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Floods: Build Dams, Desilt Major Rivers, Okowa Urges FG Diri seeks FG’s support, directs workers to go on one-week break Niger Delta Affairs Minister promises medical, infrastructural relief to Bayelsa, Rivers, others Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa and Peter Uzoho in Lagos Worried by the devastation caused

by floods in many states in the country, Delta State governor and vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),

Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday called on the federal government to build new dams and desilt major rivers to check flooding, especially when

neighbouring countries opened their dams.

Okowa also urged the federal government to make efforts at

desilting River Niger and River Benue to deepen the depths of the rivers to accommodate high volume of floodwater.

In response to the widespread flood disaster in the Niger Delta, Continued on page 10

ExecuJet Aviation Becomes Gulfstream’s First Authorised Warranty Facility in Nigeria... Page 5 Wednesday 19 October, 2022 Vol 27. No 10053. Price: N250

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President to Inaugurate APC Presidential Campaign Council Friday... Page 41

INEC Chair Expresses Concern over Attack on PDP Rally in Kaduna Says it has reduced essence of Peace Accord House minority, Situation Room worried, demand probe Chuks Okocha, Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Udora Orizu inAbuja Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission

(INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has expressed worry over Monday’s attacks on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), during a rally in Kaduna State. Yakubu said

the development, and the rising mudslinging that was almost becoming the order of the day since campaigns kicked off on September 28, had diminished the essence of

the peace accord recently signed by the political parties. He spoke in Abuja during the Training of Master Trainers on Election Technology for the 2023 general election.

Similarly, the Minority Caucus thugs allegedly mobilised by certain in the House of Representatives interests in the All Progressives condemned the attack on the Congress (APC). The caucus PDP presidential campaign rally in Kaduna State on Monday by Continued on page 10

You Can’t Abandon Work for Election Campaign, Buhari Warns Says penalty awaits violators of order Directs SGF, ministers to prepare transition documents Signs Executive Order 12 to institutionalise accountability, transparency Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, issued a stern warning to all ministers, permanent secretaries, and other top government officials not to involve themselves in electioneering activities ahead of the general election scheduled for the first quarter of 2023.

Buhari gave the directive at the end of the two-day 2022 Ministerial Performance Review Retreat, held at the Conference Hall of the State House, Abuja. He warned ministers, permanent secretaries, and heads of government agencies not to abandon the business of governance for electioneering, saying, “Any infraction will be viewed seriously.”

The president’s directive was preceded by his signing of Executive Order 012 on Improving Performance Management, Coordination, and Implementation of Presidential Priorities.

He directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, to continue with the quarterly review process and Continued on page 10

FOR CONTINUITY...

L-R: FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha and APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during the third Ministerial Performance Review Retreat at the Presidential Villa, State House, Abuja...yesterday

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

NEWS

COMMEMORATION OF THE 50TH AGM OF THE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION...

L-R: Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria [SON], Mallam Farouk Salim; Senator Wahlid Jubril; President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (M.A.N), Engr. Mansur Ahmed; President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Wakili of Adamawa, Ambassador Hassan Adamu; and Representative of Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Adewale Bakare at the 2nd Adeola Odutola lecture PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN in Commemoration of the 50th AGM of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria held in Lagos… yesterday

Dangote to FG: Make Law to Jail Sellers of Smuggled Textiles Without Option of Fine Wants Nigeria to target 20% manufacturing contribution to GDP in 10yrs Utomi: Textile industry victim of poor trade policy Dike Onwuamaeze The President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has thrown his weight behind the clamour for the revival of Nigeria’s ailing textile and manufacturing sectors by urging the National Assembly to pass a law that would penalise sale of banned textiles materials by imprisoning culprits without any option of fine.

Dangote made call yesterday, in Lagos, while presenting the Second Adeola Odutola Lecture titled, “Agenda Setting for Industrialising Nigeria in the Next Decade,” in commemoration of the 50th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN).

He said: “For the textile industry, I think the government needs to formulate a law by the National Assembly that will say that anybody selling banned foreign textile must go to prison without an option of fine. So, it will be just going to jail even if it is just for two years.

“The real problem in the textile industry is not basically lack of cheaper power. If you give them cheaper power but allowed the smuggling to continue the textile will not last.

“What is happening is that foreign companies are using us (Nigeria) as a dumping ground.

That is why I do not like to import.

Anytime you import you will be importing poverty and exporting prosperity and job opportunities

outside.”

He said government should apply the same force it mustered to enforce the ban on rice importation in the bid to end smuggling of textiles into Nigeria, adding that, “few decades ago textiles used to be the largest employer of labour after the federal government of Nigeria.”

Dangote, who is Africa’s richest man, also tasked the federal government on the implementation of its policies meant to protect the country’s industrial sector, especially textile manufacturing, without caring who would be offended.

He said as at today people would be sent to jail in India for selling foreign textiles anywhere.

“Also, if something is banned in the United States of America for

example, there is no way it could be displayed for sale in a shop.

“But what is stopping the implementation of Nigeria’s government policies is the absence of the political will to make sure that we implement those policies no matter who is going to be upset by us,” Dangote said, adding that manufacturers should “meet with the government to find a lasting solution, especially now that government is desperate about job creation, to stamp out smuggling for our industries to stand. If we have a prosperous environment the insecurity will drop.”

He also said Nigeria should focus on enabling its manufacturing sector to achieve the following targets within the next 10 years.

ExecuJet Aviation Becomes Gulfstream’s First Authorised Warranty Facility in Nigeria W’Africa Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation yesterday announced a new authorised warranty facility agreement with ExecuJet Aviation Nigeria (EJAN) in Lagos, to provide warranty and maintenance service and spare parts for Gulfstream G450, Gulfstream G550, Gulfstream G650 and Gulfstream G650ER aircraft in West Africa.

This was disclosed in a statement made available to THISDAY. The 275,000-square-foot/25,548square-meter VIP aircraft terminal facility encompasses an international departure/arrival terminal, fixed based operator (FBO) and maintenance facility.

It is the largest in sub-Saharan Africa and includes a 50,000-sqft/4,645-sq-m hangar space that could accommodate up to four G550 jets simultaneously.

In preparation for service, the statement disclosed that EJAN technicians have completed FlightSafety International training programs specific to Gulfstream aircraft.

The President, Gulfstream Customer Support, Derek Zimmerman said: “As we have expanded our service network with new, modern facilities, we are also expanding our footprint of authorised warranty facilities as the Gulfstream fleet continues to grow around the world, including in West Africa.

“We are pleased to partner with ExecuJet Aviation Nigeria as our latest service provider to give our customers in the region a new option for their warranty and maintenance needs.”

EJAN, the largest facility of its kind in West Africa is adjacent to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and located in a free trade zone for parts and maintenance.

Gulfstream also announced yesterday at the 2022 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) that the Gulfstream G700 would embark on an extensive world tour, which would include a stop in Nigeria at EJAN. “This G700 debut in Africa is a further demonstration of Gulfstream’s commitment to the region and will give customers a firsthand opportunity to experience the G700 and the most spacious cabin in the business aviation industry.

“Inspired by the belief that aviation could fuel business growth, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. invented the first purpose-built business aircraft, the Gulfstream I, which first flew in 1958.

“Today, more than 3,000 aircraft are in service around the world.

Together with parent company General Dynamics, Gulfstream

consistently invests in the future, dedicating resources to researching and developing innovative new aircraft, technologies and services.

With a fleet that includes the super-midsize Gulfstream G280, the high-performing Gulfstream G650 and Gulfstream G650ER,

and a next-generation family of aircraft including the all-new Gulfstream G400, the award-winning Gulfstream G500 and Gulfstream G600, the flagship Gulfstream G700 and the ultralong-range Gulfstream G800, Gulfstream offers an aircraft for every mission,” it added.

“Nigeria needs to henceforth intensify efforts at promoting industrialisation with specific focus on the attainment of the following targets in the next 10 years: 15 per cent manufacturing growth; 20 per cent manufacturing contribution to the GDP; 15 per cent growth in export of manufactured products; 10 per cent increase in the share of manufacturing to total export machandise, stronger inter-industry linkage between SMEs and large corporations, improved manufacturing contribution to government tax revenue and 20 per cent increase in manufacturing employment,” he said.

Commenting on the comatose state of the country’s textile industry, the Founder of the Centre for Values in Leadership, Prof. Pat Utomi, ascribed the decline in textile manufacturing to bad trade policies.

Utomi said: “But to get straight to the point, the textile industry failed because of Nigeria’s trade policy.

The lesson we shall take from this is that we should have a standing working group consisting of some real experts and manufacturers to put the government under pressure about its trade policies.

“I wonder if we still remembered that Nigeria Textile Limited (NTL) break even within one month of its operation in 1960. And in its

first six months of production was exporting to Manchester, United Kingdom.

“So, why did the textile industry die? Because wrong trade policies where being made and there was not enough pressure to get the government to do the right thing.

“And the government people were not doing it out of wickedness but ignorance. So, we have to remember that Nigeria is our country and collectively we can get the experts, manufacturers and the government to sit together and plot our way.

“The global textile industry today is dominated by five firms. How can Nigeria align with them and provide incentives to them to make Nigeria their base? So that today we cannot be talking about jobs because the textile industry will be providing millions of jobs.”

The President of MAN, Mr. Mansur Ahmed, said in his welcome address that the choice of Dangote as the guest speaker for the lecture was, “clearly predicated upon our belief that only experienced industrialists are well equipped to do justice to the theme, visibly highlight essential advocacy issues, suggest workable solutions and point the sector to key industrial development agenda for the next ten year.”

NDLEA: Over 12,000 Drug Users Underwent Treatment, Counselling in 20 Months Onyebuchi Ezigbo inAbuja The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) has revealed that over 12,000 drug users underwent treatment and counselling in the past 20 months.

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd) disclosed this in his speech at a conference on Mental Health organised by Intersect Consortium in Abuja.

He said there had been a sharp increase in reported cases of depression and suicides, which were symptomatic of mental health determination.

He explained: "The NDLEA has 26 treatment facilities across the country. In the past 20 months, over 12, 000 drug users have benefitted

from brief intervention, counselling, treatment and rehabilitation in NDLEA facilities."

Marwa said the agency was also tackling other pertinent issues in treatment.

According to Marwa statistics have shown that drug use disorder sufferers were disproportionately female due to stigmatisation and other social constraints.

"Earlier in June when the opportunity came to have members of the Nigeria Governors’ Wives Forum in Drug Use Prevention, Treatment and Care (DPTC) training, NDLEA and the State first ladies were able to reach landmark resolutions, one of which was the need for primary healthcare centres to extend counselling and treatment to those with drug use disorder as well as the necessity of

having treatment centres exclusively for female patients.

“Indeed, our society cannot afford to be nonchalant towards mental health issues. Already, it has entered into the stream of everyday conversation. You sometimes hear young people talk about maintaining their mental health.

“Whether or not they fully understand what that means is a different matter entirely. What we do know for a fact is that there has been a sharp increase in reported cases of depression and suicides, which are symptomatic of mental health determination," he said Quoting statistics by the World Health Organisation, (WHO), the NDLEA boss said before the advent of COVID-19, an estimated 970 million people around the world

were living with mental disorders.

He explained that the figure translated to one in eight people of the 7.7 billion global population at the time.

"All around us today are aggravating conditions or factors of mental health degeneration, from economic depression to wars, from political oppression to social discrimination and from widespread insecurity to a self-destructive drug addiction lifestyle.

“No wonder that halfway into 2022, the world already has about one billion people living with mental health problems according to the World Health Organisation (WHO)," he said.

Marwa added that what was most disheartening was that one of seven sufferers was a young person.

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RAPPROACHEMENT?...

APC Presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (left) and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, at the day two of the third Ministerial Retreat held at the Conference Center of the Presidential Villa, Abuja…yesterday PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI

NNPC to Resume Pumping of Crude Oil from Vandalised Pipeline in a Week, Says Kyari Declares saboteurs will face the law Komolafe insists developing countries should be allowed to exploit fossil fuels Nigeria backs OPEC’s decision to cut 2m bpd oil production Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari , yesterday said that the damaged major pipeline that has hobbled Nigeria’s oil production for months will come on stream in a week.

Speaking during a summit organised by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), in Abuja, he stated that the country was recording successes in its fight against crude oil thieves and pipeline vandals.

For months, the Trans-Forcados Oil Pipeline System, the second longest pipeline network in the Niger Delta has been down, affecting the export terminal and leading to closure of about 20 oilfields.

Kyari stated that if left uncurbed, the activities of the vandals would destroy the oil and gas industry and subsequently frustrate the NNPC’s mandate of guaranteeing energy security.

“The government security agencies in partnership with NNPC and other companies are on the table today because if we don’t arrest pipeline vandalism, we will have no industry.

“And more than anything else, it will completely question any

possibility of energy security for our country. For NNPC, we are by law required to be the guarantor of energy security for this country.

This is very broad, very tough and very demanding. It means that we must supply energy to this country in all it’s forms.

“And until we arrest the current situation of theft and vandals action, it’s very difficult to take the next step. I am glad to share with you today that monumental progress has been achieved and I can tell you that in the next couple of days maximum a week, our pipelines assets will come back on stream.

“This will no doubt provide the resources that we need to go back to work to reinvest and also provide resources for our country so that other infrastructure development in our country can be delivered,” he stated.

While calling for the support of all stakeholders in the oil and gas industry to stop the menace of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism, he stressed that all those involved in the crime will go unpunished.

Kyari added that that many of the illegal pipelines connection through which crude oil was being stolen were done with the connivance of the communities, security agencies and some oil workers.

“This is clearly an area that requires all of us. And whoever,

anywhere, whether in NNPC, regulators, security agencies or wherever you are and whoever you are working for, as long as we know such people, please report at the portal because it is the enemy of all of us.

“Many of the connections that you have seen could not have been delivered except with the involvement of professionals, it’s not possible. They are in our midst, the ones we know, we must put them on the table and that is what

we are doing. We will spare no one in this action so that ultimately we can get back our assets.

“I am happy with the support we are getting from government security agencies and it is working.

Also the involvements of private security is working and it has helped us.

“Many of the discoveries we made today could not have been possible without local knowledge,” he explained.

Also speaking on the topic:

The northern chapter of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has called on the former Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammad Sanusi II and Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai to stop making unguarded comments on the oil and gas sector.

According to the group, with the current economic situation in the country removal of fuel subsidy would cause more hardship for Nigerians especially the common man.

The Chairman of IPMAN Northern chapter, Alhaji Bashir Danmalam told reporters in Kano

yesterday that: “What happened after the subsidy of gas (diesel) was withdrawn? The price of anything you can think of has gone up as a liter of diesel is now being sold at N850."

Danmalam was reacting to Sanusi's comments at the 7th edition of the Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit where he had expressed pity for the incoming president on account of the scale of economic challenges awaiting him, particularly the knotty issue of petroleum subsidy and debt service.

"The reform of the oil sector has already started by the passing of the PIA by Mr. President, with a 24- month transition period.

"The management of NNPC

“ I believe that energy transition towards low carbon emission is valid, however considering the fact that developing nations contribute a negligible amount to global carbon emission, they should be allowed to produce fossil fuels in a sustainable manner and utilise the proceeds to catalyse economic growth and shared prosperity based on the principle of a just energy transition,” he stressed.

He noted that the picture was Continued on page 12

Zenon Wins Arbitration against Ardova, Awarded $19.2m over Sale of Forte Oil

Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited has won an arbitration case instituted

by Ignite Investment Limited in the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) over the share purchase agreement (SPA) reached on the sale of Forte Oil Plc to the latter.

Precisely, Zenon Petroleum was awarded $19.2 million by the LCIA in the dispute.

In the judgment delivered on October 7, the tribunal ruled in favour of Zenon in three out of the four claims and ordered that Ignite make the SPA agreed payments

less the amount awarded for one of the claims.

With the award in favour of Zenon, it was expected that all due payments would be made

by Ignite in compliance with the award.

In June 2019, Zenon Petroleum had completed the sale of 74.02 per cent shares of Forte Oil Plc to Ignite Investments (Ignite).

Thereafter, Ignite triggered a dispute notice via a letter dated June 17, 2020, wherein the company had alleged claims for a breach of warranty relating to the SPA executed

IPMAN Cautions Sanusi, El-Rufai over Comments on Fuel Subsidy Removal Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano

“Energy Transition and its Effects on the Nigerian Workforce”, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mr Gbenga Komolafe, has said developing nations should be allowed to exploit fossil fuels sustainability.

According him, in recent times the clamour for clean energy has altered the world’s energy landscape and caused huge investment deprioritisation towards fossil fuels as the dominant fuel of choice.

must be commended for their consistency in seeing the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) was passed and implemented to the letter.”

He said the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and El-Rufa'i had for long been talking about the removal of subsidy at every forum they found themselves.

"Today, the NNPC has completed its transition and is now a fullfledged limited liability company with strategic commanding shares in the nearly completed Dangote refinery, the largest refining in the world.

"It means that as Nigeria exits fuel subsidy, the management of NNPC has invested wisely in local refining capacity to boost domestic

consumption, eliminate importation, ease the pressure on our forex, straighten the naira, provide jobs and boost our GDP. “Mele Kyari and his team deserve commendation for their doggedness, patriotism and nationalism.

The issue of removing fuel subsidies has to be gradual in order to make it effective and result-oriented for national economic growth and development.”

He noted that the governors and their states have always been fed mainly by the hard work and earnings of the NNPC over the years, adding that, “the NNPC has moved on, let's see how the states fare.”

on the 20th of December 2018.

In the main, the dispute notice had alleged that Zenon breached certain warranties under the SPA, in consequence of which, the purchaser made the relevant claims against Zenon.

In line with the SPA, the parties agreed to meet with the intention to find a solution to the alleged claims

by Ignite. This was not successful, following which Ignite filed a claim at the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) on the 18th of December 2020.

Zenon then filed its response to the claim and counter-claimed against Ignite.

A tribunal was then appointed by the LCIA consisting of three arbitrators namely Messrs Alain Choo Choy QC (Presiding Arbitrator), Oba Nsugbe QC SAN and Segun Osuntokun.

The tribunal held the hearing of the matter on the 6th to the 9th of December, 2021, wherein all parties presented their case and cross-examined individual witnesses from both parties.

The tribunal then informed all parties that its decision would be given in May 2022.

However, due to the large caseload of the tribunal members, the judgement of the panel was delayed beyond the earlier stated date of May 2022.

Finally, October 7, the tribunal delivered its judgement in the case and awarded in favour of Zenon,

three of the four claims and ordered that the Ignite make the SPA agreed payments less the amount awarded for one of the claims.

"With the award in favour of Zenon, it is expected that all due payments will be made by Ignite in compliance with the award.

"You may recall that in accordance with the SPA, there were amounts due to Zenon of which a request was made to Ignite. Following this request, on the 9th of August 2022, Ignite filed a case in court for an injunction estopping Zenon from claiming for the due payment.

"Upon which, Zenon filed for the winding up of Ignite due to the unpaid liability in August 2022," a statement explained.

THISDAY had reported that Zenon Petroleum had asked a Federal High Court in Lagos to wind up Prudent Energy and Services Limited, which was the parent company of Ardova Plc over the inability of the company to pay a $6 million.

Alhaji AbdulWasiu Sowami is the Chief Executive Officer of Prudent Energy and Services Limited.

In the suit at the Federal High Court, Lagos, with No. FHC/L/ CP/1450/2022, the debt was then alleged to have arisen from the sale conducted in 2018, where Zenon Petroleum & Gas Limited and its affiliates had sold 74.02 per cent of the issued share capital of Forte Oil Plc (now Ardova Plc to Sowami and Ignite Investment.

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WELCOME TO LAGOS!...

L-R: Rivers State Governor, Mr Nyesom Wike, his Lagos State counterpart, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his wife/Chairman, Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, during the opening of COWLSO’s 22nd National Women Conference in Lagos...yesterday

Lafarge SA Pleads Guilty to Providing Support to ISIS, Fined $778m in US Company's stock depreciates by 2.13% on NGX Kayode Tokede with agency report The stock price of Lafarge Africa Plc depreciated by 2.13 per cent to N23.00 per share yesterday, from the N23.50 it opened on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) following reports that its parent company, Lafarge SA has agreed to pay financial penalty of nearly $778 million and also pleaded guilty to a United States federal court of conspiring to provide material support to ISIS

and another terrorist organisation.

The stock price of the cement producing company on the NGX had remained flat since September 21, 2022, but depreciated to N23 per share yesterday.

Capital market analyst said the sanction imposed on its parent company was going to affect its performance on the NGX. The company has pleaded guilty to a United States federal court of conspiring to provide material support to ISIS and another

terrorist organisation.

It was an unprecedented corporate prosecution under the material support of terrorism law, according to the US Justice Department.

The company pleaded guilty in a Brooklyn federal court yesterday, according to the CNN. The $10.24 million in payments to ISIS, the al-Nusrah Front and intermediaries were made from August 2013 through October 2014, and occurred even as the

terror group was kidnapping and killing Westerners.

“Lafarge has admitted and taken responsibility for its staggering crime,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace in a statement.

“Never before has a corporation been charged with providing material support and resources to foreign terrorist organizations.”

Peace’s office said Lafarge Cement Syria executives bought materials needed for their cement plant in the Jalabiyeh region of

Report: Nigeria Needs Comprehensive Strategy to Address Social Exclusion Dike Onwuamaeze The federal government has been advised to develop and implement a comprehensive national social inclusion strategy (NSIS) that would prioritise the welfare of its citizen in order to address social exclusion.

The advice was given by analysts at FDSH Research, in a report titled: “Nigeria’s Macroeconomic Report: Why Social Inclusion Matters for Development,” which stated that the NSIS would ensure that all social interventions are aligned with the broader developmental goal of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the medium term.

The report identified four key elements of a social inclusion strategy as alignment of social inclusion with national plans and goals; widening coverage of social interventions; effective partnerships to improve implementation and effective monitoring and evaluation.

The report also stated that a social inclusion strategy should aim at facilitating economic inclusion, political inclusion and social support and investment.

The report added that a good starting point for the development of the NSIS was the revised National Social Protection Policy (NSPP), which represents the policy framework for social interventions in the country.

It emphasised that, “an effective social inclusion strategy that is well implemented can improve income, build citizens trusts, expand the reach of government, drive financial inclusion and reduce conflict.

“The revised National Social Protection Policy (NSPP) aims to establish a National Social Protection Council (NSPC) to be domiciled in

the Ministry of Budget and National Planning (MBNP) to coordinate the NSPP. “We believe that part of the functions of the council should be to spearhead the creation of an inclusion strategy and follow-through on its implementation. A monitoring and evaluation framework also needs to be developed.”

It added that beyond social inclusion strategy, “a sound macroeconomic environment was important to limit the impact of both domestic and external shocks on citizens. Ensuring foreign exchange policy clarity, taming inflation and addressing crude oil theft are among key actions that should be implemented.”

It recommended that social programmes and interventions should be aligned with existing national or regional plans to ensure optimal use of scarce resources and increase their impact, adding that interestingly, the revised NSPP was created in the context of the current Medium Term Development Plan.

It also recommended the need for a wider coverage of social support programmes both in terms of scope and scale, adding that, “conscious efforts must be made by policymakers and legislators to ensure these interventions are spread across the country and reach the target Nigerians, across age groups, religion, gender, etc.”

It further recommended that, “collaboration of stakeholders is essential in the success of any intervention. Partnerships must be strengthened across government agencies and between the federal and state governments to improve implementation of social interventions and initiatives.”

The report identified conducting monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of these social programmes as one major missing ingredient in Nigeria’s social policy and intervention design.

It stated that “M&E is critical in ensuring projects and programmes meet their specified objectives and in highlighting lessons learned during the implementation phase.”

It added: “social supports for the poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged citizens as well as increased social participation are required to ensure inclusion. Target groups should include rural dwellers, women, physically challenged, aged, etc.

“Economic inclusion will emphasise the need for citizens to be productively engaged in economic activities as well as the creation of

opportunities for all, regardless of status, gender, religion, location etc,” while “political participation will seek to ensure increased participation of citizens in the critical decision making process of the country.

Barriers to political participation will be removed.”

The report further stated that social exclusion manifests in Nigeria across the two dimensions, which are one, exclusion from the economy and production, and exclusion from social participation especially through marginalisation of women and young people to compete for political offices as a result of systemic norms such as godfatherism, cost of running a campaign, among others and lack of adequate support for the underprivileged and aged citizens.

northern Syrian from ISIS-controlled suppliers, and paid monthly “donations” to ISIS and ANF, so that employees, customers and suppliers could cross checkpoints around the plant.

Lafarge Cement Syria “eventually agreed to make payments to ISIS based on the volume of cement that LCS sold to its customers, which Lafarge and LCS executives likened to paying ‘taxes,” Peace’s office said.

“In the midst of a civil war, Lafarge made the unthinkable choice to put money into the hands of ISIS, one of the world’s most barbaric terrorist organizations, so that it could continue selling cement,” said Peace.

“Lafarge did this not merely in exchange for permission to operate its cement plant – which would have been bad enough – but also to leverage its relationship with ISIS for economic advantage, seeking ISIS’s assistance to hurt Lafarge’s competition in exchange for a cut of Lafarge’s sales,” Peace said.

Lafarge was purchased by Switzerland-based Holcim in 2015.

“Lafarge SA and LCS have accepted responsibility for the actions of the individual executives involved, whose behavior was in flagrant violation of Lafarge’s Code of Conduct.

“We deeply regret that this conduct occurred and have worked with the U.S. Department of Justice to resolve this matter,” the company said in a statement.

The company’s dealings with

the terrorist group were the subject of an internal investigation several years ago. At the conclusion of the probe, the corporation said employees of a legacy company were paying off intermediaries without regard to the identity of the groups involved in order to keep operations running and the plant safe as violence escalated in the region.

“The combination of the war zone chaos and the ‘can-do’ approach to maintain operations in these circumstances may have caused those involved to seriously misjudge the situation and to neglect to focus sufficiently on the legal and reputational implications of their conduct,” Lafarge Holcim, as the company is now known, had said in a public statement in 2017.

Magali Anderson, a top executive at Lafarge, pleaded guilty on behalf of the company.

Holcim in a statement to CNBC said it supports the plea agreement that Lafarge reached with DOJ. “None of the conduct involved Holcim, which has never operated in Syria, or any Lafarge operations or employees in the United States, and it is in stark contrast with everything that Holcim stands for,” Holcim added in the statement.

“The DOJ noted that former Lafarge SA and [Lafarge Cement Syria] executives involved in the conduct concealed it from Holcim before and after Holcim acquired Lafarge SA, as well as from external auditors,” Holcim stated.

Stop Globetrotting in Wike's Interest, Oyo APC Tells Makinde Kemi Olaitan inIbadan The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, yesterday, warned Governor Seyi Makinde, to put a stop to his penchant for frequent foreign trips aimed at helping the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, to bounce back to reckoning in the national political space as it concerned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The aggrieved PDP governors led

by Wike, which included Makinde and those of Abia, Benue and Enugu States, had made foreign trips in recent weeks towards finding solutions to the crisis in the party.

However, irked by the development, the opposition party in Oyo

State, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, asked Makinde to either get serious with the business of governance or vacate his seat for the deputy governor to complete the remaining seven months of his four-year term.

He said the governor had taken undue advantage of the maturity of the people of the state for too long with the way he has been conducting the affairs of government since 1999 in a manner that has reduced the state to his private company.

"Without adding any significant value to the state since May 2019, Governor Makinde has been wasting the meagre resources available on foreign trips.

“As if this was not enough, the governor has graduated from embarking on frequent personal business trips abroad to globetrotting with Governor Wike and three others, who are dissatisfied with the outcome of the last presidential primary of their party.

"As a matter of fact, we find it extremely funny that the same Governor Makinde, who has succeeded in sending away virtually all the original Oyo PDP members and replaced them with his SDP and ADC loyalists could be alleging some national leaders of any wrongdoing.

“If one may ask; who else could be more unjust to his fellow party members than the governor, who

poached some political neophytes from the APC and dashed them party tickets at the expense of his party faithful?

"Another sad thing is that Governor Makinde, has bastardised the Pacesetter status of Oyo State as we now have a chief executive, who literally carries handbags for governors from other states without any justifiable reason.

“And each time he (Makinde) had followed Wike and other to France, United States, United Kingdom, Spain, United Arab Emirates or any other foreign country, every activity of government stood still since governance has been a one-man show for almost 41 months now in the whole of the state.”

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TEN YOU CAN’T ABANDON WORK FOR ELECTION CAMPAIGN, BUHARI WARNS assessment of ministries for the third and fourth quarters of 2022, saying the reports would form part of the transition documents of his administration to the incoming government.

To achieve that objective, Buhari ordered all ministers and permanent secretaries to ensure that the performance reports of their ministries were submitted on a quarterly basis to the SGF for review by the Central Delivery Coordination Unit.

“The outcome of these reviews would be made available for my consideration,” the president said.

The president stated that despite the commencement of campaigns towards the 2023 general election, the business of governance must continue to receive the needed attention.

He said, “Consequently, all ministers, permanent secretaries, and heads of agencies must remain focused in the discharge of their duties, as any infraction will be viewed seriously.

“Our collective goal is to map out a transition plan for the incoming

administration to ensure proper documentation of all the policies, programmes, and projects of government with up-to-date status of implementation."

Buhari stated that the lessons learned in the last three years of implementing the administration’s policies, programmes and projects was the needed tool to propel every ministry to remain committed towards the achievement of development objectives.

He charged all ministers, permanent secretaries and heads of government agencies to step up, double their efforts, and work in synergy toward total delivery of the administration’s set targets.

On Executive Order 12, the president explained that it would institutionalise a culture of accountability and transparency in the pursuit of good governance.

Buhari declared that following discussion and recommendations, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development had been directed to engage with relevant stakeholders to ensure the completion of all large-scale integrated rice

processing mills before the end of this administration.

According to him, “This will help our country to maintain sufficiency in the local production of rice, as the ban on the importation of foreign rice will be sustained."

On electricity, Buhari directed that all hands must be on deck to ensure timely realisation of the increase in electricity generation to 25,000 megawatts in six years. He stated that the plan on electricity generation, through partnership between the Federal Government of Nigeria and German Siemens AG, was on course, as the first batch of transformers for the project had arrived Nigeria already.

Considering the huge investment made in the rail sector, the president directed the Ministry of Transportation and relevant security agencies to ensure the provision of maximum security along the railway corridors.

He stated, “We must ensure the safety of our rail users and strive to achieve the intended economic goals. We must at the same time ensure realisable schedules and

first-class maintenance.

“Following the milestones recorded in the road sector, coupled with the innovative ways of funding road infrastructure, the Ministry of Works and Housing has been directed to compile a list of all completed roads, bridges and other infrastructure for commissioning before the end of this administration."

He further directed that the federal government’s investment in the reconstruction of 21 selected on-going federal roads, totaling 1,804.6 kilometres, under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Policy must be closely monitored and tracked to ensure the roads were completed on schedule.

“In line with the outcome of the Panel session on Priority 4 (Improve Transportation and Other Infrastructure), the Ministry of Aviation is hereby directed to conclude and ensure the take-off of the National Carrier Project before the end of the year,” Buhari said.

In order to expand the fiscal space and improve the country's

I N E C C H A I R E X P R E S S E S C O N C E R N O V E R AT TA C K O N P D P R A L LY I N K A D U N A demanded probe.

The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room also expressed concern over the incident and urged political parties and actors to call their supporters to order.

In his remarks at the Training of Master Trainers on Election Technology for the 2023 general election, Yakubu stated that the reported denial of access to campaign facilities by some governors did not speak well of the campaigns, which ought to be issue-based.

He said, “Even as the commission is working hard to ensure a credible process in the forthcoming elections, reports of clashes among parties and their supporters in some states of the country during the on-going electioneering is worrisome.

“So, too, is the reported denial of access to public facilities for parties and candidates in some states of the federation. Let me caution parties and their supporters to focus on issues and steer clear of attacks on each other.

“These are not only violations of the Electoral Act 2022, but also negate the voluntary commitment by all political parties and candidates to the letter and spirit of the Peace Accord signed about three weeks ago under the auspices of the National Peace Committee (NPC).

“Parties, candidates and their supporters should not, by acts of commission or omission, further complicate the prevailing security situation in the country. A peaceful electioneering campaign is critical to the conduct of peaceful and credible elections.

“The commission will continue to monitor the situation closely and will convene a meeting with leaders of political parties next week to discuss, among other issues, the imperative of peaceful campaigns and equal access to public facilities. In the same vein, the commission will also meet with the security agencies under the auspices of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) next week.”

The INEC chairman said over the last two years, the commission had increased the deployment of technology in elections in Nigeria.

He added that systems and portals had been designed and developed to cater for different electoral activities, ranging from voter registration and accreditation, result transmission from the polling units, and nomination of candidates by political parties, to the accreditation of polling agents, observers and journalists for elections.

Yakubu said, “Of these innovations, most Nigerians are more familiar with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which doubles as a device for accreditation as well as the upload of the polling unit level result sheets to the INEC Result Viewing (IRV) portal in real-time on election day.

“These innovations have increased transparency and public confidence in the electoral process. They are also part of the legal requirements for conducting elections in Nigeria.

The combination of the BVAS and the IReV portal has come to stay as a means of voter accreditation and transmission of election results.

“From the experience of recent off-cycle elections, the commission is convinced that a critical success factor in the deployment of technology in elections is training. We need to build the capacity of the staff involved not only to competently handle the devices during the accreditation process but also to respond effectively to any glitches that may occur during elections.

“Our plan for the 2023 general election is to commence the training of election officials early and for a longer period of time for optimal understanding of the processes and procedures in order to serve Nigerians better. A key component of this effort is election technology.”

Earlier, Country Director, International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), Seray Jah, in a goodwill message, said the foundation was pleased to be part of the training on technologies for the 2023 elections.

Jah stated, “This training is significant as it presents a huge opportunity for the commission to enhance the transparency and credibility of elections through the deployment of technology on a large scale for the conduct of the 2023 general elections, using the Electoral Act 2022.”

House Minority Caucus Condemns Kaduna Attack, Demands Probe

The Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives condemned the attack on the PDP presidential campaign rally in Kaduna State on Monday by thugs.

The caucus, in a statement by its leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, said it was seriously concerned about the unprovoked violent act against the PDP campaign. It said the attack was not only reprehensible but also completely against the spirit and letter of the Peace Accord signed by political parties and their candidates on September 28 in Abuja.

The lawmakers called on the National Peace Committee and security agencies to investigate the attack, issue appropriate penalty on culprits, and take further steps to ensure strict adherence to the letters of the Peace Accord.

The statement read, "Such thoughtless act of violence, if not immediately checked, is capable of derailing the 2023 elections, truncate our nation’s democratic process as well as jeopardise our national unity and corporate existence as a nation.

“It is, therefore, imperative that political parties and candidates must desist from such acts of desperation and embrace the course of democracy even in the face of unpopularity with the electorate.

"The caucus charges the security agencies to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the attack and ensure that the perpetrators and their sponsors are brought to book.

Security agencies are also urged to put all necessary machinery in place to ensure adequate security during the campaign and election period so as to guarantee peaceful, free, fair and credible 2023 general election."

Situation Room Worries, Asks Parties to Caution Supporters

The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room expressed concern over attacks by political thugs at campaign rallies in some parts of the country, urging political parties and actors to call their supporters to order.

A statement by Convener of the Situation Room, Ms. Ene Obi, said the attacks by thugs in Zamfara and Kaduna states contravened the provisions of Section 91 (4) and Section 93 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022.

The statement said, “In accordance with Section 91(4) of the Act, registered political parties in Nigeria and their candidates should not be prevented from holding rallies, processions or meetings at any time for their constitutional political purposes.

“Section 93 (1) of the Act also states that a party, candidate or group of persons shall not directly or indirectly threaten any person with the use of force or violence

during any political campaign in order to compel that person or any other person to support or refrain from supporting a political party or candidate.

“Situation Room reminds political parties that a contravention of this provision attracts a fine of N2, 000,000 in the first instance, and N500, 000 for any subsequent offence. A fine of N1, 000,000 or imprisonment for a term of 12 months follows suit for candidates or persons, who violate the law.”

Obi urged the Commissioner of Police in each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to provide adequate security for proper and peaceful conduct of political rallies and processions in their respective jurisdictions. She said the police should arrest perpetrators of violence at campaign grounds with a view to bringing them to justice, in line with the provisions of Section 91(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, the Police Act and the Public Order Act.

revenue generation efforts, Buhari directed the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning to ensure effective implementation of the Strategic Revenue and Growth Initiative.

“In the same vein, we must also build synergy between the fiscal and monetary authorities in order to avoid unnecessary drawbacks in our economic planning and performance,” he said.

On implementation of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, Buhari directed that a monitoring and evaluation framework be put in place by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with relevant agencies and partners to track the disbursement and utilisation of the fund.

Speaking on humanitarian issues, the president stated that in the three years of existence of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, the ministry had provided substantial support and assistance to vulnerable citizens through various programmes.

He directed the minister to facilitate and work with the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, in transmitting the Federal Executive Council’s approved National Social Investment Programme Establishment Bill (2022) to the National Assembly.

He said this would ensure the sustainability of the programme intended to leave a lasting legacy for vulnerable Nigerians.

The president also directed the Ministry of industry, Trade and Investment to engage relevant stakeholders to secure privatisation of the six Special Economic Zones as approved by the Bureau of Public Enterprises.

To complement the current efforts in the oil and gas sector, the president announced that the Ministry of Petroleum Resources had been mandated to ensure completion of the reorganisation of the new agencies unbundled from the defunct Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in line with their mandates.

“This should be completed by the end of the 1st Quarter of 2023,” he said.

Buhari used the forum to appeal to the National Assembly to

fast-track the consideration and passage of key legislative bills as agreed during the panel session at the retreat.

“This will serve as our collective legacy towards entrenching key reforms that will serve as a springboard for the next administration,” he said.

Buhari described the two-day retreat as time well-spent, saying it has provided an opportunity for “reflection and lesson learning aimed at reviewing progress and agreeing on key actions that will ensure we finish well by the end of our administration come May 29th, 2023.

“We have used the opportunity provided by this retreat to carry out an objective assessment of our commitments in line with the contract we signed with the Nigerian people at the inception of this administration in 2019.

“I am glad to note that we have sustained this yearly stock-taking innovative initiatives introduced in 2019 by holding three consecutive Performance Review Retreats in 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. This has helped us to clearly identify what we have done, what needs to be done and how best to get it done.

“From the assessment report and discussions at this retreat, it is evident that we have made appreciable progress through collective efforts in setting the nation on the path of sustainable development while improving the well-being of our people.

“Notwithstanding these achievements, there are still unfinished businesses that we must speedily complete to ensure we finish well.

We must, therefore, endeavour to close every gap in our implementation efforts to ensure the attainment of set targets by 2023."

He thanked former President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, the keynote speaker at the retreat, for sharing his wealth of experience during his tenure in office.

Commending the SGF and his team for successfully organising four retreats in the life of the administration, Buhari acknowledged the support of the technical partners and resource persons in adding immense value to the process.

F LO O D S : B U I L D DA M S , D E S I LT M A J O R R I V E R S , O KO WA U R G E S F G Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Umana Okon Umana, yesterday, disclosed plans to collaborate with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and other federal and state government agencies to offer medical and infrastructural assistance to affected communities.

Umana, who spoke with newsmen, sympathised with the thousands of persons displaced by the floods and the families who lost loved ones.

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, appealed to the federal government for assistance, saying the floods in the state were overwhelming and beyond what his government alone could handle.

Okowa spoke when he visited flood victims at some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the state.

Camps visited by the governor included those at Ogbe-Afor Primary School and Oneh Primary School in Asaba and Ewulu Mixed Grammar School, Ewulu, in Aniocha South Local Government Area.

Okowa told journalists during an interview at the end of the visit that the best way to end the loss of life and valuables to flood was for the government to take proactive steps towards stalling perennial flooding each time neighbouring countries opened their dams.

While commiserating with families that lost persons and property to the flood, Okowa disclosed that five persons died in various communities, adding that 11 holding camps have been established to take care of those displaced by the flood.

To make the camps comfortable, he said daily feeding of the IDPs was a priority, and that medical facilities and personnel were in the various camps to take care of the medical needs of the inmates to avoid possible outbreak of diseases.

The governor stated, “I was informed by the SSG, when the

team briefed me yesterday, that as a result of the flood, five deaths were recorded, although not inside the camps but across the state, and that is very unfortunate.

"We have 11 camps that are currently in place and some of them are in schools and some others are in high places in some locations where the schools have been overrun by the flood water.

"Climate change, obviously, is becoming very impactful globally and it is beginning to affect a lot of issues. The sea levels are rising and so is the water level.

"Another issue is the dam in Cameroon. It always causes a major overflow in our river. From the preliminary information I have, what could be done is to build our own holding dams here in Nigeria and a regular desilting of our rivers.

"And that is not going to be the state government's function. It is that of the federal government because of the type of dam that will be built across the river. So, it is going to be a major dam.

"So, I believe that it is important that the federal government will look into it very quickly and begin to start the process."

Okowa affirmed that the PDP government that would, by the grace of God, be headed by Atiku Abubakar from 2023 would spare no effort in ensuring that the construction of dams and desilting of Rivers Niger and Benue got the desired attention because of the suffering of Nigerians due to flood.

He said, "When we look at the pains that come to our people cumulatively as a result of the flood and the destruction it brings, it is so huge and runs into several billions.

"So, I think that it is something that the federal government would consider building a dam across River Niger to prevent this from happening and I believe that the PDP government under the watch of Atiku will truly take that as a priority.

"We are immediately taking care of the people in the camp, which is the first thing to do, by providing food, security and healthcare for them here.

"They have been organised into groups and they are cooking for themselves and we ensure that there is regular supply of food items to cook. So, we are sure that they are not suffering from any form of hunger.

"We can see doctors and nurses here, living under the same conditions as the IDPs, just to provide health care. In two of the camps, some pregnant women have already been delivered by the medical personnel.

"You can see that they are well taken care of. In previous years, after their return to their homes, we have always provided some form of assistance and we will also do so this year. We are always compassionate."

He called on donor agencies and well-spirited individuals to partner with the government in alleviating the plight of those affected by the flood, adding that his administration would give assistance to those in IDP camps as soon as the flood was over.

Ogbe-Afor Primary School camp has 1,548 IDPs; Oneh Primary School has 1,684 IDPs; and 1,475 are in the camp at Ewulu.

During the governor’s visit, some of the primary school children among the IDPs were seen receiving lessons from teachers in an improvised classroom at Ogbe-Afor Primary School camp in Asaba.

Diri Seeks FG’s Support, Directs Workers to Go on One-week Break

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri said the effect of the flood was overwhelming and beyond what the state government alone could handle. The governor appealed for assistance from the federal government, local and international

organisations, as well as publicspirited individuals.

He made the appeal yesterday in a state radio and television broadcast.

According to him, the current flood has severely affected lives and livelihoods, with nearly a million people in over 300 communities displaced and some deaths reported.

He stated that he had toured some of the ravaged communities and seen first-hand the extent of the destruction.

Diri said, “Over the last few days, floods have overwhelmed our communities and severely impacted the lives and livelihood of our people. This is a natural disaster that has affected many other states of the federation to various degrees.

“I have toured several of our communities to see first-hand the extent of destruction. Our experience has shown that the floodwater empties into our state.

“From my personal assessment, the situation is dire. Nearly a million people in over 300 communities in the state have been internally displaced. Unfortunately, some deaths have been reported.

“The narrative is the same across Sagbama, Ekeremor, Southern Ijaw, Ogbia, Yenagoa, Nembe and Kolokuma Opokuma local government areas. Businesses have been shut, properties lost and farmlands destroyed.

“Critical infrastructure, like hospitals, roads, bridges and schools, including the state-owned Niger Delta University, Amassoma, the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, and the University of Africa, Toru-Orua, have been severely affected.

“Without exaggeration, the sheer scale of the devastation is not such that the state can handle on its own.

We urgently solicit the support of multinationals, international donor agencies, the Red Cross, diplomatic missions and people of goodwill Continued on page 43

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NEWS

USTDA GRANT SIGNING CEREMONY AT US EMBASSY...

L-R: US Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard; Director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, Enoh Titilayo Ebong; CEO, Mobihealth, Dr. Funmi Adewara; Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director, Union Bank, Mr. Mudassir Amray; Member, Mobihealth Board of Directors, Mr. Damilola Ogunseye, and Dr. Charles Ononiwu at the USTDA grant-signing ceremony held in Abuja…recently

Military Begins Three Operations in S'East, S'South S'West, N'Central Exercise in Niger Delta to tackle oil theft Navy, Air Force, DSS, Police, NSCDC part of operations CDS: B’Haram insurgency claims 100,000, two million displaced N3.24trn worth of damages too Chiemelie Ezeobi in Lagos, Deji Elumoye and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya, yesterday, flagged off three exercises, namely Exercises Still Waters, Golden Dawn, and Enduring Peace aimed at tackling security challenges across the country.

A statement by Nigerian Army Headquarters, said the exercises, which target mitigation of security challenges in the South South, Southeast, South-west and North-central were to run concurrently across the country.

Flagging off the exercises at the 6 Division Step-up Headquarters in Ahoada, Rivers State, the COAS stated that the exercises were specifically conceptualised to meet security challenges peculiar to their areas of responsibility in the respective regions.

The army chief pointed out that the exercises involved team operations with other services and security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, Navy, Airforce, the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, amongst others.

He added that the synergy amongst the services and agencies will provide the opportunity for them to bring their special competencies to bear in the operations, adding that each exercise would address issues unique to their areas of responsibility.

"The one here will among other tasks address the issue of oil theft," he added.

The COAS equally expressed optimism that by the end of the exercises, they would have engendered more peaceful and harmonious atmosphere for the yuletide and conduct of violent free elections, warning that the troops must remain apolitical and not allow themselves to be derailed.

Earlier, the Chief of Operations (Army) Maj Gen Tunde Akinjobi, while giving highlights of the exercises, said it would adopt both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to make it friendly to law-abiding citizens, and called for the cooperation of members of the public to enhance the attainment of the exercises' desired end states.

The General Officer Commanding 6 Division Nigerian Army, Maj Gen Olufemi Oluyede, whose division hosted the flag-off, assured the people that the division would be resolute in the pursuit of its mandate in order to achieve the objective of facilitating conditions suitable for socio economic activities to thrive.

Flagging off the exercise in Ojota, Lagos, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Major General Obinna Ajunwa, said it would be simultaneously conducted in all formations within the Division's Area of Responsibility (AOR), covering Lagos and Ogun States.

He further reassured all law-

abiding citizens and the public of the army's commitment and readiness to provide security and safety.

"The exercise will also provide a good opportunity for conducting joint operations with other services and relevant security agencies in order to strengthen inter-agency cooperation for efficient conduct of operations in aid of civil authority.

"The exercise will be based on the NA Forward Operating Base Concept and will involve Civil Military Cooperation activities as well as media operations.

"The objective of the exercise among others is to reduce to the

barest minimum, the prevailing security threats in riverine environment such as piracy, illegal oil bunkering activities, pipeline vandalism, cultism, militancy, terrorism and some other common sundry crimes. It is also aimed at sharpening the professional skills of the security personnel that are involved in the exercise.

"The exercise will be intelligencedriven and will dovetail into real time operations at any moment a potential threat is encountered.

This will be in line with military constitutional role of conducting internal security operations in aid

be a more resilient energy source under a range of energy transition scenarios, maintaining that Nigeria must begin to develop local innovative financing solutions to develop its huge gas resources as the number of international traditional investors have dropped drastically.

“Energy transition is valid, however the timing is uncertain. We are very aware that energy transition may threaten job security and stifle investment in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

“However, I align fully with the policy of government which is hinged on ensuring that we utilise our huge gas resources as a transition fuel towards cleaner energy sources. For the government, we must utilise our hydrocarbon resource for industrialisation and

Retreat held at the Conference Hall of the State House, Abuja.

Speaking at the retreat attended

by President Muhammadu Buhari, ministers and heads of parastatals, among others, Irabor, noted that the Boko Haram insurgency led to the deaths of 100,000 persons with over two million displaced and $9 billion (N3.24 trillion) worth of damages.

According to him, the insurgency is now restricted to a corner of the territory they previously inhabited though they have made some inroads into the northwest zone.

Ikenga Foundation Says Atiku’s Remarks against Igbo, Yoruba Display of Ignorance Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Ikenga Foundation yesterday took a swipe at the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, describing his remarks that the north should not vote for Igbo or Yoruba candidates as political suicide.

In a statement decrying the comments by the former vice president, the Secretary General of the Foundation, Frank Ahaneku, maintained that Atiku made the first fundamental mistake when he

insisted that there was no zoning in the PDP’s constitution.

According to him, with the PDP presidential candidate now saying that the north should not support Igbo or Yoruba candidates, it was obvious that he’s not the unifier as widely trumpeted by his supporters.

The foundation noted that Ndigbo has always been supportive of the PDP in the last two decades since the dawn of the current democracy, stressing that their quest to be given a chance to become Nigeria's president through the platform of PDP met a brick wall.

NNPC TO RESUME PUMPING OF CRUDE OIL FROM VANDALISED PIPELINE IN A WEEK, SAYS KYARI not totally gloomy, as projections show that over the next two decades, rapid population growth and industrialisation are expected to drive strong energy demand growth across Nigeria and Africa—including for fossil fuels, which will result in an increase in job opportunities. “ Estimates show that the energy demand across Africa in 2040 could be around 30 per cent higher than it is today, compared with a 10 per cent increase in global energy demand,” he explained.

According to him, what is paramount at this time is for the nation to weigh her options and strengthen the resilience and sustainability of its resource base in order to build robust positions in the new energy businesses of the future.

He stated that gas reserves would

to civil authority.”

In his welcome address, Commander 9 Brigade, Brigadier General Isangubong Akpaumotia, also said the exercise was designed to curtail the activities of militants, bandits, armed robbers, cyber criminals, cultists, hoodlums and illegal oil bunkerers in Lagos and its environs.

Meanwhile, the federal government has put the figure of lives lost to Boko Haram insurgency in over a decade to 100,000.

This was made known yesterday by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, while making a presentation at the Ministerial

economic growth,” he noted.

Meanwhile, the Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, yesterday said that the decision by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to cut two million barrels of crude oil production per day was a unanimous one.

In a statement he personally signed, Sylva said the step was taken to stabilise the market and not for any ulterior motives.

“The decision taken by the OPEC+ during our meeting on 5th October, 2022 to voluntary adjust crude oil production downward by 2 million barrels per day was unanimous. It was taken for the exclusive purpose of ensuring the long-term stability of the oil market.

“It was purely to balance sup-

ply and demand, and forestall a degeneration of the current volatile oil market to a situation where larger production cuts will be required for balance it.

“This proactive decision was based on a thorough assessment of market conditions as OPEC plus has always been guided,” he stated.

Penultimate week, OPEC+ agreed a steep oil production cut, curbing supply in an already tight market and causing one of its biggest clashes with the West as the United States government called the surprise decision 'short-sighted'.

Saudi Arabia said the cut of 2 million barrels per day (bpd) of output equalling 2 per cent of global supply was necessary to respond to rising interest rates in the West and a weaker global economy.

Specifically, the group maintained that the move was sabotaged with Atiku's insistence that there was nothing like zoning in the PDP and that the field should be left open regardless of all the efforts and commitments of Ndigbo in ensuring the stability of the party.

“The PDP primaries would have favoured the South-east but was disrupted and destroyed by that singular stance of Atiku Abubakar to be involved in the primaries and refusing to stand on the positive side of history.

“This became the first political suicide Atiku committed against himself, against south east and his party.

“It was at this historic period that providence had another plan for Ndigbo when their son Peter Obi left PDP to continue the pursuit of the presidential quest as a pan Nigerian politician desirous of salvaging the nation in Labour Party (LP),” the association added.

It posited that this was Atiku's ‘second political suicide’, this time around in Kaduna, telling the northerners not to vote for a Yoruba man or an Igbo man, describing him as a bizarre nationalist and uniting patriot.

“No sane politician from anywhere in the world would commit such political hara-kiri.

Ohanaeze is not ready to speak yet, Ndigbos have left their faith and destiny in the hands of God, we are working hard in this election

and doing our best.

“The northern voters are awake and they know what is in their best interest, for Atiku and those who think like him in the north, who still threaten others with controversial numbers, don’t know what God has prepared for Nigerians,” the foundation added.

According to the Ikenga Foundation, it was this kind of “impudence, impunity and speaking with air of final authority,” as displayed

by Atiku that Governor Nyesom Wike had been fighting and getting support of everybody quietly.

“This comment by Atiku about the north going it alone, shows his fundamental ignorance of the provision of the constitution of Nigeria, where no one section of the country can elect a president of Nigeria.

“This cannot even stand when he understands the presidential historic realities of the country. The Igbo and Yoruba and whole of the north need peace and stability in Nigeria which an Atiku doesn't have the knowledge or capacity to provide," the foundation stressed.

Explaining that the group was going into this election hoping that nothing but the will of God be done, Ikenga Foundation stressed that it was now common knowledge that the agitation of the Igbo nation to be integrated after the civil war has increased in decibels in the last couple of years, leading to different types of agitation.

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MIDWEEKPOLITICS

Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com

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As Northern Groups Grill Atiku, Abiola in Kaduna...

John Shiklam writes on how presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar and that of the Peoples Redemption Party, Kola Abiola, were grilled at a recent interactive session with northern groups in Kaduna.

Atiku

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he north is in search of a President that will address the challenges facing the region and the country at large.

In the quest to identify the right candidate for the Presidency, leading northern groups namely the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Arewa Research and Development Project (ARDP), Sir Ahmadu Bello Foundation (ABF) and the Jamiyyar Matan Arewa, under the aegis of Joint Northern Group, decided to organise an interactive sessions with presidential candidates.

The interaction, according to NEF spokesman, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, “is a genuine attempt to get to understand what the candidates have for the North”.

He added that the interactive session “will influence our decisions in terms of who possesses the best ideas, the best thinking”.

The programme was kick started last Saturday at the Arewa House, Kaduna, with three Presidential candidates namely; Kola Abiola, candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP); Prince Adewale Adeboye of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appearing before the Northern groups.

Three more candidates, including Peter Obi of Labour Party (LP) and Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), also featured on the programme on Monday.

For the candidates it was an opportunity to sell their ideas and canvass for Northern votes.

The region, with its diverse people is very key and any politician desiring to win the presidential election cannot afford to ignore the region.

To the organisers, it was an opportunity to ask those who want to lead Nigeria come 2023 fundamental questions bordering on challenges facing the country.

Kola Abiola of the PRP was the first to unveil his programmes. He spoke on bad economy, unemployment, poverty, insecurity, national unity and how he intends to address them.

His development plan is predicted on a three- point agenda which focused on addressing poverty, insecurity, unemployment and corruption.

He noted that at a point in time he was the largest employer of labour as a private person.

Abiola promised to strengthen the economy and make the country an export oriented hub of Africa.

According to him, it was time the young people who are creative, educated and energetic were allowed to lead in the country. He added that if elected President, he will build on his late father’s democratic values to move the country forward.

His father, MKO Abiola, was the winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election, annuled by military president, General Ibrahim Babangida.

Abiola promised to unite Nigerians to live peacefully with one another to promote economic prosperity.

“I will use geographical and regional diversities of Nigeria for strength, unity and purposeful

Abiola

leadership and development”, he said.

Abiola lamented that the country could not get it right in her strive for development after six decades of independence.

He noted the lack of infrastructure and collapse of institutions, stating that he will boost the deficits in infrastructure and make institutions to function.

The 3,000 capacity Hall at the Arewa House was filled to the brim when it was time for the PDP candidate to unveil his own development plans for the country.

Atiku arrived the venue at about 2:30pm after paying a courtesy call on the Emir of Zazzau (Zaria).

Leaders and top notchers of the party stormed the venue in support of their candidate..

Among them were the Vice Presidential candidate and governor of Delta state, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa; National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu; former Vice President, Namadi Sambo; Governor Aminu Tambwual of Sokoto state; Chief Raymond Dokpesi, some National Assembly and state assembly members, former governors, former ministers and other top chieftains of the party.

Atiku told tge gathering that his agenda is focused on economy and politics based on five prisms namely to restore Nigeria’s unity, national security, build a dynamic economy for prosperity, improve education delivery and devolve more powers to the states and local government councils.

He said if elected president, he will revolutionise the education system to provide citizens with the appropriate skills and competencies to explore economic opportunities to prosper “My five point Development agenda is a national agenda, it identifies where we are today and where we want to be as a nation and outlines how we will get there”.

Baba-Hamed

He promised to grow the economy bigger and faster to achieve a GDP of approximately N900 billion by 2030.

This, according to him, will raise Nigeria’s GDP per capita from the current level of approximately 200 to 500, with additional impact on jobs and property.

Questions were asked on how he intends to tackle issues of citizenship - the settler indigene problem, ethnicity, open gazing, the Almajiri issue, functional local government system and the fight against corruption.

Responding to the questions, Atiku said if elected president, his administration will ensure that every Nigerian is given the right to citizenship wherever he or she may decide to live.

Abubakar recalled that during the 1994 conference, “we made a provision for citizenship wherever they live.

“It is a process of nation building. With a responsible leadership that can give every part of this country a sense of belonging, we can achieve nation hood.

“If I win the elections I will form a government of national unity. Peace, unity and stability is pre-requite for a purposeful government that can bring about unity. I believe it is achievable, we should not lose hope on that”, he said.

On the continous fall of the Naira, Atiku said he felt deeply concerned when the value of the naira started going down.

He blamed the ruling APC for the challenges it has brought upon Nigerians adding that now that Nigerians have tested both the PDP and APC, they know which party meant well for them.

His words: “I will correct these challenges that have been brought to us by the APC. When we came in 1999, we lifted the economy virtually from bottom to the top.

“Nigerians said we didn’t know how to do it. Nigerians have now tested PDP and APC. I believe we have capacity to stabilize the value of the naira. When it started sliding down, I cried and cried again. It is time we match the parallel market with the official rate. But then that has not been done.

“I believe we have the capacity and experience to match the exchange rate to a level where international investors will be comfortable to bring in their money and also Nigerians will be

For the candidates it was an opportunity to sell their ideas and canvass for Northern votes. The region, with its diverse people is very key and any politician desiring to win the presidential election cannot afford to ignore the region. To the organisers, it was an opportunity to ask those who want to lead Nigeria come 2023 fundamental questions bordering on challenges facing the country.

comfortable with the value of their currency”.

Responding to other questions, the former Vice President said the Local Government system can be reinvented to achieve best results.

He said, “When I was Vice President I used to be in charge of Local Governments and directed the ministry of finance to pay all Local governments allocation directly to them.

“The system was going on very well and the Local Governments were functional and later on, I was over ruled and was told that Local Governments funds must go through the states to the so-called joint account.

“From joint account we don’t know where the money went. I believe that it is also something that we can correct.

“When I was growing up, the people that were running the Local Government system were either grade two or three and were running the system effectively and efficiently, very accountable and we were all educated by Local Government.

“There was no oil money, it was only taxation.

We can reinvent the local government system and have best results”..

On the problem of ethnicity, Atiku said, “Northerners always think about Nigeria more than other parts of the country. This is simply because we are multi ethnic and multi religious.

There is no any other ethnic group in the south west other than Yoruba, there is no any other ethnic group in the south east other than Igbo.

“That is why they identified themselves as Igbo nation or Yoruba nation. But in the north, you can only identify yourself as a northerner because we are multi ethnic and multi religious”.

He also promised that modern method of livestock would be introduced to make it economically more viable.

“I am a manufacturer of livestock feeds from cattle to poultry. I have more than 1,000 heads of cattle, they have never gone out of one location.

“I had a big quarrel with Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state on his accusation of Fulani people.

“I said I am Fulani, why should you categorise all fulani? We have to improve ways and manner we look after our livestock”, he said.

Atiku also explained how he intends to tackle the Almajiri issue, noting that, there are about 20 million out of school children in Nigeria.

“I believe we don’t need magic to resolve this problem. What we need is commitment in investment in education,” he said.

He recalled that in 1999, when he became Vice President, “I went to my village, the only primary school which was still standing was the one I attended which was founded in 1954 and it had more than 3000 pupils.

I now went to every of the community and built primary schools, including a science secondary school and handed them to the Local Government.

“The point is that I don’t agree that state and LG don’t have the capacity.

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 19, 2022

POLITICS

Mounting Tasks for Oyebanji in Ekiti Victor Ogunje writes about the herculean task before new Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, as he settles down in office

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fter four months of dilly-dally occasioned by constitutional provisions, the new Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, was on October 16,2022 inaugurated into office for a four -year tenure. It was one ceremony that was laced with fanfare and emotion-laden. It was a day his admirers had been waiting for which they eventually got.

The inauguration was one colourful ceremony with panache and class. The 10,000 capacity Ekitiparapo Pavillion, where the event held, was filled to the brim, as traditional rulers, politicians and admirers, adorned in different colourful Aso Ebi were on hand to witness the inauguration.

First to take the oaths of office and allegiance, was the Deputy Governor, Mrs Monisade Afuye followed by Oyebanji, who was accompanied by his wife, Dr. Yemisi Oyebanji Underscoring how pivotal winning Ekiti was to the All Progressives Congress and its survival beyond 2023, the inauguration was attended by the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and many governors, among other top rated and illustrious Nigerians.

In a momentous fashion, the outgone Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi and his deputy, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, as well as ex-Governor Ayodele Fayose, also graced the inauguration ceremony, as the oaths were administered on the new henchmen by the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice John Adeyeye.

The four-month interregnum between the day the poll was conducted and the swearing- in brought about a lot of issues. Oyebanji used the period to interact with various strata of Ekiti society and made litany of promises that really raised the hope of the people. Many were practicable, while some look utopian. He is now confounded with how to translate those promises to reality and transformational effects.

As enumerated in his policy thrust, Oyebanji pledged that his government will be anchored on six thematic areas, which include; Human Capital Development, Agriculture and Rural Development, Infrastructure and Industrialization, Arts, Culture and Tourism, and good Governance, to transform Ekiti and make it a microcosm of development.

As amplified in his speech on the day of his inauguration, Oyebanji promised to run an all-inclusive governance that would make Ekiti a land where prosperity, abundance, unity and equity will thrive and blossom.

A vivid dissection of these promises connotes that Oyebanji will be fair to all Ekiti indigenes regardless of political and religious beliefs.

How pragmatic this would be is still keeping people in abeyance with the deep-seated politics of winner takes all that had become a fad in the country.

But the new Governor had within six hours of his ascension made some deft moves that signaled that he was prepared for the task ahead. He quickly re-appointed Mr. Yinka Oyebode as his Chief Press Secretary and a one time Special Adviser on Education, Alhaja Habibat Adubiaro, as the Secretary to the State Government. This signposted that he knew he had to start playing the ball right from day one to be able to meet his set target and the highly daunting expectations of the people.

Governing Ekiti state is one thing that is burdensome. It is like a metal passing through a furnace. The state has limited advantage to its credit, with the exception of enormous and abundant human materials. It is not economically and financially buoyant. The business orientation and prowess is low and just springing up. It has little attraction for investors and efforts needed to be made to change this long-standing trend for Oyebanji to really deliver.

Since its creation in 1996, Ekiti has predominantly been a monolithic civil service state. It relies solely on allocations from the federation accounts for survival. Oyebanji must make urgent moves to diversify the economy and make it business- oriented.

Also, virtually all strata of Ekiti have axes to grind with the state government. The civil servants, pensioners, farmers, market men and women, and others are aggrieved. The civil servants are protesting loudly over months

Oyebanji

of unpaid promotion, deduction and salary arrears. The pensioners are taking up umbrage against the government over months of hanging and unpaid pension and gratuity.

In the last few months, there had been pervasive cases of herdersfarmers clashes in Ekiti. Some farmers in Oke Ako, Irele, Erinmope, Irare and other towns too numerous to mention had protested overtly against herders, who were daily destroying their means of livelihoods with the security agencies being forlorn to halt the sordid trends.

Within the last couple of months, towns like Erio, Efon, Ilawe, Aramoko, Ayebode, Ahun, and others have been under the toll of poor road infrastructures. Some of them, had also protested the deplorable states of their roads and how they had been cut off from the rest of the state.

The political class is also another group Oyebanji would have to work hard to pacify. Some of the APC members are seriously aggrieved about how they were allegedly sidelined under the last government. The new Governor must be shrewd in thinking and action in order not to inherit the enemies of his benefactor, Dr. Fayemi. He must also act in a manner that won’t portary him as muzzling the opposition. All these are tasks that needed serious thinking and tact to subdue.

With the way he spoke in his inaugural address, Oyebanji seemed well informed about the happenings at home and how burdensome and

tortuous the journey he started would be. He started by eulogising those who had led the state before him in various capacities, saying they must have done that under different political parties, but stated that the mission was one and which was solely to develop the state.

Oyebanji particularly commended Fayemi for ushering in strong and enviable development to the state, promising to consolidate further and use the legacy as a springboard to catapult Ekiti to a higher economic and social pedestals.

He said he shared the views that Ekiti people shared different political views and political inclinations, saying he wont allow his political leaning to influence his relationships with all Ekiti or jettison the principle of fairness, equity and fair-play. The new Governor added that he will promote the spirit of oneness Ekiti was renowned for, and which had been the binding force since the pre-colonial era to promote peace, unity and stability in the state.

His words: “Ekiti Kete! Today is a great day for us, and we should all be proud. Today, we are observing history being made, and a new chapter of our story being written. It was in this spirit of oneness that they bound together as a united Ekiti confederacy and emerged victorious against external forces that sought to subjugate us in our own land. In unity of purpose, they fought and contained attempts to dominate us at different epochs in our history.

“This same spirit of unity has been passed down generations, and guided the founding fathers and mothers who built on efforts made since the Second Republic, and led the successful struggle for the creation of our own Ekiti State. This was a struggle led by our revered traditional rulers and prominent citizens which resulted in Ekiti becoming the only entirely homogeneous state in Nigeria”.

Oyebanji added that his vision is to make Ekiti a land of prosperity, where equity, justice, fair-play and stability will thrive.

Virtually all strata of Ekiti have axes to grind with the state government. The civil servants, pensioners, farmers, market men and women, and others are aggrieved. The civil servants are protesting loudly over months of unpaid promotion, deduction and salary arrears. The pensioners are taking up umbrage against the government over months of hanging and unpaid pension and gratuity.

“My vision is for Ekiti State to be a land of prosperity, opportunity, peace and progress.

A land in which transformed people and communities can reap the fruits of their labour in dignity, good health and safety. A land of honour where integrity matters. For this vision to be actualised we need to focus on a roadmap to get there”.

The new Governor said he will zealously prosecute the recently unveiled vision 2050 economic roadmap initiated by Fayemi to make Ekiti a model, saying : “I assure you that by God’s grace and the support of our people, together with you, we will keep Ekiti working.”

In his short message at the event, former Lagos State Governor and presidential flagbearer of the ruling APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urged Ekiti electorate to continually support the All Progressives Congress. He, however, pleaded with the new Governor to look at issues dispassionately from all fronts and do things that will bring comfort to all Ekiti populace.

Tinubu said the APC had always been known to believe in welfarism and wellbeing of the people and that the new government must embrace and promote this etho for his reign to be beneficial and memorable.

According to him: “I commend you for voting Biodun Oyebanji in the governorship election.

He must meet your expectations. You voted for him to make remarkable difference in your life and this must be his guiding principle.

“The outgoing governor, Kayode Fayemi, has made the job easier for you. He has built a solid foundation upon which you can start.

Work hard and make Ekiti people happy. That is what the progressives believe in and we must act to promote this culture”.

Speaking in the same vein, Federal Senators of Southern extraction under the auspices of the Southern Senators Forum (SSF) have appealed to Oyebanji to make justice, fairness and equity the cornerstone of his goverment. The Senators advised that promoting these ideals will help the new government in ushering in accelerated development and in entrenching the ideals of peace, stabilility and inclusion in Ekiti governance.

The forum’s Chairman and Senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Opeyemi Bamidele, who spoke on behalf of SSF said Oyebanji had garnered enough experience as a politician and administrator which must reflect by running a government that will be fair to all citizens.

The lawmakers expressed confidence that Oyebanji will rev the pedal of development and speed up the implementation of his six-point cardinal agenda to build and consolidate on the accomplishments of the past governments.

Bamidele said: “We congratulate Governor Biodun Oyebanji on his inauguration and urge him to use his divine position to further unite the people. The nation currently desires unity at all levels to restore peace and tame the ravaging insecurity staring all of us in the face and God had bestowed this leadership opportunity on Governor Oyebanji for him to contribute to nation-building.

“Ensuring that Nigeria progresses towards the right direction and at the expected pace requires all hands to be on the deck, particularly taking proactive actions at the subnational levels that are the closest to the people that bear the burdens of governance in our nation.

We appeal to Governor Oyebanji to deploy his God-given talents and experiences he had garnered over two decades he had got deeply involved in Ekiti politics and governance to promote justice, fairness and equity among Ekiti residents in all your dealings.

“In every step you take, allow the people to take absolute ownership of your government, so that mutual trust and respect can be deeply entrenched in the system to help you navigate the road speedily in the overall interest of those you were elected to govern. We appeal that you focus on the implementation of your well encapsulated agenda to benefit Ekiti people and etch your name in gold as one governor, who makes remarkable positive impacts in the lives of the people after your tenure lapses”.

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T H I S D AY ˾ OCTOBER 19, 2022

FEATURES

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

Anguish as Flood Crisis in Nigeria Worsens Hike in fuel and food prices, submerged communities, inaccessible roads, displaced residents and deaths have marked the humanitarian crisis caused by massive flooding from the opening of the Lagdo dam in Cameroon ravaging states like Anambra, Delta, Cross River, Rivers and Bayelsa. Is evacuation the answer to this lingering problem? Yinka Olatunbosun asks

A view of an inaccessible highway leading to Bayelsa International Airport in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

A submerged church in Kaiama. the host community for NYSC camp in Bayelsa

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he distress tweet by a lawyer Janice Melvin was backed by a short video clip: “People have been displaced and many left homeless as a result of the flood. Almost all the farmlands in the state have been submerged and there is scarcity of food supply which has resulted in the state.

No roads, no flood, no help.”

This is one of the numerous messages that flooded the internet in the wake of the ravaging flood that has torn Bayelsa state apart. Residents have abandoned their homes. Some moved in with friends and relatives in the highlands while others slept at their offices. Reportedly, six out of eight local governments in the state have been completely submerged.

Another disturbing one reads: “My people are suffering and the state government is not doing something about it. People are homeless…a litre of fuel is almost N600. God save us,’’ Phoebe Oviekini@shesco_co wrote.

In the same vein, another tweep @KingErefitei wrote: “My neighbor bought one small onion N200 today in Yenagoa. That same size of onion was sold for N50 just three days ago. Fuel is sold N700/litre, custard of garri is N2500/N3000 from N1000. This is because no vehicle can enter Yenagoa by road. We’re in deep trouble.”

The situation gets worse by the hour. Some have reportedly left their homes surrounded by dry land and returned to find their houses submerged. A caller from Yenagoa expressed her concerns about the crisis.

“This is far worse than what we experienced in 2012,’’ a cultural worker who preferred to be anonymous revealed. “I left my house with my credentials, a few clothes and my son. I am not sure if the water would not have surpassed the window level by now. I thank God that I still have a phone to call you. Some people are in far worse condition, no food, no water, no light.’’

Citizens Wade in…

A humanitarian group, Native Preacher’s Flood Victims Support Group has been set up in Bayelsa state to provide food, shelter, clothing, good drinking water, medical supplies as it continues to call on the media to amplify the situation in order to get the attention of the concerned authorities. The organisation has also partnered Enibo Albert Foundation to provide relief for the flood victims.

Why the Floods Return…

In September, the National Emergency Management Agency and the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency informed Nigerians that the "Lagdo Dam operators in the Republic of Cameroon had commenced the release of excess water from the reservoir on September 13, 2022.’’

They added that the released water cascades

A view of the flooded premises of the Isaac Jasper Boro College of Education, Sagbama. Bayelsa down into Nigeria through River Benue and its tributaries thereby overwhelming communities that have already been impacted by heavy rainfall.

Meanwhile, a viral post on social media has alleged that upon the completion of Lagdo Dam in 1982, Cameroon and Nigeria entered an agreement to build two dams such that when water is released from the Cameroonian dam, the Nigerian dam would contain it and prevent flooding.

Dasin Hause Dam in Adamawa state was said to be the project which never saw a completion.

Relevant authorities were tightlipped when asked about this claim. Meanwhile, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq revealed to the press on Sunday, October 15 the current situation of the flood crisis.

A flood divided road from Yenagoa to Amassoma

“Despite all our efforts of averting the consequence of the 2022 flooding season, unfortunately we have recorded the loss of over 500 lives, partial or total damage of more than 90,000 houses, damage of more than 140,000 hectares of farmland so many roads and other critical infrastructures were also affected,’’ she said.

An urgent meeting with technical stakeholders was held on October 11 where it was resolved that the situation, though heightened by climate change, can be mitigated and managed.

“We must initiate a bilateral discussion with authorities in Cameroon next month on the periodic opening of the Lagdo Dam. For a coordinated flood response protocol, the meeting agreed to implement the National Flood Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan.’’

Further, the Minister warned that Anambra, Delta, Cross River, Rivers and Bayelsa will still experience the floods up till the end of November.

“We are calling on the respective state governments, LGAs and communities to prepare by evacuating people living on flood plains to high grounds, providing tents and relief materials,

This is far worse than what we experienced in 2012...

I left my house with my credentials, a few clothes and my son. I am not sure if the water would not have surpassed the window level by now. I thank God that I still have a phone to call you. Some people are in far worse condition, no food, no water, no light

fresh water as well as medical supply for possible outbreak of water-borne disease.’’

While evacuation of flood victims seems to be the only solution to this lingering humanitarian crisis, experts in hydrology have deeper insights into the situation which is not limited to Nigeria.

What Experts Say… Dam projects have been subjects of intellectual scrutiny over the years. For instance, in a 2001 research conducted by the World Wide Fund for nature (WWF), it is said that dam managers can avoid extreme floods by applying the recommendations of the first ever World Commission on Dams (WCD) to future dams.

In the research, World Bank engineers held that “dam managers often leave it too late to make emergency releases of water at times of very high rainfall and exceptional river flows.”

The WWF recommends that dam construction must align with the natural river system, provide adequate spillways and meet the needs of the people who rely on the river downstream.

From all indications, Nigeria is in dire need of a flow-through dam for flood control. These dams are different from reservoir dams which are built primarily for water storage and power generation. According to the United Nations Climate Technology Centre and Network, the flow-through dam is designed solely for the purpose of flood control and has the advantage of being converted to a reservoir dam.

Indeed, improving flood control is a crucial part of the global conversation on climate change adaptation towards saving precious lives and valuables.

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T H I S D AY ˾ OCTOBER 19, 2022

PERSPECTIVE

Benefits of National Housing Fund Scheme John Agbo

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adariola Adedoyin is one of the beneficiaries of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) estate located at the Olusegun Obasanjo Hilltop, Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital. As a contributor to the National Housing Fund (NHF) Scheme, Adedoyin got the two-bedroom apartment at the estate in 2016 at N6.5 million naira only after paying the equity contribution.

"The three necessities of life are food, cloth, and shelter. Once you tackle the housing, you feel relaxed. I prefer the mortgage structure as it relieves the stress and cost of building, and you can enjoy the property while you pay in monthly installments gradually. It is a huge help to people like us," a happy Adedoyin said.

In Abuja, Nigeria's capital, Henry Edet Bassey, a senior staff of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) and a contributor to the NHF Scheme since 2013 in 2021, received the keys to a three-bedroom flat at the ABSI Estate.

It is an FMBN-funded estate located in Kuje, an area council in the Federal Capital Territory, about 40 km southwest of Abuja. Although the property has a market valuation of about N9 million, Bassey, as a contributor to the NHF scheme, did not need to pay any upfront fees, down payment, or mortgage perfection fees to take ownership of the building.

He is to pay and own the property in monthly rental payments until he retires from service or hits the 60-year age mark. He also can liquidate the facility anytime he has the financial capacity to do so.

In Kano, Ismail Salisu owns a beautiful three-bedroom semi-detached bungalow under the FMBN Ministerial Pilot Housing Scheme II. He was a contributor to the NHF but never gave it a thought until 2018, when his wife brought home an FMBN flyer.

He followed through the process and now owns the house under the FMBN rent-to-own housing product.

"I was thrilled at the possibility of moving into the house and paying for it in monthly, quarterly, or annual installments without having to pay any upfront equity. I woke up by midnight on my first night in my new home.

I was excited at the feeling that I no longer had to pay any rent. What is taken from my salary is so flexible that I don't get to feel it," Salisu said.

Access to decent, affordable, quality shelter is a fundamental human right. It is a vital part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for his family's health and well-being, including food, clothing, housing, medical care, and necessary social services.

The International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), a multilateral treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly with Nigeria as a signatory, also guarantees the right to housing as part of an adequate standard of living. This does not only mean having a roof over one's head, but it also includes the right to live in safety and dignity in a decent home. It also means affordability, the security of tenure, protection against forced evictions, and availability of services, such as access to drinking water, energy, or transportation.

Furthermore, as a party to the Covenant, Nigeria is expected to ensure that all enjoy all components of the right to adequate housing, including the security of tenure, access to services and infrastructure, affordability, habitability, accessibility, and location in proximity to services.

In section 16 (2) (d), the constitution of Nigeria provides that the State shall

Agbo

direct its policy towards ensuring suitable and adequate shelter for all citizens.

Despite being a signatory to these noble treaties and constitutional provisions, few people in Nigeria enjoy this right while millions live in substandard housing and informal settlements. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on adequate housing notes that housing conditions remain grossly inadequate for millions of Nigerians living in poverty and excluded from the formal housing sector, leading to informal settlements while luxury developments remain vacant.

At the heart of the problem is the extreme shortage of affordable housing. The cheapest houses built by private developers cost about N15 million in Lagos and N7 million to N8 million outside Lagos. Most housing developments target the rich instead of the needs of most of the population.

While the debate over the statistical basis for the estimated housing shortfall of over 22million housing units persists, the truth is that the country has a housing crisis that might balloon out of control. Nigeria's faulty social protection cover, including the lack of decent housing for the majority of its citizens, as evidenced by the increasing insecurity and vulnerability to recruitment by subversive elements, requires fixing a fundamental human right and a political, economic, and social imperative.

FMBN as Catalyst for Mass, Inclusive Housing Against this background, efforts to turn around the

FMBN are noteworthy. FMBN, the country's foremost government-owned mortgage institution, has the structural resilience to catalyze affordable housing delivery and drive social inclusion. The bank prides itself as an institution that believes everyone deserves a home.

It subordinates the profit motive to designing and delivering its housing products. It provides the lowest cost construction finance to developers to provide purpose-built homes that fit the incomes of low- and medium-income earners and packages 30-year mortgage loans at single-digit interest rates as low as six percent per annum.

Other convenient terms include zero equity contribution for loans of N5million and below, 10% equity for home loans above N5 million to N15 million and options for rent-to-own for properties that the Bank finances. These unique conditions position FMBN as a leading government driver of inclusive and affordable housing delivery to most Nigerians.

NHF Scheme – Provider of Affordable Housing Finance Like Adedoyin, Bassey and Salisu, an increasing number of Nigerians are leveraging FMBN's dynamic suite of FMBN affordable housing products.

At the heart of the FMBN's affordable housing delivery interventions is the NHF Scheme. It presents a convenient and cost-effective opportunity for Nigerians, especially those within the low- and medium-income segment, to become homeowners.

The federal government set up the scheme in 1992, and all Nigerians above eighteen years old and working in the economy's public, private and informal sectors are eligible to register and participate by contributing 2.5 per cent of their monthly incomes. Six months of consecutive contribution to the National Housing Fund Scheme qualifies a subscriber to apply and access a suite of affordable home loans on offer by the FMBN. This includes the FMBN National Housing Fund Mortgage Loan. The loan provides up to N15 million at a six percent interest rate to NHF subscribers

to purchase their dream homes. Eligible properties include FMBN-funded properties and homes built by private developers.

To ensure the availability of affordable housing stock, FMBN partners with reputable developers to deliver one-, two- and three-bedroom bungalows and apartment buildings at prices ranging from N4 million to N15 million nationwide.

Unlike commercial mortgage loans, the FMBN NHF Mortgage loan offers very convenient terms. First, beneficiaries can repay the loans in monthly installments over 30 years. Second, loans of N5million and under attract zero percent equity, and those over N5 million to N15 million require flat equity of 10 per cent. Thirty-year-old Alexander Omoraka is an Assistant lecturer at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State. He seized the opportunity to become the owner of a fully detached threebedroom bungalow at the FMBN FUTA Housing Cooperative estate, Ilara, Ondo State, at 28. Using the FMBN NHF Mortgage loan, Mr. Omoraka secured the house for N7.4 million and only paid 10 per cent of the sum, that is N740,000, to take ownership of the property. He conveniently pays the balance over 30 years at an annual interest rate of six percent.

Another FMBN housing product is the individual Home Construction Loan. The loan provides up to N15million to NHF contributors with unencumbered land, legal titles, and approved building plans to undertake self-construction. It is given at a seven percent interest rate to Beneficiaries to pay back over 15 years.

Contributors to the NHF are also eligible to take advantage of the FMBN rent-to-own housing scheme.

The scheme makes it possible for an NHF contributor to move into an FMBN-owned housing property as a tenant and pay towards ownership of the property in monthly or annual installments over 30 years at an interest rate of seven percent!

Additionally, NHF subscribers can access the FMBN home renovation loan, which provides up to N1 million to beneficiaries who already own their homes to carry out improvements.

To further expand the range of housing product choices available to subscribers to the National Housing Fund Scheme, FMBN recently introduced additional innovative mortgage products. This includes the Diaspora Mortgage Loan, which would enable Nigerians who live abroad to access up to N50million to own a home in Nigeria. Terms include 30 per cent equity payment, a nine per cent interest rate, and a ten-year payback period.

Next is the interest-free rent-to-own scheme. FMBN developed the product to eliminate the challenges that Nigerians who want to own their homes through the National Housing Fund Scheme face because of the interestbased nature of the Bank's existing housing products.

The product uses a rent-to-own model that allows beneficiaries to move into FMBN and non-FMBN-funded homes and pay towards full ownership using monthly/quarterly, or annual rentals.

While it is a fact that owning a home is a capital-intensive venture, registration and contribution to the NHF Scheme offer Nigerians an affordable path to own their homes.

Nigerians should therefore subscribe to the scheme and take advantage of the broad range of affordable FMBN housing products to own their homes.

NHF Registration is available at all FMBN Branch offices in state capitals nationwide.

-Agbo is a housing policy analyst based in Abuja

18

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

2023 CAMPAIGN WATCH SAMUEL AJAYI

E-mail: yemielegance@gmail.com

Mobile: 08033083367

The Wike Albatross Around PDP’s Neck

L

ast Wednesday, the embattled National Chairman of the opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, presided over a very stormy meeting of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party and on the agenda was the issue of monies returned its coffers by top officials of the party. The amount, totaling over N122m, was returned by among others, the Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja, a known ally of Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.

A national newspaper (not THISDAY) had reported that the monies were bribes by the National Chairman of the party to stave off impeachment or removal from office going by the pressure from some influential members of the party led by the Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike. Though facts later emerged that the monies had been disbursed even before any meeting to that effect took place.

It is obvious to all and sundry that Wike has become an albatross for the party and its leadership. One major highlight of the feud is the fact that he has been able to win some other governors on the platform of the party to his side. Such governors include Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Samuel Ortom of Benue State.

Coupled with the fact that some governors of the ruling party have also visited the outspoken governor. They included Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, outgoing governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, and the current governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. In fact, the Lagos State governor even commissioned some Wike (right) and Ortom projects in Wike’s Rivers State ostensibly to spite his party leaders. as the national chairman of the PDP at the It was however a little surprising when Ortom, party’s convention. Where was Jemgbagh the Benue State governor, announced recently Development Association, when Governor that he would no longer be part of the moves Ortom galvanised support from across to remove the embattled National Chairman the leaders of the party to make Dr. Ayu of the party and former Senate President, Dr. PDP’s National Chairman? What was their Iyorchia Ayu, from office. The Benue governor contribution to that project that they now was reacting to an accusation by a group, want to use clannish stance to blackmail the Jemgbagh Development Association, Abuja, governor? This amorphous and emergency that he (Ortom) was plotting the downfall of Jemgbagh Development Association, Abuja, his fellow Benue man. Ortom said he was one which has never been heard of before, is of those who worked tirelessly to ensure the now masquerading as the voice of Jemgbagh emergence of Ayu as the National Chairman of to embark on campaign of calumny against the party and he remained confident that the Governor Ortom, who has worked selflessly former Senate President had the wherewithal for the people of Benue State.” to lead the party to victory.

Wike, while holding a special press briefing A statement signed by Ortom’s Chief Press recently, had accused Ayu of collecting the Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur, read in part: sum of one billion naira from one of the then “Governor Ortom vouched for the integrity presidential aspirants of the party prior to and capacity of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu to lead and the presidential convention late May. He rebuild the PDP to victory and rescue Nigeria also accused him of partiality and that from the misrule of the APC maladministration. he even threatened to resign if Atiku did That is why Ayu was returned unopposed by not emerge as the presidential candidate the northern caucus of the party and got elected of the party.

It could be recalled that Atiku beat Wike to the PDP presidential ticket and since then, the party has known no peace with the Rivers governor insisting that Ayu must resign to create balance between the North and the South within the party since the North had already picked the presidential ticket of the party, the National Chairman’s position should come to the South. Atiku has repeatedly insisted that he was not in any position to force Ayu to resign.

Many analysts have opined that while Wike has been creating the impression that he is fighting for the interest of the South, the fact is that he is probably playing the politics of 2027 with the move to install a pliable leader of the party. Many have pointed to the fact that he was the one who practically installed Uche Secondus as the National Chairman of the party before he (Wike) led the moves that led to his removal from office. Now, his latest battle is to remove Ayu with many insisting that such moves when campaigns for the 2023

general election have started is not only ill-timed, but also inimical to the interest of the party.

And Ortom is not alone in abandoning Wike.

Former governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, (a known strong ally of Wike) who has practically turned Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital into his second home, seems to have also retraced his steps and decided to work for the party.

Recently, he hosted a stakeholders’ meeting in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, and vowed to work for the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

As for Makinde, the Oyo State governor, he too seems to have mellowed down, bearing in mind that he is seeking a second term in office as governor. And he is fully aware that his re-election would be strongly dependent on the fortunes of the PDP at the presidential election which will be coming before the governorship polls.

If Ortom, Fayose and Makinde actually retrace their steps and align with the leadership of the party, Wike might end up becoming what many have always thought he would become: a lone ranger. Stay tuned.

Makindes Re-Election Gamble

W

hile the crisis within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP festers, one prominent name from the South-west that has been featuring is that of businessman and the current governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde. He had aligned with the fiery governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, and was part of prominent top members of the party, especially from the southern part of the country, asking for the resignation of the National Chairman of the party and former Senate President, Iyorchia Ayu. Their argument was that since the North had picked the presidential ticket of the party, the leadership of the party should be ceded to the South.

While Wike led the charge, the likes of Makinde, Ortom of Benue State, former Governor Ayo Fayose, former military governor of old Ondo State, Rear Admiral Bode George, (rtd) and others served as foot soldiers.

Of all these personalities, one person many political watchers felt was taking an unnecessary risk was Makinde. Because of all the lot, he is the only one seeking a second term in office.

Even Wike, who is leading the battle, is already

reaching the twilight of his second term in office.

Recall that Makinde had earlier had a running battle with Fayose over who should be considered the leader of the PDP family in the South-west. He felt as a serving governor and the highest elected member of the party in the zone, he should be accorded that recognition. Rumours also had it then that he was eyeing the vice-presidential slot of the party. But now that that has been given to current governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, Makinde has no choice than to shift full attention to his second term project. And going by the way elections go in this part of the world, the presidential election which will be coming before the governorship election might have a direct bearing on Makinde’s re-election chances. And going by the position he took as Wike battles the leadership of the party, not a few within the top hierarchy of the party would have felt offended. This, coupled with issues he has to face internally from those who are eyeing his job has prompted the question: will Makinde return to office in May 2023?

Makinde

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2022

19

Staying Close With 2023

2023 CAMPAIGN WATCH

Tinubu’s Return Herald of Campaign Council Inauguration?

M

any became aware that all was not well with the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) when the National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, wrote the presidential candidate and former governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to withdraw the list of members of the campaign council he compiled.

Even before then, the Director of Media and Publicity of the Tinubu Presidential Campaign Organisation, Bayo Onanuga, had announced that the inauguration of the campaign council earlier slated for that day (September 26) had been postponed till Wednesday September 28. And just when members of the council were preparing for the special prayers that were to precede the inauguration, another announcement came from the Plateau State governor and DirectorGeneral of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Organisation, Simon Lalong, that the inauguration of the campaign council had been postponed indefinitely.

Till now, a new date has not been announced for the inauguration of the campaign council.

The reason for the postponement, according to Lalong, was the need to accommodate more stakeholders and interests within the APC family as many have openly complained that the campaign list did not reflect the different shades of interest within the party.

Lalong’s statement read inter alia: “Recall that we had earlier earmarked a peace walk and prayers for Wednesday, September 28, 2022, to officially kick-off our campaigns for the 2023 Presidential Elections.

We had also announced that members of the Campaign Council report at the Campaign Headquarters on that day to collect their letters of appointments. However, due to the expansion of the list to accommodate more stakeholders and interests within the APC family, we have decided to adjust the time-table of these activities in order to ensure everyone is on board before activities officially commence. Consequently, the activities earlier announced for the 28th of September will no longer hold.”

However, information filtering through indicates that there are other serious underlying

Tinubu (right) and Shettima

issues which the party is trying to manage ahead of the campaigns which promise to be hectic. One of the issues is that of northern governors who sources told THISDAY feel Tinubu is not carrying them along in the management of the campaign.

The source also claimed that most of the names handed to him for inclusion in the campaign council were dropped by the former Lagos State governor who decided to put most of his loyalists.

The source also said that contrary to claims that both Vice President Yemi

Osinbajo and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, were excused from the campaign council by President Muhammadu Buhari so they could face governance, the duo actually declined to be part of the campaign council over the Muslim-Muslim ticket controversy.

Another disgruntled top figure of the party is the former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who is said to feel seriously slighted by the open romance and wooing of current Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, by the Tinubu

camp; knowing full well that there is no love lost between them.

Now that campaigns have officially started and the ruling party has not even been able to inaugurate its campaign council, it remains to be seen how it will be able to focus on the task of retaining power. While it seems Wike is fighting an attritional war with his party, APC’s own headache might dwarf the migraine of PDP. However, let’s hope that the return of Tinubu from the UK will change things for the better.

Obi’s Endless Consultations and ‘Organic Rallies’

T

he presidential candidate of the Labour Party and former governor of Anambra State, must have been dazed by the way his popularity has grown since he decamped from the PDP and picked the presidential ticket of the Labour Party. In fact, it has gone beyond followership to a movement and the Obidients (as his followers are called) now cut across all shades of the social ladder. It must be noted however that it is mainly made up of young Nigerians who seem to have grown tired and disillusioned with failed

R–L: Obi, Babangida, Datti

promises of both the PDP and APC. In fact, the march held by his supporters in Abuja attested to the fact that it is surely going to be a three-horse race, come February 2023.

This was followed by rallies across the city of Lagos, despite the fact that the police did everything possible to intimidate the organisers into calling them off. From FESTAC to Surulere; from Ikeja to Lekki, supporters of the former governor of Anambra State shut down the city of Lagos with what many of

them called “organic rallies.”

One of those who attended the rallies told this reporter that no one coordinated anyone. He said announcements were made on social media and those who were interested showed up. This was despite heavy police and security presence at the Lekki Toll Gate where the Obi supporters wanted to have the rally before it was stopped by the court.

Even in the midst of this, the former Managing Director of Fidelity Bank PLc is still junketing all over the country

‘consulting’ with opinion moulders, traditional rulers and former leaders.

Recently, Obi was in Minna, the Niger State capital, where he met two former military rulers, Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abdusalami Abubakar. Before then, he was in Kano where he met the Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero. After that, he moved to the ancient city of Ile-Ife, Osun State, where he met the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi. He was also in Ondo State where he met the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, and his wife.

He was also in Benin-City, the Edo State capital, where he met Governor Godwin Obaseki. Obi has also met former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who unconfirmed reports say is actually rooting for the former managing director of Fidelity Bank.

Some Obi’s supporters, many of whom are obviously exuberant, have kicked against those consultations; complaining that Obi is hobnobbing with the same people who brought Nigeria to her knees.

But those who are close to Obi are of the opinion that he needed to meet and consult with as many opinion moulders and former leaders as his schedules and time could accommodate.

“While his popularity is growing every day and both the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, see him as a threat, it would be foolish to assume that he would win the presidential election on a platter of gold. In a pluralistic and patriarchal society like ours, winning an election goes beyond the support of the mob”, an analyst wrote on his social media page last week.

As the Obi movement surges on, maybe it is high time the two dominant parties realised that the 2023 presidential election would be a different ball game.

20 T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 19 2022 TR

UT H

& RE A S O

Wednesday October 19, 2022 Vol 27. No 10053

N

opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

DATA SPIKES AND RISING COSTS OF INTERNET ACCESS

SONNY ARAGBAAKPORE reckons that NCC may have given a controlled approval for the hike

See page 21

INEC, NIGERIA: NOT YET UHURU MOSES JOLAYEMI urges the electoral umpire to organise an all-parties’ conference on BVAS and its operations before the elections

See page 21

EDITORIAL

THE KOGI/DANGOTE CEMENT TUSSLE

See page 22

1

The cost of doing business drives business location, writes TIMI OLUBIYI

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Dr. Olubiyi is an Entrepreneurship and Business Management expert

T H I S D AY

321

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 19 2022

SONNY ARAGBA-AKPORE reckons that NCC may have given a controlled approval for the hike

DATA SPIKES AND RISING COSTS OF INTERNET ACCESS With a recent increase by about 10 per cent of the cost of data on their networks, MTN Nigeria and Airtel Africa, both big players in Nigeria have served notice that subscribers should brace up to pay more to access the Internet on these networks.

Both companies stated these increases on WKHLU VHSDUDWH YHULÀHG 7ZLWWHU SDJHV # $LUWHO1LJHULD DQG #071 LQ UHVSRQVH to inquiries by their customers.

This increase is a contradiction to the Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2020 to 2025, where the federal government seeks to ensure cheaper data services in the country as a rule.

Early in the year telecom operators under the aegis of Association of Licenced Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) wrote to the government via the Nigerian

Communications Commission (NCC) SURSRVLQJ ULVH LQ WDULͿV DV D UHVXOW RI the high cost of doing business in Nigeria.

But sensing no response, they may have technically begun a staggered increase of WDULͿV LQ WKLV UHJDUG 6SHFLÀFDOO\ $/721·V OHWWHU UHDG “Given the state of the economy and the circa 40 per cent increase in the cost of doing business, we wish to request for an interim administrative review of the mobile (voice) termination rate for voice; DGPLQLVWUDWLYH GDWD ÁRRU SULFH DQG FRVW RI 606 DV UHÁHFWHG LQ H[WDQW LQVWUXPHQWV µ But the recent 10 per cent hike is believed to be less than the 40 per cent in the cost of calls, SMS, and data initially proposed by ALTON. The broadband plan hopes to achieve N1000 for 1Gb data by 2023 and N390 for 1Gb by the turn of 2025.

Although only MTN Nigeria and Airtel Africa have adjusted their data prices for now, the other operators may be warming up for this increase too.

But it is not clear whether the NCC has endorsed the new adjustments but the regulator’s silence since the operators announcement on this may be a tacit or controlled approval even though there DUH DOVR QR FRQÀUPDWLRQV ZKHWKHU WKH operators communicated their intentions formally to the regulator.

One thing is sure, the adjustment has come to stay, some industry players insisted.

There are no fewer than 152 million people connected to the Internet as at $XJXVW DFFRUGLQJ WR ÀJXUHV UHOHDVHG by the NCC .

Broadband connectivity stood at 44.7% and by the National Broadband Plan, Nigeria hopes to achieve 70% by 2025.

And with these raise in cost of data, PDQ\ PRUH SHRSOH PD\ ÀQG LW KHUFXOHDQ a task to connect and sustain connectivity as they may be torn between costs of other commodities and that for data to enable them connect to the internet.

This scenario will further create a divide EHWZHHQ WKRVH ZKR FDQ DͿRUG LW DQG WKRVH that cannot.

New studies on Internet Divide by SurfShark says that people in Least Developed Countries work three times harder to have access to three times lower internet connection.

The study says that 5.11 billion people (or 65.6% of the global population) use the internet.

World Internet Users Statistics and 2022 World Population Stats Internet World Stats, Population and Internet Users in all countries and usage in all regions of the world. The ...

But strangely lower-income countries still work the most for bad-quality internet.

“There is an ever-growing disproportion in internet accessibility. This imbalance goes beyond just the internet to include digital exports, computing power, cybersecurity, and similar. But how big is the divide, and how will it expand in time?”

The study says people from lowerincome countries are at an instant disadvantage when it comes to internet accessibility. Both mobile and broadband internet are three times slower than in higher-income countries but are three WLPHV OHVV DͿRUGDEOH According to the study, “people from lower-income countries work approximately 11 minutes more than KLJKHU LQFRPH FRXQWULHV WR DͿRUG D single 1GB mobile internet plan that is also 49 Mbps slower. The average mobile internet speed in lower-income countries is 26 Mbps. You likely wouldn’t have any trouble streaming a movie, but you would struggle to have a video conferencing call (which requires at least 50 Mbps speed).”

The story is not too far for Broadband internet where lower-income countries work eight hours more than higher-income FRXQWULHV WR DͿRUG D À[HG EURDGEDQG plan that is 83 Mbps slower on average.

8QIRUWXQDWHO\ À[HG EURDGEDQG LQWHUQHW in lower-income countries is just slightly faster than mobile (34 Mbps), which is still not enough for a smooth video call.

The lowest-income countries experience the sharpest internet divide.

In Mali and Ethiopia, for instance, people work 14 times more than the highest-income countries for mobile internet that is 68 mbps slower. Broadband internet in these lowest-income countries is just 19mbps on average (129 mbps slower than the highest-income countries), EXW LW·V HLJKW WLPHV OHVV DͿRUGDEOH The SurfShark study equally says it’s Digital Quality of Life Index reveals key insights into digital wellbeing across 117 countries (or 92% of the global population).

(DFK FRXQWU\ UDQNV DFFRUGLQJ WR ÀYH SLOODUV YL] LQWHUQHW TXDOLW\ LQWHUQHW DͿRUGDELOLW\ e-infrastructure, e-government, and e-security.

Aragba-Akpore is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board

MOSES JOLAYEMI urges the electoral umpire to organise an all-parties’ conference on BVAS and its operations before the elections

INEC, NIGERIA: NOT YET UHURU Nigeria is obviously in great danger on all fronts. And that is no exaggeration.

Reading a recent chest-beating declaration of the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof Mahmood Yakubu, I could not but sense the great danger that lies ahead for our nation’s democracy. $V UHSRUWHG <DNXEX FRQÀGHQWO\ WROG us that multiple voting and rigging are no longer possible in Nigeria. He even went ahead to declare that INEC had “murdered”

and “buried” rigging in the country.

To say the least, this statement by the country’s number one electoral umpire is scary. For me, it has the capacity to erode, practically, every hope that this generation of Nigerians will witness genuine, credible election, anytime soon.

I am compelled to ask if the process Yakubu is showboating about was the same he used to conduct the June 18, 2022 election in Ekiti which has imported brand new phrases of “vote buying” and “see and buy” into our political book.

In my view, if a new process has now been put in place that is a considerable departure from the June show in Ekiti, Yakubu owes 1LJHULD FOHDU FODULÀFDWLRQV In the meantime, it is rather uncharitable for INEC to engage in such ululation over an exercise that has greatly vandalised the people’s hope of a credible election in any foreseeable future.

What we saw in Ekiti, on June 18 that actually made voting very lucrative was multiple voting across practically all the local government areas.

Those who had multiple voters’ cards were seen running from one ward to another for the cash-and-carry election in order to PD[LPLVH SURÀW ,I WKH V\VWHP ZDV FRQÀJXUHG WR EH IRRO proof as Yakubu wants the nation to believe, then INEC has questions to answer. I would not want to insinuate a deliberate manipulation by this umpire, as I have no technical evidence of how it was done; the truth available to us in Ekiti is that there was indeed multiple voting accentuated by direct, open purchase.

Knowing that, a responsible system that is committed to free, fair and credible election would carry out a post-mortem on the Ekiti election of last June and do an honest, thorough self-evaluation of its performance in that state.

It would then be able to pay the muchneeded attention to improving on the process as the country prepares for 2023.

That, I believe will yield more useful fruits

for the nation than decking itself in false robes. This is without prejudice to its defence at the on-going proceedings at the election petitions tribunal sitting in Ekiti challenging the emergence of the All Progressives Congress candidate in the June election, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji as winner.

For emphasis, former governor, Chief Segun Oni is challenging the election of Abayomi in the ongoing tribunal proceeding in Ekiti.

A situation where INEC turns a blind eye to very obvious infractions on our electoral system and gleefully defends what it knows as wrong, what is the fate of democracy in this part of the world?

Much as I am persuaded to believe that the software itself may have the installed capacity to conduct a truly credible election, what appears evident is that INEC deliberately frustrated it in the Ekiti election.

For instance, why has INEC blatantly blocked access of the petitioners to election materials, despite two tribunal orders that access be granted?

Instead, INEC is acting like the Lord of the Manor asking the petitioners to rely solely on the results it published by itself on its own website.

What is required, in a sane system is physical access to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machine and other electoral materials, ballot papers (used and unused).

If INEC is sure it has done a good job, it should allow for thorough, unhindered investigation.

That way, it will know whether the system is perfect and reliable enough or there is need for improvement, not forcing it down the throat of everyone to accept whatever it presents.

An election umpire that purposely takes side cannot be seen as fair or neutral.

Moving forward, INEC will have no GL΀FXOW\ FRQYLQFLQJ 1LJHULDQV DQG WKH rest of the world that it is ready to bestow on this country a credible election, come 2023 if it organises an all-parties conference on the issue of BVAS and its entire operations, way ahead of the impending elections.

But, if the Ekiti experiment is what INEC plans to deploy (as it is) in 2023, then our nation’s hope for a credible election that will produce the president, and others of our choice, can only come another day.

I strongly believe that if all else fails, President Muhammadu Buhari has an opportunity crusted in gold if he can stand his ground and insist on a credible, free and transparent election next year, the type that brought him to power in 2015.

That will not only assuage Nigerians to a great extent, it will place Buhari on a brighter page of the nation’s history.

But for now, and considering what we have with INEC, it is “Not Yet Uhuru.”

Jolayemi writes from Lagos

22 4

T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 19, 2022

EDITORIAL

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

THE KOGI/DANGOTE CEMENT TUSSLE It is in the interest of all that the issue is resolved amicably

W

the deployment of armed men to disrupt operations ith the National Security Council at Dangote Cement. “Such actions send inappropriate (NSC) directive for the reopening signals to investors, both domestic and foreign, of the Dangote Cement Plc in DQG FRXOG UHVXOW LQ DQ LQFUHDVH LQ RXU FRXQWU\·V ULVN Obajana, Kogi State, an amicable rating,” the NESG stated.

VROXWLRQ WR WKH VWDQGRͿ EHWZHHQ :H DOLJQ ZLWK WKH SRVLWLRQ WKDW D VWDWH JRYHUQPHQW the state government and the should protect the interest of its people and no business cement manufacturer may be in sight. The council RUJDQLVDWLRQ LV DERYH WKH ODZ %XW SXEOLF R΀FLDOV ZKR has asked the parties involved to seek judicial DUH VZRUQ WR XSKROG WKH ODZ FDQ DOVR QRW DFW ZLWKRXW GHWHUPLQDWLRQ RI WKH RZQHUVKLS RI WKH FHPHQW SODQW restraints, as demonstrated by the governor of Kogi :KLOH WKLV LV D ZHOFRPH GHYHORSPHQW LW LV WKH RSWLRQ 6WDWH 7KH YLJLODQWHV OHG E\ VRPH R΀FLDOV RI WKH VWDWH that should have been explored and exhausted rather government, according to a statement by Dangote than the crude tactics deployed by the Kogi State &HPHQW 3OF ZHUH DFWLQJ EDVHG RQ FRQWURYHUVLDO WD[ *RYHUQPHQW WR ÀJKW IRU LWV ¶ULJKW · claims—”claims that the Acting under a state governor had also purported resolution FRQWUDGLFWHG ZKHQ KH by the State House of VDLG WKH VKXWGRZQ ZDV Assembly, Governor In recent years, many companies have exited Nigeria because of the due to an alleged invalid Yahaya Bello had acquisition of the company operating environment. And to the extent that the country is in dire need of deployed armed vigilance

by Dangote Industries groups to seal the cement investment to create jobs, and improve the welfare of the people, care must Limited.”

IDFWRU\ 7KH DFWLRQ ZDV be taken not to scare away businesses from our shores 7KDW %HOOR ZDV WKH predicated on alleged accuser, judge and jury non-payment of tax and on this matter raises HTXLW\ DV ZHOO DV RQ WKH T H I S D AY SHUWLQHQW TXHVWLRQV :K\ ZDV WKH JRYHUQRU LPSDWLHQW RZQHUVKLS RI WKH FHPHQW FRPSDQ\ %HOOR FODLPV WKDW EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU LQ IROORZLQJ WKH GLFWDWHV RI WKH ODZ XQWLO WKH IHGHUDO .RJL 6WDWH RZQV WKH SODQW %XW WKH 'DQJRWH *URXS DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA JRYHUQPHQW LQWHUYHQWLRQ" ,V KH XQDZDUH WKDW WKH UXOH MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO counters that the state has no stake in the company.

RI ODZ DV RSSRVHG WR WKDW RI WKH MXQJOH SUHVXSSRVHV DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU :KLOH WKLV LVVXH ZLOO QRZ EH UHVROYHG WKURXJK WKH CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI WKDW DQ\ERG\ RU LQVWLWXWLRQ DFFXVHG RI DQ RͿHQFH LV MXGLFLDO SURFHVV ZH FRQGHPQ WKH IRUFHIXO VKXWWLQJ EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN HQWLWOHG WR D IDLU WULDO EHIRUH D FRPSHWHQW FRXUW RI ODZ" GRZQ RI WKH FRPSDQ\ DQG WKH DWWDFNV RQ VRPH MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI Assuming, as claimed, that the state indeed needed employees. Such acts of brigandage should never THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE to enforce a resolution of the House of Assembly on have happened under a democratic government Dangote Cement Plc, should this not have been done DQFKRUHG RQ WKH UXOH RI ODZ by the police?

The intervention of the federal government on T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D 1RZ WKDW WKH LVVXH KDV EHHQ UHIHUUHG WR WKH FRXUW WKH FULVLV LV ZHOFRPH %XW WKH LVVXHV LQYROYHG JR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA ZKHUH WKH EDWWOH RXJKW WR KDYH EHHQ IRXJKW LQ WKH beyond the fate of one company. The challenge of the GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ÀUVW SODFH ZH KRSH WKDW .RJL DXWKRULWLHV ZLOO VKXQ PRPHQW LV WKDW DW D SHULRG ZKHQ WKH HFRQRP\ LV LQ ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI any further recourse to self-help. In recent years, dire need of private capital, the Kogi State invasion DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, many companies have exited Nigeria because of the ANTHONY OGEDENGBE of Dangote Cement bodes ill for the economy and operating environment. And to the extent that the DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI HͿRUWV WR DWWUDFW LQYHVWPHQW $FFRUGLQJ WR WKH 1LJHULD SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH country is in dire need of investment to create jobs, Economic Summit Group (NESG), an unfortunate ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI GLYHUVLI\ WKH HFRQRP\ DQG LPSURYH WKH ZHOIDUH RI impression has been created that commercial disputes CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI WKH SHRSOH FDUH PXVW EH WDNHQ QRW WR VFDUH DZD\ PRUH FDQQRW EH DPLFDEO\ UHVROYHG LQ 1LJHULD ZLWKRXW DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO businesses from our shores through glaring abuse of resorting to extrajudicial means as demonstrated by TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com SRZHU

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

LETTERS 2023: THE UNITY WE NEED Voting demographics appear to be a consistent decimal in the assessment of Regional Electoral Value. For the South Geopolitical Zone, this has become a problem. This political stigmata is permanent. BeFDXVH GHPRJUDSKLFV ZLOO QRW UHDOO\ FKDQJH 1H[W URXQG WKH\ ZLOO VWLOO VD\ ZLQQLQJ LV WKH NH\ )RU WKH South-east geopolitical zone of Nigeria, deep thinkLQJ LQWURVSHFWLRQ DQG UHÁHFWLRQ DUH QHHGHG $ FRQVLGHUDWH DQG GHOLEHUDWH PRYHPHQW WKDW LV :HVWZDUGV Their education and enlightenment are liberalizing and liberating. A highly educated community could be fertile for continued educated dialogue.

Christopher Alexander Sapara Williams CMG ZDV WKH ÀUVW 1LJHULDQ ODZ\HU FDOOHG WR the English bar 1879. James Pinson Labulo Davies ZDV D 1LJHULDQ EXVLQHVVPDQ PHUFKDQW VDLORU QDYDO R΀FHU LQGXVWULDOLVW DQG SKLODQthropist.

Give me a highly literate and reading communi-

ty, liberal in thoughts and non-dogmatic. Bring your SRZHU RI SHUVXDVLRQ DQG LQWHOOHFW %ULQJ WKH 7ULQLW\ of Igbo character, Igbambo (hustle) Njepu (travel) and Ako na Uche (cot of reason). Be humble and sell your argument. Be persistent, humble, non-threatening and pray. We missed it. Okpara and our forebears VDZ LW 7KH 1&1& 13& DOOLDQFH ZDV D FRORVVDO IDLOXUH IRU 6RXWK HDVW 'LWWR 131 133 +LVWRU\ UHSHDWV $* 1&1& DOOLDQFH " :DV DERUWHG &RXOG have provided chief executive to either party. The $* 1&1& DOOLDQFH LQ 8QLWHG 3URJUHVVLYH *UDQG $OOLDQFH $ZRORZR DQG 2NSDUD PLUHG LQ SUH FRXS LPEURJOLR 7KH 831 133 DOOLDQFH FRXOG KDYH GRQH WKH VDPH 7KH WKUHDW RI (NZXHPH 3UHVLGHQF\ ZULWHUV FODLP DGGHG ÀOLS WR FROODSVH RI WKH 7KLUG 5Hpublic. But restrategize, the South East must. A reassessment and a restart. Based on a paradigm shift.

Careful but calculated risk. The Igbo has to retrace WKH VWHSV RI 2NSDUD DQG $ZRORZR 7KH 8QLWHG 3UR-

JUHVVLYH *UDQG $OOLDQFH $ PDUDWKRQ SROLWLFLDQ ZLWK VROLG KRPH EDVH VXSSRUW RI FROOHDJXHV DQG QHWZRUN of multi-located long- term Nigerian politicos, TinuEX LV $VLZDMX FLW\ ER\ WKH\ FDOO KLP SDLG KLV GXHV over decades, performed creditably in governance DQG SROLWLFV :LWK DQ $ *DPH WKH\ FRXOG QRW ZUHVWOH LW IURP KLP +H JRW ZRUULHG VRXQGHG WKH DODUP IRU his troops, Shettima and others rallied. Decades of KDUG ZRUN SDWLHQFH UHVLOLHQFH DQG WHQDFLW\ SDLG RͿ The rest is history. That handshake across the Niger DQG D UHVXOWDQW 6RXWKHUQ &RDOLWLRQ ZLOO EXLOG D *UHDW 1LJHULDQ 3DUWQHUVKLS ZLWK RXU 1RUWKHUQ EURWKHUV and sisters cutting across tribes, religions and all difIHUHQFHV $ ODQG ZKHUH WUXO\ DOO WRQJXHV PD\ GLͿHU EXW WKH YRLFHV ZLOO FRDOHVFH DQG UHVRQDWH LQ D FUHVFHQdo of synergy, amity and good conscience. The anVZHU WR WKH ,JER SRZHU FRQXQGUXP PD\EH @ Chimaroke Nnamani MD, FACOG

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2022

23

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

A T

REPO

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

08056356325

O C T O B E R

S & P INDEX

1 8 , 2 0 2 2

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OPR

11.25%

CALL

10.25%

INDEX LEVEL

613.31%

1/4 TO DATE

-0.85%

N416.86/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

11.50%

1-MONTH

9.56%

1-DAY

0.16%

YEAR TO DATE

7.64%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10.52%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.44%

Amid Tough Operating Environment, Banks’ Interest Expense Reached N741.4bn in H1

Kayode Tokede On the backdrop of a high operating environment, a total of 13 Deposit Money Banks spent a whopping sum of N741.4 billion in interest expenses on customers and borrowings in the half year ended June 30, 2022, THISDAY analysis of the banks’ financial results has revealed.

This is an increase of 30.4 per cent from N568.6billion reported in the corresponding half year of 2021.

The 13 DMBs are: Zenith Bank, Access Holdings, United Bank

for Africa (UBA), Guaranty Trust Holdings Company Plc (GTCO), FBN Holdings Plc and Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI).

Others are: FCMB Group, Wema Bank, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Sterling Bank, Union Bank of Nigeria, Fidelity Bank and Unity Bank.

Nigerian DMBs in the period under review accessed high-cost funds from individual/corporate deposits, and also lend the same to customers at a higher rate, attributable to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) increase in its

Monetary Policy Rate (MPR).

MPR opened in 2022 at 11.5 per cent and it increased to 13 per cent as of June 2022, making borrowing prices the highest since April 2020.

The rate was further increased to 15 per cent in a move to manage inflation rate that has ravaged global economy but likely still not enough.

As published on CBN’s website, DMBs had paid customers an average interest rate of 1.38 per cent as of June 2022 from 1.25 per cent it opened the year for saving with them and also lend to customers at an average rate

of 12.29 per cent for prime lending compared to 11.68 per cent recorded in January, applicable rates for each of the DMBs as at June, 2022.

The high operating environment also hike DMBs cost of funds in the period under review as most leading banks suffered the most.

Cost of funds refers to the amount spent by a lending institution to acquire funds to lend to customers.

According to THISDAY investigation, Access Holdings reported one of the highest interest expenses on customers’ deposit and

borrowing in the period, followed

by ETI. Access Holdings in the H1 2022 reported N174.8billion interest expenses, representing an increase of 46.07 per cent from N119.67billion in H1 2021, while ETI’s interest expenses hits N111.66billion from N97.97billion reported in H1 2021.

Access Holdings’ average Cost of Funds increased to 3 2 per cent from 2 9 per cent in H1 2021 as interest rates have risen sharply in the second quarter of 2022 (Q2) in conjunction with the slow devaluation of the

naira, contributing to increasing cost of deposits, The reported cost of funds by Access Holdings is one of the highest in the banking industry as of June 30, 2022.

Commenting on the hike interest expenses, the Group Managing Director, Access Holdings, Dr. Herbert Wigwe had explained that, “Today, we represent the largest bank in the country in terms of balance sheet size.

The only other bank that comes close Continued on page 24

Agusto & Co Forecasts N14.8trn Pension Assets as Mass Emigration, High Unemployment Decelerates Growth Nume Ekeghe Following massive increase in emigration and high unemployment in Nigeria, Agusto & Co has predicted slow growth for pension assets, first time in five years adding that the assets could end 2022 at N14.8 trillion.

In its latest report, Agusto & Co noted that the inability of pension funds to easily invest in dollar-denominated instruments would hamper pensioners’ funds

growth in a bid to hedge against rising inflation currently below money market instruments, causing negative returns.

The rating firm in its report titled, “Limited Investible Options: An Impediment to a Potentially Bullish Industry,” stated: “The rising rates of emigration and unemployment in the last five years have slowed down the growth rate in pension contributions. If individuals who fall within these groups, who are eligible to access a 25 per cent lump

sum of their pension assets, exercise the withdrawal option, it could cause the growth of assets under management (AuM) to stagnate.”

“The 3 per cent decline in the Industry’s annual contribution remitted to the RSAs in 2021 underlines this growing threat.

Furthermore, PenCom has approved the use of 25 per cent of the amount of a pension contributor’s Retirement Savings Account (RSA) to pay for an equity contribution for a mortgage. While this may

support the mortgage banks and the real estate industry, it will lead to a decline in pension AuM in the medium term.”

The report further stated that the operations, activities, and prosperity of the pension industry are crucially hinged on the direction of PenCom’s regulation, which Agusto & Co. expects to remain robust given the Industry’s strategic importance to the Nigerian economy, and the need for it to be more closely aligned

to the Nigerian pension scheme with international standards in the near term.

Agusto & Co. also estimated that growth in pension assets would slow from a five-year average of 12.2% to c11% in 2022 due to a combination of a muted interest rate environment and a slowdown in the rate of contributions which has been impacted by mass emigration and high unemployment.

“We, therefore, expect pension assets to reach N14.8 trillion by the

end of 2022,” it stated.

It added that the pensions industry has since evolved into a global industry driven by the private sector, with several variations of the original pension plan.

“The 6% annual average growth rate recorded in global pension assets in the past two decades to $56.6 trillion in 2021, estimated at 76 per cent of GDP in the 22 major pension markets (P22), is Continued on page 24

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT T U E S D AY, O C T O B E R 1 8 , 2 0 2 2 BILLS

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

Yield

100.09

14.10

99.53

13.75

96.85

13.71

108.30

13.72

100.25

13.90

Change Updated Time (%) 14, -0.15 October 2022 14, 0.00 October 2022 14, 0.00 October 2022 14, 0.00 October 2022 14, 0.00 October 2022

MATURITY NTB 10Nov-22 NTB 26-Jan23 NTB 9-Feb23 NTB 9-Mar23 NTB 27-Apr23

Discount

CPS

5.91

5.93

6.51

6.64

6.62

6.77

6.84

7.04

Change Updated Time (%) 14, 0.00 October 2022 14, 0.00 October 2022 14, 0.00 October 2022 14, 0.00 October 2022

7.52

14, 0.00 October 2022

7.22

Yield

MATURITY FSDH CP VII 27-OCT-22 SIBP CP III 27-OCT-22 DLMG CP IV 11-NOV-22 FDHP CP III 17-MAR-23 VHPL CP III 1-APR-23

Discount Yield 11.14 11.21 10.29 10.34 13.64 13.82 12.67 13.42 17.17 18.71

Change Updated Time (%) 14, 0.00 October 2022 14, 0.00 October 2022 14, 0.00 October 2022 14, 0.00 October 2022 14, 0.00 October 2022

OTC F X F U T U R E S CONTRACT Current TENOR Contract Rate Updated Time ($/₦) (MONTH) NGUS OCT 26 449.69 October 14, 1 2022 2022 October 14, NGUS NOV 30 2 451.43 2022 2022 NGUS DEC 28 453.18 October 14, 3 2022 2022 NGUS JAN 25 454.92 October 14, 4 2023 2022 NGUS FEB 22 456.67 October 14, 5 2023 2022

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2022

24

BUSINESSWORLD

INSURANCE

Of Insurers and Menace of Emerging Risks Losses from disaster such as climatic change, especially flooding, civil unrest and cyber crime which together form emerging risks, has created need for insurance operators to gird up their belts to protect Nigerians from risks associated with these new phenomena, writes Ebere Nwoji

R

To the FBN former boss and other insurers, this is right, ideal and logical, but to an average Nigerian who bought insurance policy cover, it is pure fraud as far as they are concerned. For the members of the public, insurance policy cover once purchased has been purchased irrespective of whether there is extension or not, claims must be paid.

In their view, anybody who bought cover for a risk must be indemnified when risk occurs with or without extension.

Indeed for members of the insuring public, the issue of extension raised by the insurers in the EndSARS claims is always the case.

According to them, most times, insurers do not pay claims not because they don’t have the money to pay but because they will always bring up argument on the extent of coverage of policy bought.

This has spelt the need for insurers to design and sell specific policy for specific risk instead of relying on the extensions, which many Nigerians neither understand nor believe in.

ecent reports in the media which said that over 200 communities in four local councils of Rivers State, namely – Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni (ONELGA), Ahoada West, Ahoada East and Abual Odual – have been displaced by flood in addition to communities in Anambra, Kogi, Bayelsa and Delta states swept by flood, points to the faster rate at which Nigeria is topping the list of countries prone to emerging risks especially flood.

This apparently spells the need for Nigerian insurers to get prepared to bear losses emanating from these risks and to design and advertise products that will arouse people’s interest in buying insurance policies that will mitigate against these risks.

DISASTERS

Indeed losses from disasters as a result of climatic change, civil unrest, cyber crimes among others, which sum up what insurers tagged, “emerging risks,” is fast becoming the key source of huge claims for Nigerian insurers and their global market counterparts throwing challenge to Nigerian insurers and people on the need to prepare ahead of the ravages of these risks through innovative product designs and penchant for insurance patronage.

The government on its part should partner with insurers to compel people to prepare against these risks through preventive measures and insurance patronage rather than giving relief packages, which hardly place victims anywhere close to their former state before the risks occurrence.

Insurance by its nature is a risk-mitigating factor that places a policyholder on the exact financial position he was before the occurrence of the risk.

Obviously, some of the people displaced by the 2012 flood settled by government in various Internally Displaced People’s (IDP) camps are still there as destitute and are far from regaining their financial standing despite relief packages sent to them by government, philanthropists and various donor agencies. But insurance policy and claims would have gone a long way to reestablish them.

According to the River State flood report, six persons lost their lives while trying to cross through the flood to the road at Ihuike community in Ahaoda axis of the East-West road.

An eyewitness said a woman and her son were swept off by the flood. While the baby was later found dead, the mother has since remained missing.

It was also gathered that eight persons in a boat were also swept off by a flood, leaving four dead while others survived.

Media reports said that the Orashi region of Rivers State comprising the three councils experienced the worst flooding in 2012 where several lives were lost. Also, in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020, flooding wreaked havoc in Rivers State but no concrete action was taken by the government to address it.

While many homes were still battling to recover from the damages of the past years, the state has again been hit by flooding. For instance, In ONELGA, over 20 communities have been submerged with bridges, roads, farms and schools covered by water. Several farmlands have been washed off and many artisans rendered jobless when their shops were submerged.

Also in both Anambra and Delta States, many

TACKLING EMERGING RISKS

homes were submerged by flood chasing the occupants away and over running the farmlands.

One of the flood victims, Mrs. Justina Wilfred was quoted to have said: “We have lost everything we have, no shelter, no food, nothing. It is really disheartening.”

Obviously these have no insurance cover because of ignorance and unavailability of specific policy that would address this kind of problem.

COMPENSATION

It was also reported that Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state had approved N1billion for emergency relief measures to support the victims.

But good as his kind gesture is, it has raised the question on how far the N1 billion will go in reinstating the victims to their former financial position before the flood risk.

Apparently, despite government’s huge intervention during the 2012 flood it is obvious that some are still in displace persons’ camps.

Some of the displaced persons complained that when such aids and relief items were provided, they hardly received them calling for the need for insurance coverage for such people.

Floods aside, similar report by the Allianz Global & Specialty (AGCS), in its 2021 Risk Barometer noted that significant increase in the number of riots, demonstrations and vandalism have made civil unrest the main political risk exposure for companies as well as key source of claims for insurance firms, which is also another lesson for the insurers.

AGCS, a leading global corporate insurance carrier and a key business unit of Allianz Group, in the report, cited country by country instances of civil unrest with attendant damages to businesses, with particular reference to Nigeria, saying that violence that trailed the #EndSARS demonstrations in Nigeria,

student protests in South Africa or clashes in Ethiopia with their damages, disturbances and ultimately, losses from riots, protests, vandalism or other forms of civil unrest were among the main political risk exposure for companies.

Industry analysts said in the face of these developments, Nigerian insurers are expected to shift from their culture of racing for government business and those of corporate organisations at all cost to think bigger on how to harness the opportunities existing in these emerging risks and at the same time save Nigerian economy from huge losses emanating from the risks.

According to industry observers, insurers current stance on relying on extension covers to address claims from these new risks will do more harm than good to the already dented image of the insurance sector, as the insured, when a client is denied of claim on a particular policy he bought because of non purchase of extension cover, He will conclude that the insurance firm in question has defrauded him and denied him claim.

ENDSARS PROTEST RISKS

An instance is claim from damages caused by disrupters of EndSARS protest in which the insurers said they would only pay claims to victims who bought extension to the main policy cover they paid for.

A veteran insurer and erstwhile Managing Director, FBN Insurance, Mr. Val Ojumah, in a telephone response to THISDAY’s enquiries said, “We are purely business operators and can only pay claims purely on business ground.

Insurers can only pay claims to those whose policy purchase covered the cause of the damage through extension.”

He said anybody who did not buy the extension policy would have to wait for the government’s support.

Stakeholder’s View

Presently in Nigeria losses emanating from social vices like kidnapping, terrorism activities from the Boko Haram insurgents as well as huge losses from climatic change factor like flood and other similar negative developments in the country, which amount to huge loss of lives and property are categorised as emerging risks.

Some insurers believe they lack the capacity to play in this line of business while others regard the emerging risks as uninsurable.

According to the Managing Director of Universal Insurance, Mr. Ben Ujoatuonu, the emerging risks like social and political unrest is a challenge to both the insuring public and to insurers.

Ujoatuonu, in a telephone chat told THISDAY that recent happenings in the country like the #EndSARS protest are enough to encourage Nigerians to embrace insurance services.

According to him, the destruction of businesses by hoodlums during that particular civil unrest should serve as an eye opener to Nigerians on the need to buy insurance for protection because no one knows when risks of this sort will come.

He said there was likelihood that this type of commotion and the associated risks on lives and properties would come again anytime because peoples’ expectation from government was becoming higher and government could not totally meet these expectations.

On the part of the insurers themselves, he said it was equally a challenge for them to brainstorm and come up with policies that would cover damages caused by these emerging risks.

NATURAL DISASTERS

Over the years, scientists and environmental experts have been warning against the negative effects of such climatic change like global warming on the environment.

They have been calling for action plans by governments and risk prevention and mitigating experts and agencies to prevent and provide for the effects of climatic change.

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

AGUSTO & CO FORECASTS N14.8TRN PENSION ASSETS AS MASS EMIGRATION, HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT DECELERATES GROWTH not just reflective of the Industry’s robustness but also highlights its importance to capital markets across the world,” Agusto & Co. also said.

“To protect pension assets, the current regulatory framework imposes stringent restrictions

on investible outlets; with the majority of assets held in risk-free sovereign debt securities. While the increasingly hawkish stance of the monetary policy committee (MPC) of the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN) is leading to a rise

in interest rates, yields on fixed sovereign debt securities remain low relative to the headline inflation rate which surged to a 17-year high of 20.52% in August 2022.

“The outcome is negative real returns on investment, which,

when compounded, will lead to a contraction in the real value of AuM over time and implies that pension fund contributors could be worse off in retirement.

This puts the question of diversifying investments into

foreign-denominated securities, to improve returns and preserve value, under a renewed spotlight.”

“This option is constrained by some factors, notably the prohibition on PFAs from acquiring foreign currencies

directly through official channels.

In addition, despite the PRA 2014 permitting investments in foreign assets, PFAs still require the President’s approval, which could be a lengthy and tedious process, ”it said.

AMID TOUGH OPERATING ENVIRONMENT, BANKS’ INTEREST EXPENSE REACHED N741.4BN IN H1 to us as far as savings accounts is concerned is First Bank for instance.

“And the change in the monetary policy rates of the central bank and what that has done is that it has increased the average interest rate that people have to pay or that we have to pay with respect to savings accounts.”

He added that, “Finally, we’ve had to basically reprice some of our deposits given what we saw as an increasingly inflationary environment.

So, all of those things affected our cost of funds in the short term. But if we take institutions that have the same type of savings accounts like

us, I think a 20 basis points increase in cost of funds is typically what you would have seen.

“But in the long term all of these things will normalise, given our size and scale, and the fact that as the economy basically settles or grows, the current monetary policy stance will change and the full impact of what we’re doing will be brought to bear as far as profitability is concerned.”

As UBA reported N79.9billion interest expenses on Deposits from customers and borrowings in H1 2022 from N75.56billion in H1 2021, FBN Holdings announced

N73.44billion interest expenses in H1 2022, representing an increase of 28.4 per cent from N57.2billion in H1 2021.

In addition to Tier-1 banks’ interest expenses, GTCO reported N26.35billion in H1 2022, representing an increase of 38.4 per cent from N19.04billion in H1 2021.

GTCO attributed the 38.4 per cent growth in interest expense to an increase in Cost of Funds from 0.7per cent in H1-2021 to 1.0per cent in H1-2022 on account of demand for higher interest rate by depositors.

According to the financial institution, “The Group made

cost savings from Interest saved on FCY borrowings due to continuous utilization of the Group’s dollar liquidity to repay maturing FCY borrowings.

“Overall, the Group was able to keep its Cost to Income Ratio (CIR) at 49.1per cent from 49per cent in H1-2021, though, higher than the guided 35per cent ratio owing to Inflation induced growth in variable and fixed costs element.

The Group remains committed to effectively managing its cost despite inflationary and revenue pressures in order to remain within the FY 2022 guidance.”

Analysts said the increase in MPR created room for a hike in interest expenses banks paid on customers’ deposits and borrowing from other banks, leading to economic distress.

Speaking with THISDAY on hike in DMBs interest expenses, the Vice President, Highcap securities, Mr. David Adnori noted that the increase is a reflection of economic challenges and that banks do not operate in isolation.

He noted that banks customers were looking for where the interest rate is high and at the same time, DMBs were borrowing at a high-

interest rate in a move to remain in business.

He added that DMBs had to adjust to the hike in MPR and restructure some loans so as to not to allow them to become Non-Performing Loans (NPLs).

THISDAY discovered that Wema Bank reported one of the highest percentage increases in interest expenses in the period.

One of the oldest banks in Nigeria reported N27.24billion interest expenses on deposits from customers and other borrowed funds in H1 2022, an increase of 77 per cent from N15.39billion reported in H1 2021.

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ECONOMY

Ensuring Fiscal Suitability at Sub-national Levels The states must take concrete steps to urgently improve on fiscal sustainability in order to address rising poverty and achieve good governance, James Emejo writes

I

f anything, the 2022 State of States Report

by BudgIT, a non-profit promoting transparency and accountability in budget and public resources, continues to raise questions about the sincerity of sub-national governments to make their states truly sustainable.

The idea of fiscal sustainability entails among other things that state governments are able to meet their financial obligations to workers and contractors, able to cut waste in public resource utilisation, operate in a more transparent mode, and fight corruption.

The ultimate goal is to enthrone good governance, and eradicate rising poverty and ensure that the governed reap the dividends of democracy.

It is also to ensure that without recourse to the federation account, the subnational governments are able to weather economic storms with resources they have been able to mobilise on their own by harnessing their various potential.

Over the past six years, BudgIT, with the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has worked to seek improvement in the ways states run their economy as well as make the desired reforms to help them stand on their own and rely less on the national purse. t 1&3'03."/$& Six years on, the fiscal performance of the 36 states of the federation had failed to record meaningful improvement despite a relative boost in revenue earnings.

According to the latest edition of the State of States Report only 25 per cent of states have comparatively limited dependence on federally distributed revenue for their operations and thus have greater viability if they were to theoretically exist as an independent entity including Lagos, Rivers, Kaduna, Ebonyi and Jigawa.

This is in spite of the fact that their cumulative revenues grew by 9.19 per cent to N5.12 trillion in 2021 from the N4.69 trillion earned in 2020, while there was a 33.66 per cent year-on-year growth in cumulative Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the 36 states, from N1.2 trillion to N1.61 trillion, representing 0.98 per cent of GDP. According to the report, 50 per cent of the total revenue of 33 states was federal transfers, adding that 13 states relied on federal transfers for at least 70 per cent of their total revenues.

BudgIT also stated that cumulative expenditure of all the states increased by 27 per cent to N6.64 trillion in 2021 compared to N5.23 trillion in 2020.It said the cumulative personnel cost of the 36 states grew by 5.38 per cent to N1.54 trillion from N1.46 trillion, despite the discovery and elimination of at least 15,397 ghost workers in 13 states across the federation.

The report stated that 11 states increased their overhead cost from the previous year by more than 40 per cent, with Akwa Ibom having the highest growth of 424.60 per cent.

In addition, it stated cumulative capital Expenditure (CAPEX) by all the states grew by 52.52 per cent to N2.70 trillion in 2021 compared to from N1.77 trillion in the previous year.

The report noted that while Lagos State, with capital importation of $31.78 billion between 2019 and 2021, received 99.19 per cent of capital importation into the economy, 11 states received no capital importation within the period.

The report also stressed that 35 states, excluding Taraba, have captured the biometric and BVN data of at least 70 per cent of the civil servants and pensioners on their payroll, and linked the captured data to their payroll.

It added that at least 20 states have enacted Audit laws that grant operational and financial autonomy to the Offices of Auditors-General of the State and Local Government, while only a few states have been able to establish and operationalise a Treasury Single Account (TSA) to ensure that it covers at least 70 per cent of all its finances.

However, Benue, Taraba, Adamawa, Yobe, and Bayelsa ranked lower and needed to work harder on growing their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), considering the size of their operating expenses, or work on pruning their operating expenses, the report added.

It further showed that 20 per cent of states had been able to significantly grow their IGR year-on-year and are progressively reducing their over-reliance on federal transfers while others had either a negative or poor growth in their domestic revenue mobilisation and thus remain heavily dependent on federally distributed revenue to implement their budgets.

Also, the report said 30 per cent of the sub-

national governments have comparatively more public revenue left to implement the capital expenditure components of their budgets after fulfilling repayment obligations to lenders and their operating expenses.

Furthermore, 15 per cent of states possess more comparative fiscal bandwidth to borrow more due to their comparatively sustainable debt profiles which is determined by their debt-to-revenue ratio, debt-to-GDP ratio, debt service-to-revenue ratio, and personnel cost to revenue ratio.

Similarly, only 10 per cent of the states give comparatively higher priority to investing in capital expenditure compared to their operating expenses, the report added. t 4645"*/"#*-*5: 45*-- " 5"-- 03%&3 According to the Country Director, BudgIT Nigeria, Mr. Gabriel Okeowo, “the fiscal performance of the states have not improved to an appreciable level, but we hope that this report and the conversation we will have here today will help us to further nudge the subnational government to sit up, harness the natural resources in their domain, block loopholes for fraud and corruption and take advantage of several programs that are design to help the states boost subnational economy.”

In her keynote address at the launch of the report, the Director General, Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Prof. Antonia Simbine, said even though considerable ground has been covered in improving the governance architecture in the states through the activities of the donor, the laudable works of BudgIT, and programmes such SFTAS, fiscal sustainability is still a major concern in the subnational levels.

According to her, there remains ample scope for broadening and deepening existing reforms and charting new courses of action to improve service delivery and enhance development outcomes for the citizenry.

There are still issues around states’ inability to optimise their potential, the endemic corruption, opaque government and lack of accountability for instance. t 0110356/*5*&4 Speaking on “Sustainable Governance Reforms for a New Era for States in Nigeria”, the NISER DG political leadership remained crucial especially as the looming election presents an opportunity to reflect on this variable and to follow-up with action.

She said, “Political leadership is pivotal to reforming governance systems at the state level. While reforms generally require committed political support, the influence of the political class should be minimal in

purely economic decisions. This necessitates strict enforcement of the stipulations of the conflict-of-interest principle.”

She added that reforms at the states’ level should be institutionalised to stem the risk of reversal by a succeeding government or susceptibility to politically inspired dilution, adding that spreading of the culture of accountability and transparency is the task of political leadership which subsequently cascades down to the bureaucracy, followed by the people.

“One way to do this is through stricter asset disclosure, providing political support for institutions scrutinising public accounts or probing financial misdemeanour, and embracing critical accountability canons such as open government, fiscal transparency, and citizen engagement,” she said.

Among other things, she said there is a need to look into the rising cost of governance, and the urgent need to impose austerity measures in the short-term, boost resource mobilisation, fight corruption as well as strengthen institutional capacity among others.

Simbine, “One area where states need drastic reforms is reducing the cost of governance. This involves streamlining or merging governance structures, reducing the number of political aides, slashing humongous salaries, and reducing extra-budgetary expenditures.

“There are evidently revenue constraints and a debt problem which advises an austerity mindset in the short-term. A 2022 NISER study on cost of governance covering the 36 states of the Federation, shows that many states unduly proliferate agencies, engage a slew of advisers and assistants, and embark on questionable spendings, which escalate recurrent expenditure and undermine development outcomes.”

According to her, “Corruption is fed by certain societal values and a pernicious governance ecosystem that allows it to fester. It follows therefore that implementation of targeted institutional strengthening and policy measures by states would be helpful in curbing corruption.

“The coupling of robust institutional oversight and deployment of Govtech tools will help

to prevent corruption in the states. This should be accompanied by behavioural changes through for instance, leadership by good example.”

She added that “Fiscal transparency through change in practices within specific sectors, function, or service to improve governance in those departments will help to reduce corruption.

This may just be in the form of modifying traditional instruments to make them more effective.

“Automation and changes in bureaucratic processes will help to reduce petty bribes, but the elephant in the room, i.e., grand, or systemic corruption, can be fought through e-procurement. Indeed, technology entrenches homogeneity in standards, lessens human contact, and secures wide-ranging data that enables tracking of transactions and promotion of accountability.

“Transparency can be promoted by open government principles and freedom of information practices that make it easy to track institutional corruption especially those associated with officialdom.”

“Overall, there might be grey areas operationally, yet transparency is immensely empowering, and information is key, while citizen’s aggregate voice and watchdog role remains crucial for improving governance and triggering social responsibility. Evidently, these are dimensions of impact that should not be minimised. Indeed, States need to empower their citizens to play this role in order that the impact of governance reforms can be felt and in turn related to developmental outcomes at the state level in Nigeria where much more is happening to the generality of the people than at the federal level,” she said.

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NEWS

DataPro: Multisectoral Collaboration Key to Infrastructural Devt Oluchi Chibuzor Stakeholders in the credit rating and capital market sector have unanimously agreed that enhanced collaboration among players is essential for infrastructural development and economic growth.

They stated this at the 2022 Annual International Credit Rating Webinar hosted by credit rating firm, DataPro. Themed, “Boosting Infrastructure Development Through Pension Funds’ Investments: The Role of Credit Rating Agencies,” the event gathered global players in the sectors to deliberate on strategies for the utilization of

Pension Funds for economic development.

The Managing Director of DataPro, Abimbola Adeseyoju, in his welcome address, remarked that the event is a continuation of the Company’s collective efforts at promoting the value proposition of the Credit Rating Industry as an unbiased and efficient way of allocating financial resources within the capital market which ultimately will result to economic growth and national prosperity.

Italian risk management expert and Scientific Director at FinTech & Insurtech Observatory, Professor Marco Giorgino, in his

keynote address, posited that FinTech is a powerful driver of innovation in the financial services market, but innovation strategies cannot be improved without cooperation; hence, the need for partnership and collaboration that will unlock needed funds.

He also called on Credit Rating Agencies to embrace digital technology such as big data and machine learning to properly assess risk.

Prof.Giorgino maintained: “Without incorporation with technology providers and digital companies in fields like big data, machine learning, artificial intelligence and the likes, it will be very difficult to

Fidelity Bank Redeems $400m Eurobond Notes Nume Ekeghe Fidelity Bank Plc has announced the redemption of the $400,000,000.00 Eurobond Notes due October 17, 2022.

The bank, five years ago, issued a $400 million 5-year Eurobond to which the transaction also included a Tender Offer for the refinancing of the Bank’s 300million Senior Unsecured Notes issued in May 2018.

The transaction was the largest combined new issue & liability management offering ever by a Nigerian issuer and was well received by analysts

and investors.

The transaction, which was managed by Citigroup Incorporated, Renaissance Capital and Standard Bank Group Limited, achieved an oversubscribed order book of $630 million. Upon final maturity of the Eurobond, noteholders received a total of $421 million covering the principal amount and the accrued 6 months coupon in line with the executed Trust Deeds.

Fidelity Bank’s MD/ CEO, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, in a statement said, “The liquidation of the notes despite

the strong headwinds in the domestic economy - especially when viewed against the backdrop of short dollar supply, is a testament to the strong liquidity position of the bank and the resilience of our balance sheet”.

Fidelity Bank is one of the leading financial institutions in Nigeria. According to its interim audited result for the mid-year 2022, the Bank reported strong financial ratios with a capital base of N3.7trillion, PBT of N25bn and a return on equity (ROE) of 15.4% evidencing the efficient management of the bank’s assets.

be competitive and to integrate without embracing these innovative factors”.

On his part, the Managing Director of Afrinvest Capital Limited, Suru Daniels, quipped that the pension fund in infrastructure was not enough while stating that there is a significant scope to widen the pension funds available for

infrastructural development.

He further noted that the way to go about it to guarantee security of principal and return is to ensure that instruments are properly rated, structured and sold to knowledgeable investors. In his Goodwill message, the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Lamido

Yuguda who was represented

by Ibrahim Boye, Executive Commissioner, Corporate Services, commended DataPro Limited for coming up with such a program aimed at addressing the factors responsible for Nigeria’s stunted growth in terms of infrastructural development gaps.

SDGs: Foundation Boosts MSMEs with N1m Grant, Skills Devt James Emejo in Abuja Determined to help achieve one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Hardball Foundation has provided a N1 million-grant to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the Federal Capital territory (FCT).

The Chief Executive of the foundation, Eva Dan-Yusuf, said it is committed towards the attainment of the SDG 8, which is creating decent work for African youths to create sustainable livelihood.

Speaking at a business management training for MSMEs at the Bwari Area Council, where five entrepreneurs were awarded N200,000 each to support their businesses, Dan-Yusuf said funding and knowledge gaps remained the major challenges facing small businesses.

She told THISDAY, “One of the things we do is to go and find the people that actually need support. We realise that the challenges that MSMEs have is funding and knowledge.

“Some of them just do business because they make money everyday but they are not certain they make profits as long as they see money coming in. And we realised that this is a challenge for MSMEs.” She said, “So, we have selected MSMEs within the Bwari Area Council to go through a two-week training. We cover different areas from how to market your product, what kinds of products to sell within your location considering the Nigerian economy because doing business here in Nigeria is not the same as doing business in other parts of the world.”

The Hardball Foundation CEO also said, though the funding

remains a grant, beneficiaries just use it judiciously for the intended purposes to sustain their businesses and create employment for others.

She said, “We are not just dashing them money and leaving them; we have a six-month aftercare programme that we are going to do with the businesses in their shops and locations.

Also, Director, Hardball Foundation, Mr. Oluwatobi Adeshina, said, “When we first met the beneficiaries on the first day, they were very shy and quiet and they didn’t know a lot of things that they know today.

“But seeing them today after getting all the training, they understand how to build their businesses better, especially because we have an aftercare programme that is going to ensure that everything they were taught, they are actually doing.

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IMAGES

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͷ˜ 2022

Photo Editor Abiodun Ajala Email abiodun.ajala@thisdaylive.com

Renowned Nigerian Life Coach, Dr. Lanre Olusola (middle), making brief speech after being honoured with the ‘Guardian Award’ at the 7th EMY Africa Awards held in Accra, Ghana, while presenters look on…recently

L-R: Chairman, Camp Meeting Committee, Christ Chapel International Church (CCIC), Pastor Samuel Obadofin; Secretary, Church Council, Rev. Mrs. Mope Alli; Chairman, 40th Anniversary Committee, Pastor Niyi Odetayo; Chairman, Church Council, Rev. Dan Ibekwe; Church Administrator, Pastor Funke Ayanleke; and Pastor, Surulere Centre, Rev. Mike Udonquak, during the media parley on the lined-up activities for the 40th anniversary of the CCIC in Lagos...recently PHOTO: ABAYOMI AKINYELE

L-R: Former Edo State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kenneth Imansuangbon; Chairman, Multi Oil and Gas Company Limited, Senator Lee Maeba; PDP presidential standard bearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; former Governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion; and former Minister of External Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi, at the flagging-off of the PDP presidential campaign in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State... recently

The Director of Press and Public Relations, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mr. Eddy Megwa (right), and some members of his family during the church service and burial of his late wife, Mrs. Joy Chinwe Eddy Megwa, held at St Peter’s Anglican Church, Umuneke Ngor in Imo State…recently

Bride’s parents, Mr. Rufus and Mrs. Felicia Atolagbe; the couple, Chigozie Samuel John and Precious Atolagbe; Editor of Our Moment Newspaper, David Olanrewaju; and Senior Manager, Solutions Communications Limited, Joyce Ogbu, at the wedding ceremony of Samuel and Precious at the Agege Local Government Area Marriage Registry in Agege, Lagos…recently

L-R: Portfolio Manager, Non-Alcoholic Brands, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Elohor Olumide-Awe; New Amstel Malta Ultra Brand Ambassador, Ese Brume; Amstel Malta Brand Ambassador, Dakore Egbuson-Akande; and Cluster Media Lead, West Africa, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Wasiu Abiola; at the Amstel Malta Ultra ‘Choose Your Way to Live Campaign’ launch and ambassador unveiling golden party held at the Upbeat Centre in Lekki, Lagos... recently

L-R: Category Manager, Reckitt sub-Saharan Africa, Zara Adoki; representative of state Basic Education Fund, Mr. Auta Emmanuel; National Programmes Lead, Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), Dr. Franco Apiyanteide; Head of External Communications and Partnerships, Reckitt sub-Saharan Africa, Cassandra Uzo-Ogbugh; and representative of the founder/president of WBFA, Catherine Sutherland, at the Reckitt and WBFA Hygiene Quest partnership launch in Lagos…recently

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FOCUS

Strategic Leadership for Success in Volatile Times Dr. Razak Owolabi

L

eaders know that Inspiring confidence during an era of low morale, potential future global damaging economic recession and failing organisational models are among the challenges facing organisations in Africa, Asia and Western Europe. Strategic leaders also know these existential threats are fallouts of the COVID-19 and Russia-Ukraine crises. However, the billion-dollar question is, how can this be effectively and efficiently addressed? TEXEM UK will address veritable and actionable panaceas at its programme coming up from November 21 to 24 in Birmingham.

TEXEM’s Director of Special Projects, Caroline Lucas, in a statement, said the TEXEM Strategic Leadership for Success in Volatile Times programme aims to equip leaders with the skills to deal with the uncertainty that tomorrow brings.

“As a leader, you hope each year brings great fortunes for your organisation,” Lucas said. “However, there is a lot that we do not know about tomorrow. So, as you wish for the best, you need to develop the core competence to prepare for an uncertain future.”

She said other challenges facing organisations include supply chain disruption, new cybersecurity threats, low national cohesion, dramatic forex fluctuations, high level of inflation and, by extension, low customer disposable income.

Lucas said that dwindling government, business revenue and diminishing productivity are major existential threats for all organisations.

Specifically, she said political unrest, the upcoming election in 2023 and likely uncertainty in monetary and fiscal policies in a country like Nigeria would likely affect the competitiveness and comparative advantage of organisations and the nation.

Lucas reiterated that TEXEM’s tested and proven methodology, which has helped hundreds of organisations to win, will be deployed during this programme.

In addition, TEXEM’s impactful methodology comprises case studies, role play, games, and working visits to companies that would be deployed during the programme.

According to the director, this will be utilised to encourage participants to enhance their cognitive skills and improve their analytical rigour and evaluation skills to better assist them in managing ambiguity.

She added that this would make

Dr. Alim Abubakre

the programme an enjoyable, impactful, and memorable experience stimulating better strategic leadership competence.

On the programme’s impact, Lucas assured that participants should expect to learn several actionable winning strategies on how to thrive in a future characterised by stiff competition and a fast-paced and challenging operating context.

“Some ways to provide leadership for success in such turbulent times is by being agile, optimising the capacity of your organisation to turn challenges into opportunities, building resilience, prioritising your people and acting decisively,” she affirmed. “You need these practical strategies and others to help steer your organisation’s plan for success in a volatile,

uncertain, complex and ambiguous tomorrow.”

Rodria Laline, a professor of Strategy and Governance and the founding director of Harvard University’s ‘Maximise Your Board’s Potential Programme’, is a confirmed faculty member of the programme.

Laline has been CEO of Global Research and Development Collaborations with IBM, Hewlett -Packard, ING Bank, Royal KPN, Groupe Bull, Elsevier Science, Siemens, And Philips.

Laline developed the intellectual property used on every ATM card globally.

Another distinguished faculty delivering this TEXEM programme is world-renowned London Business School alumnus Paul Griffith, a professor of Practice and the Senior Vice

“As a leader, you hope each year brings great fortunes for your organisation,” Lucas said.

“However, there is a lot that we do not know about tomorrow. So, as you wish for the best, you need to develop the core competence to prepare for an uncertain future.”

President, Products at Ashridge Executive Education, Hult International Business School.

Griffith is the world’s first management professor to lead a team that launched a rocket into space. He is a business leader with extensive experience leading culture change and Innovation.

Oxford University Alumnus Ambassador Charles Crawford, founding partner of the Ambassador Partnership LLP, Communication and negotiation specialist par excellence and public speaking expert, is a faculty on this programme too.

A qualified barrister and mediator, Crawford draws on 28 years of experience in the UK diplomatic service, much of it spent in former Communist Central and Eastern Europe. He is the winner of two ‘Oscars’ for strategic communications.

The statement also articulates the following testimonials from past participants of TEXEM’s recent programme in the UK: “I learnt about organisational dexterity, exploitation and exploration aspect of an organisation and how to strike a balance,” said Ann Iyonu, Executive Director, Goodluck Jonathan Foundation. “One major key takeaway for me would be that fear is our biggest enemy, and once you can conquer fear, you can do anything.”

Dr Musa Zagi, Zonal Operation Controller, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, noted that the programme “very interactive and insightful, the lecturers were carefully selected, and they came full of” experiences.

“Here we are, matching theories and experiences and interacting with colleagues from different private and public sectors. At the end of the day, we also carried out some exercises to test our understanding of the programme,” added Zagi. “I have learnt about leadership, how to manage a leader and follower, and I am going to use this to improve my leadership skills when I get back home. I had read a few things about TEXEM before coming here, but my expectations were surpassed by any standard and by any way.

In addition, Michael Faloseyi, Assistant General Manager of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, said, “This training institute can compare with any other one worldwide. The packaging, the faculty, everything is just excellent.”

He added, “More important, the module on resilience, the world is changing and changing very fast, it is those who can adapt to their environment that would be able to survive or be able to excel in the future.”

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 19, 2022

EDUCATION Averting Future ASUU Strikes Last week, the Academic Staff Union of Universities suspended its eight-month-old strike against its earlier resolve that the government must meet all its demands before backing down.

Uchechukwu Nnaike examines the motive behind the change of course as stakeholders suggest ways to prevent future strikes

T

he Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) embarked on a warning strike on February 14, demanding the release of revitalisation funds for universities; payment of its members’ earned academic allowances; the release of whitepapers from the reports of presidential visitation panels, as well as the deployment of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) as the preferred payment platform for university workers.

The union said the IPPIS, which the government uses to pay all civil servants’ salaries, is fraudulent and does not recognise the peculiarities of the universities. ASUU continued to extend the strike until August, when the union announced an indefinite strike.

Several meetings with the union and the federal government ended in a deadlock.

The government’s ‘no work, no pay’ policy further aggravated the crisis, as ASUU insisted that the government must pay their salaries for the period they were on strike. In the face of hardship, some lecturers reportedly sought financial assistance. Others engaged in small-scale businesses to survive, remaining resolute and united in their struggle.

Having exhausted all peaceful mechanisms to get ASUU to return to work, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, approached the National Industrial Court (NIC), which ordered ASUU to suspend the strike. The union headed to the Court of Appeal, which gave a similar directive.

Meanwhile, on October 4, the federal government registered two new academic unions in universities, the Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA) and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA).

A week after the registration, ASUU announced the suspension of its strike.

The union explained that it called off its eight-month-old strike due to the order of the Court of Appeal and various appeals by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila and other well-meaning Nigerians.

It directed its members to resume work, effective from 12:00 am on October 14.

ASUU President, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, stated that the issues that led to its eight-month strike had yet to be satisfactorily addressed. However, beyond the reasons ASUU gave for suspending the strike, many believe that the registration of the new unions, especially CONUA contributed to its

Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke

suspending the strike. But ASUU described the registration of the two unions as inconsequential and that it does not threaten its existence.

With the strike over (for now), it is expected that the management of the affected universities will start announcing resumption dates.

In a message to the students, the Dean of the Students’ Affairs of the University of Lagos, Prof Musa Obalola, said while the university senate will meet to adjust the academic calendar, the department will ensure that

the hostels are in ready state to welcome them back into the campus.

“I will keep you informed as soon as the adjusted calendar is ready and when you can move into campus and the hostel. Until then, accept my kind wishes and warm regards,” the dean said.

Stakeholders’ Take Some stakeholders have proffered solutions to the incessant strikes that have affected the country’s quality and reputation of public universities.

Interim government campaigner and former presidential candidate Rev Chris Okotie said he did not foresee an end to the frequent labour disputes unless

Professional bodies should, by virtue of their competence, make laws that govern their spheres of influence, meaning ASUU should make laws for education, and the medical association will do the same for the health sector and so on, to engender economic stability

aboriginal democracy is accepted as the new political order in Nigeria.

According to him, professional bodies should, by virtue of their competence, make laws that govern their spheres of influence, meaning ASUU should make laws for education, and the medical association will do the same for the health sector and so on, to engender economic stability.

Immediate past Pro-Chancellor of Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, Chief Lawson Imokhodion, called for re-establishing the Nigerian Student Loans Board. He said only a federal loan scheme can bring a lasting solution to the recurring ASUU strikes, insisting that any solution without the loan scheme and allowing the council to do its work according to the law and the rules and regulations governing the university can only be temporal.

He said the loans will enable students to pay fees charged by universities, and the universities will pay lecturers, leaving the government out.

Aliyu Ibrahim stressed the need to convene a national education summit, where various stakeholders will develop and agree on a sustainable funding model in which public universities will be given subventions and generate additional revenues for their sustenance.

He said a reasonable increment in tuition is unavoidable but urged the government to provide scholarships to indigent students.

“Additionally, the business community should be encouraged to also provide scholarships to the less privileged,” stated Ibrahim. “The proliferation of public universities should be addressed; strict requirements should be put in place for any tier of government to fulfil if it so wishes to open a university.”

Ibrahim added that a database for academic staff should be established to control academics from taking up many visiting appointments at a particular time for quality control.

“A minimum base pay should be established for each academic rank, which will be reviewed periodically, then universities can be allowed to fix their own remunerations,” he added.

“This will stem the brain drain from our public universities and make them more attractive.”

He said universities could also seek for donations to augment their income.

“The appointment of vice-chancellors should be reviewed; being a professor is not enough,” Ibrahim stressed. “Evidence of the ability to attract grants should be a key requirement, and also there must be evidence that the person can mentor upcoming academics.”

Lagos Increases Students’ Bursary by 100% Funmi Ogundare

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved an increment of 100 per cent on bursary payable to the students of state origin in tertiary institutions across the country.

According to the Lagos government, the increment would take effect from the 2022/ 2023 academic session.

Executive Secretary of Lagos State Scholarship Board, Mr Abdur Rahaman Lekki, disclosed this recently at a meeting with representatives of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Lagos State Chapter, and National Union

of Lagos State Students (NULASS).

The meeting was held at the instance of the Special Adviser to Governor Sanwo- Olu on Education, Tokunbo Wahab.

The bursary increment and other benefits, Lekki, said, were aimed at supporting the educational needs of students of Lagos State origin to help them cope with the present economic reality, adding that at the just concluded state economic summit, tagged ‘‘Ehingbeti Summit’, the government had also approved the resolutions on the establishment of Lagos Diaspora Scholarship Funds, to provide scholarship and bursary benefits generally to all Lagos state

resident students in tertiary institution in any part of the country to support their education.

While appealing to the students for the little delay in the payment of the remaining 2020/ 2021 and 2021/2022 bursary/ scholarship benefits, the board secretary explained that the delay was necessitated by the ongoing data-cleansing/ verification exercise across all institutions by the state government, to ensure that only qualified students of the Lagos State origin benefited from the scheme.

He explained that the Lagos State Scholarship Board, through the ongoing verification and data cleansing exercise, discovered that some people

who either were no more students or were not students of any higher institutions were benefiting from the scheme fraudulently at the expense of the original students of the state.

“For the avoidance of doubt, effective from Monday, October 17, 2022, students of the Lagos State College of Health Technology (LASCOHET) would get their outstanding payments for the 2020/2021 academic year as their management had completed their verification exercise and forwarded a list of its authentic students to the board,” he said.

In their response, the leadership of the two students bodies, NANS

and NULASS represented by their presidents, Olusesi Tolulope ( NANS) and Shasanya Akinola ( NULASS) and other exco members dispelled the rumours making the rounds that their members planned to block the Third Mainland Bridge on Monday, October 17 in protest of the delay in the disbursement of the outstanding benefits for the 2020/2021 and 2021/22 academic sessions.

The student union leaders presented a letter of assurances to the Lagos government, lauding Sanwo-Olu. The students also commended the governor for paying all the backlogs inherited by his administration.

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 19, 2022

EDUCATION

Indrive’s BeginIT Project EWAN: Summit Emphasises Proactive Measures Trains Underserved to Boost School Safety Children on IT Skills Funmi Ogundare Minister of Education, Mallam within the schools, including in and out of school facilities.

They also stressed the need Adamu Adamu, was the guest CCTVs to “monitor and ensure BeginIT, a social educational project spearheaded by inDrive, has completed a one-day training for less privileged children in Nigeria on IT skills.

The BeginIT programme is an initiative of inDrive targeted at identifying and providing future career guidance for capable children from orphanages, boarding schools, and rural schools in the sphere of new technologies.

Thirty-three students drawn from three schools owned by not-for-profit organisations were groomed on different technologies, including Embedded Systems (physical computing with Arduino kit).

At the end of the session, the students presented projects to demonstrate their ability to identify solutions relative to transportation in their environment.

In his remarks, the Director of Transport Operations, Lagos Ministry of Transportation, Olasunkanmi Ojowuro, who represented the transportation commissioner, commended inDrive for the initiative, which he said would go a long way to bring about innovations needed to transform not only the transportation sector but

other sectors in the state.

Speaking on the theme, ‘inDrive: Future of Mobility’, InDrive’s BeginIT representative and driver acquisition specialist, Mrs Onuzulike Clementina, explained that the initiative, which has registered its presence in 15 countries, including Nigeria, is geared towards catching children a young in the field of technology to stimulate their problem-solving skills and prepare them for the future of work.

Also speaking, the Programme Associate, STEMCafe, Daye Omona, stated that the organisation was partnering with inDrive on the initiative to impart the kids by implementing a STEMbased programme focused on the future of transportation.

According to Omona, the training session would allow the kids to learn concepts such as design thinking, conceptualization, and working with microcontrollers and sensors necessary to create, for example, a driverless car or blue tooth control boat.

Some not-for-profit institutions that participated in the session include Amazing Grace, Precious Jasper Foundation and Mayzer Memorial Foundation.

Stakeholders recently converged on Radisson Blu Hotel, GRA Ikeja, for the 2022 edition of the annual summit of Education Writers’ Association of Nigeria (EWAN) themed: ‘Towards Safe Schools in Nigeria’, aimed at engaging different experts responsible for keeping schools safe and consolidating their efforts to ensure the implementation of the safe school policy.

Governor Babajide SanwoOlu was the chief host and

of honour.

Participants also included school owners and administrators, heads of security agencies, teachers, parents, educational institutions and education-focused civil societies, journalists, and students.

They stressed the need to improve the safe schools policy, recommending a “codified policy” for schools that must be complied with by both staff and students and all persons working or living

adequate security of lives and properties in schools, as well as the construction of perimeter fences around schools nationwide.”

The stakeholders also recommended the constitution of security committees comprising members of the schools’ host communities and staffers to assist security agencies in achieving their set goals, as well as the improved use of visitors’ registers across schools to monitor those who come

for school owners; public or private, to address the boarding system across schools that are vulnerable to physical attacks.

The participants also suggested the mandatory establishment of counselling units in schools to address academic and psychosocial challenges of staff and students, as well as adequate funding of schools to accommodate security facilities needed for safety, such as the alternative source of power in cases of outages.

Minister for Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen and Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mrs. Aisha Ahmad (middle) flanked by the Director, Nigeria Office, MacArthur Foundation, Dr. Kole Shettima; immediate past Global President, Federal Government Girls’ College, Bida Old Girls Association,, Mrs. Bukola Olatunji; former Principal and Alumna, Mrs. Larai Ahmed and Chairperson, BoT, Amina Salihu PhD; at the first global reunion/AGM and swearing-in of new executives of the association, in Abuja… weekend

Ghanaian Universities to Attract More International USOSA Warns Parents about Rising, Sexual Students Abuse against Children Uchechukwu Nnaike

The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) has expressed its readiness to work with Ghanaian universities to position education as a veritable export offer in the non-traditional export basket.

The Ghana High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency Rashid Bawa, stated this at the first GEPA Students’ Recruitment Fair, organised in Lagos, in collaboration with 16 universities in Ghana and with the support of Access Bank.

Bawa, who was represented by the Consul General of Ghana in Lagos, Hajia Samata Bukari, said Ghanaian tertiary institutions have established and distinguished themselves as centres of quality education and learning, attracting students from all over the world, with particular reference to African students.

“With a foreign student population of over 5,000 in our tertiary institutions, Ghana is well positioned to become the Mecca for students from Africa, the Caribbean and many parts of the world,” he said.

Bawa added that the advent of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) opens up opportunities for the country to extend its reach beyond its traditional markets.

“Accessing this new frontier would require concerted efforts by all players in education.

However, I must be quick to add that we can only get to that desired level if we streamline our processes properly, especially the cost structure of our fees, accommodation and other tenets of customer service.”

He said the fair falls in line with the strategic foreign policy of Ghana, which among others enjoins Ghana diplomatic missions abroad to: Promote tertiary and secondary institutions in host countries; host educational conferences, fairs, and seminars in host countries; liaise with Ghanaian educational institutions to facilitate the admission of foreign students.

Others are to collaborate with the Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service and tertiary and secondary cycle schools in Ghana; assist in securing employment for English and science and maths teachers in other countries who will return after a period; and encourage Ghanaian professionals in the diaspora to come back home and support the education system, particularly in areas of science and technology.

In his remarks, the Deputy CEO of GEPA, Albert Diwura, stated that the recruitment fair also strategically aligns with and cascades into the broader framework of the National Export Development Strategy (NEDS). which recognises trade in services as one of the 17 priority sectors for tailored intervention by GEPA and other stakeholders in export trade.

He noted that non-traditional export currently contributes about USD 3.33 billion to the total merchandise exports of Ghana, with a projected increased earnings in 2022.

“The NEDS, which hinges on three strategic pillars, projects earnings of USD 25.3 billion by 2029. GEPA is currently implementing the NEDS, with an ongoing district implementation agenda,” he said.

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The Unity Schools Old Students’ Association (USOSA) has called on parents to look out for their children and wards in the face of rising and disturbing sexual trends.

The association also lamented that bad roads, insecurity and the proliferation of private schools have made the colleges less attractive to parents.

The Global President of the Federal Government Girls’ College Bida Old Girls’ Association (FEGGICOBIDOGA), Mrs Bukola Olatunji, who stated this during

the 48th-anniversary celebration of the school, stressed sodomy was not a challenge only to single-gender institutions, but also to mixed schools, which must be condemned.

Olatunji added that several modalities were being implemented in partnership with the ministry of education and principal in curbing moral decadence.

“Parents need to take care of their children so that they don’t begin to doubt their sexuality.

The new trend in the west is about children being told that they can choose their gender.

So the onus lies on parents,” she explained.

FEGGICOBIDOGA, founded in October 2007, held its first global reunion and annual general meeting in Abuja as part of the anniversary celebration.

A member of the association and Central Bank of Nigeria Deputy Governor, Mrs Aisha Ahmad, delivered the keynote address, while goodwill messages came from friends and partners of the association, including the Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen; first lady of Niger State, Dr Amina Abubakar Bello; Africa Director,

MacArthur Foundation, Dr Kole Shettima; and President-General of USOSA, Mr Lawrence Wilbert.

She added that set and chapter reunions had been held across cities in Nigeria, US and UK over the years.

“In line with our motto: ‘For Self, School and Society’, members have impacted one another, our alma mater and indeed, the various communities where we live,” she disclosed.

“Significantly, the classes of 1986 and 1989 led us back to school in 2016 and 2019, respectively, 30 years after they left school, and they did not go empty-handed.”

Winners Emerge at the JAN 2022 National Company of Year Competition Winners have emerged at the Junior Achievement (JAN) Nigeria National Competition 2022, held in Partnership with FirstBank Nigeria.

The winners include International School, University of Lagos; Queen’s School, Ibadan; Top Faith International Secondary

School, Akwa-Ibom; and Special Education School, Tudun Maliki.

Speaking at the event, the Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Folake Ani-Mumuney, emphasised that the initiative aims at empowering secondary school students to build

fulfilling careers and be financially conscious from a young age.

This, she pointed out, would help young people gain the tools and knowledge to make effective, informed financial management decisions and achieve long-term financial independence.

She said through the initiative and First Bank’s partnership with JAN, over one million young Nigerians were impacted as they have continued to strategically drive sustainability practises through the innovation and participation of students in the JA Company programme.

QCOGA Inaugurates N10bn Endowment Fund Oluchi Chibuzor

As part of the effort to deepen the educational infrastructure of their alma mater, the Queen’s College Old Girls’ Association has launched a N10 billion endowment fund.

The endowment is the first step towards raising a N500 billion targeted at key

strategic areas like power, water, security and technology infrastructure.

Speaking at the programme in Lagos, the President of the QCOGA, Mrs Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, expressed the association’s determination to uphold standards and recognise merit, as well as develop the country and its

people across the board in an equitable manner.

The president, however, hinted at the possibility of a new location as appealed to the Lagos state government for a new land site that would accommodate the rising population of the school.

“The same land mass that catered for about 500

students nearly 50 years ago is catering for over 3,500 students. Basics such as power, water, security and technology infrastructure are not in place. We are launching today the first step towards achieving our N500bn target by starting with raising a N10 billion endowment by 2029.,” Omoigui-Okauru.

36

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͷ˜ 2022

CITYSTRINGS

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A Look into the Future Public Sector through Visionary Leadership In taking a look at the future of the public sector, Precious Ugwuzor reports that the recent inauguration of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy in Lagos was borne out of a vision to develop tomorrow leaders today for public service and governance in Africa by equipping them with the requisite skills to influence the public service while instilling the ethics and values of purposeful leadership through direct mentoring and on-the-job training

N

igeria, the most populous black nation, is home to around 200 million people with an annual population growth of 2.61 per cent. Currently, over 33.6 million (16.8 per cent) Nigerians are regarded as youths (aged between 15 and 35). However, according to statistics, about 43.69 per cent of Nigeria’s total population were aged 0 to 14 in 2019.

This means that in the nearest future, the youth will increasingly form the bulk of the country’s population as children grow older into young adults.

More than ever, the need of youth development cannot be overemphasised. Beyond the fact that they form the majority of the nation’s population, it has been argued that the energy that will power Nigeria into a prosperous future will come from her teeming, vibrant youths.

However, despite its energy and dynamism, this generation of the Nigerian youths may not see the change it wants without becoming familiar and participate in the processes of policymaking at the local, state and federal levels; it is essential for them to have the knowledge of how the system works and actively participate in it.

The connection between youth and national integration is self-evident.

This relationship is not only mutually beneficial, but it is also entirely dependent on the other in order to exist. As a result, it's impossible to overstate the importance of young people for the advancement of a country. The ability of a country's young people to produce and innovate is crucial to its future development.

Any society's progress and development is powered by its youth. People's actions and inactions have the power to either strengthen or weaken the hegemony of their own societies.

Unexpectedly, a society's ability to form and develop is directly correlated to how smoothly it passes from one generation to the next. Because of this, a society that teaches young people for the sake of their future aspirations will not guarantee just future growth.

However, the challenge of national healing and growth will be prepared for her next generation of leaders. As a result, the importance of the role of youth in national development cannot be overstated. In order for society to be revitalised, it must begin with the next generation.

In this socio-economic environment there may still be budget for talent development, but it might not be as much as we have grown accustomed to. There is a growing need for effective, sustainable and prudent programs: the question is ''how?''

The form and purpose of talent development efforts are frequently mismatched. Preferred learning styles and the design of talent programs are often at odds. Getting it right is what Nigeria as a nation should focus on, so the country can benefit immensely from its teeming and talented youths.

Offer mentoring by true role models and thus enhance the talent's organ-

Lagos State Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Mrs. Ponnle Ajibola

isational ''know-how'' and policy insight and accelerate their development. Harness the power of the talent pool, because getting the youths involved in decision making could offer the country a huge and largely untapped cognitive surplus.

The LJLA Example “Our development agenda is anchored on the existence of a skilful, productive, competitive and adaptive human resource base. The attainment of this vision hinges on the extent to which the State is able to

plan and develop a human resource capable of responding to the rapidly industrialising and globalising economy.

"This underscores the public sector reform carried out by my Administration which has empowered the State Public Service to move to the knowledge and technology-driven economy of the 21st Century.” Those were the words of the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu when he was addressing the media at the launch of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy on the 1st of May, 2022 during the commemoration of Worker ’s Day. It's not a secret that Lagos State is always ahead of other states and the

The leadership and mentorship programme was borne out of the state’s vision to develop tomorrow leaders today for public service and governance in Africa by equipping them with the requisite skills to influence the public service and instilling the ethics and values of purposeful leadership through direct mentoring and on-the-job training

launch of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy has further proven how forward thinking the state is. The Governor disclosed that the leadership and mentorship programme was borne out of the state’s vision to develop tomorrow leaders today for public service and Governance in Africa by equipping them with the requisite skills to influence the public service and instilling the ethics and values of purposeful leadership through direct mentoring and on-the-job training.

The one-year non-partisan and meritocratic fellowship will offer first-hand experience in the process of governance at State Government level and offer bright young Nigerians the chance to support Nigeria’s recovery through inclusive, sustainable and development solutions.

Fellows will form a shadow cabinet, closely working with Executive Cabinet members and support in developing and executing policies and programs with real life impact.

They will participate in discussions with renowned leaders from both the public and private sectors and partake in domestic and international policy trips.

This initiative is a step forward for both the government and the youths and it is now left for the latter to take the full advantage of it. Afterall, if they truly want the development they clamor for, they need to rise to the occasion and show commitment strong enough to be part of the system.

When the Lagos State Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Mrs. Ponnle Ajibola was asked about the state’s rationale for creating the initiative, she responded by saying “Mr. Governor realizes that the challenge of leadership and governance have plagued the country for several years. Whilst this situation can be attributed to various factors, it is essentially traceable to these two factors. It is feared that if the issue of leadership and governance are not addressed, the country will continue to suffer for it. This is what gave birth to Lateef Jakande Academy.

It is intended to help the State put governance and leadership in its development agenda because it is believed that solutions to governance issues will substantially solve all other major problems.”

She went further to reveal that the academy is meant to establish a leadership development programme for young Nigerians to further develop their leadership skills in public administration and governance, provide an opportunity for them to become familiar and participate in the processes of policymaking at the local, state and federal levels; and identify, train and motivate a cadre of leaders who will continue to position the State as a leader and develop the workforce.

No doubt, the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy comes off as a right step in the right direction towards preparing next set of leaders with the challenges of national reconciliation and development and other states need to join in and adopt such laudable initiative.

37

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

FOREIGN DESK

COMPILED BY BAYO AKINLOYE

Lafarge, Syrian Subsidiary Plead Guilty to Supporting IS Terrorists In the first case of its kind, a French industrial company and its Syrian subsidiary pleaded guilty on Tuesday to conspiring to provide material support to Islamic State and the al-Nusrah Front.

Lafarge S.A., a global building materials manufacturer based in Paris, and Lafarge Cement Syria, based in Damascus, allegedly paid the two US-designated terrorist groups nearly $6 million in exchange for permission to operate a cement plant in Syria from 2013 to 2014, according to court documents.

The scheme enabled the Syrian company to bring in more than $70 million in revenue, prosecutors charge in court documents.

A federal judge in New York sentenced the defendants to probation. They were ordered to pay financial penalties totalling $777.78 million.

The Department of Justice described the case as its “first corporate material support for terrorism prosecution.”

“The terrorism crimes to which Lafarge and its subsidiary have pleaded guilty are a vivid reminder of how corporate crime can intersect with national security,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said at a press conference in New York.

Ethiopian Forces Seize Three Towns in Northern Tigray Ethiopian government forces and their allies have captured the city of Shire and two more towns in the Tigray region in an offensive that aims to take control of airports and federal infrastructure.

The attack has been met with international calls for an immediate ceasefire and for neighbouring Eritrea to withdraw troops from the region. The fighting has also dashed hopes for African Union-led peace talks.

In a statement, the Ethiopian government said its forces have taken control of Alamata, Korem and Shire city in the Tigray region and will coordinate with aid groups to get aid into those areas.

The rebel Tigray People’s Liberation Front acknowledged losing ground to the government troops but said it would defend itself against the enemies.

“Shire is the second-largest city in Tigray and strategic as it’s at a crossroads, potentially making it easier to advance towards Axum and Adwa” said William Davison, the International Crisis Group’s senior analyst for Ethiopia. “It also has a major road south leading from it.

So it’s a strategic and psychological boost (for the Eritrean and Ethiopian federal forces). But of course, we are yet to see how quickly this advance will continue. It’s possible there will be a rapid move towards Makelle or there could be resistance along the way that prevents that.”

North Korea Fires Shells That Land Near Sea Border With South Korea South Korea said North Korea fired artillery shells that landed near the sea border between the two countries late Tuesday, a day after Seoul began annual military drills in the region.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that North Korea fired about 100 shells off its west coast and 150 rounds off its east coast. Seoul said its military broadcast messages several times asking North Korea to stop the firing, but there were no reports of violence between the rivals.

South Korea said the shells did not land in its territorial waters but rather in the maritime buffer zones the two Koreas established under a 2018 inter-Korean agreement aimed at reducing direct conflict.

It was the second time North Korea fired shells into the buffer zones since last Friday when it shot hundreds of shells there.

In recent weeks, North Korea has conducted an array of missile and artillery launches in what some experts call an attempt to expand its weapons arsenal and boost its leverage in future negotiations with its rivals. Pyongyang sent one missile flying over Japan that landed in waters thousands of kilometres away.

are illegal and should be annulled.

The Lefortovo district court in Moscow handed down the nine-year prison sentence to Navalny on March 22 after finding him guilty of embezzlement and contempt of court, which he and his supporters have repeatedly rejected as politically motivated.

World Movement for Democracy’s Global Assembly to Hold in Taiwan

Taliban Accused of Executing 27 ‘Rebel’ Prisoners A new investigative report accuses Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers of executing 27 opposition fighters in custody during last month’s military operations in the turbulent northern province of Panjshir.

Afghan Witness (AW), an open-source project run by the UK-based nonprofit Centre for Information Resilience, studied the allegations and published its findings Tuesday, which contradict earlier Taliban claims of killing the men in battlefield clashes.

The victims were said to be affiliated with the National Resistance Front (NRF), which has been waging armed resistance against the Taliban since the Islamist group seized power more than a year ago.

AW researchers analyzed dozens of social media videos and photographs to “conclusively link” a group of Taliban fighters to the extrajudicial killings of 10 men in the Dara district area.

“Five men—one facing the executioners on his knees, the others sitting facing away, all blindfolded with hands bound behind their backs—are repeatedly shot for 20 seconds… accompanied by celebratory cries from the large group of (Taliban) fighters,” the report said, adding that the group of Taliban fighters could be identified with five more men who were later executed.

US: Iranian Drone Supplies to Russia Violate UN Resolution The United States said Monday that Iran is violating a UN Security Council resolution by supplying drones to Russia.

“Earlier today, our French and British allies publicly offered the assessment that Iran’s supply of these UAVs to Russia is a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231, and this is something that we agree with,” deputy State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters.

The Security Council adopted the resolution in 2015, codifying the international agreement that restricted Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

In recent weeks, Ukraine has repeatedly reported Russian attacks on its cities using Iran’s Shahed-136 drones. Iran denies equipping Russia with its drones.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Monday that the Iranians “have not been truthful about this and deny providing weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine.”

Russian Airstrikes Hit Ukrainian Energy Sites Russian forces launched airstrikes Tuesday on numerous Ukrainian cities, hitting energy facilities and cutting power and water supplies to hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky

characterised the Russian attacks on energy and critical infrastructure as “terrorist attacks” that eliminated any chance for peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelenskyy said the attacks aimed to drive the country into the cold and dark as winter approaches.

“Since Oct 10, 30% of Ukraine’s power stations have been destroyed, causing massive blackouts across the country,” he tweeted Tuesday. “No space left for negotiations with Putin’s regime.”

Russia and Ukraine held several talks in the first month after Moscow’s February 24 invasion, but they collapsed. The Kremlin has said talks could only be possible if Ukraine meets Russian demands and accepts its takeover of Ukrainian territory, but Kyiv has rejected talks on such terms.

Australia Stops Recognising West Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital Australia’s centre-left government is reversing a decision by the previous conservative administration to recognise West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced the decision Tuesday in Canberra, saying the city’s status should be decided through peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian people.

Wong said Australia “will always be a steadfast friend of Israel” but said her country “will not support an approach that undermines” the chance of a two-state solution that envisions the creation of a Palestinian nation existing alongside Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid insisted that Jerusalem “is the eternal undivided capital of Israel and nothing will change that” in a written statement released by his office.

He said a media report had misled Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Cabinet about Jerusalem and hoped it “manages other matters more seriously and professionally.”

Israel’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Australian envoy to lodge an official protest.

Russian Court Rejects Navalny’s Appeal of Fraud, Contempt Sentences An appeals court in Moscow has rejected jailed opposition politician Alexey Navalny’s move to have his nine-year prison sentence on charges of financial fraud and contempt of court struck down.

The second court of appeals of common jurisdiction in the Russian capital announced its decision on Tuesday.

Navalny, who took part in the hearing via a video link from a penal colony, and his defence team insisted that the verdict and sentence handed to the outspoken Kremlin critic in March while he was already serving another prison term from a separate case,

The 11th Global Assembly of the World Movement for Democracy will hold in Taipei on October 25, spotlighting the government’s commitment to strengthening cooperation among like-minded partners to resist authoritarianism.

Co-hosted by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy and NED, the three-day event gathers around 300 democracy activists, experts, policymakers and donors from 70 countries. They will discuss countermeasures against today’s authoritarian challenges and how to foster democracy, the WMD said.

Describing Taiwan as a thriving and vigorous democracy, the WMD said its successful model was crucial to the global defence of such ideas, infrastructure and principles. The decision to choose Taiwan as the site of the assembly reaffirms the international community’s commitment to stand with Taiwan, the WMD added.

President Tsai Ing-wen has been invited to deliver opening remarks, while a conversation between Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu and Ukraine’s Parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee Chair Oleksandr Merezhko will be held at a dinner event.

Taliban: Afghan Women Protest Expulsion of Female University Students A large group of women activists in Afghanistan’s capital Tuesday staged a protest rally against the expulsion of dozens of female students from a Kabul University hostel by Taliban authorities.

The demonstrators, including students, gathered outside the university campus, chanting, “Education is our red line” and “silence is treason.”

Rally participants accused the Islamist Taliban-led ministry of higher education of expelling at least 40 female students over the past few days from the school, one of the country’s oldest and most revered institutions.

A ministry statement confirmed on Sunday that several women had been removed from the dormitory for violating university regulations, but it shared no further details.

“The students were punished for attending a protest rally against the attack on the Kaaj education centre,” Lilia Baseem, who attended Tuesday’s rally, told VOA. She referred to the September 30 suicide bombing of a private school in a western Kabul neighbourhood that killed 53 people, including 46 girls and women. Another 110 people, mostly women, were wounded.

Death Toll Rises to 14 After Russian Warplane Crashes in Russian City of Yeysk The death toll has risen to 14 after a Russian warplane crashed into a residential area in the Russian port city of Yeysk, causing a massive fire at an apartment building.

Authorities released the updated death toll on Tuesday.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the plane was on a training mission Monday when one of its engines caught fire. The plane’s crew safely ejected before the crash.

Local authorities said the plane crash ignited a massive fire that engulfed several floors of a nine-story apartment building in Yeysk, on the Sea of Azov.

The Defense Ministry said the plane was a Su-34 bomber, a supersonic twin-engine plane that Russia has been using during its war in Ukraine.

38

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2022 2022

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

eNaira: CBN Woos Tri-cycles Operators, Offers 5% Discounts on Transactions

James Emejo ÓØ ÌßÔË

In a bid to deepen the adoption of eNaira in the country, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has offered a five per cent discount to tri-cycles operators popularly known as Keke NAPEP as well as their customers, should they use the digital currency as means of payment.

The bank has announced the commencement of a nationwide awareness campaign to drive the adoption of the digital currency at the grassroots.

Speaking at the eNaira Onboarding programme for Keke NAPEP riders in Abuja, CBN Director, Information Technology Department, Hajiya Rekiya Mohammed, said the apex bank seeks to promote awareness and get people intimated with the new form of money and understand its use.

She said part of the objectives was to also unboard the people

and guide them to make use of the digital money in a simplified way.

The CBN director said, “We are here with the wider community of Keke NAPEP riders as our adoption drive covers all segments of the economy from government institutions, businesses, MSMEs and also day-to-day traders” Mohammed, who also doubles as Coordinator, Technical Working Committee on eNaira, added that “We hope this engagement will improve everybody’s understanding of eNaira, know its benefits and that the people we engage will help us drive its use, as well as educate people about what it is.”

The CBN director was represented at the by an Officer in the Information Technology Department of the bank, Dr. Khalipha Nuhu.

She said the ultimate target was to get people to use eNaira and understand its numerous benefits.

However, CBN Consultant on the drive of eNaira, Dr. Aminu Bizi, said it is saddled with the responsibility of driving the digital currency adoption in the country, thus flag-off of the Keke Napep initiative.

He said the CBN had decided to have a subsidy for both riders and their customers.

Bizi said, “For example, a customer has five per cent discount for using eNaira to pay for transportation with the riders. At the same time, the keke napep rider will also have a five per cent instant discount.

He said the awareness will be expanded to other states of the federation.

He said, “The essence of this is to reach the grassroots and not elites because the akara woman and tea seller, food vendor, shoe-shiners – if they can receive their money through digital currency, then the eNaira is good to go.

L-R: Managing Director, Intercontinental Distillers Limited (IDL), Mr.Patrick Anegbe; Managing Director, Ogbohu Enterprises and IDL’s Overall best Distributor for the year 2021, Mrs. Dorathy Anegbe, and Head of Sales IDL, Mr. Hope Gbagi, at IDL’s Distributors Award ceremony in Abeokuta recently .

MARKET INDICATORS

Wema Bank to Share Growth Strategies for Tech Start-ups, SMEs Wema Bank Plc has announced that the next edition of its quarterly webinar, aimed at assisting the small and medium-scale enterprise (SME) and early-stage start-up segments of its customer base, will hold on Friday.

In a statement, Head of SME Banking at Wema Bank, Arthur Nkemeh, said the webinar, themed, “From Start-up to Unicorn: Strategies for Sustainably Scaling a Tech Company in Nigeria,” will focus on the strategies that start-ups and SMEs in the tech space in Nigeria can adopt to develop the capacity needed to withstand the challenges facing the tech industry around the world.

“We have seen many tech

companies in Nigeria and around the world struggle to raise funds, lay off their employees and slash their workers’ salaries in recent times. We want to utilize this webinar to share insights with the tech start-up and SME community in Nigeria on the strategies that they can adopt to navigate these challenges and build structures that will ensure that they will continue to grow.”

He further said that the October webinar will address some of the biggest challenges facing the tech start-ups and tech-enabled SMEs in the country – such as managerial capacity, talent acquisition and retention, access to credit and partnerships, among others – and find the right path

to profitability.

Nkemeh informed that Ashim Egunjobi, Managing Partner of Octerra Capital; Oluwole Oyeniran, Enterprise Technology and Performance Leader and TMT Leader for Deloitte in West Africa; and Eyitayo Ogunmola, founder and CEO of Utiva, have been confirmed as guest speakers at the webinar.

He noted that Wema Bank’s quarterly SME Webinar series, which is aimed at facilitating the growth of the SME and early-stage startup sectors in Nigeria, is borne out of the bank’s understanding of the role these sectors play in the Nigerian economy and the immense potentials that they hold.

MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS Money Supply (M3)

48,865,823.53

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

167,956.2

Money Supply (M2)

48,797,867.32

-- Quasi Money

28,405,330.1

-- Narrow Money (M1)

20,392,537.22

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,722,785.91

---- Demand Deposits

17,669,751.32

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

6,242,394.29

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

42,623,429.24

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

57,267,178.05

---- Credit to Government (Net)

17,996,690.06

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

0.00

Dufil Prima Engages Teachers In Professional, Personal Development

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

39,270,488

Kayode Tokede

--Other Assets Net

5,566,430

Reserve Money (Base Money

11,320,304

As part of its 2022 World Teachers Day celebration, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, producer of Indomie Instant Noodles, has engaged teachers in professional and personal development needed for better teaching of children and contributing to the nation’s education sector.

The capacity training initiative was part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibly (CSR) aimed at celebrating, and rewarding exemplary teachers that have shown uncommon courage and determination in their chosen profession.

Speaking at the “2022 teachers’ seminar” event recently in Lagos, the Group Corporate Communica-

tions and Events Manager of Dufil Prima Foods, Mr. Tope Ashiwaju explained that the brand over the years has impacted knowledge and trained teachers in major cities across the country.

According to him, “Because of the activities we have with different schools, from time to time, we organize workshops and training for teachers, thereby bringing academicians to speak to teachers and pass on the knowledge needed by teachers for their development.

“As a brand, we wanted to pass a message that people can choose teaching as a profession.

We have done training for teachers for more than 10 years and aside from the educational workshops, we had a quiz competition that

ended during World Teachers Day and some were awarded. In the past, we gave teachers laptops, monetary rewards and of course, we gave them recommendation letters needed in case of promotion.”

He explained that the brand aimed at boosting the passion of teachers, stressing that “attitude determines your altitude in life and we aimed towards attitude professional teaching in Nigeria.”

One of the academicians, the head of the department, Faculty of Education, University of Lagos, Professor Sunday Adeyemo encouraged teachers to develop themselves and attend more training to build themselves professionally.

Rainoil Inaugurates Lekki Fuel Station In its continued drive to make petroleum products easily accessible to consumers across Nigeria, Rainoil Limited, a leading integrated energy company in Nigeria, has commissioned a new fuel station in the Lekki area of Lagos.

Announcing the opening of the fuel station in Lagos recently, the Group Managing Director of Rainoil Limited, Dr. Gabriel Ogbechie OON, said the new Lekki station is not only a response to the yearnings of the customers who had expressed their

desire to have a Rainoil station close to them, but also a commitment to the company’s drive to expand and reach more customers across Nigeria.

The new fuel station, which is located on Block 56, PFS, Lekki Scheme 2, has twelve retail points for petrol (PMS), diesel (AGO), and kerosene (DPK). The station, according to the Managing Director, will, like others, run on the core values of respect for customers; integrity in all transactions; teamwork

among the workers; excellent service delivery; and safety for all.

Also commenting on the new addition, the Group Executive Director of the company, Mrs. Godrey Ogbechie, said the new Lekki station is one of many to come as the company will not relent in its expansion drive and ensure there is a Rainoil fuel station within reach of every Nigerian. She said customers should be well assured that they will get the best possible service at each station.

(MILLION NAIRA)

JUNE 2022

--Currency in Circulation

3,259,269.15

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

11,320,303.72 384,377.56

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

June 2022

Inter-Bank Call Rate

11.10

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

13.00

Treasury Bill Rate

2.45

Savings Deposit Rate

1.38

1 Month Deposit Rate

3.48

3 Months Deposit Rate

4.55

6 Months Deposit Rate

4.97

12 Months Deposit Rate

5.30

Prime Lending rate

12.29

Maximum Lending Rate

27.61

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT 27 SEPTEMBER 2022

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $89.50 a barrel on Monday, compared with $92.67 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), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

39

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2022 2022

MARKET NEWS

Promptly Disclose Substantial Interests in Listed Firms, NGX Urges Investors

KayodeTokede

To reduce the distortion of companies’ public information and market data, Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) has urged investors to disclose their substantial interest in listed companies not later than 10 business days after such a transaction.

According to NGX, sudden announcements of previously undisclosed interests breach the Exchange’s rules as well as other

extant market laws.

The Exchange in a statement recently released disclosed that it was mindful of an upcoming trend by investors, adding that the disclosure obligations are provided under the Exchange’s rules, the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), 2020, and the Consolidated Rules and Regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC or the Commission), 2013.

Specifically, Rule 17.13: Dis-

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

closure of Changes in Beneficial Ownership of Shares, Rulebook of the Exchange, 2015 (Issuers’ Rules) requires every issuer to notify NGX immediately on any transaction that brings the beneficial ownership in the company’s shares to five percent or more not later than ten business days after such transaction.

The Exchange in a statement said, “We also wish to reiterate the provisions of Rule 2.2 of NGX’s Rules Governing Free

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

Float Requirements, which provides as follows: Each Issuer shall incorporate in its half-year financial statement filed with the Exchange its shareholding pattern, and also indicate whether or not its free float is in compliance with the Exchange’s free float requirements for the Board on which it is listed.

In making the requisite disclosures to the Exchange, listed companies are required to state in detail, the different categories of owners of their shares, including

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

Directors, Substantial Shareholders, influential shareholders and other Insiders, indicating whether the holding is direct or indirect. This disclosure is also required during the annual report filings of all listed Companies.”

It added that the substantial shareholders and High Net worth investors have an obligation to be vigilant by monitoring their holdings, especially where their shares are held in different accounts and make honest disclosures in that

O F

regard.

According to NGX, this is to avoid breaching the disclosure obligations where the five percent reporting threshold is reached, creating the risk of failure of compliance.

“An investor who chooses to consolidate his/her holdings must comply with the aforementioned disclosure requirements immediately his/her combined holdings in an Issuer the five (5) percent threshold,” the statement said.

1 8 / 1 0 / 2 0 2 2 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

40

˜ ͹΁˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

ʬ

ʬ ʬ

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

7 R S * D LQ H U V

T ic k er

-8.6%

57.4

2.5%

UC A P

12.45

9.7%

C WG

R EGA LIN S

0.26

8.3%

GT C O

SOVR EN IN S

0.28

7.7%

Z EN IT H B A N K

13.2

1.0%

M B EN EF IT

0.29

7.4%

F ID ELIT YB K

12.5

0.6% 1.8%

H ON YF LOUR

2.50

6.8%

A C C ESSC OR P

9.0

UN IT YB N K

0.46

4.5%

T R A N SC OR P

5.5

1.9%

58.75

4.0%

J A IZ B A N K

5.3

-5.6% 9.7%

B UA C EM EN T C UT IX

2.15

3.9%

UC A P

5.1

CHA M S

0.27

3.8%

UB A

4.7

2.2%

GT C O

18.55

2.5%

ST ER LN B A N K

4.2

0.0%

7 R S 7 U D G H V E \ 9 D OX H T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

A IR T ELA F R I

1351.3

-10.0%

-9.8%

GT C O

1067.1

2.5%

-8.6%

Z EN IT H B A N K

268.8

1.0%

C WG

191.5

-8.6% 4.0%

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

1458.00

-10.0%

NB

41.90

C WG

0.74

A IR T ELA F R I

J A IZ B A N K

0.85

-5.6%

C OUR T VILLE

0.46

-4.2%

B UA C EM EN T

141.6

-3.8%

A C C ESSC OR P

74.4

1.8%

3.56

-2.5%

N GXGR OUP

72.7

-0.2%

23.00

-2.1%

UC A P

62.8

9.7%

-1.9%

M TNN

46.1

0.0%

-1.8%

F ID ELIT YB K

44.5

0.6%

J A P A ULGOLD C H A M P ION WA P C O C OR N ER ST OA N D O

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

258.8

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

P ric e C hg %

P ric e

7 R S / R V H U V

Vo lum e

T ic k er

0.25

0.51 4.40

Investment Research

Brokerage

Asset Management

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com

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

Taiwo Ogundipe | togundipe@afrinvest.com

Christopher Omoh | comoh@afrinvest.com

Damilare Asimiyu | dasimiyu@afrinvest.com

41

WEDNESDAY, ͹΁˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

BUHARI SET TO UNVEIL PINNACLE'S GROUNDBREAKING INTAKE AND OFFTAKE FACILITY...

L-R: Chief Operating Officer, Pinnacle Oil and Gas Ltd. Robert Dickerman (L) and the Company’s Group CEO, Mr Peter Mbah, during a press conference yesterday at the Company’s corporate headquarters to brief the Press of the scheduled unveiling of the company's ground breaking Intake and Off take (SPM and CBM facility) at the Lekki Free Trade Zone Lagos by President Muhammadu Buhari on PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN Saturday 22nd

Buhari Set to Unveil Nigeria's First Offshore Subsea Petroleum Products Intake, Offtake Terminal Built by Pinnacle Oil Peter Uzoho President Muhammadu Buhari will this Saturday inaugurate the first offshore subsea petroleum products terminal in Nigeria constructed by Pinnacle Oil and Gas Limited, the leader of the downstream sector in the country in terms of volume and market share.

The bi-directional offshore mooring facility which comprises Single-point Mooring (SPM) and the Conventional Buoy Mooring (CBM) facilities with the capacity to receive petroleum products from large vessels is accompanied with the largest storage capacity of over one billion litres of product at the maximum.

The Group Chief Executive Officer Pinnacle Oil and Gas, who is equally the Enugu State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections, Dr. Peter Mbah, disclosed in Lagos

yesterday, during a parley with journalists that the president would inaugurate the infrastructure located at the Lekki Free Zone.

Mbah, who said the cost of building such massive disruptive facilities was about $1 billion, disclosed that the funding was through a consortium of Nigerian banks.

He said the disruptive facilities were borne out of the company's desire to address the sub-optmisation and inefficiencies in the downstream sector, which had led to the multiple handlings in receiving products from mother vessels using daughter vessels with attendant cost implications.

THISDAY learnt that the terminal is an ultra-modern purpose-built products intake, storage and offtake facility conceptualised

by Pinnacle to revolutionise the Nigerian downstream oil and gas industry by enabling the direct delivery of petroleum products from large vessels which would

otherwise have been unable to berth anywhere on the Nigerian coastline.

This has in effect improved the efficiency of the Nigerian downstream industry by eliminating the need for expensive vessel lightering, reducing the incidence of demurrage for visiting mother vessels, reducing the typical out turn losses which typically occur during lightering operations etc.

All of these have resulted in significant savings for vessels berthing at the terminal as opposed to berthing at any of the other mooring facilities in the Lagos area.

The facility, according to the company, currently comprises 300 million litres of refined petroleum products storage for Petrol as well as diesel.

It also comprises the CBM facility, an offshore mooring system with 2Nos. 16inch 8km of subsea products pipeline network with a combined discharge flowrate

Buhari to Inaugurate APC Presidential Campaign Council Friday Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari will Friday inaugurate the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the State House, Abuja ahead of the 2023 elections.

The inauguration will formally kick start the party’s campaign activities that were initially suspended due to controversy generated by the 422-member campaign list initially released.

Party chieftains and key stakeholders had alleged that they were not carried along in the scheme of things.

While the controversy rages, a leaked letter allegedly authored by the National Chairman of the party, Senator Adamu and addressed to Tinubu demanded the immediate withdrawal of the campaign list.

Though the party leadership later made U-turn 24 hours later and denied authoring the letter, the Director General of the PCC and the Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, issued a statement suspending all campaign activities of the party to ensure everyone was carried along and that the

party presented a United front.

However, at the end of the meeting between Tinubu, APC governors, PCC and members of the party's NWC last week, spokesperson of PCC, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN) told journalists that the schedule of Buhari was delaying the flag of the campaign.

He explained that Buhari's schedule has to be put into consideration before a specific date would be fixed for the commencement of campaign.

But, the Director, Media and Publicity of Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, told THISDAY that the PCC and the action plan of the presidential candidate of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu would also be unveiled on Friday According to him, “By the grace of God on Friday, we are inaugurating the PCC and the action plan of the candidate.”

The President, who doubles as the chairman of the campaign council, had promised to lead his party’s campaign and deliver the votes to ensure the victory of the party in the 2023 elections.

A source close to the leadership of the campaign council also told THISDAY that the committee set up to review the manifesto of the party has concluded its assignment and has submitted its report.

Although the assignment, according to the source, has been completed, the party ensured that identities of members of the committee were not made public.

of 1800m3/hr; an SPM facility with 2Nos. 24inch 10km of subsea products pipeline network with combined discharge flowrate of 4,000m3/hr.

The facility equally has the pumps/loading gantries systems with ability to truck out 20 million litres per day among other unique facilities and capabilities useful to the downstream sector.

Mbah, who described the innovative facilities as unique in the nation's downstream sector, noted that they have made the company to become the leader in the industry both in terms of volume of supply and market share.

He said Pinnacle controls 23 per cent of the market share, far ahead of the next big competitor that controls about five per cent.

"In terms of market leadership, Pinnacle is the market leader in the business to business (B2B) space because we are the largest in terms of volume supplied to businesses, volume supplied to marketers, and we have gained this leadership largely based on the unique infrastructure we have built.

"What we are about to unveil on Saturday is an offshore intake facility. They are actually two offshore intake facilities. One is an SPM that sits at the water depth of 23 meters, that has two cargo pipelines of 24-inch diameter.

“Then we have the CBM -the Conventional Buoy Mooring system. That sits at a water depth of 17 meters and it has two cargo pipelines of 16 diameters," Mbah stated.

He added, "Currently, the way the operations in the downstream

work is that you have these large vessels. Those large vessels would not be able to go to the ports because of the restrictions, because the water channel is not deep enough for those big vessels to go to our ports where you have the storage terminals.

"What typically happens is that those big vessels which we refer to as mother vessels, sit at the anchorage, wait there and then we go with smaller vessels, which we refer to as daughter vessels, and we go and lighter the mother vessels. A typical mother vessel would have a volume of between 80 and 120 million litres.

"And a typical shuttle vessel would do between 15 and 20 million litres. So, for a mother vessel of 80 million litres, the shuttle vessel would need to do a minimum of four voyages, and for each voyage, it takes an average of eight days to move from the port, go to the mother vessel, load 20 million litres and go back to the terminal and discharge. That operation takes eight days to do."

Having observed the multiple handlings in the operating space, he said Pinnacle came up with a solution and design facilities that disrupt those sub-optimisation and inefficiencies.

According to him, the SPM and CBM allow the company to take the mother vessel in an open sea that has enough depth for the mother vessel and discharge from that point to an onshore terminal that has storage.

With the facilities, voyages that normally take eight days and four times to empty an 80-million litres

of product has been reduced to just two days or 48 hours.

"So what eventually we have done is to provide an efficient discharge facility that allows what takes the industry typically 32 days to do, we do in two days. And what that means is that turnaround time is faster. We are able to do more volumes than our competitors.

"That has put us in the leadership of the industry. So prefer to refer to ourselves as master suppliers of the industry. So in terms of most efficient supply facility in the country today, we are number one and there is no other terminal that has an intake facility or what you refer to as receptacle, where you can receive your vessel.

"No terminal in the country and actually in Africa that has that depth of water where you can take mother vessels of 23-meter water depth.

So we have that and we are about to commission that this Saturday.

It's going to be commissioned by the president. It's remarkable in so many ways," Mbah further explained.

On the socio-economic importance of those facilities to Nigeria, he said they would help to ease the massive gridlock being experienced in Apapa and save over N5 billion being lost daily as a result of the traffic.

Adding that those facilities have positioned Pinnacle to play dominant role in the downstream space of the oil and gas industry, the GCEO noted that by virtue of those facilities, it is now playing the number one role in terms of movements and supply to the market.

Exploiting Ethnic, Religious Fault Lines Dangerous for Nigeria, Says Arewa Group John Shiklam in Kaduna The Joint Arewa Committee, has said the exploitation of ethnic and religious fault lines was ‘extremely dangerous’ for the polity.

The committee, which organised the just concluded interactive session with president candidates, comprises the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Arewa Research and Development Project (ARDP), Sir Ahmadu Bello Foundation and Jamiyyar Matan Arewa (JMA).

Addressing a press conference yesterday in Kaduna, Secretary

General of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Murtala Aliyu, said, already signs of stress, owing to the exploitation of religion and ethnicity was telling on the nation.

"The exploitation of ethnic and religious fault lines is extremely dangerous, and the nation is already showing signs of stress owing to this exploitation", Aliyu said.

He, however, said, the interactive session which it had with five presidential candidates, held on Saturday and Monday, was an opportunity for Nigerians to see and hear the candidates speak about their plans and vision for

the country.

Aliyu, who was the Chairman of the Steering Committee for the interactive session said, "Between Saturday October 15, and Monday 17, we hosted five of the six candidates, who had accepted to participate in the historic interactions.

"One candidate chose not to participate. We are grateful to the candidates, who honoured our invitation and who showed respect to public opinion and the Nigerian voter by submitting themselves to the most intimate scrutiny by Northern elders and other groups,

the media and the public."

According to him, the interactions, which was the first of its kind in the history of the country, had been a tremendous success.

He said, "First, it demonstrated the strong bonds of unity of the people of the North, represented by the collaborating groups, and our unquestioning commitment to the search for the best quality of leadership out of the many candidates, who want our support. Second, they showed a commendable level of respect for the democratic process by the candidates, who submitted to the process.

42

WEDNESDAY, ͹΁˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION OF CHIEF AUDIT EXECUTIVES OF BANKS IN NIGERIA...

L-R: Immediate past chairman, Association of Chief Audit Executives of Banks in Nigeria (ACAEBIN) and Former Chief Audit Executive, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Yinka Tiamiyu; Managing Director/ CEO, Providus Bank, Mr. Walter Akpani; Chairman, ACAEBIN and Chief Audit Executive, Ecobank, Mr. Felix Igbinosa; Treasurer, ACAEBIN and Chief Audit Executive, United Bank for Africa Plc, Mr. Gboyega Sadiq during the quarterly meeting of the association held in Lagos…recently

Atiku:Vote Me to Save Nigeria from Collapse Tinubu: APC’s Ideals Will Be Projected Under Me

Deji Elumoye in Abuja and John Shiklam in Kaduna

The two frontline presidential candidates for the 2023 general election – Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) – have taken their battle for the nation’s presidency a notch further, when they tried to outdo each other with promises of what the Nigerian people stood to benefit electing them as president.

While Atiku called on Nigerians to vote for him, because he would save the country from collapse, Tinubu assured the Nigerian people that his administration would work to strengthen the progressive ideals of the party.

Atiku spoke at a rally on Monday at the Ranchers Bees Stadium, Kaduna, while Tinubu spoke on Tuesday at the day two of the Ministerial Performance Review Retreat of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, held at the Conference Hall of the State House, Abuja.

Atiku said Nigerians could not afford to vote for the ruling APC again in 2023, because the party has failed, however, posited that, if elected president in 2023, he would end banditry that has continued to plague Kaduna and other parts of the north.

Thanking the people of Kaduna for giving him the highest number of votes in 2019 and urging them to replicate it in 2023, Atiku said, “I will take issues concerning Kaduna serious if the people vote en mass and ensure that I win the 2023 election. Let me thank you for your support in 2019. You gave me the highest number of votes in 2019 and I believe you will do

so this time around.

"I have come here on behalf of PDP to tell you If you vote for us, we will end insecurity in Kaduna.

We will revive the industries in Kaduna in partnership with the private sector of Kaduna," he said.

The PDP candidate went ahead to condemn attempts by thugs to disrupt the rally, stressing that such act was undemocratic and urged political parties to call their supporters to order and ensure that campaigns were conducted freely and peacefully.

Meanwhile, Atiku has travelled to Europe on business trip and consultations.

A statement by his media aide, Paul Ibe, stated that the former Vice President travelled last night on a scheduled trip to meet with the technical partners of one his business entities that was impacted by the Covid-19 global lockdown and the consequent economic downturn.

The meeting will also focus on conclusive discussions for a planned expansion of its production facility.

On his part, Tinubu, who spoke on how to improve on the progressive objectives of the party, which he said he intended to keep alive, promised to further strengthen national unity and sense of national purpose.

Observing that these objectives had charactised the works of the present administration, he assured the people that his government would be all out to providing the best of progressive governance, with the focus on further projecting and prospering the Nigerian people.

His words: “Mr. President and other members of the administration, may I state the following: if elected, I will give due honour to your efforts and your legacy. I will work in

Jonathan Salutes Gowon as Ex-Head of State Marks 88th Birthday Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has felicitated Ex-Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon on the occasion of his 88th birthday.

Jonathan described Gowon as a statesman and good leader who has continued to canvass for the peace and unity of the nation.

According to a statement from his Special Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan in a goodwill message he personally signed, described Gowon as a patriot who has made significant contributions to the growth and development of Nigeria.

He wrote: “It is with great delight that I join your family and Nigerians

across the country in congratulating you on the occasion of your 88th birthday.

“Your Excellency, you have been a good leader, a statesman, and a patriot who has continued to pray and canvass for the peace and unity of Nigeria.

“As Head of State, you made significant contributions to the socio-economic development of our country and left legacies that many generations will continue to remember.

“On behalf of my family, I wish you sound health, peace and joy as you celebrate. Happy birthday, Your Excellency.”

the spirit of cordial unity, national purpose that informed the creation of our party and characterised the work of your government.

“Most importantly, that the way and means of a Tinubu government will be devoted to further project and prosper the Nigerian people, because our guiding principle will be to provide the best of progressive governance and reform our beloved land.

“Consider these three promises to be a positive outgrowth of your nine-point agenda. On behalf of all well-meaning Nigerians, I wish you a successful retreat and pray to Almighty God that your efforts will continue to bear fruits for our nation and its future.”

Tinubu, who pointed out that Buhari’s administration had done much to keep faith with Nigerians, as well as giving life to the party’s promises to Nigerians and their objectives, however, noted that various unpleasant circumstances, both local and international, militated against its efforts.

According to him, “This administration inherited a national condition steeped in difficulty unlike any other. Predecessor-governments ignored or lack the will to tackle serious problem ranging from insecurity to corruption. As if that was not enough, you confronted a series of events unprecedented, compounded by the severity, complexity and novelty.

“COVID attacked both global health and the global economy.

Throughout most of your tenure, oil prices waned and edged and consequently, so did our revenue.

The Ukrainian crisis and other conflicts, coupled with severe weather events in many nations, further depleted economic production and undermined international supply chains of critical items, especially food. You did more than persevere and withstood these adverse storms, despite it all, you made historic progress”.

He listed some of the achievements of the Buhari administration, saying, “During this retreat, you have been assessing and will still assess the status of your nine-point

agenda. You will discuss things in great detail. Yet, permit me to highlight a few points to prompt the memory of those, who somehow tend to forget it the recent past.

“Upon entering office, you faced a situation, where deadly terrorists were planting flags on our national territory, proclaiming an illegal state within our legitimate state. Because of your collective work, they no longer plant those flags, they dare not.

“Their boast of conquest are no longer heard. You have put us on the road to defeating this menace.

By the grace of Almighty God, we shall persist until terrorists and those like them are utterly removed from the face of our nation.

Wike: It’s Waste of Time Contesting against Sanwo-Olu Rivers gov hails Lagos for lifting women, donates N300m to committee of wives of Lagos state officials Segun James In a surprised move yesterday, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike endorsed the second term bid of Governor Babajide SanwoOlu of Lagos state, even as he remained silent on his party's candidate, Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor.

Wike, who was in Lagos to attend the National Women's Conference organised by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), also donated N300 million to the committee.

Another PDP leader and former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose accompanied Wike to the event.

The Rivers helmsman rated Sanwo-Olu high in performance, noting that the Lagos Governor had raised the standard of governance with quality of projects being delivered across Lagos.

Wike said any political party contesting against the governor in Lagos would be wasting time, saying Sanwo-Olu’s performance would outshine anyone campaigning against him.

The Rivers State Governor said he had no regrets for openly endorsing Sanwo-Olu, stressing that his endorsement of his Lagos colleague was borne out of his personal conviction about good governance.

Wike said: “If Sanwo-Olu is not doing (well), even if he belongs to my party, I will not come here. If you belong to my party and you are not doing well in governance, you won’t see me. If you don’t

belong to my party and you are doing well, you will see me. Good governance is what I stand for. I will not regret to say that I am in support of you (Sanwo-Olu) for second term. Others should not waste their time.

“Look at the kind of project coming from this women’s group.

Why would any reasonable person not support the government that is encouraging this? Let’s also look at the kind of physical infrastructure being delivered in Lagos.

“This confirms Lagos as a state of excellence. There are some people who will come here; instead of them to continue to make Lagos improve, they will bring Lagos down. For me, I’m satisfied with what Sanwo-Olu has done and it doesn’t matter the party he belongs.”

Wike had invited me to Rivers for projects commissioning in the past. We have challenged ourselves in a positive way; this is good for the growth of our politics and the nation.

Continuing, Wike also spoke about the qualities that the next president must bring forward, saying the nation deserved a president that would have the interest of Nigerians at heart.

He urged Nigerians to queue behind someone with vast experience in governance, who has the capacity to turn around the economy and confront insecurity.

Wike said: “We are looking for a president that has the capacity and experience in governance, who can put food on the table

for everyone and fight insecurity.

That’s the person we are looking for; not some people who are talking about ethnicity.”

The Rivers Governor said he would be going back home with lessons from the Lagos’ National Women’s Conference, stressing that Lagos had set the standards on how to empower women for growth and development. He promised to replicate the idea in his State to further empower women in Rivers State.

Sanwo-Olu responded to Wike’s endorsement, describing it as another example of “politics without bitterness.”

He said Lagos and Rivers states had learnt from each other in terms of projects and development, adding that both states would continue to cooperate on shared interest.

He said: “There is no better person that is fit as a guest speaker at the conference other than the hardworking Governor Wike of Rivers State. We brought him here to share in his experience and also for him to see what we are doing in Lagos.

“We are encouraging collaboration without bitterness and without talking about our parties or political differences. If you are doing well, it doesn’t matter where you belong. We should encourage peer review across parties.”

Also, the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari said the voice of women would be heard loudly in the 2023 general elections.

Aisha also express belief that COWLSO's annual event was

worthy of emulation, saying "It is indeed a sense of pride that the event has been institutionalised.

The institunalisation of COWLSO has demonstrated the character of Lagos women as unique and outstanding."

While reiterating the need for other states to copy Lagos, Aisha added that women should wake up and shine, saying especially in this political dispensation.

She noted, "I'm convinced the voice of women will be heard loud in 2023 elections. We thank God for having women that are sensible to stand for their right."

She however expressed delight over the presence of Rivers State governor at the event, saying "Having seen someday from the opposition, I like the way politicians are playing politics in Nigeria without bitterness."

In her welcome address, the First Lady of Lagos who is the Chairman of COWLSO, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu pointed out that, "In furtherance of one of the founding objectives of COWLSO to impact lives positively and contribute immensely to the political and socio-economic growth of Lagos State and Nigeria. the proceeds realised from last year's NWC had been channeled towards the construction of Community Senior Secondary School. Ogombo, Ajah.

"Today, I am glad to announce that the project has been completed and awaiting commissioning. The school will redefine the public school system in the state judging by the accompanying features.

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WEDNESDAY, ͹΁˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

SPANISH NATIONAL DAY CELEBRATED IN LAGOS...

L-R: Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Juan Sell; Chairman of the Abuja Inquirer Newspaper, Dan Akpovwa and the Sanish Consul General, Mr. Daniel Losada, during celebrations hosted by Mr. Losada to mark the Spanish National Day in Lagos...recently.

PDP: Tinubu Despised Body of Christ, Atiku is Pan-Nigerian Says APC presidential candidate can’t be trusted with power Insists presidency not for selfish entitlement seeker Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council, has berated the APC presidential candidate, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, for allegedly despising the body of Christ and profaning the sacrament of communion.

The PDP, which said Tinubu besmirched the church, also stated that the presidential hopeful trivialised the existential threat that climate change poses to humanity.

In another development, one of the spokesperson of the Atiku

Presidential Campaign Organisation, Kola Ologbondiyan, has said Tinubu could not and should not be trusted with power as president, given his overtly exposed selfish motives.

Tinubu had Monday, during an interactive session with northern leaders in Kaduna State, likened the climate change crisis to the challenge of preventing “a church rat from eating a poisoned holy communion”, a metaphor, which some Christians, especially, the Catholic denomination, found offensive.

In the first statement by one of the presidential spokesperson, Dino

Melaye, PDP said Tinubu fell out of tune with world leaders in ways that betrayed a lack of understanding of what the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Called the "Fierce Urgency of Now".

According to Melaye, "Having overlooked Christians in his choice of a running mate, he further rubbed insult on injury by calling the Holy Communion into an unrelated conversation. It would have been honourable for Tinubu to simply admit that he didn't know what climate change is.

"Again, that exposed his limited

understanding and poor preparation for governance. Any leader of any great nation, who does not understand the basics of climate change, especially, with the ongoing flooding in Nigeria and the economic conflict arising from farmers and herders, has no business aspiring to lead our dear country at this moment.

"Besides, Nigerians who have been in doubt about the presence of mind and the physiological capacity of Tinubu to preside over the affairs of Nigeria should now be convinced that he is not fit. For a moment, his thought processes tripped and he

N857bn SWV: Military, Foreign Affairs Ministry, Budget Office, Others, Shun Senate Panel PCC fails to present record of N1.7bn collected from service wide vote Sunday Aborisade in Abuja Institutions and agencies of the federal government which allegedly benefitted in the alleged secret withdrawal of N875 billion from the Service Wide Vote (SWV) did not appear before the Senate Public Account Committee, currently probing the matter.

Some of the affected 14 institutions and agencies were the Defence Headquarters, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Assets Management Company of Nigeria, Budget Office among others.

The Senate Panel led by Senator Mathew Urhoghide is probing the alleged collection of N857 billion from the SWV that some agencies collected from the fund, some of which were even bigger than their annual budget.

The Committee is specifically looking into the utilisation of the SWV between 2017 and 2021 which was about N5t trillion.

Over 200 agencies were expected to defend the utilisation of the fund secretly collected without involving the National Assembly Committees mandated by the Constitution to oversight them.

Urhoghide lamented the attitude of the agencies that ignored the Committee.

The chairman alleged that there was problem of accountability among the government agencies in the country which he said was against the provision of the

constitution.

He said the affected agencies should have respect for the rule of law and come to give account of the money collected from SWV without involving the National Assembly Committee mandated to oversight them The Chairman said: "I don't know the audacity they have to choose not to appear before the National Assembly Committee.

"We are going ruthlessly against all of them, we are going to issue warrant of arrest against any agency which fails to honour the invitation."

According to the record, the Budget Office collected N68 billion; Refugee Commission - N10.2 billion; Defence Headquarters - N579 billion; AMCON- N8.13 billion; and the Civil Defence - N4.9 billion.

Others are: Foreign Affairs - N96.6 billion; Military - N66.8 billion; SGF- N23.9 billion and National Emergency Management Agency - N2.3 billion collected from Service Wide Votes between 2017 to 2021.

Also, the Air Force was said to have collected N14 billion.

Meanwhile, the Public Complaint Commission (PCC) yesterday failed to present letter of request for the collection of N1.7 billion from the SWV between 2017 and 2021 to the senate panel.

At the beginning of the investigative hearing, the Chairman of the Committee had told the PCC team the total amount of fund collected from SWV and requested, Chief

Commissioner, Abimbola Ayo-Yusuf to present the letter requesting for the SWV. However, the Chief Commissioner failed to present letter of request for the SWV.

"I don't have the letters requesting for the Service Wide Votes," he said.

There was a mild drama as the Chairman of the Senate Committee said that he was unaware that N852 million from SWV.

launched into another issue entirely.

“Nigerians could imagine if what happened in Kaduna, had happened on the world stage. As I said earlier, Nigerians cannot afford to gamble with the next election," Melaye said, adding that an Atiku presidency would be at home with global issues anywhere and anytime.

Another spokesperson of the campaign council, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, has described Atiku as a pan-Nigerian leader and not an ethnic jingoist.

He said contrary to the comments trailing Atiku's statement in Kaduna, the PDP standard bearer remained a Pan-Nigerian leader and a unifier, who had built bridges across the country.

Speaking on Arise TV, yesterday, Aniagwu remarked that Atiku's comment was being misunderstood and quoted out of context, adding that the APC was lashing in on the comment, because they lacked what to talk about.

“Atiku is not a man given to ethnic jingoism and will never get involved in acts capable of dividing the country along ethnic, religion or regional lines. As a political party, the APC has done so badly that they don't have issues to talk about so they will

always want to cash in on anything that will take Nigerians away from the real issues.

"Atiku has built bridges across the country as a Pan-Nigerian and he advocated for a pan-Nigerian leader, who will be able to take a look at what the entire country needs. Atiku is one person that has respect for everybody irrespective of class and that is what is needed to deal with the issues bedeviling our country," he said.

In another statement, Ologbondiyan asserted that from Tinubu’s persistent self-centered assertions, haughty claims, annexation and brazen entitlement messaging, which he further displayed during his interaction with stakeholders in Kaduna on Monday, it was clear that the APC Presidential Candidate was being driven by the lust to appropriate the nation as his personal estate and not for the national interest.

According to him, Nigerians watched with utter dismay as Tinubu, as usual, avoided questions and discussions on critical and imperative national issues, which confirmed that he was in the presidential race for reasons other than the wellbeing of Nigerians.

F LO O D S : B U I L D DA M S , D E S I LT M A J O R R I V E R S , O KO WA U R G E S F G to come to the aid of our state.

“I appeal to Mr. President to consider special grants to the state from the Stabilisation Funds, Ecological Funds and Natural Resources Fund.”

The governor announced that all civil servants, except those on essential duties, should proceed on a one-week break. He appealed to vendors, particularly of fuel, food, water and pharmaceuticals not to exploit the situation.

Niger Delta Affairs Minister Promises Medical, Infrastructural Relief to Bayelsa, Rivers, Others

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Umana Okon Umana, disclosed plans by his ministry to collaborate with NEMA, NDDC, and other federal and state government agencies to offer medical and infrastructural assistance to communities in the affected states.

Umana said his ministry was vigorously working with NEMA to assist communities in Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and other states by providing relief materials

to displaced persons, with plans to rebuild damaged infrastructures across the region.

The minister said he was in touch with President Muhammadu Buhari on the immediate action to be taken once the flood receded, "but we are working with SEMA and NEMA on the provisions of immediate relief materials to people in their various states."

Umana said they were able to provide relief materials to persons affected by pipeline fire explosion, flood and windstorm disasters in Ukwa East/West Federal Constituency, Abia State. He said they provided relief materials to flood victims in Ofombongha, Osopong, Obubra urban in Obubra of Calabar, the Cross Rivers State capital, and to many communities across the nine states of the Niger Delta.

Umana added, “Both the president and I, including the staff of the Niger Delta ministry, wholeheartedly commiserates with the families of those who have lost loved ones due to the flood, and we sympathise with families of those displaced by the flood.”

Floods Kill Hundreds, Displace Over One Million in Nigeria

In a related development, New York Times in a report stated that Nigeria was suffering its worst flooding in a decade, with vast areas of farmland, infrastructure and 200,000 homes partly or wholly destroyed.

The report said many lives had been lost due to the natural disaster.

At least 603 people have died, more than 2,400 other people injured and over 1.4 million displaced, according to the report.

It said residents of the affected states carried their belongings up to the tops of their houses and got around by canoe on roads now deluged with water. The report said trucks full of food and fuel had been stuck for days.

The report said in some areas, water levels were almost up to the roofs, making them appear to float.

In other places, it said, the tops of cars were just visible but the water around them rippled with raindrops, closing in fast.

The report disclosed that rain was not the only factor responsible for the floods. Every year, neighbouring Cameroon — which runs along

the length of Nigeria’s eastern border — releases water from a dam in northern Cameroon, causing flooding downstream in Nigeria, the report said.

At the time of the dam’s construction, in the 1980s, Nigeria and Cameroon had allegedly agreed that a twin dam would be built on the Nigerian side to contain the overflow. But the second one was never realised.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, blamed the scale of the disaster on the failure by branches of government other than her own to take action. “There was enough warning and information about the 2022 flood, but states, local governments and communities appear not to take heed,” the minister wrote on Twitter.

Another critical factor is climate change.

The United Nations’ humanitarian coordinator for the country, Matthias Schmale, said in a briefing last week that this largely explains the extreme flooding.

“Climate change is real, as we are yet again discovering in Nigeria,” he said.

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 19, 2022 ˾T H I S D AY

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WINNERS OF SHAL’ARTEM STEPDANCE CHALLENGE…

L-R: Brand Manager, Shal´Artem, Chiuba Nwaosu, Comedian, Animashaun Perry popular as Broda Shaggy; Grand Prize winners, Solomon Randy, Owoicho Daniel Douglas, and Chief Commercial Officer, Pharma Business, West Africa, Shalina Healthcare Nigeria, Arun Raj, during the 2022 Shal´Artem #3StepDanceChallenge grand finale in Lagos...recently DAN UKANA

Buhari Lauds MNJTF as Troops Arrest 40 Terrorists in Lake Chad Region Troops nab logistics, food suppliers with 300 bags of beans, 100 bags of maize

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed hope in the operational capacity and commitment of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to end the war against insurgency in the Lake Chad Basin and contiguous environment.

He spoke as troops of Sector 3 located in Monguno, Borno State, arrested 40 terrorist logistics suppliers during an intelligenceled operation conducted on a suspected supply route.

A statement by the Spokesman of MNJTF, Lt Col Kamarudeen Adegoke, said President Buhari

spoke during a visit to Republic of Chad.

He also commended the operational capability and the efforts of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in its commitment towards ending the fight against terrorist activities in and around the Lake Chad Basin.

President Buhari met with the MNJTF Force Commander (FC), Major General Abdul Khalifah Ibrahim and other members of the team during his recent visit to Chad.

Meanwhile, in its determination to clamp down on terrorist activities in the Lake Chad region,

troops of Sector 3 (Monguno), arrested 40 terrorist logistics suppliers during an intelligence-led operation conducted on a suspected supply route.

The statement said the operation led to the discovery of 64 bags of

beans, two bags of maize, and other large quantities of food items, which were being conveyed to the terrorists’ enclaves. It said that a subsequent operation led to the seizure of another 300 bags of beans and 100 bags of corn

which were destroyed by troops.

“In another related incident on 11 October 2022, troops of 68 Battalion on joint patrol with the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) along Mallam Fatori- BandamariBari - Korarawon axis, made

another breakthrough leading to the discovery and confiscation of 12 bags of fish and nine donkeys suspected to be used in ferrying supplies to the terrorists hiding in the Lake Chad basin area”, it said.

2023: INEC Commences Staff Training on Election Technology Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday commenced the training of its staff on the usage of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and other technologies to be deployed for 2023 general elections.

INEC Chairman, Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu in his remarks at the ``Training of Master Trainers on Election Technology for the 2023 General Elections’’ described the event as the most important training activities ahead of the 2023 General Election.

He said that INEC needed to build the capacity of its staff

members not only to competently handle the devices during the accreditation process but also respond effectively to any glitches that may occur during elections. ``Over the last two years, the Commission has increased the deployment of technology in the elections in Nigeria. ``Systems and portals have

been designed and developed to cater to different electoral activities ranging from voter registration and accreditation, result transmission from the polling units, the nomination of candidates by political parties to the accreditation of polling agents, observers and journalists for elections.

some Northern parts of the country which created huge loss of resources and revenues to both government and private investors in the sector.

Representing the CG during a courtesy visit to the Chief Executive Officer, NATCOM Development and Investment Limited, Dr. Babatunde Omotoba, at their head office in Maitama, Abuja, ACG Irabor Beatrice, who is in

charge of Telecommunications and Power Department, NSCDC National Headquarters, stated that the Corps is poised to tackle the menace of vandalism affecting the telecommunications infrastructure in the country.

She assured the NATCOM boss that as the lead agency in the protection of critical infrastructure and national assets, the Corps

will leave no stone unturned in protecting the telecom sector and reduce attacks on its infrastructures to the barest minimum if not eradicated completely.

She said: “The CG has directed me assure you that the war against vandalism of our Telecommunication infrastructure is total and unrelenting, this will surely extend to every parts of the country.

Wikipedia Partners Yoruba World Centre to Preserve History NSCDC Vows to Protect Telecommunications Facilities from Vandals

Wikipedia, the world’s largest online encyclopedia, has started a partnership with the International Centre for Yoruba Arts and Culture (the Yoruba World Centre) in order to promote, preserve and protect the Yoruba history, language and culture.

The collaboration interest was presented to the Centre last Saturday , at the University of Ibadan, by the Yoruba Wikimedians User Group, one of the 183 international representatives of Wikimedia Foundation Incorporation, the operators of Wikipedia.

The Wikimedians were led by the President, Mikaeel Sodiq and the Administrator of Yoruba Wikipedia in Nigeria, Isaac Olatunde. They were received by a team led by the Coordinator of the Yoruba World

Centre, Ogbeni Alao Adedayo.

According to them, the core objective of this collaboration is to promote a strong relationship between the Yoruba World Centre and the Wikipedia Community, by promoting digital content inclusion on Yoruba Wikipedia with verifiable and reliable sources in a manner that will be acceptable to the entire Yoruba language users, readers, writers and enthusiasts within Nigeria and in the Diaspora.

Explaining, the Administrator, Olatunde, the intention of the Wikimedians is to use the resources of the Yoruba World Centre to improve the quality and credibility of contents on Yoruba Wikipedia, and to promote the Centre among Yoruba academics, students and researchers all over the world.

Michael OlugbodeinAbuja

The Commandant General (CG) of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Dr. Ahmed Audi, has vowed to stamp vandalism of telecommunications infrastructure across the nation. This decision was taken following the recent attacks by miscreants and vandals on telecommunication facilities across

Northern Group Blasts Kwankwaso for Shunning Arewa Parley, Says Action Disrespectful A northern group, the All Arewa Progressives Youth Alliance (AAPYA) has slammed the presidential candidate of New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, for shunning the Arewa parley organised by various northern interest groups to interact with

major presidential aspirants.

The AAPYA described Kwankwanso’s action as disrespectful and very provoking.

In a press release signed by the secretary general of the group, Comrade Adamu Danjuma Kalgo, the group said the shunning of the parley by

Kwankwaso showed his level of disdain and disrespect to the north and its leaders.

According to AAPYA, Kwankwaso and his party have no regard for Northerners and lack what it takes to represent the people as well as the region in particular and Nigeria.

The group said: “It is shocking Kwankwaso didn’t show up. He has simply confirm his lack of respect, disdain and insincerity on matters that touch on the interest of North. His actions has given credence to the widely held opinion that he is not in the race to win.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday presented its first prosecution witness, PW1, Ahmed Suleiman, an investigative officer with the EFCC, against one Fasasi Bola, who is being prosecuted alongside Macmillan Nigeria Publishers Limited for an alleged $156,711.87 fraud before

A statement by EFCC said the suspects were arraigned on June 20, 2022, on an amended six-count charge bordering on obtaining goods by false pretence.

One of the amended counts reads: “Macmillan Nigeria Publishers, Prof.

Adesanya Iyiola Adelekan (now at large) and Fasasi Bola, sometime

amongst yourselves to obtain goods by false pretence, property of BHS Book Printing SDN BHD of Selangor Malaysia.”

Another count reads: “Macmillan Nigeria Publishers, Prof. Adesanya Iyiola Adelekan (now at large) and Fasasi Bola, sometime in 2018, within the jurisdiction of

by false pretence from BHS Book Printing SDN BHD of Selangor Malaysia under the pretence that you would sell the books and remit the money from the sales within two weeks of receiving the Bill of Lading, which pretence you knew or ought to know is false.”

FSDH Merchant Bank $156,711 Fraud: EFCC Tenders Documents against Macmillan Publishers’ Co-defendant Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special in 2018, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, obtained Launches Custody Services KingsleyNwezehinAbuja Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos. this Honourable Court, conspired books for sale worth $156,711.87

Kate Ejisu

FSDH Merchant Bank has launched its custody services offering for investors as part of commitment to continually deliver on its excellent track record of innovative financial and investment solutions. Custody is a financial service product that provides safekeeping of financial assets.

The company said in a statement yesterday that the launch is part of the FSDH Group’s plan to meet investors’ needs by covering their end-to-end transactions, further showcasing FSDH’s years of expertise and experience within the financial services sector.

“Our unique proposition includes the use of technology to provide enhanced service delivery, assets servicing, and proffer sophisticated solutions to customer’s banking and financial services needs. Our competitive pricing model and global reach will also enable us to act as subcustodians to global custodian banks and engage directly with foreign portfolio investors and fund managers in the market and those looking to come into the country,” it said.

According to the firm, this function is performed through FSDH Nominees, a nominee vehicle for holding clients’ assets separate from the Bank’s proprietary assets.

Kaduna Firm not First to Produce Liquid Steel, Stakeholders Tell FG

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

Iron and steel producers in Nigeria have advised the federal government to be wary of the declaration by the Managing Director, Kaduna Mining Development Company Limited, Dr. Mohammed Sani, claiming

that Kaduna State would be the first to produce liquid steel for industrial development on the continent.

Spokesperson for the Iron and Steel stakeholders, Mr. Lateef Bello, in a statement yesterday said the declaration by the Kaduna firm was not only condemnable but

highly disappointing considering the heavy investments by some committed industrialists in Nigeria.

The group urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite, to examine the activities of the company in order not to

allow government to fall victim of their propaganda and deception.

Part of his statement read: “How can an upcoming investment claimed to be the first company to produce liquid steel in African continent after over 62years of Nigeria’s Independence with high economic and industrial drive.

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 19, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

45

NEWSXTRA

CANADA-NIGERIA BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT SUMMIT...

L-R: President, Leadership and Governance Canada lnc, Mr. Sam Adewale; President,Women Focus Canada, Dr.( Mrs) Remi Adewale; Nigerian High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Adeyinka Asekun; guests, Mrs.Wunmi Asekun, Mrs. Toyin Esomojumi, and Vice President, Leadership and Governance Canada lnc, Mr. Kola Esomojumi, at the Canada-Nigeria Business and Investment Summit Gala Night and Award, held in Toronto, Canada…recently

S’East Federal Lawmakers Beg Buhari to Release Kanu as Proof of Statesmanship Traditional rulers, clerics seek his unconditional release

Alex Enumah and Udora Orizu in Abuja The South East Caucus in the House of Representatives, has urged President Muhammadu

Buhari to show statesmanship and fatherly introspection by ensuring the release of the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, from detention.

‘Joblessness, Inflation Creating Crisis, Brain Drain in Health Sector’ Victor Ogunje inAdoEkiti

A medical laboratory scientist and scholar at the Achievers’ University, Owo, Ondo State, Dr. Olabisi Oduwole, has revealed that the astronomic unemployment and inflationary rates in Nigeria were largely responsible for the crisis of brain drain hitting the health sector.

The Associate Professor of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, however, averred that professionals can still make headway in Nigeria, by tapping into limitless, but hidden potential through research and by making exploits in specialised higher

degrees in their areas of specialties.

The scholar said this at ABUAD, yesterday in her lecture titled: “The Early Career Medical Laboratory Scientist: Navigating Your Way in a Competitive World”, marking the induction ceremony of Medical Laboratory Scientists’ graduates of the university.

The academic added that the current health environment in the country is full of crisis and hopelessness because government remains the largest employer of labour, and due to abysmally reduced purchasing power of the currency, thereby forcing health professionals to seek greener pastures abroad.

Zulum Orders Introduction of Vocational Skills in 3,226 Almajiri Schools in Borno Michael Olugbode inMaiduguri Borno State Governor, Prof.

Babagana Zulum, has ordered the integration of vocational skills in 3,226 Almajiri schools in the state.

The instruction was given for the introduction of the skills in over 2,775 Sangaya Centres and 451 Islamiyya Schools across the state These schools are widely known in the northern part of the country as Almajiri schools.

The governor gave the order yesterday at the Government House in Maiduguri when

he received an update on the validation and registration of Sangaya Schools in the state presented by the Governing Council of Arabic and Sangaya Education Board.

The governor, while noting that with the introduction of vocational education, numeracy and literacy skills in the schools, said Borno State Government intended to streamline the informal and formal education system to qualify Sangaya schools products to get admitted into colleges and universities.

French Embassy Supports Female Film Industry with €69,000 KuniTyessiinAbuja The Embassy of France has contributed the sum of €69,000 to Girls Voices Initiative (GVI), an academy training females in the art of film making, as part of its efforts in encouraging females to explore the film industry.

The Programmes Officer, Ms. Camilla, who revealed this in Abuja during the graduation of trainees of the academy and the National Female Filmmakers Congress (NFFC), said that the project is pegged at €100,000 but

has been supported with €69,000 by the embassy.

She noted that the embassy would continue to support the annual programme in its six months plan with such initiatives, bearing in mind that a male dominated arena like the film industry needs women in it, hence the female diplomacy.

“I think the total amount is €100,000 and we are financing about €60,000 and GBI is providing the rest. We support by financing and attending programmes such as this to really show that we support what they’re doing.

The lawmakers, in a statement signed the Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Toby Okechukwu, titled: ‘Nnamdi Kanu’s Trial: Time to Win Peace’, noted the unanimous decision of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, which discharged the IPOB leader of the terrorism charges brought against him by the federal government on the grounds that the trial court lacked jurisdiction due to faulty extradition and

extraordinary rendition process.

The caucus also took into cognisance, the reaction of the federal government through the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami, SAN, stating that the federal government would explore the legal options before it and communicates to the public, accordingly.

The lawmakers noted that the

country was presently contending with terrorism in the North East, farmers-headers clashes and banditry in the North Central, abductions and armed attacks in the South West, restiveness and attacks by unknown gunmen in the South East, and abductions, cult wars, vandalism of oil installations and oil theft in the South-south region.

According to them, the combined effect of all these has

plunged the nation into untold socio-economic malaise.

The caucus lamented that for the South East, the enforcement of sit-at-home by faceless gunmen on account of Nnamdi Kanu’s incarceration even long after IPOB revoked and washed its hands off it has led to wanton loss of human lives, caused disruption of educational and social activities, and unleashed grave economic consequences on the region.

Sheraton Hotel Abuja Workers Protest Non-payment of Severance Package James Emejo in Abuja Staff of Sheraton Hotel Abuja yesterday embarked on a protest over the non-payment of their severance package following plans to close down the company.

The workers are demanding that the hotel managers, Marriot International, pay them their full benefits before proceeding to shut down the hotel for renovations.

The staff agitation followed an earlier notice by the management informing guests that the hotel would be temporarily closed down effective October 18, 2022.

The management had further stated that the facility which is currently in bad shape would remain closed in the course of the renovation with some essential services being maintained but added that no guests will be

allowed during the period.

The protesters wielded placards with inscriptions such as “Marriott Pay Us What is Due to Us; Marriott Stop Manipulating the Workers; Enough of Exposure to Safety Hazards; Marriott Treat Us Like Human Beings; and We Are Not Animals,” among others.

The hotel union members launched the protest following Marriott’s alleged non-payment

of their severance packages as agreed and for other issues bordering on safety standards as a result of the degraded state of the hotel.

It was understood that the appalling state of the hotel had given reason for the safety complaints that the union had asserted as posing danger to the employees, the hotel guests, and the general public.

Gunmen Kill Village Head, Two Others in Fresh Plateau Attack Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Gunmen have killed the village head of Nyalun community of Wase Local Government Area in Plateau State, Mr. Salisu Idris, on Monday night.

The assailants also killed two other residents of the community during the attack.

The gunmen allegedly stormed

the community on motorcycles and shot indiscriminately at the villagers, killing the village head and other victims.

The residents told our correspondent that the attackers, who invaded the village around 9:30p.m., also abducted five members of the community, including the wives of the village head.

A Youth Leader in Wase, Mr. Shapi’i Sambo, told our correspondent that the gunmen made away with a good number of motorcycles belonging to the people of the community.

Sambo said: “The attackers came in their numbers and started shooting sporadically.

They went straight to the traditional ruler’s house, killed

him and abducted five members of his family.”

Spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command, Mr. Alabo Alfred, has confirmed the incident.

Alfred said that three people were killed in the incident, adding that details of the incident were sketchy as the time of the report.

UN: World Population Expected to Reach Eight Billion by November Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja Over half of the world’s projected population increase is to be concentrated in Nigeria and seven other countries by 2050, according to a new report by the United Nations (UN) which puts the expected global population at eight billion next month.

The other seven countries that would account for over half of global population increase

alongside Nigeria which currently has an estimated population of about 217 million are the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Pakistan, the Philippines and the United Republic of Tanzania.

The eight billion figure for the global population comes from the aggregation of the populations of all countries and areas of the world.

According to the UN’s World

Population Prospects report published yesterday, to mark the World Population Day, India’s population was expected to surpass China as the most populous country in the world by 2023.

India’s population currently stands at over 1.3 billion while China’s is above 1.4 billion.

On the occasion, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged people to, “recognise

our common humanity” and “marvel at advancements in health that extended lifespans and dramatically reduced maternal and child mortality rates.”

“At the same time, it is a reminder of our shared responsibility to care for our planet and a moment to reflect on where we still fall short of our commitments to one another,” the UN report quoted Guterres as saying.

N1.5bn Debt: Court Grants AMCON’s Request to Take over Firm’s Asset Wale Igbintade Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has granted an order directing the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) to take over the assets of a Lagos company, SAMOL Limited.

The asset seizure was ordered

based on the firm’s alleged failure to pay its debt of N843,357,559.75 million. The order of the court was sequel to an application in suit number FHC/L/AMC/13/2022 filed before the court by the law firm of Trevis and Ansel Solicitors.

In the Enrolment Order dated June 8, 2022, Justice Aluko granted the prayers sought by AMCON to

take over the following properties, property at 9/11, Oleleh Street, Ejigbo, Lagos with Certificate of Occupancy No 33 Page 33 in volume 1994C of land Registry Alausa Lagos.

The court also made an interim order restraining SAMOL company and Samuel Ngozi Oleleh from dealing with or

alienating or parting with or transferring their title howsoever (whether by assignment, lease, mortgage or other third party interest) and any of the properties listed in relief listed before the court pending the hearing and determination of the AMCON’s substantive debt recovery suit against the defendants.

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BACK PAGE CONTINUATION BACK TO THE ISSUES it requires to be nurtured and worked at constantly and on an on-going basis. And it is for this reason that governments and citizens alike cannot afford to take unity for granted or imagine that it is offered on a platter or acquired as an automatic given.

“One of the imports of my observation that leaders and citizens have a duty to invest in and grow unity as a full time vocation is that those of our compatriots who, out of a modestly understandable frustration, often say that the Amalgamation of 1914 was a “mistake”, will do well to keep in mind that most countries in the world today are indeed the products of an involuntary and/or compelled mergers of peoples who, once brought together under the same roof had to work to forge bonds of unity among themselves. The important point which we must always remember is that unity anywhere and everywhere is an outcome that is generated out of initial conditions that are not by any means perfect. There is, therefore, no bypassing the hard work that leaders and governments must put in to build, sustain, and renew unity. And it is that hard work that we must call upon ourselves to undertake, doing so in faith and hope, with patience and patriotism, and an abiding commitment to the common history and humanity we share.

In the same way that unity is not an automatic given that can be taken for granted, so also is disunity not a fatalistic inevitability into which we are locked in perpetuity. No people are condemned to a life of permanent and perpetual disunity. Imperfections and failings in any union manifest themselves in various forms and shapes.

Differences and disagreements exist alongside cleavages and contradictions. We must learn as a people to accept that these are hard facts and features of any polity. Properly handled, they may be turned into important drivers of

a socio-political dynamic that propels countries forward in their march of progress. Mismanaged and compounded, they may fester and become threats to stability and togetherness. Disunity of the kind that goes behind difference and divergence and which threatens violent collapse is, therefore, a mark of failings in governance, not the inevitable fate to which a people are condemned.

“In going to some length to dispel popular misconceptions about unity and disunity, I do not by any means wish to deny or downplay the fact that as a country, we in Nigeria are faced with some of the most severe tests of our nationhood since the end of the civil war of 1967 to 1970. Rather, what I seek to convey, drawing on global comparative experiences, is to remind us that the choice of striving to build and sustain a united country belongs entirely to us. We can either opt to exercise that choice or forfeit it. All things considered.”

The foregoing intervention that Fayemi made as a governor remains profound in terms of the elucidation it provides in solving the problem of threats to national unity.

The perspective of Fayemi could be distinguished from the spreading of prejudice in which ethnic and religious labels are put on everything under the sun. In the process the attention of the people is hugely diverted from the issues impinging directly on their material existence. It would appear that politicians and their intellectual agents in the public sphere seek to chloroform the consciousness of the people about the source of their suffering in this unjust system.

While a lot energy and time and are devoted to discussing the geo-political origins and faiths of the candidates, floods have created a state of emergency in at least 27 states of the 36 states of Nigeria. Yet environment is not yet

a prominent issue in the campaigns. There is hardly any informed debate on climate change in Nigeria.

To be sure, floods (like hunger, ignorance and disease) do not recognise the binary division of Nigeria into Christian and Muslim communities or the geo-political North and South. Homes are submerged in Bayelsa state of the south-south geopolitical zone; a good part of Kogi state in the north central is ravaged by floods and parts of Jigawa state in the northwest have been devastated by floods.

The humanitarian crisis and threats to food security generated by the environmental disaster do not respect geo-political or religious boundaries.

About 600 lives have been lost. More than 2.5 million persons have been displaced. No fewer than 90, 000 homes have been damaged.

Bayelsa state has the least population of 1, 704, 515, according to the 2006 census. About 700, 000 persons of this population have been displaced from the 300 communities, which have been flooded and submerged. In fact, residents of the state are in a desperate situation.

A professor’s post to an alumni WhatsApp group of the University of Calabar illustrates the profound human dimension of the present condition in Bayelsa. The alumnus posted the photograph of his flooded home in Bayelsa state to the platform and other members expressed words of sympathy. The professor responded to fellow Malabites (as UNICAL’s alumni addressed one another) as follows: “Thanks.

“But this is a small matter compared to my present worry.

“I have two children attending Unical. One had since graduated. I don’t know if the last two will also follow in the footsteps of their elder sisters, who say they are following in the footsteps of their father.

“Senior Malabites, my girls told me school has resumed. I asked them: ‘How will you go to Calabar? With a chopper?’

“Dear Colleagues, I want to state that the resumption of school at this point in time has not taken into consideration the accessibility of Calabar from other parts of the country.

“For now, Bayelsa and Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State are completely cut off from other parts of the country. I cannot talk of the Calabar-Itu Road. Many Bayelsans that came into the country have been stranded in Port Harcourt or Warri for many days because the East -West Road is cut off on the Delta and Rivers sides. Also, one cannot travel the UghelliAsaba Road because it is submerged totally at several points. In Yenagoa, power supply has been cut off for days for fear of electrocutions.

So, what happens to my children and others like them? Did the Senate consider this natural disaster before coming out with a timetable?

“I feel pained.”

The desperate situations in most states of Nigeria call for a declaration of a national emergency.

Is it not, therefore, strange that environment is not major issue in a country experiencing this emergency?

Instead, a casual observer would think that religious, regional and ethnic differences are the only issues in Nigeria.

Yet, the material issues of the campaigns are not to be invented. The stark reality of the issues is, of course, there on the streets and in poor homes The issues are the problems faced by the voters in their daily struggles of their lives - insecurity, poverty, joblessness, energy crisis, poor state public education, lack of universal healthcare delivery, homelessness etc.

These and more issues should be the focus of the campaigns.

sector and the non-profit sector nationally and internationally. The Ford Foundation and the MacArthur Foundation have made positive contributions to university education in Nigeria through field offices. But Nigerian universities have not been able to access the kind of funding available even through the field offices. Of course, there is much more finance available for research from their international offices and other philanthropic organizations in the world. A lot more funds can come through multilateral financial institutions committed to boosting human and social capital for Nigeria. Endowments through alumni outreaches will bridge the funding for universities administrations that are creative, entrepreneurial, and socially responsive.

But Nigerian university administrators are unable to access this enormous potential funding partly because their universities lack fundamental governance processes and mechanisms that give confidence to private sector and non-profit funders and philanthropists.

The lack of accountability mechanism and the incapacity to organize and mount successful capital campaign militate against effective fundraising by these administrators. Nigerian universities are unable to access these available huge funds because they cannot compete on the criteria set by the funders.

The lack of accountability and transparency in university administration is a big challenge.

Inability to build a fundraising team with expertise and network in the right places is

another major problem. The skills and techniques for effective fundraising are learnable. Part of the responsibility of government is to orchestrate such learning at a large scale and socialize the costs of skills and technology transfer for university administration in Nigeria. We can enable Nigerian universities to access enormous fund for research and learning only if they can reform their administrative system and develop skills effective for fundraising. Government and other stakeholders in the education sector should pressure university administrators to move fast on this institutional reform and learning curves, as a response to the unresolved crisis of tertiary education in Nigeria.

Functional education is one of the critical drivers of development in the history of mankind. It is not a mere happenstance that all countries that have emerged as dominant in different periods of human civilization have relied on a first-rate education, whether the Greek, the British, the German, or in the future, the Chinese. Education in China may not have outclassed western education. But we are seeing incremental improvement in the quality of research and scholarship of tertiary institutions in China as the country aims to move from low-tech dominance to high-tech innovation country. China is still a low-income country, but it is outperforming in science and technology innovation. Chinese universities are attracting world class students, researchers and scholars.

The policymakers in Beijing are not relenting in reforming that sector and gradually closing the gap in research and innovation between it and advanced Western societies.

As a country, Nigeria cannot even contemplate surviving in this uncertain time if it continues with its ramshackle university education.

Nigeria needs to rethink the fundamentals of its tertiary education, especially its strategic objective and financing. It has to find a balance between the need for access and the imperative of quality. Whilst we need to increase enrolment in tertiary education, we need to focus on the quality of tertiary education, especially with regards to capacity for advanced research and innovation. Tertiary education must be connected to a strategic industrial policy and carefully managed to return values in productivity and citizenship. It does not matter whether it is publicly or privately funded. What really matters for sustainable economic development is that tertiary education is qualitative and functional.

This requires increased funding and smart management. As a facilitator of development, the government has a responsibility to lead the transformation of tertiary education sector. This starts with helping university administrators to know how to fundraise and manage 21st century knowledge institutions. r%S 4BN "NBEJ JT UIF %JSFDUPS PG "CVKB 4DIPPM PG 4PDJBM BOE 1PMJUJDBM 5IPVHIU BOE 1SFTJEFOU PG $FOUFS GPS 1VCMJD 1PMJDZ 3FTFBSDI

FUNDING THE UNIVERSITY AFTER ASUU STRIKE to diffuse and assimilate technological innovation, increased investment in tertiary education becomes one of the crucial steps for a country like Nigeria trapped in low productivity. In our context of underdevelopment, the university can be a generator of innovative ideas that create enormous economic value.

The new growth theory finds credence in Nigeria’s economic history. We know from history that when Nigeria posted some of its most astounding economic performances in the 1960s and 1970s was the period when Nigerian universities were globally competitive and reputed. It also marked the establishment of such important and university annexed thinktanks like the Nigerian Institute of Economic and Social Research (NISER), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS). These think-tanks and similar ones are nowhere close to the innovative levels they operated during the halcyon days.

The Nigerian university is no longer a strategic partner to economic and social development in the country. The brain-drain arising from economic crisis of the 1980s and the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) has led to diminution of intellectual capital in the universities. Lack of funding further weakens the capacity of university administrators to recruit the best and the brightest as academics and researchers and to finance cutting-edge research.

Reinvigorating university scholarship starts with sustainable funding and smart management of human and financial resources. This sort of funding cannot come fully from a bankrupt public sector at the federal and state levels.

Much of it should come from the private and non-profit sectors. But the challenge is how to activate the enormous potentials in non-public sector funding of universities and tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

The underfunding of Nigerian university education sector is chronic. One piece of data will illustrate this. A state university in the United States, State University of California, has a budget of 500%, more than the budgets of all the federal and state universities in Nigeria. And it is not even one of the best funded universities in the United State. The federal government long realized the impossibility of adequate funding of universities from the budgetary allocation to the education sector hence it established the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) from the ashes of the Education Trust Fund (ETF) and the Needs Assessment Fund. These agencies, especially the TETFUND, have made significant contributions to support university education in Nigeria. These contributions have taken the forms of physical infrastructural development and sponsorship for research.

The support by the intervention agencies is not enough to make these tertiary institutions competitive even in Africa, talk less of the world.

ASUU President, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke The world’s highest ranked Nigerian university, according to the Times Higher Education, the University of Ibadan, ranked 11th in the 401-500 ranked universities in the world, below some African universities. Apart from University of Lagos that ranked 24 out of 25 in that category, no other Nigerian university made the rank of 500 best universities in the world. This shows the need for drastic improvement in the quality of university education in Nigeria.

Furthermore, Nigeria has the lowest enrolment rate in tertiary education in comparable least development countries (LDCs). You need good funding to improve access and quality of tertiary education in Nigeria. This raises the need for creative and strategic thinking by policymakers and managers of tertiary education in Nigeria. We seriously need a framework that helps to build the capacity of university administrators to leverage the growing private and non-profit sector in Nigeria and globally and access their huge financial resources for sustainable financing of university research and learning in Nigeria. This framework includes governance reform and administrative actions that optimize reputation and competitiveness.

One has to admit that Nigerian university administrators have not paid attention to huge financial resources available outside the public sector for the funding of research and learning.

Perhaps, the oil boom of the past made such consideration not pressing. But, today, it is imperative for these administrators to consider the huge finances available in the private

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WEDNESDAY, ͹΁˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Rivers Utd, Plateau Utd Draw North African Teams Again!

Duro Ikhazuagbe

C A F C O N F E D E R AT I O N C U P

After Nigerian clubs in continental campaigns got eliminated at the final hurdle to the group stage of the CAF Champions League at the weekend, Rivers United FC and Plateau United have again been handed North African oppositions in the playoffs for the Confederation Cup group phase.

At the draw yesterday for the playoffs where teams will qualify

for the group stage, both Rivers and Plateau were paired against two Libyan teams in the home and away two-legged fixtures scheduled for next month. The first leg match will hold on 2 November. The return match will be a week later on 9 November.

Rivers United will take on El Nasr while Plateau have Al

Akhder hurdle to climb.

Nigeria’s other clubs that featured in the Confederation Cup earlier, Remo Stars and Kwara United were knocked-out by North African teams.

It was also Moroccan club, Wydad that ousted Rivers United from the Champions League, while

Tunisia’s Esperance dealt Plateau United the unkind cut of elimination from the money spinning group stage of the continent's premier club competition.

No Nigerian club has ever won the competition that is in its 20th edition.

Interestingly, cup holders, RS Berkane will face Tunisia's US Monastir in the play-offs for the group stage of this season's CAF

Confederation Cup. US Monastir are among the 16 teams dropping into the Confederation Cup from the African Champions League.

Moroccan club Berkane only sneaked past Nigeria's Kwara United on away goals in the second preliminary round after a 2-0 home win saw the tie end 3-3 on aggregate.

DR Congo's TP Mazembe, CS

Sfaxien of Tunisia and Morocco's AS FAR are three other clubs with outstanding pedigrees in the play-off round, which will be held over two legs next month.

Clubs from Morocco and Tunisia have dominated Africa's second-tier continental club competition since its launch in 2004, winning 12 of the 19 finals - with Berkane victorious in 2020 and last season.

PLAY0FFS DRAW US Monastir (Tunisia) Rivers United (Nigeria) Plateau United (Nigeria) Royal Leopards (Eswatini) TP Mazembe (DR Congo) Primeiro de Agosto (Angola) ASEC Mimosas (Ivory Coast) Djoliba AC (Mali) Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya) ASKO de Kara (Togo) Young Africans (Tanzania) Flambeau du Centre (Burundi) Cape Town City (South Africa) AS Nigelec (Niger) La Passe FC (Seychelles) AS Vita Club or RC Kadiogo

v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v

RS Berkane (holders, Morocco) El Nasr (Libya) Al Akhder (Libya) AS Real Bamako (Mali) Royal AM FC (South Africa) Future FC (Egypt) SC Gagnoa (Ivory Coast) AS FAR (Morocco) Marumo Gallants (South Africa) CS Sfaxien (Tunisia) Club Africain (Tunisia) DC Motema Pembe (DR Congo) USM Alger (Algeria) Pyramids FC (Egypt) Diables Noirs (Congo) FC St Eloi Lupopo (DR Congo)

N’Golo Kante to Miss World Cup in Qatar France and Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante has been ruled out of the World Cup in Qatar after having an operation on a hamstring injury.

Kante, 31, suffered the injury during Chelsea's 2-2 home draw with Tottenham on 14 August.

In a statement, the club said that the procedure was a success but Kante is expected to be sidelined for four months.

It added that the decision to operate to repair the damage was "mutual".

"The midfielder visited a specialist with the club's medical department to explore the options for his rehabilitation approach," the statement said.

Blues boss Graham Potter said before his side played Aston

Villa last weekend that Kante had faced a setback in his bid to regain fitness.

Kante, who won the World Cup with France in 2018, joins a growing list of Premier League players who have suffered serious injuries in the build-up to the showpiece tournament which starts in November 20.

His Chelsea team-mate Reece James is a major doubt for England after picking up a knee injury against AC Milan in the Champion League this month.

On Tuesday, Liverpool forward Diogo Jota's hopes of representing Portugal were ended after Jurgen Klopp confirmed the 25-year-old will face a "long time" out because of a calf injury.

N'Golo Kante...ruled out of World Cup in Qatar

Paul Onuachu...scored brace against Westerlo yesterday

Onuachu Getting Groove Back, Scores Brace in Belgium Super Eagles forward, Paul Onuachu, is gradually getting his groove back after the injury that set him back before the Belgian topflight season kicked off.

Onuachu scored a brace as Genk mauled Westerlo 6-1 in the Belgian First Division A fixture last night.

The win consolidated Genk at the summit of the Belgian First Division on 34 points from 13 games.

The 28-year-old Nigerian international was on target in the 32nd minute and converted a penalty in 40th for his second goal of the evening. Genk raced to 3-0 in the first 21 minutes and added two more to make it 5-1 before the first half break.

He was replaced in the 66th minute by Mbwana Samatta.

Last weekend, Onuachu was the match winner for Genk at OH Leuven.

Onuachu who scored 21 goals last season, has now netted six

goals in his last four matches.

Speaking to HLN at the weekend, Onuachu said: “I am gradually getting back to almost 100 percent. I just want to play, have fun and meet up with the coach’s expectations.

I enjoy his confidence.”

Onuachu said he is not disturbed by criticisms against him in the media “As a footballer you have to be able to live with people talking about you. I don’t care. I don’t

really follow the media,” he said.

“It’s simple: I was injured at the beginning of the season and had to be fit again. It was tough for a while, but I’m a professional,” he concluded on a positive note.

Suarez Inspires Boyhood Club to Title Luis Suarez's return to Nacional gave his boyhood team an "enormous leap in quality" that helped the Uruguayan side win the Clausura title, the club's President Jose Fuentes said yesterday.

Suarez, who played for top European teams Liverpool, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, returned to his home country in July and joined Nacional on a free transfer.

The 35-year-old, who won the Primera Division with Nacional in 2005–06 before moving to Europe,

has been a key player since his return, scoring five goals in 12 matches as Nacional won the title with a game to spare.

"Luis Suarez was the icing on the cake, the touch of quality in this squad. Having a top player is a luxury for Nacional and Uruguayan soccer," Fuentes told El Pais Uruguay.

"Suarez's performances did not go unnoticed and he gave the squad this enormous leap in quality, for him and for what he represents for the others."

Fuentes convinced the striker nicknamed 'Pistolero' to return to Uruguay from Spain.

"The ones who achieve the triumph and go down in history are the players, we try to give them all the means and put everything Nacional has at their disposal to achieve it," Fuentes added.

"In that sense we are satisfied with what we have done, but the real protagonists are the players."

Nacional will play the Apertura champions Liverpool of Uruguay for the Primera Division title.

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

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MISSILE Oyo APC to Makinde “Without adding any significant value to the state since May 2019, Gov. Makinde has been wasting the meagre resources available on foreign trips. As if this was not enough, the governor has graduated from embarking on frequent personal business trips abroad to globetrotting with Gov. Wike and three others who are dissatisfied with the outcome of the last presidential primary of their party .“ –TThe Oyo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) criticising the state governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, for making foreign trips to attend political meetings with Governor Wike of Rivers State and three other governors.

KAYODEKOMOLAFE THE HORIZON

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n the electoral time-table, 150 days have been scheduled for political parties and their candidates to campaign across the country.

One of the reasons given by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) for this unusually long period of campaigns is that candidates would need time to go round the country to sell their manifestoes and explain their programmes to voters. In the process, the candidates would also learn about the Nigerian condition as the campaign trains move to various places.

Although some politicians are said to be unhappy about the long period of campaigns as they accuse INEC chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu of making them to spend more money on electioneering. In the financial arithmetic of politicians, the longer the period of campaigns, the more their expenses.

However, the 150 days of campaigns have been justified by proponents of issue-based campaigns.

It is reasoned that the relatively long period would enable political parties and the public at large to discuss the issues of the elections thoroughly so that on the day of election an informed decision would be made by the voter.

If morning shows the day, the last few days of the campaigns have not given any hope of an

INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu issue-based 2023 politics. Not much of the issues is being discussed. Nothing on the horizon holds the promise of qualitatively different campaigns.

It might be argued that most of that parties are yet to formally unveil their manifestoes.

But the trend of undue manipulation of the

politics of identity should worry those genuinely concerned about the outcome of the process.

Increasingly, politicians, publicists, pundits and other public intellectuals are focussing more on religious, ethnic and regional labels at the expense of the reality of the condition of the people. The public sphere is saturated with prejudicial exchanges and hate-laden opinions on religion and ethnicity among partisans of political parties.

Politicians seem to have shifted their focus away from insecurity, mass poverty and environmental disasters to religion, ethnicity and geo-political calculations. It is, of course, more mentally tasking to discuss the economic policy options of a candidate than to rain insults and abuses on the region and ethnic origins of the candidate.

For instance, amidst the prolonged ASUU strike a candidate came up with a highly retrogressive proposition on how to solve the problem of inadequate funding of public universities. Hardly was there any response from the camps of his opponents. But a political tirade on an alleged regional political interest made by the same candidate has dominated electioneering for days.

This is a symptom of the neglect of material issues while the people’s attention is diverted with the gross manipulation of religion and regionalism.

Therefore, genuine democratic voices should not be tired of telling politicians to go back to the issues of the election. Politicians should be selling their policy options to solve the numerous problems. The public should be alert to the ploy by some elements to cynically manipulate the fault lines in the most dangerous manner.

For clarity, the threat to national integration is an issue. National unity is a big issue in electoral terms. The issues of the defective Nigerian federalism abound. The lack of seriousness of purpose about restructuring is a cause of many political problems. But the approach should not be by manipulation of these issues for electoral advantage. Rather political parties and their candidates should be challenged on their agendas for national unity based on social justice and equity.

Nation-building anywhere is a work in progress, as they say. This point was eloquently summed up by a former governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, last December at a summit on national unity in Abuja. The scholar-politician who remarkably completed his second-term in office as governor on Sunday put the matter like this: “Unity is never given ab initio or permanently; Continued on page 46

SAMAMADI GUEST COLUMNIST

Funding the University after ASUU Strike

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fter the ASUU strike, university administration will be one of the hardest jobs to do in Nigeria as the country struggles with the current global economic crisis and the adverse consequences of its dysfunctional political economy. The difficulty of university administration will be more than the usual challenge of managing the dynamics of learning and research and the intractability of leading academics and professionals to do productive work. These usual challenges will be added to a new challenge of developing world-class academic environment with less and less of public funding. This is the new challenge of university administration in Nigeria: how to do more with less public sector funding for university education.

The necessity of doing more stems from the fact that Nigeria’s hope of escaping underdevelopment requires more and more investment in human capital. But the country is bankrupt; or almost bankrupt. A country that uses almost all of its revenue to service debts (I need to add that sometimes it borrows) will find it difficult to finance critical social services, especially education, as required.

This is more so as the present government

and most governments in Nigeria wrongly believe that what the nation requires more urgently is physical infrastructure rather than social infrastructure.

This wrong understanding of the dialectics of transformative development informs the huge borrowings to finance physical infrastructural development by the present government and less for human and social infrastructure. But Bill Gates’ criticism of Nigeria’s economic development model is relevant here. Bill Gates argues rightly that Nigeria needs more investment in human capital than in physical infrastructure. The World Bank corroborates this position in its Human Development Reports in Nigeria. The Bank admits it erred in not emphasizing the importance of human capital in poverty reduction and general economic development in the economic reform policy of the last two decades. As the Nobel Laureate Michael Spence and his team of economists observed in the Growth Report, 2008, high grade investment in physical infrastructure and in human capital is a notable feature of the successful Asian economies.

It is ironic that whilst the nation needs to boost its human capital it is investing less in education. The 2022 budget provides for

only N1.29 trillion out of a total N20 trillion, about 7.9%. for education, whereas it provides N2.41 trillion for defence and security. It is true that, in relative terms, there is an attitudinal aspect to the problem of low priority attached to budgetary support for education in Nigeria.

But a major contributor to poor funding for education is the lack of adequate funding for general infrastructural development in Nigeria.

The effect of the mismanagement of the oil windfall and the current harsh economic condition is that, with all the good intention, there is little finance available for university education. So, Nigeria’s public sector support for education will remain inadequate. In fact, it could be reducing in relative terms. This inadequacy is dangerous because of the overriding urgency of increasing the support that the university provides to social and economic development through teaching and research.

Inadequate funding will delay or probably abort industrial development in Nigeria. Without a functional university administration supporting world class research and teaching and linking town and gown in an ambitious development agenda, Nigeria will not easily exit its state of underdevelopment. One lesson we can take home from the economic development

of Indo-European and East Asian countries is that a functional university education is a critical driver of sustainable economic development.

Therefore, the most urgent and significant development challenge for Nigeria today could be reinvigorating university scholarship to support economic and social development initiatives. This reinvigoration is necessary to provide first-rate human and social capitals to support optimization of natural resources and technology in Nigeria’s economy. Right from Alfred Marshall who stated that “although nature is subject to diminishing returns… knowledge is the most powerful engine of production, it enables us to subdue nature and satisfy our wants” to Paul Romer who turned this insight into the ‘new growth theory’ that “Nations are poor because their citizens do not have access to the ideas that are used in industrial nations to generate economic value”, human capital has been identified as perhaps the most important factor of production in a knowledge economy.

Formal education may not make very high returns to household income in the short term but considered in terms of how education helps Continued on page 46

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