THURSDAY 15TH OCTOBER 2020 by THISDAY Newspapers Ltd

W’Bank, IMF Plan Debt Reduction for Nigeria, Others Bank approves $12bn for COVID-19 vaccine IMF Chief: Africa needs $1.3tn funding Nume Ekeghe The President of the World Bank Group, Mr. David Malpass, has said he is in talks with the Managing Director of the International

Monetary Fund (IMF), Ms. Kristalina Georgieva on how to provide debt reduction and succour to Nigeria and other International Development Association (IDA) countries that had been hit by the

COVID-19. The plan is to ensure that COVID-19 doesn’t plunge the IDAs into debt crisis. Malpass disclosed this during a virtual media briefing yesterday at the ongoing

Annual Meetings of the IMF/ World Bank in Washington. Also at a separate media briefing, the Managing Director, IMF, Georgieva, estimated that the cumulative funding needed for Africa

between now and 2023 to get out of the COVID-19 health and economic crisis would be about $1.3 trillion. She also urged IMF membercountries to grant additional concessionary loans and low-

interest financing to Africa to aid the continent bridge the financing deficit. Speaking about an impending global debt crisis, Continued on page 8

Emeﬁele: All Shipping Documents Must Satisfy Form NXP Requirements... Page 6 Thursday 15 October, 2020 Vol 25. No 9320. Price: N250

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Protesters Adamant, Reject SWAT, Insist on Holistic Police Reform Demonstrations ground more cities as thugs attack demonstrators in Abuja, Lagos Adeboye endorses #ENDSARS marches IBAN condemns brutalisation of reporters Our Correspondents Despite the approval of their five-point demand by a presidential panel and the creation of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, to replace the disbanded Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), the #ENDSARS

protests entered its eighth day yesterday as protesters continued their nationwide demonstration, insisting on holistic reforms of the police. The protest, which got the backing of the General Overseer of the Redeem Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Continued on page 8

Groups Begin Protests in 19 Northern States over Insecurity Today Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Barely four months after the Chairman of its Board of Trustees (BoT), Mr. Nastura Shariff, was arrested and detained by the police in Abuja for organising a protest over insecurity in Katsina State, the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), yesterday vowed to commence today a wave of marches in the 19 northern states to protest rising insecurity in the region.

The non-stop protests, according to the group, are aimed at drawing the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari and the 19 northern states governors to the plight of the region. CNG said the ineptitude and an apparent failure of elected and appointed leaders from the North to either protect the lives and property of northerners or address the myriad distresses Continued on page 8

LATEST MONARCH... Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Ahmed Bamalli (left), and Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, during a visit of the emir to the governor in Kaduna…yesterday

Omo-Agege Faults Zamfara Gov’s Sale of Gold to CBN...Page 5

THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2020 â&#x20AC;¢T H I S D AY

THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2020 â&#x20AC;¢ T H I S D AY

THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2020 â&#x20AC;¢T H I S D AY

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NEWS

Group News Editor Ejiofor Alike Email Ejiofor.Alike@thisdaylive.com, 08066066268

Omo-Agege Faults Zamfara Gov’s Sale of Gold to CBN

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, yesterday kicked against the recent sale of gold bar by Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), saying the governor has no right to sell the mineral resources that belong to the federal government. Omo-Agege who spoke during Senate plenary, while contributing to the general debate on 2021 budget, wondered why a state governor will have the audacity to sell gold bar to the apex bank. According to him, the gold found in any state belongs to the federal government, adding that the revenue generated from such mineral resources like gold are to be shared among all the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT). He said: "Not too long ago, we saw the Governor of Zamfara State come before the CBN to present a gold bar worth close to about N5billion. The gold bar was presented for sale to the CBN. Mr. President, our people are beginning to wonder who owns this gold that is being sold to the CBN. "They don’t sell oil in any of the Niger Delta states. I am wondering why the governor of a state should be selling gold bar from Zamfara State to the CBN. There are two problems with that. We believe that whatever revenue that ought to come from that transaction belongs to the entire country and not to the state government. That is number one and we should actually look into that. That is an area we really need to develop. There is

a lot of revenue that could come from there that will take the burden from these international borrowings.” It will be recalled that Item 39 under the Exclusive Legislative List of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) states that mines and minerals including oil fields, oil mining, geological surveys and natural gas are exclusively under the control of the federal government. Also, the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007, which was passed into law on March 16, 2007, to repeal the Minerals and Mining Act, No. 34 of 1999 for the purposes of regulating the exploration and exploitation of solid materials in Nigeria vested the control of all properties and minerals in Nigeria in the state, and prohibits unauthorised exploration or exploitation of minerals. The Act further stated that all lands in which minerals have been found in commercial quantities shall from the commencement of the Act be acquired by the federal government in accordance with the Land Use Act. Commenting on the budget, Omo-Agege canvassed for sustainable peace in the Niger Delta region so that the daily oil output can be realisable. He said: "For us to be able to achieve the 1.86million barrels per day, certain things must be in place. We must maintain the peace in the Niger Delta Region before we can achieve this. Mr. President, when I say this, it begins to sound like a broken record. Every day, for those of us who represent the Niger Delta, we hardly sleep. We are very

FG, ASUU Resume Negotiations Today Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The federal government negotiating team led by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, will meet with the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) today in a bid to end the over six months strike by the university lecturers. A statement signed issued yesterday by the Deputy Director of Press and Public Relations at the ministry, Mr. Charles Akpan said "Ngige will be hosting a meeting with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Thursday, October 15, 2020". ASUU had called out its members on an indefinite industrial action following their opposition to federal government's move to enforce the use of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), salary payment platform. Efforts to convene negotiations so as to resolve the dispute failed due partly to restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, hope that the strike action would soon be resolved emerged on Tuesday when ASUU was summoned to a meeting by the Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan along with Ngige. The meeting, chaired by

Lawan, also had in attendance, the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, the Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris and the ASUU leadership led by the President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi. Addressing journalists after about the three-hour closed session, Ngige had said, “ASUU has demonstrated to us, how the UTAS they developed could work but the demonstration will continue. “We will involve other government agencies who would also come and assess it. Discussions on it are not foreclosed yet. “UTAS is a homegrown software. It is what we call local content that Mr President is encouraging. It will be considered by the government,” Ngige added. ASUU had rejected the IPPIS as it embarked on an indefinite strike on February. The Senate President, Lawan, told the meeting that the current impasse between ASUU and the federal government was an ill-wind that would not do any of the two parties any good. The Senate President asked the two parties to find a middle ground to resolve their differences.

worried about every concern because these people are the golden eggs that take care of this economy. "But Mr. President, they are jobless. There is nothing for them to do. It is very important that

the youths of these communities are engaged. The only way to engage these youths is for the oil companies, who explore oil in these communities in the Niger Delta that they help in creating jobs for the youths and the only

way to do that is to have their business operations headquarters located within the Niger Delta. "In the absence of this, you will have all the youths participating in this agitation against SARS. The only reason

they are in the streets is because there are no jobs to engage them. Once again, I want to appeal that the oil companies doing businesses in this country should relocate their headquarters to the region".

MINISTERS AT WORK... L-R: Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Alhaji Isa Pantami; and Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), during a virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council in Abuja ...yesterday GODWIN OMOIGUI

No More Destructive Interference in State Chapters, Says APC Plans national membership registration exercise Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Chairman of the Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, has said that his committee has created a level-playing ground for all party members, and has allowed the state chapters to run affairs of the party in their domain without unnecessary and destructive interference. This, he said, has ushered in a much-needed regime of internal democracy within the party, as was obvious in the handling of the various primary elections that were coordinated in the last few months by the caretaker committee. Buni has also told the state chairmen of the ruling party that his committee is already strategising on the national membership registration exercise and urged them to commence the procedure for full sensitisation and the needed awareness for a successful membership registration exercise in their various states. The Yobe State governor disclosed these yesterdays during a meeting with the state chairmen of the party at the national secretariat in Abuja. He stressed that having taken over the management of the party’s affairs in the

circumstances familiar to all party members a few months ago, the committee has taken and implemented a number of open-door policies to revamp and improve the lots of the party both internally and with respect to the party’s integrity and acceptance nationally. Buni added that this has led to a number of positive results, which include the resolution of several internal disputes in several state chapters of the party. He stated: "These much and as the anchor of the Committee’s modus-Operandi, we have made the decisions and have effected procedures that among several other, have: Created a level playing ground for all members of the party, inclusive of state chapters to run affairs of the party in their domain without unnecessary and destructive interference from external interests, for as long as the laws and regulations of the party are duly abided by "This has consequently ushered in a much-needed regime of internal democracy within the party as was obvious in the handling of the various primary elections that were coordinated in the last few months by the committee, and the manner of the conduct of the recent Ondo state election that the party won." Buni noted that the committee has embarked on massive conflict

resolution in the party across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). He stressed that the party has been able to reach a compromise that demands the withdrawal of all internal litigations against the party, to allow for internal resolutions and settlement of disputes. He said it would not have been possible without the full support and collaboration of party chairmen across the states of the federation. Buni also pleaded with the chairmen to use their offices to ensure the full withdrawal of such litigations that may still remain within their domain before the next National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the party. "Please, also allow me to use this opportunity to inform us all that the need for our party to undertake a national membership register update is sacrosanct to our strength and preparation for all upcoming and future electioneering outings. "The committee is already at the table strategising on the national membership registration exercise. The responsibility is on you as able state chairmen to commence the procedure for full sensitisation and needed awareness for a successful membership registration exercise in your various states as we all wait for the final briefing from

the committee," Buni said. Speaking on behalf of the state chairmen of APC, Borno State APC Chairman, Mr. Bukar Dalori, said the chairmen were pleased and proud of what the committee has achieved so far, stressing that of specific note was that the party is getting more united, with more people joining. He noted that the last weekend success in Ondo State was a reflection of the party’s successes. He added that the plans for new membership registration was in accordance with section 9.4 of the party’s Constitution, which provides that a register of members shall be compiled and maintained at the Ward level has met with the approval of Party Members across the country. Dalori cited a recent ultimatum to the caretaker committee by a group calling themselves “Concerned All Progressives Congress members”, adding that the group is unknown in the party. He stated the APC Chairmen unanimously condemned any attempt to distract efforts of the Caretaker Committee from the commendable work it has been doing. Dalori said the ruling party has recognisable processes through which members can lodge any legitimate grievance, saying that shadowy groups, with questionable agenda cannot claim any concern for the party.

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NEWS

Emefiele: All Shipping Documents Must Satisfy Form NXP Requirements James Emejo in Abuja The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has insisted that shipping companies must ensure that all shipping documents carry the mandatory NXP number in compliance with federal government’s directive. Form NXP is used for commercial exports. The apex bank had in October 2019, pursuant to powers conferred on it by the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring & Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1995 to issue guidelines regulating export and import trade transactions in collaboration with relevant governmental entities issued a circular tagged Automation of Form ‘NXP’ on the Trade Monitoring System (TRMS). As provided in the CBN’s Revised Foreign Exchange Manual, 2018 (the Revised FX Manual), any person intending to export any product from Nigeria shall, in the first instance, process the Nigerian Export Proceeds Form (generally known as Form NXP) through an authorised dealer bank, irrespective of the value and whether or not payment is involved. Addressing shipping

companies during a virtual meeting held in Abuja yesterday, Emefiele said a circular outlining the procedure for cargo shipment would soon be sent out to shipping lines and relevant agencies including the Nigerian Shippers' Council, Ministry of Finance, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and security agencies, among others in order to enforce compliance. There had been allegations of foreign exchange infractions perpetrated through shipping lines which often violate existing regulations meant to entrench transparency in the use of forex. But Emefiele said: "We are going to set up an auto system, where if someone wants to send cargo, copies of the NXP form will be sent directly to you - so that if you don't have it online on your system that the NXP has been registered, you turn back that cargo. "You cannot accept any number and use it as a basis for shipping. We are not going to allow that. That is not acceptable. If you don't see NXP Forms, that cargo should be turned back.” Emefiele noted that a recent audit had revealed that several shipping companies were found wanting in observing extant shipping regulations, adding that

non-compliance would attract strict sanctions going forward. However, the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive, Nigerian Shippers' Council (NSC), Mr. Hassan Bello, said the council in partnership with

the apex bank has carried out three sensitisation meetings in Lagos and Port Harcourt to educate shipping companies and exporters on the need to implement the directive on the NXP.

According to the Head of Public Relations of NSC, Mrs. Rakiya Zubairu, Bello said the council would work with other agencies of government to ensure full compliance, so that export without the NXP is discontinued.

Shipping companies at the virtual meeting included Maersk Line Nigeria Limited, Ocean Network Express Nigeria Limited, MSC Nigeria Limited, Golden shipping Company and Grimaldi Nigeria Limited.

GAS AFFAIR... L-R: Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma; Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva; and PresidentGeneral of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nwodo, at the South-east Gas Utilization Forum 2020 in Owerri…yesterday

FG Seeks More Powers to Seize Proceeds of Crime Udora Orizu in Abuja

The federal government has approached the National Assembly seeking for the creation of an agency with more powers to freeze and seize stolen public funds and assets. President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday sent the Proceeds of Crime Recovery and Management Bill to the House of Representatives for legislative work and passage into law. The bill will improve the ability of law enforcement agencies to seize, freeze, and confiscate stolen assets in Nigeria while observing all related constitutional and human rights laws.

This was contained in a letter to the House, which was read at the plenary by the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila. Buhari in the letter said that the bill was presented to the Federal Executive Council in council memo EC (2020)159 on September 16, 2020, and was subsequently approved tor transmission to the National Assembly. He stated that the bill was passed by the National Assembly in 2019 but was not granted assent due to some issues that were identified during the review. He explained that the bill is essential and critical in building an enduring and sustainable

foundation for the fight against corruption, money laundering and illicit movement of stolen funds through the banking system and across the Nigerian borders. He said the bill will also improve the ability of law enforcement agencies to seize, freeze, and confiscate stolen assets in Nigeria while observing all related constitutional and human rights laws. The letter read in part, “Please recall that this bill was passed by the National Assembly in 2019 but was not granted assent due to some issues that were identified during the review. ''The Proceeds of Crime Bill is essential and critical

in building an enduring and sustainable foundation for the fight against corruption, money laundering and illicit movement of stolen funds through the banking system and across the Nigerian borders. The bill will also improve the ability of law enforcement agencies to seize, freeze, and confiscate stolen assets in Nigeria while observing all related constitutional and human rights laws.'' ''This bill will also address the problem of lack of transparency, accountability, and lack of credible records associated with the current procedure in the management of recovered funds by anti-corruption

agencies and other institutions in Nigeria. An important feature of the bill is the creation of the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Agency. The objects of the Agency include the enforcement and administration of the provisions of the Bill and the coordination of the recovery and management of the proceeds and instrumentalities of unlawful activity in Nigeria in all collaboration with anti-corruption and other law enforcement agencies.'' ''Most importantly, the agency will ensure that Nigerians can benefit from proceeds of crime by ensuring that once recovery is made, the properties and assets

will be secured and that the final forfeitures granted through a court order can be paid into the Confiscated and Forfeited Account to be domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria. “These funds will be used for development projects approved by the National Assembly under the annual Appropriation Act and also support the work of the law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies.'' “It is my expectation that the House of Representatives will give the bill expedited hearing and passage into law given the importance of the bill in generating revenue tor the country.”

FEC Approves N85.24bn Lagos Road, Kano-Maiduguri Highway Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the award of contract for the dualisation of section-one of Kano-Maiduguri road at the cost of N63 billion. It also approved the reconstruction of the 8.1 kilometers Apapa-Oworonsoki-Ojota road at the cost of N22.24 billion, bringing the total cost of the contracts to N85.24 billion. The Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed, disclosed these yesterday while speaking with State House correspondents in Abuja at the end of the weekly FEC meeting. He said the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, presented a memo to the council for the reconstruction of Apapa-Oworonsoki-Ojota Phase Section Two, which was approved by the council. Mohammed stated: “You will recall that in 2018, the federal government approved an award of contract to Dangote Industry for the sum of N72 billion. By the time the award was made,

there was this section of the road that was in fairly good condition. But with the construction of the Oworonsoki project coming to an end; it now makes better sense to include that section which was fairly good. "This contract was awarded today for the sum of N22,247,332,000. But you must know that this is one of the projects being awarded under Infrastructural Tax Credit Scheme. In other words, it is awarded to Dangote and Dangote will construct it and over the years, it will be deducted from the tax payable by the group. It is one of various means of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) that this administration has embraced. "It is not only restricted to Oworonsoki-Apapa road, it is the same system that is being used in Obajana-Kaba Road. Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) is also using the same formula for the bridge to link Bonny and Bori in Rivers State. "Another memo which he presented was for the award of contract for the dualisation

of Kano-Maiduguri road. That is Section One. That is KanoWudil-Shuarin section. This is about 560 kilometres contract between Kano and Maiduguri. The section awarded today is actually more of approval for an estimated total cost. They found out that at the time of the award of the contract, certain conditions have to be known. He sought for a revision and an increment in the sum of N8 billion which will bring the total cost of the contract to N63 billion. It was approved by council today." The Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, presented a memo for the supply, deployment, installation, testing and commissioning of security equipment for seven railway stations at the cost of N1,208,335,464.60, to the FEC. He said the security equipment would be installed in Idu, Rigasa, Jere, Kubwa, Kaduna and Kano train stations, adding that the contract was awarded in favour of Messrs Avonics Services Nigeria Limited, inclusive of 7.5 per cent tax with a completion period of

12 months. The Director-General of Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Mr. Mamman Ahmadu, revealed that a memo on e-government procurement was also presented to FEC. He explained that e-government procurement has the potential of improving procurement process, eliminating corruption and reducing the delays in the procurement process itself. Ahmadu noted that there have been a lot of complaints about the long time it takes to go through the due process, adding that with the establishment of this, it would reduce the time. "The e-government removes subjectivity from the process. There have been lots of complaints about subjectivity in the approval process that will be dealt with squarely when it is eventually launched. "E-government procurement is a global trend and from the research carried out by the World Bank, it had been established that countries that have taken off with e-government procurement have

witnessed exponential economic growth and they have stimulated ICT in those countries. "It will reduce corruption to the barest minimum because it will reduce the human interface within the process. The overall cost is about N1.6 billion." Speaking, the Minister of Power, Mr. Saleh Mamman, said a memo was presented to the council seeking approval for Nigeria’s contribution to the 2020 budget of the West African Power Pool (WAPP) - a specialised agency of ECOWAS. He said it was important to recognise that participation in this regional market would also generate immediate foreign exchange for Nigeria as the oil revenue is dying. "The pool is about having synergy within the West African region. The decision has been taken by ECOWAS. It’s for the generation of electricity of the region, so as to have a more constant and steady power supply. It’s like the national grid in Nigeria, now we are going to have a regional grid. It means

in case there is a failure in one country, another can supplement. The $2 million is a contribution." The minister said that WAPP is made up of all West African countries, stressing that each member-state contributes annually to the cost of power transmission across the pool. Mamman stated: "It’s a common pool and every country has its own section and our contribution for this year is $2 million. It’s not as if we are giving $2 million to ECOWAS, we are simply paying our own contribution for the transmission from Nigeria to other African countries and viz-visa. Every country has to give its contribution. Nigeria’s contribution this time around is about $2million." Also, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Ali Pantami, said FEC has approved a national policy on virtual engagements in federal public institutions, adding that it was a joint memorandum between his ministry and the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2020 â&#x20AC;¢ T H I S D AY

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PAGE EIGHT PROTESTERS ADAMANT, RE JECT SWAT, INSIST ON HOLISTIC POLICE REFORM Adeboye, yesterday grounded more cities, including Awka and Yenagoa even as demonstrators continued their agitations in Lagos and Abuja in spite of attacks on them by some hoodlums. In Lagos, the protesters defied the heavy rain and gathered in different parts of the state to reiterate their demand for holistic police reforms that are beyond rhetoric. They insisted that the creation of SWAT was not part of their initial demands for reform, saying, however, that if SWAT should be allowed to exist, only graduates should be recruited into the unit, and that no member of the disbanded SARS should be recruited. One of the leaders of the protests and social advocate, Mr. Japheth Omojuwa, said part of their demands is that the government should identify and arrest the officers who shot and killed innocent protesters. At the Lekki end, the protesters again besieged the Lekki Tollgate and grounded vehicular movement as they chanted ‘End SARS,’ ‘END SWAT,’ ‘End Police Brutality,’ and ‘Bring brutal policemen to justice,’ amongst others. The rains did not deter them as they simply bought raincoats and umbrellas while some publicspirited persons provided them with hot meals to keep them warm. At the Alausa area of the state, attempts by hoodlums to hijack the protest and turn it violent were repelled strongly by the protesters. Those arrested were first treated and then handed over to the police where they confessed to have been allegedly paid by an unnamed person to disrupt the protest. In Alagbado area, things went awry as two persons were feared dead during the protest while several others had a varying degree of injuries. In a viral video, the bodies of two persons were carried by some youths just as the carcass

of a special utility vehicle and a tricycle showed it was vandalised. According to eyewitness account, the silver SUV was said to have run into the protesters, allegedly killing two and leaving several others with injuries. The protests also spread to Iyana Ipaja, Igando, Onikan, Oworonshoki, Ojodu-Berger, Amuwo Odofin, Ajegunle amongst others. In Amuwo Odofin, the protest was led by Arch Bishop Samson Mustapha of Resurrection Praise Ministries International (aka Jehovah Sharp Sharp). Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command has arrested and commenced the orderly room trial of the policemen who harassed some female protesters in Surulere on Tuesday. According to the state Police spokesman, SP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, “Lagos CP Hakeem Odumosu has arrested and commenced orderly room trial of the policemen who harassed this lady in Surulere yesterday. We don't condone unethical and inhuman actions.” Following the state-wide protest, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), advised residents to stay at home or avoid certain routes if they must go out. Speaking on a live TV programme, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olajide Ojuyoye, advised the residents to explore other means of communication. “So, if where you are going is not paramount or of ultimate importance, I think you should abort and postpone. The protesters are fluid. They can block any road at any time. “Do whatever you need to do by other means of communication. Except you are an employee and your employer forces you to come to work,” he said. He advised residents to avoid Muri Okunola, Alausa, and Ozumba Mbadiwe, saying commuters should use the Third Mainland Bridge-Nnamdi Azikiwe-Eko Hotel route to access the island.

“To return, go through Ojota-7up-Magodo and then walk. But as I said earlier, the protesters’ movements are fluid,” he explained. In Abuja, many people were injured while vehicles were vandalized when pro-SARS protesters and hoodlums attacked EndSARS activists at the Julius Berger Intersection in Utako and Wuse. Machetes, knives, clubs and other weapons were freely used during the clashes. The clashes started when the pro-SARS elements emerged in trucks and lorries to challenge the ENDSARS campaigners for blocking the road. The confrontation led to the total lockdown of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Road, Herbert Macaulay Way and Obafemi Awolowo Road- the three major roadconnecting to Julius Berger roundabout. Those injured were taken to hospital for proper care. FCT Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bala Ciroma, confirmed the clashes between the two youth groups. He said the timely intervention of the police officers prevented the situation from deteriorating. Ciroma also said no fewer than five vehicles were vandalised, adding that the Police authority which had made no arrest so far had commenced investigation to determine what actually transpired. He said: ''Well, today, being 14th of October, 2020, there was a convergence of protesters at Berger Roundabout. The protesters were divided into two, those protesting against SARS and those for SARS. While we deployed our men to ensure law and order, these groups came into the arena, and before we knew it, there were hot exchanges between the groups. ''However, the timely intervention of the police officers prevented the situation from deteriorating and we have commenced an investigation to determine what actually happened. ''There were five vehicles

vandalised and so far, no arrest has been made and no casualty seen. We have deployed quite a number of our men to the various parts of the city.'' He, however, urged the demonstrators to allow calm to return so that economic activities can pick up. But one of the leading voices of the protests, Ms. Aisha Yesufu, urged protesters not to relent in their demand for a total reformation of the Nigeria Police Force. She made the call in a video uploaded on her Twitter handle, @AishaYesufu, yesterday morning. Yesufu was reacting to the leadership tussle rocking some of the voices of the #EndSARS campaign. She advised the protesters not to be distracted by the leadership tussle but “to keep eye on the ball.” However, another leader of the protesters and activist, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, has alleged that some individuals have made billions of naira from the negotiations to put an end to the nationwide protests. Sowore said this in a tweet yesterday while reacting to reports that business leaders and some social media influencers had entered into negotiations. He tweeted: “I will not be part of any negotiations regarding #ENDSARS, many have entered into these negotiations and come out of the other side becoming billionaires, to them it is a game! The only negotiation I will ever engage in is that of the surrender of our oppressors! #RevolutionNow.” Protesters grounded commercial activities in Awka, calling for a total reform of the Nigeria Police Force. The protesters also demanded the prosecution of a former SARS boss, CSP James Nwafor, who headed the squad in Anambra, accusing him of killing and maiming countless number of young people. Dressed in black attires, the protesters marched through

various streets of Awka to the Anambra State House of Assembly, the government house and blocking the Enugu-Onitsha expressway at Aroma junction, causing serious traffic gridlock in the city. Socio-economic activities were also partially paralysed in some parts of Effurun and Warri in Delta State as hundreds of protesters again stormed the major roads kicking against the disbanded SARS and the newly created SWAT unit. The youths, monitored by a detachment of policemen, marched from Shoprite popularly known as Delta Mall in Effurun Roundabout, through Effurun-Warri Sapele Road, Jakpa Airport, Enerhen and Deco Junctions and rounded up at Estate Roundabout, all in Uvwie and Warrior South Local Government areas. While the protests raged, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his Osun State counterpart, Governor Gboyega Oyetola, and First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, urged youths protesting against police brutality to remain calm and allow their elected representatives to take up the challenge. Speaking at the 20th National Women virtual conference of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, the governor appealed to the youths to allow the effects of the protests to go down and allow the government to play their roles in meeting their demands. He said: "I want to humbly request and appeal to our youths that their voices have been heard; their grievances have been well taken; their cause is a just and important cause. We have listened to them and listened to them very well. Government more than ever before will do things differently and positively. We can all see the efforts we have started since yesterday and today going forward. "I want to appeal once again that because of the global

pandemic that we have witnessed over the last six to seven months, the youths should let the effects of the protest go down. And they should know that their voice has been heard, let the government play their roles and play them well."

no confidence on those office holders and elected leaders who have abandoned the bulk of northerners to the mercy of a vicious insurgency, destructive banditry, rape and sexual assaults, violent communal clashes amidst mounting poverty and entrenched fear of widespread kidnappings for ransom." It urged northerners, who would participate in the peaceful protest to conduct themselves peacefully, while urging the government to respect their rights to protest. It said: “In the unfolding scenario, the CNG hereby inevitably arrives at the following observations and inferences: “That the federal government appears not keen on resolving the lingering dispute with the Academic Staff Union to enable the recommencement of university education. “In the light of the foregone observations, the CNG has no

other option but to direct the extension of the protests to all northern states, commencing from Thursday, October 15, 2020. “By this, all CNG state chapters and student wings are mandated to resume the mobilisation of responsible sections of the civil society, NGOs, women groups, professional associations, artisans and concerned parents in their respective states for the continuation of our protests started in Katsina State in June.” CNG said it would lead the protest to: “Demand the federal government to immediately declare a state of emergency on security and take practical steps to end all manifestations of insecurity in northern Nigeria and other parts of the country. “Demand thorough reorientation of the entire police force and its empowerment by way of additional personnel, modern training and adequate equipment to be able to reclaim

its universal internal security function. “Mount pressure on leaders to show real commitment to protecting the lives of citizens, ending the prolonged closure of our universities, reconsidering hiked commodity prices, reducing youth unemployment, and checking the rise in poverty level. “To declare the agreement reached by labour with the government on new electricity tariff unacceptable and demand the immediate, unconditional reversal to the old rates.”

billion to expand our fast-track COVID response for the purchase and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments.” While responding to questions on what was needed for countries in Africa return to the path of economic growth, Georgieva said: “The continent of Africa is being severely hit and as a result over the next years between now and 2023 - $1.3 trillion financial gap and that is what Africa needs. Out of this, as of today, we still do not know how we would fill $245 billion. “We have to make it possible raise resources for Africa with Africa and for that, we need the

African countries themselves to concentrate on ambitious reforms to make themselves more attractive for investment from the private sector and also to be more capable to mobilise domestically finances for the recovery from the crisis for growth in the future. We also need the international partners of Africa to do more. “The fund in the last six months has done 10 times more than what we do in an average year. We have provided to the continent of Africa $26 billion in emergency financing and other types of financing and of this, close to $16 billion went to Africa."

IBAN Demands Prosecution of Operatives over Brutalisation of ARISE TV Reporters The Independent Broadcasting Association of Nigeria (IBAN) has called for immediate investigation and sanctioning of security operatives that brutalised reporters of ARISE NEWS Channel covering the ongoing nationwide protest. In the first attack incident in Abuja last Sunday, police operatives had assaulted the crew, Mr. Ferdinand Duroha, a cameraman and his reporter, Mr. Francis Ogbonna. On Tuesday, another staff of the broadcast station was reportedly brutalised by a soldier in Abuja while also covering the protest. IBAN in a statement issued yesterday, signed by its Chairman, Mr. Guy MurrayBruce, wondered why even in a democratic dispensation, securities operative were still operating without recourse to their rules of engagement as concerns to media coverage of events. It said such incidents rightly belong to the ignoble past when military dictatorships ruled the land, adding that one would have expected that 21 years into a democratic dispensation, our security agencies would have imbibed a culture of civility. IBAN, however, called on all the leadership of the police and armed forces to curb the propensity of their rank and file to violate the rights of citizens to protest and freely express themselves. Continued on page 37

GROUPS BEGIN PROTESTS IN 19 NORTHERN STATES OVER INSECURITY TODAY the region faced had pushed them to the wall. Addressing a press conference in Abuja yesterday, the spokesman of the group, Mr. Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, said while the elected and appointed leaders of southern Nigeria were quick to identify with their people at the time of need, their counterparts from the north, including Buhari; the Senate President, Dr. Ahmed Lawan; senators, House of Representatives members, governors, state legislators and other government appointees abandoned the people in northern communities exposed to crime, insecurity and other violent crimes without any form of protection. He vowed that the ‘#EndInsecurityNow protest’ will continue until their demands are met. He said the coalition had followed developments around

the bold and necessary steps taken by Nigerian citizens in some parts of the country, including some northern states to call attention to the deteriorating national security and other pressing concerns around the dwindling economy, prohibitive commodity prices, rising inflation amidst mounting poverty and prolonged stay at home by university students. The CNG commended what it described as the progression of the citizens' action that climaxed with government's swift response to one of the concerns raised with the scrapping of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) and its immediate replacement with Special Weapons and Advanced Tactics Team (SWAT). It, however, lamented that despite several protests and pleas by northerners, the authorities never deemed it fit to extend the swift spirit deployed against SARS into securing the north, or

addressing the myriad distresses faced by northerners. It pointed out that the sudden scraping of the FSARS has now created a huge vacuum in the fight against dangerous crimes that particularly threaten the very existence of most northern communities. The coalition said while it welcomed the creation of the SWAT to replace SARS, it called for expeditious action for the improvement of the professionalism of the personnel to be drafted through reinforcement, retraining, equipment update and improved welfare. It said it was imperative that henceforth, all formations of the SWAT be monitored by officials of the National Human Rights Commission and members of the Police/Community relations to forestall the FSARS breaches. The group said: "We publicly condemn and pass a vote of

W’BANK, IMF PLAN DEBT REDUCTION FOR NIGERIA, OTHERS Malpass said: “The tendency in past debt crises is for countries in debt distress to go through a series of ineffective debt rescheduling that leaves them weaker. Creditors may eventually allow them to get to a debt reduction process, but at a tremendous cost to the poor. We need to work better and faster this time. “While there’s been G20 discussion of a common framework on debt treatment, it’s important that it not just kick the can. Given the urgency of the debt crisis, the IMF and World Bank have proposed that we undertake a joint action

plan on debt reduction for the most indebted IDA countries. We’ll discuss it this week with governors during our annual meetings. It’s urgent to make rapid progress on a framework because the risk of disorderly defaults is rising.” He added: “The scale of the challenges ahead is staggering; so, we need to do more. With the strong support of its shareholders, IDA has frontloaded IDA-19 resources to the fullest possible extent as a key part of the surge in our commitments this fiscal year. "However, IDA lending would have to decline in the

next two years even though the latest forecasts, including those just announced by the IMF, suggest that the reduction in economic activity will extend well into subsequent years. We are proposing to IDA Deputies later this month a $25 billion supplemental COVID Emergency Financing Package. We’ll be grateful, as always, for your support.” He further said the bank had approved $12 billion for COVID-19 vaccines. He said: “On a positive note, I am happy to announce that yesterday afternoon, our board approved a package of up to $12

TOP GAINERS NGN NGN % ETERNA 0.43 4.81 9.8 ACADEMY 0.02 0.29 7.4 AFRIPRUD 0.31 5.70 5.7 CORNERSTONE 0.03 0.63 5.0 PZ 0.20 4.20 5.0 TOP LOSERS NGN % E-TRANZACT 0.21 1.91 9.9 WEMABANK 0.03 0.55 5.1 COURTVILLE 0.01 0.20 4.7 FCMB 0.09 2.26 3.8 ARDOVA 0.45 12.00 3.7 HPE Nestle Nig Plc ₦1,175.00 Volume: 218.424 million shares Value: N3.139 billion Deals: 3,896 As at yesterday 14/10/2020 See details on Page 33

THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Panic as Katsina Volunteers Kill 11 Suspected Bandits Francis Sardauna in Katsina Tension has enveloped the resident of Wurma community in Kurfi Local Government Area of Katsina State, following the killing of 11 Fulani people, suspected to be bandits by volunteers popularly known as Yan-Sakai. The victims mostly youths, were suspected by the volunteers to be the bandits terrorising Kurfi, Dutsin-ma and Batsari Local Government Areas of the state. The state Governor, Aminu Bello Masari has banned the activities of volunteers for aiding banditry, kidnapping and other heinious activities bedeviling the state.

THISDAY reliably gathered that the outlawed Yan-sakai from Kurfi and Batsari followed the victims to Wurma market on Monday, where they arrested and whisked them away to Dutsin Karare where they slaughtered them like sheep. Investigation by THISDAY further revealed that the suspected bandits have been on the wanted list of the proscribed Yan’sakai for three months for allegedly launching mayhem on the community. A resident of Wurma, who craved anonymity, told THISDAY yesterday that those murdered were responsible for the prevailing insecurity afflicting the community and other neigbouring villages in

the area. He said: “The 11 Fulani people that were slaughtered by Yan-Sakai were the people who invited bandits from Zamfara, Sokoto and other neigbouring states to attack our village last year. “During the attack last year, they killed 17 people and kidnapped over 40 women and children and forced hundreds of people who survived the attack to abandon the community. The Fulani people want to take over our ancestral home but Allah

will not allow them”. The Katsina State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Gambo Isah, while confirming the development to journalists yesterday, described the action of the volunteers as gruesome and unconstitutional. He explained that the command has since launched manhunt for the perpetrators of the act, adding that investigation was ongoing to unravel the circumstances that led to the death of the victims.

Isah, a superintendent of police said: “We met the 11 bodies slaughtered and we are suspecting Yan-sakai for the inhuman act; their action contravened the constitution of Nigeria. It is unconstitutional for anybody to take law into his hand. “We are working hard to arrest those who carried out the act to face the wrath of the law. No sane society will condone this kind of act and that was why the Katsina State Government banned

the activities of Yan-Sakai in the state”. However, the slaughtering of the suspected bandits by the volunteers has thrown residents into panic over fear of reprisal as hundreds of them flee the community to Batsari and Kurfi towns. Meanwhile, the Chairman of Wurma Youth Community Development, Mr. Muhammed Yahaya has appealed to the state government and security agencies ensure security in the community.

PDP Govs Declare New Police Act Unconstitutional Kick against deductions for Police Trust Fund Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum has called for a repeal of sections of the Police Act recently accented to by President Muhammadu Buhari, insisting that they breached the Nigerian Constitition. This was contained in a communique issued yesterday after a Zoom meeting held by the PDP governors. The communique was signed by the Chairman of the forum, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, who is also the governor of Sokoto State. The governors among other things, urged the president and the National Assembly to repeal Section 4(1) of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (Establishment) Act, 2019 which “purportedly authorises the President to deduct

0.5 per cent of the total revenue accruing to the Federation Account for the benefit of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund.” According to the governors, the said deduction is patently unconstitutional. The communiqué read in part, “The meeting noted the signing of the New Nigeria Police Act, 2020 by Mr. President, Commander in Chief. “While acknowledging the many important innovations in the new law, the Forum emphasised the need to make the Nigeria Police Council, which has Mr. President as Chairman and 36 state Governors as members, fully operational and the clearing house on all issues bordering on the organisation and administration of the Nigeria Police Force as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

UPHOLDING ETHICS OF JOURNALISM…

L-R: Former Governor of Ogun State and Chairman of the Governing Council of Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Chief Olusegun Osoba; former Registrar of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), Mr. Garba Bello Kankarofi; Head of Department of General Studies, NIJ, Mr. Adeboye Ola; Head of Department of Mass Communications, NIJ, Mr. Mike Osuji; Provost of NIJ; Mr. Gbenga Adefaye; and Deputy Chairman of Governing Council of NIJ, Mr. Ray Ekpu, at the hoisting of flags and unveiling of Code of Ethics of NIJ’s professional bodies at NIJ, ogba, Lagos… yesterday

APC Expels Only Female Lawmaker in Ondo Assembly James Sowole in Akure The All Progressives Congress (APC), has expelled a member of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon. Tomomewo Favour. The expulsion of the lawmaker, came barely four days after the October 10 governorship election in the state, which was won by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, also of the APC.

Tomomewo, representing Ilaje Constituency II on the platform of the APC, is the only female lawmakers in the state assembly. She was expelled from the party by the exco of her ward - Mahin Ward IV, for alleged anti-party activities before and during the just concluded Ondo State governorship election. Specifically, the lawmaker, according to a letter signed by Mr. Olamigoke Ajimuda

and Mr. Omowole Taid, the Ward Chairman and Secretary, respectively, was accused of working against the interest of the party in various polling units during the election. The lawmaker was also accused of directly mobilising for the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), contrary to the provision of the Constitution of the APC, which sponsored her to the state House of Assembly. She was also accused of

exclusively funding members and activities of the ZLP against the interest of the APC before and during the election. Tomomewo was one of the lawmakers that refused to sign the notice of removal of the state Deputy Governor, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, who contested the governorship election against Akeredolu. Ajayi, contested on the platform of the Zenith Labour Party.

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command yesterday confirmed the drowning of three children of police officers in a pool of water at Eket barracks. Speaking to journalists, Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Odiko Macdon, described the incident as “painful and shocking.”

He said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Amiengheme Andrew, received the news of the sad incident with rude shock and disbelief. “The three of them were children of two serving police inspectors in Eket division, we commiserate with the families, it is indeed painful. “We understand that the

pool of water is used for erosion control, it is more painful because this is preventable,” he said. He urged policemen residing in barracks to be more vigilant to avoid tragic occurrences, saying, “we should keep an eye on the welfare of our family members, they are the reason we work.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the scene reports that the pool has been cordoned off to avoid further incidents. A bereaved family member, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN that the incident occurred on Tuesday, and that the children were aged between 5 and 7.

FG Arraigns Ex-ministry’s Accountant over Diverted School Feeding Fund Three Children of Policemen Drown in Akwa Ibom

The federal government yesterday arraigned a former accountant with the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Matthew Inabo, on charges of diversion of about N45 million meant for the federal government’s Home Grown School Feeding and Health Programme. Inabo pleaded not guilty to the amended 24 counts read to him before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja. He was accused of committing the alleged offences while he served as the Head of Accounts Section of the school feeding scheme in 2007. In the charges filed by Aminu Alilu on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation on October 12, 2202, the prosecution the defendant of fraudulently altering cheques and making false representations to defraud the government through the school feeding scheme. After the defendant took his plea, the prosecuting counsel, Alilu urged the court to remand the defendant in prison. However, the defence lawyer,

Mr. Abiodun Olusanya, argued that his client had been previously granted bail. He urged the court to allow his client to continue with the bail in the same terms and conditions. The judge granted the defence lawyer’s request but added that the defendant must deposit his passport with the court. The judge adjourned till December 7 for trial. Part of the charges against the defendant read, “That you Matthew Inabo of No. 35 Road, House 12 Gwarimpa on or about the 6th of June, 2007 at the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja did commit an offence to wit: you knowingly made false representation with intent to defraud the Federal Government by causing the payment to yourself of the sum of N8,000,000 which you inserted in Oceanic Bank (now EcoBank) cheque No: 05477474 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(2) (b) of Miscellaneous Offence Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation 2004 and punishable under the same section of the Act”.

Military: How We Arrested Gana’s Second-in-command, Fachii Igbawase Ukumba in Laﬁa The military has explained how the second- in- command of the leader of the Benue militia leader, the late Terwase Akwaza AKA Gana, Mr. Kumaor Fachii, was arrested. The Commander of the 4 Special Forces Command of the Military Doma, Major General Gadzama Ali told journalists in Nasarawa that Fachii was arrested in Agbi village in Katsina -Ala LGA of Benue State. Ali, who paraded the suspect,

said: “36 days back, the dreaded Gana was paraded here before you people, I mention that some of his kingpins have been arrested. “Some of them are on the run and we are in pursuit of them; this afternoon, the gentleman seated before you is the second -in-command, after the episode that we have with the dreaded Gana, some school of thought were saying that his second in command have inherited all his powers, everything “Lo and behold, our troops have gone in pursuit of them,

and today seated before you is Mr. Kumaor Fachii AKA commander, second-incommand of the dreaded Gana that has inherited his magic. “He is the 76th person now that we have, apart from Gana and the other four that have gone to where they belong. “I can assure you that all the Gana gang members will be in our dragnet, so far our men are out there and Fachii has spoken so much about what is obtainable on the ground.” Ali said the suspect was arrested in his girlfriend’s room

during a night operation of the troops. But Fachii told reporters he was not the second- incommand of Gana’s gang but the second- in -command of one among the groups Gana was operating. “My name is Kumaor Fachii, I started in 2018 with Gana; before then, I was an ‘Okada’ man before I joined them in the bush. I used to collect money from Takum road from passengers and other road users and we return all the money to Gana.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2020 Ëž T H I S D AY

NEWS

Eight Wisemen Ascend the Apex Court

he Senate on Tuesday confirmed eight new Supreme Court justices, bringing to 20 the number of justices at the apex court. The confirmation of the nominees was a sequel to the request of President Muhammadu Buhari in September to the Senate to approve the appointment of eight new Supreme Court justices. Those confirmed by the upper legislative chamber and ready for swearing in any moment from now, are: Justices Lawal Garba, Helen Ogunwumiju, Abdu Aboki and Ibrahim Mohammed Saulawa, Adamu Jauro, Justice Samuel Oseji, Tijani Abubakar, and Justice Emmanuel Agim. Alex Enumah profiles these eight wisemen

Adamu Jauro Justice Jauro before his elevation to the bench of the Supreme Court was presiding Justice of the Makurdi Division of the Court of Appeal. Born on June 26, 1959, the Gombe State indigene commenced his academic pursuit at the Central Primary School, Gombe between 1965 to 1971. While he attended Government Secondary School, Bauchi from 1972-76, Jauro was also at the School of Basic Science, Zaria from 76 to 77 before proceeding to the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he bagged an LLB in law in the year 1980. After his call to Bar, Justice Jauro joined Ministry of Justice in Bauchi State 1983, and later to moved to ABU on secondment as Assistant Lecturer and later rejoined Ministry of Justice, Bauchi State. He was in active service in the prosecution department and rose to the rank of Director Public Prosecution from 1991 to 1996 before he left for newly created Gombe State. He served in various capacities at the Gombe State Judiciary and was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Gombe State until 2007, when he was elevated to the Court of Appeal bench. He served in various Division of the court including Lagos, Ibadan, Jos, Port Harcout, Yola. Apart from holding a Masters degree in Law from the University of Jos, and another Certificate from the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Jauro is a also a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management and other notable bodies. Mohammed Lawal Garba Justice Garba had his Primary and Secondary School education at Demonstration Primary School in Maru and Science Secondary School in Gusau respectively. He obtained his Law degree from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and was called to the Nigerian Bar after his one year training at the Nigerian Law School. He has worked in Sokoto State and in Zamfara state as a Chief Judge before moving to the

Federal High Court. Later, he was elevated to the position of a Judge at the Court of Appeal. He was the Chairman of the Presidential Elections Petitions Tribunal for 2019. Tijjani Abubakar Justice Abubakar hails from Base Local Government Area of Yobe State. Born on April 15, 1960, Justice Abubakar started his legal career as a Pupil State Counsel in the Borno State Ministry of Justice in 1982 and rose to a Principal State Counsel in 1988. He was at various times Permanent Secretary, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Yobe State. The 1982 law graduate of the University of Maiduguri, however ventured into private practice as Principal Partner of Tijjani Abubakar and Co, until 2004 when he was appointed a Judge of the Federal High Court. Eight years later, 2012 to be Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Muhammad precise, Abubakar was then appointed a Justice of the Court of Appeal. He was serving at the Oseji was elevated to the Higher He proceeded to the Nigerian Lagos Division of the appellate Bench as a Judge of the High Law School in Lagos where he court until his recent appointment Court, Delta State in 1998. In graduated in 1986. He The jurist holds an LLM from as Justice of the Supreme Court. 2007, he was appointed as a Abubakar had his early member of the Governorship and the University of Wolverhampton education at Gashua Central Legislative Houses of Assembly in the United Kingdom. From 2004 to 2008, he was at Primary School between 1966 and Election Tribunal in Katsina State. In 2009, he was appointed the Court of Appeal, The Gambia 73 and Government Secondary School, Gashua in 1973-77. He as the Chairman of the Delta crowning it with the President also attended School of Basic State Local Government Election of the court from 2007 to 2008. In 2008, he was elevated to The Science, University of Maiduguri Petition Appeal Tribunal. In 2010 His Lordship, Justice S.C. Oseji Gambian Supreme Court bench between 78-79 before proceeding to University of Maiduguri in was further elevated as a Justice and became the Chief Justice of of the Court of Appeal the country from 2009 to 2012. 1979 to read law. From 2010 to 2014, Justice Agim He was called to the Bar in Abdu Aboki was Justice of the Supreme Court 1983 after graduating from the Justice Aboki was born on August Swaziland. Nigerian Law School in 83. 5, 1952. He hails from Kano State Upon his return to Nigeria at the Samuel Chukwudumebi Oseji and had his secondary education end of his sojourn abroad, Justice Justice Oseji hails from Idumuje in Government Secondary School, Agim sworn in as a Justice of the Unor in Aniocha North Local Hadejia between 1967-71 and post- Court of Appeal on November 5, Government Area of Delta State secondary at Abdullahi Bayero 2012 by the then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mariam but was born in Jos, Plateau State College, Kano from 1972-73. The jurist atteneded the Mukhtar. to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Ebenezer Oseji. Helen Moronkeji He obtained his LL.B degree and the University of Washington, Ogunwumiju from the University of Nigeria, Seattle, USA He was called to the Nigerian Justice Ogunwumiju graduated Nsukka in 1984 and proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Bar in 1977 and started his career from the University of Lagos Lagos for his BL degree and as a Legal Officer with the Kano 1977. She was then called to the was subsequently called to Bar Civil Service after his NYSC in Nigerian Bar 1978. Ogunwumiju 1978. worked in the Ondo State Ministry in 1985. Justice Aboki was appointed of Justice as a State Counsel for He also obtained his LL.M from the Ambrose Alli University in State Counsel, Ministry of Justice, two years in the Civil Litigations Kano between 1978-82, while as Department. She went on to work 2003. His working career commenced Principal State Counsel between with the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria as a Legal Aid Counsel in August 1986, when he got an 1982 and 83. Before his elevation to Chief and rose to become Assistant appointment with the Legal Aid Council as a Legal officer in Registrar, High Court of Justice, Director, Legal Aid Council in Charge of the defunct Bendel Kano State, Aboki served as 1988. In 1991, Ogunwumiju joined State but later transferred to Solicitor General/ Permanent Secretary, as well as Director, the Judiciary, advancing through Benue State. In 1994, he transferred his Public Prosecution, Ministry of the ranks as Chief Magistrate; Secretary, Judicial Service service to the Delta State judiciary Justice, Kano State. In 1987 he was however Commission, Oyo State; Probate as a Senior Magistrate Grade 1. In January 1996, he got double appointed a Judge of the High Registrar and Chief Registrar, Oyo promotion to the post of a Chief Court of Kano State and Justice of State, Nigeria in 1997. In 1998, she the Court of Appeal in 2006, where was elevated to the High Court of Magistrate Grade 1. The same year he was he served in various divisions Ondo State, Nigeria, and was later appointed as the Deputy Chief of the court before his recent elevated to the Court of Appeal, Registrar and then acting Chief elevation to the Supreme Court. Nigeria in 2005. From 2013, she was the Presiding Justice, Court Registrar of the High Court of of Appeal, Enugu Division. Justice, Delta State. In April 1997, Emmanuel Akomaye Agim She is a member of the Nigerian he was confirmed as the first Justice Agim hails from Obudu substantive Chief Registrar in in northern Cross River State and National Association of Women was born April 26, 1960. He Judges, as well as the British/ the state. In recognition of his honesty, studied law at the University of Nigeria Law Forum, the World dedication and hardwork, Justice Calabar and graduated in 1985. Jurist Association and the

Commonwealth Magistrates and Judgesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Association. Hon. Helen Ogunwumiju is also a Salzberg Seminar Fellow, and the Lord Chancellor of the Ibadan Diocese of the Anglican Church Communion of Nigeria. Ibrahim Mohammed Saulawa Justice Saulawa is an indigene of Katsina State in the North West geopolitical zone of Nigeria and was born on September 29, 1956. He holds an LLB degree from the Bayero University, Kano in 1981 and a postgraduate certificate in Practice and Procedure, and Legislative Drafting from the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. He equally holds a Certificate of Instruction for Legal Practitioners (Arbitration) from Harvard Law School, MA, USA. Justice Saulawa was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1982 and also did his compulsory NYSC programme as a Pupil State Counsel in the Ministry of Justice, Kaduna State same year. He, however, commenced his career as a private legal practitioner in the Chambers of Messrs Ahmed Usman & Associates, Kaduna State in 1983. He later became a Magistrate on Grade II at the Kaduna State Judiciary in 1983 and later as Chief Magistrate in Katsina State Judiciary in 1987. However, in 1991, he was appointed as Deputy Chief Registrar, Court of Appeal and served in the Lagos, Jos and Kaduna Divisions of the Court. In 1993, he was appointed as substantive Registrar, Court of Appeal, Lagos and a Judge, High Court of Justice, Katsina State in 1994. However, he returned to the Court of Appeal in 2006 but this time as a Justice of the Court of Appeal. He has served in the various Divisions of the court. He was the Presiding Justice of the Ilorin Division before his nomination to the Supreme Court Bench.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2020 • T H I S D AY

2020

1988

THIS IS INTELS - PROUDLY NIGERIAN! The history of INTELS in Nigeria is a long story which began in 1982 INTELS has enjoyed 35 years of partnership with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and has actively and substantially contributed to the increase in Government revenue; INTELS has, by itself and in conjunction with its affiliates, built and developed over 7 km of equipped docks in different Nigerian port locations (Onne, Calabar, Warri and Lagos), more than 6 million square meters of industrial facilities and over 2.000 housing units; Through its substantial investments over the years, INTELS has played an indispensable role in facilitating and enhancing the operational activities of the major oil companies in the country, providing them with invaluable services and facilities based on efficiency and productivity; INTELS has always favoured, in the development of its business making extensive use of local suppliers and manpower, thus contributing to the country’s economic well-being as well as the local economy and the social fabric in which they operate; INTELS activities have created employment for over 10,000 personnel, including direct and indirect employees of third parties, utilising less than 100 expatriate staff members; INTELS periodically allocates resources to support widespread community projects by initiating the development of new entrepreneurial initiatives, promoting sports activities aimed at young people and implementing structural assistance, including non-routine maintenance where required; INTELS has made a significant contribution to the creation of the largest FREE ZONE in the world dedicated to oil & gas related activities. INTELS was heavily affected by the COVID-19: pandemic at global level during this period, nonetheless: • It has never interrupted its activities, thereby guaranteeing the continuity of the service provided to all OIL & GAS Companies; • INTELS and its affiliates have made a major real estate investment in the Lagos area worth over USD 1 BLN; • It has funded and built two COVID-19 clinics in the Onne area.

OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE AUTHORITIES: INTELS regrets the constant attacks on it perpetrated through the media which do not reflect the truth and the purpose of which is not understood; INTELS is constrained to point out that such actions create significant economic and reputational damage, creating dismay and confusion among customers, with consequent inevitable damage to the NPA itself; INTELS has invested more than USD 1 BLN in the above-mentioned initiatives in Nigerian ports which no entity could have financed and which, once the remaining debt of USD 800M has been paid off, will be at the exclusive disposal of the NPA and the Nigerian Government; INTELS has made a significant contribution to capitalising the NPA by establishing an agreed mechanism for debt repayment through part of the proceeds from pilotage. It should be remembered that a substantial part of the proceeds of the pilotage activity, managed by Intels in its role as agent, then flow into the NPA coffers, to via the accounts indicated by the NPA, according to a mutually supportive mechanism tested and hitherto working smoothly; INTELS would be happy to enter into a constructive dialogue with the NPA in order to find suitable solutions to drastically reduce the indebtedness accrued up to now, also with the support of the banking system, but it would be necessary to re-establish a climate of serenity and dialogue, which has been interrupted. In recent months INTELS has implemented a new governance structure that has enabled it to include among its partners institutional stakeholders capable of strengthening the company's entrepreneurial profile and eliminating any political influence.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Dialogue With #EndSARS Protesters, Falana Tells FG Adeboye endorses protests Only irresponsible govt hires thugs against protesters, says PDP Ejiofor Alike Human rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana, has urged the federal government to dialogue with #EndSARS protesters and meet their demands. This is coming as the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, yesterday endorsed the nationwide protests. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also yesterday warned against the hiring of thugs to attack protesters in the country, saying that only an irresponsible government can hire thugs to attack protesters. Speaking on a live TV programme yesterday, Falana argued that if the government is negotiating with terrorists and kidnappers, it should also dialogue with the protesters. He also urged the InspectorGeneral of Police (IG), Mr. Mohammed Adamu, to order his men to protect #EndSARS protesters from being attacked by hoodlums. “I will like to call on the government to stop allowing armed thugs or hoodlums to attack protesters who have conducted themselves peacefully, maturedly and patriotically. “If everybody had recognised that these young men and women played positive roles

in drawing the attention of government and the authorities to the crisis in the Nigeria Police Force, they should not be attacked. In fact, the law says protesters shall be protected by the police. “The Police must protect protesters. “The President has a duty today to reconstitute the Nigerian National Human Rights Commission. “The Accountant-General of the Federation has a duty tomorrow to open an account that will warehouse the money that has been earmarked under the Police Trust Fund to fund the police. “My advice to the President is to get all the agencies of government to carry out their statutory duties. “The government must engage in dialogue with the leaders of the protesting group. After all, the government is negotiating with terrorists and kidnappers. So, why don’t you negotiate with patriots like the young men and women that are protesting all over the country? “There has to be a fullfledged Inquiry that will support a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to sit in the open like the Oputa Panel and investigate the atrocities of all the extrajudicial killings by SARS agents. “If the government can put all these in place and these can be done in three days, the

young men and women can now be persuaded to leave the streets. “I have been speaking with some of them and they have been saying if they leave the streets, nothing will happen. So, let the government roll out the resolves and actualise its promises,” Falana explained. Meanwhile, the General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Adeboye, has endorsed the #EndSARS protests. Adeboye made his position known in a tweet yesterday evening. “Our daughters will not be able to prophesy and young men will not see visions if we don’t keep them alive. “I support the youths in this peaceful protest as they “speak up” to #EndPoliceBrutality #EndSARS #ENDSWAT.” In a related development, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, has warned against the hiring of thugs to attack protesters in the country. He said this yesterday a few hours after #EndSARS protesters were attacked in Lagos and Abuja. According to the PDP’s spokesperson, it will be irresponsible for any government to send thugs to attack youths holding a peaceful protest. “Only an irresponsible government will hire thugs to engage peaceful protesters.

Family Demands Justice for Protester Killed in Surulere The family of 55-year-old Ikechukwu Iloamauzor, who was allegedly killed by a stray bullet during Tuesday’s protest in Surulere area of Lagos against police brutality, have called for justice. The Traditional Ruler of Ibagwa Nike Community in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, Igwe Emmanuel Ugwu, who spoke on behalf of the family, made the call at a news conference held yesterday in Enugu. The monarch said that Iloamauzor, who was married to his younger sister, Ngozi, died after he was reportedly hit by a stray bullet during the #EndSARS protest in Surulere, Lagos. The News Agency of Nigeria

(NAN) reported that the monarch said that the news of Iloamauzor’s death “came to us as a rude shock”. According to him, the deceased, who worked as a driver, was said to be conveying his boss to an event, when the incident happened. “I received a call from his boss on Tuesday that they ran into a traffic jam caused by a protest by youths calling for the disbandment of the Special Anti Robbery Squad and police reform. “The man said that due to the delay in vehicular movement caused by the long procession of protesters, his driver stepped out of the wheel and leaned in front of the car.

“It was while standing there that a stray bullet hit him in the neck, leaving him dead,” the monarch, who spoke on behalf of the deceased’s family, said. He said the family was impressed with the Lagos State Government’s intervention in the matter. “However, we want a thorough investigation into the incident. We are crying for justice. “We want the InspectorGeneral of Police and federal government to know that the victim of the October 13 incident in Surulere is from Enugu State. “We want the family to be fully compensated to be able to take care of the people he left behind,” Ugwu said.

Abia Health Workers Give Ikpeazu 15-day Ultimatum over Unpaid Salaries Emmanuel UgwuinUmuahia Health workers in the employment of Abia State Government yesterday issued a 15-day ultimatum to the state Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, to attend to their lingering issues of welfare or risk industrial action. The workers, under the aegis of Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), vowed to shut down all public health institutions if their demands were not met at the end of the ultimatum. The ultimatum was contained in a letter addressed to the governor through the state head of office, which was adopted at a meeting of

the aggrieved workers in Umuahia, the state capital. Their grievances are centred on non-implementation of consolidated health salary structure (CONHESS) since 2011; backlog of salary arrears in agencies; nonimplementation of minimum wage, and slashing of workers’ salaries without due process in the primary health centres (PHCs). “It bleeds our hearts that healthcare professionals, who are risking their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic were left unpaid, and also, all the due rights and privileges meant for them were not given to them,” the health workers lamented.

The Chairman of Abia State Council of JOHESU, Okoro Ogbonnaya, told his members that the struggle “is about our lives and our future,” hence the need for total commitment to change things for the better. “Health workers in the state have suffered a lot. We are treated like beggars, but today we are saying enough is enough!” He said. According to the workers in their petition to Ikpeazu, the state government has engaged in selective implementation of CONHESS as health workers in health management board, local government areas, and ministry of women affairs, were left out.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2020 â&#x20AC;¢ T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯͳ˜ 2020

COMMENT

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

BALANCING NIGERIA’S GENERATIONAL ACCOUNT DEFICIT Fauno Nadah canvasses bold decisions to tackle the problems of the youth

he End-SARS protests will not come as a surprise to keen observers of Nigeria’s demographic structure. With a median age of 17.9 years and about 50% youth unemployment, it does not require rocket science to predict anger and protest syncing with a less divisible issue that scales our ethno-religious vulnerabilities and resonates with a large segment of our youthful population of 200 million people. There has been a noticeable drop in political participation rates since 1999; only about 35% of registered voters actually vote in national and state elections and even much less in LGA elections that determine service delivery outcomes. Some commentators and analysts draw attention to the historical evolution of our transition to Civil Rule and the creation of State and LGA tiers of government as plausible causative factors for the general apathy and the eventual withdrawal of Nigerians from the civic space. Although we cannot navigate the future without knowing what happened in the past, we also cannot drive into the future while focusing on the rear-view mirror. We should watch with cautious excitement as large numbers of youth are flooding back into a previously empty civic space and jumpstarting conversations about welfare and security. It is therefore important to shape this emerging dialogue so that unlike previous flashes of civic consciousness, we can move forward with the realization that it easier to be critical than to be correct without dampening enthusiasm. The DNA of progress and liberty has strands of both rights and responsibilities. We can start by taking a closer look at the demographic structure so that rights and responsibilities can be shared on the basis of competence and fairness. If we take the perspective that the shape of our population is a pyramid, we will find that the pyramid is comprised of four major generational cohorts; at its base are ages 0-19, the next cohort are ages 20-44, then ages 45-64 cohort and finally ages 65+at the capstone. The 0-19 cohort accounts for 56% of our total population, the 20-44 cohorts represent 32% of our total population, while cohorts 45-64 and 65+ represent 9% and 3% respectively. This demographic structure has implications for framework of state, governance and fiscal and monetary policies in the short, medium and long terms, especially once we consider its spatial distribution over the 923,000 square kilometres that broadly indicate a roughly 50/50 spread between urban and rural settlements. To better appreciate the implications of this demographic structure and how it limits self-actualization for our youth and the anaemic growth of our economy now in recession; let us assume that the pyramid is a woman called Nigeria. Let us examine her physiology. She has a skeletal system that is wrapped by muscles, ligaments and sinews representing our 36 States and 774 LGAs. She has a nervous system representing our infrastructure services like telecoms, electricity, transportation and the natural environment. Her circulatory system is comprised of lungs with respirator complexes representing our economic agents, a heart comprised of four pumps representing governance, laws, fiscal and monetary

TO BALANCE NIGERIA’S GENERATIONAL ACCOUNT, WE NEED TO MAKE VERY BOLD DECISIONS WITH A VIEW TO CONNECTING OUR YOUTHFUL POPULATION TO A NETWORK OF PRODUCTIVITY-ENHANCING INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN A NEW FRAMEWORK OF STATE THAT CAPTURES A NATIONAL VISION AND PURPOSE

policies that pump oxygenated blood (read good and services) through an Aorta (read deposit money banks) into arteries (service delivery channels) to all parts of her body. de-oxygenated blood(taxes)flows back through veins (tax collecting agencies). The other body parts represent the four demographic cohorts of our population. Although all the parts need oxygenated blood via budgetary spending, they need it at different rates and quantities as Nigeria grows. The youth question appears to be at the heart of Nigeria’s socio-political pathology. Although the 0-19 cohort represent the largest segment of our population, they contribute the least to taxes due to under-investments in quality healthcare and education and the shrinking opportunities for this group to make meaningful contributions. The households that bear the brunt of financing the development of this cohort has seen its income impaired by double digit inflation and slowing per capita Income growth rate. These households are led by the other three cohorts howbeit with varying impact on taxes, debt and governance. As it is now, what ties these four cohorts together is the scale of socialeconomic justice; on the left-side is the weight of household income eaters-ages 0-19, plus the 20-44 and 45-64 cohorts who represent the next largest population segment and tax contributors but an even larger segment of the working population howbeit with different levels of savings. On the right-side, we have the net present value of future government purchases plus net debt comprised of current and contingent liabilities and financial assets less the value of government-owned enterprises. For Nigeria, with our growing debt profile now well above 3% of GDP not only in the proposed 2021 Budget but also in previous years once we factor in the rising deficit spending of the 36 States; this deficit to be financed by debt at double-digit interest rates tilts the scale and places a burden on the left-side comprised of our youth and women- it is actually a generational account deficit as the 45-64 and 65+ cohorts borrow in-lieu of future taxes from a generation without the required skills to grow productivity and diversify the economy beyond consumption through exports and Foreign Direct Investment attraction. To balance Nigeria’s generational account, we need to make very bold decisions with a view to connecting our youthful population to a network of productivityenhancing infrastructure within a new framework of state that captures a national vision and purpose. The current novel economic pandemic and its impact on Crude Oil price shortens the intervention window available to lift 100 million people out of poverty as promised by President Buhari. As it stands, we need a double bypass heart surgery to save this woman and pump the oxygenated blood required by the over 200 million people that comprise her physiology and geography to improve their standard of living and restore the dignity of the black race. Otherwise, the return of the neglected youth to the civic space will not be civil as we have seen with the intractable insurgencies and violent crimes.

YARIMA, LENGTH AND BREADTH OF BIRNIN YANDOTO The creation of Birnin Yandoto Emirate will right the wrongs of the past, writes Bello Balarabe

istory is perhaps the one place people with events that have spent their essence just to remain relevant to our reflections and backward search of truths. It doesn’t matter if everyone goes, as it’s usually the case, to the river of the past to fetch just enough of what they want without swimming the entire length and breadth of the flow to at least understand where it commenced. This is why, the responsibility falls to some of us to undertake this arduous task of voyaging entire berths of the specific sections of the historical river to fish out the facts she has held in deposits. The true history of Yandoton Daji, Keta, Kwaren Ganuwa, Danjibga, Kizara, and Bawa Ganga districts, recently a subject of interest and verbal kickboxing between the adept and the utterly clueless has become a cause for worry, hence, the need to clear the air once and for all and in the process, name and shame some people for whom vested interest has taken out their tongues, reducing them into gutless old men who sit and watch, as a tethered she-goat suffers the pain of parturition in a leash. The evolution of the territory now referred to Tsafe Emirate can be traced to the first coming of General Olusegun Obasanjo, when in 1978 specifically, the need for new federal constituencies arose. Tsafe District (then in Gusau Local Govt) was considered to be made a Federal Constituency. But unfortunately, the area (Tsafe District) was adjudged not large enough to make a federal constituency by itself.

So, a portion of Gusau District (namely; Yandoton-Daji, Keta, Danjibga and Kwaren Ganuwa) was carved out and added to Tsafe District in order that Tsafe can attain her new status of a Federal Constituency, but most importantly, for today’s Zamfara to achieve mutual development. That’s how the seven districts from Gusau (ruled then by village heads) were added to Tsafe to form the then Tsafe Federal Constituency. It should be noted, that because at the time, Tsafe and Gusau were under the same LGA (Gusau), this venture didn’t warrant any rancour or problems. This is because the seven villages and their heads were still answerable to Gusau District. This arrangement subsisted until during the time head of state, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida decreed that all Federal Constituencies, Tsafe included, be elevated to the status of Local Government Areas. This is where it gets interesting. This is because, the then village heads of Yandoton Daji, Keta, Kwaren Ganuwa and Danjibga automatically became part and parcel of the new Tsafe LGA, but their traditional allegiance remained with Gusau - again, without rancour or any bad blood till 1996 when Zamfara State was created. In 1996, an additional district was created in Tsafe and it was named Yandoton Daji District covering the entire seven villages whose traditional allegiance is still with Gusau but now very much part of Tsafe LGA. Nor, will this be the first place in Nigeria where traditional boundaries transcend formal boundaries. In fact, in Nigeria, there are emirates whose reach and traditional allegiance covers up to

four LGA’s but whose traditional administration has remained smooth thanks to history. But I won’t dwell on that now. It is in 2001 that the history of Yandoton Daji, Keta, Kwaren Ganuwa and Danjibga, the part that most young and green story tellers know and are comfortable with and try to tell, with the seriousness of a mule, was ushered into reckoning by Gov Ahmad Sani. It started with former governor, Ahmad Sani Yarima creating Tsafe Emirate and in so doing, he arbitrarily and carelessly, without recourse to history, lumped Yandoton-Daji District with Tsafe Emirate, cutting off a traditional setup that has existed for more than 200 years. It is only when one takes in the implications of Gov Yarima’s historical gaffe above, specifically the part where it amounts to a blatant robbery of the bloodline of a whole people, perhaps that we can fully appreciate the import of his ill-advised misadventure. Let it be known, that if it ever amounts to evil to create new emirates, Tsafe will not be one today. One would have thought people like former Governor Yarima who are in the thick of this history will come out to sing the bickering young men to bed once for all. But we all know that’s not his modus operandi. It leaves so much to be desired when people for whom the people have given so much, climb so high into their gilded cages without any care in the world what becomes of them. History will not judge anyone kindly who stands aloof and watch as houses around him burn, yet refuse volunteers the use of his well to

procure water to put out the fire. I miss the days when we have responsible elders who will stand for the truth no matter whose ox is gored. Many of our past leaders benefited from the uncompromising stand of this past society. However, they will rather it ends with them. No matter what, the creation of Birnin Yandoto Emirate if (by the special grace of Allah) comes into fruition will finally signal the beginning of righting the injustice done to Gusau people and their history. I want to urge all who are not down with the idea to find somewhere in their hearts to bury the lie. After all, Birnin Yandoto is now going to commence its journey to future greatness with the blessings of Gusau ta Sambo, its ancestral beacon and as students of history, nothing is more pleasing than to see that historical entries are brought to reposition events back into their true trajectory of travel for posterity’s sake. Even at that, it won’t be out of place for Yarima to come out and apologize to the good people of Gusau and Sambo Dan Ashafa family (Gusau Ruling House) for his gross distortion of ancestral history for selfish reasons. For his intention to create Birnin Yandoto Emirate, surely, Governor Matawalle is about writing his name in the sands of history with a golden pen by righting the injustice done to Gusau ruling house in particular and the good people of Gusau in general. Balarabe wrote from Gusau, Zamfara State

T H I S D AY Ëž Ë&#x153; ÍŻÍłË&#x153; 2020

EDITORIAL

THE RESTRUCTURING DEBATE Restructuring the federation has become inevitable

he recent intemperate response of the Presidency to those advocating restructuring of Nigeria is rather unfortunate. That otherwise respected citizens like the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye would be threatened for weighing in that the nation risked breakup if did not restructure is also an indication that the federal government cannot appreciate the public mood. Restructuring the polity so our country can work properly and for every citizen is an urgent imperative. For those who because of ephemeral power consider themselves more patriotic than others, we want to make it clear that Nigeria practices a weird form of federalism that is not only antithetical to growth and development, but also suffocating. With the federating units â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the states and local governments - reduced to mere appendages, THE PROPOSAL FOR the federal governRESTRUCTURING BEING ment collects a PUSHED BY MANY CRITICAL disproportionate STAKEHOLDERS HAS amount of the revenue accruing THE POTENTIAL FOR to the nation and STRENGTHENING THE uses a revenue STRUCTURAL DESIGN FOR formula allocation GOOD GOVERNANCE AND system designed HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN more to encourage laziness instead NIGERIA of productivity, equity, fairness and justice. The system also allows for little or no accountability with waste and needless duplications at practically all levels. As we have highlighted in the past, the overbearing powers at the centre is also what makes the contest for the Nigerian presidency â&#x20AC;&#x201C; perhaps the most powerful in the world - a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;do or dieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; affair. The power wielder uses his position to dispense favours or ill-will to whomever he pleases, the type that has helped create many war zones across the nation today. Yet, it was not always like this. The federal system inherited at independence was one

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which allowed the federating units to retain their autonomy to raise and retain revenues, promote development, and conduct their affairs as they saw fit, while engaging in healthy competition with one another. What many of the proponents therefore advocate is a structure that weans the country of the large doses of unitarism injected into the system by the military. We concede that the major problem in the system today is more about the absence of good governance at all levels. But we must also acknowledge that we have a serious structural problem. When complemented with mechanism for improving accountability, the proposal for restructuring being pushed by many critical stakeholders has the potential for strengthening the structural design for good governance and human development in Nigeria. That the presidency would unleash verbal assaults on those who advocate restructuring is therefore not only cheap but reprehensible. In any case, that agitations for restructuring or the implementation of true federal system has reverberated across the country is also fueled by some of the choices made by the current administration. As things stand, Nigeria is a federal republic in name, and it is also evident that the system benefits only a few. The majority of Nigerians, whether in the north or south, are disconnected from the rights and privileges that go with citizenship. The least the federal government can do now is to encourage the conversation on restructuring and bring the wishes of the people to fruition. The bloated exclusive list in the constitution has made our nation to currently stand like an inverted pyramid with more powers concentrated at the top while the base is lean and shaky. The nation should be freed from the stifling centralism which has been a bane of innovation and enterprise. What those who speak for the current administration fail to understand is that issuing threats when they should engage issues is not a sign of strength. It betrays a serious weakness. When you juxtapose what aides of the president say against the views expressed by other senior officials in the same government you get the impression of a house divided against itself.

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SARS AND THE YOUTH REVOLT THE YOUTHS ARE PUSHED TO THE WALL Continued from Backpage

he honest truth is that people have been pushed to the edge. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been frustrated, angry and burnt for far too long. And there isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t one leader or group to speak to... itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decentralized, organic and spread out. Thousands of angry young people, united only in their pain and disappointment in their country. And theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re also extremely suspicious. Any attempt at trying to â&#x20AC;&#x153;be their leaderâ&#x20AC;?, or to â&#x20AC;&#x153;speak for themâ&#x20AC;? is met with swift rebellion and intense dragging... even for those who are on their side. They just want to see the country change. They want to see their government do more than talk. They want action. Swift, decisive, progressive action. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not interested in conversations, press reports and announcements. My advice? For anyone who wants to help... stop focusing on the Protests. Focus on the government and get them to ACT. Get some killer/corrupt cops prosecuted and charged - start with the ones who killed Jimoh in Ogbomosho, Kolade Johnson in Lagos and more. And do it publicly and transparently. Put THAT on TV. Get a list of all the Protesters who were assaulted, falsely accused and framed by Police during the last few days of protests. Apologize to them for infringing on their rights, and compensate them. Focus on getting government to set up a compensation fund for families of the people who have been murdered by the Police. And amplify THAT online and in the press. Fire some high-level officers who could have stopped all this

from happening but let killers and extortionists run wild on their watch. Young people are not stupid. SARS yesterday is SWAT today and Anti-Cultism-Squad next week. Set up that independent reform panel and immediately begin investigating police misconduct. Set up a hotline for people to report abuse. Put a timeline in place to review the salaries of average policemen. Isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it ironic that the young people are ADVOCATING for better pay for the same Police officers that are assaulting them? Instead of trying to talk your young people down, actually take a moment to LISTEN to them for once, please. Review their #5for5 list, take stock of all theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re asking for and be honest theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not unreasonable demands, are they? Everybody is looking to sit down with the protesters but I think thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the wrong approach. The protesters are not the problem. The Police are. The leadership is. The Government is. So if you want to sit down with anyone, please, sit down with the government. Sit down with our leaders. Get THEM to act. Then perhaps the mood will change. Young Nigerians have been pushed to their limits, and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re now reminding the people in power that power belongs to the people. A wise man once said â&#x20AC;&#x153;thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has comeâ&#x20AC;?. Tick tock, Nigeria. Banky Wellington, Nigerian singer and actor

eanwhile, since the federal government is conceding some ground, it may be necessary for our young people to design a new and sustained strategy for the next stage of their campaign. I monitor what many of their leaders are saying on Twitter (the only social media platform I operate) so I am well aware that it is not popular to tell them to take this dialogue from the streets. But I will say it nonetheless (let them drag me!). Continuing on the streets may have its utility, but it is also prone to hijack by people with other interests. Should that happen, it will detract from the hard and long work that they have done in the past one week and may divide their rank. Besides, if they continue the protests, the federal government could lose patience and begin to apply heavy-handed measures that may include drafting in the military as we saw on Tuesday in Abuja. Some interests may also recruit thugs to disrupt the protests and instigate violence. In Abuja, there are entrepreneurs who provide such services. To worsen the situation, I have seen video clips of shadowy youth groups who disparage the protests as part of a broader agenda by a section of the country against the government. When that sort of dangerous and patently dubious narrative is allowed to gain ground, especially under the current toxic political environment, our young people could easily be divided along ethnoreligious lines. Once that happens, they will be defeated. A unique feature of the protests which we must come back to interrogate is the leadership role being played by our women. I was driving past the police headquarters last Saturday in Abuja when I ran into protesters led by Aisha Yesufu. I had to park my vehicle and within the few minutes I spent with them, my concise observation was that there were almost as many women as men in the crowd. In other cities across the country, women are also playing leading roles. On social media, their voices are loud as well and they seem to be in charge of the logistics. On the whole, now that our young people have proved that they are not simply interested in what Erica and KiddWaya are doing under the bedsheets in Ebukaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s BBNaija House but also politically conscious, I hope they will continue to use that power to demand accountability in all spheres and at all levels of leadership in our country. If they manage that power and the voice they have found, it may just signpost the dawn of a new Nigeria. Olusegun Adeniyi, Abuja

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2020

POLITICS

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

‘I Don’t Know Any Reasonable Nigerian Who Wants Nigeria to Breakup‘

Vanessa Obioha was among a team of journalists who interviewed Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State on his efforts to restore the time honoured values of the people and other communal and national issues

hat would you consider the gains, challenges, constraints of governing Ekiti State in the last two years of your return to ofﬁce ? I’m in a fairly unique position in the sense that I’m not a new kid on the block so, I cannot be excused from lack of knowledge of the challenges of office. If you all recall what I said during the campaigns in 2018, I said I had unfinished business which was the reason I was returning to Ekiti, not that I didn’t have an alternative or I just wanted to be Governor for its own sake. I was a minister at the time I chose to go back, because of the circumstances of my exit from office. I wanted to ensure that we win the state back and then complete many projects embarked on in my first term as well as entrench an irreversible development trajectory. In the four years that I was out of office, there was widespread suffering and poverty in the state. Ekiti, many will still argue, is essentially a civil service state. Payment of workers’ salaries should not be considered as an achievement. However, when you are a civil service state and you are operating in a situation where people have not been paid for almost a year, then it becomes a big deal when you take that burden off those directly affected, not to mention the multiplier effect on others in the state. It’s therefore clear that we needed change of leadership in order to get good governance back on the agenda and a sense of purpose back to government. You can recall, my campaign focused on restoring the values and reclaiming the land of Ekiti. What was to be reclaimed? Take the social intervention programmes that we had in the state when I was Governor. They were all cancelled by my successor. There was no longer free education programme up to senior secondary level as we used to have in my first term. The monthly stipend for the elderly citizens, “owo arugbo” and the Food Bank, “Ounje arugbo”, as we call it in Ekiti also disappeared. The free health programme for the under-five, over-65, the pregnant women and people with disability were also cancelled by the previous government. Now, all these are back in Ekiti and our people are enjoying them. Given our parlous financial state, we figured out a way to run an economy that has also generated more investments for the state. If you look at our agricultural sector, we decided, policy- wise, that the only way we can transit from being a subsistence agricultural state was to find a mechanism to attract more commercial investment to the agriculture sector in the state. We have brought such critical players to the Agric sector like Terra Agric, Dangote Farms, Stallion Farms, FMS, Promise Point and Cowbell (Promasidor) to Ekiti and in another three months, Promasidor would have reached full scale production of dairy products. This is something that has led to the revival and resuscitation of the Ikun dairy farm that has been moribund for over two decades. We are establishing a special agriculture processing zone supported by the African Development Bank, AfDB and the World Bank. We are in partnership with the World Bank on rural access to farms to aid agric marketing process. Basically, what that does for us is open up the state by fixing the feeder roads, linking the farms to the market. Roughly, 1,000 kilometres of rural roads in addition to other agricultural infrastructures have been done. In terms of roads, one of the most critical roads we have, that some of you have passed and complained about, is the Ado- Akure road. When you go on that road, you will know the problem we have with the so- called federal roads. One of the very first things I did on coming back was to secure support of the African Development Bank to fix the road, then we ran into a hitch with the Federal Government,

Fayemi when they insisted that we should not fix their road, that they would fix the road themselves. So, the Governor of Ondo State and I had to approach the AfDB with the support of the Minister, Babatunde Fashola to relocate the funds to the Federal Government. The road is now ready for construction and the contractor - Dantata and Sawoe is mobilizing to the site as I speak. We hope they will finish it in good time for the people to really benefit from it. We have our legacy projects, which for me are the ones that, over the long term, can be treated more as the gains of the state and the restoration of values I was talking about. Our knowledge zone, which is basically an aggregation of opportunity in the knowledge service industry, is a special economic zone, probably the first in the country that is focused on intellectual capital. This is informed by who we are as Ekiti people, it is what we are known for- our intellect, our passion for education. How do we turn this to wealth rather than just reading for the sake of getting degrees? That was what informed this special

zone we created in our education quadrangle, where we have about four higher institutions feeding this zone in biomedical, health, agric technology, and information technology. About a month ago, I was at the “Nigerian Export Promoting Zone Authority, NEPZA, to discuss with them the granting of the status of a special economic zone for the sector. We are also working on an airport for the state, an agric cargo airport, which is something that in the short term appears a luxury in the state but over a long time, the economic trajectory will become more sensible to those who are accessing the state. We have the best hospital in Nigeria in Ekiti. The airport will also make the hospital accessible because of Ekiti’s landlocked nature. So, what you can see as challenges for us of course include resource constraints. Ekiti, as I said is not exactly a buoyant state. If you look at the ladder of states, we have just N3.3billion coming from the federation account monthly. When you earn N3 billion and you spend N2.6 to 2.8 billion on recurrent expenditure, you

Posturing is part of politics and people will always posture and use that to gain the headline. Those people talking about Oduduwa Republic or Kwararafa Republic, who are they speaking for? Who gave them the mandate to speak for Yoruba? Did they consult the Yoruba people and the Yoruba people told them that they want Oduduwa Republic? If you have Oduduwa Republic, where will the capital be? That is just a tip of the iceberg. You can be sure that all Yoruba people are not on the same page, neither are all Jukuns or Hausa on the same page despite efforts to maintain the impression of a monolithic Yoruba, Igbo or HausaFulani identity. If you bring IPOB, you will get the same feedback. I think the one Nigeria I want is the Nigeria that serves everybody and works for everybody. I don’t know any reasonable Nigerian who wants Nigeria to break up

have to be more creative, in order to deliver on the promises you made to the people. We have been fortunate because we have international partnerships that we are benefiting from. So, we have been able to fill the gap a little bit. We have a comprehensive water programme that is supported by the European Union and the World Bank for example. We used to have water from the “tap” in Ekiti up to the early 70s and then water disappeared. We have brought back all the dams, replaced all the pipelines and off course got to a point of commissioning the various water projects that would enable virtually all the local governments access to water. Similarly, our RAAMP projects in the rural areas are things we have done with the support of the French Development Agency, FDA and the World Bank as well. In housing, we have a partnership with the United Nations, to develop 50,000 affordable houses within the next 10 years. Of course that would be beyond my time of office but it is an MOU that has enabled us to establish a special purpose vehicle that would not be affected by any transition because it is a public-private partnership. Challenges should not be the problem of anybody who is in public office. If you have thought through what you are doing and you are prepared for office, you are bound to have challenges, economically, politically because there are those who feel that the resources of the state should be shared. If you do not come from that school of thought, you are definitely going to run into challenges with some elements, who may see things differently. Again, that is the price you pay for leadership, and leadership is not just a title, not just about being called “His Excellency”, it’s what you do to affect the lives of people. You have to take your stand on some of these issues without any equivocation, even if it means you will run into some political qualms as a result. What about the constraints? I think, is something that is worth reflecting on. I think we are fast getting to a point in which we must confront our reality as a federation. Finance is always a constraint at the state level. There is what I call the tyranny of unfunded mandates. We can’t continue to run an economy the way we are doing. We have to figure out a structure, a formula that will enable us generate more funds internally and at the same time ensure equitable and fair distribution of what’s available in the Federation coffers. We need a formula that is more responsive to the yearnings of the population. The current structure obviously favours those who are more associated with the unitary structure that privileges concentration of powers and resources at the Centre rather than a genuine federal structure of federation units that is more accountable to the people and responsive to the challenges that the people have. What that formula should be has been a subject of debate from all sides of Nigeria. Clearly, the Federal structure we have now is problematic and it is not working as it should and there is a justification for more devolution of not just functions, unless you want to suffer from a tyranny of unfunded mandate but also resources. You can’t devolve functions and not support it with resources and that is what we are faced with now. Thankfully, the government is more responsive under President Buhari. Federal roads that had been fixed for the past 20 years and not one naira was paid by the governments of Presidents Obasanjo, Yar Adua and Jonathan has now been paid by President Buhari. He asked the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola to go round the 36 states, check all the federal roads that have been fixed with evidence that they were actually fixed by the states and then pay. And he paid! That is

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2020

POLITICS

‘Bayelsa Governor Insists on Primary Health Centre in Every Ward’ Bayelsa State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Pabara Newton Igwele, from Ogbogoro, community in Atisa clan of Yenagoa local government area tells Nseobong Okon-Ekong that a robust health care policy is one of the bastions of democracy on which the administration of Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State is founded

Fayemi not something that we have experienced since the dawn of this democratic dispensation. Frankly, the issue is we still have to ask: What is a federal road? The people who are plying the road in my state don’t know the difference between a federal road and a state road. All they will say is that ‘Mr Governor you are not doing your job,’ only for you to start explaining that ‘it’s not my road and I need permission to even work on it’ just as we have experienced trying to work on Ado- Akure road. It is the same story all over. These roads are bad, the federal government has no money to fix them. Some they will fix via Sukuk bonds, some via Sovereign Wealth Fund. We don’t have the resources, so we have to devise a very sustainable means of addressing these issues beyond what we do on medium scale basis. Federal government can always borrow to cover any shortfall but sub nationals cannot except we go through the FG. Wearing my other hat as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, this is an issue that has been on the front burner of our work. We hope Nigerians would be able to push the argument to a point where the resources and the powers that reside in Abuja can be devolved to the states with the resources also devolved to solve the responsibilities carried out at that level. It may not automatically improve performance but I believe it would improve accountability by bringing government closer to the people. Are you making a case for Fiscal Federalism ? We have always made a case for fiscal federalism. I am a known advocate of fiscal federalism but I’m also saying even those who are reluctant and ambivalent about fiscal federalism are being confronted daily with these challenges in their states and they are asking themselves how long can we continue to do this, am I elected just to pay salaries and not raise funds to do more for my people? And it is not just about sharing revenues, it is also about creating the enabling environment that would allow investment to thrive in our various states. On APC governors’ stand on restructuring. Are you getting the cooperation of the National Assembly I am not the chairman, APC Governors’ Forum by the way, I’m Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, which is non-partisan. But I’m a member of the APC Governors’ Forum. These issues are raised daily but the point I’m trying to make is that, I don’t see a conflict between the pursuit of fiscal federalism and devolving more powers to the lower levels. In fact, they are two sides of the same coin whether you call it restructuring, devolution or constitutional reform, that’s just an issue of nomenclature. For us in APC, we have taken some bold steps. We have a comprehensive report which I’m sure many of you would have come acrossthe Nasir El-Rufai committee has not only articulated in clear terms what our views are on what you call restructuring but also attached proposed bills which we then took as APC governors to the leadership of the National Assembly- President Ahmed Lawan, and Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, handed it over to them: We do not have the powers as Governors to make laws, these are our proposals as governors of the APC, and we believe that when they start a constitution reform process, this will be one of the materials they would treat as a formal memorandum from us.’

I heard they have started the process now led by Deputy Senate President, Omo-Agege, it is our hope that it will not go the way of previous constitution reform process. The challenge is if we do not have the powers, we can propose and encourage our members but ultimately, the power resides in our National Assembly. I think the National Assembly really ought to spend time pulling together various constitutional reform processes, the Jonathan process, the 1995 Justice Niki Tobi process, the one by President Obasanjo, our own proposals as outlined in the El- Rufai report and several others with a view to harmonizing them and come up with a single document, subject it to a national referendum and them we have a constitution. I don’t think it’s a rocket science but maybe there are impediments which the National Assembly may have, but they cannot say it’s President Buhari or APC governors that have stopped them from accelerating the constitutional reform process. Is 2023 possible without restructuring given agitation for Biafra Republic, Oduduwa Republic, Kwararafa Republic etc ? Posturing is part of politics and people will always posture and use that to gain the headline. Those people talking about Oduduwa Republic or Kwararafa Republic, who are they speaking for? Who gave them the mandate to speak for Yoruba? Did they consult the Yoruba people and the Yoruba people told them that they want Oduduwa Republic? If you have Oduduwa Republic, where will the capital be? That is just a tip of the iceberg. You can be sure that all Yoruba people are not on the same page, neither are all Jukuns or Hausa on the same page despite efforts to maintain the impression of a monolithic Yoruba, Igbo or Hausa-Fulani identity. If you bring IPOB, you will get the same feedback. I think the one Nigeria I want is the Nigeria that serves everybody and works for everybody. I don’t know any reasonable Nigerian who wants Nigeria to break up. People just believe that Nigeria is not working in the way and manner it should work for them. So if they are agitating, I don’t think they are agitating for a breakup. They just want the powers that be to hear and listen to their pains and take some action. Some extremists would go in the direction of unilateral declaration of independence or secession and its within their right to do that as long as they conduct themselves within the ambit of the law, it’s a democracy, but most reasonable, most serious Nigerians don’t play this game. Look at the demography: 65 percent of Nigerians are under 30. They are not interested in this ego maniacal pursuits of lionising ethnic identity - you are Hausa, you are Igbo, this and that. No. Look at music, look at information technology, look at the areas our young people are excelling, they are marrying one another, they are growing up all over the place, they are not sold to this ethnic agenda at all and you know that, even in your own home, your kids are not talking about this. They are talking about opportunities, why am I not a beneficiary of equality of access and opportunity? And I think we need to read their lips carefully to know what Nigerians are saying, and the media has a role to play. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

ny success in the health sector must come with a strategic policy. What is the government policy on the health sector? There are a lot of policies and there are still policies we are trying to drive to create in the health sector by the special grace of God, thank God we are starting with the policy. Now when I was there in my first missionary journey as the Commissioner for Health, a whole lot of issues in compassion in the Ministry of Health and in the health system in Bayelsa State. So many attentions on different sectors in the health sector are dragging the attention on government and I looked at it and there was on blueprint on the way forward on the health sector in Bayelsa State, there was nothing written down concrete because I was telling a group of persons yesterday we need to build a healthy and a strong institution and not just a strong individual and it has been in my mind to see how we can pull resources together not only financial resources but also human capital resources together and when I came back this my second tenure, I have been discussing with my directors with various policy markers in the health sector and by the special grace God by the first few weeks coming, we want to hold a health summit in Bayelsa State and what will this summit entail and who are the people that will be part of those health summit, because I want to see a situation whereby even after I left office as Commissioner for Health, who ever that is coming after me will have a road map and a blueprint on what to work with and so we have started engaging our leaders and those that will participate in the summit are all past Commissioner of Health in this state and all past permanent secretaries of the ministries of health, all directories in the Ministry of Health and all past directories in the Ministry of health, all union leaders, Nigeria medical associations, the pharmaceutical associations of Nigeria, the laboratory associations, the nurses and all the deans of medical sciences et cetera we want to seat and deliberate like a town hall meeting everybody in compassing because I receive a lot of calls from various issues on the health sector the challenges. By the special grace of God, I have discussed with His Excellency on this issues to get his backing and he has given me his backing that we can go ahead and what we are planning is a meeting that we all be in compassing, we will sit down here in Bayelsa one to three days we will get a place and tell our family that this is a serious business all Bayelsans we need to sit down and discuss even with our partners from the world bank who are ready to be facilitators in the meeting, we have partners from the central bank of Nigeria, partners from Bill Gates Foundation, World Health Organization and we have started communicating with the partners and the facilitators that we be in this meeting. So, we need to discuss and get the way forward. What is the problem with Bayelsa health sector and we most begin to get this thing right as a state and as people and that is the foundation? And you can see that the Governor is trying to work from within to out and what we are doing is to identify the problems and provide a solution. At the end we are going to have a road map and a blueprint so that will make a working document that in the next one year, these are the things we need to achieve, in the next two years these are the things we need to achieve, in the next five years these are the things we need to achieve. In fact, as we are planning this, I was able to identify some of the things that we don’t need money to achieve them and those are things that I have started working on in the health sector in Bayelsa State. We are organizing a lot of things and I always tell people that government is not people, we are the government and so there are a lot of things we can do without waiting for the Governor to come and do those things for us. The Bayelsa health insurance scheme is one laudable project as it is. Are there any areas you think that improvements can be made? This is part of the things that I wanted to discuss and share with the Bayelsa people and by the special grace of God I have discuss with His Excellency on how to expand, build and bring in fresh ideas and innovation in Bayelsa State health insurance scheme. In insurance with scheme generally from

Igwele the national level” National Health Insurance Scheme” where we borrowed lift to Bayelsa State Insurance Scheme, we have a two-clear cut the former sector and the informer sector and by the special grace of God, the executive secretary of the Bayelsa State Health Insurance Scheme Dr Agadah is doing wonderfully well. You see, we need people who are ready to give service to the system not people who are there just to take money for their pocket. I command Dr. Agadah for the wonderful work he is doing and I want he to continue. Now the former sector and the informer sector, we have successfully engaged the former sector who are the civil servants and various cooperate organizations and the former sector just signify about 10% and even less than 30%of the population and we have over about 90% of the population and that is the informer sector and now how are we going to galvanizes support and to get this informer enrolled to the health insurance scheme because health is for all, it is the national policy that everybody most be enrolled in national health insurance scheme because there are so many benefits in getting health care without paying from your pocket because paying from your pocket is very expensive and the informer sector, I have discuss with His Excellency and we can achieve that though it is very difficult but it is workable. Now we have various unions, market union, kaka union and many more and those are the people who mark up the informer sector and so how are we going to do that, these people make so contribution in the area revenue daily and I have been trying to reach the board of internal revenue people and we are supposed to meet on Monday but something came up so I wasn’t able to meet with them, we can begin to generate small revenue like 30 Naira or 50 Naira, that will not cost you any much as a contribution on a daily basis, we are going to appeal to them because they are the once who are involve in most of the traffic accidents that I mean the kaka people and by the time we engage all this union, over the week you will start seeing us meeting with them to make this daily contribution of 50 Naira and as we are collecting this money, the board of internal revenue is a central system, they collect the revenue and when they collect this, everybody that pays will be tie to the scheme and at the end of the month, the board of the internal revenue remit that to the Bayelsa State health insurance scheme and all of this people will now get enrolled and that will make the scheme to be robust and we will tie this people to most of our government health facilities and in that way, when they go there for services, the fund generated will be use to rebuild most of these government facilities and this will be like a revolving fund and we don’t need fund from outside to develop most of our health care facilities. And if you go to Delta State, this is beginning to work and we started health insurance scheme and we are leading other states but because we have not develop the informer sector, Delta State is leading us in that regard. But by the special grace of God in the next few weeks, we will get all of the things together and you will see a very rebust system. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY Ëž Ë&#x153; ÍŻÍłË&#x153; Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

FEATURES

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

United States of Nigeria is Possible By Ehi Braimah

VER the weekend, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), spoke on the possibilities of a New Nigeria that works for everyone. At a Symposium to commemorate Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 60th independence anniversary with the theme, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Where will Nigeria be in 2060,â&#x20AC;? the highly revered Minister of God spoke like an oracle: Restructure Nigeria or break up. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Did Pastor Adeboye really utter those words?â&#x20AC;? a friend, who wanted confirmation of the story, asked me after I shared a link to the story. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Adeboye does not normally speak like that,â&#x20AC;? he continued. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Maybe he is seeing what the rest of us are not seeing,â&#x20AC;? I replied. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is possible he wants to be brutally honest with Nigerians,â&#x20AC;? I added. Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka believes there are prospects for a New Nigeria, but he does not think we have a New Nigeria yet. We are definitely not there yet. Restructuring Nigeria means different things to different people. Some advocate for a break up of the country but it must be stated that Pastor Adeboye does not want a disintegration of Nigeria. In fact, he said â&#x20AC;&#x153;God forbidâ&#x20AC;?, meaning that is not his wish for the country. But how do you manage a break up? It is not as easy as it seems. I do not think that is the solution to our crisis of identity. In trying to solve a problem, we must avoid the temptation of creating new problems or compounding the current situation. Another school of thought believes that power should be devolved from the centre to the constituent states. This was a key recommendation of the 2014 National Conference inaugurated by former President Goodluck Jonathanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s administration. Again, how is this going to work in a country where mutual suspicion is strong and the putrefying smell of unbridled corruption stinks at all levels? What system will work for Nigeria? In answering this question, Pastor Adeboye believes we should develop a new system of government that is uniquely Nigerian since the parliamentary system of government was unhelpful and, now, the presidential system of government has also become challenging â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it is too expensive and not sustainable! Pastor Adeboye has a large global audience and his views and comments are highly regarded. Going by his reputation, the General Overseer does not know how to speak from both sides of his mouth; so when he speaks, he should be taken seriously. He has proposed a model which is essentially a hybrid of the parliamentary and presidential systems of government. Under this model, Pastor Adeboye believes we can create the â&#x20AC;&#x153;United States of Nigeria (USN).â&#x20AC;? Let us be honest with ourselves, if there is one thing we need urgently at this time, it is a â&#x20AC;&#x153;United Nigeria.â&#x20AC;? I think we should all agree on this and build the Adeboye Model around it. As a mathematician with a PhD degree to boot, it is not surprising that Pastor Adeboye is thinking of solutions to our current situation. Mathematicians analyse problems through critical thinking and thereafter build models â&#x20AC;&#x201C; where parameters are mostly represented by variables -- by using mathematical concepts and language. Is the system of government that we run really our problem? Honestly, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think so. Without prejudice to Pastor Adeboyeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recommendation, my view is that operators of the system are the problem. They manipulate the system for their selfish interests. In the United Kingdom and United States where we borrowed the parliamentary and presidential systems of government respectively, there are enough checks and balances to make both systems work. They respect the rule of law and they enforce their laws. I asked some of my colleagues and associates to react to the comment made by Pastor Adeboye. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I totally agree with the idea of restructuring Nigeria according to the nuances

Braimah

of our social and economic environment,â&#x20AC;? responded Toju Ogbe, a communications professional and doctoral candidate at Kings College, London. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But I think the bigger issue for Nigeria is corruption. If the culture of corruption is not addressed, a new structure of governance that decentralises power will simply decentralise looting from the centre to the regions,â&#x20AC;? Ogbe added. In his own contribution, Akpandem James, Chairman of the Editorial Advisory Board of Naija Times, explained that the parliamentary system of government bequeathed to Nigeria succeeded in economic terms but failed politically. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The intention of the colonial fathers was for the separate regions to grow at their own pace while having a central government focused on defence, foreign affairs, currency, boundary matters including territorial integrity, customs and excise, immigration and so on,â&#x20AC;? James stated. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The political party that wins the majority votes at the federal election formed the government at the centre, otherwise a coalition of parties are required to form the government. The election that was to produce the leadership after independence did not produce an outright winner which led to the coalition government formed between NCNC and NPC. The NCNC had majority votes at the election but did not get the required spread. For reasons best known to its leaders, the party shunned Action Group which had the second highest number of votes and decided to work with NPC,â&#x20AC;? James continued. In trying to consolidate its position as a national party, the NCNC not only tried to impose its candidates on the electorate in the South West, its members from the South East in particular flocked to the South West to contest elections during the Republican elections of 1963. What came out of those political gerrymandering, according to James, resulted in the 1966 coup. Since then, the story of Nigeria changed. The British parliamentary system did not

envisage economic independence and political colonisation. It was the attempt at political colonisation of the component regions that dealt a blow at the parliamentary system. The same interlopers, who could not get what they wanted through the ballot box, seized it through the barrel of the gun when their boys in the military struck in 1966. The emergent military government abolished the regions and installed a unitary government. Jamesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; revealing insights identified the greed to conquer and dominate all the sub-nationalities as what led to the fall of the parliamentary system of government in Nigeria. A contributor who is a professor in the physical sciences prefers to remain anonymous. He said the fault lines in Nigeria are so obvious, so we need to act quickly and restructure the country. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If we do not restructure, we will definitely fracture. A multi-ethnic and diverse society where religion is central to our lives cannot continue to operate a unitary style governance model, though federal in name. People must be allowed to govern themselves at their own pace and according to their capabilities and capacity,â&#x20AC;? he remarked. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No nation is too big to fail; it simply depends on how the internal contradictions are managed. It is only a question of time unless we act expeditiously to embark on restructuring to at least save the eventual collapse of the nation,â&#x20AC;? he added. The proposed system of government by Pastor Adeboye, in my view, should be inclusive, fair, equitable and transparent. The United States of Nigeria should be built on justice and respect for fundamental human rights. According to the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is an urgent and massive need for moral and spiritual reconstruction; the kind which will help to demolish morbid desire for naked power and domination, and ensure justice, equity and fair play for all.â&#x20AC;? The biggest threat to our unity is the fear of domination of one ethnic group over the others. The moment we begin to understand that we are equal

stakeholders in the Nigerian Project irrespective of region, tribe or religion; that would be a significant achievement. Without justice, equity and fair play, the proposed United States of Nigeria will not work. Agitations for the â&#x20AC;&#x153;political structure and futureâ&#x20AC;? of Nigeria is not a new thing as I noted in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Making Nigeria a Better Placeâ&#x20AC;? project website. The problem is that the agitations are always for â&#x20AC;&#x153;sectional interestâ&#x20AC;? and not â&#x20AC;&#x153;national interestâ&#x20AC;?. This problem had been with us even before we gained independence 60 years ago. At independence, the three regions were largely independent of the federal government. However, the minority groups feared domination by the majority ethnic groups in the three regional powers. These concerns led to the agitation for the creation of states, but it was only the Midwest region that was created on August 9, 1963 before the First Republic collapsed due to regional hostilities. Unfortunately, those fears are still with us â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and it partly explains the strident calls for restructuring. When I served in Awka, now the capital of Anambra State, I felt at home. All the youth corpers who served with me had the same experience â&#x20AC;&#x201C; there was no discrimination. What we received was love and affection from the local community. The national youth service was designed to assist young graduates discover their country and immerse themselves fully into new experiences in view of our diversity. The primary goal was to promote friendship, goodwill and citizenship to achieve national integration. As an idea, national service is good but implementation, like in other areas, is a huge challenge â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we create bottlenecks deliberately to frustrate ideas that should ordinarily work because of our selfish orientation and unconscionable profit motives. In todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nigeria, is the national youth service still relevant? Your guess is as good as mine. For the United States of Nigeria to work, we must build strong institutions where no one is above the law â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the same standard should apply to everyone. That would be the glue that we need badly to hold everyone together. When a society has two sets of laws, it is a recipe for disaster. We must recognise dignity of labour so that we can discourage the culture of get-rich-quickly that has created a new generation of â&#x20AC;&#x153;hushpuppiesâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;hushmummiesâ&#x20AC;?. Under the proposed new government system, we should deliberately create a productive economy and move away from our present consumption-oriented economy. The Adeboye Model is saying to us that we should focus on solutions to our political and socio-economic challenges; enough of what is wrong with us because we all know what the issues are. We analyse our problems very well but we need to find solutions in a pragmatic way. What will help the United States of Nigeria to succeed is visionary leadership. It means we should have a system that filters our best candidates for leadership positions in the public sector. This system must recognise merit and the capability of those vying for office bearing in mind that we also need to achieve a sense of balance and equity. There is no region in Nigeria that cannot produce good leaders who will serve well and refuse to abuse the public trust. After 60 years of independence, we should look at the wisdom in Pastor Adeboyeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proposal for a new system of government that is uniquely Nigerian. We also need men and women of goodwill who are selfless to take up the leadership challenge and lead Nigeria to a glorious height; that is where we ought to be by now â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a multi-trillion dollar economy status. The late author and novelist, Chinua Achebe, while lamenting the Nigerian situation, said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nigeria is what it is because its leaders are not what they should be.â&#x20AC;? God bless Nigeria. t#SBJNBI JT UIF 1VCMJTIFS &EJUPS JO $IJFG PG /BJKB 5JNFT IUUQT OBJKBUJNFT OH

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯͳ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

#THISISNIGERIA Banky Wellington

#ENDSARS: FOCUS ON THE GOVERNMENT AND GET THEM TO ACT!

he honest truth is that people have been pushed to the edge. They've been frustrated, angry and burnt for far too long. And there isn't one leader or group to speak to. It's decentralized, organic and spread out. Thousands of angry young people united only in their pain and disappointment in their country. And they're also extremely suspicious. Any attempt at trying to "be their leader", or to "speak for them" is met with swift rebellion and intense dragging, even for those who are on their side. They just want to see the country change. They want to see their Govt do more than talk. They want talk-and-do. They want action. Swift, decisive, progressive action. They're not interested in conversations, press reports and announcements. My advice? For anyone who wants to help... stop focusing on the Protests. Focus on the Government and get them to ACT. Get some killer/corrupt cops prosecuted and charged - start with the ones who killed Jimoh in Ogbomosho, Kolade Johnson in Lagos and more. And do it publicly and transparently. Put THAT on TV. Get a list of all the Protesters who were assaulted, falsely accused and framed by Police during the last few days of protests. Apologize to them for infringing on their rights, and compensate them. Focus on getting Govt to set up a compensation fund for families of the people who have been murdered by the Police. And amplify THAT online and in the press. Fire some high-level officers who could have stopped all this from happening but let killers and extortionists run wild on their watch. Young people are not stupid. SARS yesterday is SWAT today

and Anti-Cultism-Squad next week. Set up that independent reform panel and immediately begin investigating police misconduct. Set up a hotline for people to report abuse. Put a timeline in place to review the salaries of average policemen. Isn't it ironic that the young people are ADVOCATING for better pay for the same Police officers that are assaulting them? Instead of trying to talk your young people down, actually take a moment to LISTEN to them for once, please. Review their #5for5 list, take stock of all they're asking for and be honest - they're not unreasonable demands, are they? Help get them done and take it even further than that. Everybody is looking to sit down with the protesters but I think that's the wrong approach. The protesters are not the problem. The Police is. The leadership is. The Government is. The people don't want any closed-door meetings. They want integrity, honesty and action. So if you want to sit down with anyone, please, sit down with the Government. Sit down with our leaders. Get THEM to act. And make sure we can all see the actions. Then perhaps the mood will change. Young Nigerians have been pushed to their limits, and they're now reminding the people in power that power belongs to the people. We are in uncharted territory as a country, but our prayer at the end of the day is that Nigeria will be better off for it. A wise man once said, "there's nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come". Tick tock, Nigeria. -Banky Wellington, is a Nigerian singer, rapper, actor and politician.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2020 â&#x20AC;¢T H I S D AY

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L-R Accountable Manager/COO, Elin Group Mr.Enyi Omoke, Director of Operations,Licensing and Training, NCAA Captain Elisha Bahago; Chief Executive OďŹ&#x192;cer, Elin Group,Mrs Elizabeth Jackrich,and NCAA;s Director of Airworthiness Standards/ Chairman Flight Safety Group, Engr.Ajiboye Kayode during the presentation of Air Operator CertiďŹ cate (AOC) to Elin Group by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in Lagos recently

ITU Harps on Digital Skills to Promote Transformation Stories by Emma Okonji The International Telecoms Union (ITU), a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for global telecoms regulation, has called on member-countries, Nigeria inclusive, to develop digital skills among their citizens in order to promote the global transformation. In the 2020 edition of its, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Digital Skills Insightsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, a collection of articles by international experts on the impact of digital transformation on capacity and skills development, the body advised member countries to begin aggressive development of digital skills, in line with global digital transformation drive. In eight articles, the publication reviewed the interrelationship between digital connectivity and digital skills, as well as

TELECOM the correlation with education, gender, digital divides and the transformative aspects within the labour market. The body, however, warned that none of these should be addressed in isolation but be part of a holistic approach to ensure countriesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; successful transition to a digital economy. Analysing the 2020 release, ITU Secretary-General, Houlin Zhao, said: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Digital Skills Insightsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 2020 provides a body of knowledge that will facilitate academic research and innovation; inform policy debates and decisions among policy-makers and regulators; and help the private sector to anticipate and plan for human capital requirements and skills.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The vital importance of digital skills to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals has been brought into sharp perspective during the COVID-19 crisis. The expert contributions in â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Digital Skills Insightsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; are helping to ensure that digital skill gaps do not exacerbate existing inequalities.â&#x20AC;? According to ITU data, in 2019, 46 per cent of the world population was not using the Internet. This number increased to almost 80 per cent in least developed countries. A large majority of the global population, about 93 per cent lives in an area covered by at least a 3G mobile signal/ service, however, the lack of skills is a barrier for many to use the Internetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s full potential. Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT), Doreen Bogdan-Martin,

said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the wake of COVIDâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;19, the importance of digital skills has never been so evident, nor so urgent. Those lucky enough to enjoy fast connectivity took refuge from the global health emergency by moving to a virtual environment for economic continuity, education, and interpersonal contact. However, those lacking access to digital networks and skills were left even further behind. I hope this publication stimulates important discussions on the best strategies to rapidly strengthen the capacities and skills required to profit fully from the benefits of digital transformation.â&#x20AC;? Giving tips on how best to address digital skills gaps, ITU said: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Digital Skills Insightsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; provides concrete suggestions Continued on page 22

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Deregulation Will Stabilise Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Economyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; The Chief Executive Officer of Digital Space Capital, a digital-led finance company Mrs. Olubukola Abitoye has urged the federal government to adopt deregulation in order to support economic growth. Abitoye, who was the former General Manager of Sky Capital and Financial Allied Intl. Ltd and also a former Director of Skye Bank, Sierra Leone, said deregulation remained a sure way to boost economic development and to maintain stable economy. According to her, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Government should put a flat structure in place. This will be very effective in ensuring the workability of strategies and plans. What we have presently is a bad signal to the economy development.

ECONOMY What the government needs to do is to deregulate and also involve the private sector to make things work. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A major issue is our foreign exchange where the forces of demand and supply are supposed to be operational. The rate is alarming and government does not have control over it. We should encourage exports as we have several products. Foreigners take our produce overseas and repackage them for us and we purchase same at exorbitant rates. We really need to work in the area of exports to stabilise the economy.â&#x20AC;? Addressing the state of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy, Abitoye said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The pandemic opened our eyes

to several things. Government should put things in place to ensure growth in the economy. Covid-19 makes us know the current state of things and how important it is when we respond proactively.â&#x20AC;? She added: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The government should be more committed to the health sector. It is imperative to state that governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intervention is very key to improve the economy. We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to wait for such issues to arise before government steps in. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With the current state of the economy, people should be supported one way or the other to cushion the economic effects of COVID-19. She listed such interventions to include: Giving funds at subsidised rates; loans support for SMEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s among others.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The support should be narrowed down to reach people. Finance companies are also to provide intermediation by getting to the bottom in a way to support the people.â&#x20AC;? Abitoye who also touched on women support, said the federal government must come with initiatives that will empower Nigerian women. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One of the things that motivated me to finance is the workaholic nature of some women. They wake up early in the morning as early as 5am and they were already working, cooking and doing all sorts at that odd hour. Women just need a sort of little support to make a better living. Women are firm Continued on page 22

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Ericsson to Support Airtel in 4G Network

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NairametricsWarnsCustomersagainstFraudsters

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nigeria must pursue every opportunity for economic growth. Creating a digital Nigeria will help the country achieve its social and economic development goals by ensuring financial inclusion and increasing the number of citizens who can meaningfully participate and hold a stake in the economyâ&#x20AC;? Country Manager, Microsoft Nigeria,

Mr. Akin Banuso

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍł, 2020

BUSINESSWORLD ITU HARPS ON DIGITAL SKILLS TO PROMOTE TRANSFORMATION and recommendations on how some of these challenges can be addressed to better understand and bridge the digital divide, such as: governments, businesses, educational systems and society need to work together to support a dynamic workforce and constantly redefine the skills demanded by future jobs. ITU suggested that further training and retraining would be necessary since employees will have to engage in lifelong learning if they are to be capable of responding to changes in skills requirements triggered by automation and digitization. ITU further advised that data literacy among citizens should be tackled by policy makers and practitioners through targeted data literacy programmes to enhance citizensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; abilities to participate in the digital society. According to ITU, â&#x20AC;&#x153;In sub-Saharan Africa, building human capital, specifically in digital skills, is critical for the region to leverage the benefits of the digital economy. Female participation in digital skills capacity development programmes can be increased by including more women in the programme design, reaching out to parents and community leaders in the recruitment of participants, and engaging female career role models.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;DEREGULATION WILL STABILISE NIGERIAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ECONOMYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; when it comes to the issue of finance as they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t default. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I must also commend women because an average woman can manage home and business effectively. It is important for the system to develop a platform that enables women source for funds at reduced rates.â&#x20AC;? She therefore advised women to stand on their toes and begin to prepare children for the future, while insisting that women should showcase their innate capabilities and potential. She said Digital Space Capital came into existence as result of the global pandemic across the world, and that since the world is operating in a digital space, her focus remain digital to operate a full-fledged Asset Management Company that supports SMEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and insurance brokerage.

Group Business Editor

NEWS

Fashola: Poor Budgetary Allocation Hampering Infrastructure Devt Raheem Akingbolu The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has said the slowdown in infrastructure development remains the major drawback for Nigeria in the last forty years. The minister who was the special guest of honour at the Lafarge Africa Plc inaugural Concrete Ideas webinar series with the theme: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Public-Private Partnership Approaches to Rapidly Upscaling Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Economic Infrastructure,â&#x20AC;? pointed out that the major difference between the country and other developed nations was the priority given to capital expenditure compared to recurrent expenditure. While restating that the federal government was commitment toward infrastructure development to enhance economic growth, he attributed the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s infrastructure gap to slow down in infrastructure investments when compared with what was obtainable in the 70s. The Concrete Ideas webinar is a quarterly platform that assembles both national and international stakeholders to discuss strategic and topical issues in the area of construction and other sections of its value chain. Speaking on the determination

of the current administration to address the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perennial infrastructure deficit, the minister said President Muhammadu Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s administration was committed to renew, rebuild and build Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s infrastructure. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is nothing wrong with Nigeria, Nigeria did not have an infrastructure gap, it happened because Nigeria stopped investing in infrastructure like its competitors,â&#x20AC;? Fashola said.

He said the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population had been growing in spite of drop in infrastructure development. According to him, the country needs to invest a sizeable proportion of the Gross Domestic Product in infrastructure to match its population. He said government would continue to promote Public Private Participation (PPP) in infrastructure financing and

development. â&#x20AC;&#x153;PPP has continual place in governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s developmental and finance strategy,â&#x20AC;? Fashola said. The minister, however said governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s priority at the moment is to ensure the survival of the private sector. He explained that there was no abundance of capital in the world ready to be invested because of coronavirus pandemic. Fashola said the COVID-19

pandemic had affected private sector capital and investment, adding that Nigeria needed to borrow to finance infrastructure. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Most part of the world is in recession or in survival mood due to COVID-19. Governments are trying to save their private sector across the world and Nigeria is not exempted. If we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t defeat the virus, we will not have the type of economy we want,â&#x20AC;? he said.

MEMBERSHIP INDUCTION

L-R: General Secretary, Risk Management Association of Nigeria (RIMAN), Mr. Adesoji Olasoko; First Vice President, Mr. Kola Ajimoko; President, Mr. Magnus Nnoka; Second Vice President, Dr. Ezekiel Oseni, and Executive Secretary, Mr. Victor Olannye, during the associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s membership induction programme in Lagos... recently

Nigeria, Seven Others Emerge Finalists in ANPI Award Stories by Emma Okonji Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative (ANPI) has selected the top 10 finalists, who will pitch at the competitionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grand finale in November, for a chance to win a share of a $1.5 million prize pool. The 10 outstanding entrepreneurs, half of whom are female, have been selected from over 22,000 applications across all 54 African nations, following several rounds of rigorous evaluation. With an average age of 34

years, the top 10 entrepreneurs represent eight African countries: Nigeria, Cameroon, CĂ´te dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, and their businesses span key industries such as agriculture, fashion, education, healthcare, renewable energy, and financial services. While two teams of entrepreneurs each emerged from Cote Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Ivoire and Uganda respectively, only one team of entrepreneurs emerged from each of the other African countries, making 10 finalists from eight

African countries. Last year, Nigeria also made it to the top 10 finalists and also won the first position among the selected 10, during the grand finale. This year, Nigeria has again been selected among the top 10 finalists. The CEO and Co-Founder, Mdaas Global, Mr. Oluwasoga Oni, an MIT-trained system engineer, was selected from Nigeria this year, with the project theme: MDaaS Global, designed to unlocking diagnostics

for Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next billion. MDaaS Global builds and operates modern, tech-enabled diagnostic centres in clinically-underserved communities starting in Nigeria to provide a world-class patient experience at highly-affordable prices. The African Business Heroes award (ABH), which is part of the ANPI, will recognise 100 African entrepreneurs and allocate $100 million, over a ten-year period, in grant funding, training, mentoring and learning initiatives, access to key networks, and to

develop a vibrant entrepreneur community to support Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future business leaders. This is a testament to the Jack Ma Foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s long-term commitment to support Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Founder of the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Group, Jack Ma, who is one of the judges, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I continue to be amazed by the passion, resilience, and vision of Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entrepreneurs, and I look forward to meeting these ten extraordinary businesswomen and businessmen at the finale.

Court Convicts Seven SIM Card Registration Offenders The commitment of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to stop the use of unregistered SIM cards to perpetrate cybercrime and other criminal activities in the country is yielding results. The Commission, through concerted enforcement efforts with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC), as well as the Department of State Services (DSS), has secured

court convictions for SIM card related offences. According to the Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, the seven convicts were all charged and convicted at the Grade 1 Area Court Nyanya, Abuja and the Senior Magistrate Court, Kano for offences bordering on violation of SIM registration laws in the country on September 4, 2020 and September 24, 2020 respectively.

The offenders, Bako Joseph Boy, Umar Kabiru Abdullahi, Lawal Sani, Shamsuddin Aliyu, George Eze, Ayuba Ishak, and Kabiru Ali, were convicted for various SIM card related offences. Specifically, the first convict Bako Joseph Boy was charged with the sale of SIM cards outside controlled environment, while the other six were arraigned on the charge of the sale of fraudulently registered SIM cards.

The offences were contrary to section 517 of the Criminal Code Act; Section 65 (1) of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003 and Section 65 (2) of the NCC Act, 2003 and punishable under the same Act. The suspects, who pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against them were subsequently convicted as charged and sentenced to two months imprisonment with an option

to pay a fine of N15,000 and six months imprisonment or the option of fine in the sum of N20,000. The arrest of the suspects followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the NCC, NSCDC and DSS to strengthen inter-agency collaboration towards curbing the criminal act of registering and selling of pre-registered SIM cards in the country.

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2014; Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x; (Advertising) Correspondents

Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x; Ă¤Ă? (Aviation) Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2013;Ă? Ă&#x152;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2DC; (Maritime) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafo (Energy) Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x;Ă?Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ă&#x2019; (Energy) Reporters

Ă&#x;Ă&#x2014;Ă? Ă&#x2022;Ă?Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2019;Ă? (Money Market) Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x201C;Ă? (ICT) Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x153; Ă¤Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2122; (Energy)

Danbatta Seeks Improved Awareness on Cybersecurity The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, has said the need to be cyber-security-conscious in order to guarantee online safety for internet users is everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business and not reserved for a group of people. Danbatta stated this to herald the commencement of a series of enlightenment and awareness

campaign activities being embarked upon by the commission for this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM). In October every year, NCSAM celebrates online safety globally, aimed at raising awareness about cybersecurity, and to provide the public with general knowledge and tools required for online safety. Danbatta who said the number of internet users across mobile

networks in Nigeria currently stood at 149.8 million as at August, 2020, noted that more users were expected online as services in different sectors of the economy were becoming digitalised. He stated that the increase in digital financial transactions for e-commence activities called for greater responsibility on the part of individuals and corporate internet users to protect themselves against cybercrimes.

According to Danbatta, â&#x20AC;&#x153;as the commission embarks on various policy initiatives to drive pervasive broadband penetration to achieve increased digital inclusiveness, it is not unmindful of those who use internet to carry out nefarious and dubious activities in the cyber space to put an end to it.â&#x20AC;? Danbatta further said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;To keep the genuine individual and corporate internet users safe, the

NCC, as regulator of the telecom sector, annually joins the rest of the world to create a lot of enlightenment around cybercrime in the month of October every year. We ensure that consumers are empowered through awareness and sensitisation campaigns, by providing information on both the positive and negative potentials available online, and measures required to safeguard themselves and their loved ones.â&#x20AC;?

T H I S D AY ˾ OCTOBER 15, 2020

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Balogun: Data Protection Key to Digital Economy Chief Executive Officer of DSPL Nigeria Limited, one of the recently licensed data protection compliance organisations in Nigeria, Mr. Tunde Balogun, in this interview speaks on development in the sector. Emma Okonji presents the excerpts:

he Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) came into force last year, and given the emergence of new companies playing in that ﬁeld, it seems an industry is being built around data protection. What’s your view about data protection in Nigeria? Data protection is data protection everywhere in the world. Yes, a lot of us always say because the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into existence and is the most holistic and robust data protection regulation in the world because it takes the interest of all the member countries, but GDPR tends to be the gold standard. So, most other data protection regulation in other countries in the world tend to toe the path of GDPR. But it doesn’t mean that it’s copied, because data protection remains data protection anywhere in the world. So NDPR is a very good data protection regulation. The Piper, which is a non-governmental organisation that ranks data protection regulation of each country all over the world, gives them colour: Green is for strong regulation; Amber is for moderate, and I think Red is for weak regulation. NDPR was awarded Amber, which is moderate. There are some advanced countries in the world that their regulation was marked Red and they are countries that are more advanced than our country Nigeria. So if you want to look at it, NDPR in terms of comparison to other countries’ regulation, is decent. In terms of the structure of the implementation, it is unique in the world. It is unique in the sense that it creates that layer of licensed firms to help organisations for implementation. There is nowhere in the world where that is done. That uniqueness is a masterstroke, very ingenious by the immediate past Director-General of NITDA, Dr. Isa Pantami. Though I don’t like to personalise things, I would like to mention this that the current Minister for Communications and Digital Economy and his team that came up with that, actually demonstrated ingenuity. That uniqueness, I can tell you as the convener of the Association of Licensed Data Protection Compliance Organisations of Nigeria, is not anywhere in the world. All other African countries are looking at our model. So that makes NDPR unique. In terms of the content, it is moderate, but in terms of the structure and how to implement it, that makes it quite unique in the world, which is very ingenious. Do you see data protection becoming a big sub-sector in Nigeria in the future? Data protection is the foundation of digital economy. I could remember in the 90s when I used to come to Nigeria, and I used to talk about cloud and a lot of people used to think I was a mad man. And I used to tell them don’t worry, it is inevitable. It is not going to be an option; I told them everybody is going to move to cloud. So it’s the same thing with data protection, it’s inevitable. Digital economy, especially in a country like this where you have high level of poverty and high level of illiteracy, disruptive technology is the only way out and that hinges on digital technologies, and digital technologies sit on data protection. Data protection is the foundation in the real sense that if data protection in any jurisdiction is not well implemented and taken seriously, any digital project you put on it will collapse. So, now going back to your question. Time will tell, but the signs that I see are good. There are a few peculiarities as you know it in our country and I think those peculiarities are due to lack of capacity. Data protection all over the world is new; more new in Nigeria and I can tell you that we have got only a few people that have gotten the professional certification, but they haven’t got the handson experience yet. So, they haven’t got the practical experience, they have gone for the certification exam as a data protection officer. But apart from that, the capacity in Nigeria is very light. So because of that, you can see some of the people in the industry, because they don’t have an in-depth understanding of what data protection is, they want to take it from the main focus, or they are diluting it

Facebook users, not to Zuckerberg. To make sure that Zuckerberg is not abusing the rights of Facebook, even though it’s Zuckerberg that is paying his salary. So that’s what I tell companies that yes, you are paying us but the loyalty is to your customers. DSPL Nigeria Limited came on board recently, to further enhance data protection compliance. What are some of the key objectives of DSPL? DSPL was created in February this year as a special purpose vehicle strictly to cater for data protection in Nigeria. Even though the data protection expertise among the three directors of DSPL is over 60 years, our individual experience in data protection abroad, if combined together spans several years. But the company was only created, as I said, as a special purpose vehicle and we were registered in February this year strictly to help organisations comply with data protection regulation. We got a licence to become a data protection compliance organization (DPCO). We passed all the criteria that were set out by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) before they could give us a licence. So, that was what DSPL was created for, strictly to help both public and private organisations to implement the provisions of Nigeria data protection regulation. Balogun

with something else. But the future is good. The most important thing is for all stakeholders in the data protection ecosystem in Nigeria not to make it elitist. That’s my fear. What is your view about the contents of Nigeria Data Protection Regulation and to what extent do think they can address key challenges in data usage? The contents of the regulation and the data protection bill are alright. They all hinge on the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights and on article 17 and 15, which Nigeria is a signatory to. So the contents are right, but it’s always down to implementation operationalisation, which I fear that it might become elitist. You see, one of the reasons why that fear is there is because of the uniqueness again of the framework of data protection in Nigeria that you have these licensed DPCOs and the three categories of firms that the current regulator, which is NITDA, has licensed are either you an ICT firm with experience in cyber-security data protection, or you are a law firm, or you are an auditing firm. That is fair enough because the principles of data protection, in my opinion, is the legal component, which probably I would like to say accounts for about 30 per cent. The remaining 70 per cent is technology, the remediation that fixes technology. So, among the 72 licensed firms by the regulator, you have some that are law firms, you have some that are ICT firms, and you have some that are auditors. So why your fears about the likelihood of making NDPR an elitist thing in the future? My fear about the NDPR becoming an elitist thing in the future is that if you look at those professionals in the ecosystem in Nigeria, you

have the ICT firms, which are aggressively progressive, then you have lawyers also coming to play technology and their profession is conservative. As the convener of the association of DCPOs, I have an overall picture of what each and everyone is doing and also with our constant engagements with the regulator, you can see the operationalisation playing out among those skill sets. Even with the recent data protection draft bill, which we were part of the review committee, by the time we shared it among our members to review, we discovered that the comments by the law firms were tilted towards the conservative point of view, not from technology. But that is the beauty of it, because as I said the focal point of data protection is the citizen, which is called the data subject. That is the person you want to protect. So what we tell people in DSPL, especially to novice about data protection, is that the quick way to get your head around data protection is that your organisation pays us, but the fact is that we are not looking after your interest. We are looking after the interests of your customers, your data subjects. So, we are making sure you are the one paying us for the services but it’s your customers that we want to make sure you do not abuse. And if you abuse your customer, we will report you to the regulator, even though you are the ones paying for the service. That is how data protection works all over the world. I remember what happened during one of our seminars at the International Association of Privacy Professional, which is the biggest association of privacy professionals in the world. I have been a member for about seven to nine years. At the seminar which held about four or five years ago, the data protection officer for Facebook, Stephen Bowman, was saying that Mark Zuckerberg is his boss who pays his salary, but he said his loyalty is to

Data protection is data protection everywhere in the world. Yes, a lot of us always say because the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into existence and is the most holistic and robust data protection regulation in the world because it takes the interest of all the members countries, but GDPR tends to be the gold standard. So, most other data protection regulation in other countries in the world tend to toe the path of GDPR. But it doesn’t mean that it’s copied, because data protection remains data protection anywhere in the world

What speciﬁc role is DSPL playing in the data protection industry right now? The role that DSPL is playing in the industry right now is that, as a strategy, we are doing a lot of advocacy, actually in the public sector, public institutions. Why is because the biggest processes of personal data, anywhere in any country in the world is always government. Government data subject is the population. If you are in the private sector, your population is your customers. So if you only have 20,000 customers, that is your entire population, but government controls the data of all citizens from the local government to state and to federal level. So any public institution, any ministry, department agency, from local government or whatever, will tend to handle personal data and modern private sector. So, our strategy at DSPL is to focus on public sector, because that’s where most breaches are likely going to happen from. So most of our toolkits and most of our products, most of our services are targeted at the public sector. We have products for private sector, don’t get me wrong, but are we are just saying that most of our efforts, most of our strategy is to service public sector because by nature, and by default, they tend to be the biggest processors of personal information and most likely places where breach might happen. As a DPCO, you must have noticed how organisations in Nigeria are complying with the NDPR, what is your assessment of the level of compliance? Thank you very much for that question. I remember having this discussion with some of the stakeholders on the government side when we were not invited to a stakeholders’ meeting. When I said ‘we’ I mean the association, and I told them, we are the experts, we are the practitioners for data protection in Nigeria. NITDA, which is the regulator doesn’t have access to personal information of the organisations, we are the ones that are going round because of our licence. We are the ones that can go to any company, and that company would allow us to access their database. So, if we call ourselves experts, I don’t think we are wrong. And what I told the stakeholders is the question you are asking me now. And that is the fact that in Nigeria, if anybody wants to ask about how are our organisations handling personal data, the only group of people that can answer that question rightly are the DPCOs, not the government, not NITDA, not the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, and not even the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) that has the identity data of all Nigerians. So thank you for that question. It shows that you understand the structure of our data protection system in Nigeria.

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍł, 2020

Reducing GreenHouse Emission Ugo Aliogo examines efforts to reduce greenhouse emission and achieve carbon neutrality

limate Change is one of the defining challenges of the age. From shifting weather patterns that threaten food production, to rising sea levels that increase the risk of catastrophic flooding, the impact of climate change are global in scope and unprecedented in scale. Without drastic action today, adapting to these impacts in the future will be more difficult and costly, United Nations in a report has asserted. A recent report explained that greenhouse gases occur naturally and are essential to the survival of humans and millions of other living things, by keeping some of the sunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s warmth from reflecting back into space and making Earth livable. But after more than a century and a half of industrialisation, deforestation, and large scale agriculture, quantities of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have risen to record levels not seen in three million years. As populations, economies and standards of living grow, so does the cumulative level of greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions. Reports revealed that many countries are planning big investments in fossil fuel industries as part of their economic rescue packages. For instance, in the US the bailout of the airline industry is set to go ahead without conditions attached on their emissions, while the White House has moved to weaken a raft of environmental regulations. In China, subsidies for fossil fuel vehicles and the easing of permits for coalmining are also likely to raise emissions. At the Petersberg Climate Dialogue, the UN Secretary-General AntĂłnio Guterres advised government not to use taxpayer cash to rescue fossil fuel companies and carbon-intensive industries. He urged government to devote economic rescue packages for the coronavirus crisis to businesses that cut greenhouse gas emissions and create green jobs. Guterres appealed for tougher action on cutting emissions, as well as more investments. He maintained that public funds should be invested in the future by directing it to sustainable sectors and projects that help the environment and climate. He added that fossil fuel subsidies must end, and carbon must have a price so polluters would pay for their pollution. Continuing, Guterres said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Developing countries should receive $100bn (ÂŁ82bn) a year, a longstanding goal under the global climate negotiations, to help them curb emissions and cope with the impacts of climate breakdown. We cannot allow the heavy and rising debt burden of developing countries to serve as a barrier to their ambition (on the climate). â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rich countries must all commit to zero-carbon emissions by 2050 with a particular nod to the US and China. The Paris agreement was largely made possible by the engagement of the US and China. Without the contribution of the big emitters, all our efforts will be doomed.â&#x20AC;? In the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) State of the Climate 2019 report, the UN Chief said the indications are clear and global heating is accelerating. He also noted that 2019 was the second hottest year on record, with the past decade the hottest in human history. Guterres further explained that greenhouse gas concentrations are at the highest levels in three million years, when the earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s temperature was as much as 3Â°C hotter and sea levels some 15 meters higher, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ocean heat is at a record level, with temperatures rising at the equivalent of

Buhari

five Hiroshima bombs a second.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;We count the cost in human lives and livelihoods as droughts, wildfires, floods and extreme storms take their deadly toll. We have no time to lose if we are to avert climate catastrophe. This is a pivotal year for how we address the climate emergency. We have to aim high at the next climate conference in Glasgow in November,â&#x20AC;? he remarked. He emphasised that there is a need all countries to demonstrate that they can achieve emissions reductions of 45 percent from 2010 levels in this decade, â&#x20AC;&#x153;and it would reach net-zero emissions by mid-century, we know this is the only way to limit global heating to 1.5Â°C.â&#x20AC;? Achieving Carbon Neutrality At the 2019 Climate Action Summit, there was a commitment by countries to initiate concrete new steps to combat the climate crisis. Germany committed to carbon neutrality by 2050. 12 countries made financial commitments to the Green Climate Fund, the official financial mechanism to assist developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change. This is in addition to recent announcements from Norway, Germany, France and the United Kingdom who have recently doubled their present contributions. On his part, the UN Chief hinted that on mitigation, all countries must commit to carbon neutrality by 2050. He affirmed that developing countries need resilience-building support developing, adding that it requires adequate financing, beginning with a promised $100 billion dollars a year for mitigation and adaptation efforts. Guterres disclosed that 121 States have already committed to carbon

neutrality by 2050, while urging all countries to prepare enhanced national climate action plans,â&#x20AC;? or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), â&#x20AC;&#x153;to reach net zero emissions by 2050â&#x20AC;?. According to him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I encourage the European Union to continue showing global leadership by presenting, by the end of the year, a nationally determined contribution in line with its commitment to become the first climate neutral continent by 2050. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The key to tackling the climate crisis is the big emitters. The worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 20 leading economies collectively account for more than 80 percent of global emissions and over 85 percent of the global economy, all of them must also commit to carbon neutrality by 2050. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Without the contribution of the big emitters, all our efforts risk to be doomed. Let us use the pandemic recovery to provide a foundation for a safe, healthy, inclusive and more resilient world for all people.â&#x20AC;? The issue of reducing greenhouse gas emission has continued to generate discourse among stakeholders, at a recent webinar, with the theme: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Building a More Sustainable Future: The Pandemic as a Catalyst for Progressâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, the issue was brought to the front burner. Speaking at the virtual meeting, the Senior Vice President, Corporate Affair and Communication, Japan Tobacco International (JTI), Suzanne Weiss said like all companies, JTI aims to improve its impacts on the environment, and consider a long list of investment projects. She revealed the plans of the company to reduce greenhouse gas emission by 35 per cent between 2015 and 2030. She also stated that the company has a strong commitment

I encourage the European Union to continue showing global leadership by presenting, by the end of the year, a nationally determined contribution in line with its commitment to become the first climate neutral continent by 2050

to reach net zero emission from its own operations, and the key message is that it is time to build for the future and invest in long term environmental projects. She remarked that the company would examine its return on investments, and determine which project to be funded and not to be. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think it is time to look at projects that has long term sustainability for the company and environment, this initiative is really informed by our consumers and employees who are driven by the sustainability agenda. I think companies even in crisis involve those long term trends and demands from consumers and employees at their absolute peril,â&#x20AC;? she said. Weiss hinted that despite the global crisis, the company has stayed through to its principles and continues to strive, noting that from industry perspective, there are real conflict between economic recovery and sustainable goals. In his remarks, Team Leader for Green Finance and Investment in the Environment Directorate, OECD, Robert Youngman, said as part of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work on green finance and investment, Finance ministers have been the key target, because they are essential economic decision makers for future planning. He asserted that a report presented to them by a group of experts including the OECD, placed special focus on renewable energy, energy efficiency and green buildings, â&#x20AC;&#x153;all of these areas offer a lot of benefits in terms of number of jobs and the multiplier factor for the economy.â&#x20AC;? Continuing, Weiss affirmed: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The company has many projects that would drive environmental impact especially its factory in the Philippines, where we have installed the solar driven power roofs or self-consumption solar system which is the largest of those systems in Asia. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In terms of JTI, we have always really had a long terms approach that place us in good stead. At the heart of our company, are four stakeholder models. We try to ensure that we deliver for our stakeholder groups, such as employees, and consumer shareholders and the society. This model is embedded in our business and it has stood us in good stead.â&#x20AC;? According to Youngman, â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is an organisation known as Coalition for Finance Ministers Climate Action. In our work to date on green finance and investment, finance ministers have been really the key target, as essential economic decision makers for future planning. A report presented to them by a group of experts including the OECD, and some international organisations focuses on renewable energy, energy efficiency and green buildings. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All of these areas offer a lot of benefits in terms of number of jobs and the multiplier factor for the economy. We are seeing it being implemented in different jurisdictions. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So in the European Union (EU) as part of their 750 billion Euro plan, we saw a plan to increase hydrogen production in six fold by 2024 and a major emphasis on recovery. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is the same for France, where the recovery plan is 100 billion, but 30 billion to speed up greening of the economy through energy performance renovations in buildings, green infrastructure and mobility, reducing carbon intensity of processes in manufacturing and new technologies such as hydrogen. We know from the last financial crisis that green stimulus measures do create income and jobs.â&#x20AC;?

T H I S D AY Ëž OCTOBER 15, 2020

BUSINESSWORLD

PERSPECTIVE

Challenges of Foreign Private Equity Investment in Nigeria Oluyomi Martins

igeria has witnessed a steady decline in Foreign Direct Investment in recent time. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, Foreign Direct Investment was USD1.19 Billion in 2018 while only USD934.34 million was received in 2019. Several reasons account for this trend, including drop in global oil and commodity prices, poor macroeconomic policies, insecurity and currency volatility. One recent concern has now been management conflict that has been witnessed between Nigerian companies and their Foreign Private Equity Investors. A recent example of such conflict is that of Health Plus and Car45. These conflicts have become matters of litigation and arbitration. When conflicts like this occur, it sends a wrong signal to other prospective investors, who may tag Nigeria as an unsafe investment destination and avoid any investment in our economy. Foreign Private Equity Funds normally have an average span of between five and ten years. The legal structures most commonly used as a vehicle for private equity funds are: Limited companies under the Companies and Allied Matters Act chapter C20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and General or Limited Partnerships, or the newer Limited Liability Partnerships under the Partnership Law of Lagos State 2009 (as amended). Offshore registered funds can only solicit investments from investors in Nigeria with SEC approval. There are transaction documentation which must be in place including: Nondisclosure agreements and term sheets; Offer documentation; Due diligence reports (legal, financial, tax, and technical); Share purchase or subscription agreements; Shareholders agreements; and Disclosure letters. Each of these documents lay the foundation for a proper transaction. If all the processes stated above are in place, there should normally be a seamless transaction. The issue we have with conflict arising thereafter are actually two sided. One, on the part of the Nigerian company who receive the foreign private equity and

the foreign private equity company. Let us start with the Nigerian Companies. Sometimes, at the point of drawing up the investment agreements, all relevant terms to ensure needless conflict including exit strategy etc are not properly drawn up. You also have cases of diversion of funds from the intended investment by the Nigerian firms. When funds are received from the foreign investors, some Nigerian Companies will prefer to divert the funds to other businesses than use it for what was stated in the agreement. There is also the issue of poor corporate governance and management structure. On the part of the Foreign Private Equity Firms, our research shows that some of them actually do not fulfil their obligations as stated in the agreements regarding milestone fund injection. This may be due to breach of agreement on the part of the Nigerian partners as well. The issue of

greed also comes in at the point of exiting transactions. Knowing the size of the Nigerian market, some may be reluctant to relinquish their holdings when they should. Failure to structure regular audit of the Nigerian firms also lead to Foreign Private Equity Investors losing track of the business they invested in and how their money was deployed. Whatever the case, trust remain sacrosanct to effectively pull through a profitable partnership. As much as possible, Nigerian business owners must first be committed to abiding by the contract as agreed. For instance, in the on-going case of HealthPlus Limited, comments from both sides points to poor corporate governance as a major factor affecting the fortune of the business. While the Founder said enough money has not been provided for the operations, the investors insisted money has been provided, with more to come only if KPIs

are met, hence the appointment of a Chief Transformation Officer for the Company. Venture Capitalists and Private Equity Investors want to invest their monies where the prospects are high. The Nigerian economy presents a veritable platform for such investments. The successes of some Nigerian businesses that have such foreign partnerships speaks to the fact that it is not all gloomy. What is required is diligence and deliberate efforts at following through on the agreements. It always takes two to tangle in any business transaction to avoid unnecessary and avoidable conflicts. It is important to adhere to rules as agreed and put transaction monitoring strategies in place to nip any variation in the bud speedily. -Oluyomi is a Financial Services Advisory Consultant and the MD/CEO Black Martins & Company Limited.

How Sterling Bank, HEI are Saving Lives of Accident Victims Oluchi Chibuzor

any citizens are dying daily on Nigerian roads due to their poor state and sometimes the recklessness of drivers. Some have also died or become permanently scarred due to lack of immediate medical assistance and financial resources for treatment. In a bid to change the narrative, Sterling Bank Plc, earlier this year entered into a partnership with Health Emergency Initiative (HEI), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that provides emergency medical assistance and care to indigent or vulnerable patients in public hospitals and communities and supports other health related initiatives for the good of humanity. This is as various government agencies such as Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA); Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS) are providing technical support Under the partnership, Sterling Bank has provided training to address public apathy in pre-hospital emergency care, stimulate public interest, close identified skills gaps as well as assist indigent patients in public hospitals with access to emergency treatment that makes the difference between life and near-certain death. According to the Group Head, Health Finance with Sterling Bank, Ibironke Akinmade, the bank decided to partner with HEI as part of its commitment to innovation in the health sector. She explained that the bank is focusing investments on five sectors of the economy, including health, education, agriculture, renewable energy and transportation (HEART), in a bid to make impact, adding that Sterling Bank believes strongly in responsible business practices. Akinmade said the bank collaborated with

Suleiman

HEI to train volunteers and respondents on emergency medical response tactics to aid the survival of accident victims, remarking that the collaborative effort is focused on adopting creative methods of ensuring that members of the public play a supportive role in getting accident victims to hospitals for treatment instead of merely taking their photographs and posting such on social media. She also noted that the way people react to accident victims could determine whether they will suffer permanent disability or die, adding that the overall solution is to get people

to sign to basic health insurance. Between January and September this year, the partnership has directly contributed to the provision of emergency medical services that has saved the lives of at least 30 people in Lagos. An analysis of the records showed that 30 beneficiaries made up of nineteen male adults, five female adults and six children, have benefited from the Sterling Bank/HEI Medical Intervention Trust Fund 2020 with interventions spread across purchase of drugs, POP materials, laboratory tests and blood transfusion.

The beneficiaries chiefly treated for injuries sustained from road transport accident and burns due to generator fire incidents, were attended to in Lagos State at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Annex, Gbagada; Massey Street Children Hospital; Gbagada General Hospital, Gbagada and Onikan Health Centre, among others. For instance, Joe Doe (not real name), a beneficiary of the Sterling Bank and HEI initiative, fell from a moving vehicle and sustained a head injury. He was rescued by Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) and taken to LASUTH. He lost his memory completely and could not give any useful information about himself. While the hospital was planning to take him to the welfare home at Majidun in the Ikorodu area of Lagos, help came his way through the initiative. He is currently back with his family and on his path to recovery. The story of Alib Moe (pseudonym), another beneficiary is the same as Joeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. Alib however is a victim of a hit and run driver along Town Planning Way, Ilupeju in Lagos, and was taken to LASUTH by LASAMBUS. He was found unconscious and unable to give any information about himself. He also benefitted from the Sterling Bank and HEI initiative after HEI was contacted to assist in funding his treatment. He regained consciousness a few days later and gave his real name. He claimed to be a tricycle rider at the Mile 2 motor park in Lagos. Sterling Bank is known for its massive investment in people and economic prosperity. This intervention has again reiterated the commitment of the leading commercial bank to the health sector, as it has done with various support strategies and business interventions for the all-important sector over the years.

IMAGES

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯͳ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

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Comptroller of Customs, Oyo/Osun Command, Uche Ngozi (left), showing 2,270 bags of 50kg foreign parboied rice seized from smugglers to press men during a brieﬁng in Ibadan...recently

L-R: Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Chief Otunba Runsewe; Governor, Plateau State, Simon Lalong and his Deputy, Prof. Sonni Tyoden, during the Director-General’s visit to the Governor in Jos...recentky

R-L; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN ; Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and the Re-Elected Governor of Ondo State, Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredolu during the visit of the Re-elected governor of Ondo State to the State House, Abuje...recently

L-R: Assistant General Secretary, National Association of Microﬁnance Banks, Lagos State Chapter (NAMBLAG), Mary Olaniyi-Olawoyin; Chairman, Taiwo Joda; President, Fintech Association of Nigeria, Dr. Segun Aina and Treasurer, NAMBLAG, Esther Balogun, during NAMBLAG courtesy visit to Fintech Association of Nigeria in Lagos ...recently

L-R: President, Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Emma Okas Wike; General Manager, Procurement, Federal Housing Authority, Mr. Timothy Anetor; Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; and President of the NIOB, Mr. Kunle Awobodu, during the NIOB 50th AGM annual conference in Abuja... recently Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Buki Ponle (right),and the Attorney-General of the Federation/Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, during the former’s courtesy visit to the Minister in Abuja...recently

President of Calabar Atakpa Lions Club, Mrs Sylvia Osadebe (right), carrying out a free eye screening on a bus driver, Mr James Okon, during a free eye screening outreach organised by the club in Calabar...recently

Members of the Heart & Sole Walk Intiative Ng.(NGO) distributing Thank You palliative packs and facemasks to LAWMA and PSP workers in Ikeja environs for keeping the Ikeja enviroment clean during the Independence day celebrations...recently

THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2020 â&#x20AC;¢ T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ , OCTOBER 15, 2020

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

ÜÙßÚ ÏËÞßÜÏÝ ÎÓÞÙÜ˝ ÒÓÏ×ÏÖÓÏ äÏÙÌÓ ×ËÓÖ chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, Tel: 07010510430

Nigeria’s Funds-starved Health Sector is Sick Calls for increase in health sector budget allocation have been as old as Nigeria’s existence. But every year the situation has remained the same hence fueling the myriads of health challenges currently affecting in the country. Rebecca Ejifoma ponders why the critical sector was not given the required priority funding it deserves in the recently presented 2021 budget submitted to the National Assembly

t is no longer news that medical tourism abroad is now a norm for several Nigerians who can afford it. From the country’s president to other wealthy Nigerians, the situation remains the same due to the increasing lack of attention the sector is getting from each administration. Even newly elected or re-elected presidents prefer to beam their attention on building roads and bridges, as well as engaging in physical projects that perceive them as committed to the Nigerian dream, whereas for a fact, a nation can only experience true economic prosperity and human capital development if it invests in healthcare and education. With a population of 206, 139,589, Nigeria remains the most populous nation in Africa. It is the number 7th in the world, yet, it can’t boast of a thriving health sector. Its budgetary allocations continue to remain a slap, not only to the face of the nation but to the continent, despite its strategic position as the giant of Africa. Thus, it poses a laughable stance globally when healthcare is mentioned. For this, analysts and medical experts have harped on the need for the government to give the sector the attention it deserves. Worried, medical experts, health advocates and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have continued to describe the nation’s health sector as one of the weakest in Africa, given the nonchalant disposition of her leaders. Also, incessant poor funding had caused abysmal provisions of medical facilities as well as pitiable treatment of healthcare workers which have all largely hampered professionalism among several other lapses. Consequently, medical tourism has become the order of the day with impudence. Nigeria’s leaders, the rich and moneybags seek medical treatments abroad as they watch the nation’s health sector in disarray. According to research, lingering health issues in Nigeria have remained high maternal and child mortality, second-rate primary healthcare centres, poor health facilities, lack of functioning cancer machines, malaria, increasing bouts of Lassa fever, lower respiratory infections, HIV/AIDS, diarrheal diseases, road injuries, protein-energy malnutrition, cancer, meningitis, stroke and tuberculosis and now, rising cases of COVID-19, to mention a few while contemplating ailments yet to surface. Thus, hearts began to pant as President Muhammadu Buhari, last Thursday, October 8, presented the 2021 budget of N13.8 trillion to the joint session of the National Assembly (NASS) with health getting a pitiful N380.21 billion only for an entire coming year, not anticipating unexpected health challenges the country could be plagued with. According to Mr. President, the N380 billion is the entire budget meant for the Ministry of Health to tackle the myriads of health issues bedeviling the nation, including for the management of all ties of healthcare in the country – from Primary Health Care to secondary, up to tertiary healthcare. Same amount is expected to also be expended to tracking, monitoring and controlling of disease outbreaks for a nation that her health sector

Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire

had grappled with unending infectious disease outbreaks year after year. If approved by NASS, part of the paltry monetary allocation is said to be spent on equipping two centres of excellence, one Accident and Emergency Centre in Federal Teaching Hospitals in each geopolitical zone across the country; just as they hope it would be sufficient to enhance the capacity to deliver healthcare services through the procurement of equipment, vaccines and other facilities. That’s like a dream from the land of the unexpected. And while the charade 57 per cent increase in 2021 proposed budget may seem laudable, a careful analysis reveals its weightless impact in next year’s health care. This is so in the face of the fact that numerous Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) are expected to be equipped and upgraded across the six geopolitical zones. This clearly shows the government’s low estimation of the health sector despite the Abuja Declaration of 2001 which recommended 15 per cent of the national budget, and World Health Organisation recommending 13 per cent, respectively. Sadly, Nigeria’s highest budget has been about five per cent which was in 2012 and has been on the decline amid a global virus outbreak. This explains the concerns expressed over this year’s proposed health budget which left many Nigerians in shock. Despite the federal government’s 57 per cent pop-up, Nigeria still

falls hugely short. Its proposed budget for health falls to 2.8 per cent of the nation’s overall budget. All these are happening in a nation that her population has continued to increase daily. Prices of necessary commodities hiked from pricey to unaffordable. Thus, the appropriation bill of N380 million, if endorsed by NASS, will be for her over 200 million citizens; translating in reality, to the painful fact that each Nigerian is only entitled to less than N2 per person for healthcare for the entire 2021. Meanwhile, WHO suggested that for Nigeria to be seen to prioritise healthcare, it must at least spend a minimum of N6, 908 per Nigerian in a year. Little wonder the lack of basic healthcare facilities, commodities, pending salaries of health workers and nationwide strike, maternal and new born deaths, death to Lassa fever and many others. A careful look at the percentage of each year’s health budget has shown the backsliding drop in the budget allocation. In 2012, Nigeria’s health sector was allotted 5.95 per cent of its budget. In 2014, it allocated N216.40 billion to healthcare, representing 4.4 per cent only. In 2015, it was N237 billion, which represents 5.5 per cent of the entire budget; same with 2016 (4.23 per cent) and 2017 (4.16 per cent). In 2018, it stumbled to 3.9 per cent as though the health of the nation was of least importance while in 2019, it was

N315 million. In 2020, health allocation from national budget relapsed to 3.4 per cent. And now for 2021, health allocation from national budget fell woefully to 2.8 per cent. As though such absurd figure is not enough, there is a huge difference with the amount budgeted and the amount released for health care each year. That is why CSOs and advocates have continued to lend a voice to the state of the health sector. The poor health budget has left the health sector in a pathetic state. After the outbreak of COVID-19 placed a ban on all travels from March to September, leaders who were most affected had no foreign country to jet off to. Everyone would have thought it taught the leaders a vital lesson to upgrade her health sector to international standard starting with WHO’s recommendations. Instead, the health budget for 2021 reduced. Having visited some primary healthcare centres in Lagos and read of some in other states, it is obvious that the Nigerian healthcare system is poorly developed; no adequate and functional surveillance systems are developed; health centres; personnel; lack of medical equipment especially in rural areas and far to reach communities; lack of coordination, fragmentation of services, zero resources, low drug and supplies, inadequate and decaying infrastructure, inequity in resource distribution, and access to care and very deplorable quality of care. Therefore, experts have recommended that to achieve a developed, healthcare system wellgrounded in routine surveillance and medical intelligence should be the backbone of the health sector, including adequate management, couple with strong leadership principles. Since each state government knows the state of its health facilities – whether deplorable and laudable, it is only advisable to follow the stipulated 13 per cent by WHO or 15 percent as recommended in the Abuja Declaration. There is need to review and increase health budget. Most importantly, health advocates and the experts should be carried along, as they have the best idea of what the health system of the nation should be. NASS should not approve the health budgetary allocation as it will plunge the country into more health crisis. State governments should not go the way of FG. They should prioritise healthcare. Other stakeholders and the general public can seek to influence the budget by engaging the executive or the legislature in various ways: analysing budget proposals from the angle of grassroots needs, advocating for more transparency in budget processes, and taking part in local budget-setting processes. The reality is that, in most cases, time for budget negotiations is short and budget sessions are not long enough to make the process as participatory and effective as it should be. With this then, there is no gainsaying that when many say a nation’s wealth is determined by the health of her people, Nigeria may be considered as one of the poorest African countries in this time if this 2021 appropriation bill pulls through.

Senate Will Pass Mental Health Bill Soon, Says Oloriegbe The Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe has stated that lawmakers are reviewing the Mental Health Bill beforeit, an d that in no time it would be passed into law. Announcing this during a webinar yesterday to commemorate the 2020 World Mental Health Day, with the theme: “Psychosocial Impact of

the Relevance of Mental Health Discussion Post COVID-19” Oloriegbe said the Assembly was presently reworking the previously submitted document, noting that one of the new Bill when passed will reflect the times. He said: “With the COVID-19 situation, we have seen the consequence of the pandemic and how it is affecting the

mental health of Nigerians. “Right now, we have the priviledge to monitor the law that will guide the mental health situation in Nigeria, so we will do all we can to make it a reality very soon. “Nigeria’s Lunacy Act is an archaic law which treats humans as low animals because those with mental disorders are been recommended to go

to asylum. We are reworking this Act, and it is in the final stage to resubmitting it to our committee in the Senate. “We hope to establish a framework to addressing mental disorders because this would help us provide for the right of persons. It will address issues around quackery and unhygienic facilities.” He called on stakeholders to

support the Bill when finally passed, noting that without implementation, its passage would mean nothing. On his part, the Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Prof. Akin Abayomi said the state was planning to establish 500 bed space for psychiatric treatment. “We are in the process of expanding our psychiatric

wards. We are creating a network in our 57 primary flagship hospitals to accommodate the area of medicine. “We are dedicated to building 500 psychiatric bed-space facility soon. The psychiatric unit in Yaba is a federal institution, but due to our population, we hope to have ours very soon,” he added.

T H I S D AY ˾ , OCTOBER 15, 2020

NEWS

Nigeria’s Infant Mortality Rate Now 67 per 1,000 Live Births, Says FG Onyebuchi Ezigbo ÓØ ÌßÔË The federal government has said that 67 out of every 1,000 live birth in Nigeria die at infancy. Speaking at the launch of the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent and Elderly Health Plus Nutrition (RMNCAEH+N) platform in Abuja recently, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire said maternal mortality ratio

is 512 per 100,000 live births, while perinatal mortality rate is 49 per 1,000 live births. Stating that the health of the Nigerian women and children has not fared too well, he said: “ You may be aware of Nigeria’s poor health indices; the maternal mortality ratio is 512 per 100,000 live births, perinatal mortality rate is 49 per 1,000 live births, neonatal mortality is 38 per 1,000 live births, infant mortality is 67 per

1,000 live births and under-5 mortality is 132 per 1,000 live births (NDHS 2018). “Female genital mutilation (FGM), gender-based violence (GBV), teenage pregnancy, unplanned pregnancy and unsafe abortion among adolescents, as well as the impact of the COVID-19 on the elderly, have all become major public health emergencies.” Ehanire noted that increase

in the prevalence of wasting among children due to malnutrition was an indication that a lot still needs to be done. The minister however explained that the country has recorded some progress towards improvement of child survival and safe-motherhood through the provision of ready to use therapeutic food (RUTF). He also said that federal government has sustained the family planning 2020 (FP2020) com-

mitments to ensure availability of family planning services to women and adolescents of reproductive age. “In the same vein, the operationalisation of the National Health Act, 2014 (NHAct) through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), will greatly improve access to quality health care, particularly at the primary health care (PHC) level,” he said.

He added that the National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee (NEMTC) will provide emergency medical transport for health emergencies including pregnant women, to facilitate access to emergency obstetric care at the time of need. According to Ehanire, the provision of emergency transport alone, has been demonstrated to reduce maternal mortality by as much as 50 per cent.

Nigeria’s Hospital Equipment Need Still Underserved, Says MEGACORP CEO Martins Iﬁjeh The Chief Executive Officer of MEGACORP, Trader Okoh Benjamin has stated that Nigeria’s hospital equipment need is still underserved especially in rural and sub-urban areas of the country. Speaking to THISDAY recently, he said his organisation has identified this huge gap and has decided to fill in the gap as part of measures to ensure Nigerian health professionals and organisations get the right equipment to carry out their work and trainings. He said: “MEGACORP has been meeting the medical equipment and consumable needs of health practitioners and patients in rural and suburban areas of Edo State primarily, and recently in the satellite towns of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). “We have sent our goods to practically every geopolitical zone of Nigeria, and very recently we equipped a new laboratory in Cameroon. The hospital equipment market nationwide is still very much under served, so we’re contributing our quota in both equipment and public health awareness. “Although the COVID-19 pandemic has affected many firms providing this services to the health sector, we have ensured we do not slow down because there is no better time than now to provide more accessibility to health professionals and organisations in need of consumables and other medical products.” Describing MEGACORP as one of Nigeria’s fast growing medical equipment firm with

a large footing in Edo State, he said unlike most organisations during the COVID-19 lockdown, his firm did not reduce staff strength, neither did it cut staff salaries having realised there was no better time to fill in equipment gap in the sector. Benjamin said: “We have even made a new policy which we have operated for the past three months where we ensure our staff are paid before the end of the month.” On whether the COVID-19 pandemic affected its services, he said: “Though we were exempted from the lockdown, it still resulted in drastic reduction in sales. The sudden inflation and high cost of goods and services is taking is toll on us. “Having started from a suburban background, we want in the next five years, to make our products more available and affordable to ordinary Nigerians nationwide. “We have a public health enlightenment arm that educates people on healthy practices and proper personal care. We intend to develop it more, and reach more people with our message.” “A workman is only as good as his tools will let him, So in the Ambrose Alli University and Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital environment where we started, our filling the gap of availability of tools of work viz equipment and textbooks for student doctors, laboratories scientists, life scientists, nurses and all the other health professionals has certainly improved the quality of graduates from the school. The appreciation and goodwill we get for this is massive,” he added.

L-R : Runner-up, Cooking Competition, Mr. Ezekiel Ogundele; Prize Winner, Mr. Adeyemo Ademola; 2nd Runner-up, Ibojo Mercy Bukola; and Marketing Manager, West African Seasoning Company Ltd AJINOMOTO, Mr. Isah Hassan Shallangwa, during the cooking competition organised with members of the Home EconomicsTeachers Association of Nigeria HETAN in Lagos recently

Lawmaker Calls for Legislation on Mental Health, Says 130 Psychiatrists Inadequate Kuni Tyessi ÓØ ÌßÔË The Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Representatives, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha has called for legislations that will further prepare and enhance the mental health and educational sector of the country in order to aid the mental well-being of children, especially the girl child. She said an estimated 20–30 per cent of the Nigerian population is believed to suffer from mental disorders, noting that in a country of about 200 million people, there are only 130 certified psychiatrists, which she reiterated is grossly inadequate. The deputy chief whip said as the world celebrates 2020 International Day of the Girl child, the

mental well-being of the girl child and girls living with disabilities must be prioritised and adequate resources deployed to maximise interventions needed to create an enabling environment for them to attain their full potential and optimise their capacities. According to her: “More proactive moves must be put into legislations that will further prepare and enhance the mental health and educational sector of our country in order to aid the mental well-being of our children, especially the girl child. “In Nigeria, an estimated 20–30 per cent of our population are believed to suffer from mental disorders. This is a very significant number considering Nigeria has an estimated population of over

200 million. Presently, there are only 130 psychiatrists in Nigeria, which has a population of 200 million and counting. “As a legislator and ranking officer at the House of Representatives for Nigeria, I strongly advocate and insist that it is crucial to keep making demands on institutional collaboration towards finding justice for victims of child abuse and sexual and gender-based violence irrespective of the laws been made because it takes strategic collaborations to curb the monstrous and inhuman acts against the girl child who is often the victim of such acts. “As a pointer, the recent budget presented by the President at the National Assembly on October 8, 2020 must be tailored towards

prioritised interventions, whilst also taking into cognisance the need for financial inclusion when it comes to issues affecting women, children, girls and also ensuring that MDAs take into consideration gender budgeting during their budgeting cycle and implementation. “#My Voice #Our Equal Future the theme for the United Nations International day of the girl child this October 11, 2020, should not only be a much needed narrative but a proof that the right actions must be taken to ensure and insure the future of the girl child.” She added that schools were closed as part of necessary measures to curtail the spread of COVID-19 and that means

Imo Threatens to Sanction Medical Personnel Involved in FGM Amby Uneze ÓØ áÏÜÜÓ The Imo State Government has threatened to withdraw the certificate of any healthcare provider, including medical personnel involved in the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in whatever form. Survey recently conducted by the United Nation’s Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) indicates that the state now ranks the highest among women aged 15-49 years (62 per cent) in the country.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Damarius Osunkwo made the disclosure at a one -day stakeholders advocacy meeting on curbing the medicalisation of FGM in the state held in Owerri, the state capital. Osunkwo said the health ministry had already installed the necessary mechanism for strict monitoring of service providers and had equally carried out several health care services for residents in the state. The commissioner explained that the advocacy meeting became inevitable to discuss

solutions to curb the medicalisation of the FGM and to put the necessary machinery in motion to sanction erring medical personnel as part of activities to accelerate the abandonment of the FGM in the state. She reminded participants that although medicalisation is presumed to reduce the risk of complications, it does not eliminate them, just as it was not after, the fact that the FGM is a violation of women and girls rights to life, health and bodily integrity. The one day advocacy/stakeholders meeting was organised

by Centre for Population and Reproductive Health (CPRH), University of Ibadan with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for Health Care Professional Associations, their regulatory bodies and other key stakeholders at state level to discuss curbing the medicalisation of FGM among healthcare professionals and sanctioning of erring medical personnel. At the end of the meeting, participants, regulatory bodies and associations signed declarations to end FGM and

its medicalisation. The Chairman, Child Protection Network, Imo State and a Child Rights advocate, Mr. Vitalis Ekwem, speaking, said that the organisation would ever remain firm in its response and prevention of abuses against children by rendering free legal services to those (children) who are victims of abuse/infringement of their rights. Ekwem hailed the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the State Ministry of Gender and Vulnerable Group Affairs for their partnership with

UNICEF on the abandonment of FGM, describing the seminar as complementary to the already existing effort. In his lecture, the Chief Medical Director, Imo State Specialist Hospital Umuguma, Dr. Udujih Bernard Uchenna enumerated four types of FGM and lamented the upsurge of the cultural practice in the South-east, even as he listed possible complications associated with it, psychological causes, reasons for its persistence in most communities and strategies to curb the practice.

T H I S D AY ˾ , OCTOBER 15, 2020

HEALTH

Investing in Mental Health for Adolescents As Nigeria last week joined the rest of the globe to mark this year’s World Mental Health Day, stakeholders have emphasised the need to address mental health issues among adolescents as part of measures to nip the scourge in the bud. Martins Iﬁjeh writes

s the world continues to experience the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, there appears to be an exponential increase in mental health issues, cutting across all age brackets, as well as economic and educational status due to the anxiety, fear, social restrictions, uncertainty and emotional distress the pandemic has brought along with it since December last year. Before the pandemic, a study by the World Health Organisation (WHO) showed that at least 450 million people were currently suffering from mental disorders, making it one of the leading causes of ill-health and disability globally. It also showed that one in four people globally will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives; that is at least 1.7 billion persons worldwide. However, experts are concerned that the burden of the disorder may have increased especially with the COVID-19 pandemic, with emphasis on adolescents becoming most hit by the disorder. Statistics for Nigeria Several indications show that over 60 million Nigerians have one form of mental disorder or the other with only about 20 per cent of persons in such category seen to have the obvious forms of it, which includes what the ordinary Nigerian refers to as madness, schizophrenia, and perhaps extreme case of drug or alcohol addiction; a reason that has largely made mental disorder in the remaining 80 per cent or 48 million Nigerians ignored or poorly understood. To be exact, the WHO in 2017 said 7,079,815 Nigerians suffer from one of the most ignored and misunderstood form of mental disorder in the country – depression. This, according to the world health body, represents 3.9 per cent of the entire population of the country, thereby making Nigeria the most depressed country in Africa. Globally, Seychelles has the lowest number of depressed persons with just 3,722, according to WHO in 2018. It also said 4,894,557 Nigerians, that is 2.7 per cent of the population, suffer anxiety disorders. The country is closely followed by Ethiopia with 4,480,113 sufferers, Democratic Republic of Congo with 2,871,309, South Africa with 2,402,230, and Tanzania with 2,138,939 sufferers. Among those most affected by the scourge are adolescents, especially in Nigeria where mental health policies for adolescents are neither defined nor implemented, hence leaving the vulnerable age bracket at the mercy of the disorder. Beaming Light on Adolescents It is in addressing this that the Olashore International School Foundation brought together international and Nigerian mental health experts in a virtual conference over the weekend to chat a way forward as part of its measure to commemorate this year’s World Mental Health Day held every October 10. Sharing her thoughts at the conference, the keynote speaker and the Executive Director, Partnership for Maternal Newborn and Child Health, WHO, Dr. Helga Fogstad believed if mental health issues are tackled among adolescent Nigerians, this would go a long way in improving the country’s human capital development as well as improve the nation’s economy. She said: “Good mental health can improve quality of life, and can help prevent

Sofowora risky behaviours throughout life. 1.2 billion adolescents worldwide are been affected by the scourge. This age group is most affected. “They have just a decade to be adolescents, and the decisions we stakeholders will take during that short years of their lives will make us responsible for their mental health. Every adolescent, wherever they live should have access to mental care. They need access to information to help them protect themselves. “With many pressure on countries to tackle COVID-19, it is now more challenging for governments to tackle issues for adolescents, including health and education. The onset of mental conditions for adults starts at teen. 75 per cent starts in their 20s, and these are often undiagnosed.” According to her, when depression and other conditions are unchecked, they could lead to suicide and other forms of self-harm, adding that suicide has become one of the top five causes of death among adolescents. “COVID-19 has disrupted education and social skill. This could lead to depression, stress, social anxiety and push them towards

drug abuse. We must bring mental health to attention and ensure urgent action. We need to make clear key intervention for adolescent mental health. Nigerian secondary schools should have a mental health protocols,” she added. The Medical Director, Neuropsychiatry Hospital, Yaba, Dr. Oluwayemi Ogun said 50 per cent of Nigerians will develop one form of mental health issue in their life time, adding that the country needs a comprehensive framework to tackle this. Defining mental wellness as a balance of emotional, social, spiritual and physical wellbeing, she said: “Mental health issues in adolescents include suicide, anxiety, and depression, among others. “ With good mental health framework, the country can help manage behavior through programmes. It will lead to early management and treatment of the issues. We need to review our adolescent health framework to accommodate the times.” He called on parents to be close to their children and their friends, adding that if they don’t, their children would rather take advices from their friends who obviously are inexperienced about mental wellbeing. “In our culture, we don’t empower children to speak more. They are not heard or given the priority they deserve. We need to give them room to exercise their voices, otherwise they would take take their concerns to their friends or matesl” she added. On her part, the Head of Department, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Dr. Tolulope Bella-Awusah, who spoke on ‘School Mental Health for the Future, Charting a Way Forward’ said adolescents have right to enjoy mental health, adding that the age bracket was critical for brain development. “One of the places where we ccan address this mental health issue is the school. Quality of the school environment, behaviours of teachers and adults around them play major roles.

Adults and teachers should also be trained on how to talk to children. “For roadmap, we have a National School Health Policy since 2006, but no implementation so far. There is also the School Mental Health Policy Guides 2019 to help develop standalone school mental health policies for Nigerian children. “Ideally, we should be thinking of offering the four pillars against mental disorders, which are promotion, prevention, treatment and recovery. In Nigeria, we only talk of treatment and recovery. Involve the adolescents and teachers in the solutions provided. “Mental health is for all students, not only the difficult students. There is direct link between mental health and success in school,” she added. The Chairperson, Olashore International School Foundation, Olapeju Sofowora said the school has long identified the gap in prevention and management of mental health issues, and has been doing its best to address the scourge, urging other stakeholders and governments at all levels to give it the attention it deserves. She said: “Although adolescents are young, they are also very curious. A lot happen before they reach adulthood. “The areas of intervention we have identified include school based support – we must work with identified experts to enable us develop kits to monitor and identify the issue in our children; we must, through collaboration, develop mental wellness curriculum to help manage the crisis they may face during the course of their years as adolescents. “One of the ways of intervention is the annual conferences we do. This helps raise awareness about the issue. We need to adopt and implement policy frame work to tackle the scourge. “As a school, we have also involved in partnership with government to ensure frameworks, curriculum and other interventions are implemented because our adolescents deserve more,” she added.

Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Benin Gets New Medical Director Onyebuchi Ezigbo ÓØ ÌßÔË The federal government has confirmed the appointment of Dr. Imafidon Osama

Agbonile as the Medical Director of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Uselu, Benin City for a term of four years with effect from October 1, 2020.

The Minister of state for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora, while conveying President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval of the appointment, charged the

appointee to “work hard to ensure that the hospital continues to provide quality health care” and “endeavour to improve on the present achievements

and leave your mark of progress on the institution”. Mamora further urged him to “justify the confidence reposed in you

by this appointment and work with all stakeholders for industrial peace and harmony in support of Mr. President’s change agenda for the next level.

T H I S D AY ˾ , OCTOBER 15, 2020

HEALTH

Improving Life Expectancy for Nigerians Living up to its purpose of improving life expectancy in Africa, the St. Racheal Pharmacy has continued to lead the pace of providing innovative medical solutions to Nigeria, and by extension, Africa, with the launch of a new antibiotic, the first in of its kind in Nigeria. Sunday Ehigiator reports

ife expectancy is a statistical measure of the average time an organism is expected to live based on the year of its birth, its current age and other demographic factors, including gender. According to the latest figures from the 2019 World Population Review, an average Nigerian’s life expectancy is about 55 years. On specifics, the new report showed that the average life expectancy of Nigerians was 54.494 years. But a breakdown showed that women are expected to live longer than their male counterparts at 55.414 years against 53.6 years for men. The 2019 review ranked Nigeria 198th out of 202 countries studied, affirming it as a country with the third lowest life expectancy rate. It was against this backdrop that St. Racheal Pharmacy fashioned the theme of her anniversary, to examine ways in which life expectancy rate of Nigerians can be improved upon, and recommend same to Nigerians alike. In his welcome address, the Chairman / CEO, St. Racheal Pharmacy, Mr. Akinjide Adeosun, related the theme of the anniversary to the organisation’s purpose, and inspiration behind its establishment. According to him, the name ‘St. Racheal’ was derived out of need to immortalise his late grandmother, named Racheal, who passed on to glory after attaining the age of 94 years. He said, “Our matriarch passed on in 2014 at the age of 95 years. Mama’s evidenced long life was possible and it is still possible in Nigeria. She benefited from world class medical care and she was a disciplinarian of healthy living.” Speaking on the current life expectancy of Nigerians, Adeosun said he was “encouraged that the life expectancy for men has improved from 53 years in 2015 to 55 years in 2016 whilst the life expectancy for women remained flat at 56 years according to the WHO. These figures are appalling when compared with developed countries.” Speaking on the launch of the new antibiotics, Adeosun assured medical practitioners, some of who also participated in the ceremony via zoom connection, that “the brand promises to give you peace of mind in your daily practice. “It is a top-quality produced by Medreich Limited; our manufacturer produces for many multinational organisations throughout the world, and sold at affordable price in observance of our mission. “Two years ago, we commenced a 20 year journey into living our purpose on the continent of Africa starting from Nigeria. This journey will see us launch into many markets on the continent, expand our offering from our core base of Antibiotics into brands that will supplement Life & brands that will prevent diseases. “The theme is in resonance with our mission to improve life expectancy by providing top quality affordable pharmaceuticals in Africa. We are celebrating because we have moved from a base of 0 brands to seven NAFDAC approved

L-R: Director of Administration, Oﬃce of the Deputy Governor of Rivers State Mr. Ben Roberts; First Lady of Oyo State, Mrs. Tamunominini Makinde, and Chairman/ CEO, St. Racheal’s Pharmacy, Mr. Akinjide Adeosun, at the event celebrating the second year anniversary of St. Racheal’s Pharmacy in Lagos, recently

brands today, just within two years. “St. Racheal’s Ampicillin/Cloxacillin 500mg Capsules 10x10, St. Racheal’s Ampicillin/Cloxacillin 500mg Capsules 2x10, St. Racheal’s Amoxicillin / Clavulanic Acid 625mg Tablets 2x7, and St. Racheal’s Cefuroxime 250mg Tablets1x10”. Others are, “St. Racheal’s Cefixime 400mg tablets 1x10, St. Racheal’s Artemether 80mg+Lumefantrine 480mg Tablets 1x6, and St. Racheal’s Azithromycin 500mg Tablet 1x3. “We also believe our mission will be made easier if we strengthen the capability of today’s leaders and mentor tomorrow’s leaders to execute sound leadership around Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’S) 3 and 4, Good Health & Well-being and Quality Education,” he said. Speaking on the anniversary team, the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Ipalibo Banigo said, low life expectancy in Nigeria can be “attributed to challenges in the area of health; inadequate and unequipped health facility. “We also have social problems, infrastructure problems, poor and inadequate portable safe water supply, poor states of our roads, poor housing and rental challenges, amidst other economic variable; inequitable distribution of income has wiped out the middle class in our society. “This has also added to high level of unemployment. And especially when it comes to youth not employed, they will place a huge danger to the society. Also Nigerians are said to be contending with a lot of issues, a lot of stress, ranging from students schools fees, house rent, electricity bills, medical bills, generators and parts repairs, powering and fueling, feeding the family, and clothing of

families. “Also is the huge numbers of demands, siblings demands, vigilante bills, work stress, police stress on the road, variable stress, kidnappers fears, armed robbery fears, and all these are adding to our low rate of life expectancy.” She however recommended that for Nigeria to have a way forward and improve on its life expectancy there is an urgent need for collaboration with all sectors to improve on all of these things. “Our government has a critical role to create a conducive environment for businesses to thrive, and ensure the sustainability of the ease of doing business in all sector of our economy. “It must address the numerous challenges breaking the health sector in terms of facility, equipment, man power, and also curtailing preventable and avoidable diseases. Also, government needs to improve on budgetary allocations to the health sector, and take measures to control population growth. “A situation where we have a population growth increase which is higher than our GDP is not sustainable. Hence we need to educate our people, and educate the women on birth control. “The private players should continually provide innovative and relevant services aimed at improving good standards and purpose, and therefore contribute to an improved life expectancy rate.” She added that media was also very key to changing the narrative. “They are the ones that will bring this into the public discuss all the time. To keep the issues of unacceptable low life expectancy in our country in the front burner, media should disseminate at all times, quality

and relevant information to equip the people, and also interrogate the activities of government and the service providers in taking appropriate actions to improve the leaving standards for the purpose.” In her short goodwill message, the First Lady of Oyo State, Tamunominini Makinde described the organisation as a family. “I want to thank everyone for being here. For me, ST Rachael is my family. Health is life and we must all take the issues of our health very seriously. We must learn to live and eat healthily. “I celebrate St Rachael Pharmacy on this great occasion of her two years anniversary, and launch of a new product. I have no doubt in my heart that you will continue to do exploit and transform the medical sector for the better in nearest future,” she said. Sharing secretes of improving life expectancy while making examples out of his own lifestyle, Papa Patrick Amaechi, advised Nigerians to “always eat healthy, keep fit in moderation, and cultivate a disciplined attitude towards healthy living”. He also encouraged Nigerian to cultivate the attitude of going for regular checkups “at least an annual checkup. This will enable you to know your health status. Eat a lot of fiber food, and avoid red meat as much as possible”. The high point of the occasion was the conferment of the ‘Professional Excellence Award’ on Reddington Hospital Group, Health Plus and Prime Medical Consultant, for their leadership roles towards providing affordable and innovative health care services to Nigerians across the country, and Africans.

Lagos Tasks Residents on Regular Eye Check to Prevent Avoidable Blindness Martins Iﬁjeh The Lagos State Government has tasked citizens to go for periodic, but regular eye check and ensure adequate care for their eyes in order to prevent irreversible and avoidable blindness. The state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi who stated this recently at a public lecture organised by the Ministries of Health and Education to commemorate this year’s World Sight Day in Lagos noted that regular eye check will aid early detection, correction or management of any vision impairment that could lead to avoidable blindness. Speaking on effort being made by the state government to increase citizens’ access to eye healthcare at the public lecture which held physically at the

Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa-Ikeja and virtually via zoom webinar, the commissioner said it was rather unfortunate that many people are not privileged to have access to eye specialists who have the required expertise to determine what their vision impairment is and get adequate care. “I wondered as I drove through busy Lagos today, how many Lagosians have actually had the opportunity to have their eye tested and what proportion of people walking around carrying on their daily business with some degree of visual impairment. “I am sure if we do the evaluation and a random analysis, we will find a relatively large number of people who have visual impairment and perhaps many of them do not recognise that they have visual impair-

ment because visual impairment occurs slowly. And for those that have refractive abnormalities, sometimes they don’t even know that they have a problem with their sight”, he noted. The commissioner disclosed that there are over a billion people in the world that have visual impairment because they don’t have access to corrective glasses adding that 75 per cent of the visually impaired population have vision impairment because it was not prevented. “In other words they are avoidable situations, if it was recognised early enough, it could have been corrected”, he said. Abayomi explained that the mission of the state government through the ministry of health is to explore platforms provided by activities such as the World Sight Day to bring

to the attention of citizens issues of vision impairment, avoidable blindness and eye care. He added that it is the responsibility of the Ministry to make information on blindness prevention available to the populace whilst also making it possible for many residents to have access to eye check, care and treatment including providing corrective eye glasses. “It is not just to bring this to everyone’s understanding and attention but to actually do something about it. It is also our responsibility to identify problems that will lead to blindness and vision impairment and integrate eye health care to what we describe as the universal health coverage; which means that everyone in Lagos State should have access to a basic package of health and inclusive in that package, we

should have the ability to check the health of our citizen’s eye so that they can see properly”, the commissioner said. Earlier in his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye stated that it is not an accident this year’s world sight day focused on common causes and prevention of visual impairment among school children because of the importance of early detection in the correction and management of eye conditions Ogboye stated that most students who are tagged dullards are actually smart and intelligent but perform poorly because they suffer from visual impairment which their parents or teachers are not aware of. The Permanent Secretary enjoined parents, caregivers and teachers to pay attention to the eye health of children

in order to identify early and seek help against any visual impairment that may militate against effective learning or which may lead to blindness. The guest speaker; a Consultant Paediatrics Ophthalmologist, Dr. Modupe Idris who explained various causes of blindness among students and ways of preventing it, warned students to avoid playing with sharp objects around the eyes and try as much as possible to resolve problems without a fight as a blow on the eye can lead to a permanent damage of the eyes. Idris also urged teachers to take note of their students so as to quickly identify the visually impaired ones. She also advised teachers to be very careful in giving corporal punishment to students as the cane can accidentally hit the eyes.

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BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Increasing Retirement Age May Heighten Youth Unemployment, Says ABCON Oluchi Chibuzor The Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) has cautioned against increasing the retirement age, saying it would work against policies to reduce youth unemployment in the country. The association stated this in its Quarterly Economic Review report for the Third Quarter of the year (Q3â&#x20AC;&#x2122;2020). It urged the federal government to prepare post retirement facilities instead of increasing retirement age. The associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s position was against the backdrop of the recent decision of the federal government to increase the retirement age of teachers from 60 years to 65 years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Increasing workforce retirement age is counterproductive

under conditions of high youth unemployment rate, instead government should prepare solid post retirement facilitiesâ&#x20AC;?, the association stated, adding that the FG should promote policy to reduce youth unemployment with a view to addressing social unrest. While noting that recovery from the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eonomy will be determined by a structured and people-oriented policy aimed at resolving the macroeconomic imbalance arising from the disruptions, ABCON advised that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Government spending should be directed towards business recovery, poverty alleviation and infrastructure development but structured to give a good mix with monetary policy trust.

The association also cautioned the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) against pegging of the interest rates and other variable, stressing that this can lead to malfunctioning of the system. The association instead, recommended that the monetary authority should intervene in selected priority sectors through incentives, adding that this would allow for smooth flow of the whole economy, especially when complemented with fiscal management efforts. The association added: â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is imperative for the monetary authority to actively participate with precision through market level interventions. Volumetric interventions and demand push exchange rates must automatically influence the market in the direction the authority desires.â&#x20AC;?

EgbinPowerPromotes EnvironmentalSustainability Peter Uzoho Egbin Power Plc, a member of the Sahara Power Group, has activated its environmental sustainability initiative with the launch of electric buggies (buses) and bicycles to be used within its corporate premises. The company said the initiative launched yesterday in Lagos, was in support of the federal governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s effort in driving alternative and cleaner energy in the country and aimed at drastically reducing carbon emissions for environmental sustainability, healthier lifestyles and productivity. It said the project involves promoting, â&#x20AC;&#x153;going electricâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;clean energyâ&#x20AC;? in Egbin, adding that the launch of the buggies and bicycles was one of the first of its kind by a power firm in Africa.

Speaking to journalists, the Chairman of Egbin Power, Mr. Temitope Shonubi, said the buggies and bicycles were 100 per cent imported from China and 100 per cent assembled in Nigeria. He said the bus, when fully charged, can do a minimum of 50kilometres per hour and that it only needs to be charged once in two days to cover the whole of Egbin premises. He added the company also planned to have a total of 20 of the electric buses and 500 of the bicycles. He said the same way alternative energy sources like Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is being promoted by the government through the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, the company would also be promote the use of electric vehicles to protect the

environment. Admitting that lack of electricity in the country discourages people from welcoming the idea of electric cars, Sonubi assured that if all the stakeholders in the power sector play their parts well, there would be more power available for people to power their cars. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now, the question people ask is: I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even have electricity at home, how can I use electricity for my car? I will assure you that, we will play our role. Once the TCN (Transmission Company of Nigeria) can evacuate the power we are generating, it simply means that there will be more power out there,â&#x20AC;? he said. Shonubi said currently, Egbin has the capacity to evacuate 860megawatts of power but only evacuates 500MW plus, leaving about 300MW or 40 per cent of the generated power idle.

Expert Highlights Importance of Business Plan Rebecca Ejifoma The Principal Consultant, Halisi Consults, Tolani Thomas, has urged operators of businesses to always have a plan to guide them in decision-making. Thomas, said this during a recent interview with journalists. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Studies have shown that businesses with a formal plan have a higher chance of growing rapidly and succeeding. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every business both old and new will face challenges along the way, foreseen and unforeseen. However, a business plan is important to mitigate these challenges urgently for continued business growth,â&#x20AC;? she said. With a strong plan, the business consultant argued that businesses

would be up-to-date with latest developments, market changes, track progress, monitor technology and make decisions promptly in line with their overall goals and objectives. While stressing that business plan was also vital for raising external funds, Thomas added that it builds legitimacy and confidence among investors. She said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Regardless of the size of a business, we would all agree that recent months have been unstable from an economic point of view. During uncertain times like this, the lack of a formal business plan by most organisations becomes evident.â&#x20AC;? According to her, the value of writing a business plan is often debated in the business world, adding that each business has

specific area of focus and, â&#x20AC;&#x153;a business plan helps to develop a more concentrated map toward the success of the business.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Business owners need to also understand that a business plan, which ideally is created at the start of a business, can also be put in place for short and long-running organisations regardless of years of existence,â&#x20AC;? she added. She, however, emphasised that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is difficult to predict market conditions for 2021. The uncertainty we all face is glaring, but a well-detailed business plan will tell which opportunity is to be seized, what success looks like, what resources are required, and guide investment decisions of investors, banks, and venture capitalists.â&#x20AC;?

Private Equity Book for Launch Next Week Emma Okonji A book titled: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Law and Practice of Private Equityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; will be launched next week. The book, which is authored by Professor Fabian Ajogwu, offers an invaluable, timely guide to the law and practice of private equity. The book, which would be unveiled at a virtual book presentation on Wednesday, October 21, 2020, examines the concept of private equity and highlights its significance

as an alternative financing model that helps to bridge the funding gaps for businesses and companies. According to a statement by Ebunoluwa Ade-Taiwo of Kenna Partners, a good number of start-ups and entrepreneurs who do not have the requisite capital to see ideas to fruition and must rely on outside financiers or external funding options, will see the book as a good companion to explore business opportunities.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The inability to access traditional financing sources such as bank loans and issuance of public stock to meet their needs has been a fundamental factor impeding the growth of businesses in Africa,â&#x20AC;? Ade-Taiwo said. According to him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Private equity is a crucial alternative to bridge the funding gap in many developing countries in Africa due to the lack of access to capital or lack of adequately developed routes to obtaining funding.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JULY 2020 Money Supply (M3)

36,822,751.47

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

3,476,121.25

Money Supply (M2)

33,346,630.22

-- Quasi Money

120,764,479.02

-- Narrow Money (M1)

12,582,151.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,002,026.89

---- Demand Deposits

10,580,124.31

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,637,137.23

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

29,185,614.24

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

39,711,115.95

---- Credit to Government (Net)

19,521,851.08

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-130,189,264.87

--Other Assets Net

3,472,017.70

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,421,827.07

--Currency in Circulation

2,395,917.03

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

11,025,910.04 317,234.17

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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

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OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE Ë&#x153; ÍŻÍ° Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $40.57 a barrel on Monday, compared with $41.61 the previous Friday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), ZaďŹ ro (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). SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

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Investors Stake N3.1bn on 218m Shares as Index Closes Flat Goddy Egene Investors staked N3.139 billion on 218.424 million shares in 3,896 deals yesterday as the stock market declined by 37.5 per cent from the N5.019 billion invested in 535.831 million shares in 4,498 deals the previous day. Apart from the value and volume of trading that declined, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI)

closed almost flat after recovering from four days of decline the previous day. Specifically, the NSE ASI closed at 28,344.33, compared with 28,344.04 the previous day. An analysis of the activity chart showed that Zenith Bank Plc closed at the most traded in volume terms with 53.1 million shares, followed by United Bank for Africa Plc with 33.5 million shares, while Guaranty Trust Bank Plc recorded 25.1 million

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

shares. In value terms, Zenith Bank Plc led with N1.1 billion, trailed by GTBank that recorded N753.2 million, just as Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc ended with N269.8 million. A total of 14 stocks appreciated while 11 stocks depreciated. Eterna Plc led the price gainers with 9.8 per cent, followed by Academy Press Plc with 7.4 per cent. African Prudential Plc went up by 5.7 per cent, just

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

as Cornerstone Insurance Plc garnered 5.0 per cent. PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc also gained 5.0 per cent. The conglomerate recently announced a revenue of N18.7 billion for the first quarter ended May 31, 2020, showing an increase of 18.3 per cent compared with 15.808 billion in the corresponding period of 2019. PZ Cussons was able to reduce its loss to N212.358 million from N1.096 billion in

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

2019. The company is expected to get boost from the sale of portion of land situate within its Ikorodu Industrial Estate to FrieslandCampinaWamco Nigeria Plc. The Chairman, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, Chief Kola Jamodu, had explained the sale of the immovable assets will lead to an increase in the retained earnings of the company â&#x20AC;&#x153;by unlocking value in the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s real property assets.â&#x20AC;?

O F

Meanwhile, E-Tranzact Plc led price losers with 9.9 per cent, trailed by Wema Bank Plc with 5.1 per cent. Courtville Business Solutions Plc and FCMB Group Plc shed 4.7 per cent and 3.8 per cent respectively. Ardova Plc and Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc went down by 3.6 per cent and 3.4 per cent in that order. Caverton lost 2.7 per cent, while Jaiz Bank Plc, FBN Holdings Plc 1.6 per cent and 0.8 per cent.

1 3 / 1 0 / 2 0 2 0 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

NSE to Host Industry Leaders at Oil and Gas Sector Webinar Goddy Egene The Nigerian Stock Exchange will host an

Oil and Gas sector webinar next Tuesday themed: “Perspectives of operators and industry experts post-COVID-19.”

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

According to the NSE, the webinar will bring together key players across the entire oil and gas value chain to discuss the impact of

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 13Oct-2020, unless otherwise stated.

the COVID-19 pandemic on the sector as well as its reactions to global trends, government policies, funding dynamics, key challenges

and potential shifts. Speaking about the webinar, the Chief Executive Officer, NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, said: “The impact of

the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be felt across diverse industries globally and the oil and gas industry is no exception.”

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 0.97 0.99 8.08% ACAP Income Funds 0.85 0.85 11.02% 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 4.86% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.31 3.42 35.17% 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 N/A N/A N/A Anchoria Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Anchoria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 15.87 16.35 3.60% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 364.32 375.31 5.47% ARM Ethical Fund 31.78 32.74 9.27% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.16 1.17 16.27% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.10 1.11 10.35% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.21% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.23 2.23 20.46% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.03 2.06 28.44% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.92% Paramount Equity Fund 13.14 13.40 5.07% Women's Investment Fund 120.00 121.19 8.74% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.24% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 114.37 114.88 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 130.00 130.99 Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 103.18 103.18 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 3.05% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.05 1.06 13.23% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.67 1.67 25.46% 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 3.23% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 2.42% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,181.66 1,196.20 6.61% 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 1,470.32 1,471.98 20.16% FBN Balanced Fund 161.99 163.21 10.33% FBN Halal Fund 109.01 109.02 9.01% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.11% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 120.53 120.96 4.29% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 120.55 120.98 3.79% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 126.63 128.59 -2.69% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.77% Legacy Debt Fund 3.84 3.84 4.99% Legacy Equity Fund 1.27 1.30 12.58% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.12 1.12 3.97% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FSDH Treasury Bills Fund N/A N/A N/A GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.86% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 122.47 123.00 13.93%

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 3.44% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.47 2.52 12.91% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 7.27% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 152.24 153.04 6.23% 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 1.25 1.27 11.33% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,147.36 1,147.36 8.29% 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 N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 1.46 1.48 18.74% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.74 11.82 4.45% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 2.80% PACAM Equity Fund 1.18 1.19 PACAM EuroBond Fund 108.63 111.26 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 121.66 123.82 -0.28% 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 1.02 1.02 6.62% 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 2,521.35 2,532.80 13.26% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 5.59% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 10.56% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 6.45% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 13.99% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.02% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 5.50% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.21 1.21 4.36% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 109.93 109.93 5.49% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.24 1.26 4.01% United Capital Bond Fund 1.86 1.86 7.70% United Capital Equity Fund 0.72 0.74 2.32% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.30% United Capital Eurobond Fund 115.23 115.23 5.45% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.02 1.03 -2.39% 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 11.08 11.21 7.77% Zenith Ethical Fund 12.29 12.49 6.13% Zenith Income Fund 24.52 24.52 7.93% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.45%

REITS NAV Per Share

Fund Name SFS Skye Shelter Fund

Yield / T-Rtn

117.93

5.15%

53.40

2.59%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

9.50 97.49 74.39

9.60 99.59 75.76

13.60% 3.20% -0.98%

Union Homes REIT

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

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

3.48 4.60 13.32 1.00 12.15 202.54

3.52 4.68 13.42 1.00 12.35 204.54

1.90% -21.97% 9.58% 3.00% 16.80% 6.93%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

108.03

15.02%

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.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Alleged Illegal Land Seizure: Ex-Army General Heads to A’ Court Alex Enumah inAbuja A former Major General of the Nigerian Army, AbdulRauf Tijani, yesterday said he would approach the appeal court to challenge the dismissal of his N8 billion suit against the Lagos State Government and six others over land matter. Tijani had dragged the defendants, which include the

Federal High Court, the National Judicial Council (NJC), Attorney General of Lagos State among others before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged unlawful seizure of his of land in Lagos State. Other defendants are the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA); Justice A. O. Faji of the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court; former Lagos State

Nigerian, Foreign Navies Collaborate to Secure Gulf of Guinea Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, has assured Nigerians that the Nigerian Navy would continue to maintain existing relationships with its partners and work on the same trajectory towards sustaining the gains recorded in securing the Gulf of Guinea. He stated this while playing host to the Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Stefano Pontesilli, who paid him a courtesy visit at the naval headquarters. The CNS stated that there was close collaboration between the Gulf of Guinea region navies towards stemming the tide of recent incidences of insecurity in the region. He further disclosed that the Nigerian Navy had in the last four years reduced the incidences of illegalities, maritime insecurity and piracy in the Nigerian maritime space and within the Gulf of Guinea, as efforts have also been

intensified towards checking these crimes with positive results. Vice Admiral Ibas submitted that the cooperation of international partners through exercises like the recently concluded Exercise GRAND AFRICAN NEMO would go a long way in further improving the safety of the region’s maritime environment as well as boost economic activities. The CNS also assured the ambassador that the Nigerian Navy was open to exploring other avenues in the areas of training and capacity building for its sailors in hydrography as well as technical expertise in the operationalisation and maintenance of the Leonardo helicopter. Speaking earlier, the Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Pontesilli, stated that he was at the naval headquarters to introduce the new Italian Defence Attaché to Nigeria, Colonel Michele Devastato, to the CNS.

Attorney General, Abdulraheem Ade Ipaye; a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Kasheem Adeniji; Lagos State Government and Governor of Lagos State. In the suit he filed and argued by himself, the retired general is seeking the conviction of Justice Faji of the Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged perversion of the course of justice. But delivering judgment yesterday, Justice Inyang Ekwo dismissed the suit on the grounds that it constituted a gross abuse of court process, adding that the suit was defective in nature and contents. Speaking shortly with journalists after the judgment, the retired

major general, however, said he was not satisfied with the judgment and that a notice of appeal would be immediately filed to challenge the findings of the court. Justice Ekwo in the judgment held that the case of the plaintiff ran afoul of Section 63 of the Federal High Court Act having been instituted against a serving judge of the court in the discharge of his judicial duties. The Judge held that immunity granted a serving judge in the course of judicial function was not ambiguous, adding that when such a Judge erred, the appropriate place for remedy was not a law court.

Tijjani had in the suit accused Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court, Lagos Division, of allegedly conniving with some officials of the state to frustrate his case, challenging the alleged unlawful seizure of his property by the Lagos State Government. The plaintiff specifically challenged the alleged sabotage of the execution of a court judgment which returned his landed property in Lagos State to him. In arguing his case, the retired army general urged the court to intervene in the matter because a judgment entered in his favour has been ‘criminally sabotaged’ allegedly by the Lagos State authorities in connivance with

the Federal High Court Judge. Tijjani, although not a lawyer, argued his case himself, and prayed the court to look into the justice of his case, adding that what was before him was criminal in nature and not ordinary misconduct of a judge. He alleged that after a Federal High Court in Lagos entered judgment in his favour in his suit challenging the unlawful seizure of his property by the Lagos State authority, the judge, in connivance with the then Lagos Attorney General took the case file to a Lagos State High Court which he accused of now sitting as an Appeal Court over the Federal High Court’s judgment.

STRATEGISING FOR CONVENTION…

L-R: Secretary, All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker/ Extra-ordinary National Convention Committee, Senator John Akpan Udoedehe; Chairman of the committee and Yobe State Governor, Mr. Mai-Mala Buni; and a member of the committee, Prof. Tahir Mamman, during a meeting with states chairmen at the party’s secretariat in Abuja… yesterday ENOCK REUBEN

Rape will No Longer Be Sule: I’m The Only Muslim Gov to Organise Thanksgiving in Church Bailable Offence, FCT Catholic Mission (RCM) the state under his leadership the ERCC to the development Igbawase Ukumba in Laﬁa Minister Vows Primary School, Gudi Station will continue to carry everyone of education, health, women Nasarawa State Governor, in Akwanga Local Government along to enhance peace, unity and youth empowerment, as

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has stated that laws to ensure that established cases of rape are no longer bailable in the country, to serve as a deterrent to culprits, are in the offing. She made the revelation yesterday during the official presentation of a compendium titled: ‘My COVID-19 Story: Voice of Hope and Resilience’, which chronicled different experiences of young girls during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Aliyu, who was represented by the Deputy Director Administration in the office of FCT Minister of State, Mrs. Maria Ogbonnaya-Ngwu, said the FCT Administration has established a centre to address cases of girls who are abused or suppressed. “It is also gratifying to know that our President, Muhammadu Buhari, believes in the worth of the girl-child. We have been able to present to him various cases of gender-based violence in the Federal Executive Council. “Let me assure you that laws will soon be rolled out to serve as deterrent to culprits that are

guilty or people found culpable of abusing the girl-child. Unlike before, where the rape cases were bailable, now we are working towards making it not a bailable offence anymore,’’ she said. The minister said the FCTA had been able to encourage the girl-child to believe in themselves not as subordinate to any other child, adding the FCT Administration will continue to preach this experience and embark on advocacy. In her remarks, the founder and President of Helpline Foundation for the Needy, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, noted that the unexpected outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has re-defined global health and lifestyle, stressing that governments across the world have adopted concrete measures to stop the spread of the virus and reduce the negative impact on the socio-economic life of their citizens. Ahmadu further noted that the virus has demystified technologies of the advanced countries, including developing nations, noting that if there’s anything the virus has taught humans, it is the supremacy of the creator.

Abdullahi Sule, yesterday said he was the only Muslim governor in Nigeria who turned to the church to give thanksgiving to God after his election as the governor of the state in 2019. The governor said he did that because he had his elementary education in the Roman Catholic during his formative stage in life. Sule had attended Roman

Area of the state in 1968. The governor revealed this during the inauguration/ dedication of Evangelical Reformed Church of Christ (ERCC) ultra-modern headquarters secretariat in Alushi, Akwanga LGA of the state. He call on all faith-based organisations, including Christian and Muslims, to support his administration as

and the development of the state. The governor, who chaired the occasion, was represented by his Special Adviser on Youths and Sports, Hon Kwanta Yakubu, and donated N5million to enable the church furnish the edifice and other required items they may need. The governor said the government of the state recognises the contributions of

well as leadership development programmes for the youths through the boys brigade and girls brigade programmes. Sule concluded that the state government would continue to partner all faith-based organisations in the state as veritable tools in shaping the society for responsible citizenship and national patriotism for the promotion of peaceful co-existence in Nasarawa State.

FG to Release Interim Audit Report on COVID-19 Intervention James Emejo in Abuja The Auditor General for the Federation (AuGF), Mr. Anthony Ayine yesterday said the first interim audit report on the COVID-19 intervention funds will be released next week. He said the maiden report will assess the utilisation of funds released to manage the pandemic starting from the period the Presidential Task Force (PTF) was established till June 30. He added that the report will subsequently be published quarterly. He however, declined to comment on the highlights of the report, citing administrative

protocol of first submitting its findings to the National Assembly before making its content public. Ayine spoke to journalists shortly after the executive members of the Conference of Auditors-General for Local Governments/Area Councils in Nigeria, led by its chairman, Mr. Atiku Musa, presented him with a special award for creating a functional Supreme Audit Institution (SAI), which they described as crucial for good governance in the country. The AuGF also said the roles of permanent secretaries and chief executives of federal government owned parastatals remained crucial towards the successful execution

and implementation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s proposed N13.08 trillion budget for 2021. “And this is the area we have started emphasising so that accounting officers should realise their key responsibilities and if these responsibilities are properly executed that is when the implementation of this budget would make meaning and the benefits will accrue to the Nigerian citizens. “Audit essentially is not fault finding but to add value to the auditee organisation and if the management of auditee organisations are able to realise that the recommendation from the audit office should be

implemented: because when implemented will bring about improvement in the performance of these organisations. “It is our hope that going forward, chief accounting officers or accounting officers will see audit report as necessary instrument to help them improve performance their various organisation.” However, while expressing appreciation for the recognition, he promised to sustain current reforms in the auditing system adding that the present administration recognises auditing as key to fighting corruption as well as entrenching transparency and accountability in public finance.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Jonathan, Akinyemi, Ofeimun Mourn JP Clark Ejiofor Alike More tributes were yesterday paid to the renowned poet and playwright, Prof. John Pepper Clark (JP Clark) who died in the early hours of Tuesday at the age of 85. Among those who expressed sadness over the death of the emeritus Professor of Literature, were former President Goodluck Jonathan; former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi and a renowned playwright, Mr. Odia Ofeimun. In his condolence message to the Delta State Government and members of Clark’s family, Jonathan described Clark as a man who deployed the potency of creative art in nation-building. The former President noted that although the foremost writer has finally dropped his mighty pen, he would continue to live in his seminal literary works. He further described the late writer as a witness of truth and

advocate of justice who was truly committed to art and the progress of the nation. While mourning Clark whom he described as one of the giants in the literary stage in Nigeria, Akinyemi remembered the role he played as one of the important people who visited the then military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) to plead in vain for the life of the late Major General Mamman Vatsa. “I mourn the passing into eternity of Professor J. Pepper Clark, one of the giants in the literary stage of this country. Professor Clark though famous for his literary prowess, was more than that. Nigerians would remember him as one of the triumphrate that visited General Babangida to plead in vain for the life of General Vatsa. The former minister noted that his family was close to Clark and his wife, Ebun. Akinyemi wished the renowned scholar a peaceful

transition to wherever writers go to continue their struggle. On his part, Ofeimun described Clark as one of the big four that gave Nigeria to the world as a land of literature. He noted that with his friends, Dr. Christopher Okigbo, Prof. Chinua Achebe and Prof. Wole Soyinka, Clark stood as a

pathfinder for literary creativity, making Nigeria the envy of other Africans and the world. “He was always producing, in good and bad times. No season passed without a new play or collection of poems coming from him. His loyalty to literature as a vocation has been quite phenomenal.

Although quite self-effacing, he was also quite a prime mover and activist. He was the other friend who went with Christopher Okigbo to bring Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna back home from Ghana to face the music after the failure of the January 15, 1966 coup. “He organised his other

colleagues., Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka to meet General Babangida to plead mercy for Major General Mamman Vatsa, after the aborted coup for which the latter was executed. JP Clark was a Poet and dramatist who never allowed himself to be distracted from his chosen vocation”.

Amnesty International BILATERAL COOPERATION… Asks FG to Initiate Genuine PROMOTING British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ms. Catriona Laing (left), and the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, during a meeting in Lagos…yesterday Reform of Police Human rights watchdog, Squad (SARS), a unit of the Amnesty International, has Nigerian police tasked with NIJ Unveils Professional Members’ Flags, New Code of Ethics charged security forces in the fighting violent crimes. country immediately end the intimidation, harassment and attacks on peaceful protesters. The group had alleged that at least 10 people were killed and hundreds injured during ongoing nationwide protests demanding an end to police brutality and corruption. Since October 8, Nigerians have been occupying the streets of major towns and cities across 21 states of the country, demanding an end to police brutality, extrajudicial executions and extortion by the Special Anti-Robbery

“These protesters have been met with violence and excessive use of force. Nigerians who took to the streets have had enough of the lawless activities of SARS, and what they deserve is tangible reforms that will protect the human rights of the people. Nigerians are skeptical of authorities’ pledge to end police atrocities because the past claims of reforming SARS have turned out to be empty words,” said Director, Amnesty International Nigeria, Ms Osai Ojigho.

Peter Uzoho

The Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) has unveiled and hoisted flags of its professional bodies at the institute’s campus in Lagos. The institute also unveiled new professional code of ethics for the journalism profession and media industry in Nigeria. The flags unveiled and hoisted yesterday at the NIJ campus, included the Nigeria National Flag, the flags of the NIJ, Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Nigerian Union of Journalists

(NUJ), and that of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE). Other flags unveiled at the occasion were those of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), the International Press Institute (IPI) and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR). The principals of the respective professional bodies present unveiled their individual associations’ flags one after the other. The Chairman of the NIJ Governing Council and former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, hoisted the

Nigeria flag and that of the IPI, while the NIJ Provost, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, hoisted the institute’s flag. The Deputy Chairman of NIJ and past President of NPAN, Chief Ray Ekpu, hoisted the NPAN flag, while the President of the NUJ, Mr. Chris Isiguzo, hoisted his association’s flag. The President of NGE, Mr. Isa Mustapha hoisted NGE’s flag through his representative, Mr. Nkpandem James, and announced a N1million donation to the NIJ in support of the initiative. The Registrar of APCON, Mr. Leke Fadolapo and the President

of NIPR, Mallam Muktar Sirajo, also hoisted their respective associations’ flags. Earlier in his remarks, Adefaye, said the hoisting of the flags symbolised the re-establishment of the connection the institute has with the professional groups within the industry. “What we are doing here today is hoisting of the flags and commissioning the flags that our entrepreneurial students did. “What is important about this for us is like re-establishing the connection with these professional groups within our industry,” he said.

FG: Adamawa, Bauchi, Labour Kicks as Intels Sacks 600 Workers The Maritime Workers Union Managing Director of Intels Others were: Chairman – and recall the affected workers Eight Others Yet to of Nigeria (MWUN) has kicked Services Nigeria Limited, the Advisory Council, MWUN; or face total shut down of its the decision of Intels Secretary General of MWUN, Chairman – NLC State operations nationwide. Endorse Child Rights Act against Services Nigeria Limited, a Comrade Felix Akingboye, Council, Port Harcourt, The letter reads: “Over the Deji Elumoye in Abuja The federal government has said that 11 states have so far refused to domesticate the Child Rights Act ,17 years after it was passed into law. The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Pauline Tallen, made this disclosure at a public hearing on two bills: “Older Persons’ Rights and Privileges Bill 2020 and The Child Rights Act, 2003 Amendment Bill 2020,”organised by the Senate committee on Women Affairs. She stated that the affected states are mainly from the north and specifically mentioned Adamawa, Gombe and Bauchi as three of the states yet to domesticate the Act since 2003. According to her, “I have been working round the clock since assumption of office, reaching out to the governors and members of the Houses of Assembly in the various states to ensure that the Act is

domesticated in the states “But the good news is that we are making some progress. Out of the 36 states we now have 25 states that have domesticated the Act. I’m still not too happy that we still have 11 states that are yet to domesticate the Act. “However, I’m reaching out. I just returned from an advocacy tour of some of the states and I’m still moving on until I cover the 11 states. “I have just returned from Adamawa, Bauchi and Gombe. The three States I have visited since after the COVID-19 and they have reassured me because I addressed the Houses of Assembly of the three states and had public hearing with stakeholders.” Also speaking, Chairman of the Senate committee on Women Affairs, Senator Betty Apiafi, said the two bills when passed into law will enhance the quality of life for senior citizens and other related matters.

firm partly owned by ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar to lay off 600 workers. Those affected included workers in Rivers and Warri operational areas of the company. MWUN stated that the company also recently declared 30 workers redundant in Onne Port. In a letter addressed to the

described the decision to sack the workers as “unlawful.” The letter was copied to the Managing Director – Nigerian Ports Authority; President – Nigeria Labour Congress; Commissioner of Police, Eastern Port Police Command, Port Harcourt; Executive Director – Marine and Operations (NPA); DSS Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

River State; President/Gen. Secr. – Dockworkers Branch; President/Gen. Secr. – NPA Branch; President/Gen. Secr. – Shipping Branch; President/ Gen. Secr. – Seamen/NIWA W. T. Branch and the District Chairman/Secretary – Onne Port. Tne union gave Intels a seven-day ultimatum to withdraw the sack letters

years the welfare benefits of your employees (Intels Nig. Ltd.) and that of your subsidiary Company, AMS, has always been the product of joint negotiation between your management and the union. In other words, the employees of the principal (Intels Nigeria Ltd) and its subsidiary AMS enjoy the same welfare benefits.

Appeal Court Declares Aspects of 2020 Police Act Null, Void Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Court of Appeal has declared that the Police Act 2020, enacted in September this year as it affects the constitutional mandate of the Police Service Commission (PSC) is unconstitutional and void. The provision of the Act, it ruled, is in conflict with paragraph 30 Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution,” which empowers

the Commission to appoint persons into offices in the Nigeria Police Force except the Office of the Inspector General of Police. The details of the Appeal Court judgment in the appeal instituted by the Commission against the ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja, was contained in the Certified True Copy (CTC) received by the Commission on Tuesday, October 13, 2020. Justice Emmanuel Akomaye

Agim, one of the three Justices of the Court in his concurrent judgment ruled that Paragraph 30 of Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution has given the power to the Commission to appoint persons into offices in the Nigeria Police “and did not exclude constables and cadets to Nigeria Police Academy from offices in the Nigeria Police into which the Appellant can appoint persons” He further declared that no

Act of the National Assembly or law can take away or curtail such power. Justice Agim noted that even if the Nigeria Police carried out the disputed enlistment pursuant to a directive or approval of the President of the Federation, “the enlistment would remain contrary to the Constitution and therefore unconstitutional and void. Such a directive cannot repair its unconstitutionality and illegality.”

THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Edo APC Councillors Protest Non-payment of Salaries Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-city Elected councillors on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State yesterday protested their sack and refusal of the various council chairmen to pay them their salaries allegedly on the order of the state government. The protesting councillors are those of the 16 out of the 18 local government areas of the state, who were earlier suspended for refusing to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Armed with different inscriptions, the councillors took to the main streets of Benin-city, the state capital, to demand their reinstatement and payment of their salaries and allowances. Speaking with journalists, spokesman of the protesting councillors, Emwinghare Osabuohien, said their problems started when the state Governor, Godwin Obaseki, was screened out of the primary of the APC, and decided to make a move to the PDP. Osabuohien said as soon the governor defection to the PDP, he ordered the 192 councillors

to follow him to the party, but the 90 councilors who refused to follow him were immediately suspended from office while payment of their salaries, allowances, benefits, overhead and other benefits were stopped. According to him, “Against every known norm, we want the world to know that the democratic and constitutional rights of councillors from 16 out of the 18 local government areas that make up Edo State, numbering over 90, have been breached by the Governor Obaseki-led administration. “It will interest you to know that following our refusal to toe the governor’s line and defect to the PDP as he ordered, we have not received our salaries since May 2020 while some have not even been paid since 2018. “In addition, all rights, privileges, wages overhead and other entitlements have been withdrawn on the directive of the governor because of our decision to freely exercise our right to democratic choice.” The spokesman agreed that while the governor’s decision to

defect falls within his right as enshrined in the constitution, he added however that no law confers on him the right to compel others to follow him to other party. He said: “The decision by

some councillors to remain in our party, the APC, is not only democratic but also within their constitutional rights as enshrined in our country’s statutes. The governor suspended us illegally because we refused to betray the

trust and mandate our people gave us by electing us into our various offices. For that, we are no longer able to carry out our responsibilities to the people who elected us.” While reacting, the state

Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Efe Stewart, denied the allegation, explaining that the governor does not owe anybody and that the charges are politically motivated.

PROMOTING MILITARY TIES…

L-R: Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok- Ete Ibas (left), and the Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stefano Pontesilli, during the visit of the Italian Ambassador at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja...yesterday

Zazzau Emir Pledges to House, NBA to Collaborate on New Law Collaborate with Ruling against Police Brutality Houses Udora Orizu in Abuja

John Shiklam in Kaduna

The new Emir of Zazzau (Zaria), Kaduna State, Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli, has promised to carry all the ruling houses in the emirate along. Speaking when he visited the state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, yesterday at the Government House in Kaduna, the emir said he would treat all the four ruling houses fairly. “I have mentioned it severally that I don’t have any reason whatsoever to alienate or sideline any of the ruling dynasties,” the emir said. He said his maternal grandparents came from the Bare-bari dynasty, and that the people of Katsinawa dynasty are his in-laws, “so, I don’t have any reason whatsoever to give priority or superiority to my own ruling house.”

The emir said he was reaching out to all those who contested for the throne in order to move the emirate forward. Meanwhile, one of the princes, who lost out in the contest, Alhaji Bashir Aminu (Iyan Zazzau), had last Tuesday filed a suit at a Kaduna State High Court challenging the appointment of the emir by the governor. The emir noted that “contest like this is common in every society, as people will certainly have to vie for the throne whenever it is vacant, provided they are from the royal family. “The pride of every prince is to become the king one day,” adding that: “It is not an offence for any interested person to contest for the ‘emirship’ position. “But after the contest, we will have to close ranks, come together and serve the people.’’

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has said the House will collaborate with the national leadership of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) on the proposed law it is working on to address police brutality and other issues.

The House had last week passed some resolutions to address the issue of police brutality against Nigerians, one of which is to amend the constitution and come up with other legislation to curb the excesses of the police. Speaking during a courtesy call by the NBA leadership in his office yesterday, Gbajabiamila said the provision of Section 215 (5) almost

gives the police absolute immunity against their excesses, hence the need to amend that section. The Speaker, who said the House could not do it alone, sought the support of the NBA to achieve its set goal on addressing police brutality. He said: ‘’I want to use this opportunity to congratulate Nigerians out there, who have

been part of this struggle, and I want to appeal at the same time that we should apply the brake, perhaps, a little and see what will be done. In the House, before the protest, we made a statement; I made a statement on the floor of the House. We made far-reaching resolutions. We’ve been very proactive on this issue.”

Nigeria Requires State Police Now, Ekweremadu Insists Deji Elumoye in Abuja

The immediate-past Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has advised the federal government to look beyond the creation of Special Weapons And Tactical team (SWAT) to address the impunity in a unit of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF). He, therefore, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to see the decentralisation of policing and institution of state police as the

lasting solution to the impunity and shortcomings he is currently trying to fix in the federal police. Reacting to the disbandment of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and setting up of SWAT, Ekweremadu, in a statement issued yesterday, regretted that the bill to amend the constitution to create state police, which he sponsored in the eighth Senate as well as the current Senate, had not received the required political support.

According to him, the federal government was still addressing the symptoms rather than the real illness. He said: “The on-going street protests over the excesses of elements in the Nigeria Police did not come to me as a surprise. As a matter of fact, I had always known, and warned severally that a day would come when Nigerians would no longer tolerate the worsening insecurity in the land and the excesses of those

charged with the responsibility of protecting lives and property. “The problem with our policing and the attendant insecurity and excesses are engraved majorly in Section 214 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, which provides that: ‘There shall be a police force for Nigeria, which shall be known as the Nigerian Police Force, and subject to the provisions of this section, no other police force shall be established for the federation or any part thereof’.

lNEC Hails Staff, Security Sexual Assault: NANS to Move against Randy Agencies over Ondo Election Lecturers in Ekiti Schools Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, yesterday commended staff of the commission and security agencies for the peaceful conduct of the Ondo State governorship election. In a message of appreciation for their efforts, the INEC boss said: “On behalf of the commission, I want to sincerely thank all our staff for the successful conduct of the Ondo State governorship election. “Your collective and selfless efforts made the achievement that we recorded in Ondo State on October 10 and earlier in Edo State on September 19 possible.

“Indeed, the commendations, coming from appreciative Nigerians, were as a result of your determination to not only shun all forms of temptation, but to also uphold INEC’s policy, vision and mission as well as to do the right thing. “The sacrifices are enormous, far beyond the call of duty, which sometimes require long absence from your respective families, as well as taking risks. It is thus a thing of joy that your efforts have not been in vain.” He also thanked all the ad-hoc staff, comprising members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), staff of federal institutions, university academics and others, who served in various capacities.

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has vowed to rid the higher institutions in Ekiti State of sexual assault, promising to work with the managements of the schools to ensure that lecturers engaging in such “animalistic” behaviour are dismissed and prosecuted.

The Chairman of NANS/ Joint Campus Committee, Ekiti axis, Abiola Ogunleye, stated this yesterday at a press conference held at the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado Ekiti, to review the activities of the body. Ogunleye, flanked by other NANS leaders, applauded the EKSU’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Eddy Olanipekun, for expelling

a lecturer who recently engaged in sexual assault, saying that that would send a signal that there were no sacred cows on campuses. He also lauded the EKSU management for fast-tracking action on how to make the university fully residential by partnering private bodies to build hostels in the university. “Protection of students against

all forms of victimisation, sexual assaults, and harassment is our priority. The management of all higher institutions in Ekiti State had assured us that they won’t tolerate such act. Even when a lecturer was indicted for sexual assault here in EKSU, he was dismissed from the university. This confirmed that the management has zero tolerance for harassment.

Presidency Proposes Omnibus Business Reform Bill Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Special Adviser to the President on Ease of Doing Business, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, has said that the presidency has concluded plans to evolve a new law that will embody all existing reforms in a single legislation.

Oduwole in a statement issued yesterday said the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, will in the coming weeks, initiate this new bill for the National Assembly. She said the whole essence

of having an Omnibus bill on business facilitation is to institutionalise all the reforms for easier implementation and consequently guarantee sustenance of the efforts. Oduwole noted that after implementing several policies that helped in deepening reforms at both the national

and sub-national levels, Nigeria’s rating on the global scale of ease of doing business improved in 2018 and 2019. She said the successes were driven by the implementation of over 140 reforms by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) between 2016 and 2019.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

24 HOURS...

Report: Kidnappings By Pirates up 40% in Gulf of Guinea Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja with agency report Kidnappings rose by 40 per cent in the Gulf of Guinea in the first nine months of this year, a report by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) , indicated yesterday. It noted that the region off West Africa’s coast now accounts for 95 per cent of global maritime kidnappings, a Reuters report stated. The IMB said 80 seafarers were taken in the Gulf of Guinea, a 2.3 million square kilometres (888,000 square metres) area bordering more than a dozen countries, sharply up from the same period in 2019, adding that the pirates are attacking further out to sea than before. Pirates armed with guns and knives attack everything from oil platforms to fishing vessels and refrigerated cargo ships. In one attack 95 nautical miles off the coast, the furthest offshore

attack reported in the region, pirates took 13 crew hostage, which the IMB said illustrated “how well-organised and farreaching” the pirates are The report stated that the bulk of the attackers come from Nigeria’s Niger Delta, which produces most of the petroleum from the country, Africa’s largest oil exporter, stressing that the restive region has an underdeveloped economy and limited jobs for locals. In 2019, Nigeria enacted a standalone law against piracy, and in August, a court in the oil hub of Port Harcourt made the first convictions under the legislation. According to the IMB report, pirates armed with guns and knives are now abducting bigger groups of seafarers at further distances off the West African coast. The latest global piracy report details 132 attacks since the start of 2020, up from 119 incidents in

the same period last year. Of the 85 seafarers kidnapped from their vessels and held for ransom, 80 were taken in the Gulf of Guinea – in 14 attacks reported off Nigeria, Benin, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Ghana. In the first nine months of

2020, seafarers reported 134 cases of assault, injury and threats, including 85 crewmembers being kidnapped and 31 held hostage onboard their ships. “A total of 112 vessels were boarded and six were fired upon, while 12 reported attempted

attacks. Two fishing vessels were hijacked, both in the Gulf of Guinea. “Crews are facing exceptional pressures due to Covid-19, and the risk of violent piracy or armed robbery is an extra stress,” said Michael Howlett, Director of IMB.

“While IMB liaises with authorities swiftly in case of a pirate attack, we encourage all coastal states and regional cooperation to take responsibility for ensuring maritime security within their EEZ to achieve safer seas and secure trade,” he added.

National Assembly Joint WIVES OF LAGOS OFFICIALS’ AFFAIR… Committees Move for L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his Osun State counterpart, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola; his wife, Mrs. Kafayat Oyetola; and First of Lagos State, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, during the opening ceremony of the virtual 2-day conference of the Committee of Wives of Lagos Passage of NEPAD’s Bill Lady State Officials (COWLSO), in Lagos…yesterday King Akan in Abuja Following the successes recorded from the African Union Development AgencyNew Partnership for Africa’s Development/African Peer Review Mechanism (AUDANEPAD/APRM) Second Peer Review Process, the Joint Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives on NEPAD have moved for the passage of the agency’s draft bill, increased funding, effective partnership and promotion of regional integration in a bid to strengthen the agency for effective service delivery in the actualisation of its agenda 2063. This was gathered at a legislative round-table discussion on the ongoing Second Africa Peer Review of the Federal Republic of Nigeria organised by the Joint Senate and House Committees on Cooperation, Integration in Africa and NEPAD held yesterday at the National Assembly.

The meeting was chaired by the Chairman, Senate Committee on NEPAD, Chimaroke Nnamani, who represented the Senate President, Dr. Ahmed Lawan. Also in attendance was the Chairman, House Committee on NEPAD, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Umar Bago; Chairman of the National Governing Council of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), Senator Abba Ali; members of the Senate and House Committees on NEPAD and the National Governing Council of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). Speaking at the roundtable, Senator Nnamani commended the leadership of AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria led by Princess Gloria Akobundu, national coordinator/CEO NEPAD Nigeria and Senator Abba Ali, chairman of the National Governing Council of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).

Anambra Flood Victims Seek Assistance David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka Flood victims in the riverine areas of Anambra State, particularly Umueze Anam community of Anambra West Local Government Area, have cried out for help, saying they now sleep on bridges in the area. This is as houses, markets and farms in the community have been submerged by the flood, sacking the residents in the area. When THISDAY took a tour of the submerged area, it was learnt that residents of the area have fallen to severe hardship as their properties and farms have been destroyed by the flood. In Anambra East LGA, a popular riverside market, Otuocha Market, was totally submerged by water, with not

even the roofs of shops in the market visible. Some traders, who spoke to THISDAY, lamented that most of their wares were still in their shops when they resumed for business last week, and found out that the market was now under the water. Mr. Anthony Okeke, a supplier of bread, said: “I came very early to the market to find out that my shop has been submerged. You know, bread is not something you can retrieve once water touches it. These ones I am selling now are those supplied to me on credit. We are calling on government to come to our aid; please help us with loans, so that we can start afresh. As you can see, we now trade on the main road.”

House Passes 2021 Appropriation Bill for Second Reading Udora Orizu in Abuja

The House of Representatives yesterday passed for second reading the 2021 Appropriation Bill after two days of heated debate on its general principles. President Muhammadu Buhari had last week proposed the total sum of N13.08 trillion of which N485 billion is for statutory transfers; N3.3 trillion is for debt service; N5.7 trillion is for recurrent (non-debt) expenditure, while the sum of

N3.6 trillion is for contribution to the development fund for capital expenditure for the year ending December 31, 2021. Contributing to the debate on the budget estimates on the floor of the House yesterday, the House Leader, Hon. Ado Doguwa, justified huge expenditure on security, arguing that it was aimed at achieving the socioeconomic development of the country. Making reference to budgetary allocation to the defence and interior ministries

and police, he called on the House to ensure expeditious passage of the budget. He said: ‘’In the area of infrastructure, agriculture and various aspect of our economic development, I believe the document will be given that consideration. Mr. Speaker, I still want to add that going within the spirit of our commitment to liaise and operate on the same page with the executive, I will like to charge the standing committee chairmen, who will

be dissolved as sub committees into the main appropriation committee, that we must not compromise in any way the unprecedented achievements we have made to reverse the January to December budget cycle.’’ On his part, Hon. Obinna Chidoka spoke on the problem of erosion in the South-east geopolitical zone, adding that it behooves on the National Assembly to make budgetary probation to address the menace.

Senate Spokesman Calls for Sweeping Police Reforms The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Dr. Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru representing Osun Central Constituency, has reiterated that only sweeping reforms addressing wide improvements can benefit the Nigerian Police to serve the nation and its citizens better. The Senator who had earlier made the observation while while presenting a bill before the Senate on establishment of States’ Police, said “there had been a deep seated and strong resistance to the idea of

police reforms in the country”. Against the background of wide ranging protests in major towns and cities calling for the abrogation of SARS, a criminal investigation department in the Police, Basiru said unless reforms generated by several high levels committees spanning over 20 years are revisited and implemented, Nigeria Police shall remain largely ineffective. Ajibola said the indication to deep resistance is that “the more than 20 years of debate on policing and reforms have

largely gone un- implemented” He said as a result the public perception of the Police had remained poor while it continued to be plagued with corruption, impunity, lack of accountability, gross incompetence and failure to maintain law and order. The Senator argued that the country’s present challenge is to “reverse this perception and transform the Nigeria Police into a true public service organ capable of guaranteeing security of Nigerians” The Senator who noted that the recent enactment of the

Police Act 2020 might not meet the citizens expectation of an effective police institution that works said that only a wide range of reforms will be required to make the Police work in the interest of all. “There is a need for a wholesale review and redefinition of the role, function and organisational structure of the Police” to demilitarise it and inject in it operation neutrality as well as autonomous organisational set up, functionality specialisation, institutional accountability and service orientation.

PROTESTERS ADAMANT, REJECT SWAT, INSIST ON HOLISTIC POLICE REFORM “Indeed, we insist that both incidents be investigated and the errant security operatives sanctioned,” it said, adding: “IBAN wishes to assure Nigerians that our members will not be intimidated by jackboot tactics and will continue to perform our constitutional responsibility of informing the public and being the watchdogs of our democracy.” No Former SARS Operative will Be Part of SWAT, Say Police

In a related development, the police yesterday clarified that no former operative of the disbanded SARS will be part of the new SWAT unit. Many of the protesters have said SWAT would be made up of the disbanded SARS officials, hence the reason they have continued with the demonstration. But in a series of tweets yesterday, the police said the new unit has five cardinal points as its mandate which includes responding to robbery

attacks and rescue operations. “Mandate of the new Tactical team is strictly restricted to: Response to robbery attacks, Response to scenes of weapon-related crimes, Rescue operations, (and) Special operations involving high profile criminals,” the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said in a tweet. He explained: “No personnel of the defunct SARS will be selected to be part of the new Tactical team. Operations of

the new Tactical team will be strictly intelligence-driven. “Members of the new Tactical team will by no means embark on routine patrols. Members of the new Tactical team are barred from indiscriminate and unlawful search of phones, laptops and other smart devices. “Operatives of the new Tactical team must be free of any pending disciplinary matter especially those touching on misuse of firearms and abuse of human rights.”

THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

I I TA L I A N S E R I E A

Osimhen’s Napoli Handed 0-3 Loss, Docked Point for Juve ‘No Show’ Victor Osimhen and his Napoli teammates have suffered the consequence of refusing to go to Turin to play Juventus in their Serie A week-three fixture on October 4 due to Covid-19 scare. Yesterday afternoon, the Serie A Disciplinary Commission ruled that there was no “force majeure” preventing Napoli from travelling despite two positive coronavirus tests and gave the match 3-0 to Juventus. Napoli also suffered one point deduction for failing to turn up for their Serie A clash in Turin. Gennaro Gattuso’s side remained in isolation on the instructions of health authorities in the Campania region after Eljif Elmas and Piotr Zielinski tested positive, and they did not travel to

Turin on October 4. Serie A ruled “the complaint lodged by Napoli regarding the legality of the match is to be considered inadmissible”. Italy’s top flight is applying UEFA rules that say a match can take place as long as a side have 13 healthy players, including a goalkeeper. The only possible exemption would be a club which has an active outbreak of Covid-19 with more than 10 new positive cases in a week. In that case the club can request a postponement, but only once in the season, which was the case of Genoa’s game against Torino the same weekend. As a result of the decision champions Juventus have now moved up fourth in Serie A, with Napoli now

eighth with five points. Osimhen and his teammates who only returned to their homes on Tuesday after the mandatory 14-day self-isolation at

the club’s Castel Volturno training ground, will be under pressure to win their home game against last season’s Champions League quarter finalists

Atalanta on Saturday. Atalanta have won three out of the three matches they have played at the start of this current Serie A season so far and will be looking

to build on that with the trip to Naples. Napoli have similarly won their first two matches this season as they target a first Serie A title in 30 years.

Nigeria’s Kelechi Iheanacho (kneeling on the turf) giving supplications to God for his goal against Tunisia on Tuesday night in Austria

Rohr Unfazed by Critics, Insists Eagles Have Done Well in Austria Friendlies Duro Ikhazuagbe Victor Osimhen and his Napoli teammates returned from self-isolation on Tuesday

Merseyside Derby, La Liga, Serie A Matches Live on DStv, GOtv The football offering has been further boosted on DStv and GOtv as both platforms will broadcast games from the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A seasons live to its subscribers from 17 and 19 October 2020. The weekend’s Premier League action opens Live at 12:30pm on the afternoon of Saturday 17 October on SuperSport Premier League with a potential thriller between Merseyside rivals Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park. Both the Toffees and the Reds have enjoyed excellent starts to the 2020-21 season, with the former feeling that they could really challenge Jurgen Klopp’s champions in this clash and perhaps pull off a first league win over their cross-town rivals since October 2010. “Everton is a massive club, the reality hit with a lot of the players that we’ve got a world class manager and, as players, if we’re not delivering then they can bring someone else in who can do a job,” said defender Michael Keane. Saturday features another

mouth-watering clash with the meeting of Manchester City and Arsenal in the early-evening kick-off. Once again, Gunners manager Mikel Arteta will pit his wits against former boss Pep Guardiola and look to continue his growth as a leader of a major club. The match will kick off at 5:30pm Live on SuperSport Premier League. Sunday opens with the fierce rivalry between Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion at 2pm Live on SuperSport Premier League, SuperSport Football and SuperSport GOtv Football – a clash which could be distilled down to the head-to-head battle between the Eagles’ Ivorian attacker Wilfried Zaha and the Seagulls’ Ghana-eligible right-back Tariq Lamptey. One of the top matches to look out for in La Liga sees Barcelona head to the Coliseum Alfonso Perez to take on Getafe also on Saturday 17, October, a meeting of two teams which have made promising starts to the season and will be looking to keep up their momentum.

Despite the outrage in some quarters over the uncoordinated play of the Super Eagles in the two international friendlies against African champions Algeria and Number 2 ranked team in the continent Tunisia, Head Coach, Gernot Rohr appears unfazed by those criticizing his team’s outing in Austria. Nigeria lost 1-0 to the Fennecs of Algeria last Friday while the Tunisians fought back to tie the clash with Super Eagles 1-1. In both games, Rohr used six uncapped players in the absence of key men like

Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo, Joe Aribo and goalkeeper Francis Uzoho. But speaking on the team’s official twitter handle @ NGSuperEagles yesterday, Rohr insisted Nigeria played very good competitive games. “The two friendly games we played were very good competitive games. Algeria and Tunisia are very good teams. “Indeed, the results could have been better. We could have picked up a draw against Algeria and a win against Tunisia,” begins the Franco-German gaffer who a section of the Nigerian media berated for his

strange, conservative tactics in Austria. He refused to be taken prisoner, insisting that even in the absence of key players, Nigeria still was able to hold her ground against the two top teams from North Africa. “We have some positives to pick out from the games because in spite of missing some key players we still competed well. Now, with the likes of Maduka Okoye doing very well in goal, Zaidu Sanusi holding his ground in the left back and Kevin Akpoguma capable of playing anywhere in the back four, Rohr said he’s likely to face selection worries ahead of the AFCON

2022 double header qualifier against Sierra Leone next month. “Now, it is going to be difficult for me to pick our list for the AFCON qualifiers next month because of the new boys who did well. “I believe these very good friendly games will help us to return to winning ways when we play Sierra Leone next month. Good results next month may see us qualifying for the 2022 AFCON already,” observed the coach who has already spent four years on the Eagles job in Nigeria. Super Eagles are leading the Group L pairing with Sierra Leone, Benin Republic and Lesotho on six points.

Rivers Official Tasks SWAN on Discovery of Local Talents Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt The Accountant-General of Rivers State, Sir Dagogo Abere, has called on the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) to do more for the nation by encouraging the discovery of hidden sports talents at the grassroots. Addressing the new SWAN executives in Rivers State who paid him a courtesy call in Port

Harcourt yesterday, Abere said sportswriters should help in sports development in the country. He said: “I must thank you; just as you said, Rivers State in those days used to be one of the best states in terms of sports. Like you also identified, we had a lot of young talents and we got all of them from the grassroots. We also had athletes, we had sprinters and we had basketball players.

“What I will advise is that you go more into the grassroots and discover these talents. It is so good and important. Yes, at this stage, for very many of us, we look at those who are successful in business. “But outside here, the people who relationship matter in society are sports people in particular. We can hear their names. Even now, sports men who are Nigerians, you see how they are selling abroad.

“This can only be done by SWAN because they are those who can go to the grassroots, discover talents and bring this talents to the knowledge of administrators.” Earlier in his speech, SWAN Chairman in the state, Udede Jim Opiki, appealed to Abere to institute and sponsor sports tournament in the state, in order to encourage the discovery of talents at the grassroots.

Thursday, October 15, 2020

UT H

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Price: N250

MISSILE Olumide Akpata to Police “First and foremost, the issue to address is that of the SARS detention centres around the country. As a mark of good faith, it will be important for the police to throw open these centres just to convince us that not only has SARS been disbanded, but also that indeed its activities have been brought to an end” – Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Olumide Akpata, on what the police should do to restore public trust.

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

SARS and The Youth Revolt

vents of the past one week across the country have revealed the true character of the Nigerian police: It is an institution that still sees its role as basically to put down any form of dissent or resistance, including to glaring injustice. Even at the cost of human lives. Only a few days of protests and we are already counting bodybags. Trending videos feature supposed officers of the law kicking and punching women on the streets. In contrast, there have been daily protests in Hong Kong for the past 16 months over a contentious bill that has been withdrawn. Not a single one of their nationals has been killed by the police. The dissolution of the Federal Special Anti-Robery Squad (F-SARS) by the Inspector General of the Police, Mohammed Adamu, is commendable. But, as has become evident, the decision may not be enough to change a culture built on abuse of power by those tasked with protecting citizens. This is therefore a momentous period in the history of our country and we should not waste the opportunity to reform the police as an institution and the entire administration of justice in Nigeria. Let’s be clear. There is hardly any police authority in the world that does not have special formations to deal with specific crimes. So, there was no problem with the establishment of SARS. But such units are considered special because of their expertise, experience and exposure; not how brutally their personnel treat citizens. As Danladi Midenda (the retired Commissioner of Police who pioneered SARS alongside retired AIG Taiwo Lakanu in 1992) has said, the unit started with operatives who were professional in conduct and diligent in their assignment. But somewhere along the line, they lost their way. They started to dabble into all sorts of issues, including forcefully prying into bank account details on the mobile phones of road users for the purpose of extortion and breaking into people’s homes to conduct raids on pots of soup (Reuben Abati is my witness!). I must commend the tenacity of our young men and women who have been very clear about the objective of their protests. They want to live as free citizens in their country without being molested or criminalised by agents of state. They have organized themselves in a brilliant and professional manner. They have also drawn support from celebrities both at home and in the Diaspora. They are mobilizing funds for the injured, legal representation for those arrested and are generally watching out for one another. I even notice that they move around with mobile toilets. Having internationalized the struggle, they have also made it a news item on major television networks. I particularly appreciate the statement by rave-making musician, Burna Boy, because it speaks to the challenge at hand. Operatives of SARS and other police units are adept at profiling their targets. Where Burna Boy got it wrong is to assume it is about age groups. It is not, even if young people have been at the receiving end of their brutality. Opportunism drives their criminality. SARS operatives involved in these sordid practices were always careful in the selection of victims and we can see evidence from the fatalities recorded from their atrocities over the years. Despite their obsession with ‘Yahoo Boys’, they would gladly serve as escorts for ‘Hushpuppi’

#ENDSARS protesters because they know such characters will ‘drop’ even before they ask. A former Minister stripped four female staff almost naked for allegedly stealing his money, recorded them, posted the video online and then handed them over to the police to complete the remaining part of the jungle justice. The poor ladies spent four days in detention before they were saved by a social media campaign. It is now three weeks since that former minister rebuffed a police invitation despite being ‘declared wanted’. He is moving about with police details who, according to a statement by the Delta State Director of Public Prosecution, were also involved in the molestation of the women. SARS operatives never disturb such people. In the October 2009 edition of ‘Africa Renewal’, a quarterly publication of the United Nations, there was an extensive report on policing on the continent titled, ‘Security for the Highest Bidder’. Not surprisingly, Nigeria featured prominently. Relying on research conducted by two Professors at the University of Wales (Rita Abrahamsen and Michael Williams), the report specially focused on our oil sector, where companies pay to retain the services of official policemen. “Such officers are paid and controlled by the companies. The researchers found that Shell employs 1,200 such officers, ExxonMobil over 700 and Chevron approximately 250. In addition, oil companies routinely rely on the heavily armed state paramilitary police (MOPOL) to secure their operations. Shell also uses over 600 armed police and MOPOL officers. Virtually all levels of public force, including the military, have been integrated into the day-to-day security arrangements of the oil industry to a degree where it is often difficult to determine where public policing ends and private security begins,” the researchers noted. Ordinarily we can excuse this anomaly on grounds that the oil sector is critical to our country’s economic survival. But this arrangement, according to the two researchers, leaves no room for accountability because the money paid by oil companies for these police officers, “do not go into the public coffers but instead to individual high-ranking officers.” The report stated further that “acquiring the ‘initial permission from the inspector general to utilize MOPOL officers’ costs the equivalent

of $800. Then the equivalent of $335 goes to each unit and station commander. Another $13 is allocated for each MOPOL officer per 12-hour shift, paid to the unit commander, plus a $2 supplement for food.” When you institutionalise this sort of opaque arrangement for police personnel whose primary function is to maintain law and order in the society, then you have left the door open for bad behavior at practically all levels. What goes for the oil companies applies to the banks and big businesses. So invariably, what we have is a transactional structure of maintaining law and order that is founded on a culture of ‘returns’. The result was what we saw on the streets with SARS operatives who were behaving like mercenaries and licensed thugs. Now that an inquisition has begun into the activities of SARS, we must accept that the media is also complicit in this matter, requiring reorientation across board. “While the law presumes crime suspects to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law”, I wrote in December 2017, “men and officers of SARS take such persons to be guilty until they are able to prove innocence in their (SARS) own ‘court’ where suspects are detained and tortured to make ‘confessional statements’ after which they are paraded before the media. With reporters participating in the ‘cross-examination’ of these suspects, usually from the poor of our society, they are easily lured into incriminating themselves and for many, that is a one-way ticket to the grave.” The statement by President Muhammadu Buhari that disbanding SARS was just a first step in efforts to reform the police is reassuring. More reassuring is the fact that a multi-stakeholder forum comprised of representatives of civil society organisations, activists from the entertainment industry and the ENDSARS movement as well as

development partners has already begun meeting. But the president is in a Catch-22 situation and there are no easy options in the days, and possibly weeks, ahead. I recommend yesterday’s column in Daily Trust by retired federal permanent secretary, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed titled, ‘SARS: From policing to governance’. There is so much to learn from it by presidential handlers. As we seek solution to this perplexing challenge, what we must ensure is that reform of the police include the issue of their welfare. When those to whom the state has given guns to protect us are practically left to their own devices and treated in a manner that devalues their self-esteem and that of their immediate families—as can be glimpsed from the deplorable condition of police barracks—we cannot complain when some behave like animals. Even from their appearance, it is evident that many of the rank and file have been brutalized by the state and society. It is therefore no surprise that they lack compassion when dealing with fellow citizens. I have spoken to many retired senior police officers in the past few days and they seem unhappy about what they see as an attempt to rubbish the institution. We must do everything to avoid that. When personnel of the Nigeria Police go for United Nations operations anywhere in the world, not only do they excel, they are rated highly on professionalism and integrity. There are several men and women within our police who are honest in their dealings, patriotic citizens and professional in discharging their duties. That is why we must isolate the bad eggs within and not tar everybody with the same brush. I have been made to understand that provisions of The Police Regulations actually hold individual police personnel accountable for their actions. So, even in terms of discipline, there are internal mechanisms to deal with the problem in the dissolved SARS unit. It is unfortunate that the federal government was slow to act on the SARS crisis and is therefore complicit in the escalation. And while actions already taken might be commendable, protesters are unyielding because promises had been made in the past and a trust deficit exists. There is therefore an urgent need to rebuild that trust with more proactive and robust engagement with our young citizens. There is also a need for a clear plan for reforming the police, with specific activities and timelines. It should include complete reorientation and an effective consequence management accountability mechanism to rein in the culture of impunity that led to the current crisis. Fortunately, there are several reports on the reform of the police based on presidential panels that were established in the past. What has been lacking is the political will to implement any. President Buhari should seize the moment. NOTE: Piece concluded on page 15

Still on NAKED ABUSE!

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