government of Nasarawa State to come to our aid. The state government should know that Nasarawa and Plateau were once together as a state until they were divided later. Therefore, it will be inhuman for Plateau State indigenes to become outcasts in Nasarawa State at the moment.

For Mariam Sani; a displaced mother of six children, it was made known to them that they were going to vacate the camp, which they all agreed to leave the land for the government. However, Mariam was shocked that the IDPs were recently given only a two weeks notice to vacate the camp.

Based on the short notice to vacate the camp, the displaced mother of six children however said the IDPs had asked the Lafia Municipal Council Area authorities for extension of deadline to enable them look for alternative accomodations, because they were yet to get one.

She said: "However, they came again shortly that the two weeks notice given to us has expired. However, we still pleaded with them that we were yet to get where to put our heads and begged for extension of deadline, but they insisted that we are to leave the camp latest by the following day.

They then told us that they will be coming back to force anyone who did not leave by 12 noon out of the camp.

"Alas! By 6:00am the following day we saw the enforcers arrived when many of us were still in bed, bulldozing every structure in the camp. The action has had untold devastation on the displaced persons. The sacking of the IDPs has reminded me of the Yelwa-Shendam atrocity, hence apart from water, I have not found food into my stomach since the episode. " To be frank, the Yelwa-Shendam crisis did not affect us devastatingly as compared to what the authorities of Nasarawa State did to us at the moment."

Mariam lamented that the concern of the Yelwa-Shendam displaced persons in Nasarawa State was that they did not have anywhere to call a shelter, and even if they had found a place, she noted that they didn't even have the finances to foot the bills.

"We are therefore appealing to government at all levels and spirited individuals to come to our assistance," Mariam begged.

XV

T H I S D AY ˾ DAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2022

PERSPECTIVE

Samuel Ortom: Notable Milestones Despite the Odds Tunde Olusunle

H

is profile as some kind of activist chief executive, naturally compels some inquisition into the extent of his discharge of his basic, primary official endeavours. He was elected principally to provide leadership; foster sociopolitical harmony in a multilingual, multicultural polity; ensure security and contribute to the infrastructural development of his state. But then his voice is loud in the nation's ears, regularly alluding to government's abdication of its responsibilities to his people, if not its covert complicity with their tormentors.

He is never tired of voicing out specifically, the post-2015 traumas and travails of his innocent and hapless people, particularly in the hands of rampaging and ruthless Fulani insurgents. The nomads have made existence drab, dreary, depressing and despairing for his constituents.

The new year in 2018 in Benue State, was for instance, ushered in with the macabre massacre of 72 indigenes of the state by nomadic herdsmen. A mass burial of the victims on Thursday January 11, 2018, commanded global revulsion, as it was telecast realtime on terrestrial television.

Such killings, albeit on smaller scales, have recurred in the state again and again, becoming an obvious distraction on the path of good governance. Our subject remains unbreakable and vociferous, reminding us of lines from some evergreen compositions of the iconic *Afrobeat* musician, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. In response to the regime of malfeasance and injustice, foisted by successive Nigerian governments, Fela bellows: *I go talk o, I go talk plenty o/I go shout o, I go shout plenty o.* Samuel Ortom was inaugurated governor of Benue State, the trademark "food basket of the nation," May 29, 2015. He succeeded Gabriel Suswan, who is now the Senator representing Benue North East. Ortom was initially elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC). He was decisive, however, when he crossed over to the opposition party, the Peoples' Democratic Party, (PDP), July 2018. He opined at the time, that "the APC was no longer a platform that had the interest of the people of Benue State at heart." He expressed the conviction that "the amelioration of plight of his people would be better realised in the PDP." Ortom tells you he is not given to selfgratification. "I'm happy you were at the church service in my hometown, Gbajimba, in Guma local government area, a few days ago," he begins. You probably heard when John Dyegh, the member representing Gboko/Tarka federal constituency in the House of Representatives, spoke during proceedings. He made the point that much as we are working within the limits of resources available to us and peculiar constraints, we have not been talking. I agree with him. My style has always been for our efforts to speak for themselves. Maybe I'm publicity-shy. But I'm happy that you and I are talking now, so we can run through a few things we've done."

Continuing, Ortom says: "When I see on social media that Ortom has been governor for seven years and he has not built a toilet, I laugh. My predecessors did their bit, and I'm also contributing my quota. Coming to specifics, we are active in all the three senatorial zones of the state. Besides the civil service, agriculture is the mainstay of the economy of the state. Remember that is the motto, the legend of our geopolity. Primarily therefore, our focus is on rural roads which will facilitate the evacuation of farm produce from the hinterlands to the markets. The percentage completion of our various road projects are varied in instances, largely due to the resources at our disposal. In some instances, we have built the bridges and rolled out laterite, making the roads motorable. In some other instances, we have done surface dressing, while elsewhere, we have fully applied asphalt overlays on the roads."

Ortom's administration has also pursued urban renewal in the three main towns in the state, namely: Makurdi, Gboko and Otukpo.

In Makurdi the state capital, notable roads undertaken by his government include

Ortom

the: Bambam-Federal Low-cost Housing Estate Road, Off Naka Road and the John Kwaghgba Road. There are also the NKSTInternational Market-Yina Street, Off George Akume Way, the Gabriel Suswam Road, and the Terwase Agbadu-Yakyo Junction, Apir Road, among others. The urban renewal programme in Gboko, traditional headquarters of the Tiv nation, has gifted the town a new state-of-the-art palace for the *Tor Tiv,* the paramount Tiv royal. Roads like Isaac Shaahu, Martin Dent and Captain Dawn's Way have also been built in Gboko.

Veering towards healthcare development, Ortom tells you his administration has built 42 primary health centres across all 23 local government areas, (LGAs) of Benue State. The teaching hospital and all secondary health centres, notably General Hospitals, are undergoing massive upgrading. Ortom attributes the effort to a facility provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN). In the educational sector, thousands of hitherto dilapidated primary school buildings have been refurbished and are wearing new looks, while chairs and tables have been procured to end the practice of students sitting on bare classroom floors.

Ortom is equally excited about the gains of his government in agricultural development: "We have introduced new methods of farming," he affirms. "We've bought tractors and supplied fertilisers. We are also introducing new products to our farmers, like watermelon which, hitherto, was not grown in Benue, despite our rich and adaptable soil.

Research is also in progress on other crops compatible with our environment." It is a measure of

the high premium placed on agriculture that Ortom's government periodically declares "work-free days" to enable civil servants tend to their farms.

His administration has also tried to encourage "value addition" to agricultural produce, to create a value chain down the line, from the farm to the dining table. "As Minister for Trade and Investment," he notes, "we encouraged producers across the field, including in mining, to enhance the quality of what they produce. From processing, to packaging, to marketing and distribution, it's a long value chain. We can create wealth, employment and opportunities. If the products can be exported, that guarantees us foreign exchange.

We tried to get the Bank of Industry, (BOI), to put in a N2 Billion facility, to boost micro, small and medium scale enterprises here. It is doable in our state with 96% arable land, with two of Nigeria's biggest rivers, Katsina-Ala and Benue, which can ensure all-year-round farming. Government at the centre, however, has to do a lot more for the people, in the area of infrastructure for instance. Who can run a production line with the cost of diesel today, or the condition of national road network, which is largely decrepit?"

Salaries and pensions have become intractable issues in most states of the federation.

Ortom informs us he inherited a mammoth bureaucracy with its attendant high costs, from preceding governments. "Benue State has the largest wage bill of all the 19 states in the North. Placed besides all the states in the country, we come a close third behind much more richer states like Lagos and Rivers," he informs you. "I inherited a liability in excess of N70 Billion in salaries, pensions and gratuities, when we came in in 2015, and I've been able to reduce that by almost 50%, to N34 Billion." He is glad that his government has domesticated the National Pension Commission, (PENCOM) law, which will be critical to the resolution of the intractable problem of workers' entitlements. His dispensation has saved about N5 Billion with PENCOM, and hopes to build this up to N10 Billion, so as to leverage requisite facilities in PENCOM. To complement the conventional security agencies in the containment of Fulani herdsmen's incursions into the state and

Ortom is equally excited about the gains of his government in agricultural development: "We have introduced new methods of farming,"...It is a measure of the high premium placed on agriculture that Ortom's government periodically declares "work-free days" to enable civil servants tend to their farms

curtail their brazen attempts to appropriate land belonging to Benue people, the Ortom government has remained proactive. A "Community Volunteer Guard," (CVG), was recently established. This is in addition to the preexisting "anti-open grazing law" enacted by the state government in 2017, which prescribes specific roles for livestock guards, "agro rangers" in safeguarding the patrimony of the people of Benue State. Ortom is upbeat about the performance of these multilevel initiatives in protecting the state from those he describes as "enemies of the state, modern day neocolonialists." "We've arrested over 20,000 herds of cattle," he announces. "They are brought to our quarantine unit and defaulters pay specified fines. Your cattle will only be released to you if you hire trucks to move them. We've apprehended over 600 herdsmen who trespassed on other people's farmlands and the law requires them to pay additional fines. More than 200 of them have been convicted. They either pay the required fines or go to jail."

Making a detour into political discourse, Ortom admits his party is experiencing some challenges. He is reassured, however, that dialogue has been initiated at various levels.

His words: "I can't say that things are well with our party. But discussions are ongoing and that is what I've always encouraged.

Everybody cannot be winning all the time.

There are certain internal mechanisms that should be deployed in conflict resolution.

I'm interested in ensuring that we discuss amicably, so that we have a win-win situation." According to Ortom, "Nigerians must have an alternative political vehicle, different from the abysmally inept performance of the APC. They have succeeded in achieving their promise to take our country from top to bottom. They are indeed trying to take us beneath the bottom. It's a big shame.

Together, we in the PDP have to join heads to find meeting grounds on contentious issues so that we can move on."

And just if the 2023 polls were just tomorrow, how does he think his party will fare?

"I can't see the APC winning the elections.

They are being shredded at various levels.

Two weeks ago, two of the five APC members of the State House of Assembly, decamped to PDP. There are 30 members of the House, so only three are left. APC doesn't feature in day-to-day conversations in Benue State and the situation is the same in several states.

There are glaring lacunae, total disconnect between APC and the people of Nigeria.

Speaking from my experience in over 40 years of my experience as a politician, I can't see APC competing with the PDP inspite of our problems."

Asked if those he once accused of stalling a one-on-one encounter between him and President Muhammadu Buhari had pulled back, Ortom says they haven't. This he says, has compelled him to come out in public to express his displeasure on issues. "They haven't backed down. It's the second year running and I can't see the President. People can be so unduly wicked even unto themselves and their constituents. We applied for a bailout of N42 Billion from the government to clear the backlog of our commitments to our workers. At the point of the release of the fund, some people who call themselves leaders of Benue State, leverage their relationships with the federal government, not to release the funds. They didn't want us or our party to take the credit for balancing the books. Can you imagine?"

Ortom is delighted when you admire his signature, multi-coloured cap, which has been widely popularised under his leadership. He brands it the "Benue Unity Cap." The idea behind the concept, he says, was to make the point very early in the life of our administration, that we intended to run an all-inclusive government, which accommodates all and every ethnic group in the state. The three widely known ethnicities here are the Tiv, Idoma and Igede. There are others, but these three constitute the principal tripod. You will also see the Nigerian "green and white" colours there, which reaffirms our place under the national umbrella."

-Tunde Olusunle, PhD, poet, journalist, scholar and author, is a Member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, (NGE).

XVI

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2022

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT Civil Societies Call for Global Mobilisation to Address Climate Crisis Bennett Oghifo

C

ivil society groups from Egypt, African countries and the Arab world have come together to call for a global mass mobilisation of people everywhere to address the root cause of the climate crisis and other injustices.

The coordinators said the action is scheduled to take place around the world during the COP27 global climate talks this

November.

They are launching the ‘COP27 Coalition’ with an invitation to civil society groups around the world to join them in demanding an end to climate and other injustices, and an urgent response from governments and leaders to tackle climate change and other linked crises.

They are calling on citizens to join in a decentralised Global Day of Action on Saturday, November 12th, during the COP, organised in cities and

towns across the globe, and to help mobilise millions of people under a call for climate justice and bring movements together to build real power for systems change.

They are also calling on civil society to organise People’s Forums wherever they are throughout the duration of the COP to organise collective action and demand effective action by leaders and governments.

The COP27 Coalition demands a ‘reset’ of the mul-

tilateral system to address the scale of the challenge, as part of a wider agenda to address climate change.

To achieve climate justice, the groups are calling for efforts to: r%FDPMPOJTF UIF FDPOPNZ and development.

Faced with multiple crises, developing countries must reframe and implement alternative models of development that move away from Northern models of economic growth, which have proven to be a failure and are the cause of

many of the crises, including the climate crisis, today.

Enable a just transition to 100% renewable energy through an equitable phase out of fossil fuels.

Prioritise public health, food sovereignty, agroecology and decent living conditions.

Restore nature and defend the rights of Mother Earth. r&OTVSF SJDI DPVOUSJFT SFQBZ climate debts: Rich countries have historical responsibilities for the climate crisis and must fulfil their obligations and fair

shares by reducing their emissions to zero and providing poorer nations the scale of financial support needed to address the crisis. r4UPQ GBMTF TPMVUJPOT "GSJDB and other developing countries are fast becoming the dumping grounds for false solutions, many of which are driven by corporations who see the climate crisis as a way of profiteering, and which have devastating consequences for frontline communities and must be stopped.

ICE Commercial Power to Provide Renewable Micro-utilities in Underserved Communities Bennett Oghifo ICE Commercial Power, a Nigerian-based renewable energy provider, has said its bold mission is to provide electricity to connect the unconnected with solar systems.

This, it said, would be done by providing distributed micro-utilities in underserved communities.

Their resolve is based on the fact that Africa faces an enormous energy challenge, with growing populations and an infrastructure that is often unreliable. Modern renewable power options can bring electricity and development opportunities to areas that have never enjoyed those benefits, spur economic and industrial growth,

and support increased growth across the continent.

Nigeria has the largest economy in Africa, and the largest GDP, but according to the World Bank, Nigeria’s electrification rate is only just higher than 55 percent, meaning that nearly half of the over 215 million people in Nigeria do not have access to reliable electricity. This weak electricity infrastructure significantly hampers economic development.

Micro, small and medium businesses are the hardest hit by unreliable power, with self-generation for business operations accounting for most of the business running costs.

Many of Nigeria’s SMEs rely on using generators to provide

power, but these machines can be unreliable, and the fuel and maintenance costs are high.

According to the African Development Bank (AfDB), Nigerians spend about $14 billion on generators and fuel yearly in order to avoid crippling downtime for their businesses. SMEs play a vital role in driving economic growth and job creation on the continent.

Connecting SMEs to alternative energy sources helps to minimize downtime and maximize productivity.

ICE Commercial Power develops solar energy projects that allow small businesses and underserved communities to connect to reliable and affordable clean energy, monitor their energy

usage online and better manage their power consumption.

Businesses participating in the programme can see exactly how much power they are consuming, and the associated cost.

Before partnering with Microsoft, ICE had deployed an early pilot project as a proof-of-concept for their new model for off-grid electrification at the last-mile. For this work, ICE deployed 20 solar microgrids connecting 170 underserved microbusinesses across three communities. However, the company found that much of their maintenance and operational procedures had several manual steps and required considerable human intervention to ensure a smooth customer experience

for connected microbusinesses.

Two challenges emerged Pre-installation, the ICE team discovered that the process of sourcing prospective microgrid sites and potential customers simultaneously across several target communities requires the collection and analysis of large datasets of hyperlocal geospatial and demographic data.

This process can often be very fragmented and cumbersome.

Strong community engagement and the accurate surveying of target last-mile communities leads to effective go-to-market strategies to support the deployment of distributed microgrids at scale.

In addition to installing solar

panels and battery storage for each microgrid, ICE utilizes IoT-enabled smart meters and inverters to track microgrid performance for remote monitoring and asset management. A centralized cloud solution to remotely track and manage all field-deployed assets is critical for ICE’s operational viability.

Furthermore, after installation connected customers were making payment for clean energy using various modes (POS, USSD, mobile bank transfer from several banks). The lack of a centralized platform for collecting payments presented a major operational challenge, especially as ICE looks to scale the model to thousands of connected microbusinesses.

NIQS, Family Homes to Sign MOU on Training Fadekemi Ajakaiye The Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) and Family Homes Funds Limited (FMFL) have agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on capacity building for the staff of FMFL on costing and cost management of construction projects.

The two organizations reached the agreement on Tuesday when the leadership of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), led by its President QS Olayemi Shonubi, FNIQS paid a courtesy visit

to the head office of Family Home Funds Limited in Abuja.

Speaking during the visit, the Managing Director/CEO of Family Homes Funds Limited, Mr. Femi Adewole said he was delighted by the offer from NIQS to train the staff of his organization, noting that the gesture will ensure that its projects adhere to all regulations in a manner that guarantee the structural integrity of the buildings.

He explained that FHFL has so far disbursed N68billion to fund three of its products; the Affordable Housing Fund, Help to Own and Rental Housing

NIQS President, QS Olayemi M. Shonubi, FNIQS, presenting a souvenir to the MD/CEO Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL), Mr Femi Adewole, during a courtesy visit to the Fund’s office in Abuja... recently

Fund which aim to support the development of up to 500,000 Homes targeted at people on low income over the next 5 years.

“Towards achievement of this goal, we will work in partnership with public and private sector developers by providing competitively priced direct financing – both debt or equity to finance projects that meet our strategic objectives,” Adewole said.

Adewole said FHFL Homes Funds Limited was excited by the hand of fellowship extended to it by NIQS while assuring Nigerians of his organization’s readiness to work with critical stakeholders in the Built Environment to catalyze the provision of at least 500,000 homes and the creation of 1,500,000 jobs in the process.

Earlier in his address, the President of NIQS, QS Shonubi called on the Managing Director of FMFL to adopt stamped Bills of Quantities (BOQ) from Registered Quantity Surveyors as requirement for funding housing development.

Shonubi said that only Bills of Quantities signed and sealed by a Registered Quantity Surveyor should be accepted from Developers seeking finance from FHF Limited under the Affordable Housing Funds.

According to him, “doing so will ensure that only realistic and workable estimates are provided by these developers and thus reduce time and resources wasted in evaluating such schemes that are later

found to be unrealistic.”

Expatiating, Shonubi said the adoption of BOQ duly signed by certified Quantity

Surveyors will also enable FHF Limited take full advantage of the competencies and inherent core values of professional cost

managers, namely transparency, accountability, probity and value for money in developmental projects.

Edo Begins Rehabilitation of Country Home, Limit Road Junctions in Benin Fadekemi Ajakaiye The Edo State Government has mobilised contractors to begin the reconstruction of Limit and Country Home Motel Junctions on the Sapele Road axis in Benin City as part of efforts to check flooding in the area, reassuring that the project will be completed in record time.

The Chief of Staff to the Edo State Governor, Hon. Osaigbovo Iyoha, who spoke to journalists after an inspection tour of drainages in the area, said the project will help check flooding in the area to protect lives and property of residents.

He said, “We are at Sapele Road and have gone round to check the drains from Country Home Motel Junction to Limit Junction in Sapele Road to see the construction area and what the state government is doing to help solve the perennial problem of flooding.

“As you well know, the government keeps fixing the Country Home Motel Junction for many years and the problem keeps recurring yearly as we always come back to do the same thing

all over again. But through the government’s intervention with the Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Development Commission (EDSOGPADEC), we are trying to fix it; finally we have a permanent solution to it.

“We have gone round and seen that this particular place used to be a base. So, what EDSOGPADEC has done here, from what I am seeing, is solid and will withstand the pressure of any level of water coming and it doesn’t store here anymore.”

Iyoha continued, “Even if it’s a Federal Road, people make use of the road and it has caused so much trouble.

So, we will try as much as possible to fix it and stop what has gone wrong with RCC Road.

“Our people have a responsibility; it’s the height of irresponsibility for you to occupy a business place and see the drainage blocked and do nothing about it. They dump all their dirt on the road and it goes into the drainage.

If the government plays their part, the people should do the same as well.”

Reassuring that the govern-

ment remains committed to improving the lives of Edo citizens, the Chief of Staff added, “In the next couple of days, the project should be done. The only problem is the asphalting of the road due to the rain, but the drainage will be done with or without the rain, within a week all should be done.”

The Chairman of EDSOGPADEC, Pastor Osifo Kennedy said, “We are actually here in line with his Excellency’s directive that we should quickly intervene to avert what is happening in RCC and Ogheghe Junction. So, we had to swing into action immediately and on getting here, we found out that the drains were already collapsing and water wasn’t flowing any longer. So, we had to collapse the drain and reconstruct another one.

“Just as the Chief of Staff said, in the next few days, we will be done. Whatever we are doing here is solid. So, we have nothing to be afraid of. We are in Sapele Road to find a lasting solution to the persistent flood problems reoccurring at Country Home Motel Road.”

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2022

19

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

A T

REPO

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

08056356325

S E P T E M B E R

S & P INDEX

2 0 , 2 0 2 2

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OPR

11.25%

CALL

10.25%

INDEX LEVEL

613.31%

1/4 TO DATE

-0.85%

N416.86/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

11.50%

1-MONTH

9.56%

1-DAY

0.16%

YEAR TO DATE

7.64%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10.52%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.44%

S&P: Near-term Oil Price to Peak at $55/barrel as Consumption Slows in Europe, Others Developing nations to drive new demand Says 2° reduction in global warming unachievable now

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja As oil peaks in Europe and other parts of the world, S&P Global Commodity Insights, a market research and intelligence firm, has projected a $55 per barrel price after the current supply tightness being experienced in the sector.

In a new report tagged: “Energy Transition: Developing Markets Are Still Fuelling Demand For Oil,” S&P said however stated that if the Russia and Ukraine war tarries, price could peak at $80.

The global oil market is at the

moment going through some supply issues as Nigeria continues to lead the production underperformance by various producing countries.

In August, Nigeria hit a record low oil production of 972,394 barrels per day according to data obtained from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) yesterday.

The development marked a new nadir in the downward spiral in Nigeria’s capacity to drill enough oil to boost its desperately needed foreign exchange even at a time that the price of the commodity

is hovering around $100.

The decrease below the 1 million bpd mark in production in August despite months of assurances of planned improvement by the Nigerian authorities is more than 10 per cent compared to the July 2022 production of 1.083 million barrels per day. The quota production allocated to the country for the month was 1.826 million barrels per day.

“Looking beyond the current market tightness and the inevitable recalibration period, economic cost fundamentals indicate that the price of oil should settle near $55

per barrel.

“However, should geopolitical tensions and disruptions to oil supplies last, such as the RussiaUkraine conflict, long-term oil prices could certainly climb to average $80/ bbl or more, at least temporarily, ”the report said.

Again, it explained that upward pressure on long-term oil prices could also be influenced by increased climate-related costs for producers, such as voluntary or compliancerelated carbon costs, or requirements for higher returns on investments.

“On the other hand, the reduction

of oil production costs and further policy efforts to push down oil demand could see oil prices fall to the low $50s or even to $40/ bbl (in real terms) under a 2 degree scenario, with only supply at the lowest cost able to compete in a smaller oil market,” S&P added.

On demand, it noted that it is expected global oil demand growth will peak at 112 million barrels per day (mbpd), up from 101 mbpd this year as developing markets keep expanding.

In a scenario where the world is on track toward limiting global

warming by 2 degrees, the likelihood of which the firm said it considers low, S&P noted that oil demand will still exceed 87 mbpd by 2040, corresponding to a decrease of 1.5 per cent per year on average.

Should this happen, it projected that it will be partly mitigated by OPEC’s ability to adjust supplies and by the typical annual 4 per cent to 5 per cent natural decline of oil fields.

“It (demand) had already peaked in developed countries in 2019, before Continued on page 20

FG Pledges Commitment to Boosting Nigeria’s Agric Processing Capacity Gilbert Ekugbe Worried over the export of unprocessed ago commodities, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, has stated that it would prioritise efforts that would increase Nigeria’s capacity to process its agricultural products before exporting them The Permanent Secretary at the ministry, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, said this would be achieved through

the establishment of several cottage industries for the production of staple food products in a competitive and comparative advantage manner.

Umakhihe stated this at the 45th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Rural Development (NCARD) in Jos, Plateau State. The theme of the meeting was, “Strengthening Agricultural Value Chains Development Process for Food Security and

Economic Development.”

Represented by the Director, Department of Agriculture Land and Climate Change Management Services, Mr. Shehu Bello, he said that the ministry would collaborate with state governments and other stakeholders to improve the development of agricultural commodity value chain development and enhance the livelihood of the smallholder farmers.

He described the development

FOOD

COMMODITIES

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

RICE

100KG

ABUJA

N23,000–N25,000

SORGHUM

50KG

OYO

N22,000-N25,000

50KG

PLATEAU (JOS)

N23,500-N25,000

50KG

KWARA N24,000–N27,000

50KG

LAGOS

50KG

RIVERS N23,000–N26,500

50KG 50KG

of agricultural commodity value chain as strategic implementation imperatives, which required robust discussion and deliberate decisions on intervention models for crop/ horticulture production, livestock/ veterinary services, fisheries and aquaculture as well as agribusiness undertakings.

Umakhihe said: “The foundation to achieve the desired success is the commitment to the provision of incentives, increase the

SIZE

PRICE

STATE

100KG JIGAWA

NAME OF COMMODITY

N9,000

C O C OA

BENUE

N8,500

100KG

KADUNA

N8,500

50KG

ENUGU

N23,000

50KG

LAGOS

N17,000

SOKOTO N11,500–N13,000

100KG

DELTA

N23,000

N17,000–N20,000

100KG

ABIA

N23,000

EDO

besetting the sector with a focus on strengthening and developing agricultural value chain.

In his welcome address, the Plateau State Commissioner of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Hosea Finangwai, appealed that the memorandum for the upgrade of the Potato Station at Karu be given priority on its merit.

Finangwai added that the state Continued on page 21

T O D AY

PRICE

100KG

N23,000–N26,500

output and quality of agricultural commodities to meet and surpass national requirements as well as achieve a diversified economic base with agriculture leading the way for the non-oil sectors of the economy.”

He revealed that the ministry, through the launch of National Agricultural Technology Innovation Plan (NATIP) 2022 – 2027, has demonstrated commitment to address all conceivable challenges

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

1 TON

ONDO

N740,000 – N760,000

1 TON

OSUN

N730,000 – N750,000

1 TON

EDO

N720,000 – N740,000

1 TON

CROSS RIVER

N700,000 – N720,000

1 TON

AKURE SOUTH, ONDO

N730,000 — N755,000

20

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS FOOD

NAME OF COMMODITY

PALM OIL

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

25CL LAGOS N20,000-N25000 25CL

PH

NAME OF COMMODITY

TOMATOES

N19,500 – 25,000

COMMODITIES SIZE

STATE

40KG BENUE

PRICE

N15,000

40KG

KADUNA

N5,000

40KG

ABIA

N18,000

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

IMO

N21,000–N24,500

25CL

EDO

N19,000–N21,000

25CL ABUJA

N19500- N25000

25KG LAGOS

N9,500

40KG DELTA

N17000

PRICE

T O D AY

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

ONIONS

100KG

IBADAN

N25,000

100KG

KANO

N10,000

100KG

BENUE

N27,000

100KG GOMBE

N12,000

100KG DELTA

N21,000

100KG LAGOS

N25,000

100KG ENUGU

N15,000

100KG

N29,000

ABIA

NAME OF COMMODITY

MAIZE

LOCATION

PRICE

100KG JIGAWA

N9000

100KG ENUGU

N24000

100KG DELTA

N15000

100KG ABIA

N14000

50KG LAGOS

N13500

SIZE

S&P: NEAR-TERM OIL PRICE TO PEAK AT $55/BARREL AS CONSUMPTION SLOWS IN EUROPE, OTHERS

the pandemic, but further growth will now be fuelled by developing countries,” S&P stated.

That said, S&P said a host of factors could place the actual peak at any time between 2030 and 2040, since oil demand is projected to stay relatively flat after 2030.

S&P also cast doubts over the possible realisation of a 2 degree global warming reduction as being

pushed by some of the developed countries of the world.

Nigeria has set 2060 as its NetZero target, although it remains to be seen how that will be achieved with the country still largely dependent on its oil production for the much-needed foreign exchange supply.

Earlier this month, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was

in the United States where he proposed a Debt-For-Climate Swap deal to achieve “a just and equitable energy transition” for Africa, saying it would significantly advance the course of global net-zero emissions targets.

Since Nigeria and the whole of Africa emits less than 3 per cent of the global volume, Osinbajo said the debt for climate swap will

allow for bilateral or multilateral debts to be forgiven by creditors in exchange for a commitment by the debtor to use the outstanding debt service payments for national climate action programmes.

“However, even considering this sizable decline, the current oil demand trend is far from consistent with limiting global warming to 2 degrees, let alone

to 1.5 degrees or lower in line with the Paris Accord. Global oil demand needs to peak by 2025 for global emissions to be in line with S&P 2 degree trajectory by 2050,” S&P said.

It added that the impact of the energy transition will therefore likely be more gradual when it comes to oil, considering that oil underpins a major part of the global

economy.

Moreover, the report noted that there are limited immediate alternatives to oil in some use cases, unlike for coal and gas, which renewables can replace in power generation, for instance.

It observed additional pressure on oil companies from financial markets because of environmental considerations.

NEITI: Nigeria Set for Validation of Transparency Rating in Extractive Industry Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has disclosed the country’s readiness for the forthcoming validation of its implementation of the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI).

As a result, NEITI said it was

stepping up its mobilisation and sensitisation efforts among the critical stakeholders in the extractive industry and engagement with civil society groups ahead the January 2023 exercise.

Speaking during a civil society engagement on EITI validation in Abuja , NEITI’s Executive Secretary, Dr Ogbonanya Orji, said the exercise

was intended to prepare and sensitise the civil society and the media on their roles in the implementation of the EITI process in the country.

Orji said NEITI had developed a plan of action by reviewing its internal and external processes based on Nigeria’s accomplishments as a leading EITI member country.

“The NEITI management team

has undergone training on the new validation model and constituted two separate committees -the Validation Committee and Shadow Validation Committee.

“The validation Committee is made up of the NSWG, with the Secretariat currently providing technical support, while Shadow Validation Committee is expected

to critically review progress made by the Validation Committee, identifying gaps and advising on maximizing opportunities,” Orji said.

To ensure adequate preparation and stakeholders’ feedbacks beyond, he said NEITI had since commenced a national sensitisation programme to deepen stakeholders

understanding of the EITI process and validation exercise at subnational level.

“Nigeria through NEITI is therefore ready to showcase outstanding accomplishments which the EITI implementation has made possible in Nigeria’s extractive sector reform,” Orji announced.

OEC, Others Restate Support for Revamp of Nigeria’s Power Sector Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Organisation for Economic Cooperation (OEC) also known as the Developing-8 countries, has restated its support for Nigeria’s power sector reforms, noting that Nigeria can leverage on member countries’ learning experiences to develop its electricity market.

Popularly known as the ‘D-8’, an organisation for development

cooperation, it comprises Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Turkey and Nigeria.

The organization, which gave the indication during a courtesy visit to the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) in Abuja, acknowledged that some members

Reporters Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy) Ugo Aliogo (Development)

quoted the Managing Director, NBET, Dr. Nnaemeka Ewelukwa as acknowledging during the visit, the mutual relations and cooperation between both organisations as well as the support in the area of energy development and economic growth.

Leveraging on its recent

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Energy Exchange, Istanbul (EXIST), NBET stated that it was set to implement a series of actions towards a quick turnaround of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

Responding on behalf of

D8, head of delegation, Isiaka Imam assured the MD/CEO and management team of NBET of the commitment of the D-8 organisation’s secretariat to provide support and all necessary assistance towards ensuring sustainable development and growth.

NCDMB Partners Shell, Total to Upgrade College for Training of Craftsmen Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

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)

had successfully implemented reforms in their respective electricity and energy sectors.

For instance, Turkey, Egypt and Iran have a combined total installed electricity capacity of over 240,000 MW, far more than Nigeria’s roughly 5,000MW. A statement from NBET,

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) is collaborating with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Total Energies Limited to transform Government Technical College (GTC), Port Harcourt, Rivers State into a centre of excellence for the training of craftsmen.

A statement from the NCDMB said the move will support activities in the oil and gas industry and the wider economy.

The projects to be executed by SPDC at the school include the construction of 4-units of worldclass technical workshops and an information and communication centre and they are in fulfilment of SPDC’s commitment to the NCDMB’s human capital

development programmes.

Also, Total Energies will complete the construction of a 25–classroom block, 200–bed students hostel and another technical workshop within the school.

Speaking when he performed the ground-breaking for the upgrade projects being executed

by SPDC, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Simbi Wabote hinted

that the construction works will bring back the glorious days of the institution and its students, and hopefully the trainees will lead the charge for the creation of employment for youths and wealth generation for the Nigerian economy.

He explained that the board places high premium on technical, vocational education and training institutions (TVETs) as they are

important in the development of skilled craftsmen.

In his remarks, the General Manager, Projects & Engineering, SPDC, Mr. Benno Touw assured that SPDC would continue to support government’s aspirations to increase Nigerian Content and the participation of Nigerian businesses in the oil and gas industry in line with the Local Content Act.

After Kenya, Tunisia Moves to Remove Energy Subsidies Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Tunisia said at the weekend said that it was raising the price of cooking gas cylinders by 14 per cent and petrol by 3 per cent as part of a plan to reduce energy subsidies, a policy change wanted by the country’s international lenders.

The Energy Ministry said the cooking gas price will increase to

8.800 dinars from 7.750 dinars, in the first raise in 12 years.

It is coming after the Kenyan President, William Ruto, days ago followed up on a pledge to remove a fuel subsidy that has further depleted the state’s already strained coffers.

Just a day after Ruto’s September 13 swearing in, Kenya’s Energy & Petroleum Regulatory Authority said it had scrapped a subsidy on

gasoline, raising the price by 13 per cent.

But the regulator retained diesel and kerosene subsidies, helping cushion low-income earners who use the latter fuel for lighting and cooking, and rely on public transport.

In Tunisia, the petrol price will be raised today (Tuesday) to 2.400 dinars per litre from 2.330 dinars, a 3 per cent increase, the ministry

said in a statement.

The rise in fuel prices is the fourth this year. Tunisia expects its budget deficit will expand to 9.7 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2022, up from a previously expected 6.7 per cent, due to the stronger dollar and a sharp increase in grain and energy prices.

The North African country,

suffering from its worst financial crisis, is trying to agree on a new financing programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Reuters reported.

The energy balance deficit doubled to 6 billion dinars in the first eight months of 2022 compared with 2.9 billion dinars last year, driven by the impact of the war in Ukraine.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2022

21

BUSINESSWORLD

PERSPECTIVE

The Scramble to Stop Crude Oil Theft, Save Indigenous Producers

Bisi Daniels

A

few years before the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva challenged indigenous oil and gas companies to significantly increase their investments in oil and gas assets in the country, many of them had taken the plunge on their own.

Speaking recently as chairman and special guest at the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) divestment workshop in Lagos last month, the the minister urged local investors to see the exit by International oil companies (IOCs) as an opportunity to step in to fill the vacuum in the sector. Some local investors had done that too and now wonder what has hit them.

Sounding more urgent, Sylva had said, “The Indigenous Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG) and other potential investors should perceive the IOCs’ divestments in some of the upstream assets as opportunities, rather than a threat, to become more involved in the development of the Nigerian upstream petroleum sector.

In the past, he needed not to preach patriotism.

Although not as big as their multinational counterparts, the locals have been proud Nigerian companies operating quietly.

From Dubri Oil in the 1980s until recently, the local business has blossomed to over 25 operators.

With time, as an indication of the attractiveness of the business, many more joined.

But over time, the industry has changed dramatically with increasing challenges, some too hot for safe operation.

Community protests from the early 1990s escalated into tensions between foreign oil companies and some of the Niger Delta’s minority ethnic groups, who felt they were being exploited, particularly the Ogoni and the Ijaw. Struggle for oil wealth oil fueled violence between ethnic groups, causing the militarization of nearly the entire region by ethnic militia groups, the Nigerian military and the police force.

From 2004, the violence worsened with increased piracy and kidnappings until relative peace was restored in 2009 with a presidential amnesty programme.

But all that has taken yet another turn with increased vandalism of oil facilities and crude oil theft, which suggests that oil companies are free to produce as much as they can so long as the crude oil can be stolen.

The evidence is not hard to find: r *O +VOF (CFOHB ,PNPMBGF DIJFG FYFDVUJWF officer, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), said Nigeria lost at least $1 billion in the first quarter of 2022 due to oil theft. According to him, an unusual level of theft estimated at a daily average of 103,000 barrels recorded in 2021, had grown to 120,000 barrels in the first quarter of 2022.

r 4ZMWB SFDFOUMZ TBJE UIBU UIF DPVOUSZ MPTFT 400,000 barrels of crude daily via oil theft. r %VSJOH B TUBLFIPMEFS FOHBHFNFOU XJUI 4ZMWB in the Niger Delta, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum $PNQBOZ -JNJUFE .FMF ,ZBSJ TBJE /JHFSJB was losing about $1.9 billion monthly to activities of oil vandals.

Bala Wunti, the Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), put the loss to oil theft earlier this month at 470,000 barrels per day of crude oil amounting to $700 million monthly.

TRANS-NIGER PIPELINE

Although many parts of the Niger Delta have become oil theft crime scenes, the most affected, with drastic consequences, is the Trans-Niger Pipeline, a major pipeline capable of transporting about 180,000 barrels of crude per day.

Shell, Nigeria’s biggest oil producer, reported last week that the pipeline, which serves many oil companies has been moribund since NJE +VOF EVF UP PJM UIFGU XJUI UIF FYQPSU of Nigeria’s Bonny Light, the favourite of refineries, placed on force majeure.

Beyond the numbers, the Managing Director of Heirs Oil & Gas Limited, the upstream arm of Tony Elumelu’s TNOG Oil & Gas, Mr. Osayande Igiehon, shared their experience.

In a deal worth $1.1 billion, TNOG Oil & (BT -JNJUFE IBE JO +BOVBSZ CPVHIU 45 per cent stake in OML 17 and associated infrastructure, from three oil majors -Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), TotalEnergies and Eni. However, illustrating the problem they encountered soon after, Igiehon said. “We acquired the asset, OML 17, in the middle of +BOVBSZ 8F UPPL PQFSBUJPOBM DPOUSPM CZ +VMZ 8IFO XF UPPL PWFS UIF SFDPODJMJBUJPO of what we got at the terminal was 65 per cent.

“In December of 2020, it was about 85 per DFOU *O +BOVBSZ JU XBT QFS DFOU CVU CZ December (2021), we got three per cent. So, that caused us and many other companies to shut down.”

Igiehon lamented that the problem, which affects many operators, is existential.

AITEO GROUP AS A MAJOR VICTIM

Surprisingly, the owners of the trunkline, the Aiteo Group, have remained quiet. But industry sources say that is the style of Mr. Benedict Peters, the founder and chairman of the Group. “Although Peters may sound like a new name in the industry to some people, he is a quiet, courageous man with vast industry experience. A seen-all-done-all kind of man,” an indigenous investor in the

industry said.

Reports say, his competence and profound industry insight were the traits that attracted him to Alhaji Sayyu Dantata of MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, who head-hunted him to his company as executive director.

Experiencing rapid promotion on the strength of his integrity of character, he became the company’s managing director in five years.

From there, he founded Sigmund Communecci (a petroleum products supply and trading company) in 1999.

After a successful operation in the downstream sector, he decided to push the limits, landing him upstream. Sigmund Communecci was rebranded in 2008 into Aiteo, to reflect its diversified operations.

In 2014, Aiteo raised the single largest debt-financing in the Nigeria oil and gas sector from local banks to become a successful bidder for 45% percent of OML 29, which includes the Nembe Creek Trunkline.

OML 29 was operated by the SPDC joint venture of the NNPC(55%), SPDC (30%), Total E&P Nigeria Limited (10%) and Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited (5%).

The field had an average production of 23,000bpd when Aiteo acquired it. The story changed as output experienced exponential growth between August 2015, when Shell fully exited the facility and December 2016. Aiteo recorded a 400 per cent jump of the average production of 80,000bpd, peaking at 90,000bpd in one year.

Aiteo is now a conglomerate with footprints all over the oil and gas industry.

Today, beyond exploration, refining, and production, the Group is also involved in bulk petroleum storage, trading, marketing, supply, power generation, and distribution.

Speaking about the increased vandalism of oil facilities and crude oil theft recently, Mr. Peters reportedly said, “It painful to see Nigeria bleed so much revenue at a time every dollar is needed for many government programmes. Also, the industry is capital-intensive, so expending resources and effort to produce crude oil only to discover at the terminal that the oil is way below what you pump into the trunkline is, of course, sad. “ Operators elsewhere are currently declaring huge turnover, but it appears the oil thieves are the ones reaping the petrodollars and putting the whole industry at an existential risk here.

“But in business, one does not get hysterical over losses, particularly in this case where the government, also a victim of the criminality, is determined to address

the situation. “ This is our country, we all belong here, so it is now a case of all hands on deck.”

RENEWED EFFORTS TO STOP THE THEFT

Although it is still a long way to go, government’s efforts appear to be showing results but require co-ordination. r "DDPSEJOH UP SFQPSUT UIF DPMMBCPSBUJPO between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd and the Nigerian Navy, launched on April 1 through ‘Operation Dakatar Da Bararrwo,’ has saved the country the theft of N25bn worth of crude oil. r 5IF /JHFSJBO /BWZ IBT SFQPSUFEMZ IBOEFE over to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), 70 out of 147 vessels arrested over illegal oil bunkering and crude oil theft. r 5IF /JHFSJBO /BUJPOBM 1FUSPMFVN $PNQBOZ Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has launched ‘Crude Theft Monitoring Applications’ to curb oil theft and pipeline vandalism. r .PSF SFDFOUMZ JO B EFWFMPQNFOU TIPXJOH the situation’s seriousness and complication, a supertanker, MV HEROIC IDUN, fled GSPN /JHFSJB T ",10 PJMGJFME CVU XBT arrested by Equatorial Guinea forces. r 4QFBLJOH PO UIJT 1SFTJEFOU .VIBNNBEV Buhari, who is also the Petroleum Resources Minister, said, “We will not allow a few criminals to have unfettered access to the nation’s crude oil supply, hence I have directed our security agencies to speedily bring to a halt the activities of these vandals in the Niger Delta.” r 8JUI UIF GMVSSZ PG BDUJWJUJFT PG UIF WBSJPVT arms of security to stop the crime, what was missing was a control centre for proper co-ordination to prevent duplication of efforts and a situation where the Navy announces the arrest of persons and vessels but thereafter nothing is heard again. Worried about that, as do many other stakeholders, the Senate has called for prosecution of suspects to instill confidence in the process. r *OBVHVSBUJOH B 1SFTJEFOUJBM $PNNJUUFF PO National Economy, President Buhari stressed the need for the country to address oil theft.

He acknowledged the impact of the theft on the nation’s revenue and urged Nigerians to support the government in the efforts at addressing the menace.

Clearly, the battle with entrenched oil thieves, who have obviously invested heavily in the crime, and sundry challenges is a tough one, but with the national economy now struggling, it one Nigeria, cannot afford lose. t #JTJ %BOJFMT JT BO BVUIPS CBTFE JO -BHPT

FG PLEDGES COMMITMENT TO BOOSTING NIGERIA’S AGRIC PROCESSING CAPACITY accounted for over 90 per cent of the potato production in the country, adding that the livelihood

and income of farmers were being threatened by the monstrous potato blight.

The Director, Planning and Policy Coordination, Mr. Ibrahim Bello, stated that the

stakeholders would use the opportunity to share experiences and good practices on value chain

development in the agricultural sector as it affects food security and economic development for

adoption and replication in the sector along various ecological peculiarities.

22

Tuesday, September 20, 2022 • T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

News

Atiku Proposes Aggressive, Innovative Policy to Address Nigeria’s Food Insecurity Gilbert Ekugbe To address Nigeria’s food shortages and looming food crisis, the Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has stated that his administration, if elected president in 2023, would pursue an aggressive and innovative food production policy.

Reports revealed that Nigeria has been spending over $22 billion on annual basis to import food into the country, a staggering figure expected to increase even further following the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and Russia.

But Abubakar has said that his administration would prioritise small holder farmers and provide farm

inputs such as fertilizer, seedlings and access to finance to them to drive the nation’s agricultural sector and bridge the nation’s food demands.

Abubakar said at a presidential dialogue with the Organised Private Sector (OPS) in Lagos that Nigeria has the capacity to feed itself rather than depending on other economies to feed

her citizens.

He said: “There is an urgent need to develop every sector of the economy to achieve inclusive economic growth.

Today millions of Nigerians go to bed hungry every day.

“Nigeria must feed Nigeria.

I will pursue an aggressive and innovative food production policy that will strongly boost farmers’ access to farming.

My government will ensure

transparency and ensure that farmers get access to fertilizers, farm machinery as well as processing equipment to boost food production and bring down food inflation.

“We will strongly promote private sector investment in agriculture from seed to fertilizers, farm chemicals and farm machinery to expand our competitiveness in national, regional and global markets

for commodities in which Nigeria has a comparative advantage. We will support our industrial development for major food crops, livestock fisheries, and invest heavily in irrigation and climate resilient agricultural systems.”

He also stated the need for investment in value addition of the nation’s agro commodities in its bid to conserve foreign exchange.

Supreme Feeds Harps on Effective Collaboration to Ogun Pledges Proactive Responses to Manufacturers Challenges administration of Governo and constructing roads Address Challenges in Nigeria’s Poultry Industry Dike Onwuamaeze Dapo Abiodun of Ogun infrastructure across the state.

Gilbert Ekugbe The Pandagric Novum Limited (PNL), manufacturers of Supreme Feeds, has emphasised that increased partnership with customers is needed to tackle the challenges facing poultry businesses in the country and stem the rising price of poultry feeds to make poultry products affordable to the common man.

The Chief Executive Officer of PNL, Mr. Bruce Spain, highlighted at the company’s annual distributors’ conference in Abuja that was tagged “Partners for Growth,” the urgent need to form a close-

knit community to address the challenges hindering the poultry industry.

Spain, however, stated that this year’s conference is hinged on fostering a stronger relationship between the company and its distributors and rewarding them for their patronage over the years.

The conference hosted and rewarded its distributors across Nigeria with recognition awards and cash gifts and brought together distributors from all 36 states to recognise their efforts and get feedback for better customer satisfaction.

He said: “We understand the difficulties that abound in carrying out this kind of

business in Nigeria, and so, it became imperative for us to form a close-knit community where we welcome distributors into our Supreme Feeds network and reward them for their efforts.”

The General Manager, Sales and Marketing of PNL, Mr. Tunji Osoko, said: “At Pandagric, we want to redefine the concept of farming and be the choice producer of feeds and food in Nigeria. When you talk of Supreme Feeds, you talk about feed that gives quality nutrition, something a bit more advanced than what others have to offer in the market.”

The Ogun State Government has restated its determination to be proactive in sddressing challenges facing industries operating in the state to ensure that they keep on thriving and remaining cpmpetitive.

This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Kikelomo Longe, during her recent tour of Emzor Pharmaceutical Industry Groups, the Apple and Pears Limited and the CDK Integrated Industry Limited located at Sagamu Interchange Industrial Cluster.

Longe said that the purpose of the tour was to build a closer relationship with firms operating in the industrial cluster that would enable the government to understand their challenges.

She assured them that the

State, would partner with the industrialists to address identified challenges.

She said: “The present administration is deeply interested in the companies doing well because we know that when they do well, it will positively affect the entire ecosystem. We want to proactively support our companies and help them to do well and grow on a sustainable basis. Once the industries are stronger, our people will also do well.”

Speaking, Managing Director of Apple and Pears Limited, Mr. Hali Hasbin, commended the state government for being responsive to the concerns of businesses operating in the state by improving the Ease of Doing Business

Also speaking, the Group Managing Director of Emzor Pharmaceutical Industry Groups, Dr. Stella Okoli, said that the company has increased its local sourcing of raw materials and commended the state government for strengthening the operations of industries located within the state.

She, however, appealed to the state government to assist the company to realise its expansion plans.

In his address, the Managing Director of the CDK Integrated Industry Limited, Mr. Benard Longe, called on the state government to assist in providing timely solution to power shortage facing industries, adding that the solution is critical to the economic development of the nation.

23

TUESDAY, SE ͺ͸˜ 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

P ric e C hg %

5.65

7.6%

ST ER LN B A N K

173.8

0.0%

CHA M S

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%

A C C ESSC OR P

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

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

24

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ Ͱͮ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Skymark Partners Redeems N767m Series 2 CP under N5bn Programme Nume Ekeghe Skymark Partners Limited, a private investment company focused on investing and creating wealth in critical growth sectors of the Nigerian economy, has announced the maturity and successful redemption of its debut Series 2 Commercial Paper under its N5billion Commercial Paper Programme.

The N767million 91-day Series 2 Commercial Paper which was issued and quoted earlier in June this year on the FMDQ Securities Exchange, matured on the 19th of September, 2022.

In line with best practice, the

Exchange has been informed of the repayment.

Commenting on the successful redemption, Chairman of Skymark Partners Limited, Mr. Egie Akpata said, “We are pleased to have fully repaid all the investors in the Series 2 issuance. We thank all the institutional investors for their participation and reiterate our commitment to be a counterparty that can be counted on for the long term.”

Furthermore, Akpata stated, “This second CP redemption reflects Skymark’s capacity to meet its financial obligations as at when due and we intend to remain an active issuer in

the commercial paper market.”

The continued growth trend of revenue and profits in FY 2021 resulted in DataPro affirming Skymark’s long term rating of A and short-term rating of A1. The rating remains valid till June 2023.

Unaudited accounts as at June 30, 2022 shows strong growth of all key financial metrics of Skymark Partners Ltd. Skymark Partners is a principal investment company with interests in financial services, technology, and real estate amongst others. Skymark Partners was incorporated in 2009 and is based in Lagos.

Parallex Bank Emerges Most Outstanding Young Commercial Bank In recognition of its professionalism and commitment to limitless banking experience, Parallex Bank Limited, a fastgrowing commercial bank in Nigeria, has been recognized as the Most Outstanding Young Commercial Bank in Nigeria at the Marketing Edge Annual Summit and Award.

Speaking at the award ceremony, held in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer of Marketing Edge, Mr. John Ajayi, said the awardees were selected based on their stellar performances in their industries. According to him, the process of selecting the awardees was painstaking and rigorous, and only the most deserving organizations and

individuals had been selected.

Managing Director of Parallex Bank Limited, Mr. Femi Bakre, said it feels gratifying to have emerged as the Most Outstanding Young Commercial Bank despite the bank’s newness in the market. Bakre said the award is a particular gospel to the organization to continue with all that they are doing right. He said Parallex Bank has taken the path of glory in the banking space, having downloaded the future into the present.

Parallex Bank, he said, was set up with the core values of professionalism, innovation, excellence, customer-centricity, and collaboration. This, accord-

ing to him, has made the bank go the extra mile for their customers to resolve issues in real time. Bakre added that Parallex Bank is a symbol of a lifestyle bank, offering bespoke banking services for each individual and organization across Nigeria.

He said the bank is in collaboration with foreign institutions to provide unique products that are not locally available and has carved a niche for itself in private banking for its high-networth customers such that customers can acquire home mortgages in the United Kingdom without leaving the shores of Nigeria.

WACT Awards N30m Scholarships to 50 Undergraduates Drawn from Host Communities West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) has awarded scholarships worth N30 million to 50 undergraduate students drawn from Onne and Ogu communities in Rivers State.

Located in the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone, Onne Port, Rivers State, WACT is the largest container terminal outside Lagos.

Speaking at the scholarship presentation ceremony in Onne on Wednesday, the Managing Director of WACT, Mr. Naved Zafar, congratulated the beneficiaries and urged them to work hard in their studies.

He said, “Congratulations to the awardees. Your success today is not yours alone as it is the fruit of the sacrifices made by your parents, support of your family and guidance of your teachers.

You are a great pride not only to us but to the nation. We at WACT

are proud to have some former beneficiaries of our scholarship scheme in our organisation today.

Through hard work and diligence, they are well regarded in their respective fields.”

Mr. Zafar said that this year WACT has adopted a new approach in selecting the beneficiaries of its annual tertiary scholarship awards. He said the new approach was adopted to reflect WACT’s aspiration of observing transparency, inclusivity, and visibility for all in its relations with the host communities.

“This is just the beginning of a plan to further develop our youths to be self-reliant in fields that are highly relevant in our rapidly changing digital world,” he said.

He commended the host communities for their cooperation and assured them of sustained

cordial relationship.

Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University, Prof. Nlerum Sunday Okogbue, who was represented at the scholarship award ceremony by Prof.

Henry C. Amadi, commended the management of WACT for its commitment towards promoting education and leadership development among youths in the host communities. He encouraged the beneficiaries to make good use of the scholarships to develop rewarding careers for themselves.

Also speaking at the event, Nigeria’s former Ambassador to France, Ambassador Spiff M.K. Taribo-Amgbara, charged the beneficiaries to make good use of the rare opportunity and transform into good leaders that will contribute to transforming the society.

CREM Promises to Drive Research, Learning, Innovation Oluchi Chibuzor The Centre for Research in Enterprise and Action in Management (CREM) has re-launched its brand and repositioned to serve its numerous customers better and more efficiently.

This is coming as innovation continues to change business methodologies and the need to fund entrepreneurs and businesses for them to discover new ideas critical for their development into a sustainable entity.

Speaking at the CREM relaunch event in Lagos, Professor Pat

Utomi, stressed the importance of research and innovation for businesses as sine qua non for competitiveness.

Making a case for the theme of the event, ‘Promoting Research, Learning and Innovation as Key Drivers to Economic Growth’, Utomi laid credence to the role of research and innovation when he cited instances of how top companies in Nigeria and around the globe had taken advantage of innovative solutions to sustain business leadership.

“Many of those products you see today come from support of

research in universities by the private sector and so we need to develop that. There must be synergy from both the private sector and the academic institution. So, businesses must guide against orthodox that limits them from seeing opportunities around them.”

Speaking, the Chairman of CREM Nigeria, Dr. Godwin Nwabunka, said that the organization was established to drive research-based analysis and learning for human capacity building and innovation.

L-R: Wife of the award recipient, Mrs Ebele; Mogbolu; Sales Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr Uche Unigwe; and Products Group Manager, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, Mr Moses Mogbolu, at conferment of Outstanding Marketing Personality of the Year 2022 by Marketing Edge Brands and Advertising Excellence in Lagos...recently

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).

25

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ Ͱͮ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

Weak Sentiment Persist as Stock Market Deprecates by 0.07% Kayode Tokede The stock market of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) opened the yesterday negative, dropping by 0.07 per cent as investors weak sentiment persist for the fourth consecutive day active trading.

The NGX All-Share Index dropped by 35.21 basis points or 0.07 per cent to close at 49,440.21 basis points. Similarly,

the overall market capitalisation size shed N19 billion to close at N26.667 trillion.

The downturn was impacted by losses recorded in medium and large capitalised stocks, amongst which are; Seplat Energy, University Press, AXA Mansard Insurance, United Capital and Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO).

The market breadth was flat, as 11 stocks advanced and 11

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

stocks declined. e-Tranzact International recorded the highest price gain of 9.97 per cent to close at N3.20, per share.

Academy Press followed with a gain 9.52 per cent to close at N1.84, while Vitafoam Nigeria up by 5.00 per cent to close at N21.00, per share.

Honeywell Flour Mill went up by 3.36 per cent to close at N2.46, while Cornerstone Insurance rose by 3.33 per

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

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

cent to close at 62 kobo, per share.

On the other hand, Associated Bus Company led the losers’ chart by 10.00 per cent, to close at 27 kobo, per share.

University Press followed with a decline of 9.44 per cent to close at N1.63, while Mutual Benefits Assurance fell by 6.90 per cent to close at 27 kobo, per share.

R.T. Briscoe Nigeria went

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

down by 6.25 to close at 30 kobo, while Courteville Business Solutions shed 6.12 per cent to close at 46 kobo, per share.

Meanwhile, the total volume traded declined by 37.33 per cent to 67.369 million units valued at N1.480 billion and exchanged in 3,386 deals.

Transactions in the shares of FBN Holdings (FBNH) topped the activity chart with

O F

9.673 million shares valued at N96.557 million.

Zenith Bank followed with 9.252 million shares worth N182.385 million, while GTCO traded 6.113 million shares valued at N120.396 million.

Mutual Benefits Assurance traded 4.487 million shares valued at N1.247 million, while Sovereign Trust Insurance transacted 2.955 million shares worth N797,719.

1 9 / 0 9 / 2 0 2 2 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

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26

TUESDAY, S ͺ͸˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

HIGH-LEVEL FORUM ON POLITICAL COMMUNICATION AND ISSUE-BASED CAMPAIGN...

L-R: Former INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega; Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah; Speaker, House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila; Senate President, Sen. Ahmad Lawan; and representative of Minister of Information and Culture, Sam Agbi during a high-level forum on political communication and issue-based campaign in the 2023 general elections, organized by the National Institute for PHOTO: KINGSLEY ADEBOYE Legislative and Democratic Studies in Abuja...yesterday

University Students Paralyse Activities at Lagos Airport over Prolonged ASUU Strike Passengers experience difficulty getting to airport Flight crews suffer delays, trek to terminal Chinedu Eze There was traffic gridlock at all the entrance to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos yesterday, as Nigerian university students under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) staged protest against the lingering strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The two major entrance to the airport through the popular Ikeja under bridge and 7&8 along Ajao Estate from Oshodi were on lockdown as vehicles remained at one place for over one hour.

The students numbering about 1000 used their vehicles to block

the round-about before the tollgate, which is the exit of the link road between the domestic terminal facilities of MMA2 and General Aviation Terminal (GAT) to the international and cargo terminals.

They also blocked the domestic terminal area to ensure that there was no movement on the link road between the terminals.

With the blockage of the roundabout, vehicles could not link the domestic terminal from the Ajao Estate area and vehicles from the Ikeja under bridge could not go to the international and cargo terminals.

The gridlock was literally on standstill, forcing air travellers who had morning and afternoon

international flights to leave vehicles that were conveying them to the airport and carry their luggage on their heads, running to the terminal to check in for their flights.

Some of the passengers, THISDAY learnt, trekked up to three kilometers, from the Ajao Estate end to the international terminal.

Passengers on domestic travel were even more affected, as morning and afternoon periods are the peak periods in local flight operation.

Some of the passengers that could not trek secured the services of few commercial motorcycles that illegally took the advantage of the bad situation to operate and extract outrageous charges of N3000 to

N5000 from the air travellers.

The students who turned up for the protest were not many at the beginning, as there was heavy downpour in Lagos from early morning till mid-afternoon, but they turned up in their hundreds later.

The students who were singings different songs and carried placards, started singing loudly, “End ASUU strike,” when they heard sirens from police vehicles, as the vehicles approached their location, where they blocked the road.

At the international wing of the airport, anxiety started mounting towards 3:00 pm because there were indications that many passengers might miss their flight and check

Planned Indefinite Shutdown of Oyingbo, Declaration of War on South-easterners, LP Alleges Says APC threatened by party's rising popularity Emameh Gabriel in Abuja The Labour Party (LP) has described the proposed plan by the Lagos State Government to shut down the Oyingbo Market in Lagos as not only divisive, but also a declaration of war against the south-easterners as well as a threat to the country's democracy.

The party also accused the All Progressive Congress (APC) of an attempt to ruin the businesses of south-easterners in the state because of their support and loyalty to the LP in Lagos. He described the act as intolerant, callous, insensitive, repressive, discriminatory and oppressive.

The party stated these in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, in Abuja, adding that the excuse given by the Lagos State government that the plans to shut down both Ladipo and Oyingbo markets in the state indefinitely from this Thursday due to traders’ indiscriminate waste disposal and none payment for waste disposal service was a ruse the government didn't carefully think of before announcing it.

Abayomi said: "Our party wishes to categorically state here that the APC government in Lagos State is

a very intolerant government and highly crude and being completely dictatorial and recklessly very undemocratic.

"Closing Ladipo and Oyingbo markets in Lagos indefinitely, two predominantly major centers of Igbo businesses with a view to ruin their businesses because they are confessed and very unrepentant loyal supporters of LP in Lagos is intolerant, callous, insensitive, repressive, a direct discriminatory and oppressive act by the Lagos APC Government.

“Of course, Lagos is not unaware that her own citizens also work and live in other states in the country.

Must Lagos state government be this evil against fellow Nigerians? It is the one that is hurt by another's action that is challenged to defend himself and secure his own personal freedom anyhow, in any way he is capable.

"The constitution of Nigeria guarantees every citizen the freedom to live and work in any part of the country, also it is a constitutional duty binding on the Lagos government to guarantee all citizens under its rule the right to all the fundamental human rights.

“But again, revolutions, social insecurity and people's rebellion are born by oppressive and wicked

governance "The public will easily recollect that the Igbos who in the main are loyal and are confessed supporters of LP in Lagos State were officially prevented through the use of thugs by the APC government from taking part in the voters registration

exercise a few months back.”

Abayomi decried the new trend he said were targets at businesses of the supporters of LP, alleging it was, "an official policy and direct political victimisation by the government that stinks and highly condemnable."

in normally takes from two to three hours, so they ought to be at the airport, as peak period is between 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm.

At 3:00 the students were still protesting and singing songs and would-be travellers and other airport users, including workers, left their vehicles to climb the bridge leading to international terminal to escape the gridlock that jammed at the tollgate below the bridge, which blocked the gate of the cargo terminal.

A team of security operatives led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police Airport Command, DCP Sunday Kayode and Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Commandant, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, appealed to the students to maintain peace while carrying out their protest.

Also at the General Aviation Terminal, (GAT) of the airport, the, National Chairman of African Action Congress (AAC) and former President, NANS, University of Lagos, Omoyele Sowore made appearance at the airport.

Sowore, a presidential candidate, who dressed in a black suit without his usual yellow beret or emblem, later departed the domestic airport terminal in a red golf car.

A leader of the protesting students, Afeez Babateye assured the security officers that the protest would remain peaceful as long as

they were not molested by security operatives.

Remarkably, security personnel, including the Nigerian police officers were stationed strategically around the area the students were protesting but without any effort to stop them.

The protest as at 3:20 pm was still peaceful and the security operatives were not interrupting the students’ activities.

There were 20 police vehicles parked strategically around the protesting students, the police officers stood at alert, monitoring every movement the students were making but never interrupted them.

When the rain stopped more students came in, a group was stationed at the domestic wing, another group at the tollgate and another group at the cargo terminal area, all numbering about 1000.

When THISDAY checked the domestic terminal, known as MMA2 flight service was going on, as airlines were checking in and boarding passengers.

However, the Public Relations Manager of one of the major airlines told THISDAY that passengers were finding it difficult to get to the airport and also that the airline flight crew also found it difficult to get to get to the airport. These he said caused delay and disruption of flight schedule.

Continued online

Employees of My Relatives Died in Ill-fated Train Attack, Says UN Deputy Secretary Some still in captivity Sambo: We’ve settled for lasting intervention The Deputy Secretary General, United Nations (UN), Amina Muhammed, yesterday, hinted that she had families, who had employees, who lost their lives in the Ill-fated train attack and some, still in captivity.

The UN Deputy Secretary General made the disclosure at the United Nations Headquarters complex in New York, United States, when the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, paid her a courtesy visit.

Muhammed pointed out that the infrastructure development of the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration was worthy of commendation, but "people won’t see progress, when they

are leaving in insecurity and I'm excited that the honourable minister’s initiative will go a long way in dealing with this challenge."

While congratulating Sambo, the Deputy Secretary General stressed that Nigerians looked forward to more strides and results from him, stating that, "Everyday, months and weeks matters at home and the whole nation looks forward to the story the Minister will tell at the dusk of the administration," Muhammed said.

Responding, Sambo said he hit the ground running from day one and part of his courtesy visit to her was to solicit assistance and

opportunities for the transportation ministry.

While commiserating with her, Sambo said, he had studied several recommendations and proposals and had settled in on one which would give a long term solution that will cover both rail and road security and after testing this in the coming weeks, it would be a template for the sector.

"Also not resting on my oars, I and my team are working tirelessly with the relevant agencies to ensure the release of those in captivity," he said.

Sambo further stressed that the ministry has zeroed in on a lasting intervention to rail and by

extension road insecurity, after studying several submissions and recommendations presented to him, he will zero in on employing present-day technology and rapid response by the relevant security agencies, that will be a template for the sector.

"The security of a nation is its community and when communal involvement is employed, coupled with technology and rapid response, the insecurity can be nipped in the bud to a large extent. The task is not easy, but honestly, you are doing us proud indeed, we pray for strength, resilience and wisdom as you discharge your duties” the minister said.

27

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NEWS

TRANSFORMING EDUCATION SUMMIT...

L-R: Vice President, Islamic Development Bank, Dr. Mansur Muhtar; Internationally Acclaimed Activist/Humanitarian and UN SDGs Advocate, Edward Ndoku; former Central Bank governor, Lamido Sanusi; and Associate Dean of Teacher Education Queens University, Canada, Prof. Peter Chin, at Transforming Education Summit, at the ongoing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York… recently

FG Pledges to Adjust Workers’ Salaries in Line with Economic Realities Oshiomhole: I told Tinubu I won’t support him if his policies are totally based on market forces FG toying with education, says Sunmonu

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The federal government has said it would soon embark on the readjustment of salaries and allowances of civil servants to bring it in line with economic realities in the country.

The disclosure by the federal government came just former Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole has expressed support for workers’ genuine agitation for better conditions of service, based on the current economic indices.

In the vein, the pioneer president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Alhaji Hassan Sunmonu blamed the federal government for allegedly neglecting investment in the key area of human resource development following prolonged shut down of federal universities.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, who spoke at the Public Presentation of the book, "Contemporary History of Working Class Struggles" by the NLC yesterday in Abuja, said government was planning a review and adjustment of all public servants to align it with economic realities.

He said the renegotiation of salaries and conditions of service of the striking university lecturers was a prelude to the eventual adjustment of salaries of other categories of workers.

"That adjustment has started

with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) because the stage they are with their primary employers, the ministry of education, is a Collective Bargaining Agreement, CBA, negotiations.

"Under the principles of offer and acceptance, which is that of Collective Bargaining, ASUU can say let’s look at the offer they gave us and make counter offer, but they have not done that, if they do that, we are bound to look at their offer, these are the ingredients of collective negotiations," he added.

On the stalled negotiation with ASUU, Ngige who defended government decision to refer the dispute to the National Industrial Court for adjudication said the measure became necessary since ASUU appeared implacable and negotiations failed.

He said government adhered strictly to the dictates of labour laws by allowing the matter to be decided at court.

He said there was the need to correct the erroneous impression that the agreement with ASUU being discussed was that of the 2009, adding the 2009 agreement had long been renegotiated between 2013-2020 under the former President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration.

He further said action has been progressively taken on the Memoradum of Understanding resulting from the agreement and

that the federal government only has one area left to be resolved which he said was the issue of the review of salaries and conditions of service.

The minister who blamed intractable nature of some of the labour disputes the country had witnessed in recent timers to inadequate knowledge of labour laws and rules of engagement in collective bargaining said the federal government would soon approve the upgrading of Micheal Imodu Institute of Labour Studies in Ilorin to a degree-awarding institution to help prepare labour leaders and employers on the tenets dispute resolution.

On his part, Oshiomhole said the leadership of organised labour should stop agonising or lamenting and organise to fight for a new minimum wage in line with the realities of time.

He said they should fight for dollarised wages since most indices of the economy were being measured in dollars.

Oshiomhole said he may reconsider support for the APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, if the latter chooses to pursue policies based on absolute market forces and support the floating of naira.

The former NLC president said he had told the APC candidate that he won't get his support if he decides to embrace absolute market forces as his policy.

He said, "Nothing can be more humiliating for you as workers than someone who is elected on your platform is the one taking position that is completely in conflict with what you stand for.

"And that is why I will conclude by saying that, the season we are in, I invite all of us to look carefully. Even I have told the APC candidate, if you pursue absolute market forces, you don’t have me on your side because what brought us to this situation, talking about history, we must document the characters of government we interface with.

"So, if you say you do not want

A Former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Buhari Bala has decried Nigeria’s alleged indifference to the trial of the former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu in the United Kingdom.

The former Deputy Senate President, and his wife, Beatrice are currently being prosecuted in the United Kingdom over an, "alleged conspiracy to harvest the organs of a child."

However, the former minister in a statement said, "it is disgusting that both the government and informed citizens at all levels have not exerted their best in solidarity with the Senator that has hitherto served the nation

in different key positions."

He maintained that Ekweremadu had positively touched the lives of many Nigerians across the length and breadth of the country.

Part of the statement read, "The inspired role of the government so far, is leaving much to be desired notwithstanding the generally accepted position that the matter is legal and not political; since at diplomatic level almost every issue is political. " Bala stated that he expected more sympathy and positive actions on Ekwemaradu's issue, because he got involved in the matter fighting to save life of his daughter, an action every proud and responsible parent would do.

The former foreign minister added that he expected the federal government and Enugu State in particular and the South Eastern states to show more than passing interest in the matter.

He said, "It says a lot in our reward system to allow somebody who has served this country diligently at various levels both in the state and the federal government to be so humiliated without reasonable interest and cause of action from the public and government."

He then charged the federal government to exert more pressure on the British government on Ekweremadu's matter.

He said, "The fact that Senator Ekweremadu informed the British

have fought even harder as labour leader.”

"Every government policy has gainers and it has losers," he said.

Oshiomhole who served as chairman of NLC during Obasanjoled administration said he may no longer join in workers’ protest against adverse policies, but he would support their action.

"We do trade union not to agonise or lament, but to organise and fight for the interest of workers.

Government is about interests and there is no such thing as one direction about it" he said.

Continued online

Ortom: PDP Internal Mechanism to Solve Party Crises Has Failed Blames leadership for situation in party Chuks Okocha in Abuja and George Okoh in Makurdi Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has decried the internal mechanism set up by the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to address the injustices meted out to the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and other members of the party, stating

Allegation of Kidney Harvesting: Ex-minister Pleads for Ekweremadu, Frowns at FG's Indifference

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

market forces, say so now to those who want to be president. I want you to use moment to know that there is no such thing as a good person in government or a bad person. Or a short person and a tall person. What will determine your fate is the policy choices that those in government, consciously take. "he said.

Oshiomhole said having tasted both sides of the divide, “as labour activist and served in government - I will say that from what I know now, having been governor of a state, having served in government as party chairman, I am much more convinced that I ought to

High Commission in Abuja of his intentions shows that he was not dubious but pushed by the desperate urge to save his daughter which any reasonable and responsible parent would do.

“If we watch and allow Senator Ekweremadu to go down like this in a foreign land, it would send very dangerous signal about the value we place on patriotism in our country, because prior to this incident the Senator was outstandingly patriotic."

The former Minister also called on prominent Nigerians and groups to put more pressure on the British government to see reason why the human angle, rather than extreme legality should guide their actions on Senator Ekweremadu.

that the mechanism has failed.

Ortom, who made this known yesterday at the Government House, Makurdi during an expanded caucus meeting of the party in the state, however, blamed the lingering crises in the party on the poor management of the presidential convention and the post-convention outcome.

The Benue governor, who noted that he had offered suggestion on how the party should resolve their lingering crisis at the national level, warned that ignoring Wike or anyone at that would be dangerous for the party at the polls.

He said the leadership of the party has failed to deploy its internal mechanism and conflict management skills in handling the crisis.

"There is injustice that has been meted to my friend, Wike, because he stood for the party and supported it to the end. The leadership of the party should do the needful to resolve the problem and not to shove people around as though they are not relevant.

Everyone is relevant and one vote can make you fail election.

"So, the leadership at the national level should do more. Politics is interest and what is the interest of our state and our people. What do I tell my people in Benue? If you dismiss us that you don't need us,

I believe that will be dangerous.

I want the party to address the injustices so that as we move into election, we will work together and we will have no crisis."

Laying more emphasis in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Nathaniel Ikyur, the governor maintained that as one of the party’s stakeholders, who believed in justice, equity and fairness, he had openly expressed his concerns and made frank suggestions on how the issues could be addressed.

He noted that his observations on how to resolve the issues were not considered and rather, the internal crisis was unfortunately left to fester.

He, therefore, urged the leadership of the party to do more and build confidence to resolve the internal crisis, emphasising that he remained firmly committed to the party’s electoral victory in next year’s polls.

Ortom said the main agenda of the PDP remained how to rescue the country from APC’s misrule, which he noted has plunged the nation into multiple socio-economic problems that must be tackled holistically to redeem the nation.

He said as the leader of the party in the state, he would not succumb to any form of blackmail, but rather continues to work assiduously for the party’s victory at the polls.

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NEWS

BENIN/AUCHI ROAD IN FOCUS...

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (left), with the Otaru of Auchi Kingdom, Alhaji Aliru Momoh Ikelebe III, during a courtesy call on the governor at the Government House, in Benin City where the governor assured the monarch he continue to partner FG to expedite rehabilitation of Benin/Auchi Road... yesterday

Evans, Ex-Soldier Jailed 21 Years for Kidnapping, Collecting $420,000 Ransom Bandits abduct 45 in Kaduna communities, demand N200m John Shiklam in Kaduna, Wale Igbintade and Steve Aya in Lagos An Ikeja Special Offences Court, yesterday, sentenced the convicted kidnap kingpin, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans, and his accomplice, Victor Aduba, to 21 years imprisonment for kidnapping one Sylvanus Hafia, and collecting $420,000 as ransom from his family.

But in Kaduna, the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) said some 45 people had been abducted following "mass abductions” in communities in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo convicted and sentenced Evans and Aduba after she found them guilty on four counts of conspiracy and kidnapping of a businessman, Donatus Duru.

The victim was Managing Director of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Limited.

Delivering judgement on the case, Taiwo held that the prosecution had successfully proved the case of kidnap and possession of firearms against the convicts. She said the victim identified the first defendant during the kidnap and even at the police station, where Evans was said to have apologised to him.

The judge said, "There was no proof of evidence before the court that Evans was tortured by Abba Kyari's men. In the video interview, during trial within trial, Evans told one Sergent Ekundayo that he was a primary school drop-out and that he could not write, that the police officer should help him write his statement.

"I watched the video record where the defendant told the investigation police officer of how he breaks into banks to steal millions of Naira and as if he was proud of his escapades and smiled that he was a businessman."

Taiwo held that Evans had alleged that the suspects were tortured to death, but that there was no evidence that it was the IPO that caused the death of the suspects or know the cause of

the death.

"He also testified that the second defendant, Aduba, wears his army uniform and helps them pave the way whenever they go for operations so that they can freely leave the town,” the judge said of Evans.

She added, "I am satisfied that the prosecution was able to prove the case against the first defendant.

The prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt that the first defendant committed the offence of kidnapping. He is hereby convicted and guilty as charged.”

Aduba was a member of the gang, which was led by Evans, and his job was to give the gang safe passage and security cover during operations.

The court also considered the confessional statement of the second defendant.

The statement said, "I am an army officer and I was introduced

to armed robbery and kidnapping by one Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike (Evans) our gang leader.

We have operated five times.

"I have participated five times and we used four AK47 rifles to kidnap at Amuwo Odofin after one month Evans gave me N1m as my own share of the money.

I have made up to N6.5 million in the five times I participated.”

The judge stated, “I found the first and second defendants guilty as charged, and I hereby convict them as charged."

Earlier, lawyer to Evans, Amobi Nzela, announced his appearance, while Aseola Folarin, who appeared for Aduba, in his allocution, begged the court to temper justice with mercy. She said Aduba was a first time offender whom the wife gave birth four months into his incarceration and he had not seen the child since he was born.

"He is a father of two and a

young man that has served this country while in the Army," Folarin said.

Meanwhile, in a statement yesterday in Kaduna, President of SOKAPU, Awemi Maisamari, said the bandits, who abducted their people were demanding N200 million ransom for their release.

Maisamari said the latest abductions took place between September 12 and 13 in Kasuwan Magani, about 20 kilometres from Kaduna metropolis.

He stated, "On the first day (12th September), six people were abducted in a night raid by the daredevil terrorists at Ungwan Fada part of the town. With no measures put in place to forestall recurrence, the following day (13th September), the terrorists stormed the Cherubim and Seraphim Church during a night vigil programme at the Bayan Kasuwa quarters of Kasuwan Magani town at around midnight.

They succeeded in carting away more than 60 people from the church and neighbouring houses."

Maisamari said the bandits could take all the victims, but because some were little children and aged people with health challenges, they could not take them.

He added that as the bandits were retreating with their victims to their camps, they attacked Janwuriya village and abducted two more persons He said, "As of now, 45 persons have so far been confirmed. But yesterday, 18th September 2022, they made contact with some persons in the town via phone calls and claimed that only 40 persons were held by them.

They demanded a ransom of N200 million, but negotiation is still on going. We don't know the identity or the fate of the five missing persons yet."

The statement said many

bandits occupying territories in communities in Kajuru and Chikun local government areas cohabited with the locals, who were treated like captives.

It said, "They terrorised the villagers at will, making it difficult or impossible for them to till or harvest their farms. As a result, most early maturing crops are being left to rot on the farm.

This is a daily experience in most occupied communities in Southern Kaduna.

"In the last few months, Southern part of Kaduna State had witnessed and unusual influx of thousands of herdsmen and their cattle from neighbouring states. They indulge in deliberate farm destruction often at night; stealing of ripe farm crops and intimidation of helpless victim farmers. Hundreds of hectares of crops-bearing farmlands valued in millions of Naira have been destroyed."

energy to get the democracy to work to lift our people out of the vicious cycle of poverty."

appropriately.

The NBC director general reminded the broadcasters drawn from the North-west and North-east of the statutory responsibility of the commission to ensure a safe and peaceful ecosystem before and during election.

Maintaining that practitioners must act responsibly, he stressed that broadcasters must ensure equal allocation of airtime during their peak period for jingles and programmes. He said political parties had the responsibility to report any outfit that abused their rights for necessary sanction.

Ilelah stated, "Broadcasters are meant to offer equal platforms for exchange of ideas in a fair manner.

Political broadcasting must be tailored to promote national unity, political harmony, and tolerance.

"It will not be business as usual. Broadcasters must desist from spreading fake news, hatred speeches, and derogatory remarks.

We have to promote peace, not violence, educate not misinform, and safeguard and not destroy the society."

KUKAH: NIGERIA DOESN’T NEED MESSIAH IN 2023 further inordinate political agendas.

Gbajabiamila urged media organisations to focus on protecting democracy and the rights of citizens to hold politicians and the government accountable.

He stated, "As we prepare to commence campaign activities, precisely nine days from today, (statutorily for a period of 150 days before polling day), it is critical that we familiarise ourselves with the rules of the game and set ourselves a basic standard of conduct, mainly, because of our place as leaders and weight that our utterances carry among our supporters and followers.

“The Electoral Act 2022, one of the most significant legislations passed by the National Assembly since 1999, contains critical provisions on the conduct of political campaigns. Section 92 states that ‘a political campaign or slogan shall not be tainted with abusive language directly or indirectly likely to injure religious, ethnic, tribal or sectional feelings’.

“Sub-section 2 is even more direct in its prohibition of intemperate,

slanderous or base language, insinuations, or innuendoes designed or likely to provoke violent reactions or emotions. INEC must uphold and strictly implement the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the Regulations and Guidelines. In this regard, INEC’s messaging should be simple, direct and devoid of ambiguities.

“The media occupies a central position in political campaigns and can be the difference between peaceful and destructive campaigns.

However, at its worst, media can inadvertently enable the spread of false information and fuel uncivil discourse, breeding voter cynicism and distrust. This happens when the media chooses to focus on sensational news items and the personalities of individual politicians rather than substantive issues."

Earlier, in his welcome address, Director General, NILDS, Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, said political messages must be tailored to sustain Nigeria's democracy.

Sulaiman said the build-up to the 2023 general election raised genuine concerns about the pattern of public

communication among political actors, their publicity agents, and other related stakeholders, especially, those actively engaged in media and communication.

On his part, Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, represented by Director of Performing Arts, National Council for Arts and Culture, Sam Agi, noted that hate speech, misinformation and other ways of manipulating messages were apparent. He tasked politicians on grassroots mobilisation during campaigns.

Chairman of Interparty Advisory Council (IPAC) and presidential candidate of Action Democratic Party (ADP), Yabaji Sani, assured that candidates would run issuebased campaigns.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Media, Bashiru Ajibola, in his goodwill message, said, "It is very shocking that ahead of the general election, we are already getting it wrong. What we hear ahead of the election is status report on age, health, religion of candidates, and other mundane issues. We should channel our

NBC Warns Broadcasters Against Violence-provoking Campaign

Director General of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, yesterday, cautioned broadcast media organisations against broadcasting campaigns capable of instigating violence and disunity in the country.

Ilelah said this in Kano at the opening of the Nationwide Sensitisation Forum on Political Broadcasting ahead of next year's general election.

He stated that the commission would sanction any broadcaster, which circumvented the code of conduct, Electoral Act, and other extant laws, while engaging in 2023 political campaigns.

Ilelah stated that broadcasters were not statutorily empowered to announce or declare election results before INEC. He warned that any media organisation that unilaterally assumed the position of INEC would be dealt with

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWS

DAIKIN SOLUTIONS SEMINAR…

L-R: Senior Consulting Engineer, Daikin Middle East and Africa, Mr. Oni Olufemi; Chairman and President, Daikin Middle East and Africa FZE, Mr. Masaaki Miyatake; Daikin Official Distributor, Mr. Rafic Saab; Vice President, Sales, Daikin Middle East and Africa, Mr. Tuna Gulenc, and Manager, Sales Planning, Mr. Sami Monastiriotis, during the Daikin Applied Solutions Seminar in Lagos… recently

Court Throws Out PDP’s Suit Seeking to Disqualify Tinubu, Obi over Alleged Unlawful Nomination Chuks Okocha and Alex Enumah in Abuja

Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court, Abuja,

yesterday, dismissed a suit by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), seeking to disqualify candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola

Claims against Obi Mischievous, Labour Party Media Team Slams Oshiomhole

Emameh Gabriel in Abuja

The Media Office of Obi-Datti Movement has described as mischievous claims by former All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, that insecurity in Anambra State was at its highest ebb when Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate, was governor of the state.

This is just as they said no amount of lies or propaganda orchestrated to frustrate the Obi movement of taking back Nigeria would see the light of the day.

A statement signed by the

Media Office of Obi-Datti Movement, followed questions raised by Oshiomhole at the ongoing APC National Youths Summit in Abuja that how can Peter Obi, “a man who couldn’t fix a security challenge in his own state which requires courage, convince the people that he would fix the security challenges in Nigeria?

The media office said when the LP candidate told Nigerians severally to go and verify his past, he knew what the outcome of such verification would be-in his favour-“except for some individuals who would always stand truth on its head, and fabricate tales ostensibly.”

Tinubu, and that of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, in the 2023 presidential election, over alleged unlawful substitution of their running mates.

Justice Okorowo dismissed the suit for being incompetent and lacking merit on the grounds that the plaintiff lacked the necessary locus standi to institute the legal action.

Defendants in the suit with No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1016/2022

were the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), APC, Tinubu, Kabiru Masari, Obi and Doyin Okupe and 1st to 7th defendants respectively.

The judge further held that the suit was vexatious and a waste of the precious time of the court, adding that it was aimed at irritating opponents in the 2023 Presidential election.

According to the plaintiff, the Electoral Act 2022 did not make

provision for a “place holder” or temporary running mate and that time for resignation, withdrawal or substitution of presidential candidates or conduct of fresh primaries to replace them was not applicable to Masari and Okupe.

He, therefore, prayed the court to disqualify Tinubu and Obi from participating in next year’s presidential poll.

But the court, in its judgment,

disagreed with the plaintiff, noting that the suit filed on its behalf by Mr Gordy Uche, SAN, was incompetent and unjusticiable, because it did not disclose any reasonable cause of action.

Besides, the Judge said PDP failed woefully to disclose any injury it suffered in the substitution of running mates carried out by APC and Labour Party.

Imo Assembly Gets Fourth Speaker in One Term, Incumbent Forced to Resign Amby Uneze in Owerri The Imo State House of Assembly yesterday elected Emeka Nduka (APC Ehime Mbano) as the new Speaker of the Assembly following the forced resignation of Kennedy Ibe (APC Obowo).

Nduka was elected during a closed-door special sitting presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Amara Chyna

Iwuanyanwu (APC Nwangele), who called for nominations after reading the letter of resignation.

As at the time of filing the report, reasons for the former Speaker’s resignation had not been made open, but reliable sources indicated that his resignation ‘came from above’.

The new Speaker was nominated by the Majority Leader, Kanayo Onyemaechi (APC Owerri West), and

seconded by Uju Onwudiwe (APC Njaba).

Information has it that Nduka emerged the fourth Speaker of the ninth Assembly following the removal of two previous Speakers and Ibe’s resignation.

Ibe was sworn on as Speaker on November 8, 2021, following the removal of Paul Emeziem (APC Onuimo) for reasons ranging from forgery to highhandedness.

It is further recalled that Emeziem took over from Chiji Collins (APC Isiala Mbano) in November 2020 after he was removed for alleged unparliamentary conduct and gross misconduct.

Chiji, however, appealed to the Assembly to have his impeachment expunged from the legislative records and recorded as resignation, a request which was approved.

to Meet Police Minister, IG over Constitutional Role Kano Chinese Community PSC Usman Baba, in a bid to reach his appointment as chairman. sacrosanct.

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja an understanding of each other’s Addressing the workers She informed the staff that Condemns Killing of Ummita Acting Chairman of the Police responsibility. in Abuja, Ogunbiyi, who is the management would engage Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano Kano Chinese community, under the aegis of Chinese Business Community Association of Nigeria, has condemned the killing of one indigene of the state, Ummukulthum Buhari, allegedly by Chinese national, her lover, Geng Quanrong.

The community, under the leadership of its leader, Mike Zang, condemned the killing.

In a statement by Personal Assistant to Zang, Guang Lee Zhang, yesterday, the community described the alleged killing as “a criminal act that should be

allowed to be professionally handled by relevant security agencies.”

According to their statement, “the Chinese community in Kano is fully in support of the law taking its proper course.”

The community also expressed appreciation over hospitality extended to its members in the state, stressing that “ Chinese nationals will continue law abiding, friendly and contribute to the development of Kano.

“They then condoled with the family of the deceased, Ummukulthum Buhari,” said the statement.

Aggrieved Kaduna APC Members Reconciled, Vow to Work for Party’s Victory John Shiklam in Kaduna

Aggrieved members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna state, who lost out during the primary elections have resolved to close ranks and work for the victory of the party in the 2023 general elections.

Addressing a press conference yesterday in Kaduna, shortly after meeting with the party’s governorship candidate, Senator Uba Sani, the aggrieved party chieftains, under the umbrella

of “Kaduna APC Aspirants’ Forum” said they had resolved to ensure that all candidates of the party emerge victorious.

Some of the aggrieved members had instituted court cases against the outcome of the primary elections.

Chaiman of the forum, Hon. Ishaq Sale, who said his group will work tirelessly to ensure that the APC wins all the elective positions from the presidency to state house of assembly seats in Kaduna state.

Service Commission (PSC), Clara Ogunbiyi, yesterday, assured workers of the commission that, the management had initiated moves to interface with the Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingiyadi, and the Inspector-General of Police,

Workers of the commission had embarked on strike to protest the usurpation of the constitutional powers of the commission, a situation that forced the erstwhile chairman of the commission and former police chief, Musuliu Smith, to resign

also a retired Supreme Court Justice, said the mandate of the commission as provided for in paragraphs 29 and 30 of the 3rd Schedule of the 1999 Constitution as amended and Section 6(1) of the Police Service Commission Establishment (Act) 2001 remained

Dingiyadi and Baba with a view to reaching a common ground of each other’s responsibility, adding that, the management intended to operate an all-inclusive and open door policy as provided by the provision of the relevant laws.

Alleged N712m Fraud: You’ve Case to Answer, Court Tells Lamido

KingsleyNwezehinAbuja

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday, threw out a seven-point, no-case submission of a former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, challenging his trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), saying he had a case to answer before the court.

Lamido is standing trial, alongside two of his sons, Aminu Sule Lamido, Mustapha Sule Lamido, his business

associate, Aminu Wada Abubakar and four companies, Bamaina Company Nigeria Limited, Bamaina Aluminium Limited, Speeds International Limited and Batholomew Darlignton Agoha in a 37-count further amended charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N712,008,035.

Count one of the charges read: “That you Alhaji Sule Lamido while being the Governor of Jigawa State, Nigeria, on or about 15th of December,

2008 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court in your account in the name of Bamaina Holdings (also referred to as Bamaina Holding Limited) domiciled at Unity Bank Plc. Kano, converted the sum of N14,850,000.00 being the value of Intercontinental Bank Plc.(nowAccess Bank Plc) cheque no. 00000025 paid

by Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company Nigeria Limited which represented the proceeds of your illegal act to wit: using your position

as a public officer for gratification by purportedly obtaining contracts for companies in which you have interest from Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company Nigeria Limited which was awarded contracts by Jigawa State Government with the aim of concealing its illicit origin and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 14(1) (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004 and punishable under Section 14(1) of the same Act.”

Lagos Assembly: Court Orders INEC to Recognise Kome as PDP’s Candidate Wale Igbintade A Lagos Federal High Court has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Dr. John Okoro Kome, as the authentic candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP) representing Ikeja Constituency 1, for the forthcoming election into the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Justice Daniel Osiagor gave the directive while delivering judgment in a suit filed by D Kome against INEC, his party, PDP and one Abiodun Ezekiel Olufolarinwa, whose name appeared in the INEC’s list.

Kome had dragged INEC, PDP, and Abiodun, before the court for removing his name as the winner of the party primary election and PDP’s candidate.

In his originating summon filed by his lawyer, Don Akaegbu, Kome challenged INEC and PDP for substituting, and submitting the name of the third respondent, as the winner of the PDP’s primary election in while he (Kome) was the actual winner.

He argued that having purchased the party’s nomination form, screened and cleared by the party, he contested in the election

with the third defendant, as the only two contestants in the party’s primary election.

“A day before the conduct of the primary election and on the day of the election, the third defendant, being my only opponent and fellow contestant stepped down for me, leading to my emergence as the consensus candidate and winner of the primary election for Ikeja Constituency 1,” he stated.

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

30

NEWSXTRA

OLORI BADEJO CELEBRATES 90TH BIRTHDAY…

L-R : Celebrant’s son, Prince Fabian Badejo; Celebrant, Olori Margaret Ayoola Badejo; Catholic Archbishop of Lagos Diocese, Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins, and eldest daughter of the celebrant, Mrs Anne Badejo – Dada, during the 90th Birthday Thanksgiving Mass for Olori Badejo at St Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland, Lagos…recently.

ABIODUN AJALA

British Envoy Optimistic about Nigeria’s Role in Commonwealth Funmi Ogundare

As world leaders converge on Westminster Abbey, London in the United Kingdom yesterday for the

state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, expressed hope that Nigeria would continue to play a prominent role in the

Commonwealth considering the strong link between it and the United Kingdom.

Laing, who was a guest on The Morning Show on Arise News TV, said since Nigerian independence, the Queen played an important role in the evolution of the Commonwealth, and was able to bring about 56 countries together with other countries who create a Ministry of Uyo Capital were not originally part of the Territory to supervise buildings British Empire, joining. and prevent such calamities in future’’, he added.

Three people identified themselves as neighbours to the collapsed structure, one of who David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka owns a tailoring business, said: ‘’All my sewing machines are gone. Traditional rulers in communities They came under the collapsed around Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra concretes.”

A lady said the building State have tasked their subjects on collapsed minutes after she stepped the need to collect the permanent out of her house to a salon, saying: voters card (PVCs), and also get involved in the election process. ‘’Only God saved me.’’

The monarchs under the A man sobbed continuously, saying that all his property were umbrella of Dunukofia Traditional buried in the rubble. ‘’The only Rulers Council said they are thing I have is what I’m wearing confident that if Nigerians all now’’, he bemoaned.

According to her, “The Queen has played such an important role in that evolution and brought these ranges of countries together so much so that we have many members now who were not originally part British Empire.

Rwanda and Cameroon have also joined, and most recently, Togo joined. I think that that signals success as the Head of the Commonwealth, bringing countries together.”

Organisation said that “it is saddening and very unfortunate that this hardship is also being experienced by residents in other divisions of the state.

So worrisome is the fact that the ruling party has been in government for over 23 years with claims of humongous monthly IGR but with nothing tangible to show for it.”

The party said that the Lagos State PDP Governorship Candidate, Dr. Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran (Jandor) is daily inundated with reports of pains and hardship suffered by the good people of the state as a result of the poor state of roads and other basic amenities.

UN General Assembly in New York.

The former CBN boss, who was the 14th Emir of Kano, said he had devoted his lifetime to advancing the cause of the girl-child, women empowerment and gender equality.

“I have had a lifetime commitment and advocacy to access to quality education and

Akpanudoedehe Supports Victims of Collapsed Building in A’Ibom The Governorship candidate of New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) in Akwa Ibom State, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe yesterday visited the site of the collapsed four-storey building along Iman Street, Uyo. Senator Udoedehe expressed sympathies to the victims and outrage at the calamity that befell the people. ‘’First of all, my sympathies to those who perished in this place, and those who lost property. This is very sad. The government must apprehend the contractor or the builder and the government officials who gave approval to this type of shoddy job’’, he said. ‘’This is one of the reasons I will

She noted that the Queen, having dedicated her life to service to all, was able to provide stability in times of turbulence.

Asked how King Charles III will be able to navigate the political murky waters, Laing described the issue of climate change as political, saying the decisions have to be made and he would be having weekly meetings with him, where he would be giving her his candid advice.

According to her, “He has had 70 years to prepare and it’s absolutely right that he should have used that time productively.

He has done so much good work with his charity, and the Prince’s Trust, which has created so many opportunities for young people.

He was an environmentalist when everybody was worried about the environment and he’s been proved to be absolutely right on climate change and biodiversity.

Anambra Monarchs Task Subjects on Need to Collect PVCs, Vote accept to participate in the election process and vote wisely, they will elect a crop of leaders that will salvage the country.

The traditional ruler of Umunnachi community, Igwe Ben Anochie, who spoke on behalf of traditional rulers of five other communities that make up council area, during a press briefing to herald the forthcoming new yam festival of the communities, also stated

that there was need to encourage as many people as possible to go into agriculture.

He said: “We are calling on our subjects to ensure that they participate actively in the forthcoming elections by voting wisely and for the candidates of their choice.

“It is imperative that we have to continue to advocate to our people to participate fully in the democratic processes and ensure

that credible and people-oriented leaders emerge for the greater benefit of all.

“It does not stop in going through Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), people must go to the INEC local government council office to collect their PVCs and put them to a profitable use by voting on the D-day,” he said.

Calls for Girl-child Education, Women Empowerment in Africa Lagos PDP Decries Bad Roads Sanusi Former Governor of the Central on the sidelines of the ongoning gender equality,” Sanusi, the focused on girl child education in

Segun James

Following viral video reports of the bad state of roads in Lagos state, especially in Awoyaya area of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described it as disgraceful and embarrassing.

The party lamented the state of the road which is causing terrible gridlock and untold hardship for motorists, and businesses, saying that it is indeed a disgrace to the 23 years of All Progressives Congress (APC) rule in Lagos State.

The PDP in a statement by Head, Media & Communications, Jandor4Governor Campaign

GoodKnight Activ+ Enters Insecticide Market

Adeline Okonkwo andIjeoma Okonji

GoodKnight Power Activ+, an insecticide manufactured by Godrej Nigeria, for the treatment of malaria infection has entered the Nigerian market as one of the competing brands committed to curbing the spread of malaria transmitted through mosquito bites.

The company said in statement that malaria is responsible for nearly 300,000 deaths yearly in Nigeria, explaining that insecticides sell a lot in Nigeria because people need to get rid of perceived harmful insects

in their homes and surroundings, and they turn to insecticides.

The firm hinted that Malaria kills people daily in Nigeria and to get rid of mosquitoes that are the carriers of malaria, people fumigate their homes and surroundings with insecticides.

According to the company, due to high cases of malaria in Nigeria, the country has become receptive to insecticide brands with a lot of these brands positioned in the market, adding that one standout brand that is always a step ahead of all its competitors is Goodknight.

Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Lamido Sanusi, has made a passionate call for scaling up girl-child education and women empowerment in sub-Saharan Africa.

Sanusi spoke at a three-day Transforming Education Summit tagged ‘Transforming Education through Grassroots Innovation: A Localised Teacher-Led Approach’

immediate-past Emir of Kano, said.

“In my work as governor of the central bank, I pushed for gender representation at the highest levels, in the boards and management of the banks.

“And as Emir or Kano, I pushed for codification of putting law to address the Rights of Women.

“As an SDGs advocate, I have

particular, as the main SDG that I’m focused on are SDG four and SDG five,” he said.

Sanusi pointed out that providing the girl child an education and the opportunity to earn income and contribute meaningfully to the society was a single silver bullet that would address many of the other SDGs.

Court Nullifies Election of PDP’s House of Reps Candidate in Kebbi The Federal High Court in Kebbi Judicial Division has nullified the election of Haruna Garba Argungu as the Peoples Democratic Party’s(PDP) candidate for Argungu/Augie Federal Constituency.

It declared Sani Yakubu Noma as the party’s candidate and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to recognise him.

Justice B. G. Ashigar gave the order following an application

by Noma against Haruna Garba Argungu, the PDP and INEC. However, Haruna Argungu still has the right of appeal to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

Noma sought a declaration that by virtue of the provision of section 84 (5) (c) (ii) of the Electoral Act, 2022 and article 50 (1) & (2)

(d) of the Peoples Democratic Party’s constitution (As amended in 2017), part ii paragraph 7,part IV paragraph 2,6,9 and 10 of the Electoral Guidelines for Primary election for the PDP, the result of the House of Representatives Primary Election of the 2nd defendant for Argungu/Augie Federal Constituency, Kebbi State, Conducted on the 23rd day of May, 2022, by which he was

declared winner was a valid result of the primaries.

He said by the result of the House of Representative Primary election of the PDP (2nd defendant) for Argungu/ Augie Federal Constituency, Kebbi State on 23rd May, 2022, he was the candidate of the 2nd defendant for the said constituency in respect of the 2023 General Elections.

FG Tasked to Save Abuja Original Inhabitants Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The federal government has been charged to save the Abuja original inhabitants and their children from statelessness.

The charge was made yesterday by the Helpline Foundation for the Needy with support from MacArthur Foundation.

At a briefing with the support of the Centre for Human Rights

and Civil Education (CHRICED), the foundation urged government to give the original inhabitants a listening ear and revamp their cultural heritage through women and youth empowerment and cultural preservation.

Speaking on the President, Helpline Foundation, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, said over 81 aboriginal inhabitants of the FCT had been trained on cultural skills and were

ready to continue to preserve their culture in the place where their land is fast becoming a no man’s land.

Represented by the project officer, Onoja Arome, Ahmadu said 17 projects have been carried out by the Foundation across its five proposed objectives, among the major FCT tribes.

She lamented that the tribes have their separate colours and fabrics

for unique cultural identification, which were becoming extinct before the timely intervention of the MacArthur Foundation and CHRICED. She said the Helpline Foundation had also taken steps to advocate for the preservation of cultural sites like the dye pits of Ushafa, the iron smelting sites of Takushara, the gold tunnels and the colonial ludges in Takushara.

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TUESDAY, S ͺ͸˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

TUESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Ahmed Musa Injured, to Miss Algeria Friendly in Oran 18 Eagles in Constantine camp as at last night Duro Ikhazuagbe

Ahmed Musa (left) during Sivasspor’s Europa Conference League Clash with CFR Cluj of Romania ...last Thursday

Bayelsa’s Teams Storm Belgrade for World School Basketball Championships The 2022 Milo National Secondary School Championships winners, Bayelsa’s duo of Bishop Dimieari Grammar School and St Jude’s Girls Secondary School Amarata will represent Nigeria for the first time at the 2022 World School Basketball Championship taking place in Belgrade, Serbia.

The Nigerian contingent to the Championships includes the First Lady of Bayelsa State, Dr. Gloria Ebibomo Diri, with President of the Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF), Mrs. Olabisi Joseph as

leader.

Nigeria alongside 19 other nations including Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, France, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Nepal, North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia, Chinese Taipei, and Turkey will compete in the boys and girls events organised by the International School Sports Federation (ISF) and hosted by the Serbian School Sport Federation.

Speaking at the send-forth for the team in Lagos, the NSSF President lauded the support of the Bayelsa State government at ensuring

that the students are exposed to international competitions while urging other states to take a cue from this gesture.

Joseph, however, praised the sponsor of the annual Milo National Secondary School Championships, Nestle Nigeria Plc for their commitment to the competition as well as for providing the platform for the students to showcase their talents.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Education in Bayelsa, Gentle Emeleh, specifically praised the sports-loving Governor of the

state, Douye Diri for his interest in sports while promising that the team would make the country and the state proud in Serbia.

The captains of the teams, Idubamo Pius Beggi and Samuel Talents vowed to replicate their feat in Nigeria on the international stage while promising to be good ambassadors.

Meanwhile, the boys’ team has been drawn in Group A alongside Turkey, Hungary, and Chinese Taipei while the girls’ team is in group D with Turkey, Chile, and Bulgaria.

Pique, Xavi in Dressing Room Bust up Gerard Pique had a dressing room row with former teammate and current Barcelona Head Coach Xavi Hernandez over a lack of playing time, UK’s Mirror reports.

Pique has started just one of Barcelona’s eight matches this season – lining up against Cadiz in La Liga with his only other outing a Champions League substitute

appearance against Viktoria Plzen.

Pique has fallen out of favour under Xavi, following the signings of Jules Kounde and Andreas Christensen.

Barcelona Manager, Xavi (left), and his former teammate, Gerald Pique, were in dressing room scuffle over lack of enough playing time for the later.

Also, players like Ronald Araujo and Eric Garcia enjoying regular playing time.

Pique remains one of Barca’s highest earners, despite accepting multiple salary deferrals and reductions in the past few years.

The 35-year-old has two seasons remaining on his contract, which ends in 2024.

It is said by the same report that Barca are hopeful he will stick to his previous promise of agreeing to leave the club once he falls out of the starting line-up. Pique is previously quoted as saying: “I will retire at Barcelona, but never as a substitute.”

Pique said after the embarrassing 8-2 Champions League defeat against Bayern Munich in 2020: “If tomorrow (Ronald) Koeman tells me I have to go, I will leave football. I am not going to play in another team that is not Barcelona.”

Barca chiefs are now reportedly keen on him coming good on that promise, especially after what was reportedly said between Pique and boss Xavi after last week’s Champions League defeat away to Bayern Munich.

The injury woes plaguing Super Eagles players ahead of Nigeria’s international friendly with Algeria next week in Oran has continued with Team Captain, Ahmed Musa, also opting out.

The former Leicester City winger got injured last weekend in his Sivasspor’s 2-1 away loss to MKE Ankaragücü in the Turkish topflight.

Musa is the third Super Eagles player to be knocked out of this game following earlier injuries to Victor Osimhen of Napoli and Real Sociedad’s Sadiq Umar.

Both players got injured on duty for their clubs in Italy and Spain respectively.

Turkish news source Ihlas News Agency, reported that Musa picked up the injury while on duty for for his Sivasspor club.

Musa was listed in Peseiro's 25-man Super Eagles squad that will battle the Desert Foxes in the Algerian town of Oran on Tuesday, September 27.

Turkish news source Ihlas News Agency reports that Musa was injured in the hand due to an out stretched arm an opposing player ran into.

The Nigerian Captain was treated on the sideline of the field.

But for precaution, the 29-year-old was later replaced by Clinton N'Jie. He was expected to undergo further comprehensive medical checks late yesterday to ascertain the degree of the injured hand.

Musa was similarly substituted after picking up a slight injury in Sivasspor’s narrow UEFA Europa Conference League victory against CFR Cluj of Romania.

Meanwhile, Watford goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, was amongst the 18 early arrivals in Super Eagles camp in Constantine as Nigeria begin preparations for an international friendly with fellow Qatar 2022 World Cup absentees, Algeria on Saturday.

Okoye has been missing from Eagles line up since Nigeria crashed

out to Ghana through the away goal rule in Qatar 2022 final playoff game in Abuja.

The former Sparta Rotterdam safe hands didn’t take kindly to the trolling he received from some angry Nigerian fans on social media who felt Okoye and other Eagles let the country down.

He therefore was quoted by close friends to be considering quitting the senior national team. But following interventions, Maduka has now put that failure behind him and soldier on.

Others players in camp as at dinner time include; Ekong, Omeruo, Awaziem, Aina, Bassey, Sanusi, Akpoguma, Ozornwafor, Ndidi, Onyeka, Iwobi, Onyedika, Simon, Awoniyi, Ejuke, Dessers and Moffi.

Uzoho, Adebayo, Duru, Saviour, Iheanacho and Lookman were expectedto Join up later yesterday night.

PLAYERS IN CAMP (Last night) *Okoye *Ekong *Omeruo *Awaziem *Aina *Bassey *Sanusi *Akpoguma *Ozornwafor *Ndidi *Onyeka *Iwobi *Onyedika *Simon *Awoniyi *Ejuke *Dessers *Moffi EXPECTED *Uzoho *Adebayo *Duru *Saviour *Iheanacho *Lookman

Nigeria's Top 8 Stars for Lagos Tennis Cup Lagos is set to host the best tennis players in Nigeria once again as the second edition of the Lagos Tennis Cup is scheduled to serve off from September 27 to October 02 at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.

The tournament will feature the top eight men and women’s players in the country, as ranked by the Nigerian Tennis Federation, including defending men’s champion, Uche Oparaoji, who is currently ranked 6th, and women’s champion and top seed Marylove Edwards.

The Lagos Tennis Cup, which debuted in 2021 at the same venue, is part of a new addition to the national tennis calendar called the Nigerian Tennis Majors, and which also includes the Abuja Tennis Cup. The champions in both categories will earn N500,000 each, while the runners-up will get N250,000. Each player is to receive N50,000 to help with welfare, while a stage one exit earns a player an additional N50,000.

The tournament is to start with a group stage format that would see each category divided into two groups of four

players. The top two players after a round-robin would clash with the runners-up of the other group in the semi-finals, with the victors playing in the final.

Speaking about the tournament, Managing Director of the Tennis Management Company Limited (TMCL), organisers of the event, Kenneth Ezaga, stated that fans and the sports community should expect a more robust tournament this year.

“We are building a sports property that will compete with the very best on the continent.

It will take some time to reach our goal, but with every tournament it gets a bit better and a bit easier.” Ezaga said.

He describes tennis as a hugely popular sport in the country.

“Tennis in Nigeria was hugely popular and we are hoping that with the Lagos Tennis Cup and the Abuja Tennis Cup we can create a platform to discover and inspire the next Nduka Odizor,” he concluded.

This year, the tournament will feature a Kids Day on October 1st with over 25 young players receiving coaching tips and having a chance to play with the top players.

Tuesday, September 20, 2022

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MISSILE

Gov Abiodun to Nigerians

“Let me use this opportunity to inform our people that politics and politicking towards next year’s general elections have already begun, and we must all shun the politics of rancour and acrimony. We should rather consider the greater good of our nation as paramount in our thoughts and deeds. We must not allow politics to truncate what we have enjoyed...” --Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, urging Nigerians to eschew politics of rancour and acrimony in 2023.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI Queen, NANS, ASUU and Who Dey Shop?

Y abati1990@gmail.com

esterday would be remembered for long in history even by generations yet unborn, as a historic moment in the 21stcentury, the day, Elizabeth II, embarked on a journey to the Eternal Realm, after 70 years of reign as Monarch of Great Britain and leader of the Commonwealth, the grandmother of many across the world and “the rock upon which Modern Britain was built” to borrow British PM Liz Truss’s words. I was impressed by the symbolism, the culture, the tradition, the pageantry, the inter-generational links, the grandeur with which the British, paying attention to every little detail turned that into a tribute to the value of constitutional monarchy, national pride, and the history of a people. There has been so much said in the last ten days, but now that Elizabeth II has gone to be with the Lord, there is a lot more to be said about lessons and the future, and the rest of us who would forever share a connection with the United Kingdom, at cultural, historical, diplomatic, bi-national and individual, polemical, levels. In the end, what was shared was the humanity that connects the entire population of the world, and the subtle differences and disregard for a rules-based international order that divides us. Elizabeth II is gone. The Lord is Her Shepherd…/She has passed beyond the mists that blind us here/Into the new and larger life/Of that serener sphere.” May she travel well. A new era begins.

At the historic occasion, Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari was represented by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the UK, Alhaji Sarafa Isola.

Nigeria was not one of those countries that were asked to stay away from the funeral: Russia, Belarus, Myanmar, Syria, Venezuela, and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. The Russians have complained that their exclusion is “particularly blasphemous.” I can’t figure out how. The British were determined to make a diplomatic statement, and play politics with the Queen’s burial and they did so. Some countries were grudgingly allowed to attend through their ambassadors: Iran, Nicaragua and North Korea.

China sent its Vice President, Wang Qishan. But the American President, Joe Biden, the French President Emmanuel Macron and the Prince of Dubai, were treated preferentially – allowed to travel in their own means of transportation, with the US President going to Westminster Abbey for the state burial in “The Beast”, while others were conveyed in buses provided by the British hosts.

As it were, the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II was one of the biggest diplomatic gatherings in decades, the first state burial in the UK since two-time Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill’s passing in 1965, and one of the biggest security operations that anyone has seen for decades: 4, 000 military personnel, 10, 000 policemen on duty, 142 naval officers manning the gun carriage that was last used in 1952 for the burial of King George VI, father of Elizabeth II, drone-blocking technology, a Bank Holiday that placed the entire UK on pause, 4.1 billion people watching across the world, the pomp was a clear indication of how majestic Elizabeth II was in life and death. The British used the occasion to advertise strength, tradition, seamless institutional capacity, and continuity.

The Elizabethan Age is a specific reference in the teaching of English history and culture, and world-view, which in literary scholarship has provided a benchmark for the introduction of students in the humanities to an understanding of the British Renaissance between 1558 and 1603, during the Tudor period. It was the golden age: the time of William Shakespeare and his contemporaries, the Spanish Armada (1585 – 1602) and the emergence of the royal union with Scotland. As someone who once taught the literature of the Elizabethan Age, specifically Shakespeare and His Contemporaries

The late Queen Elizabeth from Shakespeare himself to Ben Jonson, Thomas Kyd, Christopher Marlowe and John Lyly, up till the Anglo-Irish Theatre of the 19th Century from W. B. Yeats to Lady Gregory, John Millington Synge and Sean O’Casey, I would not be surprised if literary scholars begin to explore the constructs for a second Elizabethan Age in the 20th and 21st centuries given the range of Elizabeth II’s reign across culture, science, and politics. Such was the import of the significance of her leadership.

Many Nigerians who attended the Queen’s lyingin-state, or funeral, physically, or virtually, whatever may be their misgivings about the truth-telling, expiatory, cathartic moment this may represent about the legacy of Empire and colonialism, may well have been reassured by the fact that Nigeria was not one of those countries banished from attending the funeral of the world’s grandmother whose burial yesterday was even celebrated in rural Cameron, with an elaborate thanksgiving service! VP Yemi Osinbajo represented President Muhammadu Buhari.

But there is a problem here that I would like to throw up, thinking aloud, for general interrogation. As the Vice President’s delegation jetted off to London on Sunday, Nigeria’s President, Buhari also left town for the 77th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The country’s two principal leaders of the Executive Arm of Government at the Federal level, travelled out of town the same day to go and attend events. In those days, Sahara Reporters and Omoyele Sowore would have raised an alarm over the number of persons on the Vice President and President’s delegations, and how that indicates sheer lack of prudence in managing public resources.

This time around, Sowore, an anti-monarchist by the way, has missed an opportunity to soro soke!

But my concern is as follows: whereas there is no law that says the President and the Vice President must not leave town at the same time, I still do not think that it is politically expedient that they do so.

I also do not think that it is cost-efficient, at a time Nigeria’s Finance Minister, the National Assembly and international observers are complaining about a terrible revenue problem that calls for an urgent review of the country’s corruption vulnerabilities, the civil service, competitiveness and fiscal framework.

Nor is it administratively convenient either.

What does the 1999 Constitution say? Section 145 of the Nigerian Constitution deals with, “the temporary absence of the President” while Section 146 expatiates on circumstances under which the

Vice President may discharge the functions of the President, but nowhere in both instances do the framers of the law envisage a situation whereby the President and the Vice President could both abandon post and leave the country the same day, even if on two different state assignments.

None of the rules of interpretation – literal, golden, mischief or the ejusdem generis rule would seem to resolve the dilemma in my view. But perhaps, simple common sense would help. I can understand President Muhammadu Buhari deciding to attend UNGA 2022. With Nigeria’s next general elections fixed for February 2022, and his two-term tenure as Nigerian President due to expire in May 2023, this would be his last attendance at the UN General Assembly as President.

It makes sense if he wants to show up to bid his brother Heads of State farewell. UNGA begins formally today with the statements of Heads of States, so it probably would have been a bit stressful for him to attend the Queens’ funeral on 19thSeptember and then immediately make the long trip to New York. But then, there were other Heads of State at Westminster Abbey yesterday who will depart London, and go straight to New York. What is the matter with us? The Vice President didn’t even need to go to London. Nigeria could just have been as ably represented by the country’s High Commissioner to the UK, as some other countries - Iran, Nicaragua and North Korea were represented by their ambassadors. Only African Presidents go to every UNGA, almost every year for a jamboree. Countries can even be represented by their Ministers of Foreign Affairs or their UN Ambassadors, the only concern would be the order of protocol. In other words, President Buhari himself could have stayed behind, he really doesn’t need a hollow farewell tour.

The argument can be made that the two trips not falling under the intendments of Sections 145 and 146 aforementioned are in a special category of their own, especially as the Vice President could be back in the country before this newspaper reaches the newsstands, and that in any case the President going to UNGA for a few days can still run the country with the aid of phone calls, text messages, or zoom from wherever he is, or better still, through any of his aides back home. The only problem with this is: the Nigerian Constitution does not say that Nigeria can be governed through telephony from a foreign location. The problem now is: should the President and the Vice President both leave town the same day for whatever length of time, no matter how short, or do we need to amend the Constitution to address this? Yesterday, Nigeria had no Commander in Chief on the ground! Both the President and the Vice President were not only out of the country, even key Ministers were either in one entourage or the other. I was compelled to ask the question, as Nigerians would say: who dey shop oh?

As it happened, yesterday turned out to be a momentous day in Nigeria. Nigerian students under the aegis of their umbrella body, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) decided to stage a protest in Lagos in solidarity with the union of Nigerian university teachers, ASUU whose members have been on strike since February 14.

NANS had blocked expressways – the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, last week and also threatened to shut down the country’s airports to make the ruling elite feel the pains of parents and students, and to compel the Federal Government to accede to the demands of the university teachers. On September 19, as the President arrived New York, and the VP attended the Queen’s funeral in London, aggrieved Nigerian students, defied early morning rainfall, and blocked access to Nigeria’s main international airport. Travellers could not access the airport for hours. NANS accuses the

Federal Government of “crass irresponsibility”. The Chairman of the association’s National Taskforce on #EndASUUStrikeNow has threatened that its members would also shut down the Nigeria Ports Authority and the Third Mainland Bridge. The traffic gridlock on the way to the airport was kilometres-long.

When the students shut down the Expressway the other week, many motorists and commuters groaned in pain. NANS has the support of the striking university teachers. Federal Government officials have however threatened that it is a criminal offence to disrupt movement and inflict pain on innocent civilians. The Nigeria Police Force has also threatened to deal with the students. On Sunday, the Lagos State Police Command reportedly said the students “were free to come out and see what awaits them”. The students ignored the threat. They came out as promised. We can only hope that the security agencies would not do anything stupid and further aggravate the delicate situation in the country. Incidentally, the Nigeria Police Force is under the direct command of the Nigerian President and he is away in New York. His Deputy is in London.

For more than 200 days, aggrieved Nigerian students in public universities have been at home.

Their anger is understandable. The agony of their parents too. It is not just a whole academic session that has been lost, the future of university education in Nigeria is endangered. Many university teachers have left the country to seek employment elsewhere.

Many students have either started afresh in private universities and those who do not have the privilege of being sent to other schools by their parents have abandoned the dream of university education. We have read stories of university teachers who have taken up new careers as petty traders, personal assistants to politicians, or as roadside hawkers of bean cake. The Federal Government has taken ASUU to the National Industrial Court (judgement is expected in the matter tomorrow, Wednesday, September 21), but the university teachers are resilient. They have given minimum conditions: the revitalization of universities, the payment of earned allowances and arrears, review of salaries and payment systems, implementation of agreements and Memorandum of Action reached with ASUU, and outright rejection of the Federal Government’s “No Work No Pay Rule”. What is required is a complete paradigm shift, and a proper re-construction of the idea of the university. Even if ASUU calls off its strike tomorrow, the Federal Government would only have further postponed the crisis, if we fail to address the core issues at stake, the interpretation of which is now a function more of emotions rather than actual knowledge.

Yesterday, Nigerian students were able to get the support and approval not only of ASUU, but also of Omoyele Sowore, a former students union leader, now a Presidential candidate as well as a number of non-governmental organizations including the Social and Economic Rights Accountability Project (SERAP) and Enough is Enough (EiE).

With the manner in which Nigerian Students are mobilizing, what began as an industrial dispute with university teachers could very easily snowball into a repeat of the youth protest of 2020, that is the #EndSARS protests. It is not in anyone’s interest to allow another degeneration of the social space, especially as Nigeria prepares for a major political transition, due to begin with campaigns by political parties on September 28.

It is important that Nigeria’s leaders and other stakeholders pay attention. Someone must begin to engage the Nigerian students, and not just allow them to do their worst. The Buhari government may soon effectively become lame-duck, but that inevitability should not be compounded with a lackadaisical attitude.

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