TUESDAY 20TH OCTOMBER 2020

Sanwo-Olu, Okowa, Obaseki, El-Rufai, Others Inaugurate Police Brutality Panels Segun James in Lagos, Adibe Emenyonu in Benin and John Shiklam in Kaduna Governors Babajide SanwoOlu of Lagos State, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and

Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State yesterday inaugurated members of the judicial panels on police brutality in their respective states.

In Lagos, the members of the panel took their oath at the State House, Marina, yesterday.

The panel members, led by the chairman, Justice Doris Okuwobi, immediately moved to Ikoyi for their inaugural proceeding.

Speaking during the inauguration, Sanwo-Olu said the swiftness of the process of the panel members’

composition was an indication of the state government’s sincerity towards the quick resolution of the issues that led to the #EndSARS nationwide protests against alleged police brutality.

Sanwo-Olu said the government selected an

unblemished retired judge to head the inquiry tribunal, given the enormity of the task at hand and the need to uphold the tenets of due process and fair hearing.

“In the last two weeks, we have witnessed pockets of justified protests by our

youths against police brutality.

The pain of our young ones has been felt in various parts of Lagos and country as well as in the diaspora. The protesters have spoken in one voice against the unbridled Continued on page 9

CBN Rolls Out Financing Framework for Mass Metering Programme... Page 6 Tuesday 20 October, 2020 Vol 25. No 9325. Price: N250

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Protests Escalate as Hoodlums Free Prisoners in Benin, Lagos Locked down Three die in Abuja, cars set ablaze Obaseki declares 24-hour curfew, Sanwo-Olu closes schools Govs pledge to fulfill marchers’ demands Chuks Okocha, Olawale Ajimotokan, Kingsley Nwezeh, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja, Chiemelie Ezeobi, Segun James, Rebecca Ejifoma in Lagos and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin EndSARS protesters yesterday grounded commercial activities in Lagos as they blocked major road outlets, hindering the movements of human and vehicular traffic.

The protesters, who had been on the streets for about 11 days to demonstrate over police brutality, demanded the full implementation of their requests, including police reforms and prosecution of police officers and men indicted for human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings.

The attendant insecurity Continued on page 8

…You’ve Made Your Point, End the Protests, Says Tinubu Ejiofor Alike National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, yesterday intervened in the ongoing #EndSARS protests, urging the protesters to calm down and end the demonstrations that have paralysed socio-economic activities in Abuja, Benin, Lagos among other capital cities in the country.

“You have made your point.

Government has made a commitment to you. Please, please and please, call off the protests,” he appealed to the protesters in a statement, adding: “Give the government a chance to implement your demands.”

He urged the youths to end the protests since President Muhammadu Buhari has acted with commendable dispatch by Continued on page 8

MESSAGE FROM CANTERBURY...

Special Envoy of Archbishop of Canterbury, Rev. Precious Omuku (left), and President Muhammadu Buhari during a visit to the president in Abuja…yesterday godwin omoigui

Mandela's Widow, Awosika, Others Lead Women’s Campaign for Okonjo-Iweala...Page 5

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TUESDAY OCTOBER 20, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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NEWS Mandela’s Widow, Awosika, Others Lead Women’s Campaign for Okonjo-Iweala Group News Editor Ejiofor Alike

Email Ejiofor.Alike@thisdaylive.com, 08066066268

Obinna Chima The widow of former South African President, Dr. Nelson Mandela, Graca Machel; the Chairman of the Board of FirstBank Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, and other influential women across Africa have lined up behind Nigeria’s candidate for the position of DirectorGeneral of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Other women in the group include the Chair of Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Mrs. Nonkululeko Nyembezi; and President, Business Women of Egypt 21, Dr. Yomna ElSheridy.

A statement yesterday by Okonjo-Iweala's supporters listed others rallying support for her to include former Chief Executive Officer, Absa, Mrs. Maria Ramos; Partner, Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie, Mrs. Myma Belo-Osagie, and Chair, Africa Regional Certification Commission for Polio Eradication, Prof.

Rose Leke.

In the statement titled: “A Call to Elevate Africa’s Voice on the Global Stage,” addressed to WTO member states, the women made a strong case for the global trade body to elect the former Nigerian finance minister as its first female head since 1995 based on her clear status as the best candidate in the race.

"As African women in the business community, we stand behind Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in her bid to become DirectorGeneral of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). If appointed director-general, Okonjo-Iweala would be the first African person – man or woman – to lead the WTO,” they stated.

The women noted that “by 2050, one in eight people in the world will be an African woman.”

The group said the interest of the African woman, the continent and world trade would be best served by Okonjo-Iweala’s emergence as DG, WTO. According to them,

her victory would also represent a positive landmark within the WTO as an institution, which needs to improve its track record in gender representation within its ranks.

“Today, the number of women chairing WTO bodies, panels and working groups and representing Members and Observers to the WTO is considerably lower than that of men.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s appointment would signal not only a milestone in gender diversity but also be a watershed moment for Africa… Recognising the future ahead now is the time to ensure that African perspectives, especially African

women’s perspectives, are represented on the global stage,” they added.

They stated that the election of the former World Bank managing director would help the WTO, which has been paralysed in recent years by US-China rivalry, to catch up with and maximise key regional trade landmarks like the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) in the interest of the continent.

This, they stated, was an imperative in a world where protectionism is increasing at the expense of globalisation because Africa has a strong stake in the realisation of the multilateral vision which has animated Okonjo-

Iweala’s career.

“As the world becomes more protectionist, Africa is showing its commitment to using trade to accelerate development. Regional trade agreements like the AfCFTA are modern and at the cutting-edge, but WTO rules have fallen behind.

Under her tenure, OkonjoIweala will ensure that the rules take into account rapidly growing areas like the digital economy and services trade,” they added.

They stated that OkonjoIweala’s anticipated victory would be a win-win for Africa and the world both in terms of expected substantial accomplishments and powerful positive

symbolism.

“We urge the WTO member states to recognise Okonjo-Iweala as the best candidate for directorgeneral not only because of her vast experience leading national and multilateral agencies and initiatives but also because of her vision. At a time in which the world requires an innovative approach to tackle the challenges of recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, Okonjo-Iweala adds a fresh perspective not only as a female candidate but as an African woman.

Given the region’s growing population, her appointment will be a profound step forward for free trade,” they said.

CAN Cautions against Using Military to Quell Protests Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has asked the military and police not to intervene in the ongoing civil protests in order to avoid killings.

In a statement yesterday by its President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, CAN commended the youths who are advocating reform of the police either through #EndSARS protests or prayer walks nationwide for embracing a peaceful approach.

It said: "We condemn in strong terms every attempt being made to stop or disrupt the peaceful protest, which is lawfully allowed and guaranteed by 1999 Constitution (as amended).

"We are monitoring the #EndSARS protests nationwide and we are praying that their unprecedented efforts to have a decent society will not be in vain.

"We call on the military and police to resist the temptation to intervene in a civil protest in order to avoid harvest of deaths. We have had enough of mass burials without fighting a war in the recent past."

The CAN urged the federal and state governments to keep their promise of restoring confidence.

It called for the immediate inauguration of judicial or

quasi-judicial panel with representatives of the civil society at all levels with a view to prosecuting criminals security agents found accused of human rights abuses.

It asked President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately send an appropriation bill to the National Assembly for the compensation of all victims of police brutality and other extrajudicial killings in the last 10 years.

It advised that fresh recruitment into police should do background checks on those being recruited so as to avoid recruiting criminals.

The CAN said: "Similarly, semi-literates should never be recruited into the police again. Well educated, morally and mentally sound people are good enough to wear police uniform in Nigeria.

"All three tiers of the government should stop paying lip service to the welfare of the people and immediately begin the welfare programme that will bring succour to the suffering masses occasioned by the increase in the fuel pump price and the power tariff.

"Each of the 36 state governors, including the FCT Minister, should set up a committee to dialogue with the representatives of the protesters to douse the tension in the country.”

DRIVING LOCAL CONTENT...

L-R: Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Nigerian Content Development, Hon. Lagor Idagbo; Senate Minority Whip, Senator Phillip Aduda; and Chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content, Senator Teslim Folarin, at a joint public hearing on a bill on local content in Abuja...yesterday julius atoi

Ebonyi Lawmakers Give PDP Ultimatum to Zone Presidency to South-east Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki The plot for the defection of top government officials in Ebonyi State to the All Progressives Congress (APC) thickened yesterday with the state House of Assembly giving a seven-day ultimatum to the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to zone the presidency to the South-east zone in 2023.

The ultimatum has strengthened the speculation that the Governor, Chief Dave Umahi, is planning to lead executive council members and the state lawmakers, elected on PDP platform, to join the APC. Umahi, who is rumoured to be nursing higher

political ambition in 2023, had reportedly perfected plans to cross over to the nation's ruling party.

At a press conference in Abakaliki, the state capital, the Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Francis Nwifuru, warned that the PDP would pay heavily if the party fails to adhere to the request.

Twenty two out of the 24 members of the state House of Assembly were present while two lawmakers were absent.

The lawmakers also warned the PDP not to contemplate removing the National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus.

Nwifuru said: "We are giving our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), seven days’

ultimatum to summon the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party and zone the position of the presidency to the South-east, Nigeria, especially as INEC has officially announced the date of the presidential election.

He said: "Equally, the party should not contemplate to remove the National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, as it is customary that the zone (South) from where the National Chairman comes from produces the presidential candidate of the party. If this advice is not adhered to, it will further divide and destabilise the party along sectional and regional lines.

"Failure to adhere to these kind requests will cost our

party heavily and we, the honourable members of the sixth Ebonyi State House of Assembly will leave no stone unturned in taking decisive actions to ensure that traditions and dividends of democracy are respected in our party."

The lawmakers noted that since the rebirth of democracy in 1999, the South-east zone has paid its dues having worked assiduously and massively voted for all the presidential candidates of PDP from other zones in the country, stressing that in the spirit of democracy, equity, justice and fairness, the presidency, come 2023, be zoned to the South-east.

However, the speaker denied rumour of the planned defection of the state lawmakers to the APC.

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NEWS

CBN Rolls Out Financing Framework for Mass Metering Programme Bars importation of fully assembled meters FG plans full deregulation of power sector Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday released guidelines for accessing funding for the mass metering programme recently announced by the federal government in a bid to close the 10 million metering gap in the country.

The apex bank, however, barred the importation of fully assembled meters and prohibited bringing infrastructure from outside the country that already exists within.

The federal government has also stated that it planned to completely deregulate Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), akin to what is happening in the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry, where it has fully removed subsidy.

According to the apex bank, the aim of the scheme is to increase Nigeria’s metering rate, eliminate arbitrary estimated billing and strengthen the local meter value chain by increasing local meter manufacturing, assembly and deployment capacity.

Other objectives of the programme, the bank said, is to support Nigeria’s economic recovery by creating jobs in the local meter value chain, reducing collection losses and increasing financial flows to achieve 100 per cent market remittance obligations of the Distribution Companies (Discos).

The CBN said the move would improve network monitoring capability and availability of data for market administration and investment decision making.

It added that the introduction of the service-based tariff (SBT) in NESI effective from September 1, 2020, emphasised the need to close the metering gap in the NESI. The CBN explained that closing of the gap will enhance the efficiency of revenue collection by Discos and thereby facilitate meeting their obligations to other upstream market participants.

However, the bank barred the importation of fully-assembled meters and prohibited bringing infrastructure from outside the country that already exists within.

It said: “Procurement of fully assembled meters from overseas is prohibited except meters imported by Meter Asset Providers (MAP) already in the country as at September 30, 2020, and verified by NERC. “And importation of related metering infrastructure that is currently being produced in the country is also prohibited.”

However, the apex bank explained that the framework only outlines the operational modalities of the CBN financing support to the Disco and local meter manufacturers and restricted to the procurement and deployment of meters and the associated infrastructure (software and hardware) to support the metering network.

It stated that the bank facility will only be used for procurement of NERC-approved meters, payments for installation and deployment of meters, procurement of other metering infrastructure-related production and service provision as may be prescribed by NERC in relevant orders or by prevailing rules and regulations.

The bank also listed the procurement of backend metering platform and data management systems as well as customer enumeration services as some of the areas the facility should be invested.

According to the bank, the facility shall have a maximum tenor of 10 years but not exceeding 2030, adding that there will be a moratorium on the principal amount for a period not exceeding 24 months from date of loan disbursement.

As for interest rates to be paid, CBN stated that the facility shall be administered at an “all-in” interest rate of not more than nine per cent per annum or any other rate as may be specified by the bank.

“As part of the bank’s COVID-19 relief package, the interest rate to be charged up to 28th February 2021 shall not exceed 5 per cent per annum.

Interest shall be payable by the loan beneficiaries in accordance with the approved repayment schedule outlined in the transaction documents.

“The “all-in” interest rate of nine per cent to be shared as follows: Participating Financial Institution (PFIs) - six per cent

while sponsor (CBN) will paythree per cent.

“PFIs are to remit the interest due to the CBN on a quarterly basis not later than 10 days after the end of the quarter,” it stated.

It added that the amount to be accessed would be determined based on the volume and type of meters to be procured by the Disco for the contracted MAP as well as the prices at which meters are bought during the bulk procurement.

The bank added that the eligible obligors should demonstrate verifiable evidence of technical capacity, track record of experience in manufacturing of key meter components, bankable business plans acceptable to the PFIs and financial capacity.

FG Plans Full Deregulation of Power Sector The federal government yesterday stated that it planned to completely deregulate the NESI just like it did the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry, where it has fully removed subsidy.

Minister of Power, Mr. Sale Mamman, who spoke during a virtual event organised by Siemens Energy, Germany, also noted that by 2030, 30 per cent of the whole energy mix in the country will be based on renewable.

The forum also had in attendance Minister of Energy, Benin Republic, Mr Dona Jean-Claude Houssou; Undersecretary, Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mr Sharif Al Olama and Minister of Electricity, Iraq, Mr Majid El Emara, among others.

Mamman, who was represented by the Minister of State, Power, Mr Goddy Jedy-Agba, said with the strategy put in place by the federal government, the era of full government funding of power supply and right state control was over.

He said: “In the past, the power system was statecontrolled, leading to low participation. But with market restructuring, that is changing and that is with less rigid control by the government.

“The central strategy in the power sector due to the severe

inadequacy of infrastructure is thus a significant development, which is hinged on harmony and active participation of various public and private stakeholders in the industry.

“Further down the line, the market will still evolve towards complete deregulation and more commercially focused partnerships, further emphasising this harmony between the public and private sector and sustainability of the industry."

He said the partnership with Siemens will improve Nigeria’s electricity supply, adding that the federal government recently set up initiatives to bring about better energy supply to the people through vision 3030.

“This is targeted at delivering 30,000,000 watts of electricity with a 30 per cent renewable energy mix by 2030. This is a key focus of our strategy to avail Nigeria of reliable power supply,” he stated.

According to him, the federal government is currently embarking on grid modernisation and expansion plan which will add 25,000MW of operational capacity to the bulk power system within

the next six years, which will be further supported by five million solar home systems and mini-grids for underserved Nigerians.

In his comments, the Executive Vice President, Generation, Siemens Energy, Mr Karim Amin, stated that the company was set to remove all the bottlenecks in the generation and distribution of power in Nigeria.

“Nigeria has a generation capacity of 13,000mw, but only a small portion of this reaches the consumers. So, Siemens energy and the Nigerian government are working together right now on a critical project aimed at removing the roadblocks in the transmission and distribution systems.

“The eventual goal is to develop a system that can deliver 25,000 MW of electricity across the country,” Amin said.

Managing Director, Siemens Nigeria, Onyeche Tifase, who anchored the session, said it was unacceptable that over 850 million people do not have access to electricity and most of them reside in Africa, noting that Siemens is set to rectify the problem.

ALUTA CONTINUA...

Protesters on Dutse-Bwari Road in Abuja…yesterday

Amotekun Not Substitute for Police, Military, Says Fayemi Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, yesterday inaugurated the Ekiti State Security Network Agency, codenamed ‘Amotekun Corps’ with a clarification that the outfit is not meant to supplant or discredit other traditional security agencies such as the police and the military but to collaborate with and strengthen their operations.

The governor explained that the establishment of the security outfit was a child of necessity aimed at solving and addressing the various security challenges bedevilling the state and the South-west zone in particular and Nigeria in general.

Fayemi, at the event in Ado-Ekiti, which also featured the passing out parade of the

newly-recruited personnel of the outfit, noted that fighting crime was a collective responsibility, which requires input and the collaboration of every citizen.

He said the agency, in carrying out its duty, would safeguard human rights as enshrined in the constitution, adding that all citizens are expected to go about their normal businesses without any fear of intimidation.

The governor, who had earlier carried out an inspection of the quarter guard and parade, was accompanied by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Bisi Egbeyemi; Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Biodun Oyebanji; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Biodun Omoleye; and the Chairman, Traditional Rulers Council in the state and the Alawe of Ilawe

Ekiti, Oba Ajibade Alabi, among others.

According to Fayemi, “The precarious security situation we are contending with nationwide has created palpable fear in the minds of our people, the current challenges of the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, kidnapping, assassination, cattle rustling, ritual killing, armed robbery, cultism and youth restiveness are daunting but surmountable.

“For the umpteenth time, I hereby reiterate that Amotekun is not a substitute for any of the existing security agency.

Amotekun is here to strengthen our general security architecture by collaborating and synergising with all existing security agencies to ensure security and safety of lives and properties of Ekiti

kete using local knowledge and native intelligence.

“As a government, we are determined to put an end to this worrisome development of insecurity, we are encouraged and strengthened by the sense of responsibility and collective support that our people at home and in the diasporas give the Amotekun initiative.

“Amotekun is established to ensure the safety and freedom of not only Ekiti indigene or Yoruba people but everyone resident within and around Ekiti State. It is to protect and safeguard all within our state and indeed within our zone.”

Fayemi, who explained that the impact of COVID-19 had caused the delay in the launch, charged the people to be vigilant and be wary of shielding

criminals in their communities, adding that cooperation of all is important for the outfit to succeed.

He said: “It is also noteworthy that Ekiti State Security Network Agency will collaborate with similar security network agency in other states, including but not limited to Ogun, Lagos, Osun, Ondo and Oyo states to deter kidnapping, terrorism, destruction of lives and properties, highway robberies and any other criminal activities and to assist the police and other security institutions in apprehending such criminals.

“Crime fighting is a collective responsibility, all hands must be on deck in our quest to restore peace and stop criminality in our state and region, those who engage in criminal activities live

within and around us. Let us be vigilant and be sensitive to new faces in our midst."

While congratulating the corps officers, the governor urged them to shun any act that could tarnish the image and purpose of the outfit. He further charged them to live above board and respect the oath they swore to.

Earlier, the Corps Commander, Brig-Gen. Joe Akomolafe (rtd), had warned all criminally-minded people in Ekiti State to leave as the state was no longer safe for criminals, adding that the mandate revolves around protection of lives and property of the people.

The commander urged them to promptly report any situation for further directives.

TUESDAY OCTOBER 20, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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PAGE EIGHT PROTESTS ESCALATE AS HOODLUMS FREE PRISONERS IN BENIN, LAGOS LOCKED DOWN arising from the protest forced the Lagos State government to close public and private schools, warning parents and guardians not to allow their children and wards to be used as tools by those who may want to hijack the protests and cause mayhem.

Similar protests turned violent in Benin City and Abuja, where marchers and troops, deployed to abort the blockade of major highways in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), clashed and thugs attacked protesters, killing three persons and burning several vehicles.

In Benin City, the Edo State capital, thugs, who infiltrated the protesters, attacked the Correctional Facility on Sapele Road, during which they allegedly freed about 120 inmates.

They also vandalised the second Correctional Facility at Oko, also in Benin City.

In addition, the hoodlums attacked three police stations in the state, sacked all the personnel attached to them, set detained suspects free and carted away arms and ammunition.

The incidents prompted the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, to impose a 24-hour curfew on the state until further notice.

However, amid the violence, Minister of Youths and Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare, after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, yesterday, quoted the president as saying that the youths have the right to protest peacefully while making demands on their leaders.

The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) has also pledged to fulfill the demands of the protesters just as the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, has alleged that the protesters have a hidden agenda.

Reports from across Lagos State yesterday showed that while the protest was largely peaceful at Alausa and Lekki toll gate, which has been the venues where the protesters have been converging since the onset of the demonstration, hoodlums cashed in on the situation in other parts of the state such as Ajah, Ikorodu, Iyana Ipaja, to attack and rob motorists and pedestrians.

The protesters shut down virtually all parts of Lagos.

Among the affected areas were Airport Road, Alausa Secretariat, Allen, Opebi, Ago Palace Way, Isolo, Okota, Ikotun, Jakande, Ajegunle, Awolowo Road, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, LASU Road, and Idimu.

Others include Yaba, Alapere,

Mushin, Ikorodu Road, Amuwo Odofin, Oshodi, Surulere and Egbe-Idimu.

In Alausa, the protesters locked all the entrances to the secretariat, thereby, denying workers access to the premises.

In Lekki, the protesters continued their day-nine of the demonstration at the Lekki Tollgate.

The lockdown not only triggered traffic across the state but has also increased transport fare by 100 per cent.

A trip from Oshodi to Ikorodu that ordinarily costs N150 was hiked to N1, 000 per passenger.

Currently, vehicles leaving the mainland for island ply Ikoyi Bridge through Jakande to get to Ajah while vehicles from Ajah get stuck at Chevron Tollgate for hours before successfully getting to Lekki.

At LagosIbadan Expressway, there was a total shutdown of that corridor, with motorists and commuters trapped in the gridlock.

In each of these locations, hundreds were seen walking to their respective destinations as the protesters banned commercial motorcycles too.

The motorists that braved the odds to drive were stuck on the road for hours.

As the protests continued, no fewer than 20 policemen sustained varying degrees of injuries and four patrol vehicles destroyed in Lagos, as the hitherto peaceful protests turned violent as anti-police sentiment rose.

Hoodlums, armed with stones, attacked operatives in a Rapid Response Squad (RRS) truck.

The attack occurred at Adekunle area of Yaba while the operatives were being moved to relieve their colleagues who had been on duty since Sunday.

Attempts by the driver of the police truck to reverse proved abortive as other cars behind him left no room to manoeuvre.

The policemen fled when the hoodlums approached their vehicles and hauled stones at them.

At least 14 operatives of the RRS were injured in the attack as the hoodlums brutalised the armed policemen, who had instruction from the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, not to engage the protesters in a fight.

Some of the injured policemen were moved to the Police Clinic Yaba, Panti and others were taken to the general hospital for medical attention.

In another incident, some hoodlums chased RRS pickup van around Lagos-Ibadan expressway, at the Alausa Secretariat end, but the driver managed to escape being attacked.

Another set of hoodlums

attacked RRS operatives at LASU, forcing their vehicle to detour.

In Alapere, Ketu, some of the hoodlums chased back an RRS patrol vehicle that was responding to a distress call.

In Mushin, the protest was hijacked by hoodlums, who chased away the police before extorting motorists and passers-by.

Condemning the attacks on policemen, the state police spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said some of the protesters exhibited violent traits and disdain for the police, while urging them to desist from provoking the operatives.

He appealed to the protesters to get organised and have a structure so that they can easily communicate the reason(s) of the protests to supporters to avoid misrepresentation and anarchy.

Following the worsening protests, the Lagos State Government has directed all pupils and students in public and private schools to stay at home as the anti-SARS protest in the state became violent.

The state Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, said in a statement yesterday that the safety of the students, parents and all staff working in schools was paramount at this critical period.

She advised parents to keep an eye on their children and not allow them to be used as tools to foment trouble.

Adefisayo encouraged schools to utilise other means of distance teaching and learning like radio, television and online media as they were doing during the recent COVID-19 lockdown.

According to her, a new date of resumption for all classes will be announced as soon as possible.

Speaking yesterday on ARISE NEWS Channel, a sister broadcast arm of THISDAY, one of the champions of the #EndSARS campaign, Mr. Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, said their quest for justice and transparency must be met before they leave the streets.

Falz described their demands as reasonable and wondered why the Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mr. Mohammed Adamu, was yet to resign.

Speaking on their five-point demand, he said: “Which of these parts need time if we are being sincere with ourselves?

You really need time to release all arrested peaceful protesters?

You really need time to make sure that justice is done and appropriate compensations?

“What real actions have you taken to show you are really serious about this? Look at the time they dragged their feet before they set up panels in

different states.

“They are not showing any real intent to make things right.

For instance, nobody has been sacked. In any sane society, the Inspector General of Police would have resigned. Is he waiting to be sacked? All these violations of human rights happened under him.”

On when the protests would stop he said: “We need to make sure that justice is done. It is unfair to the lives that have been lost that you tell us to get off the streets. It is extremely unfair. I completely disagree with that. If you want people to get off the streets make sure justice is done and transparent too.”

Reiterating their initial fivepoint demand, spokespersons for the protesters called for the immediate release of all arrested protesters.

Their other demands include “justice for all deceased victims of police brutality and appropriate compensation for their families; setting up an independent body to oversee the investigation and prosecution of all reports of police misconduct (within 10 days).

“In line with the new Police Act, psychological evaluation and retraining (to be confirmed by an independent body) of all disbanded SARS officers before they can be redeployed; as well as increase police salary.”

Although the government has fulfilled at least two of the five-point demand, the protesters insisted on the implementation of all before they could quit the street.

But the five-point demand, at the weekend, evolved to seven-point demand.

In the revised demands, the protesters moved from just championing police reform and ending police brutality to a holistic overhaul of governance in Nigeria.

They also called for constitutional, education, health, youth affairs, public office and institutional reforms, as well as a reduction in the cost of governance.

One of the leading voices of the protest, Mr. Debo Macaroni, an actor and content creator, reprimanded the government for not even adhering to their initial five demands.

He said: “Nigerian government, show workings!

Where are the officers responsible for all these atrocities? How many top officers have resigned or lost their jobs for incompetence?

“How many victims have you identified and compensated? Are the Nigerian youths safe?

“How difficult can it be for the government to meet the demands of the Nigerian youths and create a better and enabling nation for prosperity?

“This tactic of creating

chaos to cause distraction and confusion is shameless.”

Hoodlums Attack Prisons in Benin, Govt Imposes Curfew In Edo State, hoodlums who hijacked the protests attacked two correctional facilities in Benin City and three police posts. The attacked police stations were Ugbekun Police Station, Oba Market Police Station and Idogbo Police Station.

The situation made the state government impose a 24-hour curfew on the state.

In a statement signed by the Secretary to the Edo State Government (SSG), Mr. Osarodion Ogie, the state government said the curfew took effect from 4 pm yesterday.

“This decision has become necessary because of the very disturbing incidents of vandalism and attacks on private individuals and institutions by hoodlums in the guise of #ENDSARS protesters.

“While the government of Edo State respects the rights of its citizens to undertake legitimate protests, it cannot sit idle when hoodlums have taken laws into their hands to cause mayhem on innocent citizens and the state.

“By this directive, schools and businesses are to shut down activities accordingly.

Those who cannot move safely are to stay put between now and 4 pm till calmness is restored.

“Parents are advised to rein in their children, youths and wards, to forestall further breakdown of law and order.

“The responsibility of government is to protect lives and property and maintain law and order; therefore, anyone found outside in violation of the curfew would be dealt with according to the law,” the statement said.

Three Protesters Killed in Abuja Three protesters were reported killed in Abuja as protesters engaged thugs in running battles in different locations in the Federal Capital City (FCT).

The protesters, however, faced a difficult time as proSARS supporters and thugs attacked them with dangerous weapons in Apo and Gwarinpa districts even as police fired teargas at both protesters in Area 11.

The FCT Police Command has condemned the killing of the protester, Mr. Anthony Onome Unuode, who was attacked and injured by hoodlums last weekend during the protest along Kubwa/Zuba Highway and later died of

…YOU’VE MADE YOUR POINT, END THE PROTESTS, SAYS TINUBU not only scrapping the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) but also accepting the fivepoint demand that triggered the protests.

The former Lagos State governor noted that the protesters have made considerable gains within a very short period, urging them to be careful not to fritter away such gains due to lack of moderation and strategic thinking.

He said: “For instance, it is unfortunate that hoodlums, thugs and assorted criminals have seized on the protests to perpetrate violence,

disrupt civil life and harass, intimidate and assault innocent persons going about their lawful business.

“The intent of the organisers of the protests is to achieve stated objectives on police reform, which the government has in principle accepted. It can certainly not be their motive to cause generalised anarchy or effect regime change. If they give the impression that that is their goal, then any government will necessarily have to act with the requisite decisiveness and force to restore law and order and

preserve constitutional rule.” Tinubu added that the vigour and vibrancy of the protests were an indication of the growing strength of the democratic culture in Nigeria.

He urged the protesters to be careful not to set the stage for the erosion or destruction of the same democratic process that gives them the freedom and right to protest in the first place.

He praised religious leaders for what he called their sense of patriotism and urged them to prevail on their teeming followers to

call off the protests for now and give peace a chance.

Saying the protests have forcefully demonstrated the reality and potency of people’s power, he pleaded that the new energy must be tapped and channeled to strengthen, not weaken the country’s democracy.

“Surely, the country cannot remain the same after this,” Tinubu said, adding: “The government has demonstrated its sensitivity to the demands of the youth and must now be supported to implement the reforms it has committed itself to.”

He said it was a good sign that Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and a number of other state governors had speedily set up judicial panels of inquiry into acts of police brutality over the years and urged other state governors that are yet to do so to emulate Sanwo-Olu’s example.

“This process of change should be supported and this cannot be done in an atmosphere of endless protests that are also crippling an economy already enfeebled by the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

injuries sustained during the attack.

"The command wishes to condemn the violent attack on a protester by unknown hoodlums along Kubwa axis on Saturday, October 17,2020.

"The hoodlums, who infiltrated the ranks of the ENDSARS protest attacked one Anthony Onome Unuode ‘m’ and left him with various degrees of injury which eventually resulted in death," it said.

The command also called for calm among what it described as "#EndSARS and pro-SARS" protesters, who clashed at the Central Business District yesterday.

The police command said it had commenced an investigation into the matter.

The FCT Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bala Ciroma, also called for calm among protesters, following a clash between the ENDSARS and pro-SARS protesters in the early hours of yesterday.

The command said "preliminary investigation revealed that no life was lost, however, one vehicle was set ablaze during the clash. In view of this, the Commissioner of Police has ordered a discreet investigation into the incident".

He urged protesters to be law-abiding, remain peaceful in their conduct and shun all forms of violence.

The #EndSARS protesters moved from AP Plaza in Wuse II towards Banex Plaza while the Nyanya group moved to Central to join the Banex group.

It was on their way to Banex that thugs attacked them.

"The pro-SARS protesters in Abuja are attacking our #EndSARS protesters in Apo. They’re shooting locally made guns and throwing teargas and have just caught up with one of us and macheted him.

Please we need help," one of the protesters said. #EndSARS protesters also barricaded the bridge linking Kuje Area Council on Airport Road early on Monday.

The protest partially slowed down economic activities while many workers living in places affected could not get to their places of work except for those who left early.

However, military police personnel mounted roadblocks along Nyanya-Mararaba entry point to Abuja.

Govs Pledge to Fulfill Continued on page 9

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TUESDAY, ͺ͸˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ T H I S D AY

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NHRC Seeks Prosecution of 35 Disbanded SARS Officers Submits list to Malami

Alex Enumah in Abuja The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), to commence the prosecution of 35 officers of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of Nigeria Police Force over alleged human rights violation.

The Executive Secretary of the commission, Mr Tony

Ojukwu, made the charge yesterday while presenting a list of the said offenders to the AGF in Abuja.

Ojukwu while disclosing that the list was an extract of the full report of the Special Presidential Panel on SARS earlier submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari in June last year, said that the submission was in line with the mandate of the panel.

According to the Executive Secretary, the list contained the

names of all those indicted and should be prosecuted for various offences by the AGF. He added that the report of the panel also contained the findings on the complaints gathered from Nigerians during its sitting in the six geopolitical zones of the country.

“We have also brought the original copy of the full report, which will also guide the office of the Attorney-General in looking at the details for the

required prosecution, because the summary will not have all the documents.

“We brought the full set of the report which will guide the prosecuting officers,” he said.

Ojukwu, however, appealed to the AGF to ensure that the federal government implements the panel's recommendations.

Malami, in a remark, assured that his office would take all necessary steps to ensure that justice is done to the

list presented to him for prosecution.

Malami said: "We have a mandate to establish a constitutional order where the welfare and peaceful co-existence of citizens are prioritised against personal or group interest."

The AGF said the current administration had in the past put modalities in place to give the Police the support they need to improve their welfare and do their work

professionally.

He added that Police Act 2020 has provided answers to the various problems affecting the Police Force, including their operations and welfare as captured in the Police Trust Fund.

He added that the federal government had been mindful of the totality of the interest, welfare, security and wellbeing of all citizens before the current agitations to reform the force.

FG Signs Deal to Build 1,000 Houses in Abuja Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government yesterday moved to deliver the first phase of its projected 300,000 affordable housing units with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL) to build 1,000 housing units in Bwari, Abuja.

At the signing ceremony in Abuja, the Managing Director of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA),

Senator Gbenga Ashafa, noted that the project will also generate thousands of jobs in fulfillment of President Muhammadu Buhari's plan to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty.

Ashafa stated that since he assumed office a few months ago, the FHA had initiated strategic collaborations with some public sector players and state governments, including the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and the Lagos State government to

ensure the smooth execution of his plans for the organisation.

“The FHA is proud to be the first public agency to demonstrably key into the social housing vision of Mr. President with today’s signing of a partnership agreement with FHFL as we collaborate to deliver the first 1000 housing units of the laudable mass housing project,” he said.

He added that the FHA has started the process towards full electronic documentation

and full digitisation of its system, for better service delivery and response time.

According to him, the organisation will also review the law establishing the FHA, which has become obsolete, considering the modern trends in housing provision and development as well as improved budgetary provision for the authority through the supervising ministry.

The Managing Director of Family Homes Funds, Mr. Femi Adewole, said it was

PROTESTS ESCALATE AS HOODLUMS FREE PRISONERS IN BENIN, LAGOS LOCKED DOWN

Protesters’ Demands

Governors have said they will act on all the demands of the protesters against harassment and police brutality.

In a communiqué signed by the NGF Chairman and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, after an emergency meeting on Sunday, the governors, however, raised concerns about the “shifting nature of the demands which creates uncertainty.”

The governors agreed to set up a judicial panel of enquiry in their respective

states to receive complaints of brutality by officers of the now-disbanded SARS. They also called on protesters to discontinue their demonstrations “as a continuation grossly exposes the fragile economic fundamentals of the country; particularly as criminal elements and hoodlums have hijacked the protests by maiming innocent citizens, looting and destroying properties.”

“Governors thereafter resolved to; Condemn the attack on Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun

State by armed persons while he was addressing anti-police brutality protesters in the state capital Osogbo; protesters are encouraged to engage with the government appropriately at both the national and state level to ensure that the protests are not taken over by hoodlums who are instigating a breakdown in law and order in many parts of the country.

“Endorse the call by demonstrators for improved governance predicated on an enforcement regime that takes into cognizance the fundamental human rights

and liberties of all citizens in the country; “Act on all the demands made by the EndSARS protesters raising some concerns with the shifting nature of the demands which creates uncertainty on the exact expectations and ultimate goal,” the communiqué read.

APC Alleges Hidden agenda in Protests The Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the APC and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, has said there

impossible to boost housing opportunities in the country without partnerships.

“From the outset, it was clear that a critical aspect of FHS fulfilling its mandate of facilitating financing into the affordable housing market was partnership. We understood that it was impossible to build alone or attempt to do so since our role is to facilitate funding and not to directly build houses.

“We see this as one of the most important partnerships

in the delivery of affordable housing for Nigerians. The FHA is perhaps the nation's largest landholder for housing and has a strong track record of delivering large scale housing, the type we believe is critical to achieving the hope of government,” he stated.

He pledged to support the FHA in exploring innovative housing solutions and opportunities and to create a formal rental sector for those who are initially unable to access financing.

is a hidden agenda in the protests.

In an interview with the BBC Hausa Service yesterday, Buni said the protests may result in anarchy if not properly handled.

“Hoodlums can utilise the gathering to cause confusion and terrorise other innocent citizens. The ongoing protests show that there is a hidden agenda after the government has responded to the protesters’ demand.

“Nigeria is a country accommodating people with several motives and demands

which include restructuring and disintegration, thus, we should be careful.

“There are criminals who see the disbanded police unit as a threat to their criminal activities.

“All leaders should know that it is only when the country exists in peace that one can achieve their goals, you cannot be a leader through chaos, it will not be well.”

The governor also said the challenges facing Nigeria are enormous and cannot be solved in five years of the Buhari administration.

SANWO-OLU, OKOWA, OBASEKI, EL-RUFAI, OTHERS INAUGURATE POLICE BRUTALITY PANELS violation of fundamental rights and lives by the disbanded SARS operatives.

“In my engagements with the protesters, they handed me a list of five immediate demands, which I personally presented to President Muhammadu Buhari last Tuesday. Before then, I had taken action on some of their demands, which included the immediate release of all those detained on account of their participation in the EndSARS protests and the raising of N200 million victims fund for compensation to families and individuals who were victimised by officers of the disbanded SARS. “In response to one of the demands of our youths and in line with the resolution of the National Economic Council on October 15, 2020, chaired by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the Lagos State Government has constituted a judicial panel of inquiry and restitution under the chairmanship of a retired judge of the Lagos High Court, Justice Doris Okuwobi. We assure all victims that justice will be served,” he added.

Sanwo-Olu said the panel took its legitimacy from Section 5 of Tribunals of Inquiry Law, Laws of Lagos State, 2015, stressing that the panel has powers to procure evidence and summon any person to attend its proceedings to give evidence or produce any document or other thing in the person’s possession.

Justice Okuwobi, who spoke on behalf of the tribunal members, said the EndSARS protests had proven formidable to elicit positive actions to re-awaken consciousness of the government on the need to address injustice meted out to members of the public by SARS operatives.

Tribunal members who took the oath include Mr. Ebun Adegboruwa (SAN), Taiwo Lakanu, a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Ms Patience Udoh, Mrs. Olutoyin Odusanya, Director, Lagos Citizens Mediation Centre, and the representative of the Human Rights Commission.

Also speaking in Asaba while inaugurating the panel, Okowa announced that the state government would

establish a Special Victims’ Support Fund for the payment of monetary compensation to victims of police brutality or related extrajudicial killings in the state.

He charged the body to bring justice to victims.

Okowa said it was unfortunate that those empowered to protect Nigerians were killing and brutalising them, and urged the panel to unearth all human rights abuses by the disbanded Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force and deliver justice to the victims and succour to grieving families.

He also charged the panel to evolve ways that culprits of police brutality and killing of Nigerians would be dealt with, and expressed optimism that the enquiry would bring about total reformation and transformation of the police force for the good of the country.

"Interestingly, the EndSARS protests were triggered by an event in Ughelli, Delta State. It is a tragedy that so many young lives have been brutalised and allegedly wasted at the hands of those who were supposed to

protect and serve the people.

"I join my voice to that of the Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, in apologising for the failure of leadership to detect and address these anomalies early enough,” he stated.

The panel, chaired by Justice Celestina Ogisi (rtd), has as members Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Mr. David Igbodo (rtd), Mr Harrison Gwannishu, Comrade Godwin Oyovweadjebore, Mr Freedom Atsepoyi, Ambassador Eris Jewo–Ibi and Alpheus Ngwu while Mr. Omamuzo Erebe will serve as secretary.

In Edo State, the government also set up a 12-man judicial panel of inquiry.

The Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Osarodion Ogie, in a statement, said the panel has 90 days to complete its assignment.

According to him, the panel was set up “in response to the yearnings of Nigerian youths, as articulated in the demands of the #Endsars protesters.”

The panel is chaired by Justice Ada Ehigiamusoe, while Mrs. Joyce Ugbodaga is the secretary.

Other members of the

committee include Bishop Feb Idahosa, Francis Osayi, Mr. Osahon Obasuyi, Prest Aigbokhian, Mrs Uloaku Uzamere, Mr. Pius Efofan, Pius Okpere, Mr. Kola Edokpayi, Mrs Felicia Monyei and a representative of security agencies.

The Ogun State Government equally inaugurated an eight-man judicial panel of investigation to probe the alleged human rights abuses and police brutality in the state.

Justice Solomon Olugbemi will head the panel while Oluwatosin Ogundele is the secretary.

Addressing the panel members at the State Executive Chamber of the governor’s office in the state capital, Governor Abiodun charged them to discharge their assignment with the utmost sense of responsibility to the people of the state.

The judicial panel of investigation which has six months to discharge its responsibility has as part of its terms of reference, to receive and investigate complaints of police brutality and

human rights abuse, evaluate evidence brought before it, and recommend compensation where necessary.

The Kaduna State government also inaugurated a similar commission, headed

by Justice David Shiri Wyom (rtd) to probe allegations of police brutality. .

Speaking during the inauguration of the panel yesterday, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, said the federal and state governments had endorsed the demand for police reforms.

She described the constitution of the panel as “a firm signal that impunity will not be tolerated,” adding that the inquiry is aimed at establishing accountability for unlawful conduct by police personnel.

The seven-member panel has retired as members AIG Lawal Tanko (rtd), Mrs. Rebecca SakoJohn and Mustapha Jumare as members representing the civil society, among others.

The commission has six months to conclude the assignment and submit its report.

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EndSARS Protests: FG Warns Religious Leaders against Inciting Youths Ejiofor Alike The Minister of Information, Mr. Lai Mohammed, has asked political, religious, traditional and

opinion leaders to stop inciting #EndSARS protesters.

Mohammed gave the warning yesterday during a forum organised by the News Agency

Nigerian Economy Loses N700bn to Protests, Says LCCI Dike Onwuamaeze The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has estimated that the Nigerian economy has suffered the loss of N700 billion to the #EndSARS protests.

The estimated loss was contained in a press statement issued late last night and titled: “The Economic Implications of the #EndSARS Protests,” which was personally signed by the President of LCCI, Mrs. Toki Mabogunje.

Mabogunje said: “The LCCI is, however, concerned about the negative impact that the protracted nature of the #EndSARS protests has on business activities across the country. Over the past twelve days, economic activities have been crippled in most parts of the country and have been particularly profound in the urban areas. The Nigerian economy has suffered

an estimated 700 billion loss in the past twelve days.”

The LCCI observed that the #EndSARS protest has been impactful and profound as it has been able to demonstrate in unmistakable terms the power of the people and the potency of the energy of the youth to bring about change, adding that the protest has achieved some significant outcomes given the reawakening that it has generated in reforming the shortcomings in our political governance and the fact that some of the demands of the protesters have been met.

It, therefore, “recommend that the protesters progress to the next stage of civic engagement, which is the dialogue phase of this struggle.

This is necessary to reduce the massive disruptions, blockades and barricades around our major cities and interstate highways.

of Nigeria (NAN).

Mohammed said given the turn of events, it would amount to anarchy if leaders nudge on the youth to continue with the protests.

He added that he was disappointed that some leaders were encouraging youths to remain on the streets even after government has promised to meet their demands.

“Leaders should stop instigating

the protests because that could lead to anarchy,” Mohammed said.

“The protests are turning violent; unfortunately many of our leaders are falling short of expectation.

“Rather than advise these youths, they have been instigating them and this is very disappointing.

“All leaders, opinion, religious, political, including traditional rulers, should be very careful

in their interventions.

“They have the right to intervene and a lot of them have huge followership, but they should not incite; they should proffer solution not to complicate the matter on ground.

“They should emphasise that the protest is genuine and that the government has listened. They should let the youths know that everything the government has promised will be fulfilled.”

Mohammed said that the original conveners of #EndSARS had lost control of it while hoodlums and people with ulterior motive to destabilise the country had taken over the protest.

“We are talking of the very existence of the country because some people are using the genuine protest to seek an end to democracy and representative government,” he said.

WOMEN AFFAIR…

L-R: Wife of former Governor of Cross River State, Mrs. Onari Duke; Founder of Arise Women, Dr. Siju Iluyomade; wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun; and member of Arise Women, Mrs. Dayo Benjamin, at the Arise Women Walk for Life in Lagos… yesterday ETOP UKUTT

Northern Group Suspends Protests over Insecurity

ShowYou UnderstandYouths’ Plight, Obasanjo Tells Buhari

John Shiklam in Kaduna

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday stated that President Muhammadu Buhari, could make Nigerian youths know that he understood their plight and would make life better for them, stressing that the protests across the country were a product of extensive agitations by youths that must be attended to by the government.

This is coming as the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, yesterday urged the protesters to end the protests.

Speaking yesterday when he visited the Ooni at his Ile Oodua Palace, Ile-Ife, Obasanjo described the protests as the product of an extensive agitation by the Nigerian youth that needed to be attended to by the government.

“More than 65 per cent of our population are within the ages of 18 and 30; they are not only

The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has suspended its #EndInsecurityNow protest across northern states.

In a statement issued yesterday, the spokesman of the group, Abdulhazeez Suleiman, said the CNG was disturbed By the happenings across the country, especially the “raiding of Benin Central Prison, Edo State, leading to the escape of inmates all in the name of #EndSARS protest.”

The statement said while the coalition has no quarrel with people expressing their grievances by holding peaceful protest, “we, however, find it disturbing that

protests want to degenerate into lawlessness and brigandage.

“Consequent upon this, the CNG categorically states that it will neither associate with, or identify with, nor recognise any movement by any persons, groups or from whichever section or class in the country that portends greater danger to the country or tends to tilt towards anarchy.”

It stated further that: “In this light, we condemn with all our might, the actions of those who perpetrate criminal acts in the guise of protests anywhere in Nigeria, and strongly denounce those who instigate others to commit acts of violence and lawlessness under whatever pretext.

Ekiti Debunks Rumour of Army Harassing Protesters Ekiti State Government has described the rumour emanating from the social media that soldiers have taken over the Ado Ekiti, the state capital and chased protesters with guns as untrue and misleading.

In a statement made available to journalists in Ado Ekiti, the state Commissioner for Information and Values Orientation, Hon. Akin Omole explained that soldiers did not engage the protesters even as they barricaded most roads in the state capital throughout yesterday.

Omole stressed that the soldiers were in the state to protect the people, including the protesters as well as to prevent hoodlums and miscreants from hijacking the peaceful protest by hiding behind the demonstration

to commit crime and harass innocent citizens.

Describing the present administration in the state as a respecter of human rights led by a renowned activist and an advocate of good governance, Omole advised the ENDSARS protesters to remain law-abiding and refrain from harassing innocent fellow citizens to avoid a total hijack of the protest by criminals and hooligans.

Omole noted that Governor Kayode Fayemi promptly set up a Panel of Enquiry and Restitution for Victims of SARS and Related Abuses to investigate possible cases of police brutality in the state in line with the decision of the governors’ forum and the recommendation of the National Economic Council.

Ooni appeals to protesters to end protests struggling to acquire education, they are also aspiring for the best that life can offer them.

“Some of them didn’t even get educated, while those who are educated are getting frustrated because of lack of opportunities.

We must realise that the lid on the boiling steam would have to be removed.

“But, I believe that there are windows of opportunity, which the government can explore to show that it cares about the people’s welfare, especially the youth, as the father of the country and particularly, as the father of the youth.

“Fortunately, the president has children and he knows how youths behave.

“I believe that the opportunities can still be taken to let the youth know that he, as a father, understands their plight and that his government

understands their plight and he is ready to make life better for them,” Obasanjo said.

On his part, the monarch, while receiving Obasanjo, described the #EndSARS protests as a clear message by the Nigerian youths to the federal government.

He urged the youth to give the government the chance to fully attend to their demands.

“If you look at the #EndSARS protest, you will see that our youths have what it takes to rule the country.

“Since day one, they have shown leadership, accountability and huge sense of responsibility which have sent a clear message to the government.

“Every day at 11:50 p.m., they displayed their financial update, and to me, I’m highly amazed with their sense of accountability.

“As a youth leader myself,

I am proud that we all have communicated our ideas and it is heartwarming that we have been heard.

“Dear youths, it is time to retreat so as to prevent those with ulterior motives from hijacking the peaceful message of peace.

“The whole world is aware of our peaceful conduct and we must not let some bad elements tarnish this enviable integrity.

“Once again, I wish to urge our youths to stop the protest, for now, and give peace a chance. This will prevent government from using force,” he said.

On the recent attack on Governor Gboyega Oyetola’s convoy by some hoodlums at the venue of #EndSARS protest in Osogbo, the Ooni described the incident as unfortunate.

Magu Disagrees with Salami Panel onVerification of Assets The suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has faulted the Judicial Commission of Enquiry probing the activities of the agency for verifying seized assets without the presence of his lawyers or himself.

He also said it was unfortunate that he closed his defence about two weeks ago without being granted opportunity by the panel to call any witness to strengthen his innocence.

Magu spoke through his lawyer, Mr. Wahab Shittu, in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja.

The statement said Magu

has nothing to hide, unlike the panel, which it claimed allegedly refused to give him fair hearing.

The statement said: “Our attention has just been drawn to a sponsored and jaundiced story in which our client, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, the suspended Acting Chairman of the EFCC, is being portrayed in a negative light by Justice Isa Salami-led Judicial Commission of Enquiry.

“In the story, the panel was quoted as saying that Magu did not give satisfactory answers to its questions on recovered assets.

“The story had said the panel was embarking on

verification of seized assets across the country in the absence of our client or his counsel, in spite of our client being the main subject of enquiry by virtue of the instruments establishing the Judicial Commission of Enquiry.

“It is an exercise in futility for the panel to conduct verification of recovered assets in the absence of Magu and his lawyers and thereafter proceed to write a report without clarification from him.

“Ordinarily, we would have ignored the media report, like the previous orchestrated

stories against our client.

“But we are of the opinion that the timing is suspicious and there is the need to take up issues with the media report on the grounds that the reporter quoted sources close to the panel as the arrowheads of the story with a predetermined agenda.

“It is on records that our client closed his defence two weeks ago without the opportunity to call any witness to strengthen his innocence as applications to call witnesses and subpoena certain individuals, including AGF Abubakar Malami (SAN), were blatantly refused by Justice Salami.”

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FG Raises the Alarm over Spread of COVID-19 in Protests’ Grounds Warns against travelling to US, UK, France, others

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The federal government has raised the alarm that the EndSARS protests’ grounds nationwide would provide breeding grounds

for the spread of COVID-19.

The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Mr. Boss Mustapha stated this yesterday in Abuja at a press briefing addressed by the

Fayemi, Abiodun Inaugurate Judicial Panels on Police Brutality Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and his counterpart in Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, have inaugurated judicial panels against police brutality.

On his part, Fayemi named a retired Judge of the Ekiti State High Court, Justice Cornelious Akintayo and a retired Police Commissioner, Mr. Dipo Ayeni, as members of the panel in the state.

This was contained in a statement signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yinka Oyebode and made available to journalists.

Other members of the panel are: Mrs. Yetunde Kolawole, State Counsel- representing the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mrs. Kikelomo Owolabi; Chairperson, Nigerian Bar

Association, Ikere-Ekiti Branch and Mr. Rotimi Ojomoyela, Chair, Nigerian Union of Journalists, Ekiti State branch.

Others include: Mr. Jamiu Abiodun Adigun, representative of National Human Rights Commission; Mr. Adeyinka Opaleke, representative, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria; Ms. Caroline Fakinlede, Ekiti State Youths representative, Mr. Abiola Johnson-Ogunleye- Ekiti State students representative and Mr. Akin Rotimi, researcher, police reforms The terms of reference of the judicial panel, according to Fayemi include; to receive and investigate complaints of Police brutality or related extra-judicial killings; receive and investigate complaints of violence against individuals and destruction of properties in every part of Ekiti State in the course of the protest.

Atiku, Okowa Eulogise Gowon at 86 Gowon was appointed Head of Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa have eulogised fomer Military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) as he marked his 86th birthday.

Atiku said that at the age of 86 years, Gowon is among the country’s leading statesmen.

According to a statement signed by his media aide, Mr. Paul Ibe, the former vice president said “a natural leader, his leadership and human management endowments came to the fore when, as a result of the political crisis that engulfed the country in the mid-1960’s,

State and Commander-in–Chief of the Armed Forces and had to prosecute the Civil War that broke out.

“The civil war came to an end in 1970 and like the statesman he is, General Gowon proclaimed a policy of ‘No Victor, No Vanquished’ and ensured that the country continued to function as a single entity”.

Atiku explained that as a military leader of Nigeria, “Gowon governed with even-handedness and fairness. Nigeria enjoyed economic prosperity and peace.

One of General Gowon’s lasting legacies was the founding of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS.

Northern Elders Call for Immediate End to Protests Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has called for an immediate end to the #EndSARS protests across the nation, saying criminal intent or subversive goals have taken over these protests.

The Director of Publicity and Advocacy of the Forum, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, in a statement issued yesterday, said the Forum had released a statement a week ago in which it drew attention to the fact that there were genuine grounds for anger at accumulated grievances around the security and welfare of Nigerians, especially in the north.

NEF said it had advised that governments must embark on far-reaching changes and reforms,

and introduce policies that should improve security and economic well-being of Nigerians.

The forum noted that these protests have registered tremendous success, including acceptance of responsibility for the federal government to abolish the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS) and undertake further action towards improving accountability of operatives and institutions.

It said it was particularly noteworthy that young Nigerians led these protests in its early stages, while also acknowledging the heroism of these young people who stood up to say, ‘enough’.

task force.

This is coming as the federal government has also called on Nigerians to take precautions while travelling or planning to receive travellers from the United States of America, United Kingdom, India, Russia and France.

The venues listed by the PTF as super spreader venues, include the Lekki Toll Plaza in Lagos, the Unity Fountain in Abuja and other protest venues across the country

that have witnessed mass gathering of demonstrators.

Mustapha proposed that definitively in two weeks’ time, if all the persons that congregated at such hotspots are tested, the country will be contending with an increase in COVID-19 infections.

He warned that persons that attended the protest without putting up any form of protection for themselves and others are potential carriers and spreaders of the virus

for their families and others. ‘’That is why we have to be extremely careful when we congregate. When you gather in that atmosphere where people do not bother about whether they have face masks on, you are creating a potential opportunity for carrier vectors that will convey this virus back to where ever. When they get back home innocently their families will be infected,’’ he explained.

He appealed to the EndSARS

campaigners to harken to the government invitation for dialogue, saying the country cannot afford to lose momentum and risk a second wave of coronavirus that might overwhelm its health systems.

While considering the country of 250 million people to be lucky for recording fatalities only within the range of 1,106 deaths, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation warned that the curve should not be aggravated.

TAPPING WISDOM…

L-R: Etsu Patigi, Alhaji Umar Ibrahim Bologi; Kwara State Governor, Mr. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; and the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman of Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari; during a meeting with first-class traditional rulers in the state, at Government House, Ilorin…yesterday

I’m Helpless over Maina’s Continuous Absence in Court, Says Ndume Senator Mohammed Ndume has expressed frustration over his inability to produce the former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reformed Task Team (PRTT) Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina in court in continuation of his (Maina’s) trial for money laundering.

Ndume, while speaking before a Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday, said he was helpless

as he has been unable to locate Maina, who claimed to be ill and on admission in a medical facility in Abuja.

The senator, representing Borno South, where Maina hails from, had stood surety for the defendant, endorsed a N500 million bail bond and undertook to ensure he (Maina) attends court throughout the duration of his trial.

But, Maina suddenly stopped attending court since September 29 this year, with his lawyer, Francis Oronsaye, claiming his client was ill.

On October 2, the trial judge, Justice Okon Abang ordered Ndume to produce Maina on the next date, failing which he could be penalized.

At the mention of the case on Monday, lead prosecution lawyer,

Farouk Abdullah noted that Maina was absent.

Abdullah sought the court’s permission to apply that the court revokes the bail granted Maina, orders Ndume to pay the N500 bail bond which he signed, and to allow the prosecution to continue trial in Maina’s absence as allowed under Section 352(4) of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

Jonathan Urges Amnesty Programme to Sustain Training of Ex-militants Former President Goodluck Jonathan hosted the new Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) in Abuja, Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd) recently and urged him to give priority to the sustenance of human capital development in the region in line with the objectives of the programme.

The Interim Administrator visited him to signal the

commencement of consultative meetings with critical stakeholders in the Niger Delta, having met with President Muhammadu Buhari last week.

Jonathan advised Dikio to ensure that the scholarships for degree programmes within and outside the country alongside payment of monthly stipends to beneficiaries of the Programme are given the deserved priority.

According to a statement issued by the Director of Information at PAP, Mrs. Florence Dibiaezue-Eke, the former President urged the new leader of the Amnesty Programme to avoid the temptation of taking on responsibilities beyond the funding capacity of the Office.

“One thing I should tell you also is that you should not bite more than you can chew as the saying goes. You should accommodate

the projects which you think you can effectively carry out with your budget,” Jonathan said.

Jonathan added that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Presidential Amnesty Office have been of concern to the stakeholders even though the Amnesty Programme has fared better in terms of pursuing the objectives that inspired its establishment.

Buhari Removes NCC Board Chairman President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked the Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Dr. Clinton Jaja.

His sack, which was with immediate effect, was conveyed in a letter signed by the SolicitorGeneral of the Federation and

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Dayo Apata (SAN).

The letter with reference number: SGF/PS/NCC/668, and dated October 15, 2020, however, did not disclose any reason for his removal from office.

The letter sighted by THISDAY

was titled: ‘Notification of Your Removal As Chairman Governing Board of the Nigerian Copyright Commission’.

According to the letter, “I have been directed to notify you of your removal as the chairman of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Copyright Commission

(NCC) by President Muhammadu Bubari, as conveyed vide letter Ref: 59312/V/230 of September 28, 2020.

“Your removal is with immediate effect and you are, therefore, expected to handover all the properties of the commission in your possession to the directorgeneral.

FG to Remove Expiry Dates from National ID Card OghenevwedeOhwovorioleinAbuja The Minister of Communications and DigitalEconomy, Dr. Isa Pantami, has disclosed that the federal government is working towards removing the expiry date feature from the national identity card.

He made the disclosure yesterday in Abuja during his courtesy visit

to the national headquarters of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), adding that it is not good for our national identity card to expire.

“We need to review the format of the card and see how we can remove the expiry date from it. It doesn’t make sense for our digital ID card to have expiry date on it, because

it’s for only the bank component of it for cashing money,” he said.

On the issue of staff welfare, he said he had met with President MuhammaduBuhariandtheMinister of Finance and Minister of Budget and National Planning, and that it is a work in progress.

According to the minister, “I briefed the president on the challenges

confronted by NIMC and what the government needs to do to make the commission more effective. The issue of funding-I know it is highly insufficient-and staff welfare. The NIMC is more of ICT oriented, and if you look at all other government agencies that are ICT oriented, you will agree with me that the welfare of NIMC staff is the lowest.

TUESDAY OCTOBER 20, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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COMMENT

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

SANWO-OLU’S EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP

The governor’s handling of the SARS protest has again showed the stuff he is made of, writes Kayode Abiodun

F

or the past week, young Nigerians, particularly the Generation Z, have trooped out with one voice to condemn the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the police. For them, aside from being burdened with a Nigeria that has gradually worsened economically to the stage of earning the grim title of poverty capital of the world, they have also endured police harassment.

With the vent aided by technology, spirited fundraising and global television, the whole world watched as Nigerian youths took a stance against police brutality. And as they found their voice with the protests, it became obvious that it would take more than vacuous promises to take them off the streets.

When the #ENDSARS protests started across the country, it was a given that Lagos would be the epicentre. And it was. The Lekki toll gates, Lagos-Ibadan expressway at Alausa as well as other places in the metropolis have become protest landmarks.

To the political, religious and traditional leaders who condescendingly refer to them as ‘Indomie Generation’, the level of organisation, cohesion and sense of purpose exhibited by the youths has come to them as a rude shock. It must have been a rude awakening too to Mohammed Adamu, the Inspector General of Police, that his announcement of the replacement of SARS with Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team was not welcomed by the youths. Of course, the youths are sophisticated enough to realise that it may be just a change of nomenclature and not the lasting reform which the police truly need.

The ‘traditional’ leaders developed cold feet and still lips, not knowing how to handle the unprecedented outburst of the youths. But not the exemplary Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Again, he showed the stuff great leaders are made of. Sanwo-Olu felt the youths’ pain. He not only permitted the protesters chance to air their grievances right at the gate of his office in Alausa, he also joined in. Hence, it was not surprising when he took the protesters’ five-point grievances to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The grievances include releasing all the protesters, setting up a trust fund to pay compensation to families of protesters that have died, setting up an enquiry, mandating every state governor to set up a team to look into the agitations and increasing the salaries of policemen. But while presenting the youths’ anger to the president, the president’s body posture was not assuring. It’s sad. However, Sanwo-Olu should understand that he may have to single-handedly address this protest. Already, he is doing well, first, by admitting culpability of the crimes committed by the now disbanded police unit.

He has also raised N200 million as a means of compensating victims of the identified victims. While such compensation can never replace people cut off in their prime, it serves as a balm to know that the Lagos State government recognises their plight and the token is to share their pain. Such gestures must as a matter of urgency be adopted by other states as well as the federal government. Okay, the Police Service Commission

SANWO-OLU FELT THE YOUTHS’ PAIN. HE NOT ONLY PERMITTED THE PROTESTERS CHANCE TO AIR THEIR GRIEVANCES RIGHT AT THE GATE OF HIS OFFICE IN ALAUSA, HE ALSO JOINED IN. HENCE, IT WAS NOT SURPRISING WHEN HE TOOK THE PROTESTERS’ FIVE-POINT GRIEVANCES TO PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI

has pointed out that it would dismiss 37 ex-SARS officers and prosecute 24 others for misconduct. That is also a good first step. But if stories emanating from the website,www.endsars. com and other stories from protest grounds are anything to go by, then, the PSC has more numbers of erring officials to fish out.

On Saturday, Sanwo-Olu paid a condolence visit to the widow, Ngozi Iloamuazor, and family of Okechukwu Iloamuazor at Ebutte Metta. Iloamuazor, 55, a driver was hit by bullets during the protest in Surulere last Monday and died on the spot.

“On behalf of the State Government, and the people of Lagos, I commiserate with the family over this mindless brutality that led to the death of your son,” Sanwo-Olu said, addressing the family.

In that incident, a policeman, Inspector Ayodeji Erinfolami, also died. And just like Sanwo-Olu announced on Friday that the four erring officers responsible for shooting Iloamuazor are being tried, it would be great to have the Oyo governor, Seyi Makinde, investigate and announce the identity of the policeman responsible for killing protesters at Ogbomoso.

Also, while CSP James Nwafor, the erstwhile Special Adviser to Anambra State governor, Willy Obiano, has been relieved of his duty and the state government promised he would be prosecuted, it is sad that it took the protests to reveal Nwafor’s crime of ‘extra-judicial’ killings which was already public knowledge.

Managing this #ENDSARS protests is the second major challenge that has tested Sanwo-Olu’s mettle as governor of the most dynamic Nigerian state. It was impossible to ignore his sterling handling of the Coronavirus pandemic earlier in the year. As Nigeria joined the rest of the world in shutting down, while the federal government and many other states merely engaged albeit unsuccessfully in trial and error moves, Lagos developed and focused on a plan. It led the way by testing, building Covid-19 centres, dispatching food aid to vulnerable citizens and setting out a plan to mitigate the scourge of the pandemic. The exemplary move by the state government also spurred private citizens to support the Covid-19 fight.

Lagos is the soul of Nigeria. It is the only state that attracts other Nigerians and many foreigners. Patently unique, Lagos is blessed with quality leadership and it’s nice to note that Sanwo-Olu is running full-speed with the baton.

In many other ways, Sanwo-Olu has endeared himself to Lagosians. Is it his uncommon touch with ordinary Lagosian in development strides across several sectors? Or the quick response to the various emergencies in the state under his watch? Or the continuous intervention of his administration in upgrading roads in the state? Or the continuous promotion of arts and culture with the regular festivals?

And there is even more that is yet to be unravelled. I wish Sanwo-Olu more success and grace as he continues to steer Lagos to greater heights.

GREEDY PROFESSORS AND THEIR FAT SALARIES It is up to Nigeria to continue to pay miserable wages which undervalue intellectualism, writes Oludayo Tade

What we are saying is that if the federal government would reduce its profligacy and cut waste, there will be enough money to pay teachers in public universities, as well as fund research and upgrade infrastructure in such institutions. Hungry teachers can neither teach well nor carry out research. And poorlytaught students can neither excel nor propel their nation to great heights (APC Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Daily Post, August 21, 2013)

T

he perennial onslaught on public education has been taken to the next level by this administration with the statement by Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba that the bulk of the national budget on education is used to pay the salaries of 10,500 Professors in the public university system. In his interview with the Punch newspapers, Nwajiuba averred that strike by university lecturers is a major factor driving students abroad and to private universities. In this piece, I provide available facts to put the records straight with regard to the salary of lecturers; and go further to argue as to why lecturers deserve appropriate wages that will guarantee value commensurate with what they give to the academic system and the society. In 2012 when the federal government carried out the needs assessment of the Nigerian universities, it was found that out of the 37,504 lecturers, 28,128 of them were full time and pensionable. Since then, there has been no major recruitment of academic staff despite the usual attrition on account of resignations, retirement and demise.This is what forced few academics to take up the burden of work meant for many lecturers necessitating the issue of earned academic allowances in the ASUU-FGN agreement of 2009. From 2013 to 2020, government owes lecturers billions of naira but these lecturers have no right to complain over their duly earned entitlements in the wisdom of the government. The ASUUFGN agreement of 2009 stipulated that a

lecturer I is to be paid N15,000, Senior lecturer (N20,000) and Professor (N25,000) per annum per student for supervision. The lecturers now described as selfish and gluttonous are yet to be paid for several years of supervising students. An external examiner is supposed to be paid N80,000 for a Master dissertation and N105,000 for Doctoral examination. The internal examiner for the same purposes ought to be paid N45, 000 and N65, 000 respectively but these only exists in the agreement and have not been implemented for eleven years!

In Nwajiuba’s wisdom, these are not issues to go on strike for.

University lecturers are over-stretched and least paid when compared with lecturers in polytechnics and colleges of Education despite the fact that 97 percent of UTME applicants prefer University Education to Polytechnic or Colleges of Education. In 2018, 1,558,686 of UTME candidates chose University, 24524 (NCE) and 69712 (Polytechnic). Less than 10 percent of degree pursuing applicants chooses private varsities. In 2009, both the federal government and ASUU came up with two salary tables (I and II). Table II was called the African average salary payable across the continent but government pleaded that the Table I which undervalues intellectualism should be used to pay lecturers till such a time the government is able to raise funds to meet the African average salary. ASUU’s altruistic disposition made the body agree to receive less while doing more work. Unfortunately, it is now eleven years of receipt of slave-like wage which assuredly will make colleagues in Ugandan public varsities universities cringe!

The salaries of the selfish Nigerian lecturers by cadre are as follows: Assistant lecturer (N118,277 -N137, 334); lecturer II has a doctorate degree (N129, 724 – N153, 563);Lecturer I has at least three years post-PhD experience on the job (N160, 809 – N203, 778), Senior lecturer with at least six years experience on the job (N222,229 –314, 159), Associate professor (with at least nine years experience

on the job: N277, 179 – N350, 169) and a Full Professor with 12 and more years experience on the job (N332, 833 – 416, 743). They get these after tax and other deductions. Before deductions, a newly appointed Full Professor has N437, 499 and after deductions he is paid N332, 833 monthly. A Professor “at the bar”, is one who has spent 10 years as a professor and that is when he/she can earn consolidated pay of N555, 351 and following deductions their net pay comes down to N416, 743 monthly!

In Ugandan public varsities, Assistant Lecturer earns $1,631; Senior lecturer ($2,432), Associate Professor ($3,891) and Professor ($4,054) per month respectively. In University of South Africa, Junior lecturer earns (N10, 453, 326 - N17,427,663), Lecturer (N12,547,744-N20,910,248), Senior Lecturer (N16,272,983 - N27,891,819), Associate Professor (N20,224,232 – N32,564,902) and Professor (N22,325,844 – N37,209,741) per annum. Does this explain why we can hardly attract any international scholar to our public varsities?

Mind you, the mix of international scholars and students is among the items considered in ranking universities internationally. Are you still wondering why South Africa almost always occupies the top spaces in varsity rankings in Africa? In South Africa, scholars have research votes and funds set aside to support participation in international conferences. For every publication in rated journals, a lecturer in the orange country is incentivised so also is the Department and the Faculty to which the scholar belongs. So no one jokes with a productive and NRF-rated scholar in South Africa. They also pay for their scholars to publish in high impact journals to increase citations. In Nigeria, such funds do not exist in practice. That the University of Ibadan, for instance, still ranks among the best in the world is largely the outcome of the personal sweat of committed scholars in the institution and not because there is any special incentive system in place. Lecturers are even sometimes forced to take loans to attend international

conferences because their institutions shockingly include it as a condition for promotion.

It thus usually feels awkward to tell colleagues from institutions where conference funding is provided that you as a scholar from Nigeria borrowed money to attend a conference.

Such is the character of the parasitic Nigerian system where the knowledge economy is relegated and personal interest is elevated.

Is it not difficult to imagine that the former Interim National Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress, who is now Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed who uttered the opening excerpts of this piece is part of a government that does not believe in what he said in 2013?

While South Africa voted 396billion Rand for education in 2020, President Buhari’s2021 budget allocated 691.07billion to Education representing 6.7 percent of the entire budget, a gross shortfall to the UNESCO prescribed minimum of 26 percent. Unlike the lie of the Minister of State for Education that the bulk of the education budget is used to cater for 10,500 professors, the N691.07billion is to cater for 28 education parastatals, 37 federal Universities, 25 federal polytechnics, 21 federal colleges of education and 104 Unity schools!

Know your leaders and what to believe from their statements. The government that cannot fund research also actively frustrate funders from supporting Nigerian researchers with their policies. Rather than releasing funds to researchers promptly, bursars often have to go to Abuja for approval to withdraw. I am aware of grant funds that are yet to be paid for a year due to the bottlenecks of Treasury Single Account! Interestingly, lecturers with their poor wages now make contributions in order to donate printing papers to run their Departments. No functional internet, dilapidated lecture rooms, laboratories that parade equipment of the 1980s and comatose power supply all of which hinder delivery of qualitative teaching and research.

Dr Tade, a sociologist sent this piece via dotad2003@yahoo.com

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EDITORIAL

A MOST BIZARRE INEC NOMINATION The nomination of Lauretta Onochie as commissioner is insensitive

T

hat President Muhammadu Buhari does not seem to care about public opinion is reflected in most of his appointments that are patently parochial. But the nomination of his Special Assistant on New Media, Lauretta Onochie, as a Commissioner representing Delta State at the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) is a new low in his contempt for Nigerians. It is also an affront on the law.

As the name rightly implies, INEC was conceived as an impartial electoral umpire and several steps have been taken especially since 2010 to make it truly so. In 2010, for instance, the sixth National Assembly amended Sections 81, 84, and 160 of the 1999 Constitution to confer financial and administrative independence on the commission. These amendments have ensured that WE JOIN OTHER NIGERIANS INEC no longer goes cap-in-hand IN CONDEMNING THIS to the executive LATEST AFFRONT ON to beg for the OUR DEMOCRACY AND release of its apURGE THE PRESIDENT TO propriated funds.

To free INEC IMMEDIATELY WITHDRAW from the tethers THE NOMINATION of the Presidency in administrative matters, a proviso was equally inserted in Section 160 of the Constitution which confers on the commission the “powers to make its own rules or otherwise regulate its own procedure‌.â€? To further insulate the commission from partisanship, Section 156 of the constitution was amended. That section hitherto provided that a candidate for appointment as chairman or member of INEC must possess the same qualifications as a candidate contesting for a seat in the House of Representatives as stipulated by sections 65 and 66. Absurdly, one of such qualifications is membership of a political party. Since it could not have been the intendment of the crafters of the constitution for an umpire to belong to one of the competing

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teams, membership of a political party was deleted from the qualifications for appointment into INEC to insulate it from partisan politics.

To amplify this amendment, Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the constitution was amended by substituting paragraph 14 with a new paragraph 14, which unambiguously provides at 14 (2) (b) that “A member of the commission shall be non-partisan and shall be a person of unquestionable integrity�.

Beyond constitutional provisions, morality and common sense dictate that anybody appointed as an electoral umpire should not only be non-partisan but be seen to be so. In this case, Lauretta Onochie is not only a presidential aide, she is also openly partisan, and quite corrosive in the discharge of her duties. In promotion (and defence) of the ruling All Progressives Party (APC), she has had running battles with key political actors in the past five years. Some of them have dragged her to court for alleged libel.

It is against this backdrop that President Buhari’s action has particularly rankled Nigerians, who see it as grievously insensitive, indiscreet, and lacking in moral leadership. It has equally and expectedly drawn the ire of the opposition, which sees it as an assault on the Nigeria’s democracy and a systemic rigging of the 2023 elections even before they come.

Instructively, whereas President Buhari is a major beneficiary of extensive electoral reforms carried out by the National Assembly through the support of his predecessors, he has failed to add a single additional reform, having severally declined assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Since President Buhari is not going to be on the ballot in 2023, it is important that he leaves behind a legacy of credible elections. We therefore join other Nigerians in condemning this latest affront on our democracy and urge him to immediately withdraw the nomination of Ms. Onochie. Whatever may be her other strong points, she is unfit for the job of INEC commissioner.

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

BACK TO SCHOOL IN COVID-19 TIMES

ith many schools gradually re-opening in many regions of the world, learners are faced with the task of adapting to the concept of “new normal� in their learning environments. However, it is not just learners who will be basking in the “Back to School� fever which is reverberating in these Covid-19 times but also teachers and parents, alike. For these stakeholders, their concerns spread across safety compliance, mental health issues, learning losses, overwork and job losses.

Safety compliance is an issue of grave concern, globally. In regions of the world where Covid-19 health requirements are continuously disregarded despite efforts invested in creating awareness, cost of health care continues to mount. This issue can be worsened by the massive influx back to school as the probability of community infections could peak with schools being sources of the infection. The shortage or lack of health personnel, sanitation materials and effective monitoring of schools can equally aggravate health concerns for learners, teachers and parents.

Mental health issues are another source of apprehension. The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in anxiety, desperation, depression and stress-related disorders for learners, teachers and parents in different dimensions. For many learners, their experiences of mental health

challenges spring from poverty. Food poverty for instance, has been caused by irregular and less feeding due to factors like the stoppage of school feeding programs. Child Rights Abuse is another cause of mental health issues for learners and has been aggravated because of the level of access to qualitative health care, absence of redress or even opportunities to report these crimes. Compounding these mental health challenges for many more learners is the possibility of dropping out of school, suffering irreparable learning losses, being bullied or stigmatized, especially if showing signs of respiratory illness.

For teachers, mental health issues have been related with the loss of income due to the extended closure of schools, health concerns about workplaces with little or no provisions for adequate sanitation and health safety, underlying ill-health problems, infrequent sensitization on Covid-19, unclear school measures to mitigate the spread of infections and the likelihood of minimal involvement of teachers, themselves in these measures, among others. For parents, mental health issues could stem up from the increased possibility of their children being infected with Covid-19 at school and infecting other family members, weak monitoring of schools to ensure necessary compliance to health guidelines, reduced disposable income, job insecurity and poor access to qualitative healthcare.

With respect to learning losses in formal education settings, the concerns have been on a global scale, as well. Losses in learning have been linked with dropping out of school due to poverty and learning difficulties, displacement due to conflicts, ineffective teaching, prolonged absenteeism from school due to health issues and long school holidays, among others. The loss of learning over a prolonged period of time typically impacts learners negatively by slowing down their educational progress and aggravating existing learning inequalities. With teachers being unsure of what to expect in terms of the mental preparedness of learners, the new adjustments in classroom interactions and the achievement of curriculum goals within reduced time frames, there is a possibility that learning losses might linger for longer even after schools’ resumption.

Overwork and job losses are equally causes of worry, especially for teachers. In many schools, teachers do not only teach but are responsible for a variety of other roles such as child care, mentoring, coaching and sometimes, parenting. These responsibilities and their intensity are bound to increase as teachers play these multi-faceted roles in schools. Consequently, teachers will be at the focal point of most schools’ interactions with parents, school administrators, government representatives and health officials requiring more information and reassurances from teachers in their bid

to ensure that learning continues safely. Job losses too, remain another issue that cannot be downplayed at this time. Many teachers currently don’t have enough job security and this can be exacerbated by the risk of illness, workplace misunderstandings and lack of clarity on Covid-19 measures implemented at their schools.

At this juncture, it is vital that meaningful interventions be made for every educational stakeholder to ensure that schools successfully re-open safely and remain opened. For starters, teachers’ voices should be amplified and recognized. Their input and feedback in the Covid-19 school measures should be sought actively from time to time. Their needs in terms of mental health support, provision of sanitation and health safety materials, work support and job security should be met as much as possible. Teachers should also not be overworked but assisted to delegate some of their multi-faceted responsibilities to capable hands. Training of teachers too is also pertinent. Apart from obvious training needs in areas such as online teaching and improving teaching skills, it is also important to train teachers on social skills needed for fostering a class environment where positive emotions prevail as such emotions are critical to teaching and learning success.

Bidemi Nelson, Shield of Innocence Initiative, Ibadan, Oyo State

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TUESDAY OCTOBER 20, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Stakeholders Oppose 100% Hike in Local Content Fund Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Stakeholders in the oil and gas industry, including the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB); Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN); Petroleum Contractors Trade Section (PCTS); Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), and the Nigeria LNG

Limited, have kicked against the proposed hike of the Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF) from the current one percent to two percent.

The controversial clause is contained in the proposed amendment of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGIDC) Act currently before the National Assembly.

The NCDF is deducted from the value of contracts awarded in the oil and gas industry, and was pegged at one percent by the NOGICD Act of 2010, which the National Assembly is proposing to rework.

The organisations canvassed

this position in separate presentations they made yesterday in Abuja at the twoday public hearing organised by the Joint Senate Committee and House of Representatives Committee on Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring.

The public hearing is focused on the bill for an Act to amend the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, bill for an Act to enact Nigerian Local Content Act, while the third is focused on repealing the NOGICD Act

and enactment of Enforcement Commission Act. In his submission at the hearing, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr. Simbi Wabote, argued that the one per cent of NCDF deduction should be maintained.

Don’t Use Force on Protesters, CNPP Tells Army, Police The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has warned that there will be catastrophic consequences if the Police and military allow themselves to be pushed into using force to suppress the ongoing #EndSARS protesters.

The CNPP in a statement issued yesterday by its Secretary General, Mr. Willy Ezugwu warned that: “Nigeria will burn if the police and military authorities allow themselves to be used by selfish government officials who have demonstrated unprecedented level of insensitivity and shielded President Muhammadu Buhari from knowing the reality of things.”

According to the umbrella body of all registered political

parties and political associations in the country: “the situation is worsening because our President has locked up himself in the Presidential Villa while those who elected him are on the streets protesting against bad governance and police reform.

“During the build-up to the planned labour unions strike and after the eventual disappointment by the labour unions, the CNPP continued to reach out to civil society groups across the country on the need to arrest the continued maladministration in the country.

“But at the peak of the consultations and mobilisation, the SARS attack that sparked the rise of the #EndSARS movement occurred.

We Must Restructure Now or Face Collapse, Ortom Warns The Benue State Governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom has warned that if the country is not restructured to address the high level of lawlessness and impunity in the country then it risk eminent collapse.

The governor gave this warning yesterday during a press briefing held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House which he entitled: ‘ENDSARS Protests, Opportunity to Fix Nigeria’.

He noted that the country is heading for unpleasant consequences if restructuring is not done.

Ortom reechoed his call on the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to dust the 2014 National Conference report for implementation.

Ortom, who said leaders at

all levels have failed the people, commended the ENDSARS protesters, adding that issues raised are germane, which bothers on several factors that have worked negatively against the people especially the youths.

“It has become necessary for me as one of the leaders of our dear country to once again lend my voice to issues affecting our great nation.

“The ENDSARS protests taking place across Nigerian cities have challenged us as leaders of this country to rise and demonstrate sincerity in tackling the problems of Nigeria. The protesting youths are asking salient questions that deserve only honest answers backed by the commitment on the part of the leadership of this country.

ENDING POLICE BRUTALITY…

L-R: Enugu State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Miletus Eze; state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chidi Aroh; Governor of Enugu State, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; and the state Commissioner for Police, Ahmad Abdurrahman, when the governor visited the office of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Enugu…yesterday.

ActionAid Urges Buhari to Address Grievances of Protesters Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri ActionAid Nigeria has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately act as a father of the country and address Nigerians in order to stop the ongoing #EndSARS protests from degenerating into full scale anarchy.

The organisation, in a statement issued by its Country Director, Ene Obi, yesterday said the president

needed to act before it is too late.

The statement read: “ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) has been following the unfolding events amid the agitations by the citizens who are addressing emerging trends in the ongoing protest.

“The protest has moved from being a social media campaign to a peaceful movement by Nigerians across the world in the last 13 days, with clear demand of the abolition of the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS), which

have been accused of unlawful arrests, torture, and extra-judicial killings.”

According to the statement, “ActionAid Nigeria has observed that the peaceful protest is gaining more momentum across the country, with young people airing their grievances on rights violations and the need for an overhaul of the country’s security and governance architecture.

However, the latest twist and turns in the ongoing protest, specifically

the pockets of hijacks by unknown elements with unending attacks on peaceful protesters, like the attack on Osun State governor; the loss of lives and property of protesters as well as innocent citizens, and the most recently, the prison break and destruction of government properties in Edo State, the multitude of cars burnt in Apo, Abuja, have called for concern and swift action before the situation degenerates into full swing anarchy.

Imo Govt Alleges Plot to Destabilise State The Imo State Government has raised the alarm that some disgruntled politicians want to hijack the current EndSARS protests to unleash mayhem in the state.

The government disclosed that an unnamed high ranking member of the opposition who recently lost his number one position plum job has met with his henchmen for the purpose of recruiting hoodlums and cultists to infiltrate the protests.

The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon Declan Emelumba in a statement issued yesterday in Owerri, the state capital, said the hoodlums have been instructed to attack government buildings and vehicles anywhere they see them.

According to him, the opposition leader gave specific instructions to the thugs to hijack the EndSARS peaceful protests and turn it into a violent one and create anarchy in the state.

The commissioner said the objective of the violence was to make the state ungovernable for Governor Hope Uzodinma and to create the false impression that the governor is not in control in the state.

He therefore, warned those hired for that purpose to reject the ‘poisoned chalice’ as law enforcement agencies were on alert for trouble makers, adding that anyone caught breaching the peace will be decisively

dealt with by the law He also counselled parents to restrain their children from becoming victims in a proxy war by desperate politicians who are only out to serve their personal interest.

He said while government was not averse to peaceful protests by youths against alleged police brutality, it will not condone the destabilisation of the state by disgruntled politicians.

The #EndSARS protest yesterday took a new dimension in Port Harcourt, River State, as women, all clad in black attire, marched through the streets of Port Harcourt to the Government House, the state House of Assembly complex and the Police headquarters in the state.

The protesters caused heavy traffic gridlock in Port Harcourt as the women took over the main entrance into the Government House in Port Harcourt, demanding to see the state Governor, Nyesom Wike.

The women protesters, all dressed in black attire and carried placards and the Nigerian flag, marched from the Pleasure Park on Port Harcourt-Aba expressway, to the police headquarters and the state House of Assembly complex, all located on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.

Owaji Ibani, was not available to address the protesters. The same scenario played out at the police headquarters as the state Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan, was also not available.

The women then marched to the Government House, where they sat on the ground at the gate and vowed not to leave until the governor come to addresses them.

However, it was the Deputy Governor,Dr.IpaliboHarry-Banigo, who addressed them, assuring them that the injustice and brutality meted on Nigerians by the police must stop.

Harry-Banigo reminded them that it was the governor who first raised the alarm on the brutality of the operatives of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

According to her, “Well, our beloved daddy, the governor, had

and that is why I am here.

“We know that when this socalled SARS, which they said they have banned, started in 2015, 2016, our governor was the first person to protest that these people were going beyond their boundaries; that the federal government should do something because they are federal SARS and controlled by federal government.

“They were caught on camera killing people, and were even promoted, to tell you the level of impunity. So, we know, we have observed and we have followed the situation. We thank you for coming out peacefully without harming anybody.

“We are in a democratic setting; why should we not let our voices to be heard?

We thank you for what you

message to the governor, and you will see his own action very shortly. You know he is an action governor.”

Addressing the protesting women before the arrival of the deputy governor, veteran Nollywood actress, Hilda Dokubo Mrakpor, said: “We will not talk to anybody other than the governor.

We don’t have representatives and we don’t have leaders. All of us are leaders.

“When the governor comes for campaigns, he talks to his people. He should come and talk to us. We remain here.”

Meanwhile, a Niger Delta activist, Ann-Kio Briggs, has decried the failure of the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Ibani, to address the protesting women.

APC Suspends Members in Enugu for Allegedly Flouting Protesting Women Storm Govt House, Others At the state House of Assembly, said I should come and speak to have brought to our notice Ernest Chinwo inPortHarcourt NEC’s Directive the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi- you because our women are crying, again today. I will deliver your Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended seven members of the party in Enugu State chapter over their alleged refusal to withdraw the litigation instituted against the party despite the directive by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.

Recall that on June 25, 2020, the party’s NEC passed a resolution directing members of the party not to institute any court action, and to withdraw their cases in court in order to explore the internal conflict resolution mechanisms of the party.

In a letter signed by the Head of Legal Services of APC, Mr. Dare Oketade, on behalf of the National Legal Adviser, a copy of which

was obtained by THISDAY, the leadership of the party decided to invoke the provisions of Article 21 of the party constitution against members of the party who have flouted the directive of NEC. The suspension of the members was contained in a letter titled: ‘Resolution and Directive of the National Executive Committee on Litigation by Party Members, Disciplinary Action against Erring Members’.

The letter read: “You will recall that on the June 25, 2020, the National Executive Committee (NEC) passed a resolution directing members of the party not to institute any court action and to withdraw their cases already in court in order to explore the internal conflict resolution mechanisms of the party.

TUESDAY OCTOBER 20, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY OCTOBER 20, 2020

POLITICS

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

Gory Tales from Awkuzu SARS in Anambra Udora Orizu highlights some of the traumatic experiences of citizens in the hands of operatives of the now defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad unit of the Nigeria Police Force in Awkuzu, Anambra State

IGP Adamu

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s the #EndSARS protests continues to gather momentum across Nigeria and beyond, so many aggrieved Nigerians took to social media to share their traumatic and harrowing encounters in the hands of SARS operatives, particularly in Awkuzu, Anambra State.

Over the years, SARS operatives in Awkuzu, a town in Oyi local government area of Anambra state have acquired so much notoriety that it has been deemed by majority as the country’s most dreaded specialized police unit.

Those who had an encounter with the operatives of Awkuzu SARS always had sad stories to tell.

Allegations of how so many innocent youths were tortured, dehumanized and extra-judicially executed by the rogue operatives abound.

The notoriety was so much that it attracted the attention of the Amnesty International in 2014 and 2016, during which the international human rights organization in its report, following an extensive research described it as the headquarters of human rights violations, particularly as it relates to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment and extra judicial executions.

The international body in a report, published on September 21, 2016 said the Nigerian Police unit set up to combat violent crime has instead been systematically torturing detainees in its custody as a means of extracting confessions and lucrative bribes.

It said they were told by former detainees that they had been subjected to horrific torture methods, including hanging, starvation, beatings, shootings and mock executions, at the hands of corrupt officers from the feared Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

Damian Ugwu, Amnesty International’s Nigeria researcher in the report said, ‘’SARS officers are getting rich through their brutality. Our research has uncovered a pattern of ruthless human rights violations where victims are arrested and tortured until they either make a ‘confession’ or pay officers a bribe to be released.’’

Back in January 19, 2013, villagers in Amansea, Awka, Anambra state woke up to find the bodies of over 35 people floating on Ezu River, with no idea who killed them.

However, four years later, a report released by the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law, on July 2017, accused the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of Anambra State Police Command of being responsible for the 35 corpses discovered in the Ezu River, Amansea.

The rights group in the report titled, ‘’The Untold Story Of Ezu River Police SARS Killings, said it decided to revisit the matter following increasing, shocking, saddening and alarming rate of torture and killings of some, if not many of the arrested and detained citizens by the Anambra State Police SARS operatives in the course of their so-called combating of violent crimes of armed robbery and kidnapping in the state.

The report which was signed by the Chairman of Board of Trustees of the group, Emeka Umeagbalasi, and addressed to several authorities, including then acting President Yemi Osinbajo and Amnesty International among others, condemned

Iloanya

the use of force, torture and other unapproved ways to extract information from suspects.

The discovery which had attracted the attention of the Federal Government and international bodies led to the institution of a panel of enquiry, which its result was never made open.

Part of the report reads, ‘’Many of the arrested and detained citizens by the Anambra Police SARS operatives in the course of their so-called combating of violent crimes of armed robbery and kidnapping in the state were butchered like animals. Instead of a drastic reduction in the number of deaths and torture, Anambra Police SARS operatives had become deadlier and more menacing; “consolidating their atrocious practices of custodial torture and killing through their theatre of butchery. The amount of torture and killing going on at Anambra Police SARS headquarters at Awkuzu and its annexes or unit locations in the state is geometrical.’’ ‘’Our first reason for issuing this special report is to draw the attention of the world particularly the United Nations and its Human Rights Council, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, World Organization Against Torture, and other rights groups and research bodies and institutions as well as the generality of Nigerians over the raging and untamed unlicensed butcheries and cruel and degrading treatments perpetrated by Anambra Police SARS operatives against detained citizens in their custody.’’

Some gory cases of Awkuzu SARS brutality as recorded in Amnesty International’s report include, the story of 23 year-old Miracle, who was arrested in February 2017 and detained at SARS detention centres in Awkuzu and Neni in Anambra State, on the allegation of laptop theft. He told Amnesty International that he was tortured and hardly given any food during his 40 days in detention by SARS, before he was charged and brought before a court.

He said, ‘’At SARS Awkuzu, their leader directed them to hang me. They took me to the back of the hall and tied me up with ropes.

They tied my hands behind me, tied my two legs together and then tied the rope binding my hands with that around my legs behind

Nwafor

me, causing my chest to protrude. They had two already prepared iron stands where they hang people.’’ ‘’They passed an iron rod through the ropes and then lifted me up by the rod and hung me from the iron stand. Then they started to use all manner of items to beat me, including machetes, sticks, inflicting me with all manner of injuries. When the first officer came to check and saw that I was almost unconscious, he went to call their team leader, who then asked them to bring me down. They dumped me inside the interrogation hall.’’

Miracle told Amnesty International that the next day, he was taken from Awkuzu to a SARS detention centre in Neni, where he was detained for 40 days.

He said he was denied food and water by SARS during the course of his detention, and only managed to stay alive with the help of inmates who smuggled sachets of water into his cell at midnight.

He alleged that eight of his co-detainees died of starvation during the period of his detention.

Miracle was taken to court on March 25, 2017 and charged for armed robbery, but was discharged for lack of evidence. A lawyer, who took up the case of Miracle told Amnesty International that he wrote the Inspector General of Police (IGP) in May 2017 asking for an investigation, but failed to get any response from the IGP. Another, is the case of a 27 year-old trader, who was tortured at SARS Awkuzu office. He told Amnesty International, they said he should ensure that nobody hears about what happened, that if they get information that he discussed his ordeal with anybody, they would come back and execute him.

Another testimony, is by a 33 year-old fuel attendant who was detained for two weeks in SARS Awkuzu, in January 2015.

He was released on bail after two weeks of detention when a high court in Onitsha, Anambra state ordered for his release.

He said, ‘’They brought a plain sheet and asked me to sign. When I signed it, they told me I have signed my death warrant. There were two

Those who had an encounter with the operatives of Awkuzu SARS always had sad stories to tell.

Allegations of how so many innocent youths were tortured, dehumanized and extra-judicially executed by the rogue operatives abound. The notoriety was so much that it attracted the attention of the Amnesty International in 2014 and 2016, during which the international human rights organization in its report, following an extensive research described it as the headquarters of human rights violations, particularly as it relates to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment and extra judicial executions

policemen in the hall. They asked me if I knew how many people died there. They said that if I die, my blood will never be on their hands.

They took me to the back of the building and tied my hands to the back. They also connected the rope to my legs, leaving me hanging on a suspended iron rod. They put the iron rod in the middle between my hands and the leg with my head facing the ground. My body ceased to function. I went limp. The IPO (Investigating Police Officer) came at intervals and told me to speak the truth. I lost consciousness. When I was about to die they took me down and poured water on me to revive me. They brought people from the cell to carry me inside the cell.

I was detained for two weeks.’’

A twitter user Chijioke Eruchalu, with the handle @mrcjayerus, also penned down a harrowing experience his friend Bonaventure Chokwebundu Mokwe, had with the operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, in Anambra State.

Chijioke known professionally as an Environmental Biologist, wrote: “We started from the last floor of the hotel, room after room and most of the rooms were occupied by guests that are mostly traders from Cameroon. We finally got to the first floor but before then, one of the officers had demanded that we show them room 102.’’ ‘’When we got to room 102, the door was locked and I turned and asked Dr Nwankwo Justin whether a guest paid for the room the day before and he said yes. I asked about the manifest of the hotel lodging and he said that he had submitted the police copy to SCIB at the Central Police station Onitsha which every hotel is obligated to do before 7A.M. every day.’’ ‘’I instructed him to bring our own copy which he hurriedly did and we showed it to the police. The guest gave his name as John Obi. The officers insisted on breaking the door and I pleaded with them to wait for the guest for some time. The customers of Upper Class Hotel are predominantly traders from Cameroon and Niger Republic and that they carry a lot of cash with them. That has been the case since 1974 the hotel was built because of its nearness to main market Onitsha.’’ ‘’Before I could finish, they broke the door and entered the room. We saw black polyethylene bags (waterproof) all over the room with an open suitcase. The officers then opened the wardrobe and brought out a bag. Inside the bag was two human skulls with sand all over them and two rusted and unservicable AK47 guns. ‘’I was promptly leg chained on both legs and Dr Justin Nwankwo was handcuffed. I was taken to the outside corridor of the hotel and made to kneel down while holding the exhibits and they took pictures. At that point, from the faces I saw amongst the crowd with axes and matchet, I then knew where the whole incident came from, hazzard of land business along with motor park duel.”

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

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY OCTOBER 20, 2020

POLITICS

Applause as Abiodun Constructs Intercommunity Road in Ogun Nseobong Okon-Ekong writes that Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has been widely commended for providing road infrastructure to several communities in the state and further challenged by others that are yearning for similar attention

Abiodun acknowledging cheers from residents of Fajol-Americsn-Gbonagun road during the inspection tour

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t was jubilation galore for the residents of Fajol Junction-Ajegunle-Osara-Gbonangun Area in Abeokuta metropolis, when the Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, visited the area to inspect a newly completed 7.1km intercommunity road.

The road, which crisscrosses communities in the Abeokuta South and Odeda local government areas, was among similar roads being constructed by the Abiodun-led administration across the three senatorial districts of Ogun.

Though all the roads under construction are key to the socioeconomic development of the state, and thus, being applauded by the residents of the state, the completion of Fajol Junction-Ajegunle-Osara-Gbonangun road, which had begged for attention for almost three decades, drew huge applause from the residents of the area.

Little wonder that residents in the communities where the road courses through, trooped out en-masse to express their gratitude to the governor, when he and his cabinet members, drove through the road, to ascertain the quality of work done by the contractor handling the project.

The governor who had earlier embarked on similar inspection of Oba Erinwole Road in Sagamu and Kuto Flyover in Abeokuta, as well as the Service Lanes linking the flyover to the NNPC Flyover, was warmly received at the Fajol Junction.

Apart from leaders of the Community Development Associations, youths and commercial motorcycle riders, came out to give Abiodun a rousing welcome.

Addressing the gathering, Governor Abiodun, said he was out with his cabinet members to drive on the 7.1km road, to ascertain at first hand, the quality of job done by the contractor.

He reiterated that his administration would continue to give priority attention to roads, hospitals and other projects abandoned by his predecessor, noting all the projects were funded with task payers’ money.

He further declared that no part of the state will be neglected in the distribution of infrastructure, adding he had decided to make the people the “centrepiece” of his administration.

His said, “I will not leave any project abandoned by previous government. Those they funded or abandoned midway will be completed by us. When we were drawing up budget too, we asked for your inputs and these are the roads and projects you chose by yourselves.

“Infrastructure, especially road, will be given the right attention in order to open up the state

for more economic development.”

He explained that the issue of good road network in the state could not be over-emphasised as roads open up the state to socioeconomic activities and promote the welfare of the residents.

Speaking further, Abiodun informed the gathering that the Oba Erinwole Road, which according to him is an important road that serves several industries and also links the SagamuOre-Benin Expressway, was in a terrible state when he took over and had become a death trap for its users.

“Before I came here, I have gone to see the level of work done on this Oba Erinwole Road.

This road is very important as it leads to many factories and industries. We awarded the contract for this road in March this year. If not for the pandemic, work would have gone farther than this by now. When it is completed, it will alleviate the suffering of the people,” he stated.

On the Kuto Flyover and the Service Lanes in Abeokuta, the governor said that the project was awarded by the last administration, but it would be completed soon, adding he had extracted commitment from the contractor.

The governor noted that most of the road projects executed by his administration were prioritized by the residents themselves as they were allowed to do so while government was preparing the budget.

“For instance, it was part of our inclusiveness that made the people to choose the 7.1km FajolOsara-Gbonagun Road. This is an inter-local government road that would link Abeokuta

South and Odeda Local Government Areas, as well as act as a bypass to the Abeokuta-Ibadan Road,” he said.

While informing the people that roads were simultaneously being constructed across the state, Abiodun disclosed that similar projects were ongoing at Ipokia and Imeko local government areas.

He, however, used the event to disclose that construction work would soon commence on Gbenro-Isashi-Akute Road bordering Lagos.

He submitted that the desire of his Administration was to ensure that the people are able to transverse the length and breadth of the state with ease, saying that “work so far done is a tip of the iceberg.”

In their respective remarks, the former Senator representing Ogun Central Senatorial District, Senator Gbenga Obadara and the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Yemi Sanusi, appreciated the governor for keeping to his election promises, adding that the projects would go a long way in enabling the people achieve their aspirations.

On his own part, the Leader of Fajol Community, Alhaji Kafidipe, said the Fajol-Osara-Gbonagun Road had been in a deplorable condition for more than 30 years, appreciating the governor for keeping to the promise he made during the election campaign.

Other Residents Speak For the 61 year old resident of Ajegunle Community, Olukemi Ogunyomade, the construction

The governor who had earlier embarked on similar inspection of Oba Erinwole Road in Sagamu and Kuto Flyover in Abeokuta, as well as the Service Lanes linking the flyover to the NNPC Flyover, was warmly received at the Fajol Junction. Apart from leaders of the Community Development Associations, youths and commercial motorcycle riders, came out to give Abiodun a rousing welcome.

Addressing the gathering, Governor Abiodun, said he was out with his cabinet members to drive on the 7.1km road, to ascertain at first hand, the quality of job done by the contractor

of the intercommunity road is a dream come true. The auto lubricants dealer, who disclosed that he moved to the area in 1989, said the road had been a nightmare to the residents of the area, particularly motorists.

He commended the governor for ending three decades of infrastructure neglect by the past governments in the state.

“I am highly elated that this road is finally done. I got here in 1989 when I completed my house. There was no road at all; it was one late lawyer, Akintola, popularly known as ‘Baba Seaman’ who opened up the road. But the road, which is a good bypass for people living in upper Obantoko area, Eleweran, Camp and even traveling to Ibadan, had been in bad shape, until the incumbent governor constructed it.

“With this road, people are now moving to develop their property here. Even, value of landed property has more than double, thanks to Governor Abiodun.”

Ogunyomade, however, appealed to the government to construct speed breakers on the new road.

On his part, a commercial motorcycle rider, Nurudeen Oke, saluted Abiodun for hearkening into the yearnings of the residents and constructed the road. He added that the road had been used as campaign and election gimmicks to deceive residents into voting for past governments in the state, but nothing was done.

Oke, who equally urged the government to put humps on the road to slow down speeding drivers, begged the governor to fix Apete-Bode Olude and Aregba-Car Wash roads.

For Mrs. Adeola Oduwole, a resident of Osara Community, the road has further opened up the area to economic and business boon, in the short time it was constructed. She wanted the state government to instal street lights on the road, to add to its aesthetics at night.

A barber shop owner on Gbonangun road, Jimoh Muftau, recalled how vehicles used to get stuck on the road and the youths in the community made brisk business by helping stuck motorists. He, therefore, lauded the governor for making the construction of the road a priority.

For the duo of Mrs. Abosede Ogunbona and Alhaja Olawunmi Akintunde, the governor has removed “pains” of bad road by giving the communities a good road.

They, however, submitted that Environmental Sanitation Officers should monitor the newly constructed 7.1km road, to ensure residents don’t dump refuse in the drainage to block the water flow.

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T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱͮ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

FEATURES

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, 08038901925

Compelling Need for Police Reform Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that given the huge deficit in police relations, management of scarce resources, adherence to basic human rights, equipment acquisition and maintenance, forensic investigation, and manpower, there is indeed a compelling need for holistic police reform if the force is to be at par with global standards, as well as regain public trust

Derelict police barrack

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onstitutionally, the primary reasons why the police exist are to serve and protect the citizens and their properties. Although this is a global practice, same cannot be said to be totally true in Nigeria, as decades of corruption and human rights abuses have polarised the police.

Recently, a volcano erupted that heightened calls for police reforms. Constant acts of police brutality, extra-judicial killings and harassment gave birth to the #EndSARS campaign that has snowballed into calls for holistic reform of police.

With no leader, the protest, organised by youths across the nation, has held the political class in the jugular in the past 13 days and recently led to the dissolution of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), A police unit known for its gruesome acts against humanity.

History The evolution of the NPF started in the then Lagos colony in 1861 when the British Consul in Lagos obtained permission from his principal in London to establish a Consular Guard comprising 30 men.

Two years later in 1863, this small body of men became known as the “Hausa Guard”. It was further regularised in 1879 by an Ordinance creating a Constabulary for the Colony of Lagos.

An Inspector-General of Police commanded this force recruited mainly from Hausas and known as the “Hausa Constabulary.

Fastforward to 1891 in Calabar, an armed constabulary was formed. In 1893 the area was proclaimed the Niger Coast. Niger Coast constabulary was then formed in 1894 in Calabar under the Niger Coast Protectorate. On January 1, 1896, the Lagos Police Force was created and armed like the “Hausa Constabulary” and in 1906, the Lagos Police Force and part of the Niger Coast Constabulary became the southern Nigeria Police Force, while the bulk of the Niger Coast Constabulary formed the southern Nigeria Regiments.

After the amalgamation of Northern and Southern Nigeria in 1914 both police forces continued to operate separately until April 1, 1930 when they were merged to form the

President Buhari

IG Mohammed Adamu

present Nigeria Police Force with Headquarters in Abuja.

Mbama Okiro from 2007 to 2009, before Enugu-born Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo was saddled with the same responsibility from 2009 to 2010. The 15th IG was Hafiz Ringim who was there from 2010 to January 2012, after which Mohammed Abubakar made IG from that same 2012 to July 2014 and then handed over to Suleiman Abba.

Abba held the helm of affairs to 2015 and handed over to Solomon Arase, who held sway from 2015 to 2016 and handed over to Ibrahim Idris Kpotum, who occupied the seat from 2016 to 2019 before handing over to Mohammed Adamu, who occupies the seat till date.

Chronicles of Inspector Generals of Police From independence to date, the NPF has a had a total of 18 IGs, beginning with the first indigenous IG, Louis Edet who was there from 1964 to 1966.

Next in line was Kam Salem who was IG from 1966 to 1975. The third IG from 1975 to 1979 was Muhammadu Dikko Yusufu. Fourth in the line was Adamu Suleiman from 1979 to 1981 and then Sunday Adewusi took over from 1981 to 1983 before handing over to Etim Inyang who headed the force from 1985 to 1986.

The seventh IG was Muhammadu GamboJimeta, who held the helm of affairs from 1986 to 1990 and then Aliyu Atta from 1990 to 1993. Atta then handed over to the ninth IG, Ibrahim Coomassie who was there from 1993 to 1999. The 10th IG was Musiliu Smith who was there from 1999 to 2002.

The 11th and most popular IG was Mustafa Adebayo Balogun fondly called Tafa. He was IG from 2002 to 2005 and was forced to retire because of widespread charges of corruption in January 2005. The 12th IG from 2005 to 2007 was Sunday Ehindero.

Replacing him as the 13th IG was Mike

Strength In total, the police force number consists of about 372 000 officers and men in about 2,000 police posts, divisions, commands and zones. The police consist of 36 teams that are spread across the country and are classified into 12 respective zones and are operated by the seven various administrative organs.

Under those 12 zones are over 6,500 field formations and a breakdown of the staff strength are 22,484 officers and 499,769 rank and file.

Structure Headed by an Inspector General of Police

(IG), the NPF management team consists of the seven departmental heads, with the force secretary and the IG at its head.

The order of ranking thus starts from the IG to the DIG, then AIG, before the CP, then the DCP before the ACP. Others in the hierarchy include the CSP, the SP, the DSP and the ASP. For the rank and file, the hierarchy begins with the Inspector then the Sergeant Major before the Sergeant, and then corporal before the constable as guided by the regulation 273 of the Police Regulation, Cap 359 laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1990.

For the unititated, the NPF is divided into different sections to enhance operations. The different operations include- administration, anti-fraud section, central criminal registry, special anti-robbery squad (now defunct), x-squad (the disciplinary arm), general investigation, special fraud unit, legal section, forensic science laboratory, interpol liaison, homicide, anti-human trafficking, special branch (criminal and special investigation bureau), the force CID investigation, Kaduna annex and counter terrorism unit.

Salary Scheme According to reports, a police recruit’s salary per month is N9,019.42 while per annum is N108,233; that of the Constable Grade Level 03’s salary per month is N43, 293.80 while annual salary is N519,525.6; a Constable Grade Level 10’s salary per month is N51,113.59 while annual salary is N613,363.08.

For a Police Corporal on Grade 04 (1)’s, the salary per month is N44,715.53 while annual salary is N536,586.36; Corporal on Grade Level 04 (10)’s salary per month is N51,113.59 and annual salary is N613,365.08; and police Sergeant on Grade 05 (step1)’s salary per month is N48,540.88 and the annual salary is N582,490.56.

That of a police Sergeant on Grade 05 (step 10)’s salary is N55,973.84 and annual salary is N671,686.08; a Sergeant Major on Grade 06 (step 1)’s salary is N55,144.81 and the annual salary is N661,737.72; and a Sergeant Major on Grade 06 (step 10)’s salary is N62,204.88 and annual salary is N746,458.56.

For a Cadet Inspector on Grade Level 07

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Derelict police barracks

(step1), the salary is N73,231.51 while annual salary is N878,778.12; a Cadet Inspector on Grade 07 (step10)’s salary per month is N87,135.70 while the annual salary is N1,045,628.4.

That of an Assistant Superintendent of Police on Grade 08 (step1) is N127,604.68 per month with annual salary at N1,531,256.16; Assistant Superintendent of Police on Grade 08 (step10)’s salary per month is N144,152.07 while annual salary is N1,729,824.84; Assistant Superintendent of Police in Grade 09 (step1)’s salary per month is N136, 616.06 while annual salary is N1,639,392.72.

An Assistant Superintendent of Police on Grade 09 (step10) is on N156,318.39 per month while annual salary is N1,875,820.68; Deputy Superintendent of Police on Grade 10 (step1)’s Salary per month is N148,733.29 and his Annual Salary is N1,784,799.48; and Deputy Superintendent of Police on Grade 10 (step10)’s salary per month is N170,399.69 while annual salary is N2,044,796.28.

The Superintendent of Police on Grade 11 (step1)’s salary per month is N161,478.29 while annual salary is N1,937,739.48; a Superintendent of Police on Grade 11 (step 10)’s salary per month is N187,616.69 while annual salary is N2,251400.28; and Chief of Superintendent of Police on Grade 12 (step1)’s salary per month is N172,089.06 while annual salary is N2,065,068.72.

That of the Chief of Superintendent of Police on Grade 12 (step 8)’s salary per month is N199,723.96 while annual salary is N2,396,687.52; an Assistant Commissioner of Police Grade 13 (step1)’s salary per month is N183,185.73 while annual salary is N2,198,228.76; and an Assistant Commissioner of Police Grade 13 (step10)’s salary is N212,938.16 while annual salary is N2,555,257.92.

For the Deputy Commissioner of Police on Grade 14 (step1)’s salary its pegged at N242,715.65 while annual salary is N2,912,587.8; Deputy Commissioner of Police on Grade 14 (step7)’s salary is N278,852.79 while annual salary is N3,346,233.48; and Commissioner of Police on Grade 15 (step1)’s salary per month is N266,777.79 while annual salary is N3,201,333.48.

The Commissioner of Police on Grade 15 (step 6)’s salary per month is N302,970.47 while annual salary is N3,635,645.64; an Assistant Inspector General of Police’s salary per month is N499,751.87 while annual salary is N5,997,022.44; a Deputy Inspector General of Police’s salary per month is N546,572.73 while annual salary is N6,558,872.76; and the Inspector General of Police, (IG) as the highest-ranked officer in the police gets N711,498 as monthly salary while his annual salary is N8,537,976.

Gains Although to the layman, nothing good can ever come out of the police, but they have recorded considerable gains in some areas.

In peace keeping efforts, the NPF has over the last 50 years, deployed men and resources towards keeping the peace in Africa and so far, over 20, 000 have been deployed to various United Nations, African Union and ECOWAS peace support operations and they have almost always returned with commendations.

Apart from that, other welfare packages like housing, mortgage policy and efficient cooperative society, have been restructured to ensure that every policeman benefits from the scheme which started with the 5000 housing unit in Abuja. The police have also been able to address some deficits in the medical wing.

Also, the police have gone ahead to establish its own mortgage finance bank to carter for the loans of its officers. Although it later ended up in controversy. Also, thousands of policemen have been sent on training on intelligence gathering to enable them cope with contemporary times.

In the area of ICT, they have recorded speed marking changes in some cases as against past records when things were done manually and made investigations drag out ever slowly.

Although the number of patrol vehicles can never be enough in the face of the growing population and its needs, the police have upped their game in terms of providing patrol vans, which when again compared to the past, is a milestone.

The Ills To critics however, the ills far outweigh the the achievements recorded over the years and this is buttressed by the so many negative actions of the police.

The police have continually been riddled with complaints of extra-judicial killing, detention without trial, corruption, inefficiency regarding maintenance of law and order, excessive and recurrent waves of brutalities, abductions, unwarranted searches and violations of privacy and private family life, extra-bodily injury, intimidation and harassment.

Another ill facing the police is corruption and it is believed that this is widespread.

Although it is believed that corruption is endemic to the society, many however argue that the police should be above this seeing that they are expected to be moral as law enforcement agents.

But on the other hand, indisciplined policemen involve themselves in crime by conspiring with criminals to perpetuate crime, thus exposing them for their lack of integrity.

Another ill is the perversion of the course of justice by either procuring and supplying false evidence, tampering with exhibit and false accusations to favour their camp.

The police have times without number been accused of sexual exploitations as was what happened in September 2005, when Nigeria withdrew 120 police officers serving in the UN Congo mission because of accusations that they had engaged in sexual abuses.

Meanwhile, their ills would not be complete without a mention of the brazen atrocities of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Squad Tactical Team (STS), the anti- cultism and anti-kidnapping units. Although SARS recently became defunct, they were known to have carried out Illict oppression of civilians, harassment and even killings.

Constraints Whilst all would rather blame the police for failing in their various responsibilities as the watchdog of the society, it however, is important to note that they face certain critical inadequacies which if not tackled, would further damage the already battered image.

It is therefore stating the obvious that one of the challenges facing the police is inadequate manpower, both in terms of quantity and quality. Also, the issue of inadequate funding comes to fore too.

Again, despite the boost in salary, the poor remuneration and general condition of service can be improved upon to ensure that the policemen who are always in the line of fire

are taken care off.

Another challenge is the issue of lack of maintenance structure as shown by the dilapidated housing units, equipment and rickety patrol vehicles seen on the roads.

This has often been blamed on poor resource management.

One of the major challenge facing the police is that of inadequate logistics to procure the much needed arms and ammunition, uniform and other accoutrement, which you often see policemen buying for themselves, as against international best practices.

Whilst the policemen are expected to be out there fighting our wars, they face the challenge of inadequate office and residential accommodation and some often live under inhumane conditions.

The police cells are not left out of this uninhabitable living conditions as shown by cells at different police stations, where suspects are subjected to its terrible state.

Another challenge is the break in communication between the police and the public whom they are supposed to protect. While the public sees the police as their enemy, the police in turn see them as lower beings they can squash under their foot.

The force is also saddled with endemic challenges like recruiting and training inefficient and indisciplined personnel who lack expertise in specialised fields and show a low commitment to duty.

The challenge of the poor knowledge of law and disregard for human rights can never be understated as it is one of the issues facing the police.

Funding For a force that was established to protect, the remunerations have been poor. To sustain a police division, the command headquarters disburse a measly N50,000. From that poor fund, they are expected to buy stationary, sustain patrols and buy other equipment, little wonder policemen collect kickbacks for sustenance.

Also, the fund usually set aside to pay informants is no longer given, neither the money to treat injured personnel. Rather, what is obtainable is that divisional police officers have to source for funds for the treatment of any wounded personnel.

But those in the know told THISDAY that the issue of funding, although never adequate, has continually been increased in recent times.

Checks by THISDAY seem to support their claims.

Just last week, the federal government presented the 2021 Appropriation Bill to the lawmakers and in that allocation, if approved, the police would get a whopping N447.6 billion.

In the last four years, the allocations have increased and the difference has been around N40 billion. A further breakdown clarified that the 2021 proposed allocation increased to N447.6 billion from N403.45 billion allocated in 2020, which is about an 11 per cent increase while the 2020 allocation increased from N366.13 billion allocated in 2019 with about 10 per cent increase, just as the increase from 2018 was N324.2 billion, an increase of about N42 billion.

However, despite the increase over the years, the police hierarchy have been vocal in explaining that they are still running at a deficit, especially with the numerous security challenges that crop up everyday.

This year, the total amount allocated to the

police was N403,709,451,000 and according to the police, while the recurrent expenditure makes up 96.4 per cent of the budget, capital expenditure is 3.6 per cent, a figure they insist is low considering the scale of capital investment required to upgrade the moribund facilities and equipment of the service.

But for stakeholders, the crux of the matter is good management of lean resources.

Speaking on anonymity, a source familiar with police budget and spending, told THISDAY that money would never be enough because security challenges are will never elapse.

Clarifying, he said one must make do with what is available and at the same time, ensure the security architecture is not disrupted. “I earlier mentioned being good managers of resources, I will explain. Granted that the funding given does not cut it, the question should however be, what was done with the one allocated and disbursed?

“At this stage when one knows the lean resources would not cover the problems on ground, this is where priority comes in and prudence in managing funds. Yet you see people padding budget for contracts, collecting money for projects done and even being awarded contracts and a shoddy job is done because profit was put ahead.”

Also, recall that to fix this deficit in funding, the Police Trust Fund was borne in 2019 when the National Assembly adopted the Police Trust Fund Act. As a special intervention fund for training and retraining of personnel of the police and for the provision of state of the art security equipment and other related facilities required by the police, the fund is meant to benefit from a levy of 0.005 per cent on the net profit of companies operating business in Nigeria; 0.5 per cent of the total revenue accruing to the Federation Account; as well as proceeds from grants, aids, gifts, donations, and investment income.

The bill was passed by the National Assembly in April 2019 and signed into law by the President in June 2019, but its commencement began with the inauguration of the board in May 2020, a clear 11 months after the president assented to the bill passed by the National Assembly.

Moribund Equipment A workman without tools labours in vain.

This can be said of the police. With no provision for work tools (except for their guns and ammunition, a typical policeman buys his uniforms, shoes, and even writing materials to take statements), the force can be said to have been set up to fail.

Undeniably, lack of adequate equipment and tools is a major challenge for the police.

In some stations, it’s not out of place to see rickety vehicles, derelict houses and even out of date equipment.

VIP Protection As at the last count, 120,000 police personnel have been deployed to safeguard the Very Important Persons (VIPs). This means that you to 40 per cent of officers are on personal guard duties. Already, the citizen/police ratio in Nigeria, with a population of about 200 million people, stands at one police officer for every 600 citizen, or about 200 police officers per 100,000 people.

This falls short of the global average, according to data from the United Nations, which indicated that it should be about 340 police officers per 100,000 people. The UN

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But regardless of inadequate manpower, anyone that can afford to pay for their services gets an officer.

Inadequate Intelligence Gathering, Investigation Unlike what is globally accepted, the Nigeria Police arrest, before carrying out investigations.

Often times, they parade them before members of the press and brand them criminals based on the accusation of a complainant.

Also, the norm is to carry out indiscriminate raids and pick up whomever they see on sight and brand them criminals. Those who are able to bribe their way out are released, while others are locked up and taken to court on trumped up charges.

Globally, most developed nations have central crime database, where an offender is flagged and can be identified even if he leaves the state for another. That is not applicable with the Nigeria Police. This explains why a suspect can be arrested thrice for the same offence and he still goes back to the society.

Many security analysts have continually called out the police for their inefficiency in crime prevention, criminal investigation, and even response to distress calls. According to them, investigations should begin with intelligence gathering, analysis of information gotten before arrest is made and not the other way round.

Despite the landmark they have achieved in ICT so far, there is still room for improvement in managing crime, as well as bridging the operational information gap which interms of data collection is often marred by inaccurate recording and collation, poor storage and retrieval, inadequate analysis and infrequent publication of criminal statistics.

For instance, in most stations and divisions, fingerprint searching and matching is still done manually on paper cards using hand-held magnifying glass.

Loopholes in Promotion A poorly motivated force is a ticking time bomb that will explode one day. The police readily fits into this bill. Checks revealed that the low morale of the workforce stems not just from poor welfare, terrible living conditions but also disaffection caused by discrepancies in promotion.

The uneven promotion of officers to the detriment of their coursemates has been a fodder for low morale. THISDAY checks revealed that some promotions can skip an officer twice or even twice, leaving them below as their coursemates climb the ladder. Time and time again, the service has been riddled with allegations of selling promotion to the highest bidder.

Inadequate Insurance Another challenge is the lack of meaningful insurance (given the risk they take on a daily basis). Ordinarily, law enforcement liability insurance provides coverage for bodily injury, personal injury or property damage caused by a wrongful act committed by or on behalf of a public entity while conducting law enforcement activities or operations.

But just last year November, it was revealed that the federal government through the Office of the Head of Service (HOS) of the Federation has not insured men and officers of the Nigeria Police since June 2019 as it has failed to pay the insurance premium for their coverage, thus putting their insurance coverage at risk.

Indiscipline For a security force that should thrive on discipline, a break in chain of command often ripples down the ladder, with the resultant effect being chaotic. Little wonder the indiscipline that reigns supreme in the force.

In subverting discipline, the police do not give recourse to the fact that its actions are undermining democracy and creates an enabling environment for instability and chaos to reign supreme.

Despite many attempts by the leadership of the police to enforce discipline and even sack a few bad eggs, improper conduct by the police undermine their ability to fight the pervasive insecurity across the country.

Pension Over the years, one of the welfare challenges that bugged the police was their pension. Like civilians, it was a long road to Golgotha as some even died in the process. Year in, year out, the policemen have been groaning over

was created by the military governments prior to 1999 and has not changed despite over two decades of democratic governments.”

Thus, he advocated that the legal framework of the police should be changed to provide security of tenure for IGs because with the law on ground, the IG has to obey all orders given by the president – whether lawful or not.

He said these legal constraints make manipulation of the police by any president very easy, adding that the president can easily remove any IG that does not play ball, reason why we have had about 13 IGs in 15 years.

Effects The effects of the aforementioned challenges lead to lack of public trust, which translates to a lacuna because no police can work in isolation of the people.

Again, it would be stating the obvious to say that there is lack of trust for the police by the public. Years of police brutality is to blame for this. Although they are generally feared, they are in fact despised.

Moribund police patrol car

poor retirement benefits since the introduction of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) with the Pension Reform Act of 2004, a scheme that crippled their rights to be paid after years of dedicating their lives to the service of this nation.

In the police structure, the Police Pension Office (PPO) was initially established by degree 75 of 1993 as an extra department under the Ministry of Police Affairs and existed as such up until November, 2013 when it became a department under the newly established Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD).

The Police Pension Department is responsible for the payment of Gratuity and Pension of Police pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) i.e pensioners who retired on or before June 30, 2007 and did not transit to the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

Although their functions were to ensure regular and timely payment of pensions to retirees, payment of death benefits and entitlements to Next of Kins (NOK’S) of deceased officers, amongst others, it was not always so until recent times when a three-day investigative hearing by the House of Representatives Committee on Pensions brought succor.

After the committee sat, it was a huge boost for the management of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Pensions Limited and its clients, policemen, as its request for the approval of a special gratuity for police retirees at the rate of 300 per cent of their last annual gross pay was endorsed by the Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp).

In its submission, the operators who insisted that the major challenge faced by pension management was the backlog of accrued rights and pension arrears owed by the Federal Government, endorsed the demands of NPF Pensions Limited.

Accommodation However overflogged the cliche ‘man is a product of its environment’ has become, it has nonetheless proven to be true times without number. For the men of the police force, their sometimes irascible behaviour are often blamed on their environment and living conditions.

Whilst the policemen are expected to be out there fulfilling their constitutional responsibilities in either internal security or mediating in civil cases, they often times face the challenge of inadequate office and residential accommodation and some often live under inhumane and pitiable conditions. More sad is the fact that most of these officers who have served meritoriously before retirement are often left in the lurch once their service year is over.

Recently, there has been a spike in police brutality in Lagos despite constant dismissal of such offenders, but it is inherent to examine the effect of unfit and uninhabitable barracks on the psyche of police, especially in their relationship with the civil populace.

From the PMF barracks in Keffi to the barracks in Gowon Estate to those in Obalende, Oduduwa in Ikeja, Queens in Apapa, Igbogbo in Ikorodu, Iru in Victoria Island, and Olosan in Mushin, amongst several others like Pedro and Iponri, the terrible state of police barracks in Lagos tell a story of mismanagement, total disregard for the welfare of personnel.

Institutional Lapses According to Charles Omole, s governance expert, the police battle with institutional challenges. He said: “The Police Service Commission

(PSC), the civilian oversight body of the police, has no independent capacity to investigate or ‘police’ the police force.

“Complaints against Nigerian police officers made to the PSC end up being investigated by the police itself, who then report to the PSC. This lack of an independent complaints system is unsatisfactory.

“It is part of why internal discipline is weak and a corporate culture of excellence in service delivery does not exist in the force. For this reason, there is no framework for rating police commands or measuring their effectiveness.”

Is State Police the Way Out? When the #EndSARS protest started, one thing that stood out was the helplessness of the governors in the face of police brutality.

In Lagos, the police raised arms against peaceful and unarmed protesters and even killed some. When cases of brutality of protesters were brought before the state government, even with calls from the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to the Area C Command to release them, it was a Herculean task.

It took additional intervention from Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila and Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Desmond Elliot, and a battalion of lawyers before they could be released.

For the police in a state that is hugely dependent on the Lagos State Trust Fund to survive, it was quite telling that they do not take instructions from the governor despite accepting funds and equipment from state pockets.

This has brought to the fore the danger inherent in centralising operational control of the police in the hands of the president.

As rightly pointed out by many security analysts, the only way out is to ensure a clear-cut separation of powers between the government, in this case the president and the police.

According to Ibrahim Jibrin, director, International Human Rights Law Group in Nigeria and previously an Associate Professor of Political Science at Ahmadu Bello University, for law enforcement agencies to continue to play their constitutional role however, it is imperative that they are not used in a partisan manner.

Quoting Section 215 of the 1999 Constitution, he said it gives powers to the president, acting on the advice of the Nigeria Police Council to appoint the Inspector General of Police.

On the flipside, he said under sub-section 3 of section 215 of the same Constitution, the president is also empowered to give lawful directives with respect to the maintenance of law and order to the IG and he shall comply or cause them to be complied with.

Harping on the balancing clause that the presidency often neglects, he said there is an equivalent provision in section 215 (4), which creates such relationship between a state governor and a commissioner of police. He noted that in today’s order, it’s often disregarded, at least for governors that are in the opposition.

According to Omole, the way the police are organised is the reason community policing is ineffective.

“State Commissioners of Police take instructions from the IG, who receives instructions from the president, rather than from state governors. The over-centralised structure of the police does not help it to connect with communities as it should.

“The current command structure of the police

Reforms Needed For the police to be at par with global standards, there are key issues that must be addressed.

In terms of investigation, the police need to create a data base of crime, which would go a long way to boost investigation. Also the police should push for the establishment of a central fingerprint centre were the fingerprints of Nigerians and others are captured and stored, to be retrieved to match fingerprints obtained at crime scenes as a crime-fighting tool.

Again, training and re-training are key for the police reformation. Also, there is need for a stringent code of conduct that would address all human rights abuses such as indiscriminate arrests, intimidation and extortion as well as misuse of firearms. This should also address the issue of paying money for bail, which the police still insist is free.

Also, there is a need, under the police reform, for the establishment of an independent complaint authority to receive and investigate and effectively deal with complaints against police officers’ misconduct from the public and ensure appropriate prosecution.

The police need to give welfare of personnel adequate attention. From commensurate salaries to better accommodation, adequate insurance, pension, the reform should cut across board.

As a matter of urgency, the police need ethical reorientation geared towards attitudinal change. Also, increasing the workforce to be at par with global standards and also giving promotions when due without being bribed to do so, are reforms that should be taken seriously.

While the Police Trust Fund should be judiciously used to tackle the issue of funding expenditure and needs, the new Police Act should be implemented to the latter.

Way Forward Although many argue that effective policing in Nigeria is almost impossible because of the constraints faced by the police, which has given leeway for various misconducts and unprofessional behaviours, can the same apply for other fields? Can a doctor be unprofessional because he is not duly paid?

Some would argue the job of a doctor is different from the police, but many would beg to differ- they both deal with lives and as long as the right to life remains sacrosanct, there is need for the police to remain overboard despite inherent challenges and protect the lives they swore to guard.

Thus, to ensure holistic reforms, the police must be effective and efficient in the prevention and control of crime, detection, apprehension and prosecution of offenders without recourse to unwholesome practices.

But this can only be achieved by diligent observance of the rule of law, protection and recognition of individual’s dignity and rights, by acknowledging that they are accountable to the citizens whose tax money are used to fund them.

However, the ball lies in the court of President Muhammadu Buhari to initiate a comprehensive restructuring of the force to better position it to tackle contemporary challenges.

Beyond paying lip service at reforms, for the Nigeria Police to be at par with global standards, there must be a genuine and holistic overhaul of the entire system from tackling corruption, to funding, welfare, training, equipment, manpower, and building public trust again.

LAWYER

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WEEKLY PULLOUT

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#ENDSARS: SÒRÒ SOKE

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LAWYER

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WEEKLY PULLOUT

20.10.2020

Disqualification of a Candidate: Whether a Pre-Election or Post-Election Matter PAGE 4

SERAP Sues Buhari, Osinbajo and 36 Governors on Asset Declaration PAGE 5

#ENDSARS: SÒRÒ SOKE

LEDAP hosts Webinar in Commemoration of the 18th World Day Against Death Penalty PAGE 5

QUOTABLES ‘No State has suffered in the hands of SARS, like Rivers State. Nigerians kept quiet, they said it is Politics. Now, they have seen how bad SARS is..... SARS can never be our friend. I will never support SARS. The mistake we are making.....

If they form another body.....are they not the same Police people? What is required, is a total reform of the Police.’ - Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, CON, Lawyer, Life Bencher, Governor of Rivers State, Federal Republic of Nigeria ‘We are not going to address this problem by merely changing or re-christening SARS......No, we must go to the root of the crisis of policing in Nigeria..The Government is negotiating with Terrorists and Kidnappers, so why not with the young men and women that are protesting all over the country? - Femi Falana, SAN, Human Rights Lawyer and Activist

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20.10.2020

Beyond the #ENDSARS Protests Aka Sòrò Soke (Speak Up)

With every passing moment, with its actions, Government continues to reveal the fact that, it has no interest in any real positive reform, whether economic, political, social or otherwise. Government does things superficially, and because, I’m sorry to say, they obviously think majority of Nigerians are docile "Mumus", hitherto, they have been able to get away with their cosmetic initiatives which have no real substance. Because, if we had a Government that is thorough or one that is truly interested in our welfare (as Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)(the Constitution) mandates it to be), I don't think that the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu (IG) would disband SARS, and automatically re-christen SARS, SWAT, without undertaking the necessary reforms first!

This has always been Government’s knee-jerk fire-brigade approach/response, not just to this #ENDSARS matter, but to burning issues that have faced the nation, and this trait is not the exclusive preserve of this administration alone. So, the PDP who may be trying to score cheap political points by making a hue and cry of all this, ‘should let us rest’ as we say in Nigerian parlance - they are not any better. Did SARS not exist during their 16 years in power? How did they reform SARS in their own time?

The inequality and mess in our country is not the exclusive creation of this administration - but, because this administration came in on the mantra of changing things for the better, which they have not particularly done, people expected much more from them. Take for example the President’s nomination of his aide, Lauretta Onochie as an INEC National Commissioner - it shows that this Government does not care too much about the maxim “justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done”, and that is why it is no surprise that without thorough consideration, the IG would imagine that he can simply change SARS to SWAT with a snap of his fingers, and it would be acceptable!

Third Schedule Part 1 F Paragraph 14(2)(a) of the Constitution, provides that a member of INEC shall be non-partisan. To be partisan does not only mean a card carrying member of a political party, it also refers to a person who has an affiliation or connection with a group. Ms Onochie’s affiliations with this APC Government and the President are as clear as crystal; and therefore, in such a crucial job within INEC, a body which is meant to be independent, even if she’s the most upstanding person in the world, it goes without saying that in a country like ours where election malpractice is the order of the day, such an appointment would be viewed with the utmost suspicion. INEC is certainly not the place for her.

As far as I’m concerned, this whole #ENDSARS scenario, again, shows that, Nigeria is in dire need of restructuring. While those in the South are tired of SARS, it seems that the Governors in the North still want SARS. Is their call for the remain of SARS genuine or simply a show of support for the IG and the Government? Because, truth be told, if SARS has been that effective there, why is there still such a high level of banditry, insurgency and violence up North? Be that as it may, this is why Nigeria is in urgent need of reforms, constitutional and otherwise, geared towards fulfilling the different needs of the different zones and peoples.

However, even if the North wants SARS/SWAT, I don’t think they want brutal Policemen who have a penchant for violence, torture and oppression; we all deserve better - unless of course, they are being shipped directly to Sambisa Forest to feel free to enjoy their trigger-happiness and brutality fighting Boko Haram, and nothing more!

Congratulations to the Nigerian Youths Sections 39 and 40 of the Constitution guarantee our rights to freedom of expression and association for the protection of our interests, and I congratulate the Nigerian Youths on account of them exercising these rights peacefully (while inter alia, demanding that Government respects our rights to life, dignity of a human person, personal liberty, and freedom of movement - Sections 33, 34, 35 and 41 of the Constitution); I also congratulate our Youths for their focus, organisation, resilience, and for being more effective than any other group in Nigeria in recent times - be it ASUU, or the NLC and the like, in terms of getting Government’s attention and making them feel somewhat jittery. They were able to elicit a swift response from the President and the IG, no matter how shallow. This kind of outing by Nigerian Youths nationwide simultaneously, is the first of its kind - and for those who once referred to them as ‘lazy’, it proves quite the opposite! Troubling however, is the high rate of Youth unemployment, evidenced by the fact that

so many Youths across the nation have been able to stay on the streets for so long, because they may not be in any gainful employment. Government must address this NOW. This is the excerpt of my chat with a 22 year old friend of mine who is studying in USA. We chatted last Monday: "Child: I even went to go and protest yesterday in Atlanta.

Me: Really?

Child: Yes, of course. Me, that I am exactly the type of person SARS would stop, imagine me not doing my part.

Child: I hope you too you're doing your part to support the protest o.

Me: It's going to be our topic for October 20th.

Child: Nice one! #ENDSARS, not reform o. Please, don't embarrass us.

Me: But, my issue is that most of the SARS people are still in the Police. Will there be any difference?

Child: Nope, there is no difference. Those former SARS Officers cannot be allowed to re-enter the Police Force. They must also be held accountable for everything they have done.

Me: They have already been redeployed, I guess apart from the ones who may be facing criminal charges.

Child: What a yèyè country! You might be lucky sha; these protests are making me rethink the possibility of moving back to Nigeria one day.

Maybe there's hope for our yèyè country after all.”

Genesis of SARS/Police Problems The issue of the Nigeria Police Force, in my opinion, is simply a vicious cycle - the beginning, the circumstances and the outcome, are all contributors to what we are seeing today. Section 17(3)(b) & (c) of the Constitution provides that conditions of work for employees must be just and humane, and the health, safety, and welfare of all persons in employment (including members of the Police), are safeguarded and not endangered or abused - the Police have not been given this.

I believe that the qualifications to get into the Police at entry level, is School Certificate or HND. In Nigeria of today, this is no big deal as you need lesser qualifications, that is, only education up to School Certificate level (not actually doing the examination or passing it) to qualify for the highest political positions in the country, except for the Attorney-General who must be a legal practitioner of at least 10 years standing. One of the major problems which Nigeria faces today, is the bevy of people who have low educational qualifications, placed in jobs which they are simply not equipped to do. This is not exclusive to SARS or the Police, alone; it is time to raise the bar in Nigeria, across board.

A few years ago, there was an exposé on the Police College in lkeja - it was in such a disgusting and deplorable condition, that people wondered how human beings could live and be trained there. Some went as far as saying that, even animals would find life in the Police College unpalatable. What then, would you expect products who emerge from such a nasty sub-human, sub-standard environment to be like? Reasonable gentlemen and women? I think not.

Again, with that kind of inhumane atmosphere, it is unlikely that recruits are put through any proper psychological assessment, if any, before they are unleashed on the public.

I watched a television interview in which a retired senior Police Officer was asked why some SARS

Policemen were often seen wearing cut-off tee shirts, shorts, and bathroom slippers (flip flops), bearing weapons? That it was difficult to distinguish them from armed robbers. The Officer replied that, since the Police is grossly underfunded, all Police personnel have to buy their own uniforms themselves, and a full set of uniform is about N15,000. He went on to say that, on a salary of about N43,000 per month or so, the rank and file officer who has to feed his family, pay his/her children's school fees, pay transportation fare to get to and from work, can barely survive, let alone buy uniforms! Indeed, the Police is grossly underfunded. The Barracks in which the rank and file reside in, is an eyesore.

My point? Because, successive Governments (present company included) have failed Nigerians, and are only concerned about paying those at the highest levels of the Government employment pyramid undeserved exorbitant salaries and perquisites, fantabulous severance and pension packages for Governors and their Deputies etc, because the rate of unemployment is high and people simply get the jobs they are able to secure as a means of survival; when you then put weapons in the hands of badly trained, poorly educated people whom the system has shown nothing but contempt for, in the manner in which they have been treated from the get go, pay them the poorest remuneration possible, and make them work and risk their lives in the harshest of conditions, with little or no provision for their families if anything happens to them in the line of duty, it follows that many of them will use those weapons against the same society they are recruited to protect, as their own means of livelihood, and to secure their future and that of their families!

Armed Robbery Listening to many of the Youths who have been interviewed on television during the protest, many recounted encounters with SARS Operatives who forcibly extorted money from them by threatening to kill or maim them, taking them to the ATM to withdraw money for them at gunpoint - do we call this legalised armed robbery?

The Collins Dictionary defines armed robbery as "a robbery that is carried out by people carrying guns"; the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act in Section I(2 (a) & (b) provides for “death by hanging by the neck or by firing squad for an offender who commits robbery armed with any firearms or any offensive weapon or is in company with anyone so armed” - it is obvious that this is what our Police/SARS, have been reduced to - armed robbery! #ENDSARS Agenda When one examines the five, seven or eleven-point agenda of the #ENDSARS protest, the demands are nothing more than compelling Government to properly implement Chapter 2 of the Constitution, that is, the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy - Good governance in all its ramifications.

The five-point demands of #ENDSARS are reasonable enough, and Government should accede to them forthwith - the immediate release of all Protesters, justice for all deceased victims of Police brutality (like the Apo-6 and Kolade Johnson), and appropriate compensation for their families (though no amount of money can be compensation for a life that has been taken unlawfully); setting up an independent body to investigate and prosecute all reports of Police misconduct (I believe that Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, in 2018 as acting President, set up such bodies for the Police and Army - where are their Reports?); psychological evaluation and re-training of all disbanded SARS personnel before they can be redeployed; increase in the salary of the Police, so that they are adequately compensated for protecting the lives and property of Nigerians.

It is senseless that our Senators/Representatives who sit only a few times a week, many of them being nothing more than bench-warmers who make no meaningful contribution to law-making and oversight, aside from chorusing ‘nay and yea’, are possibly the highest paid law makers in the world, our Senators taking home over $2 million per annum, with American Senators coming a distant second with $174,000 per annum, while a rank and file Policeman who stays on the road all day and all night, goes home with about $1,000 per annum!

Look at the severance packages of Governors and their Deputies, who serve no more than eight years maximum and then retire to the Senate to earn fat salaries in addition to their scandalous pensions, compared to a Police Commissioner who has served the country for 35 years - I understand that the latter’s severance package is below $500!

Going Forward

“NO MATTER WHAT PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION IS CARRIED OUT, IF CONDITIONS OF SERVICE ARE NOT IMPROVED, THE POLICE WILL CONTINUE TO TRANSFER THEIR AGGRESSION ONTO THE SAME CITIZENRY WHICH THEY ARE MEANT TO PROTECT, WHETHER BY EXTORTING MONEY FROM THE YOUTHS, OR UNLEASHING VIOL"

The bottom line is that the Nigerian system is upside down - it is unreasonably inequitable, and this is one of the major causes of what we are seeing translate into corruption and violence. Nevertheless, frustrated or not, there is no justification for SARS/Police to brutalise the Youths or anybody for that matter, and I make no excuse for them for so doing. But, it goes beyond the reform of SARS/ Police. What the Youths are asking for, is simply good governance, accountability, a society that is more equitable, inclusion of the Youths in decision making and employment opportunities, sack of the service chiefs for their failure to secure Nigerians, revamping of the educational system and so on - implementation of these demands (which in the first place, are the purpose of government) will go a long way to achieving a more peaceful, secure and progressive nation.

Aside from empanelling a transparent Judicial enquiry into the abuses of SARS/Police, the Nigeria Police Council and the Police Service Commission which are responsible for the general supervision of the Police and the discipline of Police Officers respectively, should be up and doing (Section 153(1) (l) & (m) and Third Schedule Part 1 L Paragraph 28(b) & M Paragraph 30(b) of the Constitution).

What has happened to the Police Trust Fund?

The type of remuneration packages for crucial services like the Police, Medical Personnel, Teachers, and Judges/Justices require an immediate upward review, while those earning unjustifiable salaries should be reviewed downwardly. Hardship allowance for NASS members in their luxurious chambers and offices? It is one of the most ridiculous allowances I have ever heard of! Should it not be the Police who stand outside in the sun and rain, day and night, that deserve this hardship allowance?

No matter what psychological evaluation is carried out, if conditions of service are not improved, the Police will continue to transfer their aggression onto the same citizenry which they are meant to protect, whether by extorting money from the Youths, or unleashing violence against us all. Nigerians must see a true and positive change, and the time is NOW.

4/LAW REPORT

Disqualification of a Candidate: Whether a Pre-Election or Post-Election Matter Appellant that the 1st Respondent failed to prove valid nomination and unlawful exclusion, to be entitled to the reliefs sought. Responding, counsel submitted for the 1st Respondent that the party proved its case, as required by law.

Regarding Issue four, counsel argued for the Appellant that the 1st Respondent lacked the locus to maintain the reliefs in the Petition, as the names of the candidates of the party and pleadings relating to them, had been struck out. The 1st Respondent, on the other hand, reasoned that withdrawal of the 1st Respondent’s candidates from the Petition is not tantamount to withdrawal of their candidature, relying on Section 35 of the Electoral Act.

Facts

Prior to the election into the office of Governor of Bayelsa State on 16th November, 2019, the 2nd Respondent (INEC) had issued a Regulations and Guidelines for the conduct of the election. Several registered political parties, the first and third Respondents inclusive, participated in the election.

The Appellant was the flag bearer of the third Respondent (PDP), while the first Respondent (ANDP) had Lucky King-George. The All Progressives Congress (APC), another political party who participated in the election, had Lyon David Pereworimini and Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo as the gubernatorial and deputy gubernatorial candidates of the party. At the conclusion of the election, INEC declared the APC and its candidates as winners of the election on 17th November, 2019. ANDP and its candidates filed a Petition against the election, alleging that it was unlawfully excluded from partaking in the exercise. The Petition, which ended at the Supreme Court, had the Apex Court disqualifying the candidates of the APC and nullifying the declaration and return made by INEC, and directing the Commission to declare the candidate with the highest number of votes at the election as winner. By this directive, INEC declared and returned the Appellant as the winner of the election.

Consequent upon return of the Appellant, ANDP and its candidates filed another Petition before the Election Tribunal, praying that the election and return of the Appellant be nullified, on the basis of unlawful exclusion of its candidates in breach of Section 138(1)(d) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended). By a majority decision, the Tribunal granted the Petition of ANDP. The Appellant, who was aggrieved by the decision, appealed to the Court of Appeal.

Acting President, Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Bolna'an Dongban-Mensem

Issues for Determination Parties filed their respective Briefs of Argument and raised issues which they considered fundamental for determination of the appeal. ANDP, as the first Respondent, also filed a Motion on Notice, wherein it sought an Order striking out some of the Grounds of Appeal and Issues for Determination formulated therefrom.

In the Court of Appeal of Nigeria In the Abuja Judicial Division Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 2nd day of October, 2020 Before Their Lordships

The Issue in the Motion on Notice is:

ADZIRA GANA MSHELIA OBANDE FESTUS OGBUINYA PETER OLABISI IGE JAMILU Y. TUKUR FOLASADE AYODEJI OJO Justices, Court of Appeal CA/ABJ/EPT/GOV/703/2020

Whether or not considering the facts in support of this application and the law, this application ought to be granted.

Issues in the Main Appeal: 1. Whether the trial Tribunal was right to hold that the 1st Respondent’s Petition was not statute barred pursuant to Sections 285(14)(c), 285(9) and 285(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

2. Whether the Judges of the Tribunal were right in holding that the 1st Respondent’s candidates were validly nominated but unlawfully excluded from contesting the election.

3. Whether the learned Judges of the Tribunal were right in holding that the 1st Respondent had discharged the burden on them in establishing their case as required by law, in light of the evidence before the Tribunal.

4. Whether the tribunal was right in granting to the 1st Respondent, the reliefs sought in the Petition as constituted.

Arguments In respect of the issue formulated from the application to strike out some grounds of the appeal, counsel argued that the Notice of Appeal were complaints against the Ruling of the Tribunal on the Preliminary Objection, which was not subject of appeal. He submitted that, where an interlocutory ruling was incorporated in the final judgement, the Notice of Appeal must indicate that the appeal relates to both.

Conversely, counsel for the Appellant submitted that the Ruling and Judgement were incorporated in the judgement, in line with Section 285(8) of the 1999 Constitution; thus, the Appellant complied with Order 7 Rule 2(1) of the Court of Appeal Rules.

Arguing the first issue, counsel for the Appellant argued that the action of the 1st Respondent was a pre-election matter which crystallised on 27th September, 2019, in line with Section 285(14)(c) of the 1999 Constitution, when it was informed that its name and logo would not be on the ballot papers. He stressed that the Petition was statute barred for failure of the 1st Respondent to present same within 14 days, as provided in Section 285(9) and (5) of the Constitution. Counsel for the 1st Respondent on the other hand, referred to Section 285(5)(a) of the Constitution in support of its submission that the 21 days provided for, should be given a liberal interpretation. Counsel opined that, the cause of action arose after declaration of election result. He reasoned that the lis was the declaration, not the election itself. He stated that the cause of action of the 1st Respondent arose on 14th February, 2020, after the last declaration of result of the election by INEC. Counsel submitted further that the dismissal of the earlier Petition was not a bar to the present Petition, as the element of estoppel per rem judicata were absent to bar the Petition.

Arguing the issue of qualification of the candidates of

Between Douye Diri

And

…Appellant

1. Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP) 2. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 3. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Respondents

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Obande Festus Ogbuinya, JCA)

the 1st Respondent for the election, Appellant argued that the candidates were not disqualified by INEC but were unqualified for election, and so, their nominations were in breach of Sections 177 and 182 of the Constitution.

Counsel for the Respondents argued against the submission of the Appellant, stating that the Appellant who did not file a Cross-Petition, does

not have a right to challenge qualification of its candidates.

More so, the Appellant did not participate in its primary election and so, had no vires to challenge the nomination.

Counsel posited that the vested rights of its candidates under Sections 31 and 87 of the Electoral Act, cannot be taken away by implication.

On Issue three, it was the submission of counsel for the

Court’s Judgement and Rationale Deciding the application, the Court of Appeal noted that the 1st Respondent was on course to have filed a Motion on Notice to challenge the incompetence of some Grounds of Appeal, where there are existing valid grounds. Section 285(8) of the 1999 Constitution mandates the Tribunal to suspend its ruling on a Preliminary Objection or interlocutory issue touching on its jurisdiction, and deliver it at the stage of final judgement. The judgement in this case, hosts the ruling on the Preliminary Objection raised before the Tribunal; this obviates the necessity and demand of the law for separate appeals against the Ruling and Judgement. It follows that the Grounds of Appeal being challenged by the 1st Respondent did not offend the law, to be tainted with incompetence. Further, the argument that some of the issues for determination were derived from incompetent grounds, is not tenable in law. The fact that a competent Ground of Appeal is lumped with an incompetent Ground of Appeal in an Issue for Determination, will not constitute a ground for ignoring the jurisdictional question. This is so because, jurisdiction is the soul of any action – OSUDE v AZODO (2017) 15 NWLR (Pt. 1588) 293 at 320.

Deciding the first issue, which touches on the fundamental issue of jurisdiction, the court relied on the Supreme Court decision in ABUBAKAR v INEC (2020) 12 NQLR (Pt. 1737) 37 at 161, to hold that disqualification of candidate on ground of false information in his form CF001, is a pre-election matter by dint of Section 285(14)(C) of the Constitution.

It is of no moment that the disqualification in this instance, is based on failure of the Deputy Governorship candidate to attain the mandatory age of thirty-five. A pre-election matter, in the mind of the law, as the name implies, is a matter that occurred before the election proper. The cause of the 1st Respondent’s action, which was weaved on disqualification of its Deputy Governorship Candidate, was deeply founded in the wide province of pre-election.

Now, Section 285(9) pf the Constitution stipulates that pre-election matter shall be instituted within fourteen days of the occurrence of the event, decision or action complained of. The event being challenged here occurred on 27th September, 2019, while the Petition was filed on 26th February, 2020. It follows that the Petition was filed in flagrant defilement of the limitation provision, and the Tribunal was disrobed of jurisdiction to entertain same.

Regarding issues two and three, which relate to valid nomination and qualification of the candidates of the 1st Respondent and the proof of exclusion from participating in an election under Section 138(1)(d) of the Electoral Act, it is the law that a Petitioner must establish the following conjunctive ingredients- (i) valid nomination by Political Party; (ii) conduct of the election; (iii) declaration of a winner; (iv) non-inclusion of his name in the list of the contestants.

Governorship candidates and their Deputies must comply with stringent conditions stipulated in Sections 177, 182 and 187 of the Constitution – KUBOR v DICKSON (2013) 4 NWLR (Pt. 1345) 534. The evidence before the court confirms that, the candidates of the 1st Respondent had not attained the constitutionally required age for the office. The law does not command the impossible. Thus, the 1st Respondent failed to furnish credible evidence in proof of its assertion of valid nomination of its candidates, which shares a symbiotic relationship with unlawful exclusion.

Issue four relates to the validity of the reliefs granted by the Tribunal. From the evidence on record, the Tribunal had struck out the names of the candidates of the 1st Respondent and the reliefs pertaining to them. Turning around to grant reliefs which were neither supplicate nor substantiated with evidence, is perverse and offensive to law.

Appeal Allowed.

“.....DISQUALIFICATION OF CANDIDATE ON GROUND OF FALSE INFORMATION IN HIS FORM CF001, IS A PREELECTION MATTER BY DINT OF SECTION 285(14)(C) OF THE CONSTITUTION”

Representation Chief Chris Uche, SAN and Chief Gordy Uche, SAN with other counsel for the Appellant.

Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN with other counsel for the 1st Respondent.

Ibrahim K. Bawa, SAN and Usman O. Sule, SAN with other counsel for the 2nd Respondent.

Emmanuel Enoidem, Esq. with other counsel for the 3rd Respondent.

Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (NMLR)

20.10.2020

NEWS/5

SERAP Sues Buhari, Osinbajo and 36 Governors on Asset Declaration The mandatory requirement for all persons taking public RIĂ€FH WR GHFODUH WKHLU DVVHWV with the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), was designed as an effective tool for checking corruption. But, the reality on the ground is that assets declaration notwithstanding, corruption continues to thrive DPRQJ SXEOLF RIĂ€FH KROGHUV At the forefront of the struggle for transparency in the assets declaration regime IRU 1LJHULDQ SXEOLF RIĂ€FH holders, is anti-corruption advocacy group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

SERAP believes that NigeriDQV RXJKW WR NQRZ WKH VSHFLĂ€F DVVHWV GHFODUHG E\ SXEOLF RIĂ€FH holders to the CCB, so that members of the public can do WKHLU LQGHSHQGHQW YHULĂ€FDWLRQ of these assets, and hold the SXEOLF RIĂ€FHUV WR DFFRXQW SERAP has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, to lead by example by publishing the content of the assets declaration forms they submitted to the CCB. In a January 3, 2020 FoI

President Muhammadu Buhari

request, the advocacy group urged Buhari, Osinbajo, the 36 State Governors and Deputy Governors to “make public GHWDLOV RI WKHLU DVVHWV VSHFLĂ€cally property and income, contained in their asset declaration forms submitted to the CCB since assuming RIĂ€FHÂľ In the FoI request made by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oludare, SERAP

Firm Holds Webinar on Raising the Bar in Legal Profession

$ /DJRV EDVHG ODZ Ă€UP Threshold Attorneys and Solicitors, will on Thursday said it strongly believed present a webinar on “Raisthat “public disclosure of ing the Bar: The Changing summary of assets submitted Environment for the Legal to the CCB would help to Profession in Nigeriaâ€?.

In a statement signed by uncover any irregularities, DQG WULJJHU IRUPDO YHULĂ€FDWLRQ the Founder and Managing of declarations by the CCB 3DUWQHU RI WKH Ă€UP 0U and other anti-corruption Miracle Akusobi, he said: ‘The traditional working agenciesâ€?.

But, Buhari, Osinbajo, the GHĂ€QLWLRQ RI D /DZ\HU KDV 36 State Governors and been someone licensed to Deputy Governors, spurned engage in the practice of law. %XW WKDW GHĂ€QLWLRQ LV FLUFXODU the request.

Niger and Lagos States, it presupposes that we know which managed to acknowl- what it means to practice law.

HGJH WKH UHFHLSW RI 6(5$3¡V The practice of law, in turn, FoI request, declined releasing has been said to consist of apthe requested information, but, plying the whole body of law rather contended that “the FoI WR D VSHFLĂ€F FOLHQW¡V TXHVWLRQ Act is inapplicable to State RU SUREOHP 7KDW GHĂ€QLWLRQ Mr. Miracle Akusobi Governments, their agencies might seem broad enough to DQG RIĂ€FLDOVÂľ let the idea of being a Lawyer VLRQ WKH EHQHĂ€WV RI WHFKQRORJ\ Then the struggle shifted to remain constant. But, changes in law practice, the falling the Federal High Court where from globalisation, to the standard of legal education, 6(5$3 Ă€OHG D VXLW PDUNHG way clients get information, LQVWLWXWLRQDOLVLQJ ODZ Ă€UPV FHC/ABJ/CS/65/2020, to the skills needed to perform emerging trends in the legal seeking “an order for leave many legal tasks foreshadow services industry, practical to apply for judicial review VLJQLĂ€FDQW FKDQJHV LQ ZKDW skills and tools needed for and an order of mandamus to Lawyers will actually do over /DZ\HUV DQG ODZ Ă€UPV WR direct and/or compel PresiLPSURYH WKHLU SUDFWLFH HWF ¡ dent Buhari, Vice-President the next years.

The Webinar which is free ‘The webinar seeks to explain Osinbajo, 36 State Governors on registration, is scheduled to the need for change in the and their deputies, to make KROG YLD Âś=RRP¡ RQ 7KXUVGD\ public their summary of current regulatory framework 22nd October, 2020 at 3pm and underpinning the legal profesassetsâ€?.

Speakers include, Professor Ernest Ojukwu, SAN, Mr. Jibrin S. Okutepa, SAN, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, Mr. Oyetola Muyiwa Atoyebi, SAN, Chief Gbola Akinola, Mrs. Obosa Akpata, Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna and Mrs. Onyinye ChikwenduIkechebelu.

Participants are to register on http://bit.ly/RaisingTheBarWebinar

LEDAP hosts Webinar in Commemoration of the 18th World Day Against Death Penalty The Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) in commemoration of the 18th World Day against Death Penalty, organised a webinar themed: “Access to Counsel; A matter of life or death�.

This webinar was organised in conjunction with relevant stakeholders in the abolition of the death penalty movement in Nigeria to wit: The National Human Rights Commission, Amnesty International, Avocats Sans Frontieres and Lawyers Alert, amongst others.

The webinar which was anchored by Mr. Jude Igbanoi, and had in attendance various distinguished stakeholders in the abolition of death penalty movement as discussants to wit; Mr. Chino Obiagwu, SAN, the National Coordinator of LEDAP, Mr. Anthony Ojukwu, Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission, Mr. Rommy Mom, Executive Director, Lawyers Alert, Ms. Osai Ojigbo, Director, Amnesty International and Ms. Angela Uwandu, Head of Avocats Sans Frontieres, Nigeria.

The webinar kicked off with a brief introduction on the theme of the webinar by Mr. Chino Obiagwu, SAN who highlighted that by a survey conducted by LEDAP in 2016, it was discovered that over 33% of initial convictions in capital offences were upturned at the Supreme Court.

Mr. Tony Ojukwu who gave the keynote address at the webinar, highlighted that the issue of effective legal representation is the pillar of fair-hearing which is an important human right. He stated that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Chino Edmund Obiagwu, SAN

upholds the sanctity of human life, whilst admitting to the constitutionality of the death sentence in Nigeria. He further stated that, without effective representation, there won’t be fair trial which may eventually lead to wrongful conviction.

Thus, the Supreme Court in UdoďŹ a v The State held that, in capital trials, counsel must realise that it is a matter of life and death, and counsel must assist the court to do justice.

Mr. Rommy Mom, speaking on the “The Role of the legal profession in Advancing Acess to Justice Administration for Capital Offenders� at the webinar, said effective access to justice behooves on the actors in the sector, which are Lawyers (the Bar and Bench). Mr. Rommy in his presentation went further to state that, access to justice goes beyond legal representation, and extends to the way and manner the rights of the Defendants are upheld. Raising the point of mandatory legal representation of persons

charged with capital offences and the fact that many of the Defendants do not pay for legal representation (as 80% cannot afford the services of private Lawyers), they are majorly not effectively represented.

Ms. Angela Uwandu, speaking on “Advocacy and Engagement Strategies for Abolition of Death Penalty in Nigeria: Need for Collective Actions� said during her address, that in advocacy it is important for abolition activists to work together. Speaking further Ms. Angela opined that Nigerian legislation need review on the issue of the death penalty, as it does not serve as a deterrent to the commission of crime.

Part of the strategy in abolition of death penalty, is to set short-term goals and have a long-term plan. The short term goal is to stop the expansion of the scope of death penalty in Nigeria, by engaging both the Executive and the Legislative arm of Government, as more laws have been passed in recent times that promote the

death penalty, for instance, the law against kidnapping which has recently been adopted and passed in many Eastern States. She added that, part of the short-term goals can be challenging the mandatory nature of the death penalty in Nigeria.

Mr. Chino Obiagwu, SAN, speaking on “Challenges hindering access to Counsel and Justice for persons charged with Capital Offences and Possible Solutions� said the theme for this year’s World Day against Death Penalty is very instructive, and the challenges hindering access to counsel is centred on the absence of an attentive and

readily available scheme. The Learned Silk further stated in his presentation, that one of the solutions to lack of effective representation, is to increase the funding for Legal Aid Council so that more senior Lawyers can be employed, adding that the NBA should also encourage Lawyers to take up pro bono cases. Concluding his presentation, Mr. Obiagwu advocated for the domestication and implementation of ACJA. Ms. Osai Ojigbo, speaking on “Analysing the Recent Trends in the Increased Patterns of Capital Punishment: Does Capital Punishment serve as a Deterrent for Crimes

in Nigeria?� at the webinar, said the Death Penalty is the most cruel, inhumane and degrading punishment.

Over 100 countries have abolished death penalty, since the campaign for death penalty was embarked on by Amnesty International. She stated further that, the death penalty does not deter crime, as crimes in Nigeria are increasing. Death Penalty is discriminatory, as it only comes on the indigent.

She added that the following steps must be taken to reduce crimes in the society: 1. Remove mandatory death penalty punishment 2. Increase access to legal aid 3. Address security question.

Former Bristow Helicopters Staff Re-arraigned Over $300,000 Fraud Peter Taiwo

An Ikeja Special Offences Court Ikeja, Lagos, re-arraigned former staff of Bristow Helicopters Nigeria Limited on allegations of stealing and selling helicopter spare parts worth the sum of $307,830 belonging to the company.

The accused persons whose names are, Anietie Felix Obong, Akaninyene Mfon Okpoho and James Emiojere Dottie, were re-arraigned by the Federal Police Command on a five-count charge.

The alleged offences are bordering on uttering of false company incorporation document, forgery of company incorporation document, conspiracy to effect an unlawful sale, stealing

and conspiracy to commit a felony to steal, which are contrary to Sections 468, 465, 467(2)(1), 518(6), 383(1) and 390(6) of the Criminal Code Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

According to the Police Prosecutor, G.C Benneth, he told the court that the accused persons have been alleged to have stolen and sold spare parts of helicopters at the principal head office premises of Bristow Helicopters Nigeria Limited at the General Aviation Terminal, Murtala International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

The Defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against them by the Police. In view of the plea of the Defendants, the Prosecutor urged the

court that Defendants be remanded in prison custody, pending the determination of the case.

First Defendant counsel, Adisa Oluwole, brought to the attention of the court that the Defendants had been granted bail before retired Justice Olusola Williams, and would like to continue on the said bail.

This view was also supported by the second defence counsel, Ali Aba, and third defence counsel, Tope Jimoku. Upon their applications, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, ruled that the Defendants are to continue with the bail granted by Justice Williams.

Justice Taiwo then adjourned the matter to 18th of November, 2020 for trial.

6/

20.10.2020

Is Zamfara Nigeria’s ‘Mackenna’s Gold’? the absurdity inherent in the two Governors’ positions (Matawalle and Wike) would appear in bold relief: quite simply, the Federal Government cannot sell to itself what it already owns (both CBN and NNPC are its agencies): Section 4 of the CBN Act & NNPC v TIJJANI (2007) All FWLR pt. 344, pg. 129).

Still others have argued that, by virtue of Section 80 of the 1999 Constitution, “all revenues or other money raised or received by the Federation … shall be paid into and form one Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation”. However, I don’t think this argument is tenable for the simple reason that, unless and until the gold, crude oil or other mineral is converted into money, it would not constitute “revenue or other money” which is obliged to be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund, by virtue of that constitutional provision.

Introduction

T

he famous Hollywood Western, ‘Mackenna’s Gold’ (released in 1969) might seem a somewhat inappropriate metaphor for the controversy – if not furore – generated by the purported offer by the Zamfara State Government to sell gold, reportedly extracted by artisanal miners in the State, to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) penultimate week. That would be a fair charge, but the comparisons are not altogether far-fetched, if only because of the healthy dose of incredulity common to both plots – one on legal and constitutional grounds, and the other, entirely factual (paradoxically, as fiction).

In addition, both have excellent entertainment value: the movie grossing US$40million in box-office takings (from a budget of US$7million, according to Wikipedia), and the other, from the sheer media frenzy which it has generated, both online and in conventional media. There, the comparison ends, however, as the not-so-golden scenario involving the Zamfara State Government, CBN and the Federal Government (represented by the Ministry of Solid Minerals) – unlike the movie – has serious implications for the legal and constitutional framework regulating ownership and control of “minerals, mineral oils and natural gas” - in the words of the Constitution.

This naturally leads to a review of those provisions.

Legislative Overview By virtue of Section 44(3) of the 1999 Constitution, “the entire property in and control of all minerals, mineral oils and natural gas in, under or upon any land in Nigeria or in, under or upon the territorial waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone of Nigeria, shall vest in the Government of the Federation and shall be managed in such manner as may be prescribed by the National Assembly”.

Section 1(1) of the Minerals Act, 2007 makes an identical provision. However, sub-section (2) of the provision adds that “all lands in which minerals have been found in commercial quantities shall, from the commencement of the Act, be acquired by the Government of the Federation in accordance with the provisions of the Land Use Act”; whilst sub-section (3) provides that: “the property in mineral resources shall pass from the Government to the person by whom the mineral resources are lawfully owned, upon their recovery in accordance with this Act”.

Section 2(1) of the Act provides, inter alia, that “no person shall search for or exploit mineral resources in Nigeria, except as provided in this Act”. In this regard, Section 5 of the Act establishes the Mining Cadastre Office, which is empowered to issue mineral titles and permits, which, may either be an exploratory licence pursuant to Section 59 of the Act, or a mining lease, pursuant to Section 65 of the Act. It appears that none of the foregoing provisions of the Act were complied with, before the gold offered by the Governor of Zamfara State to the CBN was explored for, extracted/mined and refined. In other words, the entire process was tainted with illegality ab initio. This would be a very serious over-sight (if it can be described as that) which is made worse still by the involvement of the State’s Chief Executive, in purportedly offering the proceeds of such illegal mining to the nation’s banking czar, the CBN. Reactions It is hardly surprising that some have alleged that the situation is akin to seeking to conceal or disguise the origins of the proceeds of an unlawful activity under the Money Laundering Act, 2011, as amended. Others – especially, the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike – have taken it higher than that, arguing that if what is good for the goose is good for the gander, oil-producing States should also be given a free-hand to produce, refine and sell ‘their crude oil’ to (farcically), the CBN or the NNPC, the Nigerian National Petroleum

Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite

Corporation. The first option is farcical because the CBN lacks the statutory authority to trade in oil, unlike gold, which it is expressly authorised to buy, vide Sections 28 and 29 of the CBN Act, 2007.

The second option fares even worse (in my view) because, as previously stated, by virtue of Section 44(3) of the 1999 Constitution, mineral oils and natural gas, are the exclusive property of the Government of the Federation.

This provision is sweeping and all-encompassing, as it includes those minerals and mineral oils found “under any land and the territorial waters” of Nigeria. In other words, it includes raw or unrefined gold, crude oil and the like. Needless to say, if the title to, or ownership of the raw mineral is defective ab initio, it’s refinement or processing into “the finished product” by an illegal claimant (in this case Zamfara’s artisanal miners) cannot validate that defective title, as, ex nihilo nihil fit – out of nothing comes nothing.

The same, of course, applies to Governor Wike’s argument, in respect of Niger Delta oil. Applying this logic,

“APPLYING THIS LOGIC, THE ABSURDITY INHERENT IN THE TWO GOVERNORS’ POSITIONS (MATAWALLE AND WIKE), WOULD APPEAR IN BOLD RELIEF: QUITE SIMPLY, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CANNOT SELL TO ITSELF WHAT IT ALREADY OWNS (BOTH CBN AND NNPC ARE ITS AGENCIES)”

Conclusion Beyond the legal and even constitutional issues thrown up by the ‘Zamfara Gold’ controversy, all commentators agree that the real question is the even-handed or equitable application of the relevant legislative provisions, as outlined above. But, beyond even that, the debate has thrown up deeper questions about the propriety of the present constitutional arrangement, which vests ownership and control of the mineral resources of the country in the centre, leaving only the producing regions to scramble over a ‘meagre’ 13% of its value, based on derivation. This, however, is a policy debate which can only be resolved through a root-and-branch (holistic) review of the Constitution. Regrettably, this process has only moved in fits and starts, since the advent of the present democratic dispensation. Predicting quite how the process might evolve – and whether its outcome will change the ownership structure in relation to mineral resources – is anyone’s guess. For now, what is imperative is for the Ministry of Solid Minerals to step up to the plate in terms of its statutory functions vis-à-vis gold under the Minerals Act (Sections 4 & 9) - in much the same way as the Ministry of Petroleum Resources has been superintending the petroleum industry, vide the Petroleum Act, 1969.

The Emir of Zazzau Controversy The appointment of HRH Alhaji Ahmed Bamalli, penultimate week, as the Emir of Zazzau (Zaria), Kaduna State, by Governor Nasir El-Rufai has proved controversial, as one of the Princes, who was reportedly considered (but ultimately over-looked by the Governor) has reportedly challenged the latter’s choice for the revered traditional institution, through a legal action at the State High Court. While the matter is accordingly sub-judice and only sparing comments (if at all) may be made thereon, it is, however, intriguing that the basis of the challenge is reportedly the non-inclusion of the new Emir’s name among those short-listed and submitted by the king-makers to the State Governor, pursuant to Section 4(1) of the State’s Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law, Cap. 25, 1991.

However, equally pertinent, in my view, are the provisions of Section 4(2) of the law, which stipulate that: “Upon the death, resignation or deposition of any Chief or Head-Chief of any kind described in sub-Section (1) above, the Governor may appoint any person selected in that behalf by those entitled to select in accordance with the provisions of any order made by the Governor, prescribing the method of appointment of such a Chief or Head-Chief”.

Obviously, by virtue of this provision, the question is whether any such order has been made by the Governor, and if so, what are its terms? Needless to say, if no such order was made, the question of compliance or non-compliance therewith does not arise. The implication of this, in my view, is that, the Governor possesses a near-absolute discretion to adopt or disregard any purported recommendation (or selection) of anyone as a Chief or Emir by the selectors. The validity or otherwise of this view is, however, up to the court to decide

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SERIOUS MATTERS OLAWALE FAPOHUNDA

faps2001@yahoo.com

Ending SARS!! What Next? practical measures for managing the transformation of the Nigeria Police.

A Culture of Ad-hoc Measures

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Proposed Six Presidential Directives on Police Reform

isband SARS! Sack the Inspector General of Police! Sack all Police Commissioners in the 36 States and the FCT! Establish factfinding committees in the all the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT! Establish a victim’s compensation fund! Establish SWAT! These and many other proposals have gained prominence in the last two weeks, as possible solutions to the anti-SARS protests.

To be fair, the idea of a panel to investigate allegations of rights abuses against officers of SARS is a welcome one, so also is the setting up of a compensation fund for victims of SARS violations. This is particularly so, given the reality of our criminal justice system where victims of rights abuse are almost always left without remedies.

However, there is now an urgent and pressing need to move away from that Nigerian culture that thrives on proposing ad-hoc interventions to serious problems. The fire-brigade approach!

Is SARS the Problem?

It seems to me that the first step towards proffering solutions to the SARS hullabaloo, is to accurately identify the problem. In my respectful view, the problem has never been just about SARS. SARS is a symptom of a chronic illness, afflicting our Police and policing system. In plain language, we have never taken our Police institution seriously. The problem therefore, is not about SARS. SARS is the result of our failed response to Police reform. Even before the anti-SARS agitations, at no time in the history of Nigeria has there been a greater need for Police reform. The spate of violent crimes, including acts of terrorism, should have placed Police reform on top of the national agenda. The Police should have been the primary institution, to address Nigeria’s security problems. Yet, since 1999, we have regrettably preferred lip service and policy summersaults to actionable interventions. We have largely been running energetically on the same spot, with little movement.

While we fiddled, corruption, abuses of human rights in the form of torture, unwarranted search and seizure, extrajudicial killings and ineffectiveness exemplified by poor investigation and intelligence gathering capabilities, all combined to produce a loss of public confidence in the Police.

An Honest Reflection Providing a sense of security to all Nigerians, irrespective of age, money, ethnic group, gender or any other difference, and attending to their grievances is dependent on the establishment of a Police, which is efficient, honest and professional to the core. The nationwide anti-SARS agitations, is sufficient proof that such a Police does not exist in Nigeria. The stories of ordinary people on the streets across Nigeria, makes the need for Police reforms self-evident and urgent.

If we are going to be honest with ourselves, can we as a country realistically expect a Police institution that works in the interest of all Nigerians, when Police initiatives by successive governments since 1999 have been largely cosmetic and too often without substance? Community policing for example, is perhaps, the most misunderstood and frequently abused theme in police management in Nigeria today. The Nigeria Police appears to have misunderstood the essence and concept of community policing.

Organisational tinkering and advertisements in national television stations, cannot by any stretch of imagination, be labelled community policing. Community policing is not a program that can be launched, like a book presentation.

It is a value system in which the primary organisational goal of policing is working cooperatively with individual citizens, groups of citizens, and both public and private organisations to identify and resolve crime, safety and security issues. In my view, the road to community policing must first start with citizens’ confidence in the Police. We are not there yet.

There is nothing those clamouring for change in policing methods are saying today, that has not been said by justice sector reform stakeholders since 1999. There are a frustrating number of reform proposals that have never made their way from paper to implementation, and a lot more that have not survived administration changes. We have had about two decades of debate on policing and police reform in Nigeria, facilitated by high-level committees in many cases presidential committees. These committees

recommended a wide range of reforms, such as replacing the outdated Police Act with a new legislation that reflects Nigeria’s constitutional imperatives, raising salaries and benefits, improving recruitment and selection criteria, elevating training standards, offering specialised training, developing and certifying operational procedures, offering a system of merit based promotion and appointments, vetting psychological status of officers and creating and strengthening accountability mechanisms and oversight.

Despite public consensus on these recommendations, except for the review of the Police Act, these measures have largely gone unimplemented.

Moving Forward with Concrete Proposals The inconvenient truth is that however long it lasts, the solution cannot be to remain permanently on the streets.

It will be a matter of much regret, if at the end of all the agitations, we have made little or no progress with Police reforms. Achieving ‘change’ in the Nigeria Police, will not happen overnight. Nevertheless, the process of ‘changing’ the Police must be accelerated, to keep up with the expectations of Nigerians.

In conclusion, I now suggest six administrative presidential directives, for the consideration of President Muhammad Buhari. In my considered view, these directives provide

“THE PROBLEM.....IS NOT ABOUT SARS. SARS IS THE RESULT OF OUR FAILED RESPONSE TO POLICE REFORM. EVEN BEFORE THE ANTISARS AGITATIONS, AT NO TIME IN THE HISTORY OF NIGERIA HAS THERE BEEN A GREATER NEED FOR POLICE REFORM”

Directive 1: The Presidential directive to all State Governments on the establishment of investigation panels in all the 36 States of the Federation and the endowment of compensation fund for victims of SARS abuse, must be implemented to the letter. We simply cannot go forward, without dealing with the violations of the past. The Presidency must urgently issue timelines and a report back mechanism, for States to give updates on the activities of these panels. A monthly reporting and peer review process, may be considered. While the six month mandate period for the investigation panel will undoubted focus minds, a sustainable approach must necessarily be to endow the National Human Rights Commission and the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria with the necessary human and financial resources, to enable them deliver on their mandates. In the case of the National Human Rights Commission, it is simply inexplicable that its decision making body (Governing Council) is yet to be reconstituted, more than four years after the expiration of the term of the previous one.

Directive 2: Direct the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to immediately compose a working group made up of government and non-government criminal justice experts, to review the reports of all the Presidential Committees on Police Reform, as well as those of the constitutional conferences as it relates to Police reform.

The purpose of this review exercise, will be to articulate practical and current proposals for the reform of the Police for the consideration of Mr. President. This working group should work for no more than four weeks. The working group report should subsequently form the basis of a draft actionable document, for the consideration of a broad based national conversation on Police reform.

Directive 3: Without prejudice to Activity 2, immediately appoint an Independent Police Ombudsman, with strong authority to receive complaints from the public on matters of Police corruption and abuse of powers, including extrajudicial killing. It is must now be obvious to all, that there is considerable unhappiness with the system of inquiring into complaints against the Police. Investigation of Police officers by their own is widely regarded as unjust, and does not inspire public confidence. No Police accountability mechanism can be considered fair, if it fails to inspire public confidence. The trend all over the world is to set up an independent complaints authority to inquire into cases of police misconduct, which work openly, quickly, effectively, impartially and with adequate resources and authority, to guarantee independent and fair investigations.

Directive 4: Without prejudice to Activity 2, direct the Minister of Police Affairs to engage a reputable audit firm in the mould of KPMG, Deloitte, to undertake an audit of adequacy of salaries and allowances, manpower, vehicles, training institutions and other resources of the Police Force, with a view to identifying and prioritising specific areas of need for appropriate intervention, in the immediate to long term basis. The key resource available to the Nigeria Police to fulfil its mandate, is the human resources at its disposal. The need for a holistic review of the conditions of service of Police officers, to undercut the incentive for corrupt behaviour cannot be over-emphasised. This includes the review of salaries, welfare benefits, insurance and the Police pension scheme.

Of utmost importance, is the need to intervene in the working environment of Police officers. The practice of housing Police stations in improvised accommodations, is a major concern. Most Police stations in Nigeria do not meet minimum conditions for Police work, including the detention and interrogation of persons who come into conflict with the law.

Directive 5: Direct the National Orientation Agency to convene a national dialogue on the desirability of State Police, with a view to commencing pilot projects in some States.

Directive 6: Direct the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to convene an extra-ordinary meeting of the Nigeria Police Council, to receive briefings and make inputs into the implementation of Directives 1-5. In addition, the SGF should be further directed to prepare proposals for the consideration of the Police Council, on achieving efficiency in the workings of the Council. The need for frequent meetings on Police matters not limited to appointment of Inspector General of Police, should be considered.

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#ENDSARS: Nigerians have for decades endured all manner inhuman and dehumanising treatment from the Nigeria Police, and the introduction of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in 1991, gradually worsened the situation. The dreaded SARS soon became law unto itself, as the outfit operated unbridled, and unleashed terror on innocent Nigerians, making Police brutality the order of the day. Many young and innocent Nigerians like Kolade Johnson have lost their lives to these men, whose job description is to secure the lives of Nigerians from armed robbers. Last week, Nigerian youths decided that they could take it no more, as the alleged shooting of one of them by SARS operatives in Ughelli, Delta State, may have been the last straw that broke the camel’s back and the catalyst that ignited the protests across the country. This protest has since assumed a life of its own and taken on serious dimensions, as even Nigerian Youths abroad took to the streets in places like the UK and USA, in a show of solidarity. Peaceful as the Protesters have been, they don’t seem to be relenting on their demands, not only to #ENDSARS and not to reconstitute the dreaded outfit under the guise of any other name, as the Inspector General of Police has sought to do with SWAT, but calling for good governance generally.

Cheeringly, President Buhari outrightly rejected the move by the Chief of Army Staff, to deploy soldiers to the streets to quell the otherwise peaceful protests. Ade Adegbite, Musa Shehu, Debo Oladinni, Dr Kayode Ajulo, Joseph Otteh and Deji Ajare, and Erasmus Ikhide examine what triggered the anger of Nigerian youths, the legitimacy of their demands, and what options are available to Government, in the face of the lingering protests

#Endpolicebrutality: Taming the Undying Monster Ade Adegbite

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he last one week has been very dramatic and indeed, significant in Nigeria. While some Nigerians sometime last week suddenly woke up to pockets of protests across the country, many other Nigerians and non-Nigerians alike around the world who are active users of the social media had been familiar with the hashtag #ENDSARSprotests, which started as a social media campaign on Twitter in the last few weeks. The campaign turned out rapidly, to be an unprecedented social movement in Nigeria. It has the support and endorsements of several notable social media influencers, including music stars like Davido, Wizkid, Laycon (BBN Winner) and several others, movie stars, socialites, politicians, Lawyers, sportsmen, soccer stars, journalists, civil society organisations, and many other concerned individuals and organisations.

Amazingly, several non-Nigerians, including but not limited to Antonio Rudiger of Chelsea FC, Raheem Sterling of Manchester City, Marcus Rashford of Manchester United and many others, used their social media platform to join and promote the #ENDSARS campaign.

Dreaded SARS Unit and its Atrocities The purport of the campaign was primarily to condemn the activities and high handedness of officers of the Nigerian Police unit called Special Ant-Robbery Squad, popularly known as SARS. Nearly every Nigerian, mostly the youths, have at least one unpleasant story to tell about SARS. This dreaded unit called SARS, which was originally set up to combat the raging armed robbery cases at that time, has caused far more agony and wreaked more havoc on many innocent Nigerians, than the armed robbers they were meant to tackle. The youths who were mostly at the receiving end of the atrocities of SARS officers apparently were pushed against the wall, and had to fight back. That SARS is synonymous with brutality and oppression, is indisputable.

That SARS has extra-judicially killed innocent Nigerians far more than any other security outfit in Nigeria, is indisputable. It may not be out of place to conclude, albeit arguably, that SARS ranks next to Boko Haram and killer herdsmen, on the list of the highest killers of innocent Nigerians.

The atrocities being committed by SARS officers had always been a front-burner issues

that successive Inspector Generals of Police have been confronted with. The outcry against the activities of SARS personnel in 2018, led

“IT MAY NOT BE OUT OF PLACE TO CONCLUDE, ALBEIT ARGUABLY, THAT SARS RANKS NEXT TO BOKO HARAM AND KILLER HERDSMEN, ON THE LIST OF THE HIGHEST KILLERS OF INNOCENT NIGERIANS”

to the Presidential directive issued by the then Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN to the then IGP, to overhaul and reform SARS. Consequently, the then IGP Ibrahim Idris, announced the rebranding of SARS as FSARS in August 2018. Interestingly, while announcing the purported rebranding which is renaming simpliciter, the then IGP, similar to what the current IGP said while announcing the disbandment of SARS, stated that the SARS personnel will immediately undergo medical and psychological evaluation. The IGP while announcing the so-called reform, also ordered that FSARS should forthwith desist from carrying out stop and search of citizens and mounting of road blocks anywhere in the country. It is needless recapitulating the instances when FSARS personnel have brazenly disobeyed the lawful order of Mr. President and the IGP, by unleashing terror on helpless Nigerians. This is an unassailable

testimony to the fact that, the agitation against the barbaric activities of SARS did not start recently.

The SARS officers in the guise of hunting for armed robbers, became terror on the streets of Lagos, Port Harcourt and most other cities in Nigeria. They no longer waited for distress calls, but focused more on stop and search modus. Their modus operandi became profiling of young men and women on the streets.

They stopped any vehicle, whether private or commercial, conveying young men and or women, for a search without warrant. They, in most cases, insisted on searching the phone of these youths. Anyone carrying laptop would also have his or her laptop scrutinised, by the daredevil SARS/Police officers. The accounts by so many high profile personalities in the country about their unpleasant experiences with SARS, further confirm the oppressive tendencies of the notorious SARS officers.

The SARS outfit had become more or less an official agency of government, with a deliberate mission to oppress the citizens and wreak havoc on vulnerable families.

While addressing protesters in Lagos on Friday 9th of October, 2020, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Obafemi Hamzat narrated his ordeal in the hands of SARS officers about four years ago. Even his Royal Majesty, the Arole Odua, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ooni of Ife, stated that his daughter was harassed and detained by men of SARS who insisted on searching her and the vehicle conveying her to the airport. As far back as 2011, I had to demand (not advice) that my client (now of blessed memory) should withdraw a complaint of fraud he had personally lodged at the Police Headquarters in Ikeja, when I witnessed what I considered to be a very crude and barbaric brutalisation of the suspect, and advised him to petition the EFCC instead.

Rebranding SARS While the announcement of the IGP Mohammed Adamu few days ago, precisely on 11th of October, the disbandment of SARS or FSARS as the case may be, is a desirable development, his hasty announcement of a replacement to SARS i.e. Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team, gives serious cause for worry and concern. In the light of history of past failed rebranding efforts, it would have been more appropriate for the IGP to be more strategic in planning, and come up with a replacement to SARS. However, I must advice my fellow citizens and the very analytical, vocal and peaceful youths that, there are certain germane issues

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that must agitate our minds going forward.

As the provoked #ENDSARS protests are still ongoing across the country, I must urge the protesters to review their tactics. We must now focus on the need to have our Police Force reformed. We must move from hashtags #ENDSARS, #ENDSARSNOW, #SARSMUSTEND, #SARSMUSTGO etc to #POLICEMUSTBEREFORMED. We should immediately transmute from #ENDSARS to #REFORMPOLICE, as failure to reform the Police has more consequences on us than SARS’ existence.

Police Brutality Against Lawyers We must note that, Police brutality against citizens is not carried out by SARS personnel only. Police officers who are not in the SARS unit, are also involved in brutalisation of Nigerian citizens on a daily basis. Surprisingly and indeed, weirdly, even Lawyers who are supposed to protect and defend citizens whose rights are being violated, have now become targeted victims of Police brutality in recent times. In the last one month alone, I am aware of at least three Lawyers that were brutally assaulted by Nigerian police officers. In fact, one of such brutalisation was reportedly carried out by a senior officer who is a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Eastern Ngwa Police Station, Umuobiakwa in Abia State. Aside from brutalising and destroying the Lawyer’s phone, the said DPO ordered the Lawyer to be thrown inside cell, and the colleague ended up spending over 24hours in Police detention. The DPO still had the audacity to direct his men, to file a trumped up charge against the Lawyer.

The Cons of Maintaining the Status Quo In another development, just about two weeks ago, some Police officers attached to the Lagos State Task Force brutalised a Lawyer while driving along Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, and even impounded his car. The instances of Police brutalisation of citizens and Lawyers are too numerous; hence, the need for a movement towards a total reformation of the Police, which hopefully, will engender a reorientation of the officers of the Nigeria Police Force. Maintaining the status quo which simply means failure to reform the Police, will amongst several others, mean: That the so called SWAT will end up acting like or even more dangerous than SARS, in other words, brutalisation and oppression of citizens will continue; That bribery and corruption will persist in our Police stations, formations and at check points; That Police officers will continue to earn little salaries and allowances; That most personnel, especially the rank and file, will continue live in abject poverty; That Police officers, especially the junior officers, will continue to live in slum-like Police barracks; That the Police will continue to lack adequate infrastructure, gadgets/facilities, and equipment to carry out investigative, surveillance and operational activities; That the Police will continue to rely on complainants to mobilise them to carry out investigation activities, otherwise, there will be shabby or probably no investigation of reported crimes; That promotion of officers, including the rank and file, will be based on connection, network or relationships, rather than merit; and That Police officers will continue to be untrained or badly trained.

The above are just a few of the anomalies currently associated with the management of the Nigeria Police that will persist, if reforms are not instituted immediately. The attempts to kill the monster (i.e. the misconduct by Police officers) in the Police, have over the years, failed. It is apparent that killing the monster may be a mission impossible; it is therefore, pertinent to urgently put an end to

and malfeasances of officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Unit, and whenever complaints are made, no action is spared to punish the erring officers. Many such recalcitrant SARS operatives have not only been dismissed, a good number have been convicted, and are currently serving jail terms in various prisons or correctional centres across the nation. This reporting mechanism is strong and can be made even stronger, and that is the duty that the leadership of the Force owes to the Nigeria Public.

It is on record that no public sector institution rids its system of bad eggs and deviants, like the Nigeria Police Force. The number of dismissals from service and prosecution of members of the Police Force, is the highest in the Nigeria Public service sector. A good number of these offenders are operatives of SARS, and the mobile Police Force.

The current outcry by a section of the public, populated mostly by criminal elements and their sponsors and sympathisers, is a trick which the Nigerian State authorities and all patriotic citizens must not succumb to, for if we allow these criminal elements whose voices of #ENDSARS are the loudest in our public space, especially the social and main stream media, then we would simply be throwing away all the gains made in creating a secure environment for honest citizens to conduct their businesses, and live their lives devoid of attack and harassment from hoodlums and armed bandit. the charade, by focusing on a more realistic approach, which will rather than attempt the ‘killing’, will constructively engage in ‘taming’ of the monster. Without necessarily expressing despair, I strongly doubt if the monster in the Nigeria Police can ever be killed. Conversely, I have a strong conviction that with the right leadership and commitment, we can tame the monster that is presently on the loose, through a credible, well thought out and fully implemented reform process. We should therefore, embark on the demand for Police Reform with similar, if not greater vigour that we deployed in the #ENDSARS project.

Conclusion I am proud of all Nigerian Youths who are out on the streets, protesting peacefully against police brutality. Posterity shall be kind to you.

Finally, I cannot but use this moment to appeal to the Nigerian youths to avoid and abhor crimes, to be hardworking and hopeful, and to remain patriotic citizens. A people get the Government they deserve. It is for us as a people, to demand for good governance at all levels. Peaceful protest or civil disobedience is a fundamental right of every citizen. It is the People’s Weapon against bad leadership and mis-governance, and it must be deployed even against Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team, if need be. All Police officers involved in needless attacks on peaceful protesters and those responsible for the deaths of some of the protesters, must be immediately brought to book. The slain protesters must not die in vain.

Time to reform the Nigeria Police is Now!

Nigerians from criminals and armed bandits rampaging the length and breadth of our country, and holding our people hostage.

The reasons for these attacks on the unit are often based on alleged harassment, extortion, and in extreme cases, extra-judicial killing of alleged criminals and innocent members of the public.

More often than not, many of such allegations against SARS turn out to be false. While one cannot in fair conscience deny the excesses of a few misguided and opportunistic elements in the unit, a good number of the SARS operatives remain extra-ordinary heroes whose heroic feats go uncelebrated. Many SARS operatives have laid down their lives to defend their fellow citizens, and protect their property. Sadly, the payback appears to be ingratitude and a constant call for their eradication, because of the wrong doing of a few. This is most unfortunate, and the authorities need to be careful not to fall for the antics of the enemies of our society.

Complaint Mechanisms As an institution, the Nigeria Police Force has always put in place multiple mechanisms and complaint platforms to curtail the excesses

“SADLY, THE PAYBACK Ade Adegbite, Legal Practitioner, APPEARS TO BE Past National Welfare Secretary, INGRATITUDE AND A Nigerian Bar Association CONSTANT CALL FOR THEIR SARS and the Ingratitude ERADICATION, BECAUSE OF THE WRONG DOING of Nigerians OF A FEW..... WITHOUT Musa Shehu SARS, THE FORCE WILL LIE Unsung Heroes All too frequently, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) continues to suffer constant PROSTRATE, USELESS AND attack and disparagement from the Nigerian Public, while its operatives die daily to protect IMPOTENT”

Strength of the Nigeria Police Today, SARS remains the only strength of the Force and all those media briefings and press releases detailing the accomplishment of the Force in each State of the Federation, are attributable to the Special Anti-Robbery squad or its sub- units. Without SARS, the Force will lie prostrate, useless and impotent.

It will completely, be unable to help itself and the Nigerian Public.

Reforms It is poor judgement on the part of anyone, to desire that the baby be thrown away with the bath water. Therefore, the way to go, is to reform the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

The reform that is most imperative, is to redesign an appropriate tactical uniform for the unit. The former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, whilst he held sway, procured a befitting tactical uniform for the unit. Strict supervision in line with approved standard operating procedure, should be enforced. Periodic review of the activities of the unit will be necessary, to keep the unit in check. Appropriate welfare and insurance packages should also be emplaced to avoid desperation on the part of operatives who die daily, with no insurance for their burial or the welfare of their bereaved family.

The idea of scrapping SARS should be taking off the agenda, to avoid sending many Nigerians to early and avoidable deaths from the biggest beneficiary of such a decision - the armed bandits, kidnappers and their sponsors. There are still many active and thriving billionaire Kidnappers in circulation after the arrest of Evans. It is this group of people, more than anyone else, that seizes every opportunity to amplify the #ENDSARS slogan. If SARS is ended, then they will end up holding the nation by the jugular. May that never happen.

Musa Shehu, Kaduna State

The Menace of SARS (the Group of Death): Beyond Ending its Existence Debo Oladinni cont'd on page 10

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#ENDSARS: SÒRÒ SOKE cont'd from page 9

In recent days, the clamour by Nigerians across the country that the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS) be proscribed due to the apparent excesses of members of the death squad (which has reached an alarming crescendo), is fast gathering momentum.

Prior to this time, SARS as a unit, was an elephant in the room that no one was willing to frontally confront, or demand for the curbing of the excesses of a good number of its dare devil personnel masquerading as law enforcement officers.

Background Founded in 1992, SARS, was setup as a unit under the umbrella of the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), to confront the rising cases of armed robbery and kidnapping in Lagos State. Sadly, like an aircraft which has overshot and skidded off the runway in an airport in an attempt to land, SARS has deviated/lost sight of the very essence why it was established. Essentially, SARS has gone beyond its scope of duty, and is fast assuming the toga of a terrorist group in the minds of well-meaning Nigerians.

Unfortunately, a sizeable number of men of SARS have metamorphosed into blood thirsty rabid dogs, roaming around seeking for whom to devour. How ironic that men of this unit who are meant to protect the lives of law abiding Nigerians going about their legitimate businesses have turned around to maim, harass, decimate and exterminate the lives of Nigerians, whom, ordinarily, they are paid to protect. Many families have over the years, been thrown into deep sorrow and gnashing of their teeth, due to the loss of lives of their loved ones at the hands of a good number of these dare devil and trigger happy angels of death in SARS. SARS v SARS Virus Paradoxically, the acronym SARS reminds me of the deadly and life threatening viral respiratory disease called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) triggered by a SARS associated coronavirus, which was first discovered during an outbreak in China at the tail end of February 2003. To my mind, there is a thin line of difference between SARS as a virus and SARS as a unit under the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). Both are life threatening and indeed, snuff out lives. Indeed, the fear of SARS is fast becoming the beginning of wisdom, as if you are unfortunate to land in the dragnet of its personnel, life becomes short, nasty and brutish.

The fundamental human rights of Nigerians enshrined in Section 33 (right to life), Section 34 (right to dignity of human person) Section 35 (right to personal liberty), and Section 41 (right to freedom of movement) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), mean absolutely nothing to a good number of the blood thirsty and trigger happy angels of death operating in SARS. Will the Brutality Abate?

Recently, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu issued a circular banning SARS and other tactical squads from routine patrols, due to the public outcry against personnel of SARS, who engage in extra-judicial killings, brutality and extortion etc. However, a sizeable number of well-meaning Nigerians via street protests, issuance of public statements, agitations on social media platforms etc, are clamouring for the outright ban of SARS. While this is a plausible and legitimate demand, I have my serious doubt that the Government would accede to such a demand in its entirety. Assuming without conceding that the Government agrees to outrightly disband SARS, the personnel of the proscribed unit would be drafted to other units of the Nigeria Police Force. In essence, cases of extra-judicial killings, brutality and extortion would not still abate. Furthermore, a question that agitates my mind at this juncture is: How often do the men of the NPF undergo mental health/ emotional evaluation, to ascertain whether or not they can make use of weapons appropriately? In this wise, the Government should seriously consider partnering with psychologist/emotional therapists who will from time to time, conduct trainings/tests on the men of the NPF. Mental health wellbeing

experts can be partnered with, to ensure the emotional/psychological needs of men of the NPF are well addressed. An emotionally and mentally disturbed Police officer, is a disaster waiting to happen.

Conclusion Going forward, I want to appeal to the Government and the IGP to embark on holistic reforms which will reposition the NPF, in terms of the yardstick for recruitment of its personnel, welfare and other ancillary issues, to ensure the production of better trained and equipped Police officers. Nigeria as a country, is sitting on a keg of gunpowder that might blow up anytime soon. As for men of the NPF within the system, there is a need for periodic training. No doubt, the issues bedevilling the NPF, are a fallout of the endemic corruption that has affected every stratum of the Nigerian society. It is hoped that the Government will give the IGP the needed support/wherewithal, to reform the NPF in its entirety.

Permit me to conclude by stating that a nation that does not protect/safeguard the fundamental rights of its citizens is encouraging citizens to rely on self-help, which brings to the front-burner of my mind, the evergreen postulation of Nelson Mandela (former President of South Africa and Respected World Citizen), who posited at the inauguration of the Constitutional Court at Johannesburg, South Africa, on 14th February, 1995 that: “People come and go. Customs, fashions and preferences change. Yet, the web of fundamental rights and justice which a nation proclaims, must not be broken”.

Debo Oladinni, Legal Practitioner, Wole Olanipekun & Co.

#ENDSARS, End Police Brutality: Memo to Buhari Dr Kayode Ajulo There is no gainsaying the fact that the recent clampdown, brutality, harassments, killings

“PRESIDENT BUHARI'S GOVERNMENT HAS, POSSIBLY MORE THAN ANY OTHER, CREATED THE ATMOSPHERE FOR WIDESPREAD IMPUNITY TO THRIVE AND FLOURISH”

and inhumane treatment of Nigerian citizens, especially the youths, by some dark section of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), has left much to be desired of the Nigeria Police Force. All these acts which have finally led to a backlash, clearly arose from men of the SARS Unit ignoring the rule of law and employing the use of force without basis/due process.

These developments have generated hues and hubris, from different quarters and strata. The air is thick with raging reactions, reprimands, all kinds of anathema, diatribe and protests from Nigerian Youths, political pundits, lackeys, celebrities, and even on the international scene.

Nigeria’s Blindness This is looking very much like another season of blindness for Nigeria. That blindness doesn’t arise from lack of eyes. No, the eyes are there, prominently poised on either side of the nosebridge.

That blindness in question emanates from inability and refusal to see, analyse and evaluate the enormity of the foundational problem currently beleaguering the Nigeria Police Force, other security agencies, and the nation at large. In order not to throw out the baby with the bath water, as a legal practitioner, I have carefully considered the issue at hand and I am compelled to lend my two cents vis-à-vis constitutional provisions and legal framework.

As a preliminary, it must be noted that the litmus test for the determination of a great nation is good governance, and good governance is characterised by open and enlightened policymaking, with an executive arm of government that is accountable, a strong civil society and a bureaucracy that is truly professional, all acting within the law.

The ingredients of good governance are inclusiveness, transparency, accountability, effectiveness, equity and the observance of the rule of law, to ensure that the voices of all, including the most vulnerable in the society, are brought into the decision making process. Nigeria as a developing country is still in the process of evolving a clear democratic political culture.

At present, a weak economic base, perennial unemployment, especially among the youth, women and other vulnerable groups and political instability have beset the country, worsened by a most disturbing problem of insecurity and lack of adherence to the principles of rule of law, without which the growth of the nation would only amount to a mirage.

It is quite unassailable that the present travails of the Nigerian youths and the vulnerable in the hands of some unscrupulous elements of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) which informed the protests, must be seen as a continuation of the war being waged on the desecration of the entrenched principles of rule of law.

The IG’s Speech While celebrating the Nigerian Youths for the clarion call and a battle well fought, it is quite obvious that disbanding the SARS without reforming the Nigerian Police Force, is only a Greek gift that can only yield a placebo effect.

It is imperative to draw attention to Clauses 2 and 3 of the highlights of the IGP’s speech, where it was stated that all officers and men serving in the Unit will be redeployed to other Police Commands, Formation and Units, and a

new policing strategy would be put in place to tackle armed robbery.

It is stating the obvious that considering the ‘expertise’ of the members of the ‘defunct’ SARS Unit, they are undoubtedly the same set of persons that will be utilised in the said Unit to replace the SARS. Let us be clear on a point: I believe the issue at hand is one which is etched on adequate legal framework by ensuring the observance of rule of law, and not just the continued existence of tyranny disguised under the cloak of ‘disbanding’.

Recommendations In conclusion, on the backdrop of the cyclical problems beleaguering the Nigerian Security Agencies and in this instance, the Nigeria Police Force, in lending my two cents, my recommendation are as follows: i. Training of the Nigeria Police on modern policing techniques and rules of engagement; ii. Ensuring proper psychological tests and evaluation of members of the defunct SARS Unit, before reintegrating them to other Units of the Police Force; iii. Strict enforcement of accountability for any bullet discharged from any ammunitions and instant disciplinary action; iv. Proper discipline for individual officers of the Nigeria Police who violate citizens’ right; v. Increment in salary/remuneration for the Police Force like their counterparts in the Nigerian Army and Navy; vi. Accountability of the IGP to the Nigeria Police Council which will consist of retired judges, legal practitioners, former legislators, elder statesmen, retired security personnel, as opposed to being accountable solely to the President; vii. The name “Nigeria Police Force” should be rebranded to “The Nigeria Police” as it is not a “Force”. Its main responsibility is the protection of lives and properties and prevention of crimes; ix. Adequate compensation for verified victims and casualties of police brutality, and keeping of records for such numbers of SARS Unit members found wanting and prosecuted for brutality.

It must be noted that the fight against desecration of the entrenched principles of rule of law and the reform of the Nigeria Police, is a collegial responsibility. As a commitment of faith, the organisation I lead, Egalitarian Mission for Africa, and my good self will make available, ex gratia to the Nigerian Police, body cameras to be worn to record the event of every engagement of the Nigeria Police with the civil populace if the Federal Government can immediately amend the provisions of the new Nigeria Police (Establishment) Act, 2020 and the Administration Act, 2015 particularly Section 17 of the Act and any other enabling Acts to mandate compulsory use of police cont'd on page 11

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#ENDSARS: SÒRÒ SOKE cont'd from page 10

body cameras in all their engagements with the civil populace.

It suffices to state for record that in policing equipment, body cameras or wearable cameras are essential in modern day policing and are used by law enforcement agents to record their interaction with the public. Aside being used to record crime, same is imperative to ensure police transparency and accountability which will ultimately check abuse of police and restore public confidence in their operations.

It must be noted that, the fight against desecration of the entrenched principles of rule of law and the reform of the Nigeria Police is a collegial responsibility. As a commitment of faith, the organisation I lead, Egalitarian Mission for Africa, and my good self will make available, ex gratia to the Nigeria Police, body cameras to be worn to record the event of every engagement of the Nigeria Police with the civil populace, if the Federal Government can immediately amend the provisions of the new Nigeria Police (Establishment) Act, 2020 and the Administration Act, 2015 particularly Section 17 of the Act and any other enabling Acts, to mandate compulsory use of police body cameras in all their engagements with the civil populace.

It suffices to state for record that, in policing equipment, body cameras or wearable cameras are essential in modern day policing, and are used by law enforcement agents to record their interaction with the public. Aside being used to record crime, same is imperative to ensure Police transparency and accountability, which will ultimately check abuse of police and restore public confidence in their operations.

Dr Kayode Ajulo, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Egalitarian Mission for Africa

SARS Dissolution Welcome, But Not Enough!

Joseph Otteh and Deji Ajare Nigeria needs urgent reform of Police and security agencies, to confront entrenched and widespread culture of impunity.

Introduction Access to Justice welcomes the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) by the Inspector-General of Police following the recent public outcry over police brutality, particularly those of the SARS. However, dissolving SARS is not enough, and will not address the large-scale and widespread culture of impunity that has characterised the delivery of policing and security services in Nigeria.

That culture of impunity is rife and thriving in the Police Force, as most people know. If the Police Force as a whole is not reformed, it is highly unlikely that any new initiatives or tactical Units created out of the Force will operate differently from the way SARS did. The institutional culture of the Police, as well as other law enforcement/security agencies promotes impunity, lawlessness, lack of accountability and disregard for the rule of law.

Past and present governments in Nigeria, are enablers of this culture. Neither the Buhari government nor past governments have done anything significantly more than traffic in largely empty rhetoric, regarding reform of law enforcement and security institutions. The actual work of undertaking reforms that would make Nigeria’s law enforcement and security agencies accountable, professional and respectful of the rule of law has been left undone, and traded-off for the rhetoric.

Access to Justice is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation working to promote integrity, transparency, accountability and independence in legal and judicial institutions, and to protect the rights of individuals and groups to justice.

A2Justice is the 2009 recipient of MacArthur Foundation’s Award for Creative and Effective Institutions, and also the 2010 recipient of the first- ever Nigerian Bar Association’s Gani Fawehinmi Award for Human Rights and Social Justice.

President Buhari's government has, possibly more than any other, created the atmosphere for widespread impunity to thrive and flourish.

Under his administration, - as many independent reports have asserted - thousands of Nigerians have been summarily or extrajudicially killed by security and law enforcement officials in circumstances that are themselves an expression of the confidence which officials of these

“WHY IS THE NORTHERN REGION STILL ENTRAPPED IN THE OCEAN OF BLOODBATH, IF THE LOSELOSE STRATEGY OF THE SECURITY APPARATUS HAS YIELDED POSITIVE RESULTS?”

institutions have, that no consequences will follow their brutal actions, and indeed, nothing has followed.

Access to Justice’s Requests Access to Justice therefore, urges the government: Do more than lip-service, and immediately commence the reform of all law enforcement and security institutions, in order to confront and kick out deeply entrenched cultures of lawlessness and impunity within them. For this purpose, government must itself lead by example. By showing intolerance for acts of lawlessness and impunity, and complying with court orders, government will set the marker for law enforcement and security agencies’ conducts in this respect.

Government must conduct a thorough review or audit of (the dissolved) SARS operations, and, for this purpose, establish a fact-finding Inquiry into how the unit transformed into a notorious scheme of oppression and injustice; every SARS official who was involved in the brutal and widespread assault of citizens and the violations of human rights, must be brought to justice, including being prosecuted, in order to safeguard against similar atrocities in the future. If these operatives are not identified and sanctioned now, they may very well find their ways into new successor initiatives to SARS, and thus, forcing Nigerians to relive the past in the form of old wine in new wineskins.

Also, by bringing perpetrators of human rights abuses to justice, Government begins the arduous task of tackling the culture of lawlessness and impunity, in its key security institutions.

Government must reorganise current accountability systems, in order for Police services to function accountably. The Police Service Commission which is constitutionally responsible for the discipline of members of the Police Force, is practically toothless and unable to implement its crucial mandate.

Government must immediately abrogate laws such as the Sheriff and Civil Process Act [SCPA] 2004 - which make it nearly impossible for courts to hold the Police and other law enforcement and security agencies - to account. Unless those laws are jettisoned, courts may also continue to face daunting challenges in upholding the rule of law and punishing the infraction of civil rights. Furthermore, law enforcement and security institutions (and their operatives) will continue to act with impunity knowing that Nigeria’s laws, in practice, shield and protect them from being made accountable for their actions.

Government must also improve the service and post-service welfare of officers of the Police Force. In addition, there is a need for Government to ensure that Police officers are given the tools they need for their jobs, as some of the extortionist tendencies amongst members of the Force is aimed at raising funds to get their jobs done.

Finally, training and retraining of the rank and file of the Force must be given more priority, and selection for these trainings must be done on need basis and not on the basis of other sentiments.

Joseph Otteh, Executive Director Access to Justice, and Deji Ajare, Project Director,

Access to Justice

Northern Governors' Stance Against #ENDSARS Protests Erasmus Ikhide The deliberately blinded current Northern Nigerian generation of Governors who have been wallowing in self-deceit like the actual colony of the blind, pretending not to know that the market had come to a close, will be consumed.

Governor Lalong It is particularly mind numbing and spine chilling that a Middle Beltern Governor, Simon Lalong – who is bedevilled with identity crisis – even when his part of the country is baying for restructuring, is the one leading a pack and swathes of a region designated as an axis of terror.

Poor Lalong! It was his lot to pass on the rejection of the Nigeria Police Federal Special Anti-robbery Squad (FSARS) disbandment unit by President Muhammadu Buhari, as the purveyor of the toxic Northernisation agenda led by the Northern Governors' Forum.

According to Lalong, the “Defunct Police unit had been useful in the fight against insecurity in the region". He continued, "SARS was not made up of bad elements alone, as it also included personnel doing their work diligently".

Now, the conundrums: how well has the SARS been providing security in the Northern region in the midst of the virtual bloodbath that's almost consuming the entire Northern region daily? Where are/were these Governors and the ones before them in the last 21 years of our current democratic Fourth Republic?

What durable solutions have the Northern Governors' Forum advanced, now that the Northern kids begging on the streets in their millions suddenly dropped their long accustomed begging bowls and elected for the guns as Boko Haram, Bandits and herdsmen?

Governor Lalong is miserably pathetic, a listless feeble fellow to behold. Bandits and Fulani herdsmen have routed and razed Plateau State cities and villages, over a dozen times under his governorship; killing Christians in their thousands without the merest of resistance from the SARS and the military! Or was it not necessary that SARS was reformed to face the security challenges plaguing Governor Lalong's State, while hundreds of Plateau citizens are being butchered on a daily basis?

Why is the Northern region still entrapped in the ocean of bloodbath, if the lose-lose strategy of the security apparatus has yielded positive results? What strides have the current Northern Governors made toward eradicating poverty, reducing childhood mortality, increasing life expectancy, infant marriages, or expanding literacy at all levels in the North?

By the way, how do we expect a Governor Simon Lalong with such an outdated world view, and the other Northern Governors to know that the only acceptable response to

#ENDSARS logjam protests, is to pursue a “Great Reset” of the nation's economy, politics, all inclusive education and job creation? Governor Lalong is far removed from the reality on ground, to know that this is a moment to reevaluate the sacred cow of northernisation of Nigeria and a time to refrain from certain long-held and unhelpful dogmatism.

Legislators and Restructuring It's obvious with the on-going protests tagged #ENDSARS, that we have placed too much premium of our democratic functionality on the Presidency which is a One-Man-Show, neglecting the power of the people 'freely' given to the legislators to decimate pocket tyrants like President Buhari. Now, Nigerian youths are determined to take that power back from legislators through protests for their rights, since it's useless to the legislators.

Now, this is the moment of truth. Our legislators must be made accountable to people, whether they were duly elected or they rigged themselves into offices. We're obliged to educate the legislators that they're more empowered by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria than the President to restructure, if the nation's democracy must yield fruit.

The weakness of the legislative governance, is the reason the proponents of restructuring have been dancing on the same spot for years, without any significant achievement. The nation's legislative majority on the basis of geopolitics as explained above, are not working on the same page with the aspiration of the people they are representing. Rather, they have been operating on the basis of parochial party affiliations.

People like Governor Simon Lalong can't learn to be right handed at an old age. That was evident in his timid press briefing at the Presidential villa on Thursday evening, on behalf of his Northern Governor colleagues.

It's clear they can't learn new things. You can't do away with the basic engine of growth and expect results.

The answer to the collapse of the present national government, both at the State and local government levels, is either auto restructuring or referendum. It's only a mentally retarded generation of leadership that does the same thing over and over again, and expects different results.

Nigerian Youths and ‘Great Reset’ The 'Great Reset' is here and it is being driven by the unexpected voices – The Youths – those who have been abandoned and left to waste away. They have found an escape route, and have been misusing technology for criminal purposes. They're set to “co-shape” the future of their own country, after clashing with criminal minded Police authorities.

The reset is about pragmatic steps toward a more resilient, cohesive, and sustainable Nigeria, where the government of the day would be responsive to its social contract with the citizens. In the process, some of the pillars of the State architecture have to be replaced, and others repaired or strengthened. To achieve these, modern Statecraft is required. Nothing more – or less.

Erasmus Ikhide

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The Proposed Water Bill: Dispossessing Okon to Give to Abdullahi (Part 2) Introduction

in terms of its amendment. See Adisa v Oyinwola (2000) 10 NWLR (Pt. 674) 116, Nkwocha v Govt. Anambra State (984) 1 SC NLR 634 Per JAURO, J.C.A.(P. 16, paras. D-F)”.

Why is the NASS afraid of public hearing which affords the Nigerian people the opportunity to interrogate the fairness, utilitarianism and equity in the Bill? Just why? Tell me.

T

he proposed Water Resources Bill, is causing expected national hoopla and ruckus. It is not for nothing.

There is the fear of a clear and present danger that, with the desertification, terrorism and violence currently ravaging parts of the North and other geopolitical zones, the Bill is nothing but a ploy by the Federal Government to deprive certain indigenous Nigerians of their natural patrimony, for the benefit of stranger-elements, without the voluntary consent of the resource owners. Today, we shall continue with more contentious provisions in the Water Resources Bill that valiantly attempt to defeat reason, logic, common sense, true (or fiscal) federalism, and even the concept of Republicanism.

More Contentious Provisions of the Water Bill Section 107 of the Bill provides that: “a licence may be cancelled if the licensee fails to make beneficial use of the water”.

The above provision continues with the Bill’s streak of opaqueness and vagueness. It fails to define what “beneficial use of water” means. It fails to answer the all-important question of, who determines the 'beneficial use of water'.

Is it the concerned Agency, the community or the licensee?

Just who?

See this unfolding scary scenario: if the designated Federal Government Agency whimsically, capriciously and arbitrarily believes, for example, that the beneficial use of water in your compound should be geared towards feeding cows that do not belong to you or your family and community, your failure to use it for that particular purpose will naturally get your licence revoked or cancelled. It does not matter that you preferred drinking the water, or using it to mould blocks, or utilising it to water your plants and grass.

Section 125 of the Bill contains one of the most dangerous provisions in the Bill: "An authorised person' may, at any reasonable time and on production of their identity card or other instrument or certificate of designation if so required, enter a property with the necessary persons, vehicles, equipment and material in order to carry out routine inspections of the use of water or disposal of wastewater under any authorisation."

Jesus Christ, help us. In simple terms, this provision basically means that people are no longer free to use the water produced in their houses as they may deem fit, without undue interruption and meddlesome interference by government.

It means that the privacy of people’s homes and properties which is specifically guaranteed by Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution, is of no consequence. It is no longer sacred. It can be violated at will, by the “authorised person” who has no recognisable public interest.

Irregular Manner of Re-Introduction of the Bill Beyond the substantive derogations and absurdities already highlighted in the Bill, the procedure that was followed in the representation of the Bill is also fraught with suspicion, curiosity and irregularities.

For instance, the current Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Rules and Business, Hon Abubakar Fulata, who reintroduced the Bill, immediately foreclosed the possibility of the Bill ever going through a public hearing, in line with standard legislative practice and convention. His flimsy excuse or ground is that a public hearing, having already been conducted on its ancestral predecessor Bill during the 8th NASS, there would be no need for another public hearing in the 9th NASS! Can you hear that? This is incredibly illogical, and most pathetically unparliamentary.

The Bill must pass first through all the stages of a legislative process afresh, before it can become law. No short cuts. Fresh .This is because the 8th NASS is quite different from the 9th NASS. It is peopled by different legislators, some new and some old. They have different backgrounds, experiences, visions and missions for their Constituents. Those who heard the old Bill may not be present now at the new session, to hear the reintroduced Bill.

By parliamentary conventions and procedures, the end of a session of the NASS automatically marks the end of the Bills considered by that session, such Bills had not become laws or Acts. An old Bill being reintroduced must be ready to go through the furnace of fire, through a fresh legislative process. Even if such Bills had passed all stages of hearing during the previous Assembly, they remain nothing but mere Bills, having not been assented to by the President. They are inchoate. They remain akin to clay that waits to be moulded into any shape, by the potter.

Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Hussein Adamu

Such Bills must be re-presented to allow for fresh plurality of views, debates, agreements, and thereafter, conclusions. It is like a matter being heard de novo by a fresh Judge upon the transfer, retirement or death of the former judex hearing the same case.

This luciferous Bill cannot be smuggled into our corpus juris by stealth and through the back door, without public hearing.

We must hear it publicly, and abort the evil foetus in its embryonic stage The Land Use Act This Bill also dangerously and audaciously dares to encroach into the hallowed precincts and territory of the Land Use Act (LUA), without first seeking an amendment of the Constitution. This is because by virtue of Section 315(5) of the 1999 Constitution, aided by several appellate decisions of the Intermediate and Supreme Courts, the LUA is clothed with the constitutional flavour. It is not an ordinary Act of Parliament. So, to amend the LUA, you must first amend the Constitution itself, under Section 9 thereof. The kernel of the said decisions is that, provisions of any Act that are contrary to those of the LUA are null and void, by virtue of Section 1(1) of the same Constitution. The proposed Water Resources Bill that seeks to seize State lands and give them to the Federal Government under the thin guise of controlling water resources, is ominously repugnant to the letter, spirit and tenor of the LUA. As the Court of Appeal succinctly put it in NIGERIA INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL RESEARCH v NURTW (2012) LPELR-4612 (CA) : “The Land Use Act is a special Federal enactment which has been accorded extraordinary status by the aforementioned section of the Constitution. Though it is not an integral part of the Constitution, but claims special protection under Section 9(2) of the Constitution

“WHY IS THE NASS AFRAID OF PUBLIC HEARING WHICH AFFORDS THE NIGERIAN PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERROGATE THE FAIRNESS, UTILITARIANISM AND EQUITY IN THE BILL?”

Water Bill and Federalism The looming mischief behind the proposed Water Bill, is quite clear. It further ridicules and circumscribes Nigeria’s federalism, making it unitary. Nigerians have been clamouring for proper federalism that entails devolution of powers from a behemoth, elephantine and gargantuan Federal centre, to the cringing subservient States and local authorities. Yet, this Bill further closes the democratic space, in a most haemorrhaging and asphyxiating manner.

All over the world, water resources are owned, and their exploitation and utilisation controlled by States and local authorities.

Water is God-given. It is life. Life and water are siamese twins; Hamlet and the Prince of Denmark; Romeo and Juliet; six and half a dozen. That was why irrepressible Fela Anikulapo-Kuti (Abami Eda) lyrically sang, “Water, e no get enemy”. Truly, water no get enemy.

I am quite saddened that most Nigerians don’t even see or consider the greater danger that lies ahead, if such a Bill were to be finally passed into law. The Bill will literally consume States like Lagos, Rivers, Benue, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Kogi, most of the South-West, Middle Belt, South-South, etc. These States have large water areas in their domains. Such States will be literally stripped of decision-making powers, over their water resources.

Thus, the Bill is out to rob indigenous peoples and States, in broad day light, of their means of existence and livelihood. It is a case of brazenly robbing Akpan, to pay Abdullahi.

I wholeheartedly condemn this Bill, with every fibre in me.

It is a barely veiled attempt to replace the infamous RUGA, grab lands from the original owners, who are lands Farmers, Agriculturists, Industrialists, Water Resources Entrepreneurs, etc.

They will all be in a serious conundrum. NASS, I beg you, please, kill this monstrous Bill, because it has the avoidable capacity to lead to water wars that will pale into insignificance what the country has so far experienced over grazing lands and oilfields brouhaha. Spare us another round of needless national crisis. Have we not bled enough? Must God continue to remain a Nigerian forever?

Must we always, through thoughtless acts and inactions, threaten the continued corporate existence of Nigeria? Must we always threaten to attempt to balkanise Nigeria? Is this government forever pretending to be totally oblivious of the age-long triggers and causes of armed conflicts in Nigeria’s coastal and middle belt regions, as well as between rampaging herders and virtually conquered agrarian communities?

This Bill pretends to signpost government's resolve to promote judicious management of the nation's water resources, and to act as an enabler of the nation's attainment of the much vaunted Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's), as preached by the United Nations. But, its dangerous provisions have the exact opposite effect.

Must the government forcibly redistribute lands from land-rich States, by forcing inter-basin transfers of water by the Federal Government, without the consent from, or even consultation with, indigenous communities? Haba!!!

This Bill is the greatest manifestation of the palpable fears by concerned Nigerians (with discerning minds), that the government, by this new move to acquire more powers, fiercely loathes the concept of devolution of powers, as stridently demanded by all Nigerians. This government does not even pretend to pay lip service to the imperativeness and urgency, of having this country restructured at all. Is water resource not an item that is better handled for the greater good of the greater number of the Nigerian people, if left in the hands of States, Local Government Areas and private owners? Let me end this humble intervention with two latin maxims: “vox populi vox dei” (the voice of the people is the voice of God); “salus populi suprema lex” (the welfare of the people is the supreme law). God bless Nigeria.

Itseeeeeeee.

THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK “Bad laws are the worst sort of tyranny”. (Edmund Burke) “If the law is a bad law, there is always the contingent right to take action that you would not otherwise take”. (James Callaghan) “Institutionalised discrimination, is bad for people and for societies.

Widespread discrimination, is also bad for economies. There is clear evidence that when societies enact laws that prevent productive people from fully participating in the workforce, economies suffer”. (Jim Yong Kim)

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IMAGES

L-R: Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams; Traditional ruler of Isolo-Osolo/Secretary, the Lagos State Council of Obas, Oba Kabiru Agbabiaka and Akinrun of Ikirun Land, Oba Rauf Olayiwola Olawale. at the 82nd. Birthday of alaafin of Oyo in alaafin’s palace, Oyo town...recently

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Photo Editor ÌÓÙÎßØ ÔËÖË Email ËÌÓÙÎßØ˛ËÔËÖË̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙ×

L-R: CEO of TVC, Andrew Hanlon; Corporate Affairs Officer, First City Monument Bank(FCMB), Mr. Rafiu Mohammed and Mr. Ayotunde Senjobi of Corporate Group, FCMB both receiving the Award of Outstanding SME Supporting Bank of the Year during the Marketing Edge Summit & Awards 2020 in Lagos...recently PHOTO: ABIODUN AJALA

L-R: Head Corporate Communications, Fidelity Bank, Ejike Ndiulo; Media Relations Officer, Tayo Oshifodurin; Divisional Head, Brand & Communications, Charles Aigbe; CEO, X3M Ideas, Steve Babaeko; Head, Events and Promotion, Hariba Harry Pepple and, Media Relations Officer, Ben Uzor during the presentation of Outstanding Corporate Communications Personality of the Year Award to Aigbe at the Marketing Edge Summit & Award 2020 in Lagos...recently PHOTO: ABIODUN AJALA

L-R: Commander, Operation Safe Haven,Plateau State, Maj.-Gen.Chukuemaka Okonkwo; Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission/Convener of the Peace meeting,Reverend Yakubu Pam and President, Para-Mallan Peace Foundation, Rev. Gideon Para-Mallan during the stakeholders peace meeting on security in Jos...recently

L-R: Ms. Stella Anyanwu; Wife of Ondo State Governor and Founder of Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria, (BRECAN), Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu; and Dr. Chinelo Atuegwu Akeredolu, at the grand finale of the 2020 Annual Pink October Awareness Programme organised by, BRECAN Oyo State chapter, held at BRECAN in Ibadan...recently

L R: Managing director/CEO, Abuja Enterprise Agency, Alhaji Arabi Tukur; director general, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Dr. Dikko Umaru Radda; Technical Assistant to Minister for State Industry, Trade and Investment, Aminu Dogon-Daji, clerk House of Representatives Committee on Poverty Alleviation, Mohammed Bawa and some of the beneficiaries during the official Flag-off of Conditional Grand Scheme (CGS) Organised by SMEDAN in Abuja.. recently

L-R: Zonal Business Manager, Ogun, Airtel Nigeria, Adeolu Balogun; Airtel Touching Lives Season 5 Beneficiary, Ijeoma Chiobi and her children; and Head CSR, Airtel Nigeria, Chioma Okolie during the presentation of a fully furnished two-bedroom apartment for 2 years, a fully-stocked provision store and N3million naira cash as educational scholarship for her 6 children under the company’s Airtel Touching Lives initiative in Ogun State... recently

15

˾ TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020

Tuesday, October 20, 2020 Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index Shrinks 10bps

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ƐůŝƉƉĞĚ ϭϬďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ Ăƚ 1,305.79 points in yesterday͛s trading session following ƐĞůů ŽīƐ ŝŶ ZENITH (-2.6%), UBA (-1.4%) and FBNH (-

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

1.6йͿ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϭ͘ϴй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ index.

The Bulls Tie With the Bears... ASI Closed Flat dŚĞ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ ĞƋƵŝƟĞƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ ŝŶ LJĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJΖƐ trading session as the benchmark index stood at Ϯϴ͕ϲϱϵ͘Ϭϳ points while ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ zd ƌĞͲ turn remained unchanged at േϭϱ͘ϬƚŶ ĂŶĚ ϲ͘ϴй ƌĞƐƉĞĐͲ ƟǀĞůLJ͘ ĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ǁĂŶĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ϰϭ͘ϯй ĂŶĚ Ϯϴ͘Ϭй ƚŽ Ϯϴϳ͘ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ േ3.4bn ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ dŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁĞƌĞ ZENITH

(43.0m

units),

UBA

;ϰϭ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ĂŶĚ

FBNH ;ϯϮ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ ZENITH (േ905.4m), GUARANTY (േϴϮϮ͘ϯŵͿ ĂŶĚ UBA (േ299.1m) led by value.

Ticker

Current Price

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

Performance across sectors was mixed as 3 of 6 indices under our coverage gained, 2 lost while the AFR-ICT index ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ The Insurance and Consumer Goods indices ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƚĞĚ͕ ƵƉ ϭ͘ϭй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϵй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ following gains in AIICO (+6.0%), NEM (+3.0%), INTBREW (+9.9%) and GUINNESS ;нϰ͘ϴйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ŐĂŝŶĞĚ Ϭ͘ϱй ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ CONOIL (+9.7%) and ARDOVA ;нϱ͘ϴйͿ͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ŇŝƉ ƐŝĚĞ͕ ůŽƐƐĞƐ ŝŶ ZENITH (2.6%), UBA (-1.4%) and WAPCO (-1.9%) dragged the Banking and Industrial Goods indices lower by

;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ ĨĞůů ƚŽ ϭ͘ϭdž from the 2.7x recorded previously as 19 ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ƚŚĞ ϭϴ ƚŚĂƚ ĚĞͲ clined. INTBREW (+9.9%), IKEJAHOTEL (+9.9%) and CUTIX (+9.9%) were top gainers while ETERNA (-9.0%),

ŝŶ ƐƵďƐĞƋƵĞŶƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ǁĞĂŬ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶͲ ƟŵĞŶƚ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ŵĂLJ ƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ ŝŶ ƐŽƵŶĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ahead of Q3 earnings releases.

P/BV

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

-11.0%

30.6%

16.6%

3.7%

4.3x

0.6x

6.1%

15.6%

0.0%

32.6%

33.3%

28.4%

163.8%

12.2%

14.5x

20.5x

5.0%

6.9%

2 Airtel Africa PLC

410.20

0.0%

17.6%

37.2%

37.2%

9.4%

3.1%

29.4%

4.7%

3 Guaranty Trust Bank PLC

30.80

1.5%

10.3%

3.7%

5.5%

4 Zenith Bank PLC

21.00

-2.6%

6.7%

12.9%

12.3%

5 Nestle Nigeria PLC

2.8% 4.5x

1.3x

9.2%

22.1%

2.9x

0.7x

13.1%

33.9% 4.4%

1,175.00

0.0%

3.6%

-20.1%

-20.1%

106.4%

23.1%

22.6x

29.4x

5.4%

150.00

0.0%

4.3%

5.6%

5.6%

26.9%

12.0%

12.3x

3.5x

10.7%

8.2%

7.95

0.0%

3.1%

-20.5%

-21.3%

15.3%

1.3%

2.8x

0.4x

8.2%

35.2%

8 United Bank for Africa PLC

7.10

-1.4%

2.6%

-0.7%

-1.4%

13.0%

1.2%

3.3x

0.4x

13.5%

30.2%

9 FBN Holdings Plc

6.30

-1.6%

2.5%

2.4%

-3.1%

14.2%

1.4%

3.0x

0.3x

6.0%

32.9%

10 Nigerian Brew eries PLC

49.20

0.0%

2.1%

-16.6%

-16.6%

7.8%

3.3%

46.9x

2.3x

4.0%

2.1%

11 Lafarge Africa PLC

18.50

-1.9%

3.1%

20.9%

34.1%

44.7%

24.1%

13.0x

0.8x

5.4%

7.7%

420.00

0.0%

1.4%

-36.2%

-29.1%

2.5%

1.5%

20.2x

0.4x

8.9%

5.0%

13 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

43.00

0.0%

2.0%

4.9%

7.5%

27.7%

3.5%

5.5x

1.4x

5.6%

18.1%

14 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

0.6x

6.4%

6 Dangote Cement PLC 7 Access Bank PLC

12 SEPLAT Petroleum Development C

22.00

1.6%

1.0%

11.7%

11.7%

15 International Brew eries PLC

5.86

9.9%

0.6%

-38.3%

-38.3%

-33.6%

-8.6%

16 Ecobank Transnational Inc

4.60

1.1%

0.6%

-29.2%

-29.8%

11.0%

0.7%

1.8x

0.2x

17 Fidelity Bank PLC

2.06

-1.0%

0.7%

0.5%

2.0%

10.9%

1.2%

2.4x

0.2x

9.7%

42.2%

186.90

0.0%

0.8%

26.4%

26.4%

18.7%

8.5%

9.4x

1.6x

4.4%

10.7%

18 11 PLC

1.0x

-46.1% 54.7%

19 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

80.00

0.0%

0.8%

43.9%

43.9%

23.5%

15.8%

10.9x

2.4x

2.4%

9.2%

20 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

13.75

-0.4%

0.5%

1.1%

-1.8%

21.2%

11.5%

7.2x

1.4x

8.0%

13.9%

0.4x

1.6%

0.61

0.0%

0.3%

-38.4%

-43.0%

22 Unilever Nigeria PLC

13.50

0.0%

0.3%

-38.6%

-34.8%

-11.5%

-7.2%

23 Guinness Nigeria PLC

-5.3%

1.2x

-10.7%

17.65

4.7%

0.2%

-41.3%

-41.3%

-15.5%

-8.3%

24 FCMB Group Plc

2.31

-1.7%

0.4%

24.9%

26.9%

9.8%

1.1%

2.3x

0.2x

6.1%

43.4%

25 Sterling Bank PLC

1.35

-2.2%

0.2%

-32.2%

-28.9%

8.7%

0.8%

3.8x

0.3x

2.2%

26.5%

26 UAC of Nigeria PLC

6.70

-2.9%

0.2%

-22.1%

-24.7%

-11.2%

-5.5%

2.7x

0.4x

1.5%

36.9%

27 Custodian and Allied Insurance

5.00

0.0%

0.2%

-16.7%

-16.7%

13.9%

4.9%

4.8x

0.6x

9.0%

21.0%

65.90

0.0%

0.3%

38.7%

38.7%

17.6%

7.6%

12.6x

2.0x

3.1%

7.9%

4.95

0.0%

0.2%

-17.5%

-18.2%

7.7%

1.0%

6.2x

0.6x

5.1%

16.2%

112.20

0.0%

0.2%

1.2%

1.2%

5.7%

1.1%

25.7x

1.5x

5.9%

2.30

0.0%

0.1%

-42.4%

-42.4%

14.5%

2.6%

1.0x

0.1x

28 Presco PLC 29 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC 30 Total Nigeria PLC 31 Oando PLC

0.5x

-32.5%

3.9% 101.0%

32 NASCON Allied Industries PLC

13.00

0.0%

0.1%

0.4%

0.4%

16.7%

5.2%

9.0x

2.7x

3.0%

11.1%

33 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

16.90

-0.6%

0.1%

1.9%

-15.1%

10.8%

1.2%

6.7x

0.7x

9.8%

14.9%

0.1% 0.1%

-21.6%

-14.7%

8.3%

0.6%

3.1x

0.4x

6.9%

32.7%

-29.8%

-29.4%

-3.0%

-1.0%

34 Wema Bank PLC 35 Ardova PLC

0.58

-1.7%

12.70

5.8%

1.0x

-3.2%

36 Continental Reinsurance PLC 37 Beta Glass PLC

55.40

0.0%

0.1%

3.0%

3.0%

13.5%

9.1%

38 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd

62.50

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

-13.1%

-3.6%

39 AXA Mansard Insurance PLC

1.83

0.0%

0.0%

-7.6%

-7.6%

17.6%

5.0%

40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

4.00

0.0%

0.0%

-18.4%

-18.4%

-6.4%

-3.2%

6.1x

4.1x

0.8x

0.0x

16.5%

1.6x

-6.7%

0.6x

24.6%

0.6x

0.0x

-11.7%

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

T o p 10 G a i n e r s P ric e

P ric e C hg %

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

ET ER N A

5.29

10.0%

Z EN IT H B A N K

43.0

-2.6%

WA P C O

18.05

4.0%

UB A

41.8

-1.4%

GUIN N ESS

16.00

3.2%

FB NH

32.8

-1.6%

IN T B R EW

4.85

3.2%

GUA R A N T Y

26.9

T ic k er

1.5%

17.9

0.0% 0.0%

PZ

4.30

2.4%

A C C ESS

VIT A F OA M

6.10

1.7%

T R A N SC OR P

15.4

LIVEST OC K

0.63

1.6%

F ID ELIT YB K

14.1

-1.0%

ST ER LN B A N K

1.40

1.4%

UA C N

10.3

-2.9%

R ED ST A R EX

3.30

1.2%

UC A P

10.0

-2.2%

UB A

6.65

0.8%

FCM B

7.0

-1.7%

T o p 10 L o s e r s

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

T ic k er

P ric e

A IIC O

0.81

-3.6%

GLA XOSM IT H

5.60

-3.4%

F ID SON

3.56

-3.0%

A F R IP R UD GUA R A N T Y T R A N SC OR P

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

P/E

-0.10%

MAYBAKER (-7.7%) and ACADEMY (-ϲ͘ϵйͿ ůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƵŶĚĞƌͲ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĞƌƐ͘ tĞ ĂƌĞ ŶŽƚ ŽƉƟŵŝƐƟĐ ŽĨ bullish performance

ROA

140.00

T ic k er

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ

ROE

1,305.79

0.3% ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϭй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ tĞĂŬĞŶƐ

Price Change Index to Date

1 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC

21 Transnational Corp of Nigeria

Mixed Sector Performance

Price Previous Current Change Price Weightin YTD g Change

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

Z EN IT H B A N K

905.4

-2.6%

GUA R A N T Y

822.3

1.5%

UB A

299.1

-1.4% 0.0%

5.54

-2.8%

M TNN

266.3

29.50

-1.7%

FB NH

206.3

-1.6%

0.62

-1.6%

A C C ESS

142.5

0.0%

86.1

0.0%

A C C ESS

7.75

-1.3%

N EST LE

ET I

4.30

-1.1%

WA P C O

85.1

-1.9%

C UT IX

1.80

-1.1%

UA C N

68.9

-2.9%

N EIM ET H

1.85

-1.1%

F LOUR M ILL

60.3

1.6%

Brokerage

Asset Management

Investment Research

Ayodeji Ebo | aebo@afrinvest.com

Ola Belgore | obelgore@afrinvest.com

Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com

Florence Warikam | fwarikam@afrinvest.com

Adedayo Bakare | abakare@afrinvest.com

16

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

Global Spectrum Energy Appoints Okonkwo Non-executive Director Goddy Egene Global Spectrum Energy Services Plc

has appointed Chidolue Okonkwo a non-executive director. In a notification to the Nigerian Stock

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

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

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

Exchange (NSE), the company said by a written resolution of the Board of Directors dated October 15, 202

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

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

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

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 16Oct-2020, unless otherwise stated.

the appointment was made.

“Chidolue is a legal practitioner and the Principal Partner of

Okonkwo Chido & Associates, a thriving law practice in Abuja. He is well versed in corporate finance

and restructuring and brings his experience to the Board,” the company said.

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

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

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.98 0.99 8.93% ACAP Income Funds 0.85 0.85 11.03% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.86% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.56 3.67 45.32% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 1.08% Anchoria Equity Fund 114.31 114.71 10.83% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.41 1.41 19.15% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 16.17 16.66 5.58% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 369.55 380.69 6.98% ARM Ethical Fund 31.91 32.87 9.72% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.16 1.17 16.31% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.12 1.12 11.80% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.93% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 109.95 110.73 14.44% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.11% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.24 2.24 20.75% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.04 2.07 36.59% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Paramount Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Women's Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 2.93% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 121.20 121.72 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 132.12 133.14 Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 103.23 103.23 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.80% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.07 1.08 15.12% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.69 1.69 27.49% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 2.90% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 1.62% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,182.12 1,196.86 6.66% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,496.26 1,497.92 22.16% FBN Balanced Fund 164.41 165.66 11.98% FBN Halal Fund 109.02 109.04 9.02% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 2.60% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 120.33 120.75 4.12% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 120.35 120.76 3.62% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 129.29 131.30 -0.65% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy USD Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 3,382.51 3,420.61 11.22% Coral Income Fund 3,209.56 3,209.56 4.35% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 3.46% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 2.81% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 123.38 123.91 13.86%

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 2.74% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.37 2.43 8.63% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 5.97% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 152.72 153.53 6.57% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.47 1.50 20.15% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.75 11.83 4.54% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 2.80% PACAM Equity Fund 1.21 1.22 PACAM EuroBond Fund 108.70 111.35 SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 123.08 125.00 0.54% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.02 1.02 6.62% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,521.35 2,532.80 15.04% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 5.66% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 10.56% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 6.55% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 15.32% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 2.84% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 6.96% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.21 1.21 4.44% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 110.02 110.02 5.58% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.26 1.28 5.66% United Capital Bond Fund 1.86 1.86 7.76% United Capital Equity Fund 0.74 0.76 4.93% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.82% United Capital Eurobond Fund 115.28 115.28 5.49% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.03 1.04 -1.81% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 11.24 11.38 9.39% Zenith Ethical Fund 12.51 12.63 7.64% Zenith Income Fund 24.53 24.53 7.98% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.03%

REITS NAV Per Share

Fund Name SFS Skye Shelter Fund

Yield / T-Rtn

117.93

5.15%

53.40

2.59%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

9.50 99.71 75.35

9.60 101.86 76.73

13.60% 5.56% 0.29%

Union Homes REIT

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

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.62 4.69 13.49 1.00 12.25 217.64

3.66 4.77 13.59 1.00 12.45 219.64

5.83% -20.48% 10.89% 2.45% 17.72% 14.38%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

108.03

15.02%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

23

T H I S D AY ˞ Ͱ͎˜ 2020

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OVERNIGHT OBB

A S

REPO 2 1.17

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

0.75 1.63 2.38

A T

Group Business Editor Obinna Chima

Email obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com 08152447875

O C T O B E R

S & P INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DATE

679.98% 2.96% 8.50%

S & P INDEX 1/4 TO DATE YEAR TO DATE

1 6 , 8.50% 41.32%

2 0 2 0 EXCHANGE RATE ͹;͡˚ͯ ̊ ̊

Quick Takes EKEDC Boss Now IOD Fellow

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

L-R: Wife of CEO, Marketing Edge, Mrs. Modupe Ajayi; Outstanding Marketing Personality of the Year, Mr. Emmanuel Agu; Brand Personality of the Year/CEO, X3M ldeas, Mr. Steve Babaeko; Head Media, Digital, Brand PR & Sponsorship, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Wasiu Ola-Abiola and Representative of Jane Maduegbuna, a recipient of Brand Personality of the Year Award, during the Marketing Edge Summit & Awards 2020, held in Lagos... recently abiodun ajala

South-east Crucial to Nigeria’s Gas Industry Revolution, Says FG Stories by Chineme Okafor in Abuja The federal government has stated that the five south-eastern states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo will be key actors in its push to enthrone gas as a preferred fuel source for Nigeria’s industrialisation.

It said besides the region’s enormous natural gas deposit which would be a useful energy supply source to the country, its industrial composition provides for Nigeria’s gas market complementary demand points to unlock its budding potentials.

The government therefore pledged its support towards efforts by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Gas Aggregation Company of Nigeria (GACN) to expand gas utilisation in the region using both market-based and government-backed frameworks to clear existing bottlenecks to the market’s transition.

It said these through the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, during a gathering of more than

ENERGY 500 registered participants at the South-east Gas Utilisation Forum recently organised by the GACN in Owerri, Imo State, recently.

A statement from the GACN noted that the forum had its theme as: “Natural Gas Utilisation and Optimisation in Nigeria focus on the South Eastern Hub,� and it was organised in partnership with the five governors of the region: Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu – Abia; Chief Willie Obiano – Anambra; Engr.

Dave Umahi – Ebonyi; Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi – Enugu and Senator Hope Uzodimma of Imo. Sylva said the forum aligned with the government’s vision, “to see that we as a country prioritise utilising our natural gas resources domestically to create jobs, grow the economy, increase government revenue, attract investments and industrialise the country- all to the benefit of its citizens.�

He further noted that the government, “strongly believes that the South East has a pivotal role to play in Nigeria’s journey towards gas availability, broad

utilisation and value optimisation, which is one of the reasons the South East was chosen as the first zone to host this Forum.�

According to him, the ministry of petroleum resources has, “made significant progress in the upgrade of the national gas utilization framework by adopting and implementing innovative policies and initiatives aimed at positioning natural gas as the major fuel and driver of our nation’s economy.�

He said such initiatives included the development and activation of the Nigerian Gas Transportation Network Code to guide the use and operations of the gas transportation network system and the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) designed to reinforce and expand domestic gas utilisation as well as stimulate demand by promoting gas as replacement for imported petrol and diesel.

He also noted the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) which seeks to emplace a robust legal and regulatory framework for Nigeria’s oil industry and elimination of fuel subsidies to

save the country foreign exchange through downstream deregulation as the other initiatives of the government in the sector.

The minister noted that the government would stay on course with these initiatives, adding that for the south-east gas utilisation expansion plan, “I have been assured that it will not be a ‘talk shop’ but will set out practical steps to ensure the earliest realisation of the gas-energy requirements of the South East States at the earliest timeline.�

Similarly, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, in his remarks at the forum, said the government has taken steps to leverage on gas to build a sustainable economy for Nigeria.

Kyari explained that the outcome of such strategic approach is seen in key gas-based investments that have been made so far by the government.

He said the imminent completion of the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) gas pipeline project which Continued on page 24

NNPC Reduces Debts to IOCs to $1.58bn, Pays Off Mobil Out of about $4.6 billion negotiated joint venture (JV) oil production debt Nigeria was owing international oil companies (IOCs), about $3.02 billion has been paid by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), leaving about $1.58 billion as the outstanding, a report by the corporation has disclosed.

The NNPC in its October 2020 Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) report, explained that it has continued to pay the debt to the IOCs since

ENERGY a discount was negotiated by former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, in December 2016, from about $5.1 billion to $4.6 billion.

Within the period, the corporation stated it has paid a total of $3.02 billion to Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Total Exploration and Production Nigeria (TEPNG), Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN), Chevron

Nigeria Limited (CNL) and Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC).

It stated that SPDC which was owed a negotiated debt of about $1.4 billion has been paid about $455 million so far, TEPNG which is owed $610 got $307 million, NAOC which is also owed $774 million has been paid $389 million while CNL which is owed $1.097 billion has been paid just $$1.042 billion.

Out of the five IOCs, the corporation said that only MPN which the country owed $833

million has been fully paid, thereby relieving it of any debt to the oil company. With this, the NNPC explained that all incremental barrels of oil from its JV operations with MPN has reverted back to base.

In this regard, the corporation noted that Nigeria’s debt burdens to SPDC, TEPNG, NAOC and CNL as at August 2020 were $917 million, $303 million, $384 million and $55.4 million respectively.

Kachikwu, in 2016 negotiated Continued on page 24

The Managing/Chief Executive OďŹƒcer of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), Mr Adeoye Fadeyibi has been conferred with a Fellowship award by the Nigerian Institute of Directors (IOD).

Fadeyibi received the award alongside 30 other distinguished personalities during the institute’s 2020 Fellows Investiture held recently.

Reacting to the award, Fadeyibi said the recognition once again underscored the company’s culture of high performance and improvement in processes, procedures and practices. “I want to thank every member of the EKEDC team, I believe that this recognition would have been impossible without the eorts and seless contribution of everyone to the company’s strategic objective, growth and expansion. “This is a testament to the strides we are making as a brand and team and I encourage everyone to ensure we sustain this culture of excellence which has distinguished us as our Industry thought leader.â€?

Fadeyibi also thanked Eko Disco’s customers for their continued patronage and understanding and promised that the company would continue to sustain its commitment to the delivery of quality service to its customers at all times.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Fellows and Awards Committee, Mr. Thomas Awagu, explained that the theme of the investiture, “Innovation in Crisis Environment: the Role of Directors,� was critical in the light of COVID-19 pandemic which has forced a new normal on the global institutional, organisational and business ecosystem.

He noted that while crisis could be a driver of creativity and innovation, that could lead to new opportunities and discovery, collaboration and partnership was fundamental to maximising such opportunities.

Wema Promotes 214 Sta

Wema Bank has announced that it recently promoted 214 of its sta members.The exercise was part of the bank’s custom to reward good performance.

The promotion, which comes with a salary increment, cuts across several departments and grades, including senior, middle and junior sta, the bank explained in a statement.

The Chief Human Resources OďŹƒcer, Wema Bank, Ololade Ogungbenro, said the exercise was part of the bank’s intent to maintain a vibrant workforce by rewarding the eort of sta members. “2020 has been a diďŹƒcult year for all us but as a bank, we have had to depend on the commitment, innovative eorts, passion and dedication of our sta to ensure we continue to deliver refreshing digital solutions to our teeming customers. “Wema Bank is known for maintaining a motivated workforce with high standards of professionalism, innovation and excellence. Despite the current challenges of the Nigerian business terrain, the recent promotion is our way to reassure sta of the bank’s commitment to maintaining overall workforce motivation and support their career growth,â€? it added.

Youverify Gets ISO CertiďŹ cations

A Lagos-based identity veriďŹ cation startup, Youverify has been awarded the ISO 27018 and 27001 certiďŹ cations by the International StandardsforOrganisation(ISO).Thisfollowedasuccessfulcompletion of the requirements for the certiďŹ cation process by the company.

TheISO27001isagloballyrecognisedinformationsecuritystandard that indicates that a company complies with the international security management best practices and comprehensive security controls.

Similarly, the ISO 27018 is conferred on organisations that have systems and controls for implementing measures to protect Personally IdentiďŹ able Information (PII) in accordance with deďŹ ned privacy principles for public cloud computing environments.

Speaking on the occasion, CEO, Youverify, Gbenga Odegbami, explained that the certiďŹ cations conďŹ rmed Youverify’s commitment to service quality, data security and customers’ conďŹ dentiality.

According to him, “the ISO 27018 and 27001 certiďŹ cations are not a one-o award. They indicate a commitment to an ongoing process of continuous improvement in our security standards and processes.

“Be ready to always challenge your thinking, listen, reflect, communicate to your diverse stakeholders and stay focused on serving all of your stakeholders even when you risk been misunderstood – keep learning but keep communicating�

Former Executive Chairman, FIRS, Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru

24

T H I S D AY ˞ Ͱ͎˜ Ͱ͎Ͱ͎

BUSINESSWORLD SOUTH-EAST CRUCIAL TO NIGERIA’S GAS INDUSTRY REVOLUTION, SAYS FG will help commercialise over two billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) of gas and generate new revenue and employment in the east is an example of such investments.

He noted that businesses and industries in the region would benefit immensely from the efforts of the NNPC and GACN to open up its gas market. “I salute the ingenuity and spirit of enterprise of our South East industrialists and businesses. Evidently, the South East business community is well placed to key into the Federal Government’s economic development plan to move Nigeria from being a crude oil export-based economy to an attractive oil and gas based industrial economy. “Investment options include gas development, gas infrastructure development, virtual pipeline projects, joint venture partnerships with Nigerian Gas Marketing Company (NGMC) to expand the gas distribution network, gas-to-power, captive or embedded power projects, vehicular CNG projects etc.,� said Kyari who was represented

by NNPC’s Chief Operating Officer, Gas and Power, Mr. Yusuf Usman.

NNPC REDUCES DEBTS TO IOCS TO $1.58BN, PAYS OFF MOBIL with the IOCs and secured a discount of 25 per cent with each of them on the pre-2016 cash call arrears; this resulted in a final settlement of $5.1 billion payable from incremental production from the JV assets over a five-year tenor without any interest charges during the repayment period.

The discount was according to the terms of the negotiation not qualified for tax deduction.

It was equally expected then that from the negotiation and repayments, a sustainable funding of the JVs production will lead to an increase in national oil production from 2.2 million barrels per day (mbpd) which it was then to 2.5mbpd by 2019.

Kachikwu also disclosed in 2017 that the government followed its negotiations with the IOCs by paying the first tranche of $400 million to them.

NEWS

NACCIMA Pledges Support for FG’s Economic Stabilisation Measures Chris Uba The Nigerian Association of Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has pledged to partner with the federal government in the ongoing effort to reposition the economy for greater performance.

The association said it will participate in the arrangements for the implementation of the economic programmes under the Economic Sustainable Plan (ESP) announced by the federal government to kick-start the economy after the ravaging effect of Covid-19 pandemic, while also working to ensure that Nigeria maximises benefits derivable from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.

These were part of the declaration made by National President of the association, Saratu Aliyu, at a media briefing organised as part of the ceremony to mark the association’s 60th anniversary, to hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in November.

Aliyu said NACCIMA was instrumental to the ESP instituted by the government for the organised businesses, adding that the association stood as guarantor to its members who benefited from the programme. According to her, the initial stimulus package has since been followed by the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) of N2.3trillion.

“We have taken due note of the various programmes and projects under the Economic Sustainability Plan and various Stimulus Packages recently unveiled. This includes the N50 billion survival fund for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) and the N15 billion Guaranteed Uptake Scheme to save 500,000 jobs. “Notably, under this intervention, 40 per cent of the funds would be reserved for

women-owned business and it is encouraging that it has been indicated that the private sector will play an important role to rejuvenate the economy through these intervention schemes,� she declared.

She said, “NACCIMA and member chambers are eagerly looking forward to participate in the arrangements for the implementation of these programmes and packages under the ESP,� even as she pledged that the

association would invigorate its economic advocacy to position Nigeria for global economic competition while also working returning the economy to the path of sustainable growth.

On the 2021 National Budget, the NACCIMA President said, “we welcome the various facilities in the budget, such as the 100 billion for households and the N100 billion for healthcare and pharmaceuticals and N1trillion for large agriculture and manufactur-

ing business. “We have also taken due note of the indication that the facilities will be at reduced interest rate from nine to five per cent. We understand the desire to improve rail and road infrastructure and resolve our energy deficiency. “But we need to stress that in our desire to deal with these issues as a country we must be careful of unnecessary debt burden. We must not slide back to become a debtor nation again.�

CELEBRATING WORLD JUICE DAY

L- R: Managing Director, Chi Limited, Deepanjan Roy; Principal Dietitian/Nutritionist, National Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi, Adeniji Fatima Adejoke, and MarketingDirector,ChiLimited,ToyinNnodi,duringthecelebrationofthe2020ChivitaWorldJuiceDayevent,inLagos...recently

NEITI Records 200% Compliance from MDAs, Others Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has said that compliance to its benchmarks by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) as well as companies in the oil and gas sector rose by over 200 per cent in 2019 compared to previous years.

The assessment examined the level of compliance by entities to the data gathering component of the audit process with focus on two indicators: template timeliness and template completeness.

The organisation, therefore, commended companies and government agencies covered by

its 2019 oil and gas industry audit exercise for improved compliance in their submission of the audit templates used for data gathering.

A statement by the Director, Communications and Advocacy of NEITI, Dr. Ogbonnaya Orji, stated that the Executive Secretary of the body, Mr. Waziri Adio, made the comments while releasing the report of the compliance assessment in Abuja.

It stated that highlights of the compliance report showed that 49 entities, representing 68 per cent of the 72 entities covered, attained the maximum score of 100 per cent. “One entity scored 95 per cent while another scored 93

per cent. Four entities scored 88 per cent, while two entities scored 75 per cent, and two entities also scored 50 per cent. “One entity each scored 81 per cent, 72 per cent, 70 per cent, 68 per cent, 67 per cent, 63 per cent, 59 per cent, 40 per cent, 20 per cent and 18 per cent. Finally, three scored 0 per cent,� it stated.

Further analysis showed that out of the 72 entities covered by the exercise, 58 or 81 per cent of the entities assessed scored between 75 per cent and above, while 66 or 92 per cent of the entities scored between 50 per cent and above. “The exercise evaluated participating companies and

government agencies on a scale of 0 per cent to 100 per cent using the two indicators mentioned above,� it stated.

According to NEITI, while zero per cent showed total non-compliance with the data collection process for the audit, 100 per cent indicated total compliance with the data collection process. “The data submission compliance rate for the 2019 oil and gas audit is very impressive,� said Adio.

He added: “It is remarkable not just because of the massive improvement across the board but also because this improved compliance happened with all the restrictions imposed by Covid-19.

“This underscores the strong commitment of the affected companies and the government agencies. We commend them and urge them to keep it up.�

Adio stated that while timeliness looked at submission of templates within the agreed deadline, completeness focused on submission of all templates applicable to each entity.

He said NEITI’s first compliance exercise focusing on the 2015 oil and gas industry audit cycle was published in August 2017, stressing that a comparative analysis of the assessment scores for the 2015 and 2019 oil and gas data submission exercise showed improved compliance among covered entities.

Wabote: Total Pipe Coating Project Will Unlock Opportunities Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Group Business Editor

ĂŒĂ“Ă˜Ă˜Ă‹ Ă’Ă“Ă—Ă‹ Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Ă—Ă—Ă‹ Ă•Ă™Ă˜Ă”Ă“ Senior Correspondent

Ă‹Ă’Ă?Ă?Ă— Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ĂŒĂ™Ă–Ă&#x; (Advertising) Correspondents

Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂŽĂ&#x; äĂ? (Aviation) ĂœĂ™Ă—Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă? ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜ (Maritime) Ă‹Ă—Ă?Ă? Ă—Ă?ÔÙ (Finance) ĂŒĂ?ĂœĂ? åÙÔÓ (Insurance) Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă—Ă? Ă•Ă‹Ă?Ă™Ăœ (Energy) Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) Reporters

Ă&#x;Ă—Ă? Ă•Ă?Ă‘Ă’Ă? (Money Market) Ă™Ă?Ă‹ Ă–Ă?Ă•Ă’Ă&#x;ÙÑÓĂ? (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy)

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has assured that the ongoing Total Exploration and Production Nigeria (TEPNG) pipe coating project in Rivers stats will create huge in-country opportunities when completed soon.

Executive Secretary of the board, Mr Simbi Wabote, stated that the Total Ikike Line Pipe Coating Project, which is ongoing at the Pipe Coaters Nigeria (PCN) facility in Onne Free Trade Zone, Rivers, was a major local content booster in the industry.

Wabote, who spoke when he inspected the project, hailed

Total E&P for embarking on the Ikike project even during the period of Covid-19 pandemic, describing it as evidence that the company believes in Nigerian content development and the nation’s economy.

He hinted that the Ikike Subsea, Risers & Flowlines (SURF) Engineering Procurement Construction and Installation (EPCI) project would create jobs for numerous Nigerian youths, especially during the current downturn when most businesses and projects are shut down. According to technical details of the project, the planned duration is five months and it involves 12 inches X 28km Line pipes that would be coated with 3LPE, 5LPP and Concrete Weight

Coating (CWC). “Additional services will include bends coating and anodes installation and they are scheduled to be completed by November 2020. This would be the first time in Africa that a facility would be applying CWC on top of a Thermal Insulation (5LPE) coated line pipe,� the company said.

Wabote, who was represented at the event by the General Manager Projects Certification and Authorisation Division (PCAD), NCDMB, Mr. Paul Zuhumben lauded PCN for developing the capacity to execute the job and showing that local companies now have the capabilities to match their foreign counterparts in the delivery of oil and gas projects to

the highest quality and standards.

He noted that PCN had acquired experience that had spanned over two decades in Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG) pipe management, pipe threading and line pipe coating for deep water applications.

He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva for their commitment towards ensuring that the Ikike project continued despite the lull in the global business climate.

In his comments, the Operations Senior Manager of Tenaris/ PCN, Mr. Ugochukwu Chijioke stated that the Ikike coating project would be fully executed

by Nigerians.

He said it also offered the opportunity for the employment of over 300 direct personnel, adding that it will include training and the use of locally sourced materials.

He thanked the Executive Secretary and management of Total for making the project a reality and appealed to relevant stakeholders for more projects so that the skills and capabilities that were developed during the project can be retained.

Chijioke said the PCN was glad to be associated with the project for the Total/NNPC Joint Venture, adding that remarkable accomplishments that would be attained.

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Adesina: Electricity Must Be Correctly Priced to Attract Investments in Power Sector The Group Managing Director of Sahara Power Group and Chairman of Ikeja Electric Plc, Mr. Kola Adesina in this interview, sheds light on the investments and other efforts being made by the group to deliver sustainable electricity to Nigerians. Adesina also said the ongoing review of the service-reflective tariff must produce correctly priced electricity to attract more investments in power sector, amongst other issues. Peter Uzoho presents the excerpts: What is Ikeja Electric doing as regards mitigating the risks created by the inconsistency in electricity pricing in the country?

The answer to that is very straight forward because in Sahara – our power entities, Egbin, IE (Ikeja Electric) and First Independent Power Limited (FIPL), always conduct scenario planning and scenario planning simply means that we anticipate all likely possibilities and put in place a programme, process and strategy to deal with such eventuality. Thankfully, we are not caught napping. We are quite aware that this might happen, and it has happened. So we are absolutely prepared to continue to steer the organisation in the right path to achieve service excellence, enhanced productivity and sustainability. For us, it is not just being in existence that matters, it is being able to deliver the promise that we have made. For us, we believe our role in the electricity value chain is akin to having signed a service contract with all our customers to ensure that they have electricity and that we will ensure that we do.

We are investing massively as we speak today in network expansion and ensuring that the lines that need to be upgraded are strengthened.

We have equally given additional contract to partners involved in handling production of meters for us. We signed about N11.4billion for the purpose of metering our customers using intelligent tools. And if you equally pay attention to some of the things we are doing with regards to the premium bilateral power initiative, which we started in Magodo, Ikeja GRA, Ogudu and other locations, it is an initiative that is receiving endless commendation. The service-based tariff regime of this administration is a product of our own experimentation in Ikeja Electric, and that is why you see that they have now isolated and segmented customers along the line of those who have the capacity to pay and then ensuring that they are paying.

You spoke about investment, apart from the investment you are making in metering, can you tell us the total investment you are making in your network?

As I said, we are investing in metering.

Before then, you remember we had done $44million of investment in advanced metering infrastructure, which primarily is to integrate technology and innovation into our own way of doing business. So, we are doing network optimisation, we are doing more of operation upgrade as well, and most importantly, we are equally teaching our staff the new ways of doing things. If you use the old model of doing things, you definitely will not get the type of result you expect to see. So, part of what we are doing presently is to ensure that the capacity to deliver is equally a training process that we have inaugurated. Now, there is something you can’t teach, and that’s passion.

The passion of our staff lately, of which we measure regularly, is quite impressive. They deliberately and intentionally want to make things better, because ultimately, if there is electricity, that is when they can truly go to bed and rest. But today, we don’t have enough.

Talking of the back and forth, particularly on service reective tariff, and the extension of the suspension by one week, where do you see the ongoing discussion heading? And do you think the outcome is something that will at the end of the day favour the investment you plan to make in the power sector?

Well, undoubtedly, where we are headed is that electricity will be correctly priced. When it is correctly priced, that will be an incentive for investment by those who desire to invest. As we speak today, we (the Sahara Power group)

we can do 1,100megawatts and ultimately, we will be able to do the installed capacity that we met on ground. Quite a number of the other generating and distribution assets were actually well behind, now they are moving ahead. But we are not moving as fast as we should move. We should actually do more of leapfrog achievement than this incremental achievement that we are making, and the reason why that is so, is simply put, that the economic analysis of electricity is not done using the economic principle that it requires.

The people staying now in Magodo, Ikeja GRA, Ogudu, the story is different. If you ask anybody living in those neighbourhood, the number of hours of electricity they are enjoying, they will tell you they are doing incredibly very well. Some of our customers in those locations today want to retire their generators. That’s the aspiration we had, where generators will become a thing of the past.

So, I can say without a doubt that we have moved the needle, but we have not moved it to where we want it to be.

Adesina made our own investment based on patriotism, based on nationalism, based on the fact that we are Nigerians, based on the fact that we believe that we have the capacity to deliver on the promise of bringing energy to life in Africa. So that is at the premise upon which we made our investment. However, the commercial principle of the sector has to change and we thankfully appreciate the fact that government has come to that realisation that the resources available to state is not sufficient enough to meet all the needs of state. So, invariably, some

So, part of what we are doing presently is to ensure that the capacity to deliver is equally a training process that we have inaugurated. Now, there is something you can’t teach, and that’s passion. The passion of our staff lately, of which we measure regularly, is quite impressive.

They deliberately and intentionally want to make things better, because ultimately, if there is electricity, that is when they can truly go to bed and rest.

of these commodities need to be economically priced. So, pricing electricity economically is a commonsensical thing any administration will naturally want to support. Nigeria is doing about 5000megawatts. That’s really shameful, if you ask me, for 200million people. Like I said at a forum yesterday (last Monday), Nigeria should be doing about 50,000megawatts of electricity every day. So, what will make that happen? What will make that happen is first, for you the people (journalists) that communicate with the people, to agree with us that that is the right thing to do - supporting us by ensuring that the narrative for positive development in the electricity space is supported whole-heartedly. We, on our part, ensuring that the framework to deliver that power is available and ultimately, for the consumers to pay the right price.

By November this year, power sector privatisation will be ďŹ ve years according to the legal document signed by the parties.

What is your assessment of the sector after ďŹ ve years. Will you say the agreements signed between the government and the investors have been met?

Most people look at the lenses of development in Nigeria from the negative perspective, most especially electricity, and I will say without any doubt, we have actually made improvements.

The kind of improvement we have made is not one that we are happy about, it’s not one we want to celebrate. But let’s call a spade a spade: we have made a significant improvement. We were doing about 3,000megawatts in 2013, today we are doing 5, 700megawatts averagely. At Egbin here, we took over this power plant doing about 400megawatts. Today,

What steps are you taking at Ikeja Electric to enhance your employees’ knowledge on technical operations as you seek to improve service delivery?

Human Capital Development is ongoing for us at Ikeja Electric and we have a full-fledged Academy in place for continuous learning and development. Ikeja Electric Academy is an initiative borne out of the need to elevate the technical competence of our staff to deliver more value to our customers and improve turnaround-time in complaints or faults resolution.

The Academy is designed to re-equip staff with in-depth knowledge of various aspects of technical operations and spectrum of services provided to Maximum Demand (MD) and Non-Maximum Demand (Non-MD) customers within its franchise network. Of course we are driven by the fact that whilst it is essential for us to ramp up metering across our network, the training academy reinforces Ikeja Electric’s commitment to our customers We are ramping up capabilities and expertise in the technicality of metering, project execution, maintenance of installations, monitoring and management of assets, to ensure all our deliverables are met.

The IE Academy will operate virtual training sessions which will include classes facilitated by subject matter experts. Essentially, the virtual training will be complemented with field practical for participants, while on the job project will be carried out over agreed periods to enable hands-on application of knowledge. We also expect that the academy will develop the competence and capabilities of participants to enhance their knowledge in load assessment, use of metering reading app, meter recertification, troubleshooting, energy theft detection, proper customer classification, electrical energy meters operations and functionalities, installation of single and three phase meter among others.

Corporate social responsibility is viewed as a barometer of sorts for measuring how business impacts its stakeholders.

How is this playing out at Ikeja Electric?

Good Corporate citizenship is at the very core of our existence as Sahara Group. This is evident in our unwavering commitment to promoting sustainable development across our locations in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, reaching over 2,000,000 beneficiaries. In the same vein, at Ikeja Electric we are always delighted to be involved in the well-being of our host communities and customers through robust interventions in the areas of Health, Environment, Education and Empowerment.

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Ohiare: Why NERC Must Activate Funding Mechanism for Rural Electrification Dr. Sanusi Ohiare is the Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund and board member, Rural ElectrificationAgency. In this interview, he tells EmmanuelAddeh why it’s unfair for the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to continue to delay the funding sources for the body

N

igeria recently celebrated its 60th anniversary. In your view, how far has the electricity industry come?

When we gained independence, what was the state of our power sector? As you may know, rural electrification started in 1981 when the then NEPA sought to electrify all the local government headquarters in the country.

The aim was to reach all of them. If you are electrifying just the headquarters, you are not really getting to the rural areas. So, for a start, that was the objective under NEPA. Under the ministry of power, they had a department in charge of rural electrification. So, I will divide our history into two: the pre-reform era , which we can say is between 1960 when we gained independence to 2005 when we started the reforms and then from 2005 till now.

So, what were the features then? How’s that era different from now?

It was a monopoly then, only government was funding that segment of the rural electrification space. A lot of investments came in from government, but there was no commensurate infrastructure on the ground for various reasons.

There was no methodical way of citing projects.

It was all based on political considerations and was supply-driven in the sense that I am here and I want it to go to my village, not caring how much it takes. There were no economic or viability considerations behind citing projects. It was more of political considerations and it made us to waste a lot of resources. It wasn’t really our most efficient phase of rural electrification and it obviously led to corruption and lack of transparency and all sorts of irregularities.

So, this informed the new phase, which is the reform phase, post-2005 when the Electricity Sector Power Reform was signed and in this new phase, government is now focusing on the REA through the rural electrification fund to provide some sort of more funding and investment to the sector, away from just government. As you know, the sector is highly capital intensive. If you want to provide electricity, we are now almost 83 million people that do not have access to electricity and government alone cannot do that.

Government has realised that and has started the process of reform from 1999 till 2005 when the ESPRA was signed. When it was signed in 2005, nothing much happened in the rural electrification fund until 2017 when we were inaugurated. That was when we operationalised the fund and got the necessary documents and guidelines and then used the seed funding from there to pilot the rural electrification projects.

We did this by partnering with reputable developers and private sector players as a way of public private partnership where government is now bringing in part of the fund as grant and the private sector is bringing in its own funding from maybe its own equity or getting debts from commercial banks. This way, we are pulling in more funds and doing more projects as opposed to government in the pre-reform era doing everything. This phase is also informed by science and data. We want to see areas that are viable. We want to see rural communities that have productive uses. People who have some form of small or medium enterprises that with power they can use it and it will have a multiplier effect on their income and welfare and socioeconomic wellbeing. Though we took off late, this phase holds a lot of promise for the rural people as you can see from so many of the projects we have commissioned. Our solar home systems where the rural people are happy with the services they are getting and are paying for it which also means its sustainability in terms of how long it will last.

How has the collaboration with the private sector helped in this regard?

The private sector players are now on the

Ohiare ground, running and maintaining these projects as opposed to when government will just go and put a project somewhere without having a sustainability plan. Going forward, those projects that the government still does directly and we have the rural electric users’ cooperative society where the cooperatives within the communities are the ones to take ownership and leadership in operating, maintaining and sustaining these programmes and projects. So, on the one hand, we have the private sector guys collaborating with government and on the other we have the cooperatives which help with the projects that we still implement directly so that it is sustainable.

So, for us, sustainability is the key word. So, going forward into the next 60 years, hopefully we don’t want to be in existence in the next 60 years because if REA is still in existence in the next 60 years, it shows we haven’t made progress. In 10, 15, 20 years, hopefully we would have provided the necessary access to every Nigerian in terms of electricity supply and then we quietly cease to exist. We have a target of 2030 in line with the UN sustainable energy for all programme and hopefully when we hit that target and are able to provide 90 per cent of Nigeria electricity to Nigerians, then we can gradually start to plan our exit. So, there’s a message of hope. We have started to deploy all sorts of the technologies and innovation for electricity access and we will continue to do more as we get more funding.

There are concerns that the deductions you are supposed to get from NERC have still not been sorted out. Can you speak on that?

As you know the ESPRA 2005, created the REA, NERC and all the other agencies under the NESI. It also states how the REA should be funded and the plan was for the entire REA to be funded through the Rural Electrification

Fund (REF). That was the intention, just like you have in different sectors. In the petroleum sector, there’s the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF), the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), then there’s the ecological fund and of course TETFUND in education and all of these funds have sustainable funding mechanisms and sources. Sustainable in the sense that as you are creating the agency, you are tying it to maybe one per cent of consolidated revenue, a certain percentage of pump price, so that they will be independent in terms of funding. It is only the rural electrification fund in the entire country that doesn’t have money even though it’s called a fund. The only fund we have got so far is the budget which continuously keeps reducing.

From the initial N2 billion we got, now we are getting N400 million in the budget, yet people without access are still 83 million Nigerians.

So, if we are serious about moving this sector forward, then we need a sustainable funding mechanism. The regulator (NERC) is responsible for four sources of our funding.

One, the Act talks about the yearly surplus of the regulator after the audited accounts.

So, if NERC every year has any surplus left, because they get their own money from the tariff that everybody pays, then any surplus should come to us. Two, any licensee that is fined by the regulator, all the fines should come to us.

Now, the Act also gives the regulator powers to determine a certain contribution rate that licensees and eligible customers should pay to us and this can only be determined if we can only have a small slice of what is being paid by consumers.

So, basically your sources of funding have not been activated?

Because that’s the only sustainable funding that we can get, just like PEF gets a small slice taken from the pump price of fuel. That’s our

sustainable funding source, but this is yet to be determined because we keep getting the excuse that the market is illiquid and that people are not paying. That people are complaining about increase in tariffs, but these people are complaining, but you (NERC) are still getting your money as the commission. So, if you as the commission is still getting something no matter how bad the market is and you are only using the fund to pay for salaries and recurrent expenditure and take care of yourself and buy a big office, we that are the agency that should cater for the rural communities, we are not getting anything and you keep giving us excuses. For me, I don’t think this is fair. NERC is also supposed to determine a certain rate that by the end of the year, the turnover of all licensees and eligible customers, they are supposed to pay to the fund. They are yet to do this. So, we have been trying to have a meeting with them. They just gave us an appointment. Hopefully, we discuss and find a way forward. Otherwise, we would have to go back to the national assembly and maybe the president and tell them that we are comatose and that we do not have any money and that we are just existing in name as Rural Electrification Fund (REF). The agency doesn’t have any means of sustainable funding. Maybe they will look into our Act and see if they can give us another source of funding because the 83 million Nigerians that do not have access at all, which is half of our population, in terms of those connected to the grid and those not connected. You can’t be spending all of the money on the grid, 40-45 per cent Nigerians and then the remaining 50-55 per cent, no source of funding for them at all. The NERC, TCN, the NBET, MO all are focused on the grid and they all get a slice of what’s going on with the tariff, but the Rural Electrification Fund that is taking care of half of the people’s needs don’t get anything.

For me, we need more people and more advocacy on this and then we are going to engage them and give them the facts. Whatever, it is, if it’s bad, let’s have something, then when it gets better things will improve. But the rural people cannot continue to suffer and wait endlessly because of excuses from the regulators who should do their job.

Are there other areas you think, you need the support of the National Assembly?

Like I said, this supposedly source of fund from the market is not forthcoming. So, we need the regulator to help us determine another source of fund, maybe from the consolidated revenue , maybe from petroleum sector, something like renewable energy development fund or charge or maybe something similar to stamp duty or VAT. The National Assembly will have to empower us to have something from the tariff being paid because the NERC is not going to determine this tariff as the Act has empowered them to do.

The National Assembly should look for another way to empower us so we can have sustainable funding. It doesn’t make sense to say you want to provide electricity to 83 million Nigerians and then you are defunding the agency or not even make any effort. We don’t want it to get to the state where rural people will start protesting or causing problems or people going on strike before we rush to do this. It’s very important.

These are Nigerians who voted government and they are at the bottom of the pyramid. The same people those in the national assembly are serving and all of us are serving. We shouldn’t take them for granted. We need to take them seriously and provide a sustainable source of funding for them.

What level of intervention would be required to reach the target you have set for yourself?

We have a target set by government through the

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ADESINA: ELECTRICITY MUST BE CORRECTLY PRICED TO ATTRACT INVESTMENTS IN POWER SECTOR The Personal Corporate Social Responsibility (PCSR) platform is the vehicle with which we carry out these interventions ranging from Medical Outreaches, to donations to hospitals in the communities within our network, We also carry out constant environmental management activities such as market sanitation exercise, and we consistently partners with Corporate entities, NGO groups and communities to support the cleaner Lagos project. In recognition of the critical role of the younger generation towards building a vibrant socio-economic future for the Nation, IE remains committed to empowering and enhancing their capacity for improved learning by having various campaigns in public schools which includes ‘’Safety starts with me’’, “Light Up the Future�, ‘’Back to School’’ and “IE Book Donation� programs.

These initiatives have provided positive learning support, especially to underserved communities. In addition, IE has created an annual Youth Empowerment Program. The platform is designed to empower youths with entrepreneurial skill and create opportunities for them to achieve their aspirations. This is in line with our drive to impact society and improve Nigeria youth through our various CSR initiatives, in a bid to improve their independence and assist to reduce the level of unemployment across the country.

As a responsible corporate citizen, we take advantage of specific UN International days like International day of Charity, World Malaria Day, Global Hand Washing Day, Children’s Day and a host of others, to educate, enlighten and engage our publics on topical issues.

How is Ikeja Electric leveraging technology driven innovations to improve its service delivery?

I believe the world has not witnessed the level of disruption technology continues to bring to the business space. This is a positive development that Ikeja Electric keys into as innovation plays a critical role in driving our quest for excellent service delivery and driving growth across our platforms. For example, leveraging our mobile applications we pool data from our distribution assets and systems updating our customers with status of their supply, planned maintenances and information on network upgrades. Our customers can also access their energy management and usage information via our web applications and programmes. Through these platforms they have the power to manage the energy costs in line with their budgets and contribute to energy efficiency initiatives in the electricity sector. We have also leveraged on mobile and the internet to fast track metering activities across the network ensuring that our customers can benefit from the comfort of digitally

Well, undoubtedly, where we are headed is that electricity will be correctly priced. When it is correctly priced, that will be an incentive for investment by those who desire to invest. As we speak today, we (the Sahara Power group) made our own investment based on patriotism, based on nationalism, based on the fact that we are Nigerians, based on the fact that we believe that we have the capacity to deliver on the promise of bringing energy to life in Africa

Adesina aided end to end registration processes from application to procurement and all the way to actual metering. As a pioneer and leader in electricity cash-less payment services our payment channels rely on world class channel systems and aggregators making payment for electricity bills easy and seamless from any part of the world. Data and analysis is at the heart of our tech innovation drive and we believe that by relying on it responsibly, we can harness the power of programming, data science, and algorithms to build machine learning abilities across our systems. Ultimately, this positions us strategically to continue to build solutions that improve our customer experience and service delivery. The prevalent culture at Ikeja Electric challenges every employee to embrace and deploy future thinking in all our operations and processes. We are driven by a mindset that is constantly assessing the strategies of today and ensuring we have the right foundation,

alignment, and preparedness to adapt in the future. Building for the future starts by setting a road map that is clearly understood by everyone and innovating as we progress to achieve continuous transformation of Ikeja Electric for powering lives and businesses in Nigeria and beyond.

How does Ikeja Electric manage its safety machinery to ensure increased protection for its employees, customers, and the public?

At Ikeja Electric, we are acutely aware of the risks inherent to our industry with respect to quality, health, safety & Environment (QHSE) and that is why we apply strong technical, operational, and organizational Initiatives to pioneer new ways of approaching health and safety so that we leave a legacy that will help and contribute to a safer and environmentally sustainable energy industry. Post the privatiza-

tion exercise, we carried out a GAP Analysis on the health & safety management system which was not in existence, retrieved very few data through survey, past accident reports, Regulators’ report and annual HSE Performance reports during the PHCN period and analyzed the data to chart a QHSE course that aligns with global standards. We introduced Harm to Zero (H2O) Strategy which entails modification of traditional safety practices and deployed innovative structures with the aim of reducing accidents, establishing and sustaining a safety culture and improving business performance thereby enhancing operational excellence and business sustainability. Our innovative approach towards Occupational Health and Safety Management has won several local and international accolades and recognitions for excellent safety culture and pace setting initiatives in the Power Industry. We are delighted that our QHSE strategy continues to inspire a growing safety culture in the sector. In fact, Ikeja Electric is now an internationally registered VISION ZERO Company and continues to set the pace in the power sector, especially with the certification of our management systems to ISO 9001:2015, ISO 45001:2018 and ISO 14001:2015, making us the first organization in the power sector to attain this commendable achievement.

OHIARE: WHY NERC MUST ACTIVATE FUNDING MECHANISM FOR RURAL ELECTRIFICATION rural communities and bring about innovation in terms of productive use , processing and generate income for them. For SMEs, it’s the same thing. To provide sustainable, uninterrupted power and raise businesses because it’s cheaper than running diesel generators. So, it enhances business and productivity, create jobs and improving their general wellbeing. Same for healthcare and education. If you have power in those communities, people stay in school for longer hours. At night , they can do their assignments and they can catch up with their contemporaries in other parts of the world and then you can have telecommunications people come in with base stations.

Rural Electrification Strategy and Implementation Plan. The plan is to do 1.1 million households every year for the next five to six years. So, for a household, if we are to use the current rates, we will need say about $600 to provide a mini grid electricity to a household. And if you have 1.1 million households, just do the calculation.

It depends on how fast the government wants to do this.

If it’s a priority which I know it is, because the president has emphasised the need to provide all sorts of infrastructure to rural community, including power, then we should look at how this funding will be provided to meet this target.

We already have the skills and the innovation because we have tried all kinds of technologies and we have the people, the local market, local contractors and developers that can carry this on.

All we need is the funding to scale up because we have done all kinds of pilot programmes. We have tested our business model, but if we don’t have money to scale up, it will only continue to drag and linger for the next couple of decades. But the plan is that in line with the United Nations sustainable energy for all, let’s try to provide energy for all.

How does the rural electriďŹ cation fund impact rural economies. Can you break it down?

So, the fund we provide is to promote productive use and viable businesses. So, when we advertise, we look for developers that have track records

Ohiare and have the objective of staying in the rural communities to grow with them, economy wise.

We ask them to go to communities with thriving

agriculture, but no processing for instance. How do we take agriculture from that subsistence level to commercial and still employ people in the

Any form of collaboration with state governments by way of funding or provision of facilities?

We currently liaise very well with the state governments and the rural communities where we have projects. One of our criteria is that any developer going into any community will have to do some sensitisation in collaboration with our promotions department. We have offices in all the geo-political zones and they reach every state within the zone. We also allow developers have relationships with communities and have agreements signed in form of power purchase agreement in which can say whether they are happy with the developer or not. We haven’t had cases of communities not wanting to work with our people.

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T H I S D AY ˞ Ͱ͎˜ 2020

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Pantami Urges African Countriesto StrengthenDataProtection Mechanism Dike Onwuamaeze The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has urged African countries to develop data protection standard across their borders as part of the essential requirements for building a strong and reliable digital economy.

Pantami, made this call when he delivered the keynote address at the First Africa Data Protection Conclave, which was held virtually, recently. He stated that the need for data protection was the major reason Nigeria launched the National Digital Economy Policy Strategy, which borders on developmental regulation, digital skills, solid infrastructure, service infrastructure, digital services, soft infrastructure, digital society, emerging technologies and indigenous content creation and promotion. “We need to ensure that nations build their data infrastructure, mining and security to the highest level because this will be the industry of the future to generate economic growth and build wealth,� Pantami said.

Also speaking during the virtual event, the Director General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, emphasised the roles the agency played in developing the Nigerian Data Protection Regulation. which is modelled under the global General Data Protection Regulation. Abdullahi explained: “Although our Data Protection came a bit late, so far we have achieved several milestones and have recorded unprecedented achievements when it comes to compliance. “Our model is unique because we also appointed data compliance organisations like Taxaide Technologies Limited.�

He also said NITDA’s overriding goal of making data accessible to the youth segment of the Nigeria’s population was based on the notion that access to data is the key ingredient to building the economy by providing business solutions. In his contribution, the Managing Director/CEO of Taxaide Technologies Limited (Taxtech), Mr. Bidemi Olumide, the convener of the Africa Data Protection Conclave, said: “We

believe this event is testament to the fact that Africa is ready to take its place in the global conversation on data protection and cybersecurity and we look forward to the future editions of the Africa Data Protection Conclave which is billed to be an annual event.�

The event featured more than 25 speakers from Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia and Uganda among other African countries. Some of the dignitaries that graced the event were the Chairperson Information Regulator, South Africa, Mr. Pansy Tlakula; the ICT Policy and Project Manager, Africa Union, Mr. Auguste Yankey; the Human Rights Adviser in Charge of African Union Matters, Mr. Chafi Bakari; the Senior Associate, Hogan Lovells, France, Aissatou Sylla; the Associate Partner at Katende, Ssempebwa and Company, Uganda, Ms. Alice Namuli Blazevic; Justice Obafemi Adamson of the Lagos State Judiciary and the Partner AO2LAW, Mr. Oyeyemi Oke, amongst a host of high-level speakers.

Omoigui-Okauru: Transformation in Public Service Should Be Goal-oriented Nume Ekeghe The Former Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, has advised public servants to be clear about their goals as well as to develop a mindset of being service providers to members of the public.

She said this yesterday, while speaking on, ‘The Morning Show,’ on Arise Television.

In recollecting her time as FIRS chairman, she said under her stewardship, she was able to grow revenue by 25 per cent yearly, which she said was a testament to the agency’s clear goal orientation and service drive.

Speaking on governance in Nigeria and transformation, she said: “There is a tendency for us to think that things begin and end with one administration and we cannot really have progress if that is our understanding. “In transforming the public service, it is not a one-person race, it is not a one team race it moves from one administration to another and it is important we recognise that.�

She added: “The second thing I would like to mention is the need for strategic thinking and the need for being very clear about your goals. During my tenure in communicating his expectations, it was clear from my principal that he wanted to stabilise Nigeria’s revenues by

growing our non-oil revenue base even while growing the oil revenue and by ensuring that we are not overly independent on oil revenue. “And the second message he had for me as a secondary goal was for me to implement the workings of the study group of the Nigerian tax system which had started under Adamu Ciroma when he was Minister of Finance and also the working of group of the review of the Nigerian tax system which the Minister of Finance at the time Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had set up to review the study group and wanted me to review both reports and implement the salient recommendations there.�

NIPCO Targets More Gas-powered Vehicles in Nigeria Peter Uzoho The Nigerian Independent Petroleum Company (NIPCO) Plc has expressed its commitment to ensure that more vehicles run on gas in Nigeria to improve efficiency and guarantee cleaner environment.

The Managing Director of NIPCO Gas Limited (NGL), Mr. Sanjay Teotia, said the firm was committed to providing access to motorists to convert their cars to run on gas in furtherance of the federal government’s renewed initiative to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

The Assistant General Manager, Corporate Affairs, NIPCO, Mr. Lawal Taofeek, in a statement, quoted Teotia to have said this on the sidelines of a gas utilisation forum organised recently by the Gas Aggregation Company of Nigeria (GACN) in Imo State.

Teotia, said NGL, which is a subsidiary of NIPCO Plc, was providing plethora of infrastructure to facilitate use of gas as the preferred energy source to motorists and industrial concerns.

He said the new drive of the federal government has been very apt in spurring the use of gas

in transportation.

He said the company, which has so far fitted about 6,000 vehicles to run on gas since its inauguration in 2009, is pioneering gas-powered automobiles as viable alternatives to white products.

Teotia, noted that the initiative was conceptualised to offer alternative fuel to motorists as a result of the huge sums of money being expended on fuel subsidy, as it provides cheaper fuel and improve efficiency of vehicles.

He said the company has so far commissioned eight Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) filling stations in strategic locations and also established the biggest gas compression plant in West Africa in the country.

Teotia applauded the federal government’s initiative to ensure that more cars, especially commercial vehicles, run on gas, adding that NGL has positioned itself strategically to ensure the realisation of the objective to the benefit of Nigerians and clean environment.

The Vice President, Prof.

Yemi Osibajo, had said one of the strategies to make energy cheaper for Nigerians to carry

out their daily activities was by using CNG through conversion of cars to run on gas. Ă?ÙÞÓË Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă˜ĂŁËŞĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂžĂ?Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă’Ă‹ĂŽ Ă?Ă‹Ă?ÓÖÓÞËÞĂ?ĂŽ Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ? Ă—Ă™ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ“Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă—ĂŒĂœĂ‹Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‘Ă‹Ă? Ă‹Ă? ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?ĂœĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă– especially in Benin, Edo State, ĂĄĂ’Ă?ĂœĂ? ÞÒĂ? ÚÓÖÙÞ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă”Ă?Ă?Ăž ÞÙÙÕ Ă™Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŒĂ‹Ă?Ă™Ëœ Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă˜ ÞËÞĂ?Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă?ĂœĂ? ÞÒĂ? biggest gas compression plant in Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă‹ Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă“ĂžĂ&#x;Ă‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽËœ Ă“Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ĂžĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ă— åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ‹Ă– ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžËŞĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă˜Ă?ĂĄĂ?ĂŽ initiative to enable motorist have the capacity to use both gas and ĂšĂ?ĂžĂœĂ™Ă– Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă? Ă˜Ă™ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒËÞ ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžËŞĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂž ÞÙ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă—Ă™ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? commercial vehicles based on the Ă?âÚĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă Ă? Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă•Ă“ĂžĂ? ĂĄĂ‹Ă? very apt, adding that it would also be ÑÙÙÎ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ? åÓÞÒ Ă?Ù××Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ? support According to him, the Benin pilot ĂšĂœĂ™Ă”Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă“Ă? Ă‹ ÑÙÙÎ Ă“Ă–Ă–Ă&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ? ĂœĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă˜ Ă‘Ă‹Ă? Ă‹Ă? ÞÒÙĂ&#x;Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ? Ă™Ă? ÞËâÓĂ? in the axis are already powered with gas. “We have since improved our manpower to key in appropriately into government vision on vehicle conversion to run on gas as more enquiry are been made in our outlets on how vehicles especially those ĂœĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă˜ ĂšĂ?ĂžĂœĂ™Ă– Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ ĂŒĂ? Ă?ÓÞÞĂ?ĂŽ åÓÞÒ kits to use gas,â€? he said.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JULY 2020 Money Supply (M3)

36,822,751.47

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

3,476,121.25

Money Supply (M2)

33,346,630.22

-- Quasi Money

120,764,479.02

-- Narrow Money (M1)

12,582,151.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,002,026.89

---- Demand Deposits

10,580,124.31

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,637,137.23

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

29,185,614.24

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

39,711,115.95

---- Credit to Government (Net)

19,521,851.08

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-130,189,264.87

--Other Assets Net

3,472,017.70

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,421,827.07

--Currency in Circulation

2,395,917.03

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

11,025,910.04 317,234.17

Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

Ëž Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ ÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE Ëœ ÍŻÍ´ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $41.37 a barrel on Friday, compared with $41.29 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), ZaďŹ ro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

29

T H I S D AY ˞ Ͱ͎˜ Ͱ͎Ͱ͎

Volume of Trading Falls as Investors Remain Cautious Goddy Egene Trading volume at the stock market declined by 41.3 per cent yesterday as investors adopted cautious trading. Investors exchanged 287.3 million shares worth N3.4 billion down from 489.111 million shares valued at N4.720 billion last Friday. The most traded stocks by volume were Zenith Bank Plc (43.0 million shares), United Bank for Africa Plc (41.8 million shares) and FBN

Holdings Plc (32.8 million shares) while Zenith Bank Plc (N905.4 million), Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (N822.3 million) and UBA (N299.1 million) led by value.

However, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index closed flat at 28,659.07, while market capitalisation ended at N15.0 trillion. While the market recorded 19 price gainers, 18 stocks depreciated.

International Breweries Plc and Ikeja Hotel Plc led the

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

price gainers with 9.9 per cent apiece. Cutix Plc chalked up 9.8 per cent, just as Conoil Plc and AIICO Insurance Plc went up by 5.9 per cent.

Ardova Plc and Fidson Healthcare Plc garnered 5.8 per cent and 5.7 per cent in that order. Chams Plc and Japaul Oil and Maritime Services added 5.0 per cent each. Investors appear to the demanding for Japaul so as to position for the prospects expected from its new business

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

focus. has assured shareholders of bright prospects, following its new business focus from oil and gas servicing sector into natural resource management.

The company has diversified from oil and maritime services business to the exploration, mining, processing and export of minerals, such as gold, lithium among others.

According to the Chairman of Japaul, Mr. Paul Jegede, said with the constant change

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

and decline in the oil and gas climate, the company has remained committed and proactive in its efforts to bring value to its shareholders which necessitated the diversification from the company’s core business as the company believes these natural resources are a viable substitute for oil.

He said the company had acquired mining and exploration licenses through buy-overs for the exploration, mining and

O F

exportation of gold, lithium, copper, tin, lead and zinc across seven states in Nigeria where strategic minerals have been discovered in commercial quantities and reserves.

Meanwhile, Eterna Plc led the price losers with 8.9 per cent as investors took profit. The petroleum products marketing firm had 34 per cent last week.

May & Baker Nigeria Plc shed 7.6 per cent, while Academy Press Plc depreciated by 6.9 per cent.

1 5 / 1 0 / 2 0 2 0 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

30

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY OCTOBER 20, 2020

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT NBTE, ARCON to Accredit Architecture Programmes in Technical Institutions Fadekemi Ajakaiye Architecture programmes in Polytechnics, and other technical institutions will henceforth go through an accreditation process jointly managed by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON).

This followed a memorandum of understanding signed by the Executive Secretary of NBTE, Dr. Masa’udu Adamu Kazaure and the Registrar of ARCON, Umar Murnai, according to a statement by ARCON, which spelt out the processes both regulatory bod-

ies will undertake to ensure standard practice in all technical institutions in the country.

Thus, with effect from the date of the memoranda, all architecture programmes accredited by the NBTE will be recognised by ARCON until they are due for reaccreditation.

For instance, there will be joint visitation to Polytechnics, Colleges of Technology, Vocational and Innovation Enterprise Institution, Technical colleges, among others.

The statement said the MoU was based on existing mandate for NBTE in Decree 9 of 1977 and Decree 16 of 1985 and

those of ARCON as provided in Decree 10 of 1969 which empower both institutions for the accreditation and approval of programmes for the training of technologists, technicians and craftsmen.

They are expected to draw up a template for accreditation “which shall encompass the academic and professional aspects of the training shall be evolved and used for uniformity.”

ARCON is expected to receive the report of all accreditation to the architecture programme and consider the outcome as deemed appropriate.

L-R: Registrar, ARCON, Umar Murnai; President ARCON, Sir Dipo Ajayi; Executive Secretary NBTE, Dr. M. A. Kazaure; Director ARRS NBTE, Usman Danjuma; Deputy Director Poly Programmes, Abba Danmowa; HPDRD ARCON, Mr. Andy Ohiomah, at a meeting in Abuja… recently

Climate Change: ‘Cutting-edge Technology Will Enhance Food Security’ Fadekemi Ajakaiye As humanity grapples with the impact of climate change on food production, experts have determined that a sure way out of the challenge is through the use of cutting-edge technology.

According to Amrote Abdella, Regional Director: Microsoft 4Afrika, “one of most the prominent challenges facing Africa is providing

food security for its citizens.

While many farmers still rely on traditional techniques to coax a living from the land, there are opportunities to use cutting-edge technology to drive Africa towards a food-secure future.”

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) reports that over two billion people do not have access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food. A steady increase in hunger since 2014

together with rising obesity, clearly indicates the need to accelerate and scale up actions to strengthen food systems and protect people’s livelihoods. It seems only fitting then, that in 2020, the theme for World Food Day is ‘Our Actions are Our Future’. Accelerating innovation in agri-tech will enable data-driven farming that can optimise yields, boost farm productivity and increase profitability – all while feeding a nation.

Cutting-edge tech for ancient traditions AI in agriculture uses cutting-edge data, advanced analytics and machine learning to bring centuries-old farming knowledge into the modern age, giving farmers the tools to optimise crop yields and mitigate the effects of climate change through tools like smart irrigation. With agriculture sustaining 70% of Africa’s livelihoods, Microsoft is committed

to ensuring that all farming communities are equipped with the latest tools including AI, IoT and edge computing to improve productivity and sustainability across the sector, leveraging our extensive partnerships and initiatives network in the process.

AI as an enabler of farming There has been reference in the recent past of AI replacing people in jobs, but what

happens when AI and IoT devices enables people to spend less time on menial manual labour and more time boosting productivity and crop yields? AI and cloud technology can be used to monitor soil, climate changes and more to make better decisions on when, where, and how much to plant on farms. Precision farming, brought about by the adoption of advanced technologies into the agricultural sector, will revolutionise food production.

Why We Developed Housing Project for Students Yazeed Yakubu, the Brand Manager and co-founder of 135 student accommodation tells Udora Orizu about his recent accommodation for students in Abuja

W

hen was the accommodation project founded, and where is it

located?

135 Student Accommodation is a project of Ace apartments was founded in 2019. It is located at Paradise estate, Lifecamp Abuja. It’s an accommodation for students in the Federal Capital Territory.

What made you to start this student accommodation business?

We started the student accommodation business because we noticed a gap in the industry that needed to be filled, most accommodations put finance

and profits first making them not to do the needful to give students the very best in services, being students that were also in school once upon a time in our lives we know how that experience is of not receiving value for money, so we are here to change that narrative and do better for the students.

factors that facilitate the academic success of a student and their environment plays a huge role in it, hence why 135 Students Accommodation is more like a catalyst in the academic success of students providing them with an environment that has the amenities that facilitates their growth and development.

What is the goal of the accommodation?

The goal of the accommodation is to create a conducive and comfortable environment for students at an affordable rate, we realised that it is more than just going to school daily and doing the necessary work that makes a great student, there are some

What amenities do you have for students?

The amenities we offer our students (135ers) make us highly sought after. We offer the following to any student paying for one room, 2 or 3 in our accommodation. 24/7 electricity, breakfast /dinner, shuttle service, fully air conditioned rooms, free

L-R: Brand Ambassador, ADRON Homes, Saheed Balogun; Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Kemi Osude-Olaniyan; Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Housing, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka; Group Managing Director, ADRON Homes, Aare Adetola Emmanuel-King; and Director, Administrative and Human Resource, Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority, LASRERA, Mrs. Titilayo Omorodion, during a courtesy visit on the Special Adviser by the management Team of ADRON Homes, in Alausa… recently

Wifi, laundry services.

What makes this a better option compared to the other students’ accommodation?

We are not in competition with the other accommodations in our industry so we would not say there is any comparison seeing that we are in a league of our own. For us at 135 Student Accommodation it is the students before any other thing. They

are our priority. How we can see them excel and grow? That is our main mission. This is why we have taken our time to make the accommodation a conducive environment for learning. We have spent what will take us time to make back, but it is worth it if the students can thrive academically because of us.

How do you intend to

help the students develop themselves and grow?

135 is more than an accommodation where you sleep. We have a schedule of activities for every school year that we indulge our students in to help them grow physically, academically, emotionally and across all aspects of their lives. These include seminars, webinars, excursions and mentorship programmes.

NIOB to Discuss Safe, Sustainable Buildings in Lagos Fadekemi Ajakaiye The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Lagos State chapter, is set to discuss ‘Safe and Sustainable Buildings in Lagos State: Implementation Strategy for Lagos Physical Development Law and Regulations.’

This was stated by the Chairman 29th Lagos Builder’s Conference & AGM 2020 LOC, Bldr Owolabi Rasheed Ayoola, at a press briefing in Lagos recently.

The event scheduled to hold on Thursday 22nd October, 2020, is another opportunity to discuss and educate ourselves on trending matters that concern our noble profession and the Built Environment as a whole, he said.

Going by the trending issues of Lagos building

development and control which, if properly and collectively worked upon, will make the menace of building collapse in Lagos State and Nigeria, a thing of the past, he said.

Achieving safe and sustainable building is a current trending dilemma in our society today especially here in Lagos state with the highest record of building collapse in the recent times.

This phenomenon causes great concern to Government, Built Environment Practitioners as well as all stake holders and the general public as a whole, he said.

The primary aim of this year’s 29th Lagos Builders Conference is to create the indulgence of all stakeholders in the Built Environment on the need for safe and sustainable building; and stop the

menace of building collapse in our society by collective effort of all stakeholders in the built environment in line with compliance to the provision of the new Physical Development law and regulation, he said.

Establishing and creating awareness for the enforcement process of LASBCA and LASPPA Physical Planning Agency Regulation towards the achievement of safe and sustainable buildings in our society is one of the objectives of the conference, he said.

The Conference will also provide practitioners, developers and all stake holders on the benefit of insurance need to building development project and secure their investment against unforeseen and unpleasant occurrences, he stated.

31

˜ ͺ͸˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ T H I S D AY

TUESDAYSPORTS

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

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Ighalo in Paris with Man Utd for PSG Clash, Cavani Dropped Cavani not likely to make United debut in Paris Odion Ighalo has traveled with the rest of the Manchester United squad for Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League group game with PSG in Paris.

Ighalo, who is on loan from Chinese club Shanghai Shensua, has not enjoyed a decent run with United since the return of England star Marcus Rashford from injury.

The recent arrival of Edison Cavani could further limit his opportunities at Old Trafford.

The 31-year-old striker last appeared for United in the Premier League on September 19 at Crystal Palace, coming on for the last nine minutes.

He has not found the back of the net this season after he scored five goals in all competitions last season.

His loan spell ends in January.

Former PSG star, Edinson Cavani will not make his debut for Manchester United against former club Paris Saint-Germain tonight after the striker was left at home for the Champions League opener in Paris.

The 33-year-old did not travel to the French capital with the first-team squad yesterday and is expected to continue training back at the club’s Carrington base this week.

There are reports claiming that the Uruguayan could still make his own way to Paris for the match but it appears unlikely considering he was not at Manchester Airport for the short flight over to France.

Club captain Harry Maguire also did not travel with the group despite starring and scoring in the Red Devils’ 4-1 win over Newcastle at the weekend.

Meanwhile, Paris St Germain Head Coach, Thomas Tuchel has promised that his wards will concentrate on combating Manchester United’s counter attacks, 18 months after a heart-breaking elimination by the English side in Europe’s premier club competition.

PSG wasted a two-goal firstleg lead in a 3-1 home defeat

by United at the last 16 stage in 2019 but this year reached the final before losing 1-0 to Bayern Munich in August.

Coach Thomas Tuchel warned that previous achievements would mean nothing on Tuesday at the Parc des Princes, where PSG’s all-time top scorer Edinson Cavani could debut for the visitors.

“Last season is over, and we’re a different team now.

My challenge is to create a good atmosphere in a tight-knit squad,” Tuchel told a news conference before the Group H clash.

While United have already conceded 12 goals in four Premier League games this season, which seems to make them vulnerable to the attacking power of PSG’s Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Angel Di Maria, Tuchel has set his side’s priorities.

“They have made many

Eguavoen to be Unveiled Stade Malien Bamako Coach Today Former Super Eagles Head Coach, Augustine Eguavoen, 55, is expected to arrive in Mali today to be unveiled as coach of giants Stade Malien de Bamako.

The former Nigerian international was Super Eagles coach to 2006 AFCON in Egypt where the team finished third.

He also previously coached Bendel Insurance, Sharks FC, Nigeria’s Under-17 team with the like of John Obi Mikel

to the cadet World Cup in Finland.

Eguavoen was also an assistant to Lars Lagerback at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and took over briefly from the Swede for two matches late in 2010 before his ex-Eagles teammate Samson Siasia was appointed.

Stade Malien is a Malian football and sports club based in Bamako. It is one of the two dominant clubs of Malian football.

No Retropective Punishment for Pickford over Van Dijk Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford will not face retrospective action over his challenge on Virgil van Dijk in Saturday’s Merseyside derby.

The FA determined the incident was seen at the time having consulted with the match officials, including VAR. The Liverpool defender suffered cruciate ligament damage when he was caught

by Pickford in the first half.

The injury is likely to keep him out for at least six months and potentially the rest of the season.

The FA does have the power to intervene even if a decision is seen, but this is only used in exceptionally rare circumstances.

Evidently, these circumstances do not apply on this occasion.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has refused to put a timescale on Van Dijk’s recovery but says he will be out for a “pretty long time”, with a date for surgery yet to be arranged.

“A few things are clear, so he now will be out for a while, that’s clear,” said Klopp.

“I expected it pretty much on Saturday immediately after the game , especially when I saw the challenge back. I saw it the first time only from the bench, and when I saw it back it was pretty clear that he will be out for a long time.

“So we feel now in this moment extremely, extremely for him because most of us have been in a similar situation and we know that these situations are absolutely rubbish.

changes - to the 2018-19 team - they brought in new players with more confidence and more experience,” the German coach said.

“Paul Pogba is a key player, one of the best midfielders in the world. It’s key to stop him, and also to stop Bruno Fernandes. He

plays with three very fast forwards.

“They’re one of the best teams in Europe in terms of attack and transitions. It’s key to stop them before they start their counter attacks.”

PSG will not have it easy as they are without injured midfielders Marco Verratti and Argentine

Leandro Paredes, with the Italian out of action for three weeks with a thigh problem.

TODAY (Group Stage) Chelsea v Sevilla (8:00pm) Rennes v Krasnodar (8:00pm) Zenit v Club Brugge

(5:55pm) Lazio v Dortmund (8:00pm) Dynamo Kyiv v Juventus (5:55pm) Barcelona v Ferencvaros (8:00pm) PSG v Man Utd (8:00pm) Leipzig v Basaksehir (8:00pm)

Odion Ighalo is likely to star in Manchester United’s UEFA Champions League opening group game against PSG in Paris tonight

Lookman Proud of His Opening Fulham’s Goal Account Femi Solaja with agency report Anglo-Nigerian player, Ademola Lookman, has said that his side, Fulham deserved maximum points after their “disappointing” 1-1 draw at Sheffield United on Sunday.

The 22-year-old fired Fulham ahead at Bramall Lane in the 77th minute but it was cancelled out by Billy Sharp from the penalty spot five minutes before the end of the encounter.

Lookman’s solo strike was his first goal in the Premier League in over three years, when he scored against

Manchester City on his Everton debut in January 2017.

He expressed confidence in his goal scoring ability after the game, and he remains upbeat about Fulham’s chances as they continue to aim for their first Premier League win of the season.

“It’s disappointing really. I thought we should have got three points from the game, but it’s done now, so onto the next one,” Lookman told the club website.

“We all believe we can do great things this season.

Obviously we’re a new group so we’re still gelling together,

but that will come.

“We expect good things will come in the near future.

“I can score those goals. I can score all different types of goals, but it’s just disappointing that we didn’t get the three points.”

Fulham dominated both halves of the game on Sunday and Lookman, who played from start to finish, explained manager Scott Parker’s impact at the break.

“The gaffer wanted us to play a lot quicker, especially when we got into the opposition half, to try and penetrate a lot more,” he continued.

“That’s what we tried to do, and it worked for us.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to get us the three points.

“I definitely feel like in the second half we controlled the game a lot more, created a lot more chances and should have scored more than one.

“That’s the important thing, though, that we’re creating chances.”

Lookman is currently in West London on a seasonlong loan from Bundesliga club RB Leipzig and he has played two league matches so far.

Iyaye Tasks Committee on Successful Gov Wike Pre-Season Football Tourney Rivers State Commissioner for Sports, Boma Iyaye has tasked the committee in charge of the second edition of Governor Wike Pre-Season Football Tournament to ensure a successful competition in strict compliance with laid down rules and regulations.

Iyaye, who stated this during the inauguration of the committee in Port Harcourt yesterday, stressed that organizing a successful tourney will not only reiterate the state as the hub for sporting activities but will also showcase the traditional hospitality of Rivers people.

The sports commissioner pointed out that “the tournament is carrying the crest of Governor Nyesom Wike, the first Power of Sports recipient in Africa,” hence the need to have an impressive outing.

According to him, the tournament organized in consultation with the Rivers State Football Association is aimed at assessing the

strength of the state-owned Rivers United Football Club as the team prepares for the 2020/2021 season and CAF club competition.

“You are aware that the ban on sports activities in Nigeria has been lifted, however, we must continue to observe covid-19 protocols as prescribed by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Rivers State Ministry of Health.

“Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital is therefore expected to witness the influx of football enthusiasts and sports journalists from across the country for the ten-day event.

“We expect you to bring your wealth of experience to bear on this assignment and be assured of our maximum support to ensure the success of the event,” he stressed at the inauguration that had the Permanent Secretary, Sir Honour Sirawoo in attendance.

The chairman of the second edition of Governor

Wike Pre-Season Football Tournament organizing Committee, Bashir Badawiy, on behalf of members promised to ensure a well-organized competition that will remain a benchmark in the country.

Other members of the committee include Benjamin Akobo, Olalekan Ige, Dennis Dima, Chuks Ezeji, Bright Ogude, Chris Udogu, and Sepribo Nimifaa, who is to serve as the secretary.

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Sports, Sir Honour Sirawoo; Commissioner for Sports, Boma Iyaye; Committee Chairman, Bashir Badawiy and Secretary, Sepribo Nimifaa shortly after the inauguration in Port Harcourt...yesterday

Tuesday October 20, 2020

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MISSILE CAN to Army/Police “We condemn in strong terms every attempt being made to stop or disrupt the peaceful protest, which is lawfully allowed and guaranteed by 1999 Constitution.

We call on the military and police to resist the temptation to intervene in a civil protest in order to avoid harvest of deaths” – The Christian Association of Nigeria warning the military and police to avoid killing those involved in the ongoing civil protests across the country.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI abati1990@gmail.com

#EndSARS: The Generation That Said ‘Enough’ Turning and turning in the widening gyre The Falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity Surely some revelation is at hand…

- W.B. Yeats, The Second Coming (1919)

T

he poem quoted above: “The Second Coming” by Irish poet William Butler Yeats (1919) is probably one of the most adapted and quoted poems in world literature, and in politics and culture, to describe moments of anxiety, uncertainty and a seeming “slouching towards” chaos and anarchy in any community. Written in 1919, in the context of the Spanish flu, after the First World War which ended in November 1918, and at the beginning of the Irish War of Independence (1919 – 1921), W.B. Yeats’s poem helps to encapsulate the horror, confusion, the disarray, the despair that has overtaken Nigeria in the last two weeks, in the wake of a revolt by Nigeria’s Generation Z, a generation that insists that they can no longer tolerate the failure of the Nigerian state and leadership. They are saying “Enough is Enough”, and they would not be deterred until they see concrete assurance that the change that they demand is in the horizon. The “slouching beast” of their protest is a notorious unit of the Nigeria Police: the much dreaded, now defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). SARS was known for its brutality, its indulgence in extra-judicial killing and the lives of many innocent Nigerians which its members deleted with impunity. Police brutality is not the only beast: the youths of Nigeria have since identified more beasts: a problematic foreign exchange rate, cybercrime and fraud, fuel price hike, legislators who are underworked and overpaid, terrorist herdsmen, unemployment, bad roads, a failed leadership elite – all of which combined threaten the future of the average Nigerian youth.

They want to take charge of their own future.

They want to take their country back as they now say - “#one-step-at-a-time”.

For the past two weeks however, the street protests that have been staged by the youths have assumed a new life, resulting in a great disruption.

The protests have spread like wild fire, fuelled by innovation, creativity and “passionate intensity”.

One striking feature of it is how it has taken the shape and form of community transmission, especially in Lagos where every neighborhood feels obliged to organize its own version of the protest. On Monday, October 19, the state of Lagos was practically on lockdown. Every major street junction was blocked by angry youths playing music, wielding placards of protest, and asking motorists to either join the protest or return home.

At the Lekki end of the city, the Lekki toll gate has been shut down since the beginning of the protests. That particular spot has emerged as the nerve-centre of youth revolt, and a cultural melting pot where solidarity is the normative code, and rebellion is the spirit of the congregation.

In Abuja, critical road arteries were also blocked, effectively shutting down the entire Federal Capital Territory. The road to the International Airport was occupied. Northern Youths under the aegis of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) are also protesting across the 19 states of the North. The difference between the protests in the North and the protests from the Middle Belt to the South lies in the emphasis by the Northern groups on the need to end insecurity in the North. Essentially, there is a meeting of minds among Nigerian youths, North or South, that something terrible has gone wrong with our country that needs to be fixed. The other exception that we have seen

#ENDSARS protesters are those “rented” youths whose sponsors are yet unknown who attack the protesters in Abuja and Lagos, those who steal from youths who are fighting to save Nigeria, and those youths who are giving the emerging revolution a bad name by engaging in acts of violence.

The sad part of the protests so far is the degeneration into violence. What was conceived as and which began as a peaceful protest has now turned bloody. It has now been overtaken by the Nigerian factor. It would be most unfortunate if the protesters lose focus or they are pushed to do so. Amnesty International reported last week that about 10 persons had died in the course of the protests. The number has increased since hoodlums infiltrated the protests and policemen who had been warned by the Inspector General of Police began to shoot at protesters. The emerging picture is frightening. In Osogbo, Osun State on Saturday, the convoy of the State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola was attacked. The Governor insists that it was an attempt to assassinate him. In Abuja, more than four deaths have been reported within a week. Yesterday, Benin City went up in flames. Police stations and vehicles were set ablaze. Prisoners jumped the fence at the Benin prison and escaped. Just as we defend the right to protest, any act of violence is also condemnable. It is in order to prevent this that the Nigerian Civil Society has been very vocal in insisting that the police, the military and other security agencies must not turn their guns on protesters, or arrest or detain or harass them. It is also in part why the decision of the Nigerian Army to launch Operation Crocodile Smile VI in the middle of a nationwide protest has been criticized for its bad timing. The explanation that the Operation has nothing to do with the #EndSARS protest has been dismissed as insincere. Soldiers have now been seen on the streets of Abuja, confronting #EndSARS protesters.

Things are clearly falling apart…

The protesters claim that they are being provoked, or blackmailed, but as the days go by, it is difficult to identify a coherent strategy despite the gains that have been recorded. In the absence of an identified and structured leadership, the protest is at best amorphous. The Northern anti-insecurity protesters appear to be better organized. Every zone has a leader with published details. In the South, every man or woman who goes out to protest is a leader in his or her own right. This has resulted in internal bickering, and much in-fighting. Each member of the protest would seem to have an agenda of their own: from the adoption of protest as a new found vocation, or the enjoyment of the carnival-esque ambience of the protests. What needs to be watched also is the manner in which the protest in full flight is

beginning to alienate those who should naturally be part of it. The organizers should also watch out against inflicting emotional pain and psychological violence on the same persons whose interests they are fighting for. We are all involved in the struggle to save Nigeria. There is no Nigerian who has not suffered a form of police brutality or the other or the impunity of uniformed state officials. The various stories that have been told convey our collective pain and the depth of our anguish, and the drowning of our innocence. But when protesters block a major highway, and all arterial roads from dawn to dusk, they inflict pain on innocent persons.

For days, people living in the Lekki part of Lagos have not been able to go to work or go about their daily business. When people go to work on the Island from the Mainland, they are not sure of what awaits them on the road. Protesters take over the roads and harass motorists. The Lagos Ibadan Expressway has been shut down repeatedly in the last two weeks. Transporters are put through enormous stress. The supply chain between Lagos and other parts of the country is disrupted. The economic impact of the on-going protest is huge. A newspaper investigation reveals that since the protests started in Lagos, the closure of the Lekki toll gate alone has resulted in a loss of about N234 million. When all this is over, is there any guarantee that the managers of that toll gate will not take it out on the young people who work daily at that toll gate. And there have been reports as well of persons who died in the last two weeks because they could not be rushed to the hospital because the roads have been blocked.

All schools in Lagos have been shut down over #EndSARS protests. My point is this: while the right to protest is sacrosanct, it needs not extend to a violation of other people’s rights.

Nigeria faces a dilemma. How would the present crisis be resolved? The Federal Government has accepted all the five demands placed before it by Nigerian youths, North and South. It has dissolved the Special Anti-Robbery Squad. It has announced the establishment of a Special Weapons and Tactical Unit (SWAT), which has been roundly laughed off because of its peremptoriness and lack of originality.

A total of 37 officers have either been reprimanded, demoted or dismissed from the Police for having been involved one or the other in the abuse of office and privilege. In Lagos, four officers have been named and are likely to face prosecution. At the last National Economic Council meeting chaired by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, it was agreed that every state government and the Federal Capital Territory should set up a judicial panel of inquiry to investigate all cases of police brutality and extra-judicial killing and ensure that justice is done.

By yesterday, six states have set up the panels as agreed, and two - Lagos and Kaduna states- have inaugurated them. In addition, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has personally offered Nigerian youths an apology. The First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari has also called on the Nigerian government to “rescue the people.” Yesterday, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare after a meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa reported that the President has appealed to #EndSARS protesters to give government time to address their demands; they have spoken and he has heard and that the reforms they are asking for will happen.

Indeed, the protesters have achieved a lot in two weeks. They have demonstrated the power of solidarity and the importance of their voice.

This generation of protesters is not ready to “off the mic”. They insist on being heard. Their voice is so clear, it has been amplified across the world by celebrities, governments and Nigerians in Diaspora who have taken to the streets in about 10 countries of the world to draw attention to the Nigerian crisis. We have seen impressive displays of character and humanism as the story of the revolution continues to unfold, the physically challenged like Jane Obiene and Charles Nnama - victims of police brutality - who joined the protest and got the support and adulation of others. The nursing mothers who took their children to join the protest. The elderly mothers who protested on behalf of all mothers who lost a son, a daughter, a husband or a relative to police brutality. An 89-year old citizen, Professor JTK Duncan showed up at the barricades, waving the Nigerian flag.

Aisha Yesufu remains irrepressible. The Feminist Coalition, which has coordinated donations to the cause and the setting up of helplines is the very definition of responsible citizenship. We have also witnessed a harvest of creativity: new songs by Davido, Asa, Fikky, Kabex, Ripple Effect, Falz and M.I. Abaga which define the protest; many more are emerging: short skits, paintings, memes, ingenuous tweets…an online SORO SOKE radio platform, Nollywood movies in the making…The protest has been teleological, technological, poetic and physical.

But when and how will these protests end? The real protest is in the mind of every young Nigerian who has been disappointed by the Nigerian state and who prays for a better country. No one can put a final date to that. The youth of Nigeria will not begin to trust their governments because of a few concessions and fine rhetoric. When their country changes for the better, they will be the first to know. But protest as an event cannot be an end in itself. I believe that with the present outing, the time has come for an audit and a review of strategy after two weeks. The protesters must resist the temptation to be turned into shooting targets by a state that is becoming overwhelmed: in Lagos protesters reportedly took over the international airport; in Benin, prisoners escaped, and in the face of all that, some government officials are beginning to tell us that the government of Nigeria will not stand by and allow anarchy to reign. To whom it may concern: The time has come for a review of strategy and tactics.

As for the Federal Government of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari should step forward and address the angry youths of Nigeria at home and in diaspora. He can no longer afford to speak through proxies and third parties. The protesters won’t listen to such persons. They don’t trust anyone at all at this moment. The Falcon can no longer pretend not to hear the Falconer. This is the time to change the narrative of the on-going protest, and only you, Mr. President can do it. Talk directly to the youths of Nigeria. Then sack one or two guilty persons to show that you truly believe in the principle of fairness. Seize the moment. Now.

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