TUESDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER 2021 by THISDAY Newspapers Ltd

INEC Insists on e-Transmission of Polls Results

Wants National Assembly to revisit Electoral Act Says commission not subordinate to NCC Saraki asks legislature to act in national interest Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

has asked the National Assembly to revisit the Electoral Act amendment bill, assuring that it has the capacity and technical knowhow

to undertake electronic transmission of election results throughout the country. INEC declared that it was not subordinate to the National

Communication Commission (NCC) or answerable to any government agency. In a similar development, former Senate President,

Dr. Bukola Saraki, advised members of the Joint Conference Committee of the National Assembly to move fast in considering the different

versions of the Electoral Act (amendment) Bill passed by both chambers and let their Continued on page 11

CeBIH, Others Urge Nigerians to Adopt CBN's e-Naira Initiative... Page 5 Tuesday 28 September, 2021 Vol 26. No 9667. Price: N250

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Northern Governors: Power Shift Not in Constitution

Condemn statement by the southern govs that power must move to south Oppose states’ collection of VAT, say it will lead to multiple taxation

John Shiklam in Kaduna The fault lines of a divided nation came to the fore yesterday, with the Northern States Governors Forum, (NSGF), umbrella body of 19 elected governors of the, north signaling its determination to press its advantage and retain power in 2023, against the mood of the southern part of the country which has insisted that power must shift to the

south. The NSGF rose from a meeting in Kaduna yesterday to state its position affirming its right to stake claim to the presidency in 2023. It condemned the position of the Southern Governors Forum (SGF), stating that it contradicts "the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) Continued on page 11

Bandits Slaughter 34, Burn Down 20 Houses in Kaduna

Another eight killed in reprisal attack State government confirms casualties How ISWAP invaded Sokoto military base, murdered 15 officers John Shiklam in Kaduna and Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto In a brazen new onslaught, bandits on Sunday slaughtered 34 people, including a family of 13, following attacks on Madamai and Abun communities in Kaura Local

Government Area of Kaduna State. Eight persons sustained various degrees of injury, while the terrorists burnt down about 20 houses. The attacks came roughly 24 hours after another set Continued on page 11

ACTION AGAINST SEXUAL AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE... President, Eagles Wings Development Center, Mrs. Bunmi Oloyede (left) and Lagos State First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, during the second phase of stakeholders’ consultative forum organized by the First Lady for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Civil Society Groups tackling Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, held at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja... recently

Bayelsa at 25: Late Abacha Remains Our Hero, Says Diri... Page 12

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

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NEWS

Group News Editor: Goddy Egene Email: Goddy.egene@thisdaylive.com, 08033506821, 08097777322

BRAINSTORMING FOR BETTER RESULTS... L-R: Divisional Head, Listings Business, Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, Olumide Bolumole; Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Professor. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe; Chief Executive Oﬃcer, NGX Limited, Temi Popoola; and Divisional Head, Trading Business, NGX Limited, Jude Chiemeka, at a strategic meeting at the University of Lagos... yesterday

Agusto & Co. Harps on Power Sector Reforms, Stronger Industry Regulator Reveals FG's interventions was N2trn in 2020

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Agusto & Co., a pan-African credit rating agency and provider of industry research, has called for reforms in Nigeria’s ailing power industry. The firm urged the Nigerian government to strengthen the current industry regulator, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Agency (NERC), arguing that a strong regulatory environment remained a prerequisite for a viable power sector. In a report titled: “The State of the Nigerian Electric Power Industry-is there Any Light at the End of the Tunnel,” the Lagos-based agency maintained that it remained cautious about the capacity of the new tariff regime to transform the industry. However, the firm noted that even with the current NERC, if the decisions taken by the regulator are consistently enforced, they have the potential to move the industry forward in the right direction. “In August 2020, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) issued a circular that all deposit money banks are expected to warehouse and manage collection inflows from all Distribution Companies (Discos) under specific guidelines as contained in the document. The objective of this ‘ring fencing’ is to secure cash collected from the Discos and ensure that these distribution companies meet their mandatory obligations. “While operators are generally optimistic that the new tariffs and accompanying regulations would enhance efficiency and position the industry on the trajectory towards achieving financial independence and ultimately improvements in the volume and quality of electricity supply, Agusto & Co remains cautious. “In our view, to truly achieve the objectives of privatisation, reforms need to be accompanied by a strong and enabling

regulatory environment. Furthermore, improved access to finance, efficiency in billing and metering as well as consistent and secure gas supply are vital to reap the benefits of privatisation in the long run,” the report stated. It explained that while the journey to constant electric power supply remained far and long-winded, it believed the initiatives undertaken by the primary regulator – NERC– if consistently enforced have the potential to move the industry forward in the right direction. According to the firm, since the privatisation exercise that commenced in 2013, the Nigerian electric power industry has been fraught with many of the same challenges ranging from unreflective tariffs to high loss levels, obsolete infrastructure, weak policy implementation and gas shortages.

All of these, it stated, culminated in weak and erratic power supply and a dependence on self-generation by many businesses and households. Furthermore, Agusto noted that electricity distribution in Nigeria remained plagued by high technical, operational and commercial inefficiencies, stressing that for instance in 2020, the country’s 11 Discos only billed for 74 per cent of the energy received from the transmission company, below the 81 per cent reported in the prior year. The report added that billing efficiency which had historically been impaired by a low metering rate and energy theft, with only 37 per cent of registered electricity customers metered in 2020, was severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. “Agusto & Co believes the impact of the pandemic was

more visible amongst consumer groups with post-paid meters and estimated bills given that the social distancing rules and movement restrictions established to curb the spread of the virus impaired the physical billing process. “Collection efficiency also fell marginally to 66 per cent from 68 per cent one year prior. Consequently, the aggregate technical, commercial and collection (ATC&C) losses for the 11 Discos rose to 51 per cent in 2020 from 45 per cent in 2019. “This high loss level remains one of the many reasons for the kickback from electricity consumers on tariff increases, especially in the absence of a significant and immediate improvement in power supply,” it maintained. The report noted that these challenges have not only weakened the ability of

operators to meet electricity demand, but also threatened their financial viability, with significant implications for the fiscal health of the country. Despite the series of amendments to the tariff structure, the company argued that cash flows from the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO), have remained insufficient to fully cover the costs of electricity supplied. “The fear of the impact of a ‘rate shock’ on consumers and the accompanying loss of ‘political capital’ has prevented the effective implementation of necessary amendments that will align the MYTO’s assumptions with economic realities. “Electricity has thus consistently been sold at a discount, with end-user electricity tariffs much lower than the cost of electricity supplied. The shortfall from

unreflective tariffs has been borne in large parts by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) through multiple intervention funds and payment assurance facilities from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) totalling close to N2 trillion country (US$4.9 billion) as at the end of 2020, equivalent to 6 per cent of CBN’s balance sheet. “Despite this level of intervention, the generating companies had estimated receivables of over N400 billion in World Bank and Industry Operators at official exchange rate as at 30 June 2020 US$1=N410 2020 alone. “Whilst the interventions have been central in ensuring the profitability of operators along the Industry’s value chain, they remain insufficient and unsustainable,” it stated.

CeBIH, Others Urge Nigerians to Adopt CBN's e-Naira Initiative Sunday Okobi The Committee of e-business Industry Heads (CeBIH) has lauded the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) e-naira initiative, urging Nigerians to adopt the e-naira when it's rolled out by the CBN in October this year. CeBIH noted that the e-naira would facilitate faster and cheaper payment transactions and drive financial inclusion in Nigeria. According to a statement issued by the group, the CeBIH Chairman, Adeyemi Atanda, stated this at the third-quarter industry forum of (CeBIH) with the theme: ‘Digital currency and the prospects of central bank digital currency in Nigeria’, held in Abuja yesterday. He explained that there must be an attraction for people to keep money in naira, but the e-naira has no attraction.

Atanda, however, said it can be compensated with the fact that transactions are done using e-naira come at near-zero cost, which can help the end-user save some money. He said: "When you hear e-naira, think transactional not investments. That is where a lot of people are mixing it up. You can’t compare it with crypto. Crypto is not primarily transactional, it is primarily investments. The e-naira is primarily transactional.” The group boss assured Nigerians that the CBN and banking sector are well equipped to manage fraud and other cyber security challenges that can arise from the adoption of the e-naira. Atanda said: “We have been very innovative in trying to guard against fraud as much as possible. All of those gains we have learnt in digital banking for managing fraud, things like

second factor or multi-factor authentication, encryption, and other innovations will still apply in this case.” The chairman stressed that the e-naira, however, has more benefits than negatives, arguing that the platform can bring a lot of cash circulating outside the banking sector, which is about 85 percent, into the financial sector. On the downside, Atanda said there are fears that banks will lose some of the liabilities (deposits). According to him, “The liabilities that we sit on today will be moved from naira where we can use it easily to digital currency, so we lose liability, but, again, it is a function of how creative we get as bankers.” Also speaking at the event, Director, Information and Technology, CBN, Rakiya Mohammed, said the introduction

of the e-naira can catalyze Nigeria’s digital economy, boost cross-border trade and enable better macroeconomic policy formulation. She further said that macroeconomic policies would be better formulated due to digitisation. Speaking on the e-naira design, Muhammed disclosed that the design would soon be revealed as the apex bank has concluded its development. The e-naira, she noted, will be a legal tender like the fiat naira, adding that it will not replace but complement the naira and anonymity of transactions is guaranteed. Experts from the Blockchain industry present at the event noted, however, that the move may not deepen financial inclusion as hoped despite offering the advantage of cheaper

and more efficient financial transactions. The Coordinator, blockchain Nigeria User Group, Chimezie Chuta, stressed that the e-naira would not solve the problem of financial inclusion in the country. Chuta said: “I don’t think it will drive financial inclusion, it won’t drive that. You need to have money, a source of income to have a bank account. An average Nigerian will not buy into e-Naira because of banking services.” According to him, CBN introduced the digital currency to address the encroachment of private e-currencies but said the solution is weak as the e-Naira does not address the key drivers of private e-currencies. Chuta, however, said the e-naira would save the huge cost on printing, management, and distribution of the naira.

TUESDAY, ͺ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

STRENGTHENING COMMERCE WITH RUSSIA... L-R: Deputy Executive Oﬃcer, Head of the Heat and Power Division, Mr. Krill Maximov; President, Nigeria-Russia Chamber of Commerce, Obiora Okonkwo,; Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, receiving a gift and Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador at Large, Oleg Ozerov, during a courtesy visit by Nigerian-Russian Chambers of Commerce at the Presidential Villa in Abuja ... yesterday GODWIN OMOIGUI

Security Beefed Up at N'Assembly over Legislative Aides’ Planned Protest Deji Elumoye and Udora Orizu in Abuja The management of the National Assembly yesterday beefed up security in and around the Three Arms Zone in Abuja apparently to foil a planned protest by some legislative aides. The legislative aides, under the auspices of Salary Arrears Affected Legislative Aides (SAALA), had vowed to ground activities at the National Assembly this week, over alleged non-payment of their 2019 salary arrears and allowances in the sum of N3.1 billion. THISDAY observed increased presence of security personnel including Department of State Services (DSS) personnel and Sergeantat-Arms, who were seen manning various entrances and exits in the complex. It was also observed that the doors leading to the foyer at the White House from the Senate and House of Representatives chambers were not only shut, but were guarded by security operatives. The aides had in a statement yesterday signed by its Coordinator, Mr. Zebis Prince, and five other members, said the protest became necessary to press home their demands. They claimed they were being owed N3.1 billion, made up of N1.35 billion in salary arrears and N1.75 billion for consequential adjustment on minimum wage.

According to them, while over 1,300 aides were still being owed salary arrears, none of the 2,345 legislative aides has received the consequential adjustment on minimum wage, since their appointments in June, 2019. They alleged that the Clerk to the National Assembly, Ojo Olatunde Amos, had disobeyed a resolution passed by the House of Representatives mandating him to pay the arrears. The aggrieved aides listed their demands to include: Full payment of salary arrears from June 2019, the implementation of consequential adjustment on minimum wage, restoration of Duty Tour Allowance (DTA), holistic and comprehensive training for all cadres of legislative aides, among others. "We will picket the National Assembly Complex, as well as the venue of a training organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) billed for Monday, Sept. 27, to press home our demand for better working conditions," the aides said. However, the Chairman of the National Assembly Legislative Aides Forum (NASSLAF), Salisu Zuru, disowned the group, describing their planned action as illegal. Zuru in a yesterday, claimed the group was out to perpetuate illegality. The statement read in part: “Information reaching me

has it that some disgruntled Aides are planning to disturb the peace of NASS. “I seriously and urgently wish to bring to your attention the likely breach of peace in National Assembly starting from tomorrow being 27th September, 2021 by some disenchanted and egocentric aides whose stock in trade is always confusion. Their grouse is that some of them have not been paid their Salary Arrears.

“Be verily informed that apart from the Protests they want to stage tomorrow, they have concluded plans to disrupt the training being organised by NILDS and which will start on Tuesday after tomorrow. “These aides are embarking on illegality because none of them is an executive member or Members of CWC of NASSLAF, the body constitutionally empowered to run the affairs of Aides.

“The peace of NASS should not be allowed to be disrupted in the guise of salary arrears.” On his part, the Clerk to the National Assembly, Ojo Olatunde Amos, said management had since met with the leadership of the group. Ojo had in reaction yesterday, by his Special Adviser on Media and Labour Matters, Austen Adesoro, stated that efforts

were made to offset the salary arrears. He said: "Management has explained to them categorically, with evidence on the efforts being made to raise funds to pay those of them that the management is owing arrears. "The Principal Officers are doing their best to ensure that whatever needs to be done is done to ensure the release of the funds from the Ministry of Finance."

Lai Mohammed: COVID-19 Vaccine Nationalism Hindering Restart of Tourism Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has lamented that efforts to restart the tourism sector was being hindered by COVID-19 vaccine nationalism. He stated this yesterday in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, during an address at the 44th Edition of the United Nations World Tourism Day 2021 celebration, with the theme: “Tourism for Inclusive Growth.” He said the tourism sector could only open up effectively and contribute to economic growth when the people are adequately protected from COVID-19, adding that vaccine nationalism had heightened the inequality and inequity in the global vaccine

distribution system. “Today, rich countries are able to procure vaccines for their own citizens through direct agreement with pharmaceutical companies; while low and middle income countries are lagging, unable to act as speedily as rich countries in securing the quantity of vaccines they need or unable to afford to pay for any at all. “Whereas some rich countries are already talking of third booster shots, many low and middle-income countries have not even given one shot to their citizens. Added to this is the restriction placed on the citizens from certain countries by the rich nations. “These restrictions, made possible by the use of vaccine passports, as well as the low level of vaccination in the low

and middle income countries due to vaccine nationalism that has seen rich countries mop up available vaccines, are capable of thwarting the efforts to restart tourism,” Mohammed said. He, therefore called on rich countries of the world to retrace their steps and embrace collective and equitable global strategy for COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing, procurement, and distribution, stressing that they must also stop ineffective nationalistic disposition in COVID-19 responses. The minister noted that COVID-19 response should be science-driven, with experts in epidemiology, virology and the social sciences (not politicians) taking the lead in devising and implementing science-based strategies to reduce the risks that the pandemic poses to the most

vulnerable across the globe and to reduce transmission of this novel virus. “It is our collective responsibility to ensure that tourism remains a sector of hope, providing opportunities for empowerment and entrepreneurship for people and education. I enjoin all stakeholders to place inclusiveness at the centre of their strategies in order to develop a safe, unique and overwhelming experience for visitors,” he said. Speaking on the theme of the ‘World Tourism Day 2021,’ the minister said inclusive growth deals with policies that allow people from different groups; gender, ethnicity, religion and across sectors; agriculture, manufacturing, among others, contribute to and benefit from economic growth.

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

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PAGE ELEVEN NORTHERN GOVERNORS: POWER SHIFT NOT IN CONSTITUTION as amended that an elected President shall: score the majority votes; score at least 25 per cent of the votes cast in two-third of the states of the federation.” In a communiqué issued at the end of their joint meeting

with Northern Traditional Rulers in Kaduna yesterday, the governors also spoke on the on-going controversy over the collection of Value Added Tax (VAT), declaring that it is “being confused by Rivers and

Lagos state governments as a sales tax.” The communiqué, which was read by the chairman of the forum and governor of Plateau State, Mr. Simon Lalong, also insisted that the position of the

and only failed to get presidential assent, because of the politics of the period. “I want to remind members of the respective hallowed and honourable chambers that at this point in our national history, we cannot fail to seize the opportunity that this bill presents to us to enthrone a credible and transparent electoral process. Whatever you do as you consider this bill is your own role in making history, in saving our democracy and building a future that is stable and progressive, where elected leaders truly represent the interest of the people. “It should be noted that even after leaving the National Assembly, I have consistently canvassed the need for us to quickly pass a new Electoral Act that will include important provisions aimed at developing our electoral system. On one occasion in September 2020, during a webinar conference on ‘Electoral Reforms and Democracy’ organised by Centre for Advancement of Civil Liberties, I called on Nigerians to continue to create awareness on the importance of the Bill ahead of the 2023 elections “At this point, I need to appreciate the efforts of young people across the country, who went round spending their time and resources to create events aimed at generating awareness on the Bill, all members of the National Assembly, who have made sacrifices to get us this far, various development partners, civil society groups, members of the press and other stakeholders who played different roles in getting the Electoral Act (amendment) Bill to the semifinal stage, where it is almost getting to the point of becoming an effective Act of Parliament. We must continue to improve our system until we achieve the real objective of ‘One Man, One Vote’ and where the votes of the electorate count.”

power-shift to three geo-political zones in the South with a view to promoting unity and peace in the nation. “Notwithstanding their comments, the Forum unanimously condemns the statement by the Southern Governors Forum that the Presidency must go to the South.” The communiqué stated that the meeting considered the ongoing national debate on the collection of VAT, stating, “As responsible leaders, while we are constrained by the fact that the matter is subjudice, we, however, for the purposes of educating the public, make the following observations: the judgement of the Federal High Court calls to question the constitutionality of VAT, withholding tax, education tax, Niger Delta Development Commission, National Information Technology Development Agency, 13 per cent derivation, National Economic Development Council and many other currently levied and collected by the federal government, Federal Inlands Revenue Service. “Rivers and Lagos State governments had enacted their own VAT laws and the Southern Governors Forum has expressed support for this course of action; VAT is being confused by these state governments as a sales tax.” The northern governors argued further, “If every state enacted its own VAT law, multiple taxation will result in increases of prices of goods and services and collapsed in interstate trade. “VAT is not a production tax like excise, but terminal tax which is paid by the ultimate consumer.” According to the governors, “Another confusion is ignoring observation above and its ‘overall effect.’” They pointed out that the reason Lagos State accounted for over 50 per cent VAT collection was because most of the telecommunication companies, banks, manufacturing and other trading activities have their headquarters in the state, “with the resultant and wrongful attribution of VAT.” The communiqué added, “Until and unless the Supreme Court pronounces judgement on the substantive matter between Rivers State and

Federal Government, the matter is subjudice and Northern States Governors Forum would respect this.” The governors also decried what they described as “the high level of conspiracies being perpetrated by some judicial officers in releasing or granting bail to arrested criminals, maintaining that, “this attitude sabotages the fight against criminality.” The governors reviewed security situation in the North and called for a sustained synergy and coordinated efforts between the federal and the northern states governments to tackle the situation. “The meeting also noted with concern the constraint of the security services and urged the Armed Forces to embark on simultaneous operations, and… assured of their readiness to work in synergy with the federal government in finding lasting solution to the current security challenges,” the forum added. Furthermore, the governors commended the on-going onslaught against banditry, kidnapping and Boko Haram, especially in the North-east, North-west, and North-central geopolitical zones. The governors called on the security agencies to live up to their responsibility and urged traditional rulers to mobilise their various communities to check the ugly trend of criminality in their domains. The governors lamented the ugly trend in the spread of drugs and consumption among the youth and called on governments and communities to rise to the occasion and stem the tide. The communiqué urged the federal government to expedite action on the National Livestock Transformation Programme as a springboard in transiting from the open grazing system as widely practised in the North. The meeting was attended by the governors of Plateau, Kaduna, Sokoto, Nasarawa, Borno, Jigawa, Gombe, and the deputy governor of Kano State. Also at the meeting was the Chairman of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the emirs of Zazzau, Bauchi, and Kano.

withdraw after an intense exchange (of fire. “Some houses were set ablaze by the attackers at one end of the village. The troops put out the fire at three of the burning houses, and rescued six locals from the infernos. As of the time of this update, 34 residents have been confirmed dead following the attack.” Aruwan said Governor Nasir El-Rufai had expressed deep sadness at the reports and offered his condolences to the families of the deceased. The commissioner said, “The governor appealed for recourse to the law and urged communities to eschew reprisals and similar violent actions. He also tasked security agencies to conduct thorough investigations into the incident. As of the time of this update, troops and police personnel are working in the locations and the public will be briefed after official reports are received.” The statement also said two suspects had been arrested in connection with the killings. “Governor El-Rufai has stated that the Kaduna State Government will bear the full cost of injured victims' treatment,” Aruwan stated. He said the governor had also been briefed by security agencies on the roles played

by the Chief of Kagoro, His Royal Highness, Chief Ufuwai Bonet, and the lawmaker representing Kaura Federal Constituency, Hon. Gideon Gwani, in dousing tension and preventing a breakdown of law and order following the unfortunate incident. According to the statement, “The governor commended their efforts and sterling leadership. The governor ordered an urgent assessment of the area by the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency, towards the provision of succour to the affected households. “The governor received the reports with intense grief, and expressed his condemnation of the gruesome attack, which he described as an unspeakable display of wickedness, meriting the severest form of punishment. “He further tasked security agencies to ensure urgent and precise investigations into the horrific incident.” The statement added that “two suspects are being questioned in connection with the attack” and security agencies were conducting operations in the general area, promising, “The government will update citizens accordingly.” On the attack on the Sokoto

military base at the weekend, villagers and security sources told THISDAY that the assault happened in the early hours of Friday. The terrorists, THISDAY gathered, came in large numbers and started shooting at the camp from different angles. A military source, which was not authorised to speak on the matter, said a large number of suspected bandits were killed when a military base was attacked in the Eastern Senatorial District of Sokoto. The source did not confirm if the military camp was the same as the Burkusuma camp in Sabo Birni local government. A former chairman of Sabon Birni Local Government Area, Idris Muhammad Gobir, known as Danchadi, also confirmed to newsmen that the Burkusuma camp was attacked and several security operatives in the camp were still missing. Gobir said the marauding terrorists burnt down two patrol vehicles and carted away another one, which was used to convey food items stolen from the villagers. The former chairman said the report of the attack was confirmed to them by a resident of Burkusuma, who used a mobile telecommunications service from Niger Republic.

southern governors on power shift contradictory with the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “The Forum observed that some Northern States Governors had earlier expressed views for a

INEC INSISTS ON E-TRANSMISSION OF POLLS RESULTS decisions be guided only by national interest. That was as the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, a coalition of over 70 organisations, asked the Senate to quickly resolve the conflicting aspects of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill so as to save the country from long-drawn litigations and uncertainty, which could put INEC's preparations for the elections in jeopardy. INEC called on the Senate and House of Representatives to quickly amend Sections 63, 65 and other relevant sections of the Electoral Act, which bar the commission from collation of election results electronically. It insisted that electronic transmission of results was doable, and it would guarantee safety, honesty and transparency. INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, insisted that the electronic transmission of results real time was the best guarantee of transparency. Speaking in a television programme monitored in Abuja on Monday, Okoye said INEC was determined to use electronic devices to improve Nigeria’s electoral process, and deliver free, fair and credible elections. Okoye said for such to become a reality, the National Assembly must show courage by amending the relevant sections of the Electoral Act. He said, “Although INEC is increasingly tilting towards the use of technology to deliver a free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria, we want the National Assembly to amend the law, which prescribed the method elections are being conducted at the moment.” Okoye admitted that INEC was still using the manual method, as enshrined in the Electoral Act, by collating election results from the Polling Units (PU), using Form EC8A, and Registration Area Collation Centre (RACC),

with Form EC8B up to local government areas, and using Form EC8C to collate results, which are computed manually before announcement. Okoye maintained that INEC had perfected the use of technology to conduct elections starting from the 2023 general election. He stated, “For us to alter the methodology, the Electoral Act must be changed to accommodate the new innovations. We want National Assembly to amend the Electoral Act to enable INEC deliver a more transparent, fair and credible elections that will meet the aspirations of Nigerians. They should also look at 51, 52, 53 and 57 of the Electoral Act. “We are already uploading election results electronically but we will need the relevant sections of the Electoral Act to be amended to avoid litigations, because INEC doesn’t want our election winners to be determined by the law courts.” Okoye said the commission was not answerable to NCC or any other federal government organ in carrying out its constitutional duties, saying INEC has inherent powers to conduct elections. He said, “Nobody can bully INEC to share its powers given by the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria of Nigeria. Section 160 of Nigerian constitution mandates INEC to give NCC duties to perform, not NCC giving INEC orders. “Also, Section 52 of Electoral Act gives INEC inherent powers to conduct elections in any manner it wants, including e-voting. Again, the 2015 Electoral Act (as amended), which was signed by the former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has given INEC unfettered powers to conduct elections in the best method available.” He insisted that the present method of manual collation of election results from PU, RACC and LGA should be done

away with, adding, “With the introduction of Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) and other devices by INEC, elections in Nigeria can only get better, hence, National Assembly should join in deepening Nigeria’s democracy.” On his part, Saraki said in a statement by the head of his media office, Yusuph Olaniyonu, that the harmonisation of the versions of the Electoral Act (amendment) Bill and its eventual passage should be concluded in time so that the law could be assented to before the political process leading to the 2023 general election. He said the success of the next round of elections would depend on the existence of a new enabling law with relevant provisions that would guarantee a credible, free, fair and peaceful process. The statement said, “That is why it is important that members of the Conference Committee should strive hard to rise above partisan and personal considerations. They should take decisions solely based on national interest and the need to strengthen our electoral process. The country is bigger than our various political parties. Nigeria is even bigger than any individual or any loyalty we may have to an individual. “That is why members of the committee should give genuine and deep consideration to the delicate issue of adopting the provision on electronic transmission of results, which will help to strengthen our electoral process, deepen our democracy and improve the level of participation in the elections. “Your assignment is very crucial to the future of our country and if through your work we get a good law that will help in reforming the political process, you will be completing a great circle in the building of a legacy. It is a circle that started, when the immediate past National Assembly passed the same bill

BANDITS SLAUGHTER 34, BURN DOWN 20 HOUSES IN KADUNA of terrorists suspected to be members of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) attacked a joint military base, codenamed "Burkusuma camp”, in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, reportedly, killing 15 soldiers, three Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officers, and a police man. There was, also, a reprisal attack in Kacecere village in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State, which claimed another eight lives. Confirming the development, the Kaduna State government said the reprisal attack was fuelled by the attack that claimed the lives of 34 people and the destruction of houses by the terrorists. The Nigeria Army, yesterday, confirmed that ISWAP attacked its base in Sabon Birni, Sokoto State. Rev. Father Michael Magaji of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, in Kaduna State, who confirmed the invasion of the two communities late Sunday night by gunmen, told THISDAY by telephone that the communities were about five kilometres from Kafanchan town. Magaji said most of those killed were women and

children. He said the gunmen shot sporadically as they arrived the villages, killing 32 people. He stated, “I am in the hospital as I speak with you. We have brought 32 corpses for embalmment. We have eight people injured and they are receiving treatment. About 20 houses were burnt, 13 persons from the same family were killed. We intend to have a mass burial to call the attention of the world to what is happening to our people.” The senator for Southern Kaduna, Danjuma La’ah, condemned the attack and lamented the persistent attacks in the area, which had led to the killing of hundreds of people. La’ah appealed to the people of the area to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their hands. He also called on the authorities concerned to scale up security in the area to avoid further attacks and destruction of lives and property. “If government refuses to take proactive measures to address the issue, the people will be left with no option than to embark on self-defence,” the senator said. In a separate statement confirming the reprisal attack yesterday, Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs,

Samuel Aruwan, blamed the reprisal attack that led to the deaths of eight people on the killing of the 34 people in Madamai village, Kaura Local Government Area, and one Yakubu Danjuma in Kacecere village in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area. Aruwan stated, “The Kaduna State government has received reports from security agencies of an attack by unidentified persons in Kacecere village, Zangon Kataf LGA, which has resulted in the deaths of some citizens. “According to the reports, this attack was in reprisal to earlier attacks in Jankasa village, Zangon Kataf LGA, where one Mr. Yakubu Danjuma was killed, and also in Madamai in Kaura LGA where 34 persons were killed.” He said security agencies reported that the attacks in the two locations “led to the reprisal by unidentified assailants on Kacecere community, which has left eight dead, six persons injured and several houses razed. “According to the reports, unidentified gunmen attacked Madamai village in Kaura local government. The troops mobilised to the location and also came under fire before forcing the assailants to

TUESDAY, ͺ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Adoke: Police Forward Alleged Forgery File against Suraju to AGF for Action Chiemelie Ezeobi

divert public attention. But a letter to the AGF dated September 20, and signed by the Officer-in-Charge of IG Monitoring Unit, ACP Ibrahim Musa, maintained that there was a prima facie case against Suraju and gave details of the investigation procedure. The letter revealed that from court documents obtained, the

said e-mail emanated from one Ismail Aliyu, who described himself as a representative of the Federal Ministry of Finance and was addressed to Bayo Osolake, an employee of the defendant (Abubakar) giving instruction for the transfer of funds. The petition by Adoke read: "From the investigation

conducted, it is evident that Olarewaju Suraju without verifying the authenticity of the purported telephone interview and email proceeded to use the social media handles @HedaAgenda on Twitter and @HedaResourceCentre on Facebook to disseminate same, and when invited by the police to substantiate his

claims, he feigned sickness, jumped bail and resorted to issuing press statements maligning the Police, writing frivolous counter petitions and filing civil suits in court against the IGP Monitoring Unit, complainant (Adoke) and the Police, aimed to undermine the investigation, derail investigation and evade

justice. "That the totality of the conduct of Olarenwaju Suraju is a calculated attempt to subject the complainant to media trial and falsify relationship between the complainant and Aliyu Abubakar while their cases are still ongoing in court, thereby misleading the public.

The Inspector General of Police (IG), Alkali Usman, has forwarded the duplicate case file on the investigation of Olanrewaju Suraju, the chairman, Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) Resource Centre to the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami for necessary action. Prior to this recent action, Suraju was investigated by the IG Monitoring Unit following a petition by former AGF, Mohammed Adoke (SAN) on the circulation of an alleged forged email and voice recording purportedly linking him in the OPL 245 trial in Italy. Suraju had used HEDA's social media platforms to release an email purportedly of Adoke and JP Morgan, the US investment bank, in June 2011 over OPL 245 transaction between Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd, Shell and Eni. In the viral post, the former minister was alleged to have communicated the investment bank through the address of a company owned by Aliyu Abubakar, who was also on trial in Italy. According to Adoke's petition, the e-mail was intended to support the claim that there was corruption, alleging that Adoke and Abubakar "worked together" on the deal. Adoke was also accused of Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri (left) with Archbishop of the Port Harcourt Archdiocese, Methodist Church of Nigeria, Sunday Agwu, having phone conversation with an Italian journalist in during the valedictory courtesy visit of the retiring cleric to Government House, Yenagoa...yesterday 2017, where he was alleged to have acknowledged that the OPL245 deal was a scam. But in a petition through his lawyers to the IG in February, Adoke called for a thorough investigation to unravel the truth. Describing the Act as a An earlier Certified True Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa that could have hindered the Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, who by the stroke of the pen state's creation. quoted him as eulogising signed the creation of Bayelsa recipe for anarchy in the Niger Copy (CTC) of the investigation A statement quoted the Abacha, emphasising that the State. I am talking about the Delta, Diri said the exclusion of report addressed to Adoke, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator states and local governments governor to have said this late Head of State remains a late General Sani Abacha. Douye Diri has expressed accused Suraju of cyberstalking, "We acknowledge him as a in the implementation of the injurious falsehood, criminal appreciation to former Head of yesterday, during a thanksgiving hero to people of the state and state and people. By his singular law would give room to defamation, among other State, late General Sani Abacha, service on Nigeria's 61st indeed the Ijaw nation. He said: "Let me use this assent, he created this state with unscrupulous elements to allegations which the HEDA over the creation of the state 25 independence and Bayelsa boss dismissed as fake, years ago on October 1, 1996. State's 25th anniversary, held medium to thank one man. just eight local government capitalise on the loopholes and Diri said the Ijaw people at the King of Glory Chapel in He may not be popular in areas, which was less than the cause crisis in communities as it insisting that the police were still conducting investigation. remain grateful to the late Government House, Yenagoa. Nigeria but to me and all of constitutional requirements." would be difficult to determine Speaking on Nigeria's 61st host communities. The statement signed by us Bayelsans, we see him as He also described the report Nigerian leader for that singular independence anniversary, the "I call on Mr. President to the governor’s Chief Press a great man, a hero. The man decision regardless of factors as a calculated attempt to Bayelsa governor called on ensure that there is justice, the federal government to equity and fairness in the ensure justice and equity in distribution of resources in our the distribution of resources dear country. Let there be a new wind in the governance As the world marks the Access to Information (IDUAI) years ago by former President great instances of public in the country. Diri expressed dissatisfaction of this country. The PIA is International Day for Universal at the UN level in October 2019. Goodluck Jonathan, to ensure disenchantment with the Access to Information (IDUAI) The day, according to the that Nigerians have access to government at all levels, with the present lopsided not just and equitable to the today, the Nigerian Guild of Guild, had been proclaimed public information and hold essentially on the grounds of federal structure where the people of the Niger Delta and Editors (NGE) has expressed by the UNESCO General government accountable, there corruption in the public service, federal government takes Bayelsa State. "If the Act will be worry about the magnitude Conference in 2015, following were still contentious issues the Guild particularly identified resources from states and in which federal government the adoption of the 38 C/ over the implementation of the National Assembly as a decides what is given to implemented successfully, agencies, ministries and other Resolution 57 declaring the law. major culprit in the frustration each state at the end of every let me call on Mr President to also send another amendment institutions tolerate the deep- September 28 of every year as According to the Guild, of implementation of the Act. month. He said if the country bill to include the states and rooted order of secrecy in International Day for Universal “Many citizens and institutions The editors’ body added: accessing and management Access to Information (IDUAI). that have sought public “The National Assembly is was allowed to practice true local governments in the of public information. It stated that the theme of information from public offices, a major culprit in frustrating federalism, it would enable administration of the law,” While accusing federal the 2021 International Day for in line with the law, without the implementation of FIOA. the states as federating units he added. The governor urged government agencies and Universal Access to Information any positive response, have The institution has consistently to control their resources and ministries of not living up to was to highlight the role of openly protested about their failed/refused to comply with contribute to the central Bayelsans to celebrate and government. appreciate their past and their obligations – imposed access to information laws difficulties. Many citizens FOIA. He also expressed belief present leaders, saying that on them by the Freedom of and their implementation in and institutions have also “It has failed to offer any Information Act (FOIA), the order to ‘’build back strong expressed concerns over the information, as requested by that Nigeria would be a great each leader had contributed NGE in a statement yesterday, institutions’’ for the public good issues surrounding the effective citizens, media houses and country if there was justice in various ways to develop of expressed sadness over and sustainable development, implementation of the law. members of the civil society and equity as each state had the state. He acknowledged that more "deliberate and sustained’’ as well as to strengthen the “We wonder why a organisations. It has failed abundant resources that could efforts on the part of many right to information and government that said to be to submit an annual report be harnessed for development needed to be done in terms of development but that the federal government agencies international cooperation in fighting corruption is working on its implementation of the of the country. He called for amendment state had witnessed a lot of and ministries to undermine the field of implementing very hard to frustrate a law Act - even for one year, in line the implementation of the this human right. that is designed to stimulate with the provisions of the Act. of the Petroleum Industry development compared to legislation. In the statement signed accountability of public “The National Assembly has Act (PIA) to increase the what it was. The governor, who called It stated that identifying by the NGE’s President, officers to the citizenry and not taken its responsibilities as three per cent allotted to host the significance of access Mustapha Isah and General transparency in the conduct provided for under the Act, communities to 10 per cent on Bayelsans to pray for good to information, the 74th Secretary, Iyobosa Uwugiaren, of public business.” more earnestly and has failed to as well as include states and leaders, also charged leaders at UN General Assembly had the editors stated that in spite Recalling that the demand work towards compliance with local governments as trustees various levels to work hard to proclaimed September 28 as the of the existence of the Act, by citizens for access to the Act, including reporting in implementation of the host bequeath a prosperous society community fund. by doing the right things. International Day for Universal which was signed into law 10 information law arose from on its implementation."

VALEDICTORY VISIT...

Bayelsa at 25: Late Abacha Remains Our Hero, Says Diri Restates call for true federalism, equity in Nigeria

NGE: Secrecy in Govt Undermines Access to Information

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

COMMENT

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

AMAECHI AND THE RAIL ECONOMICS Victor C. Ariole writes that politics is the only working tool in Nigeria

If only the tool you have is hammer, you treat everything as if it were nail… Abraham Maslow

igeria is in a quagmire of having only one tool in tackling (not solving) all of its problem – politics. And Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi, Minister of Transportation, just turned it to satire as he delivered a public lecture, under the auspices of the Department of Economics, University of Lagos, headed by Professor Wakeel Isola, entitled; The Nigeria’s National Rail Transport Project: “Network, Financing, Challenges and the Way Forward.” The lecture was quite entertaining as Amaechi made a “features” oral delivery of what was contained in a 60 – page booklet distributed to the audience. According to him, the Chinese are even in doubt of what Nigeria intends to do with construction of double-track rail system when for the whole year Nigeria hardly evacuate 30 million tons of cargo. When you compare that to Kenya of about 53 million people, where every night about 600,000 tons of cargo is evacuated; that is, if sustained, over 200 million tons a year. With Kenya one could be talking economics, but with Nigeria it is more of politics. And Amaechi reasoned the same way as he feels that the two most viable rail track construction that could be said to be economic are the one Nigerians seem to be opposing leading to Maradi, just 20 kilometers from the last town in Katsina, which was even opposed at Cabinet meeting by the ex-Finance Minister – Kemi, and the unthought-of track that ought to be planned from Port Harcourt Seaport to Nnewi; Nnewi being a great manufacturing hub. The one leading to Maradi is meant to connect Kano to Lagos so as to generate economically viable cargo output from landlocked Niger Republic to the Lagos port, giving confidence and trust to the people of Niger Republic who feel that using Nigeria’s port is the worst risk to imagine as either Benin Port, Togo Port or Côte d’Ivoire Port are serving them better now. Nigeria is bordered by other landlocked countries like Chad and contingently by Burkina Faso, Central Africa Republic and Mali who could also make use of Lagos or Port Harcourt/Calabar Port if indeed rail tracks are made available and safe. To Amaechi, it is all politics as Nigerians merely think of how the rail gets to their “door-mouth’ instead of its economic benefit to a larger Nigeria, and he re-echoed it as the questions the audience asked him reflected that. Most of the questions centered on how the rail system could be planned to reach the village of those who asked the questions, and that, even, what delayed the Maradi’s rail was how not to see it as planning a rail track that will get through the “door – mouth” of the President – Daura home. Humorously, he convinced the President that it could be planned to fly over Daura so as not to read any “abuse of office” in it. It scaled through for a loan when Kemi was out of the Finance Ministry as she had preferred it to be a budget item for her consideration. However, the problem is using loan, obtained exorbitantly, in building rail tracks in Nigeria as it could

BULLET TRAINS ARE THE IN-THING AND NOT THE TYPE OF OUTMODED RAIL SYSTEM ONE SEES IN NIGERIA THAT IS GULPING HUGE AMOUNT. AS CLAIMED, IBADAN – KANO COULD GULP $5.3 BILLION AND LAGOS – IBADAN $8.7 BILLION

be done using longer tenure bonds or even pension fund investment that goes up to 30 years as against the Chinese EXIM Bank that limits to 15 years, and as Senator Ekweremadu noticed on TV, any failure to pay could amount to seizing Nigeria’s airport. Chinese do not tolerate debt rescheduling nor debt cancellation as requested by the President at the UN forum recently. And I noticed that as I landed in 2018 in Milan Airport and discovered it was manned by the Chinese. In his satiric approach, Amaechi was not able to convince the audience that the money made out of Kaduna – Abuja project will be used to finance Ibadan – Lagos as he claimed. That again is mere politics not economics. The same way he could not convince the audience, especially as he wanted to use it to ridicule a professor of economics, that the intended Eastern narrow gauge railway as against standard gauge railway, is of international “best practice”. In deed most of the countries he reeled out from google search which he did, on the spot, by asking a student to do it, are poor countries in Europe, and even the USA that featured as last, could not be said to be a country that has the best practice approach to rail transportation like France, UK, Japan and Canada. The professor was worried that “narrow gauge” as against standard “gauge” was allocated to the Eastern track. Again, Amaechi saw it as more of personal interest of “door-mouth” track extension than larger Nigeria’s interest intended. And the only engineering question raised by Professor Ogunye FAEng, as per why Nigerian engineers are not involved in the rail project, was shelved as Amaechi said that it was better answered “in camera”, hence greatly political. The truth is that Nigerians are more interested in having a cheaper means of transportation to their different destinations than Amaechi and “his” Chinese counterparts reason aloud. Bullet trains are the in-thing and not the type of outmoded rail system one sees in Nigeria that is gulping huge amount. As claimed, Ibadan – Kano could gulp $5.3 billion and Lagos – Ibadan $8.7 billion. Even when Amaechi insists that the cost of Lagos – Ibadan will be about $1.6 billion, if per km construction is $3million by standard price, it amounts to over $380 million plus interest rate serviceable every year for the 15 – 20 years period; like Nigeria borrowed $3 billion in the eighties and ended up owing $36 billion in the nineties. Yes, infrastructure is very important but balancing it with the attitude and immediate concerns of Nigerians is not out of place. He himself is worried as he could not say what the next government could make out of it as himself, as a former governor, entered into agreement with Mexicans to produce banana in Rivers State and out office the Mexicans were sent away as Rivers State didn’t mind losing already $3 billion committed to the project. Politics derailing Nigeria’s economic isn’t it? And if care is not taken, Chinese Receivership hammer could be visited on Nigeria. Time to rethink to avoid unmanageable derailment of Nigeria’s economy. Ariole is a Professor of French and Francophone Studies, University of Lagos

A SPEAKER’S CAMPAIGN FOR UNITY Femi Gbajabiamila canvasses unity among Nigerians, writes Justin Osawe

epending on whom you ask, there are varying stories to the effect that Nigeria has changed - for the better or worse. But it seems more folks that witnessed pre-independence Nigeria talk of a country where things worked and people thrived, mostly in harmony with one another. Religion or ethnicity didn’t conflagrate societies like it has become in recent times. However, over the years, it seems the polity has been heated up with suspicion whereby more Nigerians suspect each other’s every move. Somehow, factions came up among citizens, pitting people against each other, waning unity across the land and heading towards the precipice. Hence, when the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, delivered the keynote address at the 112th Founder’s Lecture of the King’s College Old Boys Association (KCOBA) on Saturday, September 18, 2021, it presented another opportunity to revisit our togetherness as a people. Gbajabiamila used the lecture which was held in Lagos and themed ‘Unity in Diversity, Stronger Together’, to urge for unity, saying that the duty of uniting Nigeria falls on every Nigerian. “We did it through citizens moving from one end of the country to another, acquiring education, building businesses, making friends, falling in love, and marrying,” he said. “We did it through the joy of shared victories and the mourning of communal loss. “We took ownership of our country by sacrificing blood, sweat and tears to secure democratic governance and make Nigeria into a place where grand visions can be made real by determined effort and where hope can thrive. As in the words of our old national anthem, we have made of this nation where ‘though tribes and tongue may differ in brotherhood we stand’.”

I fell in love with the Speaker’s viewpoint on uniting Nigeria. To say that Nigeria has been split along ethnic and religious lines over the years, resulting in social, economic and political backwardness, is not news. It’s been a reality how ethnic and religious attachments daily confound daily lives in the country. But we, as Nigerians, have to work on ourselves to make things better. Speaking on the country’s ongoing constitution amendment, Gbajabiamila said: “In the House of Representatives, we are currently in the process of a substantive review of our nation’s constitution. Our objective is to deliver a constitution that more effectively organises our politics to make it more inclusive, enshrine efficient mechanisms for holding the institutions of state to account and put an end to the debilitating conflicts that continue to tear our nation apart. “We will not produce a perfect constitution; no such thing has ever existed in the world. However, together we can, by the choices we make and our actions, use our constitution as the foundational document of our nationhood to give life to the best promise of Nigeria.” While crafty people can take advantage of loopholes in any document and a ‘perfect constitution’ may be impossible, there is a need to ensure currency and the constitution is constantly addressed to reflect the people’ will. But, beyond having a constitution to serve as a book of codes, perhaps Nigerian life needs a reset point to when many citizens act according to the Golden Rule - Do unto others what you want to be done unto you. You see, I doubt one needs to read a big book of rules in order to do good to one’s neighbours. Most likely, one just needs to do the right thing. In Nigeria, especially in the public sector, many people are not doing the right things. And it is great that the speaker said that mechanisms would be put in place to hold state institutions accountable

and “put an end to the debilitating conflicts that continue to tear our nation apart.” I like that. There should be institutions that are checking institutions. And to be frank, such is not new in the country. In the police for instance, there is even a unit set up to check and arrest fraudulent highway patrol officers. Other agencies have this too. But it seems a general apathy to corruption has pervaded the system that this checking mechanism is often too inundated to be effective. However, the government can deploy the tactic of using ‘Mystery Shoppers’ - whereby an anonymous member of the public goes through the system just to check errant government workers across all its establishments. The United Kingdom regularly does this to keep its workers on their toes and let them know they can be held accountable for their actions anytime. But not one to just harp on problems, the speaker also advocated three ingredients to foster unity among Nigerians in his speech.“The first is to ensure that the government respects, protects and guarantees the fundamental rights of all citizens, without exception,” he said. “The second is to provide a society where our people are free from want and have the resources to pursue their dreams and achieve their best aspirations. The third is by freeing our people from the abject terror and accompanying limitations of wanton insecurity in all its forms.” The speaker also advised that: “We cannot continue to assume and act in the assumption that every criticism, political action and governing decision, for good or bad, is the product of ethnic, religious or other such considerations. We need to begin once more to extend to ourselves the benefit of kindness and the assumption of good intentions. We are capable of this.” It is interesting that Gbajabiamila addressed the issue of unity at the founder’s day event of Kings College, Lagos. Founded in 1909, Kings College,

Lagos attracted brilliant Nigerian male students from far and wide. Queens College, Yaba was also established in 1927 for females. Their success at integrating students did not go unnoticed, later birthing the glory of unity schools, otherwise known as Federal Government Colleges. Over time, these schools dotted the country and were accessible to qualified Nigerian students. Of course, concessions for quota systems were and are still given to some states designated as ‘Educationally Less Developed.’ But aside from qualitative education, the icing on the cake was how students from virtually all states congregated and lived and schooled as one. The unity exhibited by alumni of these unity schools is testimony of the experiment’s success. Today, alumni of unity schools are perhaps the few that as a group, I can say are more unified as Nigerians. And other Nigerians surely can learn a thing or two from these privileged sets of Nigerians. Anyway, in considering strategies for engendering unity, I would advise Gbajabiamila to encourage his colleagues at the House to reimagine Nigeria along the implications of ‘States of origin’ as well as ‘Residency’. A scenario where a Nigerian is born in or has lived in a particular state for many years but is denied certain rights or privileges only because he bears a particular name or a different ancestry is definitely not fair. The structure doesn’t even take into account whether the person has served the state and paid his or her taxes into the state coffers. This does not reflect fairness. In the US for instance, everyone automatically belongs to the state of their birth or the state whey they must have legally resided for a number of years. This suggestion, on the surface, would sound incredible to the ears of the present-day average Nigeria, but like Gbajabiamila said, perhaps these are some of the hard truths we should be telling ourselves.

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

EDITORIAL DEALING WITH RISING SUICIDE CASES The authorities could do more to stem the scourge

iven the growing poverty among a huge segment of Nigerians, it is understandable that the nation’s present socio-economic environment has been a predisposing factor to depression and perhaps suicide. But the authorities should be concerned with the rate at which many of our nationals (young and old) are taking their own lives. From the north to the south of the country, reported cases of suicide are varied and on the increase. COVID-19 has added to the woes of several Nigerians who have lost their sources of income aside the health burden imposed on their families. That suicide remains a criminal offence, rather than a social problem, is an issue that deserves serious attention. Two years ago, the World Health Organisation (WHO) revealed that Nigeria has the highest suicidal rate among African countries in 2016. Hanging and pesticide selfpoisoning (mostly by ‘Snipper’) were the two commonest methods by which people commit suicide, the report reveals. With 17,710 cases of suicide TODAY, THE PLIGHT OF THE UNDER-PRIVILEGED recorded in 2016 at IS STEADILY WORSENING all ages, Nigeria was followed by Ethiopia AND MANY GO TO BED and South Africa with WITH LESS THAN A 7,323 and 6,476 cases, SURVIVAL DIET respectively. “Suicide is a serious global public health issue. All ages, sexes and regions of the world are affected (and) each loss is one too many,” the WHO’s report said. Even without any investigation, it is easy to hazard a guess about the factors pushing some Nigerians to take their own lives. Today, the plight of the under-privileged is steadily worsening and many go to bed with less than a survival diet. Yet it is an established fact that impoverished individuals are a major risk group for depression. And depression, according to experts, is

Letters to the Editor

the most common reason why people commit suicide. But there are also other reasons why people take their own lives and devastate members of their family and friends with shock. Underlying mental disorders such as schizophrenia, excessive alcoholism, drug abusive also play signiﬁcant role in triggering suicidal thoughts. Schizophrenia is a disease with a wide range of weird symptoms like hallucinations, inner voices, disordered thinking, and irrational fears and “emotions that seem out of tune with reality”.

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

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

s the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has lately been warning, the use of hard drugs—particularly Indian hemp, cocaine and even methamphetamine are commonplace in the society. The adverse effects of these drugs range from depression to suicide. Indeed, manic depression, an emotional seesaw, oscillating between exhilarating highs and devastating lows, is cited as one the reasons why there are so many mad men and insanity out there in the streets. But neither the society nor the health authorities are paying attention to this malaise. According to WHO statistics, no fewer than a million people die annually from suicide, which represents a global mortality rate of 16 people per 100,000 or one death every 40 seconds. Even more ominous is the fact that there are an estimated 10 to 20 million attempted suicides every year. Even without the WHO statistics, reports on suicide involving Nigerians have grimly moved from an occasional blip to a very disturbing trend. However, breakthroughs in science and medicine have brought hope that many mental patients can lead normal and productive lives. So are suicide victims if help can reach them early enough. Depression, one of the main culprits of suicides is treatable. Therefore, we call on all authorities to take out for rehabilitation the mentally challenged who roam the streets. Public ofﬁcials at all levels should also by way of good governance pay serious attention to the constraints that could trigger in the people suicidal though

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

NIGERIA’S PRISONERS OF DISCONTENT

f insecurity was already a nagging problem nibbling at the edges of every Nigerian mind, it seems the worst is yet to come. In a country that used to soak in security and serenity, insecurity has gradually become Nigeria`s lived reality as the country continues to absorb the horrifying jailbreaks that facilitated the escape of over 200 detainees from a prison facility in Kabba, Kogi State. Reports have it that it was a well-orchestrated attack led by armed men who set upon the prison with the clear intention of overwhelming its security and freeing the prisoners. As is always the case when something like this happens, prison authorities immediately put in place measures to recapture the fleeing inmates. As it stands, some of them have been recaptured while others are yet on the run. It remains to be seen how it will all end but history suggests that at the end of the day, the state and the country at large will be left with more questions than answers. In Nigeria, even prison officials find it difficult to answer questions about what really goes on behind the walls of Nigerian prisons. There have been harrowing reports of human beings reduced to the most basic levels of their humanity because they have been detained for running afoul of the law. It has been whispered that behind prison walls, life is reduced to the bare bones and prisoners are left to confront their worst fears. More than half of the over 200 prisoners who escaped from the medium facility prison in Kabba were said to be inmates awaiting trial. In essence, what had conspired to restrict them behind bars were mostly generous allegations which were yet to be subjected to the crucible of judicial proceedings. In essence, the constitutional presumption of innocence the law accords has never been stripped away by the guilty verdict of any court. In Nigeria, the wheels of justice grind ever so slowly. In its lazy, ponderous whirl, it crushes the poorest Nigerians who are often without the means to secure necessary legal services absolutely crucial to wriggle out of Nigeria`s increasingly obfuscated legal process.

A country where very little works is bound to throw up a lot of creaky institutions and it is no exaggeration to say that the Nigerian prisons system has a lot of yawning cracks through which many innocent Nigerians fall, never to recover. These cracks do not at all trace their provenance to the prisons alone. They run from a dozen places all at once. Of course, the executive arm of government is to be fingered as the chief culprit. It is no secret that the prisons are both underfunded and poorly managed. The legislature weighs into the conversation with watery legislations that make life comfortable for those who do not want to shore up leaky Nigerian institutions. Then there is the interesting case of the judiciary, the mythical last hope of the common man. Overworked and underfunded, the judiciary has often been abandoned by the executive and legislative arms of government to face the frustrations of Nigerians on its own. When Nigerians are pressed to cite those complicit in condoning the cancerous corruption that is eating up the heart of the country, the judiciary is often the first to draw a wag of accusatory fingers. Because, just like the prisons, the courts are underfunded, their overflowing dockets leaving too few hands with too much to do in very little time. Consequently, a lot of innocent people spend an inordinate amount of time in prisons. Some of them spend even more time than they would if they are actually convicted of the crimes they are accused of. Nigeria`s criminal justice is about the safety of Nigerians. It is about the serenity and security of Nigerians and their property. But it is also about dignity. One of the cardinal aims of justice is to preserve the dignity of people and restore same when it is lost. Bearing these in mind, it is totally unjustifiable that those whose crimes have not been substantiated by judicial proceedings beyond the often outlandish allegations of Nigeria`s law enforcement agencies are locked up in perpetuity. It is not the way to go for any society that seeks to grow. It is certainly not the way to go for Nigeria. Kene Obiezu, Abuja

US, THEM OR EVERYONE?

he world seems to be looking in many directions at the moment. In the US there is a ‘Quad’ meeting with the leaders of the US, Australia, India, and Japan discussing unrest in the Pacific region which translates to ‘China’, even though they won’t say so. This is a group united to oppose one country. On the other hand, they are also announcement from several of these countries concerning how many COVID vaccines they will be giving away to countries that need them but haven’t been able to source them or afford them. This is a great effort and should be applauded. Which way are they and most countries heading, their own interests, their friend’s interests, or the world’s interest? It isn’t clear or consistent, but this is certainly a time to unite and first wipe out COVID or at least contain its spread and then they could look at the challenges of climate change or food production. There is a lot more to do than argue. Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Gunmen Attack APC Members, Kill One, Injure Others in Anambra David-Chyddy Elek in Awka Gunmen on Sunday reportedly attacked some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State, killing one of its members. THISDAY gathered that the party members were holding a meeting of Uruagu Ward 3, in preparation to the forthcoming governorship election, when the men struck, disrupted the meeting with a hail of

gunshots, leading to the death of one Somadina Oforma, a member of the party in the ward. It was also gathered that several other members of the party who were in the meeting sustained varying degrees of injury as a result of the attack. The spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident, saying it happened at about 7pm on Sunday. Ikenga said: “Commissioner

COVID-19: Compulsory Vaccination Attracts Protest in Edo Major streets of Benin City in Edo State were taken over by members of civil society organisations (CSO)and students to protest against the compulsory COVID-19 vaccination policy of the state government. With placards bearing various inscriptions, the protesters grounded vehicular movement in the metropolis. Some of the inscriptions on the placards included: ‘Hunger is killing us, not COVID-19’; ‘We need security in Edo, not vaccine’; ‘We will resist any form of executive rascality’; Share COVID-19 palliative’ ‘Obaseki obey court order’; ‘My body is my right’. The protesters, who said yesterday was just a warning, threatened to completely shut down government houses, government agencies/ parastatals, corporate

organisations enforcing ‘no vaccine, no entry’ policies. Speaking at the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo State Council, the Coordinator of the Freedom Ambassador Organisation, Curtis Ogbebor, said they were out to express their displeasure over the compulsory vaccination in the state. According to him, other pressing issues such as security should be the governor’s priority and not COVID-19 vaccination. “We have come out today to send a warning and an advice for him to urgently withdraw that enforcement order. If he refuses to withdraw that order in 48 hours, we will mobilise to shut down the economy of the state. We cannot fold our arms and watch the act of illegality happen in our state,” he said.

of Police, Anambra State Command CP Tony Olofu has ordered investigation into a shooting incident at Uruagu Community, Nnewi on 26/09/2021. “Preliminary investigation reveals the attackers at about 7pm on 26/09/2021, along

The Lagos State Government has suspended, with immediate effect, the operations of the members of the Committee on Removal of Abandoned Vehicles (RAVC) in the state due to allegations of extortion and harassment of motorists. “The entire ad-hoc teams of Committee on Removal of Abandoned Vehicles (RAVC) operating in the 20 Local Governments (LGs) and 37 Local Council Development Area (LCDAs) in Lagos State

are hereby suspended with immediate effect,” the Lagos State government said. The decision, according to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Oluwatoyin Fayinka, was taken to appraise and review the operation of the teams in view of the several complaints by members of the public on the activities of some of the units which is causing embarrassment to the state government. The government added that the decision to remove members of the committee was

Goddy Egene Operatives of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have intercepted live cartridges concealed in bags of cassava flour, popularly known as garri. The items loaded in three Mazda saloon cars were seized by officers on patrol along the Igbora axis of Oyo State.

The terrible situation happened barely two weeks the town lost its monarch and Onijan of Ijan Ekiti, Oba Oyewole Fadahunsi, who joined his ancestors after reigning for 19 years. Some of the towns that have found it difficult to access Ado Ekiti collapse of the bridge are Ijan, Iluomoba, Agbado, Aisegba, Imesi and Ode Ekiti, as well those traveling out of the state to Ondo, Kogi States and the Federal Capital Territory. The bridge that was built before Ekiti State was created

to quickly rise and stop the spate of killing in the state. Uba, in a press release by his campaign organization, which was signed by director of media, Hon Victor Ogene stated that it is not the first time its party members would be attacked.

On sighting the officers, the drivers were said to have fled into the bush, leaving their vehicles behind. The Public Relations Officer of the FOU, Theophilus Duniya, who confirmed the incident yesterday, said that the items impounded included 751 pieces of AAA, 70mm live Lion Cartridges, sacks of cassava flour, and sacks of parboiled rice.

Duniya explained that the vehicles, including their contents, have been deposited at the unit’s headquarters for further investigation. Commenting on the seizure, the Acting Customs Comptroller in charge of the FOU, Hussein Ejibunu, called on all patriotic citizens to provide useful and timely information that would help in combating smuggling. He described smuggling as

the mother of all crimes and sought the collaboration of the people to tackle the menace to the barest minimum. Ejibunu said: “It is an act of sabotage that should not be allowed to fester for a long time, most especially with the security challenges in the country. Information is key and germane towards the fight against this cankerworm called smuggling.”

One Dead, 16 Rescued as Boat Capsizes in Lagos Ayodeji Ake

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zonal Coordinator Southwest, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, confirmed a boat accident, with one death recorded out of the 17 passengers, yesterday. According to reports, the boat was said to have hit a rock covered with water and it cracked a hole the bottom of the boat. As expected, water gushed in torrents into the boat and upturned it with the passengers and the crew inside the river. While the other 16 passengers were rescued alive, one unfortunately drowned

sequel to several complaints received from members of the public on activities of the identified units acting in variance with the vision behind the committee’s setup. The special adviser explained that the Central Committee of RAVC would still continue operating. He, however, warned that any adhoc team found operating after this notice will be handed over to law enforcement for trial and prosecution in accordance with the Law of the State as captured in the Traffic Sector Reform Law (TSRL) 2018.

Residents, Motorists Lament as Collapsed Bridge Cuts off Towns in Ekiti Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

receiving treatment in the hospital.” Meanwhile, the candidate of the APC in the forthcoming election, Senator Andy Uba has stated that the attack was politically motivated, while also calling on the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano

Customs Intercept Ammunition Concealed in Garri

Lagos Suspends Operations of Abandoned Vehicle Committe over Extortion Segun James

Uruagu Community started shooting sporadically. Two persons sustained gun shot injuries were taken to hospital. One of the victims who was later identified as mr Somuadina Oforma was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty while the other is

from the old Ondo State, was said to have caved in due to persistent erosion and overflow of water in that axis. Another factor identified as the root cause of the collapse was the increasing movements of heavy duty vehicles along Ado-Ijan-Omuo-Kabba-Abuja federal road in recent time. The incident has affected free follow of vehicles along the route as motorists had to resort to other alternative roads in order to manoeuvre their ways from Ijan to Iluomoba up to Irun in Ondo State.

and died. “The boat hit a rock this evening around Adekunle axis. Everything is fine. The local volunteers went after the casualty. The rescuers brought her out already. The operation has been concluded. Instead of waiting for rescuers, those on the boat have been trained on how to rescue and provide first aid and since it has been done, we don’t need to worry

about that. The casualty is dead. We don’t know if she is the mortuary now because we don’t have any information on that for now. The relations are coming to the association” Farinloye said. The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), in statement, the Lagos Area Manager, Sarat Braimah, an engineer, explained that the boat departed CMS Ferry

Terminal at 1635hrs in route Ikorodu Ferry Terminal on 27th September, 2021 was involved in the accident about 15 minutes later. Braimah said: “A seventeen (17) passenger boat named “TEMI 3 Global” which departed CMS Ferry Terminal at 1635hrs in route Ikorodu Ferry Terminal on 27th September, 2021 was involved in an accident.

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

POLITICS

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

In Abia State, Guber Hopefuls Wait for PDP Compass to Point North Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo writes that eﬀorts of the Founding Fathers of Abia State to make power rotation less contentious may pay oﬀ handsomely

Ibe

Nwaka

oliticians nursing ambitions for elective positions and hoping to actualize same in the next general election no longer have much time left. While many think that 2023 is still too far to start expressing ambitions openly, in private the ground work is burgeoning because ‘there is no time left’. Therefore the underground realm of politics is already bustling with activities. Consultations, calculations and deft maneuvers for strategic positioning are going on. This scenario is playing out in Abia North zone where there is huge expectations that power rotation would shift to and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would most likely give its governorship ticket to a person from that zone. But nothing is settled yet as to where the next Abia governor would come from . The raging debate centres on the application of the Abia Charter of Equity in the zoning of the governorship ticket. The clamour, especially in the ruling PDP, is that the compass should point to Abia North. It was from this part of Abia that the rotation of the governorship seat started in the short-lived Third Republic when Dr. Ogbnnaya Onu was elected Abia Governor in 1993. By sheer providence the rotation restarted from Abia North in 1999 when the present democratic dispensation was birthed. Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, after serving two terms of eight years moved power down to Abia Central from where he handed over

to Senator Theodore Orji. The apparent successful rotation of power in Abia cannot necessarily be attributed to design, even though the movement of power has consistently followed the expected downward direction. It has been moving southwards from the north to the delight of stakeholders in the Abia project. After Senator Orji’s eight years sojourn in Government House Umuahia he handed over the baton to Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu from Abia South zone. This power transition has completed the power rotation cycle in Abia. It has inadvertently thrown up a hot debate as to which direction the pendulum should swing. This dilemma is largely affecting the ruling party as the main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) has distanced itself from the issue of zoning since it is still struggling to taste power in Abia. So, the big question now is whether or not PDP would take the starting block to Abia North in 2023. Politicians from Abia North have continued to insist that power rotation should return to where it started. But their counterparts from the Ngwa component of Abia Central argue that since the compass has been pointing south since 2015 it should naturally move to Central before going north. To the Ngwas in Abia Central it doesn’t matter their kinsman, Governor

Odinaka

Okezie ikpeazu has been in Government House since 2015 and would round off his eight years in office in 2023. Nonetheless, the power rotation debate appears to be swinging strongly in favour of Abia North starting the rotation once again. But the issue of which part of the zone should get the governorship ticket still has to be sorted out. Four out of the five local governments - Isuikwuato, Ohafia, Umunneochi and Arochukwu - that make up Abia North are laying strong claims to the PDP governorship ticket. Only Bende local government is considered out of contention given that it took the shot when power rotation started from the Abia North in 1999 with Senator Kalu, who hails from Igbere in Bende local government, emerging as governor. Going by the order of rotation as depicted in the arrangement of the letters that form the name ‘Abia’, Isuikwuato remains the only district yet to take its shot at the coveted governorship seat. Historically the name Abia was derived from the amalgamation of the first letters of the districts that came together to form the state. These include Afikpo (A), Bende (B), Isuikwuato (I) and Aba (A). Before Afikpo district was excised from Abia to form part of Ebonyi State in 1996 it had already taken its turn of producing a governor. Dr Ogbonnaya Onu from the

area was elected governor in 1993. Those still.alive among the Founding Fathers of Abia State, have elected to be the guardian of the power rotation principle and have thrown their weight behind Isuikwuato. In July 2021 the fathers after a meeting in Umuahia issued a statement advising that the rotation principle should continue to follow the order of arrangement of the letters in Abia. They were unequivocal that “Isuikwuato should be supported in 2023” to produce governor. In the statement entitled, ’Abia State politics 2023: In the Spirit of the Charter of Equity’ the founding fathers acknowledged that Abia politicians have not been applying the power rotation principle in the real sense of it, but the rotation has, however, been moving in the right direction all along. They noted that all the component parts of Abia, at inception, accepted equity and equality of all the zones as basis for power sharing hence the need to adhere to it. But the founding fathers emphasized that in as much as power rotation is good for harmony and peaceful co-existence as well as for rancor free polity, it should always go with merit. According to them, the choice of a governorship candidate should be based on “merit, veritable track records of achievements in public or private capacity, integrity, and the ability to take critical decisions at critical times”. If the ruling party eventually settles to take Continued on page 19

What Next For the PDP? As the race for 2023 general election begins in earnest, Segun James looks at the interests and the journey within the Peoples Democratic Party

his is the time of the political cycle when politicians get top billing. After all, the political season is here and it is the make-or-break period for ambitious politicians. Since the general election that brought President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to power in 2015, the tide of political waves has not lifted for the PDP, hence the tension and crisis in the party. But barely a few weeks to the national convention of the party, the way forward is not clear for the party. Until a few weeks ago, it was taken for granted that the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would be zoned to the south, particularly to the South-east whose people have been most loyal to the party since the return to democracy in 1999. But not any more! If all signals coming from the party is anything

Atiku

to go by, the ticket may be ceded to the north. If this was disappointing to the people of South-east region,

this cannot be be seen in the open as the reaction from the region has been largely indifferent. The reason being advanced by the proponents of the northern move is that, of the 16 years that the party held power, the north only had two years in the saddle. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was there for eight years and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan for six years. They insisted that with just two years of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in the saddle, it is only fair that the north be given the chance to take the next shot. If this move is accepted by the party’s caucus, that effectively excludes aspirants from the Southeast and South-south like Governors Udom Emmanuel, Akwa Ibom State; Nyesom Wike, Rivers State; Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia State; Ifeanyi Okowa,

Delta State and ex-Gov Peter Obi the last vice presidential candidate of the party; from the contest. By all account, October will be an edgy month for the PDP. For it is the month the party will be running what is being described as the biggest exercise in the party since 2018 presidential run - the National Convention. The month will hold what is expected to be the biggest exercise before the nomination of its presidential candidate in 2022. Who becomes the next national chairman of the party? A critical position in the race to determine who becomes the next presidential candidate in the attempt to wrest power from the APC. The build up is interesting. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

POLITICS

The VAT War: Between Facts and Fiction Available evidence shows that distribution of Value Added Tax to states by the Federal Government may not be to the advantage of Northern states, argues Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim

Ganduje

he current controversy over who should collect Value Added Tax (VAT) between states and Federal Government is the latest mud thrown into Nigeria’s political water in an attempt to muddle the water more. Those who have managed the information about the VAT wars have created the impression that the present distribution benefits the Northern states more than the Southern states. They try to make it look like the VAT is part of the “hegemonic domination” of the North. Many commentators hardly look at the data before they hit their keyboards online. Many swallowed hook line and sinker very obvious lies. From available data, apart from Lagos, Rivers and Abuja who benefit from the fact, they host the headquarters of major economic, political and oil related institutions.

Ikpeazu

Most states apart from Oyo State are doing badly in VAT generation and a lot of Southern states are woeful, most states whether they are in the North or South are doing badly in production of goods and services .Except for Lagos Rivers,Oyo, Kano and Kaduna the present centrally collected VAT which is then distributed subsidises every body. In comparison to Eastern states, states such as Kaduna, Kano and Katsina are doing better than Abia, Anambra, Imo, and Enugu. Based on available data reproduced below .In the past eight months total VAT generated in Abia was N2.290b, Anambra -N5.938b, Imo -N1.941 compared to Kaduna -N18.262b and Kano -N24.492b. Conversely, when it came to distribution, Nnamdi Kanu’s Abia State got N20.020b for generating N2billion,

Emmanuel

yet he wants to leave Nigeria that is “oppressing” him. Abia got 10 times what it contributed whereas Kaduna and Kano did not get as much as twice what they contributed.Lagos , Rivers and Oyo got lower. Ebonyi where the Governor is more supportive of national integration is infact the State that generated more VAT in the South-east, possibly owing to the activities of mining related industries. A major fact showing in the data is also that regions who have been fortunate to benefit from the industrialization policies of fore-sighted leaders during the period of independence tend to do well today in VAT collection and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). Such states as Oyo, Ogun, Lagos that benefitted from Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s industrialization policy between 1955-1960 stand out. Likewise, even though some of

the industries are now moribund, but we see evident success of the industrialization policies of the NPC government in the period of limited self government and country’s Independence in states like Kaduna and Kano, with some spillover effects in Jigawa and Katsina.It is curious that insurgency challenged Yobe generated more VAT than Enugu and Anambra respectively. As a matter of fact Kano’s VAT generation is bigger than that of all the five Eastern states put together. We are talking economic history and analysing economic data not ethnic passion and propaganda. The VAT issue is not a South versus North thing. Whatever formula that will be worked out in future must be with the objective of bringing benefit to all Nigerians in all states and challenging states to make industrialization their priority as well as agricultural production and processing. We need a VAT collection and distribution system that will benefit all.

In Abia State, Guber Hopefuls Wait for PDP Compass to Point North its governorship ticket to Abia North, Isuikwuato appears to be in a pole vault position to come out as favourite to grab it. Political actors from the area are already bracing up for the expected political development. Presently three prominent personalities from Abia North are known to have their eyes on the PDP gubernatorial ticket. They are Senator Emma Nwaka, Professor Greg Ibe and Mr. Chris Odinaka Igwe. Each of them is said to have explicitly or implicitly expressed his political ambition and has been “doing the necessary things” to smoothen their respective paths in the quest to become the standard bearer of the ruling PDP. Senator Nwaka is a well known name in Abia politics. He was elected Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the short lived Third Republic midwifed and later truncated by then military President, Gen Ibrahim Babangida. Calm and calculated, Nwaka has built a reputation devoid of controversies and boisterous posturing. This has earned him deserved respect among his fellow politicians, giving the leeway to move in high echelon of the political circle. When the opportunity came for him to become the state chairman of PDP in Abia in 2010, Senator Nwaka made good use of it to the delight of the party faithful. He not only united the fractious party he inherited but also extended and entrenched its roots across Abia. Nwaka was so confident of the job he had done in Abia PDP between 2010 and 2015, leading it to win governorship elections consecutively in 2011 and 2015, hence he boldly came up with the slogan that ‘Abia is PDP and PDP is Abia.’ This slogan has remained a mantra as the party has maintained its grip on power even after Nwaka had passed on the baton of party leadership to successors. Senator Nwaka, who runs a thriving legal practice in Abuja, strongly feels he has what it takes to pilot the affairs of

Abia State come 2023. His unassuming demeanor has not in any way depreciated his political value both at the state and national level. Behind the smooth veil hides a strong character that can take tough decisions when situations demand as he had done in the past. The national leadership of PDP considers Senator Nwaka a political asset. His name not surprisingly has popped up among the 34 member PDP 2021 Zoning Committee headed by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State. When the chips are down Nwaka could tap into his experience, political connections and networks to sway the dangling 2023 governorship ticket of Abia PDP to his side. He is regarded as a son in whom the king makers of Abia PDP are well pleased. Professor Greg Ibe, Founder/Chancellor of Greg University Uturu (GUU), a fast rising private ivory tower, has maintained a noticeable presence in Abia’s political scene in recent years. He started showing signals of his interest in the governorship seat since 2015 but has managed to bottle up his ambition due to the power rotation arrangement in the ruling PDP. The multi-talented and well known business executive, entrepreneur, educationist and philanthropist has been bidding his time and waiting for the right opportunity to strike. He has not made any pretensions that 2023 would be the right time for him to fight for the governorship seat of Abia. Fondly called “Mr. Fix it” by his admirers, Prof Ibe has continued to tell anyone that cares to listen that he possesses the practicable ideas to take Abia out of the backwaters of underdevelopment. On his part, Mr. Chris Odinaka Igwe, the Group Managing Director of Chrisnak Group of companies has not hidden his

interest in marching into the government house Umuahia. The Umuogele Amuda Isuochi born billionaire, whose business interests spans oil and gas, shipping, real estate, among others, had been silently building his political structure in recent years. He put it to good effect in 2019 when his junior brother, Hon. Okey Igwe was elected a member of Abia State House of Assembly, representing Umunneochi state constituency on the platform of PDP. The GMD of Chrisnak would further test the formidability of his political structure when he wrestles with other political heavy weights for the PDP governorship ticket come 2023. Though he largely concentrates on his business empire, the senior igwe politician has never removed his eyes from Abia politics and is a familiar name in Abia PDP circle and Abia in general due to his philanthropic activities with his Chris Odinaka igwe Foundation. It is expected that other guber hopefuls may still emerge from Abia North by the time the coast becomes clear that PDP would zone its 2023 governorship ticket to Abia North. Stakeholders and pressure groups are pushing very hard, consulting extensively and lobbying across zones to make it happen. The old Isuikwuato declared its intention of producing the next governor of Abia in August 2019, barely two months into Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s second and final tenure in office. The district, popularly known as the ‘land of generals’, comprises Isuikwuato and Umunneochi local governments and together with Bende, Ohafia and Arochukwu constitute Abia North senatorial district. The Isuikwuato clamour for governorship seat was concretized at a stakeholders of meeting at the palace of the traditional ruler of Isuikwuato, HRH Eze Ezo Ukandu

where a select committee of the Isuikwuato District Welfare Association (IDWA) ratified a communiqué issued after the stakeholders meeting. In the five-point communique read to journalists by the secretary of IDWA, Hon. Obinna Ekekwe, the group said that come 2023 it would be the turn of Isuikwuato District to produce the person to occupy the topmost political office in God’s Own State. The association stated that the clamour of Isuikwuato District was in line with the Abia charter of equity which stipulates that the rotation principle should apply in the sharing of key political offices in the state. It explained that Isuikwuato as represented by the letter ‘I’ in the acronym from which Abia got its name has not occupied the office of governor unlike other component old divisions, namely Afikpo (A), Bende (B) and Aba(A) that combined to make up Abia when it was created in August 1991. The group therefore appealed to other political blocs in Abia to show understanding and support the aspiration of Isuikwuato District in order to deepen the principle of equity under which Governor Ikpeazu emerged from the Ukwa/ Ngwa which comprises the old Aba Division. Specifically IDWA contended that with all the senatorial zones, Abia North, Abia Central and Abia South having each occupied the governorship seat since the inception of democracy in 1999 the power rotation should again start from Abia North. The group further demanded that the governorship position should be zoned to Isuikwuato as old Bende component of Abia North had already had a fair share of producing two governors (Orji Uzor Kalu and Theodore Orji) after the old Afikpo was removed from Abia North and joined to Ebonyi State. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

FOREIGN DESK

COMPILED BY BAYO AKINLOYE

Court Convicts R. Kelly, Faces Decades in Jail US singer R Kelly has been found guilty of running a scheme to exploit his fame to sexually abuse women and children over two decades, BBC reports. Eleven accusers, nine women and two men, took the stand over the searing six-week trial to describe sexual humiliation and violence at his hands. After two days of deliberation, the jury found Kelly guilty on all the charges he was facing. He is due to be sentenced on 4 May, and faces decades behind bars. Prosecutors accused Kelly, whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, of using his fame and fortune to lure in victims with promises to help their musical careers. Several of his victims testified that they were underage when he sexually abused them. He was also found guilty of violating the Mann act, a law which bans interstate sex trafficking. As the verdict was read out in court, Kelly sat still at his desk, according to reporters. His facial expression was hidden by a face mask that he was required to wear due to the judge’s pandemic rules.

Rwanda Genocide Mastermind Dies

Theoneste Bagosora, a former Rwandan army colonel regarded as the architect of the 1994 genocide in which more than 800,000 ethnic Tutsi and Hutus who tried to protect them were killed, died in a hospital in Mali on Saturday. The VOA reports that 80-year-old Bagosora was serving a 35-year sentence after being found guilty of crimes against humanity by the then-International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. Known as a hardliner within the party of Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana, Bagosora was appointed cabinet director in the defense ministry in 1993 and took control of military and political affairs in the country. Bagosora was accused of taking over the affairs of state after Habyarimana was killed when his plane was shot down in 1994 and ordering the massacre of Tutsi. After the genocide, Bagosora fled into exile in Cameroon. He was arrested there in 1996 and flown to face trial in Tanzania in 1997. His trial began in 2002 and lasted until 2007. Bagosora was sentenced to life in prison in 2008 but that sentence was reduced on appeal.

5.8 Earthquake Hits Greece, Kills One

A magnitude 5.8 earthquake rocked the Greek island of Crete Monday morning, leaving at least one person dead and several injured. Across the island, people were reportedly seen running out of buildings and homes, while many older buildings suffered damage. “The earthquake was strong and was long in duration,” Heraklion Mayor Vassilis Lambrinos told private Antenna television. Greek authorities dispatched civil engineers around the island to assess damage. “We are urging people who live in damaged older buildings to remain outdoors. One aftershock can cause a collapse,” seismologist Efthimios Lekkas, who heads Greece’s Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization, told The Associated Press. “We are talking about structures built before 1970. Structures built after 1985 are built to a higher standard that can withstand the effect of an earthquake.” Crete is a popular tourist destination, and according to reports, the quake did not disrupt international flights to Heraklion, nor did it cause serious damage to hotels. The only known fatality was in the town of Arkalochori, which is about 30 kilometers outside of Heraklion. A man was reportedly working on the renovation of a chapel when the dome caved in.

Yemen: Biden Aide to Meet Saudi Crown Prince

President Joe Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan is traveling to Saudi Arabia on Monday to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as the U.S. presses for a cease-fire in the yearslong war between the kingdom and Houthi rebels in Yemen. Sullivan will be the highest-ranking Biden administration official to visit Saudi Arabia. Besides seeing the crown prince, often referred to by his initials, MBS, Sullivan is expected to meet with deputy defense minster Khalid bin Salman, a brother to the crown prince, according to two senior administration officials. The officials were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The Biden White House has largely steered clear of the crown prince since making public in February a CIA report that showed MBS likely approved the killing of Washington Post columnist and Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi in a 2018 operation at the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul. But the White House has resolved that bringing an end to perhaps the world’s most complex conflict can’t be done without engaging with the most senior Saudi officials face to face, one senior administration official said. National Security Council spokesperson Emily Horne said Sullivan was traveling to Riyadh on Monday and would also visit the United Arab Emirates, a Saudi ally in the war, but did not provide additional details. Axios first reported that Sullivan was planning on

traveling to the region. Sullivan is being dispatched at a moment when the situation in Yemen, the Arab world’s poorest country, has further deteriorated. Fighting has intensified in the key city of Marib, as Iran-backed rebels have sought to oust the Saudi-backed government from the oil-rich city in the country’s north.

Roughly 124,000 people were flown out of Afghanistan after the U.S. announced its military departure and the Taliban took control of the capital in late August. Since all U.S. forces officially departed on August 31, the State Department says 85 Americans have been able to leave the country.

Taliban Govt Fails to Address UN General Assembly

South Korean to Ban Dog Meat

Afghanistan will not address the UN. General Assembly, in the wake of the Taliban takeover and potential competing claims of representation at the world body. A UN spokesperson said they were informed by email on Saturday that they were withdrawing. Ambassador Ghulam Isaczai had originally been scheduled to speak on Monday, the final day of the annual debate that draws world leaders to New York. Isaczai was appointed by the previous Afghan government of Ashraf Ghani, but still holds the country’s U.N. accreditation. On September 20, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres received a letter from the Taliban saying their interim foreign minister, Ameer Khan Muttaqi, wanted to participate in the annual U.N. gathering. It also said Isaczai was “ousted” as Afghanistan’s ambassador, and the Taliban were nominating Mohammad Suhail Shaheen to replace him. The secretary-general’s office forwarded this to the General Assembly committee that handles the accreditation of ambassadors. The credentials committee typically does not meet until October or November, so no resolution of the issue is imminent. Myanmar has also informed the U.N. that it will not address the annual gathering. In February, the military seized power in a coup and detained most of the national unity government. The junta has sought to replace Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun with one of its own but will also have to go to the credentials committee with its request. Myanmar was initially scheduled to speak on Monday, but withdrew several days ago, U.N. officials said.

100 Americans Yet to Leave Afghanistan

As some 100 American citizens are still waiting to leave Afghanistan, the State Department said Monday that the biggest hurdle to their evacuation remains the “unpredictability” of the Taliban. “The biggest constraint to the departure of our citizens and others from Afghanistan, of course, remains the Taliban’s unpredictability, regarding who is permitted to depart,” a senior State Department official told reporters during a background briefing Monday. “The second big constraint is the absence of regular commercial air service to enable folks who wish to depart to do so in a predictable manner,” they added. “The biggest constraint to the departure of our citizens and others from #Afghanistan, of course, remains the #Taliban’s unpredictability, regarding who is permitted to depart,” said a senior @ StateDept official. The official estimated that roughly 100 American citizens and permanent residents are “ready to go” currently. The State Department said its officials are in “regular communication” with private groups chartering their own evacuation flights from the country, and also in communication with the Taliban consistently working to negotiate the safe departure of Americans.

South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in has raised the possibility of banning the consumption of dog meat in the country. Most Koreans have never eaten dog meat, and demand for it has dwindled in recent years. But it is estimated that up to one million dogs are still slaughtered for food each year in South Korea. Speaking during a meeting with the prime minister, Mr Moon questioned whether it was time to “prudently consider” a ban, the BBC says. It is the first time that the president, a known dog lover, has raised the prospect of a total ban. He made the comments as he was briefed on new measures to protect abandoned animals in the country. There is already a law in place banning the cruel slaughter of dogs and cats, but consumption itself is not banned.

Satellite of Record’ Launches to Picture Earth

What is arguably the world’s most important satellite has launched to orbit from California, reports BBC. Landsat-9 is the continuation of a series of Earthobserving spacecraft stretching back almost 50 years. No other remote-sensing system has kept a longer, continuous record of the changing state of our planet. Landsat-9 raced skyward on an Atlas rocket from a cloudy and misty Vandenberg Space Force Base at 11:12 local time (19:12 BST). It was the pictures taken by Apollo astronauts, looking back towards Earth, that cemented the idea of having a permanent eye on our home world. And in 1972, The American space agency (Nasa), in partnership with the US Geological Survey (USGS), proceeded to launch their Earth Resources Technology Satellite. Today, the ninth imaging spacecraft in what subsequently became known as the Landsat programme is ready to assume responsibility for maintaining the legacy.

Mali Elections Could be Postponed: Reports

Mali’s elections meant to usher in a return to democratic rule and set for next February could be postponed by “two weeks, two months, a few months,” Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maïga has told the French news agency AFP. The comments seem to confirm widespread fears of a possible extension of the military-led transition government. Mr Maïga said it was better to organise “peaceful elections, recognised by all, rather than to organise elections that will be disputed.” Debate has been raging in Mali in recent months over whether the country’s military ruler, Col Assimi Goita, will honour a pledge to hold a referendum on a new constitution on 31 October and general elections on 21 February next year. A radio station based in the northern city of Gao recently said it was increasingly likely that the transition would be extended. The government could also use the planned withdrawal of French forces from the country to

justify an extension of the transition period. At the UN General Assembly last week, the prime minister accused France of abandoning Mali and said Bamako was seeking other security partners, referring to controversial negotiations with Russian paramilitary companies.

Kenyan Villagers Fight British Army in Fire Case

About 1,500 people living in areas near Nanyuki town in central Kenya are in court to fight what they see as attempts by the British military to avoid legal action in a case where they have been sued for loss of livelihoods and environmental damages. A fire started by the activities of British soldiers training at the Lolldaiga Conservancy in Kenya five months ago destroyed about 12,000 acres of land, with claims of at least one human death. The British Army Training Unit in Kenya has filed for state immunity. The petitioners, including affected locals and the African Centre for Corrective and Preventive Action, want reparations for human effects, destroyed lands as well as financial damages. The petitioners claim wild animals escaping the inferno swept through their homes, destroyed their farms and caused them mental trauma. They also claim one person died trying to put out the fire. The suit also claimed some soldiers who were alleged perpetrators of the fire were found to have been under the influence of cocaine and heroin. The environment court in Kenya has set 26 October as the date when all parties will present their submissions, after which it will determine whether the case will proceed.

Angela Merkel’s Party Loses to SPD

Germany’s centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) have claimed victory in the federal election, telling the party of outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel it should no longer be in power. According to BBC, SPD leader Olaf Scholz said he had a clear mandate to form a government, while his conservative rival Armin Laschet remains determined to fight on. The two parties have governed together for years. But Mr Scholz says it is time for a new coalition with the Greens and liberals. Preliminary results gave his party a narrow election win over the conservatives who suffered their worst-ever performance. Despite this, Mr Laschet said his party had given him its backing to enter talks with coalition partners, pushing Germany towards a potentially protracted power struggle.

Blackout as Electricity Shortage Hits China

Residents in north-east China are experiencing unannounced power cuts, as an electricity shortage which initially hit factories spreads to homes. People living in Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces have complained on social media about the lack of heating, and lifts and traffic lights not working. Local media said the cause was a rise in coal prices leading to short supply. The country is highly dependent on coal for power. One power company said it expected the power cuts to last until spring next year, and that unexpected outages would become “the new normal”. Its post, however, was later deleted. The energy shortage at first affected manufacturers across the country, many of whom have had to curb or stop production in recent weeks.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͶ, ͰͮͰͯ

FEATURES

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

Pioneering Model Ranching Hub in Nigeria Inauguration of Nigeria's first Model Ranching Hub in Nasarawa has made the state a knowledge hub where herders and crop farmers will learn modern ways of rearing cattles and growing crops, reports Igbawase Ukumba

Governor Sule ﬂagging oﬀ the Awe Model Ranching Hub

Cross section of herders at the inauguration of the Ranching Hub

he Awe Model Ranching Hub in Nasarawa State, which was inaugurated recently by President Muhammadu Buhari under the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP), was designed to be a knowledge hub where pastoralists will have to learn modern ways of cattle rearing. Perhaps, it was against this background that President Buhari, when inaugurating the 22,000 hectares Awe Model Ranching Hub in the state, hoped that other states would emulate the good work done by the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, so that the programme could be fully implemented across the country to bring to end the incessant clashes between herders and farmers. The president, who was represented by the Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji Nanono at the inauguration of the Awe Model Ranching Hub, was optimistic that the ranching hub would at the same time introduce to the herders and crop farmers the modern ways of rearing cattles and growing crops with all the attendant benefits of improved feeding, improved animal/human health, genetic improvement in crops, livestock integration, value addition and better socioeconomic standing for all participants. Buhari said: "I am particularly happy at the way and manner the governor of Nasarawa State has received this initiative from the federal government. We have been talking and working tirelessly with him and I assure you his cooperation accelerated the launching of this programme today. "I am delighted to welcome all dignitaries and stakeholders on the launching of the first model ranching hub under the NLTP. This has been a long time in the making but we are happy that it is finally here and it makes such a memorable day that signifies the beginning of great things to happen in our country starting from Awe in Nasarawa State. "The issue bedeviling our livestock sector are well known to the public, having been a hot topic of news for long time. Apart from the poor productivity resulting from several factors include poor land management, climate change, outdated animals husbandry practices and a general lack of organisation in the sector, the sector's problem has been involved to be heavily in tandem with the breach of peace and security due to incessant violence herder/farmer crisis as well as some nefarious activities including banditry, kidnapping which people often linked erroneously, or otherwise, to herdsmen movement." The president therefore said the security breach angle has pervaded the country for a while thereby necessitating holistic resolution that would cater not only for the improvement of productivity in the livestock subsector, but also to justice, peace, security, recovery from violent clashes, human capital development, gender and youth engagement and other sundry issues. Buhari maintained that the NLTP has been adjudged worldwide to be a well conceived project which seeks to transform the country's livestock sector from nomadic dependant sector to an organised ranching one. To this end, President Buhari continued that 22 states have registered with the NLTP secretariat, whereas seven of these states have earmarked 19 grazing reserve for the implementation of the programme with a total land size of approximately 400,000 hectares.

Minister of Agriculture (right) receiving a gift from a woman herder at event When flagging off the 22,000 hectares Awe Model Ranching Hub, Governor Sule explained that Nasarawa State decided to key into the NLTP and put all efforts into its programme because on his assumption of office as governor of Nasarawa State, he was faced with so many challenges and one of those biggest challenges was security. He insisted that security challenges was one of those goals that he took the programme as serious as he could. Sule continued: "We have taken it so serious that I started visiting Benue State because of the law of the anti-grazing they have. But today by the grace of God, by the time this project is completed, they (Benue) can have all the anti-grazing law they have, we will not have problem on this border. "The second aspect is about the economic development that we see. What we mean is to keep your cattles in one place and be able to have all the benefits that are there. So I am happy that the Netherlands government has keyed into this. The next aspect is actually the utilisation of all these abandoned areas called grazing reserves that have become fields for security challenges. Today, by the time we are able to develop these areas, we are now utilising our grazing reserves because in nearly every state, there is a grazing reserve. "So it is not true that some certain states will say that they don't have land. Yes this land belongs to the state, but the reality is that the security of the people is more important than the ownership of

any land. And that is why we are taking it very serious and we have gone to where we are." Governor Sule however appealed to the federal government not to stop the launching of the programme in Nasarawa State, but expertise and ensure that the programme is also launched in the three states that have already been identified and indeed all the 22 states that have keyed in. Even as he prayed that other states would begin to see the benefits of the NLTP and key in so that Nigeria will have proper security. In a goodwill message at the Awe Model Ranching Hub inauguration, the Dutch Ambassador in Nigeria, Harry Van Dijk, said the NLTP was a fallout of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between President Muhammadu Buhari and a consortium in Netherlands to develop ranching in Nigeria. The ambassador disclosed that the Netherlands is the second exporter of agricultural produce in the world despite the fact that it is a very small country with about 70 million people living in it with a land mass even less than Nasarawa State. The Dutch ambassador explained that Netherlands got to the position of the second exporter of agricultural produce because flit was in their culture, also adding that the Dutch are connected to agriculture. The ambassador also said Netherlands is a very small country, "which means if you are small, you have to be very efficient. So all land is used in a very efficient way."

The National Livestock Transformation Plan has been adjudged worldwide to be a well conceived project which seeks to transform the country's livestock sector from nomadic dependant sector to an organised ranching one...

He said further that Netherlands had developed a system of a triangle between research, education and extension so that when there are new things developed in that research, it directly handed off with the farmers and also in the education system that gave a very good effect as one of the things responsible for the country's good in export. Dijk said: "I am a representative of a consortium which will support NLTP. We have eight Dutch well known companies and we work together with the local team here in Nasarawa. We are going to build a pilot farm here in Nasarawa and the goal of this farm is the transfer of knowledge. We want to show that it is possible to keep cows in one place even in the dry season without that they are dying or they are in a bad shape. "Secondly, we are also going to organise the train the trainer Programme. And this training, we are also going to train farmers in this area. I hope this project will be a game changer in the agricultural industry of Nigeria." For the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to President Muhammadu Buhari on Agriculture, Dr. Andrew Kwasari, Nigeria has too many issues to deal with. One of which is productivity; the country's output from agriculture. He continued that one of the areas in agriculture that has the lowest output was livestock hence the federal and state governments came together, and pioneered by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture under the auspices of the National Economic Council (NEC), put together a plan that was meant to last for ten years. He said the essence of the plan was to gradually develop the livestock subsector, stating further that to do so, a few things were necessary. He said: "We have been clamouring all over the country today on the need to either build ranches or stop nomadic system of production and all of that. For me that is not the big issue. The big issue is whether or not Nigeria wishes to ranch is a different question. Ranching has always been in Nigeria. But how do we transform the livestock systematically from within? "And to do that, key things are missing. One is the lack of knowledge; therefore even if you give the pastoralists today the entire budget of this country, they will not ranch because they do not know how to ranch. So I am happy that NLTP around the six pillars were carefully crafted such that we will start with the most important pillar. "How do we build a training hub that will demostrate ranching practically to the pastoralists and take the pastoralists in batches at household level and train? Once they acquire the know-how, the missing link is land and this area where we are seated today; Awe Gazetted Grazing Reserve is abundant land to settle pastoralists willingly with the technical support. I want to thank Mr President and the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State for making sure that this happened as designed." He noted that the Awe Model Ranching Hub is sitting on a 22,000 hectres of land, 360 households living in the place. According to him, "the total population of Awe today is a little over 3,000. The pastoralists have over 15,000 livestock in general. What they need is how to go about this business. The pastoralists that willingly settle and adopt the new style get ownership of piece of land on this government property so that they can ranch and keep their families."

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͶ, ͰͮͰͯ

FEATURES

Empowering Humanity through Philanthropy For Kelvin Onumah, popularly known as Abiriba First Son, giving to humanity is an act of service. Through his Kelvin Jombo Foundation, the CEO of Sublime Group has been championing the empowerment of the youth, women and children, Precious Ugwuzor reports

Some of the palliatives shared

“T

he unselfish effort to bring cheer to others will be the beginning of a happier life for ourselves.” This quote attributed to Helen Keller typifies Kelvin Onumah, a silent achiever in his own right, who has for a decade and more, put smiles on the faces of people. Popularly known as Abiriba First Son, Onumah is Chief Kelvin Jombo Founder and the CEO of Sublime Luxury Homes Ltd, Sublime Hotel & Apartment Sublime Industries Ltd, as well as Kelvin Jombo Foundation, who lives by the ethos that "Humanity is Greater than Status”. Onumah, who is no doubt a successful businessman who has carved a niche for himself in real estate, clothing & textiles importation, Forex Trading, and hospitality businesses, has a daughter (Nene Jombo). According to him, the act of giving back or devoting one's time to support those around them is extremely beneficial, both for you and the community. Essentially, giving back for him is a great way to get to know his community and its citizens, which eventually makes you a grassroot person. "When you volunteer, you have the opportunity to meet lots of new people, working alongside individuals who also care about improving their surroundings will allow you to broaden your network of friends," he opined. Philanthropy For his immediate community Abiriba in Abia State and even beyond, his philanthropy is legendary as he has impacted positively in their lives through Kelvin Jombo Foundation. The foundation is a leading peer-philanthropists network of social investors committed to advancing international courses in Africa. The objective of the foundation is to empower the youth, women and children across the continent to catalyse economic growth that will engender poverty eradication and ensuring job creation. Since the establishment of the Kelvin Jombo Foundation, it has lived up to the vision and mission of founding it by creating hundreds of direct and indirect jobs, alleviating poverty and other developmental projects such as scholar-

The philanthropist sharing palliatives for some of his community members ship schemes, medicare, road construction, market developments and others. According to Jombo, "At Kelvin Jombo Foundation, we believe the private sector’s role is critical for Africa’s development and that the private sector must create both social and economic wealth to enhance national development." Just recently, the Kelvin Jombo Foundation flagged off the reconstruction of a market (Affia Nkwo) in Abiriba. The flag-off ceremony was witnessed by the Enachioken in council led by the Enachioken of Abiriba HRM Eze Kalu kalu Ogbu IV.

On why he ventured into rebuilding the market, he said the market which reminds him of his humble beginning, made him promise to construct a modern market with every necessary facility. Cushioning Effects of COVID-19 Health they say is wealth. To cushion the effect of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, Kelvin Jombo through his foundation distributed Personal Protective Equipment to health centers in Abiriba. Just recently too, Jombo also distributed palliatives worth millions of naira to his

At Kelvin Jombo Foundation, we believe the private sector’s role is critical for Africa’s development and that the private sector must create both social and economic wealth to enhance national development

Chief Onumah people. The young Abiriba entrepreneur realised that just like COVID-19, hunger is also a global menace and also went ahead to distribute food and agro empowerment palliatives such as over 600 Bags of five kilograms of fertilizers, 1,000 bundles of cassava stems, 1,000 bags of five kilograms beans, 3,000 bags of five kilograms of rice, 2,500 tubers of yam, 100 cartons of organic maize seedlings, 100 cartons of organic okro seedlings, 100 cartons of tomato seedlings, 1000 pieces of sanitizers, 1000 cartons of face masks and 300 cartons of noodles. The disabled people in Abiriba were also visited with some cash gifts, while Abiriba Student Union also received a token of support. For his people and beneficiaries of his philanthropy, his kindness is second to none, which perhaps explains why youths from Abiriba see him as a role model, a mentor and a leader. For the philanthropist, his love for his people and the need to empower them are too dear to his heart to die off anytime soon.

T H I S D AY ˾ SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

TRIBUTE Lifestyle: An Orality on Lateef Adegbite Saheed Ahmad Rufai

he 28th day of September, 2021 marks the ninth year since the demise of the late Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) who was also Baba Adinni of Egbaland and Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice in the Old Western State, Dr. Lateef Oladimeji Adegbite. Given his status as a public figure whose professional, religious and social services to humanity transcend geographical boundaries, Dr. Lateef Adegbite has been a subject of engagements among scholars, researchers, journalists and public analysts. However, there understandably is little or insufficient evidence of attention to the family life of the great legal icon and Islamic leader in public discourse, especially with regard to his life and times with his wife the late Iyalode, Alhaja Tayyiba Yetunde Adegbite. As the ninth anniversary of his transition to Allah’s mercies approaches, this article seeks to address one of the hitherto infrequently explored aspects of his life. It should be noted that this article revolves around the Iyalode’s angle of Dr. Adegbite’s life in two ways, namely her description of him and his bereavement of her in 2001. According to the late Iyalode Adegbite, this world-class university don and legal scholar, possessed an uncommon capacity for hard work. He would wake up around 5:30am by which time he led his family in a congregational Subhi prayer. That done, he would take his bath and listen to the news via the Voice of America (VOA), the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), local news or newspaper review. He would thereafter get himself prepared for the office. He was not accustomed to taking breakfast before leaving home but only takes juice, oranges, a cup of tea or something of similar nature. His normal take-off time to the office was around 8:00am, excepting situations where he had to travel out of Lagos. On returning from office, this one time Nigeria’s Representative on the Commission on International Commercial Practice, Paris, as well as Nigeria’s Alternate Representative at the International Court of Arbitration at the headquarters in Paris, would observe Maghrib and subsequently, Ishai prayer after which he listened to the Cable Network News (CNN) and later, the Nigerian Television Authority news by which time he took his supper. At times, he would have some outings to visit one or two places or people before returning home to listen to news and take his dinner. He characteristically retired to bed by midnight. He indeed was such a hardworking person that never left a day’s job uncompleted even if that meant working throughout the night. He consistently maintained this usually busy schedule, moving on steadily as a dedicated worker and a ‘great labourer who infact often achieved in a single day what most men of his age can hardly accomplish in a week. A former President of the Nigerian Olympic Committee, Dr. Adegbite was said to have operated the above described routine from Monday to Thursday before travelling to Abeokuta on Friday thereby fulfil official commitments in his Abeokuta office before leaving for Jum’ah Prayer. During weekends, he would attend to social, community, Islamic as well as family engagements before returning to Lagos in the evening of Sunday or early Monday, to resume his normal routine of the week days, which was occasionally punctuated whenever he travelled out of the country. The routine was also often punctuated whenever he had several functions to attend as he at times would have four different Islamic events to attend in four different states in a day and would hardly fail to attend any of them! A man with a rich sense of humour, the late Baba Adinni of Egbaland cracked jokes where necessary and was capable of a healthy laughter which he sometimes did with all his body anatomy. He talked at length only where necessary and was not known to be a flamboyant speaker even in informal discussion. He cherished correctness and appropriateness and would not even hesitate to correct grammatical mistakes committed around him at the dining table. He indeed was a charismatic personality who walked in a stately but humble manner. His sense of dressing always called to mind his maternal grandfather of Igbore, Alfa Bisiriyu Giwa of Igbore, Abeokuta in his colourful appearance on Eid days. As a general rule, Dr. Lateef Adegbite liked good and rich food. This, according to the late Iyalode Tayyibah Adegbite, was at the time covered in this article, being discouraged to avoid complications as a result of old age. ‘He loved vegetables (especially ewedu and efo) and salad

Ad e g b it e as well as fruits, juice, citrus, tangelo orange and others of the similar nature’, remarked the revered Iyalode who added that ‘he took solid (heavy) food only once in a day and liked taking tonic water’. The present writer can attest to Mummy’s statement that he was not a fan of heavy meal. Afterall, I had the opportunity of dining with him on several occasions on none of which he was served a heavy food. He would start taking his food without much formalities. On few of such occasions where I sat next to him at the dining table, I observed him as a naturally refined man who indeed was unBritish and very un-American! Mummy was later to tell me about his favourite musicians. They include late Yusuf Olatunji (Baba L’egba), Haruna Ishola (Baban Gani Agba), Ayinla Omowura (Omo Anigilaje), Ebeneza Obe (Chief Commander), and of course, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister as well as other traditional musicians. The second part of this article which, as noted earlier, concerns the Islamic qualities in Dr. Lateef Adegbite with regard to his handling with fortitude of his bereavement over his wife, who was a deserving holder of numerous ennobling titles which include Giwa Obinrin of Egbaland; Iyalode and Iya Adinni of Oba, Abeokuta; Iyalode Musulumi of Ibarapa, Oyo State; Iyalode Musulumi of Bayerunkana, Ibadan; Olootu of Alasalatu Society of Nigeria and West Africa; Patroness of Shamsud-deen Al-

Islamiyy World-wide, among others. The purpose of this undertaking is not only to demonstrate that Dr. Lateef Adegbite was a truly submissive servant of Allah but also to showcase the Islamic angle of his life even in moments of sadness. On Sunday 15th July, 2001, thousands of people converged on his Abeokuta home to pay their last respect to his wife, a Muslim woman of virtue and immense worth. A large proportion of the people were relatives, friends, associates, acquaintances, and beneficiaries of the late Muslim woman leader’s kindness. The body had been flown into Nigeria very early on Sunday 15th July, 2001. Dr. Adegbite himself and his children had flown into the country on board the same flight. On their arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the requiem prayer and short supplications were offered for the repose of her soul by the leadership of Shamsudeen Al-Islamiyy Worldwide of which she was Patroness. Dr. Lateef Adegbite’s Mercedes Benz followed the dais that carried the remains of his wife. Then began the movement to the last abode, in Abeokuta. Consequently, the entourage that brought the remains of the enviable Muslim woman arrived with Dr. Adegbite’s car leading the way after the motorcade. They meandered through the thick multitude of friends and admirers of the bereaved family. People in the wanting crowd pushed and shoved

through the pool of people and pressed toward the dais. By the time the hearse arrived at the compound, it was received by the mammoth congregation. Onikolobo Road, Ibara, Abeokuta, where Dr. Adegbite’s residence is located, was heavily jam-packed and stampeded. Prominent among the dignitaries in attendance were former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (Rted), former Military Governor of Ogun State and later of Lagos State, Brig. General Raji Rasaki (Rted), Chief Kola Daisi, late Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola Alao, late Shaykh Araazim Alaaya, Otunba Subomi Balogun, Dr. Adegbite’s son in-law, Mr. Tunde Folawiyo, and son of late business mogul, Alhaji Kola Abiola,. There were numerous others. Inside Dr. Adegbite’s compound itself, the atmosphere wore a melancholic look. Following the Islamic rites as conducted by notable Muslim clerics, the body shrouded in spotless white sheets was later gradually lowered into the tomb by a team of learned Muslims including Prof. Ishaq Oloyede (now Registrar of JAMB), Shaykh Ahmad Rufai Onilewura (now Deputy Chief Imam of the National Mosque, Abuja), and Prof. Tajudeen Gbadamosi, a close associate of Dr. Lateef Adegbite, amid the repeated chanting of ‘Allahu Akbar’. May Allah be more merciful to Dr. Lateef Oladimeji Adegbite and his late wife, the Iyalode Alhaja Tayyibah Yetunde Adegbite. t 4BIFFE "INBE 3VGBJ 1I % JT &EVDBUJPO $POTVMUBOU 5FDIOJDBM &YQFSU PO *T%# 0*$ "SBC -FBHVF FEVDBUJPO QSPKFDU

LAWYER TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

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WEEKLY PULLOUT

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& RE A S O

Dr (Mrs) Valerie Azinge, SAN

‘Hopefully, the 2014 National Conference Report Will Resurface’

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 • T H I S D AY

IN THIS EDITION

LAWYER TEM BER TUE SDAY, SEP

28, 202 1

LLOUT WEEKLY PU

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e Dr (Mrs) Valeri Azinge, SAN

The Use of Preliminary Objection to Challenge an Appeal Page VI

e 2014 h t , y l l u f e p o ‘H ference n o C l a n o i t a N rface’ u s e R l l i W t r Repo

Justice for Late Precious Lawani, Father Petitions NASS Page VII

QUOTABLES ‘So, when we talk about human rights that are declared and put into our laws, the only way to access those rights, including economic rights, is by education…..To be deprived of education, is to be deprived of the means of pursuit of a dignified existence……’ - Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, Professor of Law, Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria

‘Our desire is to retire the smart card reader, because it has lasted for two electoral cycles. And, we have more modern gadgets and equipment that can be deployed for the purposes of our election.’ - Festus Okoye, Lawyer, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee

Lagos CP Vows to Arrest Hoodlums Who Killed Policeman Page VII

How to Lawfully Adopt a Child in Nigeria Page VIII

III THE ADVOCATE

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

The Nigerian Judiciary: A Call to Poverty and Denigration? Temptation and LKY ith all due respect to Judicial Officers, especially those who have remained faithful to their Oath of Office, some home truths must be told about the Nigerian Judiciary, no matter how embarrassing; with the hope that Government will immediately address some of the issues, which are the root causes of what many now have come to refer to as the rot in the Nigerian judicial system. Recently, when the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad CFR (CJN) was swearing in the new Court of Appeal Justices, he advised them not to succumb to temptation. Some people complained that, the CJN should not have made such a statement; but the fact is, he was only speaking the truth, because those who lack financially are the softest targets for falling prey to temptation. And, even though we certainly expect a high level of morals and integrity from judicial officers, at the end of the day, they are human beings like anybody else (not super humans or saints), who have responsibilities for the upkeep of their families (especially the men who may be the sole breadwinners of their families). I am not in any way trying to justify corruption or bad behaviour in the Judiciary, but, rather, I am trying to draw our attention to the plight of judicial officers, who by virtue of their remit, are unable to voice their complaints since their demeanour is expected to quiet, guarded and of the highest etiquette. We like to use Lee Kwan Yew (LKY), Lawyer and former Prime Minister of Singapore, and how he turned his country around as an example, but we fail to follow his example - he tried to create a more equitable society in which Civil Servants, the Judiciary etc, were not just paid living wages, but were well paid, so that there would be no reason to envy those in the private sector or who were well-to-do, and no need for corruption. As the economy became more buoyant, even pensions were increased, to reflect the improvement. Can we say that the same obtains in present-day Nigeria? No. My point? In trying to stamp out corruption, LKY’s Government played it’s own part, and ensured that all workers were adequately remunerated, unlike here where just a minute fraction like the National Assembly are overpaid. On the contrary, the Nigerian middle class which judicial officers formerly belonged to, has been eroded in great part by negative and inequitable Government policies, leaving only the top class, which includes Politicians, a few businessmen and the corrupt, and the bottom class, which the judicial officers and other workers now find themselves belonging to, along with the impecunious.

Inapplicability of the Doctrine of Separation of Powers in Nigeria I have maintained for quite a while that Baron de Montesquieu’s Doctrine of Separation of Powers which states that the three arms of Government, that is, the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary are independent and co-equal (See Section 4-6 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria), is not applicable in Nigeria, as the Executive takes first place, the Legislature second, and our Judiciary, a distant third place. Aside from the fact that when the hierarchy of the Nigerian Government is listed anywhere in order of seniority, it is listed thus: President, Vice President, Senate President, CJN, and Speaker, House of Representatives, another area in which the Judiciary’s relegation can be seen, which is an aspect which people do not readily pay any attention to, is in the area of National Honours. The award of National Honours was established by the National Honours Act No. 5 of 1964, to reward those who have distinguished themselves in their various endeavours, or served the country admirably in one way or the other. If the Judiciary is equal to the Executive, why is it that only the President is awarded the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR), while the CJN (and Senate President) can only get the lower award of merit, that is Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) or Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON)? In the past, Supreme Court Justices were awarded with the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), but it seems that apart from the CJN who is a Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic, the other Supreme Court Justices have not been awarded with National Honours, despite being more than overdue for it. Let’s hope that they will be part of the next award exercise. These days, aside from the fact that the Legislature is perceived to be a rubber stamp on the decisions of the Executive as opposed to

commodities, have obviously risen astronomically . Some are quick to say that, if you are not satisfied with your remuneration as a judicial officer, why not quit and get another job? The response is, is it that easy to secure a job in Nigeria where people remain unemployed for years, where graduates have to do menial jobs just to survive, especially after having passed the employment age? I think not. Also, having served as a Judge in Nigeria, there are restrictions on how you can practice law thereafter, including not being able to appear as counsel in court. The irony is that, being a litigator would probably be the 'forte’ of a former Judge and the area in which they would be able to excel, as a result of the experience garnered from being a judicial officer.

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

The

Advocate “In short, our system has been structured to disfavour the Judiciary, overwork it, underfund it, and make it subservient to the Executive from the get-go, both at the Federal and State levels” being a check and balance on it, the Judiciary has been made to depend on the Executive for its funding at both the Federal and State levels (even on a day-to-day basis), thereby eroding its independence and role as a check and balance on the Executive, seeing as it is difficult to bite the hand that feeds you. In short, our system has been structured to disfavour the Judiciary, overwork it, underfund it, and make it subservient to the Executive from the get-go, both at the Federal and State levels. Poor Remuneration The most obvious departure we can see from Montesquieu’s doctrine as it pertains to Nigeria, is that of remuneration. The call to the Nigerian Judiciary, unlike that of the Legislature and Executive and a lot of its Judiciary contemporaries around the globe, is a call to poverty. Even the Catholic Priests who take a vow of poverty, live more comfortably than our judicial officers, and are taken care of in their retirement until death! The vow of poverty does not permit the Priests to own property, but even at that, it is unlikely that they can be rendered homeless in their retirement (like many of Judges are), since they can possibly reside in an accommodation in a Parish, or even be provided with a comfortable home, courtesy of their Parishioners. The President of the Court of Appeal’s Plea Last Friday, I watched a news clip of the President of the Court of Appeal, Hon Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem (PCA) delivering her address at the beginning of the 2021-2022 Legal Year, and frankly, I felt sad and ashamed when she was reeling off the basic salaries of judicial officers - their remuneration is definitely poor, including that of the Supreme Court Justices - just a

few notches above that of clerks! From the figures Her Lordship mentioned, it seems that the monthly ‘newspaper allowance’ of Senators (just over N300,000), is higher than the monthly basic salary of the CJN and all the Appellate Court Justices! Her Lordship quoted former President of the Court of Appeal, Hon, Justice Mustapha Akanbi CFR (of blessed memory) in a publication titled “The Main Obstacles of Justice According to Law”: “That a good judgement flows from a mind that is not bogged by the thought of - where do I get my next meal? Or where do I get the money to pay my son’s school fees? Poor conditions of service, disturb the mind. It is an obstacle to clear and positive thinking”. The PCA therefore, made a passionate appeal, saying: "We therefore, call upon the Federal and State Government to live up to their obligations under the law. I also implore the Government of the Federation and the States, to urgently review the salaries and allowances of judicial officers and staff. The salaries of Justices are static, with no graduation as in the Civil and Public Service. We have been on one salary scale, for over 10 years now". Let me make use of a practical example here. A judicial officer of the appellate courts who earned a monthly basic salary of approximately N250,000 10 years ago (many earn a bit less), earned about £1,000 (with an exchange rate of roughly N250 to £1). Today, still earning N250,000 - about £445 (at the CBN exchange rate of roughly N561 to £1, the parallel market is much worse, in excess of N700 to £1), about N200 better parallel market), over 200% less in real terms! Meanwhile, school fees, the prices of food stuffs, petrol and diesel - basic essential

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, CFR

Retirement Apart from Lagos and Rivers State who provide accommodation for Judges, even after retirement, the same cannot be said to obtain in other States or Federal Courts. What about the Magistrates? Their fate is obviously worse, in all ramifications. I was shocked when I heard the amount that Supreme Court Justices were given upon retirement, to secure accommodation. Again, let me give a practical example. When the Supreme Court was still situated in Lagos, Justices were given accommodation in Ikoyi, the best residential area in Lagos at the time - detached houses with three or four bedrooms. Then upon retirement, they are given an amount of money which will not buy them a house even in VGC, GRA Ikeja or the Opebi/Allen part of Ikeja, or even a two bedroom flat in Lekki Phase 1 or a house in the better part of Surulere! With their package, they would be aiming for outlandish areas like Ilasamaja, Ipaja and the like. For other Judges, it is ‘to your tent, O Israel’. They are left to look for alternative accommodation to rent in cheap neighbourhoods, due to lack of funds and low pensions. Yet, a Governor who serves for a maximum of eight years, has a fabulous pension including a house in a high brow residential area of his State. While Federal Legislators at least, are given brand new state of the art cars when a new administration cycle commences every four years, Judges are not. Some Supreme Court Justices use their vehicles, for six years or more. In the past, it was not unheard of, for the vehicles to be taken back from the Supreme Court Justices upon retirement. I know of a case in which, upon retirement, the vehicle was repossessed from his Lordship. The Wheels of Justice at the Apex Court Then there’s the argument that the wheels of justice are slow, especially when you get to the appellate courts, particularly the Supreme Court - in fact, the Apex Court Justices have been much vilified for this. Even if the Supreme Court was at its full constitutional capacity of 21 Justices, the question is, why wouldn’t the wheels of justice still be slow? The case we reported in our publication today, is a case involving a dispute between DHL (the courier service) and its customer. I wonder what such a matter would be doing at the Supreme Court, taking up precious time! Even Landlord and Tenant disputes originating at the Magistrates Court, lie to the Apex Court! The Supreme Court has virtually been turned to a playground by litigants, especially Politicians, and even our colleagues, who, in a bid to ramp up the number of cases they have handled, file the most frivolous appeals. The truth is that, many of the matters that lie to the Supreme Court, have no business going past the Court of Appeal. Let’s restore the dignity of our Apex Court, by streamlining the appeals that can lie to it; and indeed, the role of the Court of Appeal as an appellate court, instead of the transit intermediary court that it has been turned into. Again, in the past, only Presidential election petitions reached the Supreme Court. Today, not just Governorship election petitions, but every other matter pertaining to the political process, right from the question of qualification of candidates to run for office, primaries and so on, reach the Supreme Court, and they are time-bound! The time-bound never-ending political matters, then clog up the dockets of the appellate courts, especially the Supreme Court, leaving other matters to suffer delays. Even if the Supreme Court Justices were increased in number to one million, as long as every little matter is allowed to lie to them, the wheels of justice will not move any faster. Conclusion There is so much to do, to get our judicial system to run optimally. However, better conditions of service for judicial officers, is one crucial assignment that must be undertaken by Government, in order to improve the administration of justice sector. My dear colleagues, kindly, share your thoughts on this issue. Thank you.

IV COVER

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 • T H I S D AY

Dr (Mrs) Valerie Azinge, SAN

‘Hopefully, the 2014 National Conference Report Will Resurface’ For Dr (Mrs) Valerie Azinge, SAN, the climb to the top was steady. With a chain of academic feats, Dr Azinge has served the country in various capacities, including being Secretary to the epochal 2014 National Conference. Called to the Bar 1981, she obtained an LL.M from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1984 and a Ph.D from the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma in 1990. She is the author of the ‘Jurisprudence of Failed Banks Tribunal’ and the ‘Law of Broking in Nigeria’. She spoke with Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi on a wide range of issues including gender aﬃrmative action, the ongoing controversy over the collection of Value Added Tax, and her optimism that one day the Report of the National Conference would see the light of day

espite the United Nations Gender Affirmative Action, Nigeria still has the lowest female representatives in all levels of Government, whereas other African countries like Rwanda have actually surpassed the UN 35% compliance. How can this anomaly be addressed? Statistics have revealed that out of the 109 senators in the National Assembly, only nine are women, while only 27 out of the 360 members of the House of Representatives are women. Out of the 990 members of the State Houses of Assembly, only 54 are women. The current trend depicts a low participation by women in governance. The story is the same at the local level, where only a few women function as chairpersons or councillors in local government councils. This development tends to validate widespread concerns that

women are grossly under-represented in the legislative and executive arms of Government across the country; same with political appointments. Having said that, I think the women themselves should aspire more for public offices. The policy directive for 35% women participation in politics and governance is loud enough, all they need to do is take advantage of the already existing platform. I also think, various right groups and women organisations, particularly the Ministry of Women Affairs, are to engage in vigorous awareness campaigns and sensitisation, to encourage women participation in governance. Additionally, the Government should adopt special measures and mechanisms for achieving minimum standards for women’s participation in political parties and in government, one of which political

“On the present impasse of cattle grazing, the Conference resolved that cattle routes and grazing reserves were to be phased out, with cattle ranching as the preferable means of cattle rearing”

parties have imbibed by reducing the heavy amount attached to party forms. Another way is to push for legislative framework, to make the 35% affirmative action a law for Government at all levels to comply, otherwise not much will be achieved by way of enforcement or recognition by policy makers. You were the first Special Rapporteur on Summary, Arbitrary and Extra-judicial Executions in Nigeria. Today, extrajudicial execution is still the order of the day by security agencies, and this formed one of major reasons for the Youths holding the #EndSARS Protest in October, 2020. Reports are rife in the Eastern and Western parts of the country, of the heinous acts perpetrated by law enforcement. How can this negative trend be stemmed? The #EndSARS protest that took place sometime in October, 2020 is still a source of worry and concern, especially with the report and outcome of some of the Panel of enquiries in different States, especially Lagos State. The memory is still very fresh in the minds of Nigerians, because so many lost their loved ones in the process. More worrisome, is the fact that Nigeria has now become a hub of extra-judicial

killings by armed and uniform men. The security agencies that have featured prominently in cases of extra- judicial killings in Nigeria are the Nigeria Police, the Military, Department of State Security Services. Others are the Nigerian Customs Service, and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp. Now if you ask, are there laws against extra-judicial killings, the answer is a capital YES. In fact, there are plethora of them, both international and local laws/instruments, that deal on the issue of extra-judicial killings. For example, we have; the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Basic / Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials (BPUFF), United Nations Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials (CLEO), Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-Legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions, UN Model Protocol for a Legal Investigation of Extra-Legal, Arbitrary and Summary Execution. Some of the abovementioned international instruments, have been domesticated in Nigeria. In Nigeria, we have; the 1999 Constitution; the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Act (both applicable in the Southern States in Nigeria); the Penal Code and the Criminal

V COVER

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

‘Hopefully, the 2014 National Conference Report Will Resurface’ Procedure Code (both applicable in the Northern States in Nigeria); the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 (ACJA) and Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) in States that have domesticated the ACJA; the Nigeria Police Act and Police Force Order 237. For instance, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has revised its Force Order 237. which contains a Police Policy Manual that sets out guidelines on the use of firearms and lethal force. The Manual aggregates international and national laws applicable in Nigeria, on the use of firearms and lethal force. The revised Manual prescribes instances where the use of firearms is authorised, and instances where the use of firearms is not authorised. It also prescribes individual responsibility, for unauthorised use of firearms or lethal force. Other security agencies in Nigeria can benefit from the Revised Police Force Order 237, including the Armed Forces when called upon to aid civil authorities to restore order. If some of these laws are effectively implemented, it will significantly reduce incidents of extra-judicial killings. But, the reasons why some of these laws are not being effectively implemented, have been well articulated in the 2009 Amnesty International Report “Killing at Will: Extra-Judicial Executions and Other Unlawful Killings by the Nigeria Police”. The Government needs to have the political will and be more meticulous in the recruitment, training, funding and welfare of officers and security personnel. Most importantly, there should be prosecution of offenders to serve as a deterrent to those who may be like minded. Share with us your experience as Secretary of the 2014 National Conference, the outcome of which Nigerians looked forward to with so much hope and optimism. Would you say that that optimism was dashed, with the report of the Conference not being implemented? How does it make you feel? It was a novel and daunting experience, but, largely rewarding as officers of the Conference and the Delegates from every part of the country, tribe, religion, sector and municipality attempted to chart the course of the future of the country. A lot of resolutions were reached, which were intended for the overall development of a better Nigeria. Sadly, the 2014 National Conference Report has been kept in the cooler, while some of the issues dissected and arrived at a resolution, to wit, political restructuring, fiscal Federalism, State Police and cattle ranching are raging and tearing this county apart. My optimism might have waned a little, but I am hopeful that with the multiple agitations from different parts of the country, someday, the report will see the light of day. Kindly, share some of the main resolutions of the Conference vis-a-vis some of the issues that have occupied the front burner in the National debate about Restructuring, Federalism, State creation, State Police etc Critical resolutions were reached on a couple of thematic issues, but, notable were the resolutions on the justifiability of socioeconomic rights this entails the merger of Chapter II and IV of the 1999 Constitution; social security for the unemployed, disabled, senior citizens and children. It was also the resolution of the National Conference, that Police as an item under the exclusive legislative list should be moved to the concurrent list. In other words, the Federal Police was to be decentralised in such a way as to involve participation by States, Local Governments and communities. On State creation, it was agreed that there shall be an additional State for the South East, and other requests for State creation should be considered on merit having regard to economic viability, cultural and historical affinity and a minimum population of one million people. On Local Governments, it was agreed that by virtue of Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution,

Dr (Mrs) Valerie Azinge, SAN

that the system of Local Government would be by a democratically elected Local Government Council, and the number, structure, form and administration of Local Governments shall be determined by the States. The list of Local Government areas contained in the first schedule of the 1999 Constitution as amended be removed and transferred to the States, be covered by a law of the State House of Assembly. It was also agreed that the Joint State/Local Government Account be scrapped, and in its place, the establishment of a State Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission(SRMAFC) with representatives of Local Governments and Chairman nominated by the Governor. On the present impasse of cattle grazing, cattle routes and grazing reserves were to be phased out, with cattle ranching as the preferable means of cattle rearing. Since 1974 when the exalted rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria was instituted, only a paltry number of female Lawyers have had the privilege of being conferred with the rank.Yourself and just a handful of about 20 females or thereabouts are members of the Inner Bar which comprises of over 400. What are the obstacles hindering women from attaining that rank? Are they perceived or real? How easy are they to surmount? Lawyers have a choice to either be in active litigation, or sit on the Bench also. I would like to correct you, by stating also that we have a whole lot of extremely sound female Judges. To become a Senior Advocate in Nigeria is a privilege, and not a right. The obstacles can be thus, described as real and a question of perception. Real because there are cultural, social, religious and institutional barriers that seek to prevent women in their quest to be at the zenith of the profession. It is also a question of perception, which is a thing of the mind, because with

“The only way for FIRS to collect VAT, is through an amendment of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to include it in the Exclusive list of the Constitution”

hard work, dedication and industry, any woman can get to the zenith of her profession. What are your views on the vexed issue of conflicting judgements that trail the courts, for which the CJN recently summoned six State Chief Judges? What does it portend for justice delivery, especially in a democracy? The issue of conflicting judgements of courts of coordinate jurisdiction is worrisome, as it directly attacks the doctrine of stare decisis and the integrity of the courts which is the last hope of the common man. It is a welcome development that the Chief Justice has intervened, and we hope that there will be a strict adherence to judicial precedence to ensure that justice is done to all and sundry. Kindly, share your views on the issue of the collection of VAT by the FIRS, as opposed to the States being in control of this responsibility. Is it lawful for the FIRS to collect VAT? The only way for FIRS to collect VAT, is through an amendment of the Constitution to include it in the Exclusive list of the Constitution. Presently, there is no constitutional basis for the FIRS to demand and collect VAT-the constitutional powers and competence of the Federal Government is limited to taxation of incomes, profits and capital gains, which does not include VAT or any other species of sales or levy, other than those specifically mentioned in Items 58 and 59 of the Exclusive Legislative List of the Constitution. Do you think that the 3% equity allocated to the oil producing States in the newly enacted Petroleum Industry Act, is fair and adequate? The 3% equity allocated to the oil producing communities in the Petroleum Industry Act, is inequitable. These communities have suffered neglect, environmental degradation, exploitation and destruction of their traditional sources of livelihood. They need something significant by way of reparation, to cushion the devastating effects of oil exploration. The security situation in the country deteriorated to the point where in places like Kaduna, the State Government decided or was constrained to close schools to forestall

what had become the incessant kidnapping of students in the State. Do you think this was the right step to take? What are your views on ransom payments to secure the freedom of kidnap victims? Do you agree with the call by people like Sheik Gumi and Governor Zulum for amnesty for bandits and insurgents, like was done for the Militants? Closure of the schools momentarily is a good decision, but it should not be indefinite. There is the need for the Government to be proactive in dealing with security issues and threats, through modern methods of intelligence gathering, intelligence sharing, training, logistics, motivation, and deploying advanced technology in managing security challenges. Ransom payment which has become the norm is unacceptable; it is criminal in its entirety and should not be encouraged, as it portends great dangers for the citizenry. Amnesty for bandits defeats the purpose of the criminal justice system, as it effectively means that a murderer can kill a large number of persons and go scot free, and be reintegrated into society. It will send a dangerous signal, and the retributive and punitive aspect of the law will be weakened, thereby leading to a classic Hobbesian age. What are your views on open grazing? Are the Governors whose States have enacted anti-open grazing laws, on the right side of the law? Or do you think that a better compromise can be reached to settle the Herdsmen/Farmers’ crisis? Open grazing is antiquated and anachronistic, and in our clime it is generating a lot of tension due to herders and farmer clashes on account of destruction of livelihood. One of the key resolutions at the National Conference on the agricultural sector, is on the adoption of cattle ranching as opposed to open grazing. Exiting cattle routes and grazing reserves, were to be phased out in the course of time. Many States have promulgated anti-open grazing laws to protect their citizens and economic interest; it is a step in the right direction. According to the Land Use Act, by virtue of Section 1, all land in a State is held by the Governor in trust for the people. He should decide what should be done with it, while acting judiciously and following laid down requirements. So, the State Governors are well within their rights to allow or ban open grazing, within their respective States. Thank you Learned Silk.

VI LAW REPORT

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 • T H I S D AY

The Use of Preliminary Objection to Challenge an Appeal Facts The Respondent is a limited liability company who carries on courier services for delivery of mail, parcels and goods within and outside Nigeria. The Respondent, who was contracted by the Appellant to collect an admission letter from Canada and deliver same to him in Owerri, Imo State, failed to deliver the Appellant’s admission letter. The said letter was misdirected (the admission letter was collected and delivered in Denmark, while he received a letter meant for delivery in Denmark) despite an undertaking from the Respondent that the admission letter would be delivered to the Appellant within a particular time frame, noting that time was of the essence. Realising the mistake, the Respondent promptly notified the Appellant of the development. Admitting its mistake, the Respondent deployed all machinery to search and retrieve the parcel, which was misdirected. However, owing to the Respondent’s inadvertence resulting in failure to deliver the Appellant’s admission letter as at when due, the Appellant allegedly lost his admission. Consequently, the Appellant Honourable Tijjani Abubakar, JSC instituted an action against the Respondent at the High Court of Owerri, Imo State, for breach of contract. At the trial court, pleadings were duly filed and exchanged between parties, and the matter proceeded to Pre-trial Conference. At this stage, some documents (Exhibits A-P) were admitted by the learned trial Judge with the consent of the parties, and the matter proceeded to hearing. The Appellant testified for himself in proof of his claim, while the Respondent called a sole witness in its defence. Judgement was thereafter, entered in favour of the Appellant, and the sum of N10 million was awarded in his favour as general damages. Aggrieved by the decision of the trial court, the Respondent appealed to the Court of Appeal. Thereat, counsel for the Appellant herein (as Respondent before the Court of Appeal), challenged the two Issues for Determination formulated by the Respondent in this appeal on the ground that they did not derive from the Grounds of Appeal. This was not contained in the Respondent’s Brief at the lower court but argued orally at the hearing of the appeal. The Court of Appeal, however, rejected the argument. Subsequently, the lower court affirmed the decision of the trial court, but unilaterally amended the damages awarded to the Appellant. Dissatisfied with the interference of the lower court, the Appellant appealed to the Supreme Court. Issues for Determination The following issues were distilled for determination: 1. Whether the Court of Appeal was right to discountenance Appellant’s objections to issues one and two formulated and argued by the Respondent as Appellant before the Court of Appeal, and to admit Exhibit R (an agreement between parties which limits liability of the Respondent to US $100). 2. Whether the decision of the Court of Appeal interfering with the quantum of general damages awarded by the trial court, is not null and void. Arguments On the first issue, counsel for the Appellant

the quantum of damages was not raised or challenged as seen in the Respondent’s Notice of Appeal, and that the lower court acted arbitrarily which was a clear violation of the Appellant’s right to fair hearing, as it raised and determined the issue suo motu, without giving the Appellant or even the parties an opportunity to be heard on the said issue. Conversely, counsel for the Respondent argued that the award of damages is usually at the discretion of the court which is to be exercised judiciously and judicially, but the appellate court will interfere with such decisions if it is satisfied that the award of damages by the lower court is at both extremes. He submitted that the purpose of the award of damages is to compensate a party for factual loss actually incurred, and not to enrich such party (by exaggerated or unsubstantial claims). In further contending that the lower court was right in reviewing and reducing the amount awarded as damages, counsel likened the said award of the trial court to an award for exemplary damages which is usually awarded whenever a Defendant’s conduct is sufficiently outrageous to merit punishment (such as malice, fraud, cruelty etc), and that same was not the case in this instance. He cited ELIOCHIN NIGERIA LTD v MBADIWE (1986) 1 NWLR (Pt. 14) 47 SC.

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 7th Day of May, 2021 Before Stephen Dalyop Pam, J.

Musa Dattijo Muhammad Chima Centus Nweze Helen Moronkeji Ogunwumiju Abdu Aboki Tijjani Abubakar Justices, Supreme Court SC.629/2017 Between

Mr. Smith Collins

Appellant

And DHL International Nig. Limited

Respondent

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Tijjani Abubakar, JSC)

argued that the law is settled, that an Issue for Determination must be rooted in a ground of appeal. He cited MADUME v OKAFOR (1996) 4 S.C.N.J 73 at 285 to further contend that when an argument on an issue is not derived from a ground of appeal, it will be rendered incompetent and liable to be struck out. He submitted that the issues formulated by the Respondent did not arise from any of the Respondent’s Grounds of Appeal, and as such, were incompetent. He submitted further that upon raising this contention at the lower court, the court wrongly rejected his arguments, as it could be seen upon perusal of the records, that he had in fact, raised this issue/argument and argued same orally during the hearing of the appeal, although he failed to reflect the details of the said argument in his brief. In response, counsel for the Respondent

“……any Respondent who intends to challenge an appeal, shall do so by filing a Notice of Preliminary Objection….. setting out the grounds of the objection. Failure of the Respondent to comply with this rule, will lead to the court refusing to entertain the objection…..”

submitted that the lower court was right in admitting Exhibit R based on relevancy, as the Appellant had not only made ample reference to it in his submission, but had also identified the document and acknowledged being served same. Citing OKONJI v NJOKANMA (1999) 14 NWLR (Pt. 638) 250, he contended further that admissibility of evidence is a question of law and is based on whether same is pleaded (which was the case by virtue of a cursory review of the documents frontloaded), relevant and not rendered inadmissible by any law or force. Flowing from this, counsel for the Respondent contended that in determining whether it was only the first page or both pages of the inbound shipment paper that was pleaded by the Respondent, the lower court failed to take advantage/full fact of the list of documents dated 7th May, 2021 wherein both the first and second page of the inbound shipment paper were frontloaded as a single document at the point of filing. He submitted further that, the rejection of the second page of the inbound shipment paper by the trial court (particularly the signature page of the Appellant) was erroneous and unjustified. Counsel cited EKPOISONG v STATE (2009) 1 NWLR (Pt. 122) 354, B-C. On the second issue, it was argued on behalf of the Appellant that where an issue is not placed before a court for its determination/finding, then such court lacks the jurisdiction to deal with the said issue. He cited the case of ORJI v ZARIA IND. (1992) 1 SCNJ 29, 49-50. He submitted that the issue of

Court’s Judgement and Rationale In its determination of the first issue, the court relied on Order 10 of the Court of Appeal Rules, 2011 to hold that any Respondent who intends to challenge an appeal, shall do so by filing a Notice of Preliminary Objection. A Respondent intending to rely on the said Preliminary Objection to the hearing of an appeal, shall give the Appellant three clear days’ notice before the hearing, setting out the grounds of the objection. Failure of the Respondent to comply with this rule, will lead to the court refusing to entertain the objection, or may adjourn the hearing of same at the cost of the Respondent. Flowing from the above, the court held that the lower court was right to discountenance the objection, as the above provisions were not complied with. Counsel for the Appellant failed to provide the details of his argument in support of the objection, in the Brief of Argument. In reaching this decision, the court placed emphasis on the fact that the court has a duty to always construe a statute or any written law, by looking at the whole provision to ascertain the intention of the draftsman. Rules of Court must be followed to avoid ambush, and to ensure that contending parties do not spring surprises at each other. Deciding the second issue, their Lordships held that a court is not permitted to raise an issue suo motu, and resolve it without hearing from the parties. Where a court raises an issue suo motu, the parties must be afforded the opportunity of offering arguments on it. A violation of this, is an invasion of the right of fair hearing and miscarriage of justice - ODIASE v AGHO (1972) 3 SC 71. Guided by the authority above, the Supreme Court held that it was wrong for the lower court to have suo motu substantially reduced the damages originally awarded by the trial court in favour of the Appellant without giving parties, (especially the Appellant) an opportunity to be heard on the issue. Consequently, the Supreme Court set aside judgement of the Court of Appeal, which interfered with the award of damages to the Appellant. Appeal Allowed in Part. Representation Chidi B. Nworka for the Appellant. Tobechi Ogazi for the Respondent. Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited,Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Report (NMLR)(An affiliate of Babalakin & Co.)

VII NEWS

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

Late Precious Lawani

John Yuwo

Chief Superintendent of Police, Kazeem Sumonu Abonde

Justice for Late Precious Lawani, Father Petitions NASS A grieving father, Engineer Kassim Anthony Lawani, has petitioned the National Assembly (NASS) to compel the Nigeria Police to expedite investigations into the questionable circumstances that led to his daughter’s death at Bowen University. In the petition authored by his Lawyer, Lawani alleged that his daughter, Precious, was murdered and Bowen University acted irresponsibly in the chain of events that led to the death. He said ‘I hereby cry out loud, to the hearing of Nigerian Government, Nigeria Police, all media houses, human rights organisations, international community and the United Nations, to announce the gruesome conspiracy that led to the murder of my daughter, Precious Eweme Lawani, 18 years old, a JUPEB student at Bowen University, by her fellow students, during their morning devotion at their hostel premises at 6.35am of Saturday, 5th December, 2020. ‘My daughter was leading the congregation, that early morning; this made her stand out distinct in the congregation.’ He alleged that Bowen University authorities are to be blamed for the sad incident by providing an unsafe, unsuitable, highly vulnerable venue, for their morning devotion, that involved over 30 female JUPEB students. He said ‘The venue as provided for the devotion was something else, characterised with conspicuous hazards. This venue was a tiny elevated concrete corridor, and you access it from a natural ground level via five treads staircase, with no balustrades/handrails. The long trip narrow concrete corridor has its outer edges exposed, not protected to prevent tripping or easy push over or fall over by any users of this corridor. ‘A few days to when the death was reported to me, I couldn’t reach my daughter on phone, and her hostel matron who I later called

told me it could be network problem, not knowing my daughter was had died. This must be investigated. ‘The three days which preceded 5th December, the black Saturday my daughter died; she died early morning of Saturday 5th December, when they were conducting their morning devotion prayers; we were reliable informed by her student colleagues, who were also present at the devotion prayers, that my daughter was leading the congregation, that unfaithful early morning. There were over 40 students all female present. The venue being elevated by five stairs of a staircase, was a big safety challenge. Apparently this corridor, the venue of the devotion, can be better described as a hazard heaven, for many reasons, like its edges are unprotected, its access five steps staircase was equally unprotected or naked, no handrail or balustrades. As the leader of the congregation, my daughter must have been floating round the corridor, she must have stopped around or near the staircase top edges, which made her vulnerable to be pushed over backward, as she was backing the staircase/ corridor boundary axis and facing the congregation, and she must have also closed her eyes too. ‘A careful look at the graphic autopsy pictures, one can easily deduce and see how her skull was shattered into pieces, this was the confirmation of what her student colleagues who were present at the incident scene proclaimed; that the impact noise of my daughter’s fall was extraordinarily loud, like a bomb explosion. The Pathologist equally confirmed that the shattering of my daughter’s skull, in his postmortem report, the cause of her death, as reported in the postmortem report thus:- ‘c. Blunt force trauma to the head, b. Skull fracture, and intracranial haemorrhage.’ ‘Bowen University authorities claimed that my daughter was sick, convulsed, slumped and she was rushed to nearby

campus clinic, where medication was administered to her, and shortly after, she passed away. This death can’t be so easily explained.

‘Bowen University authorities have shown the highest sense of irresponsibility, inefficiency, ineptitude and incapability in handling

a highly sensitive matter like this. Thereafter, a high powered detective CID panel should be constituted to probe the circumstances, which led

to my daughter’s untimely death. The perpetrators of this heinous crime must be uncovered, to face the wrath of the law’, he said.

Lawyer is Hospitalised after Exchange in Open Court Okehie Tochi It was wild drama at Gombe Magistrate Court, when two Lawyers descended on each other with blows while arguing a motion for stand down.The two Lawyers, John Yuwa and MK Gurumyen drew the attention of everyone within the court premises with their physical combat, which let to the hospitalisation of Yuwa and stitches for his torn mouth and broken jaw. The Police OC Legal, Umeadi Thomas, however, came to the rescue of the Lawyers to save the Bar from further embarrassment, and the NBA Gombe Branch Leadership has taken over the case. The NBA Gombe Branch gave a report on the matter, saying it was a very uncalled for and unfortunate incident. What was gathered from the different statements of the two involved counsel is that, they were before the court for a pending criminal case filed by our learned colleague, the Former NBA Gombe Branch

Vice Chairman and O/C Legal Correctional Centre Gombe, in person of Yakubu Chidama, and others as Complainants against the Management of JED Plc Gombe. When the case came up, the Defence Counsel, Yuwa, Esq., applied that the matter be stood down for at least 30 minutes to enable his sick client arrive at the court premises and proceed with the matter. In opposing the application, MK Gurumyen, prayed that if the Defence Counsel was sincere with his application, then may God heal his client, but if otherwise, may God increase the severe pain on the sick accused person. A hot argument then ensued between the two Lawyers in the presence of the court, which according to the wounded counsel, John Yuwa, he only got a blow from Chief MK Gurumyen, leading to a serious wound on the inside and outer part of his mouth, from where he bled profusely and stained both his Bar shirt and the court’s premises, as seen in the herein attached photographs.

Gurumyen, on the other hand, stated that it was Yuwa that first hit his nose with his finger, saying ‘this boy sit down’, and that caused him to retaliate with a blow on the mouth of the wounded counsel. John Yuwa however, denied Gurumyen’s claim and stated that he did not touch his nose with his finger. What he only did after the attack, was to instruct some of the JED’s staff present in the court to call the Police. Our learned sister and Prosecuting State Counsel attached to CMC 11 Gombe, Remalia Solomon, who was also within the court premises called the attention of the Branch Chairman on the fracas, and luckily, he was also close to the court premises at that point in time. The Chairman further stated that: ‘On reaching there, I found out that our Police O/C Legal, Umeadi Thomas, instantly instructed that the matter be referred to him at his office instead of taking it to Tumfure Police Division, as intended

by the Police Officer present in the court. I myself took the wounded counsel, John Yuwa, to Specialist Hospital Gombe for treatment where he was scanned, diagnosed and treated with stitches on the inside and outer parts of his mouth, before he was given a medical prescription and discharged. The Bar paid the sum of Eight Thousand Naira, for the hospital medical bills.’ The Chairman appreciated the presence of some of its members, Rabiu Ayuba, Mrs KK Jumo, Raphael Obotidem, and one NYSC Member, Mr Muhammad, at the hospital. P thanking them for their support. The Chairman strongly condemned the incident on behalf of the Branch, and also highly appreciated the timely intervention of the O/C Legal for not only referring the case to his office instead of Tumfure Police Division, and by extension, allowing the Jewel Bar to try to settle the matter amicably the interest of peace, and the unity of the Bar.

Lagos CP Vows to Arrest Hoodlums Who Killed Policeman Okehie Tochi

The Lagos State Police Command on Friday confirmed the killing of one of its Officers, and the injuring of a Divisional Police Officer and other Officers, during a raid on a black spot and enforcement of the ban on the use of motorcycles in restricted places in one of the areas of the State on Thursday. There was violence in the Ajao Estate area of the State, when the tactical teams of the Command comprising men who were drawn from the Rapid Response Squad, Taskforce, Ajao Estate Division and other Divisions carried out a raid of identified flash points and enforcing the ban on the use of motorcycles in restricted areas in the Estate and similar places in the State.

However, in the ensuing violence, there were reports that some Policemen were killed, while others were injured with an unspecified number of hoodlums arrested in the area. However, confirming the death of one of its Officers, the State Police Command disclosed that the Officer, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Kazeem Sumonu Abonde, attached to the Operations Department of the Command was killed by the hoodlums during the raid. The Police Officer, also a Lawyer, was preparing towards his retirement in few months to commence law practice, when he was cut down in the prime of his life. The Police also confirmed

that the DPO, Ajao Estate, CSP Abdullahi Malla and other Police Officers also sustained varying degrees of injuries, while the corpse of the murdered CSP Abonde was deposited at the Yaba Mainland Hospital for autopsy. According to the statement by the Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, Adekunle Ajisebutu: “The Lagos State Police Command lost one of its finest Officers during a raid on criminal hideouts in Ajao Estate, Lagos State on 23rd September, 2021. “After the successful operations which led to the arrest of some of the suspects, other criminal elements and hoodlums in their large numbers laid siege to the exit of the Estate, and attacked the Policemen with guns, cutlasses and other weapons.

“Unfortunately, during the attack, CSP Kazeem Sumonu Abonde attached to the Operations Department of the Command, was killed by the hoodlums. The DPO, Ajao Estate, CSP Abdullahi Malla and other Police Officers sustained varying degrees of injuries. The corpse of the deceased officer has been deposited at the Yaba Mainland Hospital for autopsy. “The Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, while condemning the attack on the Policemen who were carrying out their legitimate duty at the time, has directed that a discreet investigation into the incident should be carried out immediately. The CP has also vowed to ensure that all suspects responsible for this dastardly act, will be brought to book soon.”

VIII

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 • T H I S D AY

Introduction

es, not all child adoptions are lawful. Adopting a child without adherence to the law is kidnapping and child trafficking, and all persons involved are to be prosecuted in court by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) or other law enforcement agencies. There are many reasons for a child to be adopted (taken in and cared for) by persons who are not his/ her biological parents. From the desire to have a child, the need to care for a lonely child, to the desire to obtain extra pay from the employer and to commence migration; adoption is common in Nigeria. Whatever the reasons for child adoption, there cannot be a lawful adoption without strict adherence to the lawful processes and procedures for adoption in Nigeria. Religion, tradition, customs, and private arrangements are among the many issues that affect the adoption of children in Nigeria. However, the Child’s Right Act and the Child’s Right Laws across States in Nigeria, ensure the adoption of a child in Nigeria is done lawfully and legally. Hence, a child in Nigeria cannot be lawfully adopted through mere religious, traditional, customary or commu-nal processes, but rather, through the lawful and legal processes created by law in the best interest of the child. Adopting a child through religious, traditional, customary or communal processes and private arrangements often leaves Adopters, adopted children and their Parents without any legal authority, aside from possible cases of child trafficking. This work focuses on the practical steps to take, in the lawful adoption of a child in Nigeria. It reveals in brief, how to lawfully adopt a child in Nigeria. The steps, processes and procedures dis-cussed in this work are as practiced in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (and they are similar to what is obtainable across States in Nigeria). It is important to note that, there are States without a Child Rights Law and that such States have also refused to be bound by the Federal law (the Child’s Right Act), hence lawful child adoption in such States is outside the processes discussed in this work.

Steps to Lawfully Adopt a Child 1. Engage a legal practitioner who has experience in child adoption. The Lawyer will guide you and represent you in court, and in the concerned Government offices. The Lawyer will also protect you from fake Government officials and fake fees. It is advisable to give a power of attorney to a Lawyer, to enable the Lawyer to fast-track all the processes, and work closely with the concerned Government offices. 2. Get the necessary Forms and requirements from the District Family Court Division. The Form (Request for Adoption/Fostering in FCT) has unique varying numbers, so copies of

How to Lawfully Adopt a Child in Nigeria This article by Onyekachi Umah is a practical step by step guide on how to adopt a child lawfully in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. He aﬃrms that similar steps can be followed, in the States that have domesticated the Child Rights Act; and advices that a child in Nigeria cannot be lawfully adopted through mere religious, traditional, customary or communal processes, but rather through the lawful and legal processes created by law, lest the law could see such unlawful adoption as kidnapping or child traﬃcking the Form are not acceptable. 3. Complete the Form (Request for Adoption/Fostering in FCT). The Form will request for the following information: the Name of Adopter, Date of birth, Occupation, Marital Status, Religion, Highest Education, Purpose of adoption, details of the child sought to be adopted (Age, Health and Education), Official address of the Adopter, Residential address of the Adopter, Telephone Number, Preferred age of the child sought to be adopted (Adoptee), Duration of adoption, Whether the Adoptee will be considered in a WILL, Description of culture on adoption, Passport Photograph and any other information that may assist the adoption process. 4. The Completed Form (Request for Adoption/Fostering in FCT) must be accompanied by the following documents; a. A hand-written application for Adoption/Fostering b. Two recent passport-size photographs c. Photocopy of Birth Certificate or Age declaration d. Marriage certificate (for married Parents)

“…..a child in Nigeria cannot be lawfully adopted through mere religious, traditional, customary or communal processes, but ra-ther, through the lawful and legal processes created by law in the best interest of the child”

e. Medical Certificate of fitness (Original Copy) f. Letter of consent(s) g. Evidence of indigenouship (from LGA or state Liaison Office) h. Evidence of income i. Three referees j. Court Affidavit (if any) 5. Submit the Form (Request for Adoption/Fostering in FCT) and the accompanying documents at the FCT Social Development Secretariat, located at Area 3, Abuja, FCT. 6. The application will be transferred to the Director, Gender De-velopment Department (Child Welfare Division), who will organise a physical inspection of the Applicant’s address. The address may be in any part of Nigeria. The Applicant here, is the person (persons) seeking to adopt a child. 7. The Director (Child Welfare Division) will also have separate interviews with the Applicant (the person/persons seeking to adopt a child), the Adoptee (the child sought to be adopted) and the par-ents of the Adoptee. 8. After the inspection of the address and the interviews, if the re-ports are satisfactory, the application will be transferred to the Le-gal Department, and a Lawyer in the department will be appointed by the Department to move an application for adoption before the District Family Court (often sitting at the popular Magistrates Court). 9. A date will be assigned for the hearing of the application in the court which will require the presence of the Applicant, the Adoptee (child), and the Parents of the adoptee, for examination by the constituted panel (Panel of two Child Assessors and

the Magis-trate). The Lawyer to the Applicant will represent the Applicant, the Adoptee and the parents of the Adoptee. 10. During the court hearing, the court and the Child Assessors will question the Applicant, the Adoptee and the parents of the Adoptee. The commonest question is the purpose of the adoption, and familiarity/connection between the Applicant and the parents of the Adoptee, all in the best interest of the Adoptee. 11. If the application is successful, an order of court will be en-rolled and issued to the Applicant, who must sign an undertaking before the court. 12. The order of the court, is a certificate and proof of adoption. 13. There are often several payments involved in the entire child adoption process (both receipted and un-receipted payments). Conclusion Child adoption is lawful act in Nigeria, when done lawfully and legally. Adopting a child without adhering to the provisions of the law can be kidnapping, human trafficking and a mere waste of time. The procedures discussed above are the lawful processes for the adoption of a child in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory and very similar with that of other parts of Nigeria. Actionable Advice Even where there is a child adoption according to religious, tradi-tional, customary or communal processes or private arrangements, also add a lawful child adoption to it. Engage a Lawyer for a law-ful child adoption, to avoid being arrested for kidnapping and child trafficking. Onyekachi Umah, Esq., LL.M, ACIArb (UK)

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

Introduction s governments around the world struggle to rescue their economies from the negative economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, so too, private companies must find ways to navigate these new unchartered waters. Businesses have been forced to close down, and those that have survived thus far, must find out-of-the-box solutions to thrive.

A New Subsidiary To mitigate the adverse effects of the pandemic, one obvious solution might be the expansion of your business and investments beyond Nigeria’s frontiers, by incorporating an affiliate or subsidiary in a foreign country. This new subsidiary would either act as a holding company for all your investments, or an entirely new entity that seeks to provide services to a new set of customers in an ever increasing global market. The benefits of such a strategy, would be dependent upon your organisational strategy or goals. Such strategies may include, increasing your brand’s presence globally or at a targeted market, access to new and emerging markets, taking advantage of tax incentives of a foreign country, or raising capital internationally. The option of a foreign subsidiary may be a necessary tool for your company’s growth, in these dire times. Once you have identified your goal, the next step is to determine which foreign country best suits your needs. For a subsidiary company, certain factors must be seriously considered before incorporation. These factors include, but are not limited to; the legal and regulatory climate of your new host country and their taxation framework, especially as it relates to taxation treaties or agreements between Nigeria and the host country. Some host countries treat foreign companies as domestic entities, and apply the same obligations as their local companies. Other host countries provide foreign companies with tax incentives for establishing business in their territories, while others simply function as tax havens charging 0% in taxes. So, what are these laws and regulations that must be considered before finalising the incorporation of the subsidiary? a) International treaties and agreements that regulate and provide for the treatment and protection of foreign companies in the host country, regulate the tax regime, and the reporting structure between Nigeria and the host countries, protectionist laws that regulate the activities of businesses in their new host countries and the nationality of your new subsidiary. At the time of writing this article, Nigeria does not operate a global taxation policy, that is, tax paid on all income earned all over the world. This means that the main issues for consideration becomes the taxation regime of the new host country, and the tax treaties Nigeria may have entered into with the new host country. A combination of these and other factors, will determine your overall tax exposure. b) Employment laws of the host country which regulate the rights and obligations of employees and employers, mandatory work hours, minimum wages, payroll taxes, insurance requirements etc. Most countries tend to have protectionist laws that safeguard the economic welfare of their citizens, for example, a cap on the number of foreign nationals a company may employ, the requirement to use only local service providers etc. A thorough understanding of these requirements, will provide guidance on the viability of establishing a subsidiary in your proposed host country. c) Taxes: a thorough assessment of the potential tax exposure of the proposed subsidiary in the host country, is also a vital consideration in deciding to take your business overseas. Your subsidiary will be liable to the host country’s rates for corporate tax, payroll tax, value added tax and withholding tax. If your organisation is designed in such a way that ensures that the profits generated in the host country are repatriated back to Nigeria or elsewhere, the rates at which income tax and withholding tax are calculated become very relevant. Depending on the host country, local taxes, bank charges, transfer pricing rules and property taxes, may apply. Once the decision has been made to incorporate a subsidiary, then the next step is to establish a team of professionals including Lawyers and Accountants who will be charged with the responsibility of forum shopping, that is, reviewing the laws and regulations of the countries of interest, and designing a tax efficient path to the incorporation of your subsidiary. So, what are the benefits of establishing a foreign subsidiary?

Dunni Segun-Oki

Taking Your Business International When It’s Least Expected In this article, Dunni Segun-Oki discusses the possibility of Nigerian companies establishing subsidiaries in foreign countries, as a solution to mitigating the negative impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic which has seen many businesses downsizing, while others have closed down. She explains some of the factors that must be considered before taking such a step, and the beneﬁts which can accrue from having a subsidiary in a foreign country a) Ability to attract international financing; one of the requirements potential investors consider, is the nationality of the entity they seek to invest in. That country’s track record with regard to protection of investor rights, strong and efficient legal system, strong and clear financing and banking regulations, corruption index and whether that country can guarantee a return on investment. In other words, whether their investments will be expropriated by the government of the country the subsidiary is incorporated. Unfortunately Nigeria does not meet most of these requirements; accordingly, Nigerian companies are not able to attract international financing. Those who have done so, usually incorporate a subsidiary in a country that gives the investors comfort. b) Entry into the global market place on a level playing field. Companies from developing countries usually struggle to compete on the global stage, because of some of the economic policies their home countries implement. For example, monetary policies that restrict access to foreign currency thereby making trading difficult, or burdensome bureaucratic processes that regulate the exportation of goods and services. c) Depending on the host country chosen, there is the secondary benefit of the founder or CEO obtaining a second passport. However, this is entirely dependent on the requirements of the host country.

“For a subsidiary company, certain factors must be seriously considered before incorporation. These factors include, but are not limited to; the legal and regulatory climate of your new host country and their taxation framework, especially as it relates to taxation treaties or agreements between Nigeria and the host country”w

Fictional Case Study Wazobia Limited is a leading company, in the Nigerian textile industry. As one of the few local manufacturers of dyes in Nigeria, Wazobia Limited has developed a reputation for providing quality products at reasonable prices. The strategic plan of Wazobia Limited, has been to provide quality dyes to the global textile manufacturers at reasonable prices from its factory in Lagos. Its mission statement is to be the number one supplier of dyes, to all textile manufacturers globally. Mr. Usman Alani Uzoma is the CEO of Wazobia Limited, and under his leadership the market share of Wazobia Limted has risen from 1% to 20% in 10 years. The raw materials used in the manufacturing of the dyes are imported from various global suppliers, necessitating dollar denominated payments. As such, a volatile foreign exchange market is detrimental to his business. Before the pandemic and despite the difficulties in sourcing dollars to pay their suppliers, Wazobia Ltd had an annual turnover of N100 million. However, the post-pandemic global economic slump and a volatile local currency exchange market have seen Wazobia’s costs rise by 100%. Facing an uncertain future and wishing to keep the business running, the Board of Directors of Wazobia Limited have chosen to downsize both their production capacity and their employees, all while trying to meet the minimum obligations of their existing customers. The Board of Directors have considered applying for a dollar denominated commercial loan, but the repayment sum cannot be fixed due to the volatile currency exchange market. Their customer base is rapidly shrinking, as few can afford to pay for the new prices for the products. Desperate, Mr Uzoma consults with his team and external Lawyers, about a viable solution to their many problems. One of the solutions that comes up is the incorporation of a subsidiary of the company in a foreign country, as a form of diversification of his existing business interest. Immediately, the team is concerned about the costs of

operation of the subsidiary, and what that would entail. Upon further enquiry, the team discovers that certain countries do not require the physical presence of the subsidiary in their borders. They can be virtual companies that allow for operations, and the opening of bank accounts within their borders and beyond. Additionally, some countries will offer residency permits to the employees of said companies, paving the way for citizenship. The team also considers that the formula used in producing their dyes has been patented, and is owned by Wazobia Limited. The team is then charged with the responsibility of determining how business will be conducted, by the subsidiary. The options on the table include but are not limited to; outsourcing certain functions to trusted international companies, downsizing or relocating their factories to the host country or elsewhere, franchising their patented formula or method of production to others, looking for countries that will give tax incentives for the establishment of a smaller factory within their borders, exploring new markets for their dyes etc. To take full advantage of the opportunities available, it is advisable for Mr Uzoma and his team to sit with experienced Lawyers and tax practitioners, to determine the most efficient way forward. • Note that, this fictional case study illustrates the difficulties faced by some companies in the manufacturing sector. However, the same solution is applicable to all companies in different sectors of the Nigerian economy. Conclusion This article has highlighted one way that a Nigerian company can survive in the post-pandemic era. However, the use of foreign companies is not limited to the foregoing. Foreign companies can be used as tools for wealth preservation, asset protection and estate planning. We will discuss these matters in future articles. I’m happy to respond to questions readers may have. Dunni Segun-Oki LLM with Specialty in International and Commercial Law; M.A. Islamic Societies and Cultures (S.O.A.S), Legal Practitioner, Lagos. Email: dunniso@ live.com

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 • T H I S D AY

TALKING CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY DR. MIKE OZEKHOME, SAN

0809 889 8888 SMS ONLY

Are Surrendering Boko Haram Insurgents Prisoners of War and Entitled to Rehabilitation? (Part 2) Introduction Last week, we commenced this vexed issue wherein we defined who Prisoners of war are? And what International Humanitarian law and Armed Conflicts law say about the rehabilitation of surrendered parties? Today, we shall continue and conclude our above discourse. Please, read on. Prosecution of Surrendered Terrorists As enshrined in Sections 5, 6 and 7 of the Geneva Convention 2004, a protected prisoner of war and a protected internee can be prosecuted. This is in consonance with Article 3 of the Geneva Convention on the treatment of Prisoners of War, 1949, which provides that: “… in the case of armed conflict not of an international character occurring in the territory of one of the High Contracting Parties, each Party to the conflict shall not subject persons that are not taking part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed hors de combat by sickness, wounds, detention, or any other cause, to… the passing of sentences and the carrying out of executions without previous judgement pronounced by a regularly constituted court, affording all the judicial guarantees which are recognised as indispensable by civilised people”. Thus, under International law, subjecting these prisoners of war to trial in a court properly constituted, is the right course to take. At this stage, it is pertinent to state that, pursuant to the Geneva Conventions on the treatment of Prisoners of War and Hague Regulations cited above, those members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect who have suspiciously laid down their arms by "surrendering" to the Federal Government of Nigeria, may perhaps be classified as prisoners of war. Their weird ideology and atrocious acts against constituted authority and the unconscionable crimes they committed or abetted in Nigeria, will however, serve as strong evidence against their not being genuine prisoners of war in the true context of the Geneva Convention. But, however, having "surrendered" to the Federal Government of Nigeria's apparent "firepower", automatically makes them prisoners of war. They must therefore, be tried for all the crimes and atrocities they have committed against the Nigerian people. The rationale for this is that all Nigerians are subject to the laws of the land, and no one, however highly placed or violent, is above the laws of the land. Merely surrendering to the Federal Government of Nigeria should not erroneously be construed as evidence of repentance, on the part of the Boko Haram movement. Nor does it signify the unwillingness of the dreaded sect (one of the four most dreaded and violent sects in the world), to further the course of their murderous engagements and pastimes. It is common knowledge that these vampirous insurgents are said to be surrendering, because their acclaimed leader is said to have been killed. Nigerian actors in Government, are not good students of history. If they are, they would know that when Mohammed Yusuf (the founder of Boko Haram) was killed, his followers dispersed only to regroup and come back stronger. Abubakar Shekau (Yusuf’s successor), who was never apprehended and tried, was to later put Nigeria in a worse position than Yusuf ever did. There is therefore, a very strong probability that if these surrendered terrorists are rehabilitated in the funny way the Federal Government of Nigeria has been

Repentant Boko Haram Insurgents going about it, they will come out worse than Shekau, if they are not properly tried under appropriate laws of the land. Is Rehabilitation the Right Way to go? Were we not suffering from collective amnesia, we should have scrutinised the antecedents of members of this deadly sect whose goals are to kill, maim, destroy established institutions and set up an Islamic Republic. They made it clear in their very name, "Boko Haram" (education is a taboo). In pursuit of this ignoble venture, members of Boko Haram in Nigeria have adopted the cruelest war tactics of attacking noncombatants, civilians, soft civilian spots and nonviolent cantonments and whole villages. They abduct women and children at will and subject them to all manners of grievous ill-treatment, forced labour, rape, torture, abuse, dehumanisation, forced marriage, child marriage and all sorts of unimaginable crimes against humanity. Unlike the then Niger Delta militants who were rehabilitated by then President Umaru Yar' Adua (God bless his soul), these bandits are not fighting for any perceived imbalance in the society. They are not fighting for a better society, or restoration of any denied rights or privileges. Their war is fundamentally against western civilisation/education, the very bedrock of the Nigerian society and all known tenets of democracy. The insurgents are merely surrendering, because they do not have any nucleus leader to galvanise them at the moment. The moment a new leader emerges and is announced, they will definitely rejoin their colleagues in the forests, and resume their destruction of civilisation and all institutions in Nigeria. Conclusion Rehabilitation is certainly not the right course to pursue. It is surely counter- productive. As provided in the Geneva Convention Act, the right way to go is to subject these surrendered terrorists to fair trial in properly constituted courts of law, and get their just

“The insurgents are merely surrendering, because they do not have any nucleus leader to galvanise them at the moment. The moment a new leader emerges and is announced, they will definitely rejoin their colleagues…..”

desert. Did President Buhari Reshuffle his Cabinet? I simply guffawed, when someone first drew my attention to President Buhari's alleged much expected cabinet reshuffle. I told him to hold his peace because it was impossible for Buhari to reshuffle his cabinet, as he was quite happy, comfortable with, and fixated with the unbalanced lop-sidedness of his cabinets in the well over six years of his rudderless and lacklustre administration. Was it that President Buhari wanted power, for the sake of it? Just to match Olusegun Obasanjo as having been both military and civilian President? Just to enjoy the unending perks of office, fly presidential jets and get sent forth and heralded by kakaaki- blowing trumpeters and a horde of fawning obsequious and fawning aids? I cannot understand. Or, can you understand? I was proved right after all, upon reading the text of the alleged reshuffle. Buhari did not carry out any cabinet reshufflement. All he did was to merely toss out two unwanted Northern Ministers and immediately, but expectedly, replace them with two wanted Northern serving Ministers whom he disingenuously drew from existing ministries. Thus, Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji Mohammed Sabo Nanono, was replaced by the Minister of Environment, Alhaji Mohammed Mahmoud Abubakar, whom he poached from the Environment Ministry. Similarly, Buhari replaced Alhaji Mamman Saleh of the Ministry of Power with Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu, the erstwhile Minister of State, Works and Housing. As expected, I saw only Alhajis on the chessboard of his four players. I searched in vain, but did not see or hear of a Revd Tunji, Evangelist Okechukwu, Chief Ejiro, Dr Oshozokha, Elder Tyehimba, Mosignor Effiong, Mrs Toritsefe, Miss Ibiere, or Mr Anoko, I didn't see any. Or, did you? So, what has changed, nearly two and half years down the road after Buhari cobbled together one of the most impotent, uninspiring and incompetent cabinets ever assembled in the history of Nigerian governance? Nothing; absolutely nothing at all! At best, Buhari merely put new recycled wine into old tired skins. Mind you, fellow compatriots, if the two sacked Ministers were of Southern extraction, Buhari would have promptly, with immediate alacrity, replaced them

with Ministers from his Northern geopolitical enclave. Such nepotistic, prebendalistic, cronystic and sectionalistic mindset is what has done, perhaps the greatest damage to his colourless leadership. My humble suggestion to Buhari, as a full- blooded Nigerian patriot (not imported marauding AK-47- wielding foreigners killing and seizing indigenes' lands and ancestral homes), is that he should immediately dismantle the entire cabinet, rejig and reinvigorate it with some fresh blood that can lift it from the sorry state of nadir, his already failed Government. He can, of course, retain some of the very few performing ones if he so desires. They are quite few and in-between. You can literally count them, on your right hand finger tips. President Buhari has told Nigerians that he will, in due course, replace the dismissed Ministers with substantive ones. Mr President Sir, I hereby humbly challenge you to prove me wrong for once, only just for once, by appointing Southerners in place of your sacked Northern clique. Prove me wrong Sir; and I will applaud you from my little inconsequential corner. Serious and Trivial There are two sides to every coin. Life itself contains not only the good, but also the bad and the ugly. Let us now explore these. “If Fulani are Nigerians, why forcing indigenous Nigerians to give them land? Where is their own ancestral land? – Anonymous. “You have four refineries with a REFINING CAPACITY of 450,000 barrels per day. You abandoned them to rot. “Niger Republic is a small country with a REFINING CAPACITY of 20,000 barrels per day. You abandoned all your own, and went to embrace Niger Republic. “You signed an MOU of $2b to transport your own crude from your country via pipelines, to refine in Niger Republic, so you can buy the refined products. “You have the resources to run pipelines from Niger Delta to supply Crude oil to Niger Republic, but you lack the resources to maintain the existing refineries. Yet, you said you are a Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. You haven’t disclosed your mission “faa”!” – Anonymous. THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK “The rehabilitation of order as a universal principle, however, suggested at the same time that orderliness by itself is not sufficient to account for the nature of organised systems in general, or for those created by man in particular.” (Rudolf Arnheim)

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

A T

REPO

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

08056356325

S E P T E M B E R

S & P INDEX

2 7 , 2 0 2 1

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OBB

14.00%

CALL

INDEX LEVEL

565.29%

1/4 TO DATE

6.06%

N412.08/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

14.50%

1-MONTH

1-DAY

–0.11%

YEAR TO DATE

– 15.66%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.41%

NNPC Struggles to Remit N349.2bn of Projected N1.465trn to FAAC in Seven Months

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Out of a possible N1.46 trillion the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) budgeted as revenue payment to the nation in the first seven months of 2021, the corporation has only been able to remit N349.254 billon as of July ending this year, data from the corporation has indicated.

The amount delivered to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) is short by N1.115 trillion, according to the national oil company’s presentation to a joint committee, which works out the sharing of monies by the federal, state and local councils every month. When the NNPC makes deductions for petrol subsidy or under-recovery, it directly

affects the nation’s collective purse, with actual monthly subtractions hitting N541 billion in the seventh month this year. Whereas the national oil company projected a monthly remittance of N209.307 in 2021, however, a breakdown of the figures showed that its highest remittance this year was a N90.860 billion January payment, while the lowest was

in April when it paid nothing into the federation account. In all, the NNPC is supposed to pay the federation N2.51 trillion this year, but the national oil company now has a remote chance of hitting that target, having not been able to meet even a third of the projections at the end of July. Aside the N90.8 billion highest payment in January,

the NNPC also remitted N64.161 in February, N41.1 in March, N38.6 billion in May, N47.162 in June and the second highest being N67.28 in July. Of the N541 billion subsidy paid in the first seven months, N25.374 billion was spent on what the corporation terms value shortfall in February, it was N60.39 billion in March and N61.966 billion in April.

It more than doubled to N126.298 billion in May, markedly increased to N164.337 billion in June, but came down to N103.286 billion in July. In August, THISDAY reported that the NNPC alerted FAAC that it was again set to deduct about N215.3 billion from its contribution to September joint Continued on page 26

Shell to Sell $9.5bn Permian Asset to ConocoPhillips After Announcing Nigeria Onshore Exit Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Royal Dutch Shell is set to sell its Permian Basin assets to ConocoPhillips for $9.5 billion in cash, an exit from the largest United States oilfield for the energy major, which is now shifting its focus to the clean energy transition. Earlier in the year, the company likewise said it was launching a major divestment of its Nigerian assets, especially those in the shallow-water and onshore, in a

deal which could be one of the hugest in the oil and gas industry in Africa ever. The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva and Shell officials have confirmed that talks have been ongoing, although a recent report announced that some glitches were holding up the discussions. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), a major party to the ongoing talks, last month pledged to protect the interest of

Nigeria in any transaction involving international oil companies, including shell, if they are interested in divesting from the country. Group Managing Director of the corporation, Mallam Mele Kyari, said that although the NNPC cannot stop any of the oil concerns from deciding to sell off any of their assets, but the rules must be strictly followed. Against the backdrop of plans by Shell to fully sell off its subsidiary, Shell Petroleum Development

FOOD NAME OF COMMODITY

MAIZE

LOCATION

PRICE

100KG JIGAWA

N9000

100KG ENUGU

N24000

100KG DELTA

N15000

100KG

ABIA

N14000

50KG

LAGOS

N13500

SIZE

Company (SPDC) “because the company’s future plans no longer align with the operations of the Nigerian subsidiary” the NNPC boss noted that having learnt from previous experiences. He noted that the corporation was developing requisite divestment policies that will provide clear guidelines and criteria for exiting of partners’ interest in all its Joint Venture (JV) and Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) arrangements.

COMMODITIES

PRICE

Kyari stated that Nigeria will leverage on its rights of preemption as well as evaluating the operational competency and track records of new partners, adding that the corporation will pay particular attention to abandonment and relinquishment costs; severance of operator staff; third party contract liabilities; and competency of the buyer as well as post purchase competence in technical, operational, and financial issues.

T O D AY

In May, Shell’s Chief Executive Officer, Ben van Beurden, while speaking at the company’s annual general meeting, said that Shell could no longer afford to be exposed to the risk of theft and sabotage. But for ConocoPhillips, it is the second sizable acquisition in a year in the heart of the U.S. shale industry, as American and European producers diverge in Continued on page 26

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS FOOD

NAME OF COMMODITY

PALM OIL

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

25CL LAGOS N20,000-N25000 25CL

NAME OF COMMODITY

RICE

N21,000-24,000

COMMODITIES SIZE

25CL

IMO

N21,000–N24,500

25CL

EDO

N17,000–N20,000

PRICE

100KG ABUJA N23,000–N25,000 50KG 50KG

25CL IBADAN N18,000-N22,000

STATE

OYO

N22,000-N25,000

PLATEAU N23,500-N25,000 (JOS)

50KG KWARA N24,000–N27,000 50KG

LAGOS N23,000–N26,500

50KG RIVERS N23,000–N26,500

25CL ABUJA

N19500- N25000

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

COCOA

T O D AY SIZE

50KG

EDO

PRICE

N740,000

1 TON ONDO – N760,000 1 TON OSUN 1 TON

EDO

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

N730,000 – N750,000 N720,000 – N740,000

CROSS N700,000 1 TON RIVER – N720,000

50KG SOKOTO N11,500–N13,000 N17,000–N20,000

STATE

1 TON

AKURE SOUTH, ONDO

N730,000 — N755,000

ABIA

How Sharp Practices, Port Delays Wo rs e n C ookin g Gas Crisi s Peter Uzoho Fresh facts have emerged on how some storage facilities’ owners among the petroleum marketing companies and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) are contributing to the ongoing scarcity and attendant hike in price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) commonly known as cooking gas. THISDAY reliably gathered that some of the oil marketing companies affiliated to the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) have formed a cartel where they now engage in acts that are distorting the LPG market. For the past one year, the price of LPG has been on the rise, with current refilling price rising by more than 100 per cent, largely because of the scarcity of the product, occasioned by unavailability of foreign exchange

for importation, naira devaluation and rising inflation. Other factors, according to THISDAY checks include excessive arbitrary charges by government agencies, and the newly-added 7.5 per cent Valued Added Tax (VAT) to the basket of marketers’ charges. Nigeria currently consumes about 1.2mt of LPG, with Nigeria LNG currently supplying 450,000mt to the market, while marketers are left to import the remaining 750,000mt. A 6-kilogram LPG refilling unit now costs between N3,400 and N4000, while that of 12.5kg refilling unit costs between N6,750 to N8000, depending on the part of the country the transaction is done. However, THISDAY learnt that apart from the factors mentioned above, the scarcity and price hike have been compounded by the new

cartel formed by the oil marketing companies, resulting in the inability of the “lastmile” LPG marketers to get the product from the terminal owners. An industry source who spoke on condition of anonymity said that members of MOMAN, who are in the cartel, now reject supply from the Nigeria LNG Limited, using insufficient storage capacity as their excuse. He said those in the group prefer white petroleum products like kerosene, diesel and petrol to LPG, adding that when they manage to receive supply from the NLNG, they sell to customers at the same price they sell imported products. Effort by THISDAY to get the response of MOMAN proved abortive, as its Executive Secretary, Mr. Clement Isong, did not take his

phone calls or reply text message sent to him. However, Assistant General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, NPA, Mr. Ibrahim Nasiru, debunked the claim on the delay of NLNG’S LPG vessel at the Apapa Port, which the company had said, partly contributes to why the Nigerian market was not able to take all of the 450,000mt. He said: “Whoever that is telling you that NPA is the cause of any delays on LPG vessels berthing is economical with the truth. We have one of the fastest turnaround time. “The dwell time of vessels is less than a day if not hours. Also, all these LPG vessels don’t compete with any other vessel to berth. The LPG vessels have their own specialized jetties to berth. “If NLNG is saying that NPA

delays their LPG vessel, can they give you the details of the vessel? If they give us the details of the vessel, we will tell them the shipping position, when the vessel was declared at the berthing meeting? “When did they arrive Nigerian territorial waters? When did they commence and complete documentation with all accredited government agencies? When did they pay? So, all these processes have to be done? Maybe they had issues along the line and the vessel did not berth for it to even discharge.” The Marketing Manager, NLNG, Mr. Austin Ogbogbo, told journalists recently, that because of certain logistics, only about 375,000mt of the company’s dedicated 450,000mt LPG supply was being taken by the domestic market. The factors, according to him, had

to do with delay of the company’s LPG vessel at the Apapa port, preference of white products for LPG by the terminal owners, and insufficient coastal storage facilities. He said if those logistical challenges were solved, the company would supply 100 per cent of its LPG production to the domestic market. “We could go up go 100 per cent if the coastal storage is available. Sometimes, you want to supply, LPG takes the backstage. They prefer white products in the coastal storage, or if it’s not white products, your vessel might be there for days, accumulating demurrage. “Immediately that is cleared and we are sure we can come in and supply, we will push that in, and hopefully, we would ramp up to the 100 per cent,” Ogbogbo said.

DPR Arrests Eight Illegal LPG Dealers, Seek Security Agencies’ Support Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in collaboration with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested eight illegal dealers in Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in Maiduguri, Borno State. In a statement, The DPR quoted its North-east Operations Controller, Mr Agada Jerome, as saying that the dealers were arrested during a patrol by officials of the agency and security personnel. Jerome said the activities of illegal LPG dealers and gas refill outlets posed grave danger to lives and properties because of

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Comms/e-Business Editor Emma Okonji Aviation Editor Chinedu Eze Asst. Editor, Money Market Nume Ekeghe Senior Correspondent Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafo (Energy) Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) Reporters Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy) Ugo Aliogo (Development)

the devastating impact a single accident could have on lives and property. “A single accident has the capacity to spread fear, discourage locals from using LPG and diminish all efforts of government to deepen domestic gas usage. “Having refused to heed the sensitisation and appeal by the DPR, the agency is conducting spot-checks on illegal dealers of LPG, in collaboration with

officers and men of NSCDC, to bring culprits to book,” he stated. The operations controller said several 100-150 cylinders, weighing scales and decanting devices were confiscated from the eight suspects and urged the media to support government in sensitising the public on the benefits of LPG and the hazards associated with the activities of illegal roadside vendors. Meanwhile, in Bauchi state, the

DPR is seeking police collaboration to enable it enforce regulations laid down for filling stations, the Comptroller Iliyasu Abdullahi, has said. Speaking when he paid a visit to the state Commissioner of Police, Sylvester Alabi, he said collaboration between the department and the police would help in the enforcement of its regulations and provide security to the 528 existing filling stations in the state.

According to him, the agency always adheres to the standard operational procedures while granting licences for establishing petrol and gas stations to ensure strict compliance with extant regulations. Abdullahi noted that in view of the implementation of the operational codes coupled with the availability of registered retail outlets, the state has not experienced fuel scarcity for

a long time. Responding, Alabi who appreciated the department for the visit assured that the police under his watch would ensure strong synergy with the department to enable it discharge its mandate diligently. He advised the department on the need to intensify efforts to checkmate bad practices in some petrol stations, stressing that the police would continue to support their operations.

NNPC STRUGGLES TO REMIT N349.2BN OF PROJECTED N1.465TRN TO FAAC IN SEVEN MONTHS Federation Account, being a combination of N175 billion value shortfall or subsidy and N40 billion Joint Venture (JV) cost recovery. However, the federal government may have found other means to bridge the revenue gap since the monies received every month have somehow been stable in the last few months, hitting N760.7 billion in July, but dipping to N697 billion this September. But despite the obvious struggle to meet its projected obligation to the three tiers of government, the NNPC,

apparently positioning for more transparency in its operations with the release of three audited financial statements, recently declared a profit of N287 billion. Although with the new Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), the industry is supposed to be fully deregulated, however, the corporation has said that removal of subsidy will not be immediate since the impact on the poor and vulnerable will be ‘unimaginable’ Added to that, funding deficit of the national oil company’s priority projects in the oil and gas industry had fallen to the

tune of $1.54 trillion, according to a document in July, analysed from January to June this year. Cost recovery refers to a mechanism through which a party to an oil and gas project can recover most, if not all, of its capital and operating costs out of a specified percentage of production called ‘cost recovery oil’. Whereas the total 2021 “calendarised’’ financing obligation was put at $3.21 trillion, with a monthly tranche of $536 trillion, the data showed that actual dollar equivalent funding stood

at $846 million as of June this year, leaving a deficit of $1.545 billion. A breakdown of the figures seen by THISDAY showed that $196.1 million of the budgeted $536 million was released in January, $168.5 million was released in February, while in March $128.101 million was made available for funding the projects. In addition, $167.2 million was pumped into the projects in April; in May it was $172 million, while June saw the release of a meagre $14.2 million. However, an upbeat Group

Managing Director of the national oil company, Mallam Mele Kyari recently said that the NNPC is able to meet its obligations to its stakeholders and partners as and when due, admitting that despite the corporation’s immediate challenges, it is now on the path of growth. Also, the company through its Chief Financial Officer, Mr Umar Ajiya, penultimate week, stressed that the NNPC would surpass its N287 billion profit for 2020, with a base N300 billion profit projection at the end of 2021.

SHELL TO SELL $9.5BN PERMIAN ASSET TO CONOCOPHILLIPS AFTER ANNOUNCING NIGERIA ONSHORE EXIT whether to focus on hydrocarbons going forward. Like all of the world’s largest oil companies, Shell is under pressure from investors to reduce fossil-fuel investments to help reduce global carbon emissions and fight climate change. Shell and BP Plc have set targets to slowly move away from crude production while investing in non-fossil energy sources like

solar and wind power, while U.S. producers including Exxon Mobil and Chevron are doubling down on hydrocarbons. Through the deal, ConocoPhillips sides with the latter, but concurrently announced it would tighten its targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, an acknowledgement of heightened focus on climate considerations. ConocoPhillips is acquiring

around 225,000 net acres, as well as over 600 miles of associated infrastructure, according to its statement announcing the transaction. This builds on its existing portfolio of 750,000 net acres in the Permian. U.S. shale producers have used mergers and acquisitions to boost their size to compete against the largest operators and lower production costs through

economies of scale. To help pay for the deal, ConocoPhillips will hike its own divestment targets by 2023 to between $4 billion and $5 billion, up from between $2 billion and $3 billion. For Shell, selling the Permian assets will leave its U.S. oil and gas production almost entirely in the offshore Gulf of Mexico, where it is the largest single producer.

It sold its Appalachian gas assets last year. Shell will return $7 billion of the proceeds to shareholders as dividends on top of existing commitments, with the rest going to pay down debt, it said. Conoco also announced it would increase quarterly cash payments to shareholders by 7 per cent from December 1, according to a Reuters report.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

AGRICULTURE

Rising Cost of Agricultural Imports For a country blessed with vast arable land, the growing cost of agricultural imports is raising eyebrows across the land, moreso as there are no strategic interventions or policies aimed at achieving food security. Gilbert Ekugbe reports on the need for economic managers to prioritize investment in the nation’s agricultural sector to reduce the rising import of agricultural products

ata from official records indicate that Nigeria’s agricultural imports rose by 57.5 per cent to N532.39 billion in Q4, 2020 from N503.4 billion recorded in Q3, 2020, while agricultural exports declined to N55.77 billion in Q4, 2020 from N60.63 billion in Q3, 2020, representing an 8 per cent drop. The latest report on foreign trade by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) identifies Nigeria’s major agricultural imports as wheat, sugar, fish, milk and oil palm, while sesame seeds and cashew nuts accounted for more than half of the agricultural exports. Surprisingly, the top five agro commodities imported into the country are commodities the nation has the competitive and comparative advantage to produce in commercial quantity only if the sector has been given the necessary support and encouragement. According to the Flour Milling Association of Nigeria (FMAN), Nigeria, despite being a major market for wheat, produces a paltry 400,000 metric tonnes per annum, a figure that is 5.3 million short of total demand. To stakeholders in the agricultural sector, this abysmal output makes it imperative for the present administration to as a matter of urgency, encourage the production of wheat by assisting local farmers to acquire improved wheat seed varieties and other incentives to boost production of the commodity. THISDAY had reported that the growing insecurity in the wheat-planting belt of Nigeria was frustrating wheat farmers’ productivity, a situation that requires the federal government to up its ante by addressing insecurity across the country. For sugar, the annual demand is projected at about 1.7 million metric tonnes. However, Nigeria is reported to currently spend between $600 million to $1 billion on sugar import annually. Disheartening as it sounds, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in July stated that only three sugar refining companies who made considerable progress in achieving the agreed national sugar backward integration plan would be allowed to source foreign exchange from official window to import sugar into the country. However, it is a policy such as this that discourage local and foreign investors from investing in the sugar industry and that explains why the production of sugar has continually lagged domestic demand, hence creating a huge supply gap for importation. Although, the apex bank in its attempt to boost sugar production is collaborating with the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), but the challenges confronting the sugar industry, which ranges from inadequate funding, unavailability of land, and lack of human capacity, among others, remain unaddressed. Despite interventions by the government, agriculture remains constrained by poor infrastructure such as poor transportation and logistics, ports and border infrastructure and Information and

Communication Technology (ICT), according to PWC. Maximising the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs), Nigeria has at least one natural resource in all the 774 local government across the federation, which underlines the establishment of the SAPZs believing that this would go a long way to encourage value addition as against the usual practice of exporting the products raw. The establishment of the SAPZ is an integrated development initiative aimed at concentrating agro-processing activities within areas of high agricultural potential to boost productivity and integrate production, processing and marketing of selected commodities. Although, the programme scheduled to be flagged off in January 2022 had seen 24 states participate in the bidding process even though the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr. Zainab Ahmed said all the 36 states including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) would be eligible to participate in the programme. According to the Senior Adviser on Industrialisation to the president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Prof. Oyebanji Oyeleran-Oyeyinka, who would be co-financing the project with its development partners, the SAPZ model is an explicit industrialization strategy to transform poor rural spaces into zones of prosperity, stem rural-urban migration, end human insecurity induced by herder-farmers clashes and provide employment to Nigerian youths.

DEVELOPMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE

Nigeria records N3.5 trillion in post-harvest losses on an annual basis due to the lack of proper storage facilities and the poor state of roads across the country. Notably known as a country with great supply of agricultural products, post-harvest losses is still a great concern as majority of its farm produce are lost to pest, rodents and deterioration due to lack of proper post-harvest process and storage. Estimates of post-harvest food losses in the developing countries like Nigeria from mishandling, spoilage and pest infestation are put at 25 per cent this means that one quarter of what is produced never reaches the customers for whom it was grown. Fruit, vegetables and root crops are much less hardy and are mostly quickly perishable if care is not taken in their harvesting, handling and transport, they decay and become unfit for human consumption Estimation of production losses in developing countries such as Nigeria is hard to determine where a 50 per cent reduction in post harvest food losses in Nigeria will reduce the need for food importation, increase food supply

without any further increase in the use of vital resources such as water and agricultural input and improve the livelihoods of farmers and agro processors. The federal government should encourage and promote local manufacturers in design and fabrication of post harvest equipment and the urgent need for government to invest more in post harvest research. The programme being implemented by government to facilitate the attainment of food security should be properly maintained and improved upon. The local government is closer to the farmer and so should be in the forefront in preventing losses by promoting the maintenance of food stocks at household and enterprise levels. Also, food storage at government level is a buffer to ensure price stability in the system. The need for consistency in policy by agricultural policies cannot be overemphasised as only good policies can ensure viable national farm factors, which would provide food for the people and raw materials for agro-industries. An integrated approach must be adopted in shaping policies and plans, determining strategies, formulating programmes and managing their implementation. The research institute must provide post-harvest technologies for harvesting, processing and storage of agricultural produce. The technologies developed by research institutes for harvesting processing and storage should be available for local users at a reduced price, the research institutes should make their achievements known nationally and internationally to all those that can use their findings. There is need for research institutes to develop appropriate post harvest approaches and equipment. The research institutes/universities should also carry out extension programmes, training on postharvest technologies for farmers’ agro processors at the rural areas.

SECURITY ARCHITECTURE UPGRADE

In the 2021 Appropriation Act (the 2021 Federal Government Budget), expenditure on defence was allocated N840.56 billion, which is far higher than any other sector. In 2020, the Ministry of Defence received N878 billion. In the course of the year, another supplementary budget worth about N983billion was approved for the procurement of equipment for the military and medical infrastructure as well as COVID-19 vaccines. This vote of resources to defence operations show the commitment of the government to make Nigeria a safer and more peaceful nation, but despite the increased financial investments, the security situation in the nation is still bedeviled by numerous challenges, apprehension, anxiety, disrupted supply

chains, and increasing economic cost from the impact of insecurity, according to the president, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mrs. Toki Mabogunje. According to the 2020 Global Peace Index by the Institute of Economics and Peace, the economic impact of violence increased in 2019 to a total of $453.1 billion, or $433 for each person in sub-Saharan Africa. Insecurity does not only impact society, but it also reduces the positive benefits that security and peace bring to the macroeconomic performance of countries. Since 2000, countries that have improved in security and peace have seen an average 1.4 percentage points higher GDP per capita growth when compared to countries that have become less peaceful as measured by the Global Peace Index (GPI). Furthermore, the average inflation and unemployment rate for the countries with the largest security improvements were substantially lower than those with the largest deterioration. Recommending solutions to achieve better results in tackling insecurity, LCCI stated that a key turning point should be to understand the causes of insecurity as well as to investigate the sources of social disorder and instability, noting that it is necessary to distinguish between different causes as they may require different approaches. The Organised Private Sector (OPS) also stated the urgent need for the Nigerian government to address challenges of poverty, unemployment, and business failures, stressing that they are some of the factors fueling insecurity in the country. “There is a need for collective and integrative security architecture by the federal, state, and local governments in Nigeria. This arrangement should produce a strong and coordinated presence at village, community, local, state, and federal levels with the responsibility of providing sensitive security information for security agencies in their areas of operation. This will assist in identifying criminals, their sponsors, and hideouts in the country,” LCCI stated. “There have been calls for open and frank dialogue as a critical factor in addressing the security challenges of the nation, using the media and stakeholders’ forums as catalyst for mutual cooperation among citizens to end the crises. We urge the government to sustain the needed funding for defence operations to equip the military with advanced weaponry and intelligence infrastructure. These should be supported by heavy deployment of modern military intelligence technologies.” With a total debt stock of N35.465 trillion as of June 2021, Nigeria’s debt profile has been tagged by many scholars as a time bomb waiting to explode. Even more worrisome is the fact that the present administration does not seem to apply the brakes on borrowing anytime soon. It is imperative that a nation in dire needs of foreign exchange should focus more on creating value for its agro commodities to earn the much needed hard currency rather than export its commodities unprocessed.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

BUSINESSWORLD

INDUSTRY

Manufacturing: Still Haunted by Old Devils In spite of the recovery of the Nigerian manufacturing sector to its pre-COVID-19 productivity, the sector as shown in a report by MAN is still haunted by its age long besetting challenges, writes Dike Onwuamaeze

takeholders in the Nigerian manufacturing sector heaved a sigh of relief when the sector bounced back to its pre COVID-19 pandemic performance. One of the reports, which emanated from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) said that the manufacturing sector’s aggregate index recorded 52.9 points in the second quarter of the 2021 above the 49.1 points it achieved in the second quarter of the year. It said: “On account of the improved economic tranquility, aggregate MCCI increased to 52.9 points in the second quarter of 2021 from 49.1 points recorded in the first quarter of the year. That was the first time the index value would reach and exceeded the 50 neutral points since the first quarter of 2020 when it recorded 44.4 points, thus, suggesting that the macroeconomic ambience improved in the second quarter of 2021.”

CHALLENGES OF MANUFACTURERS

Nevertheless, the MAN’s Manufacturers CEO Confidence Index (MCCI) also showed that the old devils that have been hamstringing the country’s industrial sector are still assailing the competitiveness of the Nigerian manufacturing sector. Like Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs, the MAN arranged in hierarchical order the bottlenecks militating against the manufacturing sector in the country, which included lack of forex, multiple taxes and levies by government agencies, high cost of electricity and high electricity tarrifs, girdlock at the national ports and high cost of transportation. Others are lack of credit facilities/high lending rate, high cost of raw materials, low sales/low government patronage, high cost of production, poor infrastructure, insecurity, increasing in smuggling of textile materials into the country and unfavorable trade policy. The list also included shortage of skilled labour and frequent change in government policies. For instance, production and distribution costs increased by 21 per cent in the second quarter of 2021; capacity utilisation declined by eight per cent; volume of production also declined by eight per cent. Similarly, manufacturing investment declined by 15 per cent in the second quarter of 2021; employment declined by nine per cent; sales volume also witnessed a decline of eight per cent in the second quarter of the year while cost of shipping increased by 20 per cent in the second quarter of the year. Although myriads of challenges were identified, the MAN stated that poor access to foreign exchange for importation raw materials and machines that are unavailable locally ranked first among the challenges. It said: “Difficulty in sourcing FX for importation of raw-materials and machines that are not locally available has been a critical challenge to the manufacturing in Nigeria. Since the onset of COVID-19 pandemic in the early quarter of 2020, the severity of FX challenge has intensified, particularly as the value of the Naira deteriorated. Unfortunately, even with gradual return to normalcy of business activities and the increasing recovery of FX earning as crude oil prices improved, acute shortage of FX persisted. “In addition, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has consistently intervened in the FX market but the result has been negligible, particularly in the second quarter of 2021. Consequently, 52 per cent of manufacturers

interviewed during the fieldwork for the second quarter MCCI, disagreed that the rate at which FX was sourced has improved. Thirty per cent of all manufactures interviewed were not sure while only 18 per cent agreed that the rate has improved. “On this account, therefore, it is critically important for the CBN to speed up the ongoing review of FX management procedures to ensure that available FX in the country is productively utilised.”

LENDING RATE

The MAN noted that the cost of funds in Nigeria, which is usually at double digit, has always been one of the core challenges of the manufacturing sector. This is because it tells directly on cost of production and the competitiveness of the sector. An overwhelming majority, which was 76 per cent of manufacturers enumerated in the fieldwork of this report, disagreed that the rate at which commercial banks lend to manufacturers encouraged productivity in the manufacturing sector. Only 13 per cent of those sampled agreed that the current lending rate encourages productivity in the sector while the remaining 11 per cent were not sure. The MCCI stated that lending to the real and the manufacturing sectors have been dwindling over the years due to the increased presence of the government in the Nigerian money market through the issuance of treasury bills, bonds, Sukuk, etc. These have almost crowded out private sector borrowing in the domestic financial markets. “It is, therefore, pertinent that government balances its participation at money market with the interest of the private sector,” the MCCI said. The MAN advised that “it is, therefore, expedient for the CBN shall take-up a rigorous monetary management measures that would encourage reduction in lending rates on loans offered to the productive sector by the commercial banks. With the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) standing currently at 11.5%, there may not be credible reason that the average lending rate to manufacturers by the banks is still as high 22 per cent as revealed by our survey of the sector.”

OPERATING ENVIRONMENT

The report also numbered regulatory environment among the old devils besetting the industrial sector. Reponses from manufacturers showed that over-regulation of the manufacturing sector by government agencies still persisted in the quarter under review. Majority of respondent, 95 per cent in all, agreed that multiple and overregulation by government agencies have depressing effect on manufacturing productivity. Moreover, manufacturers suffered multiple regulations on a single manufacturing process occasioned by the agencies of the federal, state and local governments. The manufacturers said that multiple taxes/ levies charged by government agencies have discouraging effect on manufacturing production.

Apart from the approved list of taxes and levies to be charged to companies as compiled by the Joint Tax Board (JTB), there are a large number of outside taxes, levies and fees that are charged to manufacturers by the revenue generating agencies of the government. “It is therefore important for the Government to publish the list of taxes and levies compiled by the JTB and ensure that all charges to the manufacturing sector are legal.”

UNSOLD MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS

The inventory of unsold manufactured products slowed in the quarter under review based on the opinion of manufacturing CEOs. Thirty nine per cent of respondent disagreed that inventory of unsold manufactured products has reduced over the last three months, while another 39 per cent simply disagreed while 22 per cent of the respondents simply were not sure whether inventory of unsold manufactured products has reduced in the quarter under review. During the entire year 2020, which marked the high-point of COVID-19 pandemic, aggregate consumption was at the lowest ebb due to loss of household and firm purchasing power resulting from unpaid salaries and contract sums. Moving forward, therefore, it important that government should provide a contingent buffer through appropriate saving to mitigate shortage of fund in similar periods as COVID-19. It is also important to promote industrial development in the country to assimilate the unemployed Nigerians, particularly those displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Government should also improve purchasing power in the country by carrying out ardent monetary and exchange rate management so as to allow the persistent inflationary pressure to decelerate. An Economist and Private Sector Advocate, Dr. Muda Yusuf, told THISDAY that the manufacturing sector has suffered considerable setback due to insufficient foreign exchange to support the reliance on high import of raw materials and machineries by the sector. Yusuf noted that this has also become a major factor in the competitiveness of Nigerian industries that are still grappling with this shortcoming as the performance of the various sub sectors was largely dependent on the extent to which they could source their raw materials locally. He said: “Despite the numerous policies and measures that have been articulated by successive governments, manufacturing contribution to GDP remains less than 10 per cent on average over this period. The sector has remained largely import dependent which has made it very vulnerable to external shocks, resulting also in the weak competitiveness of the sector.” He averred that many manufacturing firms have low local value addition, weak backward integration, inadequate forward integration, and low job creation potentials. All of these have combined to weaken the impact of the sector on the economy and the development process.

The corollary, according to him, is that “many industries have become moribund, and their premises turned into worship centres, event centres, shopping malls or warehouses for imported finished goods.” Yusuf added: “The Nigerian manufacturing sector is too dependent on import, which is a major shortcoming of the Nigerian manufacturing sector. The sector accounts for about three per cent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings and over 30 per cent of the country’s import bill. This demonstrates that the sector is not properly aligned with the vision of self-reliance being promoted by the current government. “Local value addition is still very low. The most sustainable segment of the manufacturing sector is the food and beverage industries and the cement industries where the local content is well over 60 per cent. This explains the competitive strength of these segments.” Speaking in the same vein, the Director General of Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) Dr. Timothy Olawale, observed the need to address some fundamentals mitigating against the efficiency of the country’s manufacturing sector in order to improve export potentials in the manufacturing sector. This could be addressed with the provision of friendly business environment, access to FX for productive activities, improved infrastructural facilities, most especially electricity, which constitutes about 40 per cent of production cost, and increasing insecurity in the country. Olawale said: “To revive the potentials inherent in the country’s real sector, the need to develop policies and initiatives to support sectors with export potentials should be top priority for national development. Attracting investors with incentives and tax rebates would address the critical need. “In order to improve the trade balance, the country should provide windows for repatriation of exports proceeds, most especially, the non-oil products and promote more backward integration programmes in reducing imports of goods and services, ordinarily, which should be sourced locally to reduce the demand on FX.” Why is the manufacturing sector in decline in Nigeria? The Director General of the Nigerian Association of Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Ambassador Ayo Olukanni, attributed the decline to factors like insecurity, inadequate basic infrastructures, socio-cultural problems, inability to raise capital. “The fluctuation in securing forex to purchase raw materials affects production adversely. The inability to modernise production process is also taking its toll on the sector. “Inadequate access to credit hampers manufacturing activities as producers cannot expand to the desired level. High lending rates scares our members to access these loans, fluctuations in prices of raw materials, smuggling in of similar goods produced in the country tends to affect our members interests. “The manufacturing sector is fraught with power challenge as far as Nigeria is concerned. The epileptic power supply is a major reason why manufacturing is on the decline in the country. Improving electricity supply is an essential step in kick-starting the large-scale extraction and development of Nigeria’s solid mineral industry,” Olukanni said.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

BUSINESSWORLD

OIL & GAS

Nigeria’s Ailing Oil Infrastructure Emmanuel Addeh writes that Nigeria’s inability to meet its allocated oil production quota by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) for months, not only poses a clear challenge to its much-needed drive to earn foreign exchange, but could also distort the cartel’s global monthly output plan

igeria’s dire need to inject more petrodollars into its economy has recently seen the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) taking all kinds of measures, including unorthodox ones, to place tight controls on the movement of the much sought after American greenback. But while the problem of dollar scarcity persists, Nigeria, which is heavily dependent on its main forex earner, oil, has been struggling to meet even its ‘paltry’ share of the OPEC production quota. The commodity still accounts for up to 90 per cent of Nigeria’s total fx earnings. For at least three months, the federal government, represented by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its partners, the International Oil Companies (IOCs) and a handful of indigenous producers have been unable to fully fill the vacuum created for it by OPEC.

BACKGROUND

In April last year, OPEC and its allies led by Russia agreed to a record cut in output to prop up oil prices amid the coronavirus pandemic in an unprecedented deal which also involved fellow oil nations like the United States. Countries embarked upon measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus, which had then crippled demand for fuel and driven down oil prices, severely impacted budgets of oil producers like Nigeria. Known as OPEC+, with the reactivation of the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC), upon which many such decisions are based, the cartel agreed to reduce output by a whopping 9.7 million barrels per day (bpd) after four days of intense talks. It was the biggest oil cut ever, quadrupling the previous record cut in 2008, with oil demand dropping by around a third and further worsened by a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia that brought a flood of supply just as demand for fuel was crushed by the pandemic. It was a bad time for the global oil industry as prices snowballed into the negative territory and countries indeed offered monies as incentives to buyers to evacuate their inventories or risk shutting down their facilities, which could pose a huge challenge to restart. Nigeria, like other countries were allocated oil production quotas lower than what they had the capacity to pump, a decision that has remarkably turned the situation around and stabilised the global oil market. With the industry gradually bouncing back, OPEC has continued to return the production shut in by its decision to curb over-supply. But the challenge is that Nigeria has been unable to meet that allocation given to it, although ironically, it is asking for an increase in its supply to the market. Originally set to expire in April 2022, the OPEC+ group’s decision to extend a recent deal allows for more time to unwind the 5.8 million bpd that is still being withheld to be unwound in a more gradual manner.

DETERIORATING FACILITIES, SHUT-INS

But despite asking for a higher baseline in August, Nigeria failed to meet the existing quota assigned to it, in all, losing as much as 114,000 barrels per day in the month according to OPEC’s September Monthly Market Report (MOMR), quoting secondary sources. When cumulated for the entire month, this would amount to roughly 3.4 million barrels, making last month’s production of 1.43 million bpd one of the lowest in five years and amounting to roughly $238 million badly needed foreign exchange when multiplied by a conservative average of $70 to a barrel for the month. Nigeria, which has a capacity to produce 2 million bpd, other things being equal, slumped from its July figure of 1.520 million bpd, according to the OPEC document. This meant that production growth in Nigeria, Africa’s highest oil producer, was proving a major challenge due to infrastructure challenges and technical difficulties, leading to shut-ins. In addition to the above problems, there have also been instances of community workers’ protests, which incessantly disrupt operations, leading to severe losses. The previous month, a document seen by THISDAY showed that the Nigerian NNPC and its partners lost 6.035 million barrels of crude oil to emergency shutdowns. In its August presentation to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), which held between the 18th and 19th of last month, the corporation recorded that there were 32 of such incidents throughout its facilities in the country. A breakdown of the losses, according to the document, indicated that the highest combined shortage of 1.62 million barrels was from Qua Iboe, with 200,000 barrels due to production shut-in arising from flare management and low well head pressure. Still on Qua Iboe, a further 530,000 barrels were lost to shut-ins following tank top concerns, 650,000 barrels as a result of production cut-back as directed by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) as well as a loss of 240,000 barrels due to a gas leak on one of the assets. This was followed by losses from the Forcados facility, which shed 200,000 barrels, 84,000 barrels, 30, 000 barrels and 80,000 barrels respectively on different days, with reasons ranging from leak repairs, tank top issues, a fire incident and declaration of a force majeure. Forcados continued its shut-ins, shedding an additional 405,000 barrels of crude oil at the Uzere/ Afisere/Kokori axis following a shutdown as a result of protests by community workers as well as a loss of 80, 000 barrels due to a fire incident. In the same vein, Anyala Madu shed 105,000 barrels, Bonny suffered total shut-ins of 335,000 barrels, Ugo Ocha lost 30,000, Okono’s shutdown

led to loss of 96,000 barrels, while Sea Eagle lost 750,000 barrels.

IMPLICATIONS FOR GLOBAL SUPPLY

Due to Nigeria’s inability to meet its quota, plus challenges in Angola, another African nation, OPEC produced about 10 per cent below its overall quota in the month, but kept output from its 13 members at about 27.11 million barrels a day in August. If Nigeria, Angola and other countries are unable to meet production due to a build-up of the technical problems resulting from years of investment constraints and market supply remains in a deficit, countries with spare production capacity, including Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates may be called upon to make up for the shortfall. The baseline for the calculation of the current adjustments, according to OPEC, is the oil production of October 2018, except for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Russian Federation, both with the same baseline level of 11 million barrels per day.

SYLVA EXPLAINS UNDER-PERFORMANCE

After a verbal request when the OPEC Secretary General Dr Sanusi Barkindo, visited him in his office, the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, last week disclosed that Nigeria has now officially written OPEC, requesting a higher production quota under the OPEC+ accord. Speaking on the sidelines of the Gastech 2021 conference in Dubai, the minister noted that the technical problems that had hampered the country’s output will soon be resolved. Sylva said the country’s full production capacity was closer to 2.2 million bpd, which should be reflected in a revised quota, even though Nigeria has struggled to produce at its current allocation. He insisted that the country deserves a higher quota, noting that aside its efforts to fix the technical difficulties, the basis for the current production quota, which was mainly because of the problems in the Niger Delta at the time, no longer exists. “We’ve just put a request on the table, and we expect that to be looked at. We have capacity for more production than we are producing right now. Unfortunately, we are constrained by the quota,” the minister said. If this request is up for discussion, it is likely to come up at its next scheduled meeting for October 4, with the current OPEC+ agreement calling for the group to collectively raise output by 400,000 bpd each month through the end of 2022. Sylva attributed Nigeria’s production struggles to technical problems from re-tapping reservoirs that had been shuttered to comply with the stringent OPEC+ cuts of the past 17 months and said output could rebound to around 1.7 million bpd by November and 2 million bpd by the end of the year. “We had some issues from shutting down the

reservoirs,” he said. “When you shut down a reservoir, to restart it, sometimes there are challenges,” he said. “The basis for giving us this quota was (that Nigeria was in) a crisis. Right now, we don’t have any crisis anymore, and we believe we can produce more,” Sylva argued.

NNPC ASSURES OF NORMALCY

Also, NNPC head, Mallam Mele Kyari assured that Nigeria’s underperformance in the last few months in relation to the quota allocated by OPEC will be halted by the end of October this year or mid November. “From everything we’re doing, we’ll get back to the OPEC level probably by the end of October and maximum middle of November. We’re not far from that, ”he assured. The GMD pointed out that the national oil company was currently going through some transformation that will see it invest more in renewable energy sources, going forward. “We are undergoing a transformation and what this means is that we’re going to lead a company that will become the biggest company in Africa, not just the company that will lead the transition into renewables as we go forward to zero carbon situation,” he noted.

HOPE RISES

But the first time since 2020, Nigeria’s decreasing rig counts soared to 11 in August, signalling readiness by the NNPC and its partners to pump more oil from next month. Data from the OPEC Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR) indicated that the country’s oil rigs have climbed from a low of five in the second quarter of 2021 to 11 as of last month. A further analysis of the data showed that while in 2018, the average rigs count was 13, it was 16 in 2019 but fell to 11 in 2020, a reduction by five oil rigs. Since the third quota of 2020, the count has continued to slump, first to eight in that quarter and seven in July, but with an addition of four rigs for the month of August, raising hope of more production. Put side by side a country like Algeria, the north African nation has a high of 50 and low of 21, while the United Arab Emirates (UAE), for instance has a high of 62 and a low of 40. In the oil industry, the rig count is a major index of measuring activities in the upstream sector, with a breakdown showing that Nigeria utilised six, seven, and six rigs in January, February, and March 2021, respectively, against 21, 23, and 21 used in the corresponding period of 2020, when production was at about 2 million bpd. In addition to decreasing rig counts and highly degraded facilities due to old age and lack of investments, there have also been instances of community workers’ protests, which incessantly disrupt operations, leading to severe losses. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

PERSPECTIVE

Firm Pushes for Cleaner Energy Petrol Subsidy: The Case for Penetration, Eliminates Bridging and Ancillaries 150,000 Kerosene Lamps Peter Uzoho As part of efforts to discourage the use of dirty fuel, Greenlight Planet has announced the elimination of 150,000 kerosene lamps in Nigeria, translating to the removal of 200,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas. Pay As You Go (PAYG) Business Leader for Nigeria, Greenlight Planet, Tuga Omoyemi, explained that Nigeria is home to the largest off-grid and under-electrified population in Africa, noting that government estimates indicate 70 million Nigerians live entirely off the grid or lack reliable access to energy. “Given that most Nigerian households and businesses face severe power cuts, the potential customer profile of an off-grid solar powered system ranges from the rural, lower-income consumer to a salaried professional living in urban Nigeria,” he said. The Greenlight Planet boss disclosed that the company started with a simple, reliable solar-powered replacement (Sun King solar lamp) for the ubiquitous kerosene lamp when the business started more than 10 years ago.

He said since then, the company has been growing every year by introducing new products and services to the market, adding that based on the success of its pay-as-you-go offering in East Africa, in 2017, Greenlight decided to expand the energy financing business model to Nigeria as well. “While mobile money was a key catalyst in PAYG solar success in East Africa, it became clear that an energy financing business in Nigeria would need to be built on a physical cash payment collections model. “Despite the security and infrastructure challenges present in the country, in the last three years, Greenlight has innovated a successful cash collections based business model in Nigeria. “With accelerated cash payment collections for PAYG solar products in Nigeria, we have delivered clean energy access to more than 750,000 individuals through our direct-to-consumer channel,” Omoyemi noted. He maintained that Greenlight Planet’s solutions were especially tailored to lower income households, many of whom, he said, also live in harder-to-reach, rural parts of the country. Omoyemi added that while

the PAYG business model has the potential to accelerate energy access in Nigeria, especially to these lower income consumers, the company has realised that it is not the only way to reach Nigerian households and businesses. He stressed that microfinance institutions, telecoms operators, savings and loan organisations and traditional consumer durable distribution networks represented viable sales and financing channels and comprised a critical portion of the Greenlight’s Sun King distribution network in Nigeria. He stated that 40 per cent of Greenlight’s Sun King customers in Nigeria earn between N30,000 to N100,000 per month ($70 to $245 per month), often seasonally, as opposed to continuously throughout the year. “We expect to reach more customers through external distributors as well as our direct channel, to collectively reach more Nigerian households in hard to reach, underserved areas. Our approach to pay-asyou-go technology is extremely flexible and adaptable. The retail prices of our Sun King products range from $30 to $428,”he added.

Meter Manufacturer Seeks Decentralisation of National Grid Peter Uzoho

The Chairman of Momas Electricity Meter Manufacturing Company (MEMMCOL), Mr. Kola Balogun, has called for the decentralisation of the single national grid system, arguing that it is no longer efficient and sustainable. Balogun advised the new Minister of Power, Mr Abubakar Aliyu, to chart a new roadmap to address the generation, distribution and transmission challenges in the power sector, calling on the minister to engage in consultation with stakeholders and come up with a comprehensive roadmap that will transform the sector. He gave the advice at a session with journalists in Lagos, saying there was need for a roadmap that would clearly define the goals of the power sector after seven years of privatisation without achieving the desired results. Balogun said: “Why do we

continue to have a single grid that binds all of us together? We need to separate it in such a way that any state or local government can go into power generation and distribution to people within its area. “If the power being generated is not enough, they can even buy from the national grid. So, power generation and distribution should be removed from the exclusive list and moved to the concurrent list. “That is why we are advocating for franchising, so that Nigerians will enjoy more supply. The entire process should be done in a way that investors are able to get back their funds while their customers will get fair bills in line with global best practices.” Balogun noted that more investment was needed in the sector to upgrade feeders, transformers and substations across the country, stressing that investors needed to recoup their investment and make profits.

While pointing out that the power sector required longterm investments and loans, he suggested that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) needed to enlighten the commercial banks on what was required in the power sector and why they should key in and become part of the process. Balogun also called for an effective regulation of the sector, stressing that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) needed to be strengthened to carry out its statutory responsibilities. “NERC must be given the power to sack and appoint heads of power generation, transmission and distribution companies if the need arises just the way CBN is doing in the banking sector. There is an element of discipline that is required for the sector to move forward and this is currently missing,” Balogun added.

FG Appeals to Truck Drivers Over Blockade on Niger Road Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government has appealed for the understanding of truck drivers, who have recently blocked the Bida-Lambata road in protest against the slow pace of work on the facility. Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Babangida Hussaini, who made this appeal, noted that the ongoing construction work on Bida-Lambata road would continue, saying that government was committed to delivering quality work. Some articulated trucks drivers in Niger State, protesting that government should expedite action to complete

the ongoing construction to ease their difficulties in using the roads, had blocked the road to users. “I am appealing to the truck drivers for understanding on the efforts of the gederal government in fixing this road. This Bida-Lambata road is among the many other ongoing projects across the nation which the government prioritised to deliver,” Hussaini said. He also noted that the rehabilitation work has not reached the sections that collapsed but the contractor has been directed to do palliative work on all such sections while the construction will progress

as scheduled. He lamented that the contractor has been denied access to the road due to blockade by the tanker drivers, adding that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari gives premium to providing road infrastructure across the country as a way of improving the social and economic wellbeing of the people. He assured the truck drivers that the federal government through the federal controller of works in Niger state was working round the clock with the contractors on site to ensure not only timely completion but to deliver infrastructure that will last.

n July this year, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, affirmed that government subsidy on petrol had risen to some N150 billion monthly and made a strident case for its removal altogether. The issue of subsidy has been a thorny one in recent years and its burden on the nation’s economy has always been trumpeted by the nation’s economic managers and various other stakeholders. Hajiya Ahmed raised cogent points to support her assertion: “We have a situation wherein, in a month, the subsidy costs as much as N150 billion....that is money that the federation account, federal and state governments forgo. If this revenue is available to fund education, infrastructure, health, it will reduce our borrowing. It will reduce the crises that states are having of not being able to pay salaries....” A few days before the Minister made that call, the Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari had said the pump head price of fuel should, at least, read N256 per litre, given the market dictates of that time. Few will argue with the fact that the subsidy overhang has become an albatross on the weary neck of the nation’s straining economy, especially if viewed from the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Authority’s (PPPRA) claim a year ago, that some N8.94 trillion was utilised on subsiding petrol between 2006 and 2015. For many though, the colossal subsidy amount(s) could only be attributable to bridging and other ancillary costs such as marine transport and transporters allowance (reimbursables made to marketers for moving petrol in trucks/barges to filling stations and floating mega stations in riverine areas), to maintain price parity all over the country. That is not the case. For emphasis, whilst bridging and its ancillaries are components of the PPPRA’s pricing template, they do not, in any shape or form, represent the entire gamut of the subsidy regime. In March this year, there was a general uproar when the PPPRA hoisted the Guiding Prices of its template for the month, on its website. The Agency had indicated that owing to market trends, petrol price should attract a figure of N212.61 (upper band) per litre, at filling stations. The din that followed the information release was so jarring, it reverberated ceaselessly all over Aso Rock corridors and beyond. Needless to say, the Federal Government, through the NNPC, quickly responded and doused the combustible atmosphere, explaining that there was no plan to effect any price increase. The PPPRA also towed the government line and claimed its position was merely advisory and that it was in no way, advocating for a hike in price. The Agency, perhaps in hearkening to advice emanating from the corridors of power, quickly yanked off the ‘offending’ Guiding Prices from its website. Such is how volatile and inflammable the issue of petrol price could be for the Nigerian people, most of whom are reeling under some heavy and punishing economic burden at the moment. However, for this piece, the PPPRA March 2021 template would be borrowed to differentiate the real subsidy from bridging and ancillaries. According to the Agency, the Average Petrol Price (Free on Board Rotterdam Barge) amounted to N169.22 per litre. Average Freight came to N6.51 a litre, bringing Ex-Coastal Price to N175.73 per litre. Adding Average Lightering Expenses, Nigeria Port Authority(NPA), Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA), Jetty Thru’Put, Average Financing Cost and Storage Charges pushed the Expected Landing Cost to some N189.61 a litre. The Expected Ex-Depot price which summed up at N206.42/litre, had the following as naira components per litre: Wholesalers Margin - 4.03, Transporters Allowance - 3.89 Marine Transport, Average - 0.15 Bridging Fund - 7.51, Admin Charge - 1.23 Retailers Margin was put at N6.19 per litre with Expected Retail Price, Lower and Upper Band suggested at N209.61 and N212.61 per litre, respectively. An exchange rate of N403.80 against the dollar, was employed for calculating the import segment of the costs applied. From all enunciated above, it clearly showed that Bridging cost and its ancillaries - Marine Transport Average and Transporters Allowance - amounted to N11.55 a litre for March out of the Upper Band suggestion of N212.61 per litre as indicated by the Regulatory Agency. What amounted to a large chunk of the template’s components was fuel importation and import- related charges. Currently, petrol is being sold by most filling stations at N162 per litre. That leaves a gap of N50.61 when that amount is deducted from the N212.61 a litre (PPPRA March suggestion). For many, that N50.61 is what constitutes subsidy whereas bridging and ancillaries accounted for only N11.55 of that sum. The subsidy in real figures, and this particular scenario, is N39.06 and that’s almost 3.4 times more than the amount suggested for compensating marketers in making petrol prices uniform across Nigeria. Maintaining Bridging Fund In Nigeria, there are no social safety nets as such.

Pensioners are even having a harried time collecting their dues at intervals, not to mention the burgeoning unemployment/underemployment plaguing the country. Subsidies are generally popular with Governments in Europe and North America and are applied to a wide range of businesses such as agriculture, transport, oil and gas to mention a few. Welfare payments are also made to the indigent, by most. It is on record that the United States, for example, subsidises farmers to be tune of 20 billion dollars a year. At the height of the covid pandemic last year, most farmers in America thrashed their produce because they couldn’t get the same to consumers as truckers stayed home. The government stood solidly behind the farmers, offered them succour, and ensured that they did not go out of business. Also, according to the US Environmental Study Institute, direct subsidies to fossil fuel industries average $20 billion a year, with 15 billion of that sum provided by the Federal Government. A European Union report estimated that the UK subsidised fossil fuels to the tune of £10.5 billion in 2018, according to a piece published by The Guardian (London), in January 2019. SWI swissinfo.ch, an information platform of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation published a report in February last year, quoting the Swiss Conference for Social Assistance that “the welfare system makes an essential contribution to social harmony in Switzerland and guarantees that all people live in dignity”. (The bulk of Nigerians are not really living dignified lives at the moment). It was estimated that the sum of 2.8 billion dollars was spent on 270,000 indigent people in 2018. And only half of those were Swiss! Asylum seekers and refugees are also covered under the country’s welfare scheme. Even struggling pensioners can always apply for “supplementary benefits”. Since Nigeria does not have mitigants against poverty as enunciated above (at least for now), it behoves the government to ensure there’s parity in petrol prices across the land even if the ‘main subsidy’ is to be dispensed with. This can only be achieved if the costs of transporting fuel still hold firmly in the template for Guiding Prices. Otherwise, the resultant increase in uneven or convoluted fuel prices would result in higher costs of conducting business, with transportation of goods and services heavily impacted. It could also trigger accelerated unemployment, ramp up rural-urban migration, exacerbate environmental pollution, give rise to increased banditry, elevate kidnapping and generally fuelling mammoth insecurity across the land. More importantly, the N11.55 utilised in moving products all over Nigeria, (including the riverine areas and mountainous terrains), is not sourced from the federation account and therefore not subsidised as it is worked into the template for fuel consumers. Getting Refineries, Pipelines working From the analysis drawn afore, no soothsayer is required to point out that the nation needs to get its refineries and pipelines up and running as quickly as practicable if we are to stem the colossal sums expended on imported gasoline. In April, the NNPC signed a $1.5 billion contract with an Italian company - Maire Tecnimont - for the repairs of the 210,000 barrels per day capacity, Port Harcourt refinery. The other two refineries’ rehabilitation (Warri - 125,000 barrels per day and Kaduna -110,000 barrels/day) had also been approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for $1.5 billion, and the contract awarded to Saipem SPA, (another notable Italian company), thereby potentially unlocking combined 445,000 barrels a day refined oil for motorists and small scale businesses. The three refineries are all expected to be running smoothly in 44 months. The Executive Council also directed the NNPC to acquire a $2.76 billion (20 per cent stake), in the ongoing 650,000 barrels a day, Dangote refinery, located in Lekki Free Zone, Lagos. This refinery is expected to be operational next year. Although some concerned citizens pooh-poohed the idea of rehabilitating the nation’s 3 refineries and made a plausible and spirited case for the outright sale of the facilities as a result of mismanagement, lack of maintenance and heavy operational losses suffered in the past, Petroleum Minister, Chief Timipriye Sylva has affirmed this time around, that operations and maintenance are integral parts of the contracts signed for reworking the refineries. He spoke after the FEC gave assent to the Port Harcourt rehabilitation in March: “Talking about operations and maintenance, that has been a problem for our refineries and that was exhaustively discussed in council and the agreement is that we are going to appoint a professional operations and maintenance company to manage the refinery when it is finally rehabilitated” He went on, “it is actually one of the conditions presented by the lenders because the lenders said they can give us the money if we have a professional operations and maintenance company and that is already embedded in our discussions with the lenders. We are not going back on that”. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT Gapstone Renders 10-storey Zirconia Heights in Lagos Bennett Oghifo

new choice property, Zirconia Heights has been introduced into the property market in Lekki, Lagos. Zirconia Heights, a project powered by Gapstone Developers Limited, will rise up to 10 storeys at Block 5, Plot 6, Bisola Durosimi- Eti Lekki Phase 1. The property is being built by Gapstone, a company of Cruxstone, instituted to address the deficit in real estate and cater to middle income earners according to Cruxstone’s Managing Director, Mr. Adetoro Bank-Omotoye. He said Zirconia Heights is conceived as “affordable luxury.” It mix-use facility with one and two bedrooms apartments that ideal for first time owners and for investment, Bank-Omotoye said during a press conference to introduce the exquisite development, recently. He said “Zirconia symbolises the height of the urban of Lekki Phase 1 in the “New Lagos sub-region”. Zirconia apartments and commercial hub have been created by Gapstone Developers and partners. Discover what the balance of beauty and design means when you invest in luxury apartment features that are second

to none. Zirconia Heights provides unequalled service and amenities, in-house restaurant and bar concepts, judiciously curated design from top architectural designers, and an amazing, luscious landscape. From the moment you arrive at Zirconia Heights, you feel right with yourself.” The managing director had with him, Managing Director, APD, Mr. Andy Jibunoh; CPO, Cruxstone, Mrs. Nafisat Bank-Omotoye Managing Director of Cruxstone, Adetoro Bank-Omotoye; Bolanle Golden; and Senior Business Development/ Urban Planning Manager, Cruxstone, Mr. Sulaiman Abu. Zirconia Heights consists 24 units of oneBedroom Loft Apartment, selling at N60 million; four units of two-Bedroom Loft Apartment, at N110 million; eight units of one-Bedroom Apartment at N70 million; and 24 units of two-Bedroom Apartment, at N90 million. There are office and retail spaces, as well as parking spaces. The general amenities and services include; Expansive lounge area offering 24 hours concierge service and reception; Infinity swimming pool; Restaurant serving both intercontinental and African dishes with a resident chef; Fully equipped technological fitness and wellness center; Full rooftop terrace with panoramic views of Lekki

and environs; and Rooftop grill and lounge area There are specialised amenities such as; Fully air-conditioned spaces; fully fitted kitchen; fully furnished (Optional; Smart home features (Optional); Fiber optic enabled internet; CCTV;

and automated card access control. The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), and some financial institutions, he said would offer mortgage to prospective subscribers and investors.

L-R: Managing Director, APD, Andy Jibunoh; CPO, Cruxstone, Mrs. Naﬁsat Bank-Omotoye Managing Director of Cruxstone, Adetoro Bank-Omotoye; Bolanle Golden; and Senior Business Development/Urban Planning Manager, Cruxstone, Mr. Sulaiman Abu, at a press brieﬁng on the development of Zirconia Heights… recently

We’ll Greatly Reduce Housing, Commercial Space Deficit, Says Mohammad The Managing Director of Earthpoint Development Services Limited, says their target is to greatly reduce the nation’s housing and commercial space deficit. They also plan to ensure that their buildings are ecofriendly with EDEGE (Excellence in Designs for Greater Efficiencies) certification Tell us about your real estate development company My name is Hilaluddeen Muhammad I’m the Managing Director of Earthpoint Development Services Limited, a construction company that started business in 2015, I’m an engineer. I manage the company and I have been doing so for five years. Basically that’s my background I’m

from Kano State I studied at Bayero University Kano then did my masters in Ahmadu Bello University and I’m also a member of the Institute of Directors currently I’m the Assistant Secretary of the Institute of Directors How did you get into real estate? I started around 2014/15. We had friends/ contacts that trusted us to get them properties in Abuja and other parts of the country. So, at a point, we had so much demands and delivery started to become an issue, you know when people trust you with money to get properties and maybe they are in diaspora, maybe they are not around and they trust you, and then you took money on their behalf to develop houses for people and then there is no date for them to get what they paid for. So, my friends and I decided, four of us, to maybe open a construction company and start developing the houses since we’ve been doing it as third party people, so that’s what gave birth to Earthpoint Development Services in 2015. So, we started few projects in Jabi, Abuja and right now we can say we have built up to 300 to 400 houses from 2015 till date and we are in the process of building more just to reduce the housing deficit in in the property market.

Muhammed

Alaro City Partners Lagos to Tackle Maternal, Infant Mortality Efforts to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates in Lagos State have received a boost through a partnership between Alaro City and the Lagos State Office of Civic Engagement, whose Mother, Infant and Child (MICH) Program provides disadvantaged pregnant women in the state with nutritious food items to improve the health of the mother and aid the brain development of the child. The MICH Program, which was flagged off in July 2020 by First Lady Ibijoke SanwoOlu, provides pregnant women in all the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas of the state with basic food items during and after pregnancy and delivery. It targets less privileged and pregnant women living below the poverty levels

within the state. Governor Babajide SanwoOlu, while launching the latest phase of the initiative targeting 5000 women, said: “The MICH programme is a component of the ‘Womb to School’ initiative, which is a basket of social services aimed at supporting the development of socially responsible citizens from the womb through infancy, childhood, and into adulthood. Through this initiative, we will reach out to indigent pregnant women in the state, to ensure they are well catered for during the period of their pregnancy in order to ensure safe delivery and healthy mother and child. Our target is to reach 5,000 underprivileged pregnant women who would be selected by doctors and specialists in each primary health care centres across

the state to access the MICH food packs, which contain recommended daily nutritional composition of Protein; Carbohydrate; Lactose; Milk Fat; Fiber; Vitamins A, C, D3, E, B1, B2, B6, B12, Calcium and Folic Acid.” Special Adviser to the Governor on Civic Engagement, Princess Aderemi Adebowale, said the MICH Program targets 15,000 beneficiaries within its first three years and would benefit from support from public and private organisations. “We are pleased with our partnership with Alaro City, which supports us in our work to ensure social cohesion through a systematic build-citizens-from-the-womb strategy, with particular focus on the development of the unborn child into civically responsible and collaborative citizens,” she said.

Tell us more about your projects Initially we started with little estates, estates that comprised four to five houses. Then we expanded further to estates that have a hundred houses, we have like nine projects in Abuja we have completed like eight of them and the biggest project we have are in Abuja, one is at Life Camp, about 90% completion. We have 130 houses and people have been occupying those houses over the past year and we have another one that is similar which has about 100 houses. So, new projects and last year, we went to Kano to explore the Kano market. Ours are lifestyle to sustainable houses and then to sustainable living. So, we are planning on it having the EDGE (Excellence in Designs for Greater Efficiencies) certification which certifies your house as green houses, eco-friendly houses, so we are working with the International Finance Corporation and World Bank towards getting that certificate. I must say we are the first estate in Abuja to get the preliminary EDGE certificate for our projects at Life Camp so that means the houses are truly eco-friendly and sustainable and then there in Abuja we have a mix-development, which has commercial and residential, we want to go into but because of COVID we saw that people want to live where they work, so we decided to get that

concept into housing so we have our commercial space, a shopping space and then the residential spaces, so those are the major projects we are doing and we are also doing some commercial projects in Kano which are building shops for the commercial sector. What systems do you have in place to assist your prospective buyers Yes oh, there are several ways of assisting the buyers in the first place there are several mortgage opportunities out there and the mortgage opportunities have become simpler and more flexible these days with commercial banks entering into the real estate mortgage industry and then there is the federal mortgage bank and then for the low income earners there’s the Family Trust Fund which is funds through government or through banks are meant to support the prospective owners and then our platform we spread our payment such that they are flexible payments we want to uh we are currently looking to do the rent to own programme so that you can be in the house and pay it between five and seven years so we are currently with our financial advisors trying to work out a model that would create that scheme so those are some of the support we give to our prospective owners or customers.

NIESV: Why Real Estate Sector Contributes only 7.5% to Nigeria’s GDP James Sowole in Abeokuta The Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Ogun State, Mr Wale Ojo, has blamed low contribution of the Real Sector to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on the fact that mortgage institutions were not well established. Ojo who is also the General Manager of the State Housing Corporation, said this in Abeokuta, shortly after his investiture and other executive members to lead the NIESV in Ogun State, for the next two years. Quoting the recent National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) figure, Ojo said it was disturbing that the sector contributes only 7.5 percent to the Nigeria’s GDP.

The chairman lamented that the real estate sector in the country has not grown to the extent of “making meaningful contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).” He said the real estate industry should be a major contributor to the nation’s GDP, but the reverse has been the case in Nigeria. Ojo blamed the situation on the fact that Nigeria’s mortgage industry has not been well established to drive the real estate sector’s contribution to the GDP. He also blamed the situation on the investors and the government for failing “to explore the secret of the sector. Ojo said, “It is not an overstatement that the real estate sector is expected to

be a major contributor to the GDP of any nation, but this is currently not so in Nigeria. The reasons are obvious. ,”Our mortgage industry is not well established and of course, any nation that is not doing well in the mortgage standard, there is no way the real estate sector will contribute meaningfully to its GDP. “The real estate in Nigeria is yet to grow to the extent of making a real impact to the GDP. The reason is not far-fetched. It is because the secret of the sector is yet to be explored by both the investors and the government. “As a result, the government is losing greatly at realising the full potentials of the natural endowment in land and all natural resources.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͶ˜ 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

JK Randle: Nigeria’s Debt Proﬁle Worst in Decades, Says Economic Consequence Dire Darasimi Adebisi The former president of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN), Mr J.K Randle, has stated that Nigeria’s current debt profit is the worst the economy has faced in decades. At an investiture ceremony of Mrs. Nwamara Nnaji as the 10th National Chairperson, Society of Women Accountants of Nigeria (SWAN), Randle said the economic consequences are dire due to the apparent lack of definitive policy on how government intends to efficiently manage expenditures and reduce cost of governance. He stressed that the diversification effort, especially in the non-oil

sector, has reportedly yielded little dividends because of rising insecurity across the country. He added that given the rise in global interest rates, which has made central banks in advanced economies to ponder the normalisation of monetary policy, debt service costs on external loans will rise, thereby pushing Nigeria’s debt beyond the point of sustainability. “The prediction by experts is that Nigeria’s total debt stock could hit N40trillon in the coming months following the approval of the government’s plan to borrow another $6.2 billion. Between January and May this year, government reportedly spent N8trillion on

debt servicing, “he said. According to him, the figure represents 98 per cent aggregate revenue within the period, which is 44.6 per cent lower than the projected revenue of N3.32tnilhon for the period, maintaining that COVID 19 related shocks have weakened economic performance and revenue target. “More so, not much has been done to broaden the revenue base in such a way that it will not affect the cost of living of the citizens,” he stated. He warned that despite the increasing debt stock, it is disturbing that the government has announced new plans to borrow from both external and domestic markets.

‘Leadership Training will Make Female Accountants Excel’ A member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and Managing Director of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mrs. Yemisi Edun has called on the foremost professional accountancy body and its affiliates to prioritise leadership development programmes for female accountants. She made the call during the investiture of Mrs. Catherine Nnaji as the 10th President of the Society of Women Accountants of Nigeria (SWAN) and the swearing-in of her new executives in Lagos. SWAN is

a national body dedicated to serving all female members of ICAN. Mrs. Edun, who worked in leadership roles that include Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director before her elevation as Managing Director, was the keynote speaker at the event. She urged SWAN and ICAN to prepare female accountants for expansive roles that would move them from compliance officers to business advisors and ultimately to senior leadership roles. However, she decried the under-representation of female

accountants in senior leadership roles. She urged ICAN and SWAN to take advantage of the increasing number of women studying for a professional degree in accountancy and those employed in accounting roles to train and scale female representation in the C-Suite of large corporations progressively. Edun commended the Society of Women Accountants of Nigeria for unifying the qualified women of the ICAN under a platform that provides leadership, mentorship, networking, education, and empowerment.

Mines Ministry Pledges Support to Kaduna State on Minerals’Development Kasim Sumaina ÓØ ÌßÔË The Ministry of Mines and Steel Development has pledged its commitment to support the development of Mineral Resources that abound in Kaduna State. This, it hinted, is to ensure it achieves its mandate of diversifying the economy and growing the Gross Domestic Product of the country. The Minister of State Mines and Steel Development, Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah made the pledge recently during his address at the 2021 Kaduna State Economic and Investment Summit, Kadinvest, with the theme ‘Towards sustainable knowledge-based Economy’. He stated that the ministry has

key agencies in Kaduna State, like the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency & National Steel Raw Materials Exploration for generation of geoscience data on minerals of interest and the Mining Cadastre Office for title acquisition and administration. He disclosed that the federal government through NGSA has generated preliminary geoscience data that can guide would be investors on the proper identification of “hot spot” areas for detailed exploration across Kaduna State. He added that mining is an information-based investment and such credible geoscience information will definitely attract serious mining investments into the State.

Ogah who noted that Kaduna is strategically located in the mineral map of Nigeria, stated that the State is endowed with a lot of solid minerals, especially minerals of the future, and enjoined prospective investors to liaise with the relevant Agencies of the Ministry of Mines and Steel development for necessary information to guide them in making their investment decisions. He commended the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai for keying into Mr. President’s vision of diversifying the Nigerian economy through the Agricultural and Minerals sectors, saying the initiative would attract investors to the country and the state in particular.

LASAA Boss Urges Collaborations, Investments in OOH Advertising industry Managing Director of Lagos State Signage and Advertising Agency (LASAA), Prince Adedamola Docemo has enjoined practitioners in the advertising industry to embrace collaborations and consider big investments for outdoor in a bid to play big in the strategic outdoor advertising environment that the agency is envisioning. He disclosed this while addressing participants at the on-going advertising stakeholders conference and exhibition holding in Lagos.

He said the strategy was also in line with the smart city agenda of the Governor, Mr.Babajide Sanwo-Olu, adding that they are committed to an innovative and interactive advertising formats, noting that under the environment, LED structures are not just going to be videos on the street but also engage citizens. He the new outdoor advertising structure have smart functions and capabilities, such that they provide traffic/travel information to commuters, give weather forecast add value to

aesthetics and show time of the day, interact with commuters for the benefit of Lagoscians and visitors alike. Docemo said these structures are all obtainable in other countries and the Agency is ready to approve more innovative iconic structures with enabled connectivity which support intelligence and security, remarking that will be much beneficial to the state towards the realization of a smart city Lagos and more importantly, optimizing revenue generation for the state.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE ˜ ͷ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $71.82 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $71.17 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zaﬁro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͶ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Sell Sentiment on Insurance, Industrial Goods Sectors Drag Stock Market Lower by N51.03bn Darasimi Adebisi The Nigerian equities market yesterday closed transactions on a negative sentiment to halt the bullish sentiment of two consecutive trading sessions at the close of trade last Friday, as investors lost N51.03billion. The downturn was buoyed by investors’ sell-sentiment on the Insurance and Industrial Goods sector. In summary, the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) All-

Share Index (ASI) dipped by 97.95 basis points, representing a decrease of 0.25 per cent, to close at 38,864.33 basis points from 38,962.28 basis points. Similarly, the overall market capitalisation value lost N51.03 billion to close at N20.25 trillion from N20.3 trillion it opened for trading this week. The market negative performance was driven by price depreciation in large and medium capitalised stocks which are; BUA Cement, AXA Mansard Insurance, Guaranty Trust Holding Company

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

(GTCO), Zenith Bank and United Bank for Africa (UBA) This week analysts at GTI Securities Limited said that “We expect positive sentiment as expectation increases towards the compilation of third quarter (Q3) financial reports. Furthermore, investors will also track yield movement in the fixed income market.” However, the market breadth closed positive, recording 20 gainers as against 12 losers. University Press recorded the

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

highest price gain of 9.80 per cent to close at N1.12, per share. Transcorp Hotel followed with a gain 9.70 per cent to close at N5.43, while Courteville Business Solutions went up by 9.38 per cent to close at 35 kobo, per share. Oando rose by 6.07 per cent to close at N5.24, while Cutix Plc gained 5.38 per cent to close at N4.90, per share. On the other hand, AXA Mansard led the losers’ chart by 9.94 per cent to close at N2.99, per share. Chams followed with

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

a decline of 4.35 per cent to close at 22 kobo, while Sovereign Trust Insurance lost four per cent to close at 24 kobo, per share. Mutual Benefits Assurance lost 3.33 per cent to close at 29 kobo, while BUA Cement shed 2.94 per cent to close at N66.00, per share. The total volume of trades decreased by 77.99 per cent to 139.453 million units, valued at N1.713 billion, and exchanged in 3,539 deals. Transactions in the shares of Sovereign Trust

O F

Insurance topped the activity chart with 19.079 million shares valued at N4.395 million. Fidelity Bank followed with 11.854 million shares worth N29.010 million, while Guaranty Trust Holding Company traded 11.146 million shares valued at N307.076 million. Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp) traded 10.051 million shares valued at N9.302 million, while Courteville Business Solutions transacted 7.952 million shares worth N2.680 million.

2 7 / 0 9 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

˾ TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

Tuesday, September 28, 2021 Thisday 4040 Index Falls 25bps ThisdayAfrinvest Afrinvest Index fell by 14bps The ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞǆ ĨĞůů ϮϱďƉƐ ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ ϭ͕ϲϮϳ͘ϲϰ The dŚŝƐĚĂǇ dŚŝƐĚĂǇ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞǆ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďǇ ϭϰďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

points due topoints sell-pressure on BUACEMENT (at 1,674.89 due to sell-pressure on (-Ϯ͘ϵйͿ͕ ZENITHGTCO (-0.6%), 0.5%), and ZENITH (-Ϭ͘ϮйͿ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůǇ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ

WAPCO (-1.3%), and UBA (-0.7%). These stocks cumula-

ĨŽƌ Ϯϲ͘ϭй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞǆ͘

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

ƟǀĞůǇ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϯ͘Ϯй͘

ASI up 11bps as DANGCEM Gains 3.3%

zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂǇ͕ ƉƌŝĐĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƵƉƟĐŬ ,KEz&>KhZ dŚĞ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ ĞƋƵŝƟĞƐ ďĞŐĂŶ ƚŚĞ ŝŶ ǁĞĞŬ ŝŶ ƌĞĚ͕ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ (+9.8%), E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ & E,(-0.5%), (+0.7%) bolby ƉƌŽĮƚ-taking in BUACEMENT (-Ϯ͘ϵйͿ͕ GTCO and ZENITH (-Ϭ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůů-Share Index the declined stered ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽŶ local ϮϱďƉƐ bourseƚŽ asϯϴ͕ϴϲϰ͘ϯϯ the Allpoints. loss worsened to -3.5% while market Share Accordingly, YTD index rose by ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ĚĞĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ďǇ േϱϭ͘ϬďŶ to േϮϬ͘ϮƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚǇ 11bps to 39,550.36 points. ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůǇ͕ zd ůŽƐƐ ŝŵͲ weakened as volume and value traded fell 78.0% and

proved to -1.8% while ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƌŽƐĞ ďǇ

73.4% ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůǇ ƚŽ ϭϯϵ͘ϱŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ േϭ͘ϳďŶ͘ dŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ

േϮϯ͘ϰďŶ ƚŽ േϮϬ͘ϲƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚǇ ǁĂƐ ŵŝǆĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ

stocks by volume were SOVRENINS (19.1m units), FIDELI-

ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďǇ Ϯϭ͘ϲй ƚŽ ϭϭϬ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ value

(11.9m

units),

and

GTCO

(11.1m

units)

while

ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ďǇ ϴϴ͘ϱй ƚŽ േϯ͘ϭďŶ͘ The most traded stocks MTNN ;േϰϲϱ͘ϭŵͿ͕ GTCO ;േϯϬϳ͘ϭŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ TOTAL ;േϭϭϲ͘ϵŵͿ ůĞĚ by value. volume were dZ E^ KZW ;ϭϭ͘ϵŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ & E, (11.1m by ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ĂŶĚ K E K ;ϳ͘ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ E ^d> ;േϮ͘ϮďŶͿ͕ E' D ;േϭϯϰ͘ϴŵͿ ůĞĚ ďǇ ǀĂůƵĞ͘ Mixed Sector;േϭϰϱ͘ϬŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K Performance WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ our coverage was

mixed as 3 ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ͕ Ϯ declined, while the AFR-ICT index

Bearish Sector Performance

remained unchanged. The Oil & Gas ŝŶĚĞǆ ůĞĚ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ͕ ƵƉ ϭ͘Ϯй

1,627.64

-0.25%

10.9%

62.8%

15.0%

3.5%

715.00

0.0%

28.8%

-16.1%

12.3%

4.4%

66.00

-2.9%

10.5%

-14.7%

19.1%

11.2%

31.7x

6.0x

27.60

-0.5%

8.7%

-14.7%

24.8%

3.9%

4.2x

1.0x

10.9%

23.8% 31.6%

3 Guaranty Trust Holding Co PLC 4 Zenith Bank PLC

(-4.0%), ĂŶĚ h D Ed (-Ϯ͘ϵйͿ͘

5.3x

0.7x

5.5%

ot Applicable

2.2%

15.4% 3.2%

6.9%

-5.4%

21.8%

2.9%

3.2x

0.6x

12.8%

6.6%

0.0%

44.7%

17.5%

12.3x

5.3x

6.5%

8.1%

175.00

0.0%

5.5%

3.0%

143.0%

12.4%

14.1x

17.8x

6.0%

7.1%

1,400.00

0.0%

4.0%

-7.0%

143.5%

17.1%

28.4x

48.6x

4.3%

3.5%

22.50

0.4%

3.9%

6.9%

9.9%

7.1%

10.1x

1.0x

4.4%

9.9%

9.20

2.8%

3.3%

8.9%

18.3%

1.5%

2.5x

0.4x

9.2%

40.5%

10 United Bank for Africa PLC 11 FBN Holdings Plc

7.45

-0.7%

2.5%

-13.9%

2.0x

0.4x

7.4%

48.8%

7.50

0.0%

2.8%

4.9%

10.6%

1.0%

3.5x

0.4x

6.0%

28.6%

12 Nigerian Brew eries PLC 13 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

48.75

0.0%

2.0%

-12.9%

5.6%

2.2%

40.9x

2.3x

1.9%

2.4%

39.00

0.0%

2.2%

3.3%

17.4%

2.1%

8.4x

1.3x

10.5%

11.9%

-5.9%

-2.5%

8 Lafarge Africa PLC 9 Access Bank PLC

14 International Brew eries PLC 15 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC 16 SEPLAT Energy PLC 17 11 PLC 18 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

4.80

0.0%

1.4%

-19.3%

29.35

0.9%

1.3%

12.9%

710.00

0.0%

2.0%

76.5%

0.0%

19 Fidelity Bank PLC 20 Ecobank Transnational Inc 21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC 22 FCMB Group Plc 23 Sterling Bank PLC 24 NASCON Allied Industries PLC 25 Transnational Corp of Nigeria

30 Guinness Nigeria PLC 31 Custodian and Allied Insurance

and D E^ Z (-Ϯ͘ϮйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůǇ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬͲ

P/BV

0.0%

ŝŶĚĞǆ ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŽƉƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ ĂƌĞ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůǇ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ ^^ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵͲ ;нϮ͘ϴйͿ͕ h E

ůǇ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĮƚ-taking in D E^ Z ;-ϵ͘ϵйͿ͕ ^KsZ E/E^

P/E

-0.2%

bearish as lost, 1 index gained ĂŶŬŝŶŐ and4 indices Consumer Goods indices roseǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ &Z-/ d ϰϬďƉƐ ĂŶĚ ϮϰďƉƐ

Goods recorded losses, down Ϯ͘ϯй ĂŶĚ ϭ͘ϭ͘й ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞͲ 9.1%), indices hE/> s Z (-3.5%), >/E< ^^hZ (-6.4%),

ROA

23.45

28 PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC 29 United Capital PLC

otherhand, the Insurance and Industrial ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůǇ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĮƚ-ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ E ^d> (-

ROE

245.00

5 Dangote Cement PLC 6 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC 7 Nestle Nigeria PLC

26 Presco PLC 27 Unilever Nigeria PLC

er 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ Insurance indices, down 4.6%KŶ and ;нϭ͘ϬйͿ͕ E'^h' Z ;нϭ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ &>KhZD/>> ;нϬ͘ϵйͿ͘ ƚŚĞ

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 1 Airtel Africa PLC 2 BUA Cement Plc

Across sectors under our coverage, performance was

as a result of buying interest ŝŶ K E K ;нϲ͘ϭйͿ͘ dƌĂŝůŝŶŐ͕ ƚŚĞ

Price Change Index to Date

Ticker

ŽŵĞƐƟĐ ŽƵƌƐĞ ZĞƐƵŵĞƐ ƚŚĞ tĞĞŬ ^ŽƵƚŚǁĂƌĚ͘͘͘ ^/ ĚŽǁŶ 25bps

Price Previous Current Change Price YTD Weighting Change

Current Price

32 AIICO Insurance PLC 33 TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeri 34 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC 35 Wema Bank PLC

ing indices fell by Ϭ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϮďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůǇ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůů-

38 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd 39 Beta Glass PLC

ŽīƐ ŝŶ K E K (-0.8%), E/d, (-Ϭ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;-Ϭ͘ϮйͿ͘

40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

3.1%

1.7%

7.4%

3.2%

-13.3%

0.7x

5.6%

18.8x

0.6x

5.8%

5.3%

110.00

0.0%

1.1%

20.9%

37.4%

23.6%

8.1x

2.8x

6.4%

12.3%

2.44

-0.4%

0.7%

-3.2%

12.7%

1.2%

2.1x

0.3x

9.0%

47.2%

5.25

-0.9%

0.6%

-12.5%

1.5%

0.1%

17.4x

0.2x

17.40

1.2%

0.6%

-1.1%

25.6%

12.1%

6.7x

1.6x

8.7%

14.9%

5.7%

3.00

1.4%

0.5%

-9.9%

1.47

0.0%

0.3%

-27.9%

8.9%

0.8%

3.7x

0.3x

3.4%

15.20

2.7%

0.4%

4.8%

20.7%

5.9%

15.2x

3.1x

2.6%

6.6%

0.92

-1.1%

0.4%

2.2%

-1.3%

-0.3%

0.6x

1.1%

-2.3%

73.00

0.0%

0.3%

2.9%

1.8x

2.7%

13.20

0.0%

0.2%

-5.0%

-4.2%

-2.7%

1.2x

5.75

0.0%

0.2%

8.5%

5.0% 27.0%

-3.6%

8.55

-0.6%

0.4%

81.5%

35.5%

4.2%

6.5x

2.1x

8.1%

30.00

0.0%

0.4%

57.9%

1.7%

0.8%

52.0x

0.9x

1.5%

1.9%

6.70

0.0%

0.2%

14.5%

24.7%

7.5%

3.3x

0.8x

8.2%

30.3%

21.6%

3.3%

4.1x

0.4x

0.96

0.0%

0.2%

-15.0%

192.00

0.0%

0.3%

47.7%

27.00

0.0%

0.2%

53.2%

18.3%

2.4%

5.4x

13.0%

0.78

36 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC 37 Oando PLC

76.5% -100.0%

0.9x

2.6%

0.2%

1.0%

0.0%

5.24

6.1%

0.2%

62.50

0.0%

0.1%

52.95

0.0%

0.1%

5.43

9.7%

0.0%

15.3%

24.5%

6.1x

2.1%

16.4%

0.9x

1.5%

18.4%

13.0%

11.7%

0.7%

4.4x

0.5x

5.1%

22.6%

-100.0%

7.5%

0.9%

5.5x

0.6x

5.0%

18.1%

41.6%

14.5%

2.6%

2.3x

0.3x

44.3%

0.0%

-38.7%

-9.5%

2.1x

-21.2%

-4.4%

12.8%

8.7%

50.8%

5.4x

0.7x

2.0%

18.4%

0.9x

Investor ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ tĞĂŬĞŶƐ

ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůǇ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞǆ ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ŐĂŝŶͲ

Investor ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ apprecia;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬ er, up 1.8% ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ driven ďǇ by price ĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ ϭ͘ϲǆ ĨƌŽŵ Ϯ͘Ϯǆ ĂƐ ϭϵ stocks advanced

ƟŽŶ in E' D (+3.3%).

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

T o p 10 G a i n e r s T ic k er UP L

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

1.12

9.8%

SOVR EN IN S

19.1

-4.0%

11.9

-0.4% -0.5%

ǁŚŝůĞ ϭϮ stocks declined. UPL (+9.8%), TRANSCOHOT (+9.7%),

T R A N SC OH OT

5.43

9.7%

F ID ELIT YB K

and COURTVILLE (+9.4%) led the gainers while MANSARD (-

C OUR T VILLE

0.35

9.4%

GT C O

11.1

OA N D O

5.24

6.1%

T R A N SC OR P

10.1

-1.1%

C UT IX

4.90

5.4%

C OUR T VILLE

8.0

9.4%

LIVEST OC K

2.22

4.7%

A C C ESS

6.5

2.8%

C H A M P ION

2.09

4.5%

ST ER LN B A N K

5.9

0.0% -0.7%

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ 9.9%), CHAMS (-4.3%), and SOVRENINS (-4.0%) led the laggards. tĞ ĞǆƉĞĐƚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ĚŽŵŝŶĂƚĞ trading ses/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďǇ ƚŽĚĂǇ’s ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ƐŝŽŶ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĂďƐĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ ĂŶǇ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ĐĂƚĂůǇƐƚ͘ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ͕ ƐĞƩůŝŶŐ Ăƚ 1.6x

ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϯǆ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ Ϯϰ stocks Corporate Announcement advanced while 15 stocks declined. MRS (+9.9%), MAY-

A C C ESS

9.20

2.8%

UB A

5.8

N A SC ON

15.20

2.7%

OA N D O

5.5

6.1%

WEM A B A N K

0.78

2.6%

FB NH

5.0

0.0%

46 koboABCTRANS for each 50 kobo ordinary share. The register of sharewhile (-8.3%), LASACO (-6.7%), and LIVE-

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

T o p 10 L o s e r s

Guinness(+9.8%), EŝŐĞƌŝĂ W> ;Η'h/EE ^^ΗͿ ĚĞĐůĂƌĞĚ Ă ĮŶĂů ĚŝǀŝĚĞŶĚ ŽĨ BAKER and HONYFLOUR (+9.8%) led gainers T ic k er

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

M A N SA R D

2.99

-9.9%

M TNN

465.1

0.0%

ŚŽůĚĞƌƐ ǁŝůů ďĞ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ ϮϵƚŚ ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌ ƚŽ ϰƚŚ KĐƚŽďĞƌ ϮϬϮϭ

STOCK (-4.8%) led losers. Yesterday, we expect the market

CHA M S

0.22

-4.3%

GT C O

307.1

-0.5%

ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ƋƵĂůŝĮĐĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƉĂǇŵĞŶƚ ĚĂƚĞ ŝƐ ƐĐŚĞĚƵůĞĚ ĨŽƌ ϮϴƚŚ

SOVR EN IN S

0.24

-4.0%

T OT A L

116.9

0.0%

^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌ ĂŶĚ ϮϬƚŚ KĐƚŽďĞƌ ϮϬϮϭ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůǇ

M B EN EF IT

0.29

-3.3%

Z EN IT H B A N K

113.1

-0.2%

winds up.

B UA C EM EN T

66.00

-2.9%

B UA C EM EN T

100.6

-2.9%

ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ŵŝǆĞĚ͕ ĂƐ earnings season gradually

T R A N SC OR P

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

0.92

-1.1%

F LOUR M ILL

71.3

0.9%

A C C ESS

59.2

2.8%

ET I

5.25

-0.9%

UB A

7.45

-0.7%

N EST LE

57.3

0.0%

56.1

0.4%

42.8

-0.7%

UC A P

8.55

-0.6%

WA P C O

GT C O

27.60

-0.5%

UB A

Brokerage

Asset Management

Investment Research

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

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2021• T H I S DAY

MARKET NEWS A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return. An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 24Sept-2021, unless otherwise stated.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors. Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return. NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS

MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS

AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 159.23 160.56 -1.65% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 7.22% Nigeria International Debt Fund 317.55 317.55 -15.98% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 107.60 108.65 -2.92% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ACAP Income Funds N/A N/A N/A AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 9.36% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.31 3.48 -2.50% info@anchoriaam.com ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 8.07% Anchoria Equity Fund 133.63 135.28 1.23% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.14 1.14 -14.03% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 19.52 20.11 7.62% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 430.86 443.85 7.62% ARM Ethical Fund 38.38 39.54 13.86% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.09 1.09 -0.97% ARM Fixed Income Fund 0.98 0.98 -6.69% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.41% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 106.39 106.39 4.60% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,037.05 1,037.05 3.71% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.07 2.07 -5.89% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.13 2.17 -6.45% CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com ; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.02 1.02 3.32% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.67% Paramount Equity Fund 16.42 16.73 2.70% Women's Investment Fund 136.62 138.18 2.65% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 9.31% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 119.47 120.24 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 107.76 107.76 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.63% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.20 1.22 0.27% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.43 1.43 -9.76% 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 7.79% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 8.43% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,162.55 1,180.57 0.96% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,421.54 1,421.54 11.65% FBN Balanced Fund 190.36 191.58 1.43% FBN Halal Fund 112.96 112.96 9.33% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 9.53% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Legacy Money Market Fund Legacy Debt Fund Legacy Equity Fund Legacy USD Bond Fund FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

127.06 157.47

127.06 3.80% 159.48 4.16% fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com

Bid Price 1.00 3.98 1.58 1.19

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 1.00 6.16% 3.98 2.75% 1.61 3.93% 1.19 4.69% coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com

Bid Price 3,785.85 3,405.08 100.00

Offer Price 3,839.02 3,405.08 100.00

Yield / T-Rtn 1.04% 3.91% 5.17%

GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria Entertainment Fund N/A N/A N/A GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.73% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.79 2.86 -2.15% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 153.43 153.71 -1.33% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.28 1.32 1.59% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.10 1.10 0.96% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD ﬁncon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.43 1.45 4.86% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,152.88 1,152.88 6.14% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 11.32 11.37 8.09% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 9.14% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.68 1.70 7.10% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.62 11.62 -4.45% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 6.87% PACAM Equity Fund 1.69 1.71 7.02% PACAM EuroBond Fund 113.35 115.33 3.24% 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 132.65 134.95 8.28% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.05 1.05 10.04% 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 3,298.15 3,332.65 2.68% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 233.25 233.25 3.74% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.21 1.23 3.39% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 308.04 308.04 4.54% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 224.39 227.57 2.78% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.38% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 10,383.39 10,526.55 -1.08% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.28 1.28 4.00% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 115.78 115.78 4.23% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 104.06 104.06 UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.30 1.32 1.93% United Capital Bond Fund 1.92 1.92 4.89% United Capital Equity Fund 0.86 0.89 8.93% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.36% United Capital Eurobond Fund 120.50 120.50 5.26% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.05 1.07 3.17% United capital Sukuk Fund 1.06 1.06 6.34% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 12.81 12.92 7.95% Zenith Ethical Fund 14.10 14.25 15.51% Zenith Income Fund 24.40 24.40 1.72% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.22%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

124.98 53.37

10.62% 5.66%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

13.32

13.42

0.74%

120.98 96.46 17.15 18.12

123.99 98.58 17.25 18.22

0.61% -2.77%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund

SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund MERGROWTH ETF MERVALUE ETF

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Grifﬁn 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Money Market Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.81 5.45 17.37 1.00 19.49 157.47

3.85 5.53 17.47 1.00 19.69 159.47

0.92% -4.23% 7.04% 7.55% -4.99% -28.38%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.40

13.11%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS XTRA

Developed Countries Contributing to Arms Proliferation, Nigerian Navy Alleges Udora Orizu in Abuja The Nigerian Navy, yesterday claimed that developed countries were contributing to the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria by constantly donating weapons to neighbouring countries who do not own armouries, hence making it difficult for Nigeria to fight arms smuggling. The Chief of Naval Staff, Awwal Gambo, stated this at a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence on the consideration of four security bills. The proposed legislations are bill to establish the National Commission against the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons, bill to make Provision for the Integration of Private close Circuit Television (CCTV), bill to Repeal the Explosives Act, and bill to designate the month of November as the National Appreciation for Security Agencies Month. Addressing the lawmakers, Gambo, who was represented by Commodore Jemila Sadiq Abubakar, said the weapons

donated by developed countries to neighbouring nations are compounding Nigeria’s security challenges. According to her, the lack of armoury in some of the neighbouring countries makes

arms available to Nigeria’s security operatives who in turn sell it when they are broke. She therefore, urged the federal government to build a wall across the country’s borders to stop the proliferation of arms and

ammunition. She said: “I was in Chad recently and discovered that most of the countries that surround us do not have armouries and that is why most of their citizens get arms that they sell

to make money. They do not have armouries. So, most of their arms that are being donated by developed countries. I don’t want to be specific. We should build a wall between our country and the neighbouring countries. The

developed countries in the name of assisting us to fight our problems are compounding our problems in Nigeria because you find out that each average Chadian soldier has 20 to 30 arms underneath his bed.

NUJ VISITS OSINBAJO…

L - R: President, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Chris Isiguzo; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; and President, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Mrs. Ladi Bala, during a courtesy visit by NUJ executive oﬃcers to the Presidential Villa in Abuja ... yesterday

Residents, Motorists Lament IPOB Denies Declaring Boycott of Anambra Election “Contrary to the vomit report confirms the Eleke in Awka group is preoccupied with the restoration of a Biafra by of some inconsequential importation and stock piling as Collapsed Bridge Cuts off David-Chyddy fellows, IPOB has no plans to of arms from Pakistan for their The Indigenous People of Republic. According to the statement, attack South-easterners and planned invasion of Biafraland, Biafra (IPOB) has stated that it Towns in Ekiti has not called for the boycott “It is important to note that South-southerners. In the first but we are waiting for them. of the governorship election contrary to speculations, IPOB place, violence is not part of “We are so astonished that a

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

The residents of Ijan Ekiti, Gbonyin Local Government Area of Ekiti State, have raised the alarm that the town and other communities in the council were being cut off from Ado Ekiti, the capital city due to the collapsed of a linking bridge. The bridge, which is located in front of Saint Paul’s Anglican Primary School in the heart of the town, collapsed on Saturday due to torrential downpour and gully erosion. The terrible situation happened barely two weeks the town lost its monarch and Onijan of Ijan Ekiti, Oba Oyewole Fadahunsi, who joined his ancestors after reigning for 19 years. Some of the towns that have found it difficult to access Ado

Ekiti collapse of the bridge are Ijan, Iluomoba, Agbado, Aisegba, Imesi and Ode Ekiti, as well those traveling out of the state to Ondo, Kogi States and the Federal Capital Territory. The bridge that was built before Ekiti State was created from the old Ondo State, was said to have caved in due to persistent erosion and overflow of water in that axis. Another factor identified as the root cause of the collapse was the increasing movements of heavy duty vehicles along Ado-Ijan-Omuo-Kabba-Abuja federal road in recent time. The incident has affected free follow of vehicles along the route as motorists had to resort to other alternative roads in order to manoeuvre their ways from Ijan to Iluomoba up to Irun in Ondo State.

Ekiti Judiciary will Ensure Justice for All, Says Chief Judge Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The Chief Judge (CJ) of Ekiti State, Justice John Adeyeye, has assured residents of the state that the judiciary would continue to give justice to all citizens regardless of their status. The CJ stated this in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, yesterday while playing host to representatives of Justice Development and Peace Initiative (JDPI) Committee. Adeyeye, while applauding JDPI for initiating peace and fighting for justice for all citizens, said: “We will continue to ensure justice for peace and stability. “The state House of Assembly is the organ of the government saddled by the constitution to make laws while the judiciary’s job is pure adjudication and interpretation of laws made by legislators. We will continue to

do these zealously. “I promise to support the committee in areas of public interest whenever the need arises.” The JDPI, led by its Director, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Akingbade, in his remark, congratulated the Chief Judge on his recent appointment, praying for his successful tenure in office. He said this type of visit is a necessity whenever there is change in administration, especially in the justice sector. Akingbade enumerated JDPI’s achievements and activities across Ekiti State and Nigeria at large, to include regular visitation to the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Ado Ekiti, to look after the welfare of awaiting trial inmates, date of their arrest, arraignment, and days spent in remand before judgment among others.

in Anambra State. The Media and Publicity Secretary of the group, Emma Powerful, made the denial in a state made available to THISDAY in Awka, Anambra State capital, yesterday. He said for now, the

has not officially declared ‘no election in Anambra State’. Our preoccupation is Biafra restoration. Anybody equating IPOB strategy with Boko Haram terrorists, bandits and Fulani herdsmen is ignorant and mischievous.

our philosophy. Assuming we want to resort to violence, how can we attack our people whom we are fighting for? “It does not make any sense. But we know their motive for peddling this falsehood as our intelligence

terrorist like Shekau, without a surname, would be the one telling the Biafran people to hate their own while he and his kinsmen openly protect their own terrorists and bandits, maiming and killing them in the Northern region.”

Nasarawa Assembly Passes Judiciary Financial Autonomy Bill into Law Igbawase Ukumba in Laﬁa The Nasarawa State House of Assembly yesterday passed into law a Bill for a Law to Repeal and Re-enact the Nasarawa State Judiciary Financial Management Law and other matters connected therewith.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Hon Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, announced passage of the bill into law during the Assembly proceedings in Lafia. They were optimistic that the bill, if assented to by the state Governor, Abdullahi Sule, will ensure the financial autonomy of the state judicial arm of

government. According to him, “A bill for a law to repeal and re-enact the Nasarawa State judiciary financial management law and other matters connected therewith, is read third time and passed. The law is to assist the judiciary to carry out its responsibilities effectively.”

The speaker directed the clerk of the Assembly to produce a clean copy of the bill for the governor’s assent. “I request the clerk to produce a clean copy of the bill for the purpose of vetting before transmitting to the governor for assent,” the speaker stated

Plateau Employs Whistleblowing to Drive Revenue Seriki Adinoyi in Jos As part of its intense drive for revenue generation in the state, the Plateau State government has employed whistleblowing mechanism, where an individual who discovers information they believe constitutes serious wrongdoing, such as financial malpractice, impropriety, fraud, or non-compliance with the provisions of the Revenue Law,

2020, is expected to disclose it without fear of reprisal. Giving highlights on the state revenue drive development, the Secretary to the State Internal Revenue Service, Mrs. Rahila Olu-Silas said: “Stakeholders engagement is a perquisite to the development of guidelines, policies and legislations”, adding that the whistleblowing guidelines will serve as a legal framework to guide the development of

whistleblowing regulations and any decision to be taken by government. According to the draft whistleblowing guidelines, “The whistleblowing sub-committee will treat any disclosures received from whistle blowers in strict confidence and in a sensitive manner. The identity/identities of individual(s) making an allegation will be kept confidential so long as it does not hinder or frustrate

any investigation. “However, if and when there is a need, the investigation process may require that the source of information and/or the name of an individual making the disclosure be revealed. In such situations, the individual making a disclosure may be required to provide a statement or documentary evidence as part of the requirements for the investigation.

Saddle Club Demolition: Lawyer Backs Police Wale Igbintade

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mr. Olusegun Fabunmi, yesterday defended the police action of demolishing Ikeja Saddle Club, in the IsheriOlowora area of Lagos State last Thursday. Fabunmi, is the counsel to Alhaji Nurudeen Adeoye, who is the alleged owner of 10 acres of land in Isheri-Olowora,

including the land on which Ikeja Saddle Club was built. The lawyer said the police acted to preserve the subject in the course of its investigation of a petition to the Lagos State Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers, following alleged illegal occupation of the property. The club’s counsel, A.A. Osara, petitioned the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone

2, Onikan last Friday accusing his men of “unlawful invasion.” Osara alleged that the disputed land was part of the 1969, 7300 Acres Global Acquisition of the Lagos State Government. But Fabunmi described the claims in the petition as “halftruths, loaded with falsehood”. According to him, Justice Babajide Candide-Johnson of the Lagos State High Court

on May 3, 2016 in Suit No 1D/1352/2001, declared Princess Josephine Momoh as the lawful owner of the property. The judgment was affirmed by the Court of Appeal on November 14, 2019, following which Princess Momoh – in the absence of an appeal – got a court order and was lawfully put in possession of the property by the court appointed Deputy Sheriffs on February 17, 2020.

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS XTRA

Practise What You Preached at UN, Afenifere Tells Buhari Kemi Olaitan inIbadan Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, yesterday called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to put into practice what he said about justice, fairness and equity on the floor of the United Nations when he addressed the global body last Friday. The group while picking holes in the president’s speech, in a release signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, a copy of which was made available to THISDAY, stated that ethnic nationalities and other concerned stakeholders in Nigeria had been calling for dialogue to resolve ‘Nigeria issues’ for long. But they noted that the federal government under President Buhari has not only been ignoring them but allegedly hounding those calling for such dialogue. According to him, “It is interesting, perhaps comforting that the Nigerian authority realises that dialogue is the way to go in resolving knotty issues. It is however hypocrisy of the highest order for this same authority to be prescribing this to foreign authorities while describing those calling for the same thing at home as ‘hate speech makers’

and separatists.” Afenifere insisted that the reform that the President advocated for the United Nations was the same thing those calling for dialogue at home had been calling for, saying, “Why and how our president

considered reform and dialogue as necessary at the global level but consider same as anathema in Nigeria beats one’s imagination. It is called Reform at the global level and Restructuring at home.” On internal security, Ajayi said

the reality on ground belies the president’s claim that terrorists have more or less surrendered to the Nigerian army. “We, as Afenifere, commends the heroic efforts of the Nigerian Army but it is a fact that activities

of terrorists appear to be more expanding rather than receding going by the submission of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, that over 330,000 Nigerian refugees

are languishing in neighbouring countries due to insurgency and armed banditry in the North East and North West as well as Kaduna State Governor El Rufai that advocated for the military to be decentralised.

BEST WISHES ON YOUR JOB…

L-R: Chief Operating Oﬃcer, Enterprise Sales, VDT Communications, Mrs. Bimbo Ikumariegbe; Statistician-General of Nigeria and CEO, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Dr. Solomon Harry and the Director, ICT Department of NBS, Mr. Biyi Fafunmi, during a courtesy visit by VDT Communications to NBS in Abuja...recently

Nigerians Can’t Live with Brent Crude Nears $80 on Rising Demand, Tight Supply benchmark, rose $1.38, or 1.8 due to the fast recovery of fuel with global supply remaining short Addeh inAbujawith Terrorism, Poverty for Next Emmanuel per cent, to $79.47 a barrel, having demand from the outbreak of the of our below consensus forecasts,” agencyreport three straight weeks of gains. Delta variant of the coronavirus Goldman said. 40 Years, PDP Tells Sheriff Oil prices gained on Monday for posted Caught short by the demand Similarly, United States crude and Hurricane Ida’s hit to U.S. Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has told a former Governor of Borno State and aspiring national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, to perish the thoughts APC ruling for 40 years, as Nigerians were resolute in their decision not to allow the party and its associated bloodletting, killings, violations, corruption and economic hardship in the polity, beyond May 29, 2023. PDP’s position was predicated on the assertion by Sheriff that their aspiration was to continue to foist APC in government for the next 40 years, regardless of whatever Nigerians thought of their party by 2023.

In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said Sheriff must know that Nigerians were aware of the desperate plots by the APC and its members that were behind acts of terrorism, banditry, treasury looting, violation of rights and electoral manipulations in the country, to continue to enjoy official cover, using the APC as a platform for their reprehensible activities. According to the PDP, “Nigerians have decided to kick out the APC in the 2023 general election and no amount of manipulations or evil machination can sway that resolve to ensure that the APC does not stay a day beyond May 29, 2023.”

Fatal Accident Claims 13 in Rivers

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

No fewer than 13 persons were reportedly killed in a fatal accident that happened at Akpoku- Udufor Community of Etche Local Government Council of Rivers State. THISDAY gathered that the accident, which involved a Coastal bus and a truck, claimed the lives on Sunday. It was learnt that the bus fully loaded with passengers collided with truck. It was further learned that occupants of the Coastal bus were natives of Afara community in Etche ethnic nationality and were traveling to a community in the neighbouring Imo State for the traditional marriage of one of their sons. An eyewitness at the scene of the accident said it

occurred less than 30 minutes after bus took off. The eyewitness, who gave his name as Chibuike, said the Coastal bus and the trailer involved in the accident collided face-to-face. Chibuike blamed the accident on over speeding, adding that when both vehicles collided the Coastal bus somersaulted several times into the bush. He explained that the younger brother to the groom for the wedding in Imo State, and his wife were among the casualties of the accident. Chibuike also revealed that 11 people died on the spot, adding that about two others died while on the way to the hospital. He feared that more of the victims may not survive in the hospital, noting that they have life-threatening injuries.

a fifth straight day, with Brent at its highest since October 2018 and heading for $80, as investors fretted about tighter supplies because of rising demand in parts of the world. Brent crude, Nigeria’s oil

futures rose $1.44, or 2 per cent, to $75.42 a barrel, its highest since July, after rising for a fifth straight week. Goldman Sachs raised by $10 its year-end forecast for Brent crude to $90 per barrel. Global supplies have tightened

production. “While we have long held a bullish oil view, the current global supply-demand deficit is larger than we expected, with the recovery in global demand from the Delta impact even faster than our above-consensus forecast and

rebound, members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and their allies, known as OPEC+, have had difficulty raising output as underinvestment or maintenance delays persist from the pandemic.

Lagos CP Directs Police to Beef Up Security Ayodeji Ake The Lagos State Commissioner of Police(CP), Hakeem Odumosu, has directed all field Commanders and other Tactical Commanders to beef up security in their areas during this ‘ember months’ period and even beyond. According to the press release

made available to THISDAY, CP Odumosu, gave this directive at a routine briefing with field Commanders, tactical Commanders and Heads of Departments in Ikeja yesterday. Against the backdrop of activities of hoodlums during heavy traffic, the CP charged Divisional Police Officers

(DPOs) and Area Commanders to provide adequate security at road construction sites in their areas to curtail traffic robbery and control gridlock in affected areas in the state. This proactive step, he said, would make the roads secure, safe and more comfortable for motorists and other road users.

Commending officers and men for their selfless service in the face of daunting challenges that daily confront them in the line of duty, the CP admonished them not to be discouraged by the death of CSP Kazeem Sunmonu Abonde who was brutally killed during a raid on criminal hideouts in Ajao Estate on September 23, 2021.

World’s First COVID-19 Attenuation Device, Shycocan, Launched in Nigeria Peter Uzoho Shycocan Corporation, in partnership with Nestar Corporate Services Limited, has officially launched the Shycocan Virus Attenuation Device in Nigeria. The device was developed

by well-known Indian scientist and inventor, Dr. Rajah Vijay Kumar, with Nestar Corporate Services Limited partnering as the official distributor of the device in Nigeria. The cylindrical device, Shycocan was scientifically evidenced to disable and help

curb the spread of the coronavirus in indoor spaces with up to 99.9 per cent efficacy. It enables schools, colleges, homes and businesses like hospitals, hotels, offices, restaurants, auditoriums, transportation, retail, and airports

get back to normal and serve customers in a safe environment. Remarkably, Shycocan also works on all current and future variants and mutations of these viruses, protecting people’s health and saving millions of hours of lost productivity.

FG Restates Commitment to Improving Security on Waterways Ugo Aliogo and Shalom Uzochukwu The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Musa Istifanus, has restated the commitment of the federal government to continuing strengthening safety and security along the waterways, noting that the maritime domain is relevant because of wealth creation.

Istifanus disclosed this yesterday at the inter-agency expert consultative dialogue session on articulation of the implementation plan of Nigeria’s National Maritime Strategy (NMS) organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). He stated that the country’s economy relies heavily on the exploitation of the seaborne

natural resources of hydrocarbon, its transportation and relevance to global energy security. He also noted that in line with promoting security along the coast line, the federal government recently launched the deep blue project with assets worth over $195 million and invested in the acquisition of more patrol vessels and aircraft for the Nigerian Navy.

Istifanus, who was represented at the event by the Director, Airforce Ministry of Defence, Utsuashibel Peter, recalled that the African continent and the regional Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) developed Integrated Maritime Strategies (IMS) as a response to the high volume of insecurities within the continent.

Enugu Diagnostic Centre to Benefit from WAHO Programme The West African Health Organisation (WAHO) has announced Enugu State Medical Diagnostic Centre, Enugu, as one of the beneficiaries of its laboratory strengthening programmes funded by the German Government.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of a three-day conference in Enugu yesterday, being attended by all the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) the Director-General of WAHO, Prof. Stanley Okolo,

disclosed that the laboratory strengthening programmes, which include “both those funded by community levy and those funded by our partners” are in the spirit of taking ECOWAS to the grassroots.

“I hope that Enugu State will maximize the opportunity of being included in West Africa’s network of regional reference laboratories created for the sole purpose of early detection and response to outbreaks and epidemics”, Prof. Okolo added.

TUESDAY, ͺ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

TUESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuag Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.co

0811 181 3083 SMS ON

L’R’ C’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ C’ ’ ’’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ N’’ ’ ’ ’’ ’ B’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’’ F’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’’ ’ ’ NBBF’ ’ A’ ’ ’ ’ ’ M’ ’ ’ K’’ ’ ’ FCT M’’ ’’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ S’ ’ ’ ’ ’ D’ R’ ’ ’ ’ ’ T’’’ ’ ’’ Y’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ S’ ’ ’ ’ ’ M’’ ’’ ’ ’ ’’ S’ ’ ’ ’ ’ D’ ’ ’ ’ D’T’’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’’ ’ ’ ’ ’ N’ ’ ’ A’ ’ ’ ’ ’’ ’ ’ M’ ’ ’ M’ ’ ’’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ P’ ’ ’ ’’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ N’’ ’ ’ ’’ ’ O’’ ’ ’ ’’ C’ ’ ’ ’tt’ ’ ’ NOC’ ’ H’ ’ ’ G’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’’ ’ ’ ’ ’’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ M’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ A’ ’’ ’’ S’ ’ ’ ’’ ’ ’’ A’ ’ ’’ ’’’’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’

Afrobasket: Buhari to Host Victorious D’Tigress O’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ A’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari will organise a state reception at a later date for the impressive national senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, in recognition of their record matching triumph at the FIBA Women’s

Afrobasket Championship held in Yaounde, Cameroon at the weekend. Minister of Youth and Sport, Mr Sunday Dare, made the disclosure yesterday at a reception, he jointly held with the FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Tijani in Abuja for the team and their officials. D’Tigress beat Mali 70-

Osimhen is 'Phenomenal’ Says Cagliari Manager Mazzarri Cagliari Coach, Walter Mazzarri, has showered praises on striker Victor Osimhen after his latest display enabled Napoli to win 2-0 in their Serie A fixture on Sunday. The 22-year-old Nigeria international continued with his goalscoring form in the top-flight after he put his side ahead in the 11th minute before Lorenzo Insigne wrapped up the score with a 57th-minute penalty at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. Osimhen, who had scored a brace against Sampdoria on Thursday, later received a standing ovation as he was substituted in the 77th minute. His latest display caught the eyes of the opposite

coach, who described him as phenomenal and dangerous when with the ball and enough space. “Osimhen is phenomenal because he runs alone at five players and gets through. If you look at genuine scoring opportunities, compared to the number Napoli created lately, I didn’t see that many,” Mazzarri told DAZN as quoted by Football Italia. “We intentionally kept a deep defensive line, because if we pushed higher like the other teams, we’d concede four or five like they did with Osimhen able to run into space. Obviously, Napoli had more possession and attacked more, but this was an intentional approach.”

59 on Sunday to emerge African champions for the third consecutive time to affirm their position as the continent’s queens of basketball. Dare said President Buhari will soon receive the players and the trophy at the State House in appreciation of the gallantry displayed at the continental championship. He described their feat as a befitting 61st Independence Anniversary gift to the country while also congratulating the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) family under the leadership of Ahmadu Musa Kida. “This trophy is not just for the female basketball players, but also stands

as an epitome for every Nigerian athlete who steps out in our colours to represent the country. It shows the way forward and that as we make greater investment and commitment in sport development and our athletes, this country is set to win more laurels,” Dare said. He thanked D’Tigress for putting the country on the basketball global map while stressing that the country is now following a new trajectory that will make it a force to reckon with in world basketball. On her part, the FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Tijani lauded the team for winning the title three times in a row,

saying the victory over Mali was not by a stroke of luck but a deserved win. Two members of the team, Nkem Arakaiwe and Murjanatu Musa were at the reception held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja for the ceremony. D'Tigress returned to Nigeria early Monday morning aboard an ASky flight from Yaounde. Only three members of the team however returned with the coveted trophy while the others travelled back to their clubs and schools in Europe and America. Musa and Akaraiwe who were at the reception in Abuja returned with one

of the team's assistant coaches, Samson Sotuminu. Sotuminu is the coach of Air Warriors, the current champions of the Zenith Bank Women's League. They were led back by the NBBF Vice President Babs Ogunade and Col Sam Ahmedu (retd) of the NBBF and FIBA Africa. D'Tigress Captain Adaora Elonu explained why the rest of the team couldn't return to Nigeria. "The timing is very challenging; it was not the best time of the season for many of us and that's why some of our players couldn't be in camp. "It is the start of season for clubs and schools," she said as waited for her flight back to Russia.

...Zenith Bank Applauds AfroBasket Champions D’Tigress Sponsor of the Nigeria’s women basketball league, Zenith Bank, has applauded the AfroBasket champion, D'Tigress of Nigeria after their historic victory in Cameroon as they become the second country after Senegal to win three consecutive titles. Nigeria defeated Mali 70-59 in the final played on Sunday to make it three titles in a row after the

earlier feats of 2017 and 2019 editions. The Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank, Ebenezer Onyeagwu, congratulated the team for making Nigeria proud. "I am happy they have been able to create another record in the history of basketball on the continent," he said. "We are happy that our investment in the women’s league is bringing out good

fruits. Zenith Bank will continue to invest in sports as we have been doing with the women league in the past 15 years." Meanwhile, the President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Ahmadu Musa Kida, has heaped praises on Zenith Bank for the financial outfit’s investment in the women league, stressing that most of the ladies that made the country proud

are product of the Zenith Bank Basketball League. “Most of these players are product of the Zenith Bank Basketball league. "Some of them are currently in diaspora, but they all started from here in Nigeria and went through Zenith Bank Basketball League,” concludes Kida, the immediate past deputy managing director of Total Nigeria.

TUESDAY, ͺ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

SPORTS Lionel Messi (left) and Pep Guardiola...a reunion of a sort tonight in Paris

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Guardiola: Seeing Messi Play for PSG is Unusual

Former Barcelona legend may line up against City tonight

ep Guardiola admits it is unusual to see Lionel Messi playing for Paris Saint-Germain. The Manchester City boss Guardiola famously led Barcelona to two Champions League triumphs with Messi at the heart of his side. Guardiola could face his former player tonight when Manchester City face PSG in a repeat of last season's Champions League semi-final. "It was a surprise for everyone (that Messi left Barcelona) but that's what happened," said Guardiola. "Everyone now accepts it. "A long time ago you couldn't imagine it but it happened. In life itself you never know what happens. I'm pretty sure he'll be happy in Paris. "His career is exceptional. Hopefully Tuesday he can play for the benefit of the game,” Guardiola. Messi has missed PSG's last two games with a knock but trained ahead of City's visit to the Parc des Princes. Guardiola is expecting a difficult night. He said: "With this amount of quality I don't know how to stop them, they're so good. This amount of talent makes it so difficult. "They were a fantastic team last season. It was a tight game. And now they have Messi." Pep Guardiola and Lionel Messi won 14 trophies together at Barcelona during a fouryear period and the pair have been dominant forces in European football for more than a decade. Since parting ways when Guardiola left the Catalan club

in 2012, no player has scored more goals against his teams in the Champions League than Messi. Their longstanding relationship and Messi's enduring brilliance helps explain why Guardiola tried to sign Messi in the summer. The Argentine instead ended up at Paris St-Germain and will face his former manager in the Champions League tonight. Messi won the last of his four Champions League titles in 2015 when they defeated Bayern Munich managed by Guardiola. The Catalan Coach has never won the competition without Messi, coming close last season when his City side were beaten in the final by Chelsea. They last faced each other in the 2016 group stages when Messi ruthlessly despatched a hat-trick in a 4-0 thrashing at the Nou Camp and scored in a 3-1 loss at the Etihad. Man City on the other hand under Guardiola produced a memorable performance over two legs to beat PSG in last year's semi-finals. Since then the French club have bolstered their already star-studded ranks with the additions of six-time world player of the year Messi, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Achraf Hakimi. Speaking about tonight’s clash in Paris, City midfielder, Riyad Mahrez, said: "PSG have a very good team, more or less the same as last season, adding Messi and (Georginio) Wijnaldum and a few others. "They are stronger this season, they have a bigger squad. It's going to be more or less the same game as last season, very tight."

TODAY PSG v Man City Leipzig v C’Brugge AC Milan v Atletico FC Porto v Liverpool Ajax v Besiktas Dortmund v Sporting CP Shakhtar v Inter R’Madrid v Sherrif

Bindawa: Nigeria’s Olympic Glory Hangs on Golf, Not Athletics A former Board Member of the Nigeria Golf Federation, General J.S Bindawa, has said that Nigeria will not have any back door entry into the summit of sports by devoting most of her resources to football and athletics alone. He insisted that ignoring a game like golf which could fetch over ten gold medals in Olympics was not the best approach to solving the perennial heartaches that comes with returning from the Games with one or two miserable medals. ‘’They say golf has its own federation but I can’t see it’,” said Bindawa who is equally a former Defence Attache to the Nigerian Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan. “I say this because the government never allocates any fund to that body. As at the last time I had a look at that body called the Nigeria Golf Federation, I noticed clearly that it was the Federation’s former President and presently Caretaker Committee Chairman, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola that has been spending his personal money to keep the federation’s secretariat running. ‘’And we are now talking about golf that has overflow of talented youths in every corridor

of the nation. You will not even believe it that the government is not doing anything to harness the talents of these youths. This is grossly unfair. Bindawa recalled how he helped to support youthful players of the game. ‘’I can recall how I put lots of the youths on my hands alone for years. I selected great talents from across all regions of this country and was taking them to youth tournaments across the world at my own expense. I was doing this with the belief that the federal sports ministry would lend a helping hand at some

point. But all this, to no avail. ‘’I equally learned that on two occasions the youths were sponsored to international meets so that their talents could be harnessed, it was this same Prince Oyinlola who paid from his pocket to ensure the nation participated in those meets. Now, tell me how do you grow the game in this harsh manner. ‘’What I cannot even understand is that rather than the government give to golf which is the next big thing in the world, funds are mostly devoted to football and athletics. And mark you, even football

did not make it to the Olympics despite the huge funds spent on it. And if we are thinking athletics would come to the fore to bring us glory at the Olympics, then we are getting things wrong. Golf is the right path I see at the moment. ‘’Again, I think we must get our priorities right. Sports like swimming and golf that command basket of medals at the Olympics should be attended to without any delay. A situation where golf which is being played by over three million Nigerians is completely ignored is unacceptable’

Gen. J.S Bindawa (centre) ﬂanked by some of the youth golfers under his watch

National Youth Games’ Stars Dominate at African Junior Chess Championship Femi Solaja Products of the previous editions of the National Youth Games, Isaac Okeke, Goodness Ekuke and Deborah Quickpen yesterday showed shade of their respective talents on the continent when they emerged champions at the just concluded African Junior Chess event in Accra, Ghana. Aside from the trio who were products of the Youth Games, another Nigerian,

Olanrewaju Obaloluwa in the Under-10 section was second best in his section. In all, Nigeria won four gold and one silver medals. For Okeke, who competed in the highly competitive U-18 category, his resilience in the middle play gave him a big edge over the rest of the pool as he secured perfect score in the Nine-round Swiss event pairing. He will represent Africa at the World Youth Chess

Championship in 2022 Aside the feat, Okeke becomes the latest International Master title holder as he joins the rank of Thomas Oparaugo, Fola Akintola, Dapo Adu, Odion Aikhoje, Bunmi Olape, Femi Balogun, Daniel Anwuli and Ajibola Olanrewaju who had earlier been bestowed with the title. Before this new height, Okeke had represented Ogun State at the 2018 National

Youth Games in Ilorin where he won gold on board three. Just like Okeke, another Youth Games product, Ekuke excelled in the Under-10 category where he defeated all contenders and won a gold medal in the section. The feat at the Accra tourney also earned him Candidate Master title by the World Chess Federation (FIDE). In the same vein, the youngest player to have ever participated in the

National Youth Games, Deborah Qiuckpen who represented Bayelsa at the last biennial event extended her doggedness on the chess board as she secured a perfect score in the Under-8 category and will represent Africa in the same category at next year’s World Cadet Chess Championship. For her brilliancy at the last games in Ilorin, the organisers of the event gave her a special award as the

youngest player when she represented her State, Bayelsa at age six. She has also joined the rank of Nigerian chess players with Woman Candidate Master title holder. Another Nigerian player, Obaloluwa also excelled at the event and he is expected to be part of the team for the global event next year. In all, nine countries participated in the annual tournament.

Tuesday September 28, 2021

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“Presidency should rotate between North and South, for peace to reign. No matter what, the South is not in short supply of good leaders. If anybody from the North wants to contest for the presidency again in 2023, that person doesn’t love this country at all. What has been helping us is the rotation of the presidency” – President of Christ Apostolic Church Nigeria and overseas, Pastor Samuel Oladele, advising the North, after Buhari’s eight years.

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Concession Plan for Four Nigerian Airports

adi Sirika, Minister of Aviation has since announced the proposed concession of four of Nigeria’s major airports: Murtala Muhammad International Airport Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt International Airport, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Despite huge investments in these airports, they have continued to operate at sub-optimal levels, and have emerged as poster units for gross inefficiency. The concession which could last for 20 to 30 years, extendable on the grounds of good performance, would involve only the non-aeronautical assets of the airports. It is essentially a public-private partnership, with the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) still in control of the aeronautical operations. In August 2021, the Transaction Advisors for the new model issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ), a call for interested parties to submit their bids. Sirika argued that the concession of the airports will boost the country’s revenue and grow the country’s air transport value chain. He assured industry workers that there will be no job losses on account of the concession. Private sector involvement was expected to raise the capacity and profile of the airports. Every company interested in the aviation sector PPP was expected to have a minimum net worth of N30 billion. Interested international parties were asked to partner with local companies in line with Nigeria’s local content development policy. Private investors will own, upgrade infrastructure, operate and recoup their investments - a win-win “Nigerian Airports Concession Strategy”. Airport concession is a popular private public partnership option in the global aviation industry. In Brazil, Japan, France, and Eastern Europe investors engage in similar deals. In 2009, the London Gatwick Airport was subjected to the same process. Other airports around the world in this class include the La Guardia in New York, the Western Sydney Airport in Australia, Clark Airport in Manila, Sangster International Airport in Jamaica, and Sofia Airport in Bulgaria. Back home, Nigeria had its first experience of airport concession in 2003 when as part of the early efforts of the Nigeria Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), the Second Terminal of the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, the Domestic Wing in Lagos was

Sirika handed over to Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL). Concession agreements require diligence, certainty, integrity and the sanctity of contracts. But what we observe is that the current Airports Concession Strategy is about to end up like that other big project under Hadi Sirika’s watch as Nigeria’s Aviation Minister: that is, the proposed launch of a national carrier called Nigeria Air. The national carrier was unveiled in 2018 at the Fanborough International Airshow in England. The National Assembly approved money for it. We were told aircraft had been ordered. Minister Sirika continued for a while to tell us that the national carrier would be airborne before 2023. Hmm. Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, reportedly said the project was not getting off the ground, and had to be suspended, due to “investor apathy.” We seem to be travelling the same route with the concession plan involving the aforementioned four airports. Sirika must be worried that he is fast becoming the promoter of big ideas that die and end up as a waste of state resources and everyone’s energy and time. As someone who has had significant experience in the aviation sector, he

should know better, and can do better, but we have not yet seen any concrete evidence of his “expertise and experience.” It is particularly striking that no investor of serious concern, except maybe one or two, has responded to the RFQ issued by the Federal Government in August for the four airports under concession. Last week, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation announced an extension of the deadline by four weeks, now ending October 25, 2021. Will the investors seize this new opportunity and rush in to make their bids? No. I suspect we would end up at this same point by that same deadline. There are international investing groups that are strictly interested in airport concessions around the world. They jump at every opportunity. It is their field of play. For them to have ignored Nigeria so blatantly says something about our country’s business environment and the intelligence profiling of Nigeria’s aviation sector. It has nothing to do with the COVID-19 pandemic. What we are dealing with as in the case of the suspended Nigeria Air project, is simply investor apathy. There is Adebayo Ogunlesi, a Nigerian who bought three UK airports, including Gatwick. in six years. Has he shown interest in Nigerian airports? Why should investors snub Nigeria’s aviation sector? The evidence is in full sight. Nigeria is an uncertain and unstable business environment. Nigerian authorities also do not respect agreements. Aviation requires humongous, long-term investment. It is not a portfolio, the-tree-branch-breaksthe-bird-flies kind of investment. In the Aviation sector with regard to concession, a major trigger of apathy among other investors would also be the maltreatment of the Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), the first company to run, upgrade and sustain an airport in Nigeria under a PPP arrangement. Bi-Courtney is a Nigerian Company. It is a veritable demonstration of the workability of the Federal Government policy on local content development. But the same Government has been at war with BASL over the concession for more than ten years. Under the agreement signed with the Federal Government of Nigeria, BASL was meant to maintain the MM2 as it is known for 36 years. A new government unilaterally reduced that to 10 years without reference to the agreement. BASL was also in 2003 granted the concession to run the GAT terminal of

the Murtala Muhammad Airport, the old domestic wing of the Lagos Airport. A new Nigerian administration also blocked that. Bi-Courtney went to court and won, all the way, to the Supreme Court. Nonetheless, the Federal Government of Nigeria has pointedly ignored its own Supreme Court. And on top of it all, Bi-Courtney which has “a right of first refusal” over the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) in Lagos is not even being given a chance. I can understand the obsession with the fact that foreign investors are not forthcoming – who wants to do business in a country and a sector where no one respects agreements and things can change overnight? I also understand why the Federal Government says state governments of Nigeria should not submit any bids – those who mismanage Nigeria know and understand each other. The sub-nationals are even worse than the Federal Government. State governments should in fact also concession their own airports, and the airlines that they have set up. There is no guarantee that those investments will live beyond the particular Governor who put them in place. Extending the deadline for the submission of bids for the concession of the four airports under reference may not change anything. The Federal Government must review its strategy and be seen to be prepared to act in good faith. It must ensure a level playing field for every interested stakeholder in the private sector. It must respect the judgements of the Supreme Court in the matter between it and Bi-Courtney and demonstrate respect for the sanctity of contracts and agreements. It must also show political wisdom. With the current tone and flavour of Nigerian politics, it would be an invitation to crisis to concession an airport in Lagos without Yoruba involvement, the Aminu Kano airport without the major or minor investor being a Northerner, or the Enugu Airport without Igbo representation, or the Port Harcourt Airport without the people of the South South being in charge one way or the other. This may not be ideal but it is nothing unusual in this context. In some other parts of the world, community-based stakeholders and their interests are prioritised. What Nigeria’s Airport Concession Strategy needs is a re-think, a re-set, transparency and a heavy dose of common sense, the lack of which has so far hobbled Minister Sirika’s plans.

The Brewing Crisis in Warri

very step must be taken by the Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the DElta State Government, and the security agencies to prevent what appears to be another emerging round of crisis over the ownership of Warri. For more than 50 years, the Itsekiri and the Urhobo have fought over ownership of land in Warri municipality, and the appropriateness or otherwise of the traditional title, Olu of Warri. The battle has been fought in the law courts in Nigeria and the United Kingdom in such cases as Suit No. W/44/57, Suit No. W/121/57, Suit No. W/41/57, The Supreme Court in SC67/1971, Ometa vs. Chief Dore Numa 1934 11 N.L.R 18. Agbassa land, for example, is one of the most contested areas of Warri, namely Ejeba, Oteghele, Ogunu, Ekurede Urhobo, Igbudu and Ikpokiti. But the Itsekiri insist that they are the true owners of the land and that in fact the Agbassa are customary tenants to the Olu of Warri as determined by the Privy Council in 1941 and the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1971 and 1972. The Itsekiri further insist that the Agbassa Urhobo will remain their tenants forever. Beyond the law courts, this conflict over ownership of land, tenancy and customary rights has resulted in bitter feuds between both groups. There is also an Ijaw dimension to a three-way aboriginal confrontation in Warri. In 1997, the relocation of the Warri South Local Government Headquarters from Ogbeh-Ijoh (Ijaw land) to Ogidigben (Itsekiri land) resulted in absolute chaos and the death of more than 80 persons and the destruction of lives and property. The Ijaws believe that the Itsekiri always try to marginalise them. The Itsekiri, less populous than the Ijaws made early contact with

European traders and gained a relative advantage in education, commerce, and even subsequently in other areas of life. This has caused over the years, great resentment against the group from their immediate neighbours: the Ijaws, Isokos, and the Urhobo. The sovereignty especially of Warri is a source of unending irritation between the Itsekiri and Urhobo. In 1997, there was war on all fronts: Itsekiti vs Urbobo, Itsekiri vs Ijaw. In 1952, when the area now known as Delta State was part of the defunct Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s government reversed the title of then Olu of Itsekiri to Olu of Warri, the original title of the Olu for more than 400 years. Other ethnic groups kicked. The main conflict between the Itsekiri and the Urhobo may have been over land, but there is politics involved too. And it is ironic: both groups have lived together for centuries. They inter-marry and have children together. Most Urhobos are half-Itsekiri and vice versa prompting the popular quip that the inter-ethnic conflict between them does not get to the bedroom. In 1999, a dispute over land in Ajagbodudu resulted in bloodshed between the Urhobo and the Itsekiri. The mutual distrust among the ethnic groups in Delta State and indeed, the entire South-South is not merely about land or the politics of domination, but how certain stakeholders at various times, seek to exploit these differences for their own advantage. The Niger Delta Basin accounts for about 90% of Nigeria’s oil and gas. Oil was first discovered in an Ijaw community in Oloibiri in 1957. Whereas the people of the Niger Delta are all marginalised relative to other parts of Nigeria, which feed on oil and gas proceeds, the in-fighting among

the same people is accentuated by personal and group needs for access to a per centage of the raw wealth that runs through their communities. It is trite law that whoever owns the land, owns whatever is attached to it. South South Land owners and other stakeholders are entitled to a share of the oil largesse, no matter how small, and to patronage from oil establishments. My suspicion is that the problem is the opportunistic elite in the Niger Delta. They take advantage of everything. They project personal interests as group concerns. They deploy foot-soldiers who have never heard of the Willinks Commission, or derivation, resource control, the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to kill and maim over primordial sentiments. They are at it again. The trigger this time is the emergence of a newly installed Olu of Warri, Atuwatse III, Emitshola Emiko. One of the fall-outs of the Coronation has been the resurrection of an Urhobo group known as Waado. The group has been very active on all social media platforms. It is not a new group, but it has re-invented itself to throw up old and volatile issues of sovereignty in Warri. The group’s message is simply that there is no such thing as an Olu of Warri but an Olu of Itsekiri and that the way to settle the matter this time around is to change the name of Warri to Waado City. “Waddo”: is an Urhobo word, a generic term which means “gentleman.” Urhobos ordinarily great each other at a gathering: “Ürhobo Waado” or “Mimi Waado”, accompanied by a native, responsorial call. The major towns in Waado City as outlined on Facebook by one Omonire Isaac Ovwigho include Edjeba, Ogunu, Okere, Ughotor, McDermott, Igbudu, Ibo market, Main Market, Iyara, Deco Road, Esi Layout, Okumagba

Layout, Enerhen, Ekpan, Jedo, Jakpa, Effurun, Osubi, Udu, Eekte, Ovwian, Aladja, Oko-Okuoko, Otokutu, Ugbomro, Agbarho, Airport Road, Ekurede Urhobo and all surrendering (sic?) areas” whatever that means. The Waado group has also posted audio messages online urging Urhobo youths to stand up to the Itsekiri. They are threatening to organise an anti-Itsekiri protest on October 1. I have seen at least a petition against this “Waado City Group” by an Itsekiri Group – the Itsekiri Interest Group (ING) titled “RE: Promoting Inter-Communal War, A Felony: Contrary to the Provisions of Section 42 of the Criminal Code Law CAP C21 Laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2008: A Formal Petition Against Dr Ejiro Imuere, Omonire Ovwigho and His Cohorts, Self-Styled “Wado City Group”. The Itsekiri Interest Group (ING), like the Itsekiri Renewal Movement (IRM) before it, is opposed to the request that Warri be renamed Waado City. They claim this is illegal, provocative and an attempt to breach the peace. They want Governor Okowa, in his capacity as Chief Security Officer of the State to nip what may end up as a “deadly crisis” in the bud. Nobody needs a bloodbath in Warri. Both Governor Okowa and the relevant security agencies should wade into this matter and prevent a certain breakdown of law and order. As we have seen in Ife-Modakeke, Tiv-Junkun, Aguleri-Umuleri, Southern Kaduna, the authorities tend to act too little too late, and when pundits cite the failure of intelligence, they claim innocence. Such an excuse would be foolish in this case. The threat is well known. The dangers have been communicated in advance. Any form of leadership failure will be unreasonable.

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