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FG Mulls Green Bond to Fund Safe Water, Sanitation Dike Onwuamaeze The Minister of Finance, National Planning and Budget, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, yesterday said the federal government was considering opportunities embedded in green bond and other sources of green

finance to fund access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

Green bond is a financing instrument used in funding projects that have positive environmental benefits.

Proceeds from such bonds are earmarked for green projects.

The federal government had in 2017 issued a sovereign bond in that direction.

She spoke yesterday during Africa’s Finance Ministers' Meeting (FMM), which was virtually hosted by the Save Water for All (SWA) in collaboration with the World

Bank, the UNICEF and the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Zainab, who expressed the federal government’s commitment towards improving investment in water and sanitation, said: “We see opportunity in green

bonds. We are also vigorously trying to access other sources of green financing ideal for the development of our water sanitation sector.

“We also saw an opportunity, through the COVID-19 pandemic to educate not just the people

but both the executive and the parliament to understand the wisdom of investing more and more in the WASH sector since investment in water and sanitation are actually an investment in health, Continued on page 9

FG, Transcorp Sign N105bn Agreement on Afam Power Plant Today... Page 8 Thursday 5 November, 2020 Vol 25. No 9341. Price: N250

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Biden in Cusp of Victory, Trump Goes to Court Former vice president says all votes must count Martins Ifijeh in New Jersey, USA Former United States Vice President Joe Biden was on the

cusp of victory yesterday as he surged his path to triumph with a win of Michigan that added 16 Electoral College votes to his ballots, rallying

them up to 264.

Biden is only six electoral votes shy of garnering the legally-required 270 tally to land him in the White House.

Nevada’s six votes, which he is expected to win, will make the outcome of the votes in five remaining states surplus to requirement.

The former vice-president also leads with 50.3 per cent of the popular votes to President Donlad Trump's 48.1 per cent.

So far, Biden has won in

23 states while his closest opponent, Trump is trailing behind with 214 votes.

Continued on page 9

Northern Govs, Monarchs’ Meeting Divisive, Say Southern, M’Belt Leaders Reject regime change label on #EndSARS protesters Core North doesn’t dictate to others, ACF replies Deji Elumoye in Abuja and John Shiklam in Kaduna Southern and Middle Belt leaders yesterday drew a battle line with their northern counterparts over what they called the domination of the federation by the core north, saying Monday’s meeting of the region’s governors with their monarchs and top federal government officials from the North was divisive and distractive.

The leaders, under the auspices of the Southern and Middle Belt Forum (SMBF), rose from a meeting in Abuja on the state of the nation with a vow to henceforth resist

what they described as the dominance by the core north of the nation's governance.

They said no section of the country could claim superiority over other sections, adding that failure of the federating units to live as equals may result in SMBL seeking alternatives as worthy individuals.

In a communique signed

by Chief Ayo Adebanjo (Afenifere), Chief John Nwodo (Ohanaeze Ndigbo), Chief Edwin Clark (Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), and Dr. Pogu Bitrus (Middle Belt Forum), the leaders described the meeting of Continued on page 9

MINISTERIAL CHAT...

Minister of Water Resources, Mr. Suleiman Adamu (left), and Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, during the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja…yesterday godwin omoigui

S’West Ministers Urge Probe of Soldiers’ Role in Lekki Shootings... Page 5

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

S’West Ministers Urge Probe of Soldiers’ Role in Lekki Shootings Seek FG's help to rebuild Lagos ICC considers investigating #EndSARS protests

Davidson Iriekpen in Lagos and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Ministers from the Southwest have urged the federal government to investigate the Lekki shootings, particularly the role of soldiers in the October 20, 2020 incident.

Besides, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has opened a preliminary investigation into the recent #EndSARS protests in Nigeria.

Briefing State House correspondents on behalf of the South-west ministers at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting yesterday in Abuja, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, stated that they briefed the FEC about the carnage and the destruction of property that took place in Lagos during the #EndSARS protest.

Fashola noted that he briefed the FEC on behalf of ministers from the South-west namely, Chief Adeniyi Adebayo (Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment) representing Ekiti State; Mr. Rauf Aregbesola (Minister of Interior) representing Osun State; Mr. Sunday Dare (Minister of Youths and Sports) representing Oyo State; Mr. Olamilekan Adegbite (Minister of Solid Minerals) representing Ogun State; Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora (Minister of State for Health) representing Lagos State; and Senator Tayo Alasoadura (Minister of State for Niger Delta) representing Ondo State.

The ministers had earlier visited Lagos State to commiserate with the Governor, Mr. Babajide SanwoOlu, during which they visited the Lekki Tollgate scene of the shooting.

Fashola said they urged the federal government to undertake a thorough investigation into what happened at the Lekki Toll Plaza, particularly the role of the military and ensure that the outcome is made public with a view to achieving closure on the matter.

He said the ministers first held a meeting before interacting with governors from the South-west.

According to him, the position of the governors was that Lagos being the epicentre, commercial and strategic city state in the South-west and the country should be visited.

Fashola stated: "So, I just briefed council about the reports that were presented to us by the Lagos State Government when we visited. The summary is that about 15 police stations were lost, commercial undertakings, especially the ones in Lekki and many other parts in Surulere, were damaged; some schools were also damaged. Private property were also damaged and public buildings like the City Hall, the Lagos High Court, Lagos Forensic Laboratory and DNA Centre, the Nigeria Ports Authority were also damaged - the palace of the Oba of Lagos and many others. “So, we presented the documentary evidence presented to us by the government of Lagos State, which was shown to the council.

"Then, we visited a few places- the Lagos High Court, led by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu,

we visited NPA, forensic lab and the Lekki Toll Plaza as well and as you all know, we found some items, which we handed over to the state government at the site."

Fashola added that Dare also visited the Lagos Island Hospital to empathise with seven persons who were reported to have sustained various degrees of injury in the ward and emergency unit and also visited media houses to commiserate with them on the destruction of their property.

He said the highlight of the briefing was to make recommendations to the federal government to support Lagos State to restore damaged facilities, especially those related to the maintenance of law and order and the administration of justice such as police, court buildings and forensic laboratory.

Fashola said the report was also for the government to consider supporting the Lagos High Court judges either with the provision of some office accommodation.

He said: "To also urged the federal government to consider short-to-medium-term support to small and medium businesses who were affected by the looting and arson, which took place in Lagos and other parts of the country, to see if something can be done through the central bank intervention mechanism under the COVID-19 funding or any other related funding mechanism.

And to also ensure that whatever is approved should also involve the National Economic Council, the platform on which state governors meet, so that other states across the country who were also affected, businesses were damaged can benefit in addition to Lagos residence who may so be supported.

"We also urged the federal government should undertake a thorough investigation into what happened in the Lekki Toll Plaza, particularly the role of the military and ensure that the outcome is made public with a view to achieving closure on the matter.

"We recommended that the federal government re-mobilises critical organs and agencies such as the National Orientation Agency and formal educational institutions to focus on ethical re-orientation, inculcation of family values into the school curriculum. We recommended a focus on etiquette, local reasoning, critical thinking, solution-seeking, empathy, self-respect, civic duty and human rights. “We also recommended to the federal government to actively seek and support the process of justice for all by ensuring that any of those apprehended and identified to be involved in the perpetration of this carnage be speedily brought to justice and fairly tried."

Fashola noted that the report also urged the federal government to implement the maintenance of facility management policy approved by FEC in 2019 for federal Ministries, Department and Agencies and to encourage states to do the same. “We do this because we see this as a usual vehicle to help absorb and create immediate employment of skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled labour, in order to address huge unemployment

and poverty-related part of the problem. This is important because people have skills but we need to provide the economic environment in which those skills can become income-earning and self-rewarding,� he explained.

The committee urged the federal government to restore confidence and morale of the police and to improve their welfare.

ICC Opens Probe into #ENDSARS Protest The ICC has opened a preliminary investigation into the recent #EndSARS protests in Nigeria.

In a statement yesterday, the Office of the ICC Prosecutor said it had received information on alleged crimes committed during the protests.

A report by the BBC said the examination would “assess whether the legal criteria for

opening an investigation under the Rome Statute are met.�

The ICC said it would make findings of the preliminary examination public.

In Lagos on October 8, 2020, protesters had suddenly took over the streets, demanding an end to brutality perpetrated by officials of the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS), a unit in the Nigeria Police Force, leading to a crackdown.

In less than a week, the peaceful protests had spread to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other states of the federation.

Tears gas, water cannons and live bullets were used in some cases to disperse the protesters.

However, hoodlums in Lagos and Abuja attacked #EndSARS gatherings at different locations with clubs, knives and machetes.

Many were injured, cars and phones damaged. Some casualties were reported.

Videos of expensive vehicles leading and guiding the hoodlums went viral.

The turning point of the agitation was October 20 when about 6:45 pm, Nigerian soldiers allegedly opened fire on unarmed citizens at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos.

The protesters stood their grounds as they waved Nigerian flags and chanted the national anthem.

The incident, which was said to have caused deaths and injuries elicited a global outrage with the international community and some local groups as well as individuals demanding prosecution of those involved.

On October 21, rampaging youths occupied the streets in defiance of the curfew imposed by the state government.

Riots and arson broke out in Lagos and other states, mostly in the South. Many private and

public properties were destroyed.

Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, had said security forces opened fire on protesters, killing and injuring a number of people.

Both the police and the army have rejected Amnesty's allegation.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, had since dismissed the threats to report him and some heads of security agencies to the ICC and other international authorities. “They have continually threatened to report the NA (Nigerian Army) to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and also threatened various forms of sanctions against personnel and their families. “Criminal elements are threatening us with travel ban but we are not worried because we must remain in this country to make it better,� Buratai had said.

DEFENDING THE FIGURES...

National Commissioners, Independent National Electoral Commission, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu and Mr. Festus Okoye, and Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, during their 2021 budget defence before the Senate Committee on INEC in Abuja‌ yesterday julius atoi

PDP Rejects FG's Bid to Censor Social Media Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday rejected the move by the federal government to regulate and social media, describing it as unconstitutional, anti-people and a suppressive design to suffocate Nigerians.

The main opposition party said the renewed frenzy to censor social media is ostensibly targeted at muzzling outspoken Nigerians, particularly the youths, media and civil society organisations, from demanding accountability and competence, as well as exposing alleged widespread corruption, unbridled treasury looting, barefaced injustice, human right abuses, constitutional violations and divisive actions of the APC-led administration.

The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said: "Our party rejects the claims that the regulation bill is targeted at checking fake news. This is because our nation already has enough implementable laws to

counter the dissemination of fake news and punish offenders.

"It is clear that the APC administration is rather xenophobic of criticisms from citizens against its manifest atrocities that it seeks to surreptitiously re-enact the obnoxious military Decree 4 to suppress Nigerians."

Instead of what it described as the desperation to gag the citizens and curtail their constitutionallyguaranteed rights, the PDP urged the APC-led administration to reassure Nigerians by ending its manifest corruption, treasury looting, abuse of human rights, nepotism and unaccountability for which the citizens demand answers.

The PDP also urged the federal government to become more accountable, particularly, by not shielding suspected corrupt officials, as being witnessed in the alleged desperation to protect federal officials accused of diverting funds voted for COVID-19 palliatives.

The main opposition party said the President Muhammadu

Buhari-led administration should address various corruption allegations, including the stealing of trillions of naira in sleazy oil subsidy regime and claimed under-recovery for unnamed West African countries; the alleged fraud in the N500 billion Social Investment Programme as revealed by the First Lady, Aisha Buhari; the alleged frittering away of over N9.6 trillion ($25 billion) as detailed in the leaked NNPC memo, among others.

It said this is in addition to the N90 billion allegedly stolen from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS); the alleged looting of N33 billion from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) fund and the over N25 billion allegedly siphoned from the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

"The APC administration should come clean on the parameters for the hike in the cost of fuel, the depletion of our foreign reserves as well as the mortgaging of our nation to external interests through foreign loans.

"Instead of seeking to gag Nigerians, the APC administration should be explaining how government vehicles were seen conveying hoodlums to attack protesters in Abuja as well as who deployed the military in Lekki Tollgate, leading to the reported killing of innocent and unarmed protesters," the party stated.

The main opposition party accused the APC of birthing and promoting fake news and using it as a tool to grab power during the build-up to the 2015 elections.

It, however, added that while it rejected what it described as the attempt to hide under fake news to impose a siege mentality on the country for selfish political reasons, its opposition should not be misconstrued as condoning the dissemination of fake news.

"If anything, the APC should be apologising for making our social media toxic, importing fake news into our polity as well as running an incompetent, oppressive and corrupt administration," it said.

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FG, Transcorp Sign N105bn Agreement on Afam Power Plant Today Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The federal government will today sign an agreement with Transcorp Consortium, the preferred bidder of Afam Power Plant, with a bid sum of N105 billion.

The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Alex Okoh, told journalists yesterday in Abuja that the agreement-signing ceremony showed the fact that rather than being hamstrung by the negative impact of COVID-19, the privatisation agency scaled up its activities during the pandemic by concluding the sale process.

He stated: "We had to review our activities as an agency upward instead of downward as a result of the COVID-19 issues.

We did not slow down but actually heightened activities basically to help generate revenue to support the fiscal plan for the year.

"And incidentally, tomorrow (today) just as an indication of some of the activities that we have heightened up, we are going to be doing the signing ceremony for the sale of Afam Power Plant to the preferred bidder. That alone will fetch the federal government a total sum of N105 billion. So, we didn’t slow down our activities at all; business is continuing as usual for us."

Okoh said the preferred bidder for the power plant also runs the

Transcorp Ughelli Power Plant, adding that they won the bid out of a strong field of about 12 prospective investors.

"So, tomorrow, we will do the signing ceremony at the Office of the Vice President and then, they (Transcorp) go ahead 15 days after to pay the 25 per cent of that N105 billion, and subsequently they will pay the 75 per cent,� he added.

The Afam Plant and Yola Electricity Distribution Company are among nine power assets listed for sale this year alongside 10 other government-owned companies, all projected to yield over N260 billion.

The Afam IV-V Power Station, located in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State, is owned by the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

The National Council on Privatisation (NCP) had October 2019 approved Transcorp Power Consortium as the preferred bidder for the Afam Electricity Generation Company (Afam Power Plc and Afam Three Fast Power Limited) with a bid price of N105.3 billion.

Diamond Stripes Consortium was approved as the reserve bidder with a price of N102.3billion.

Meanwhile, the BPE has denied the allegation of diversion of the N2.5 billion PHCN funds to buy property in Aso Savings.

In a statement made available to THISDAY, the BPE

debunked the reports, saying that on February 24, 2014, the agency got the approval of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) to establish a banking relationship with Aso Savings and Loans Plc. It said: "Subsequently, the bureau made a placement in

the sum of N2.5 billion in the account to facilitate access to cheap finance for the bureau’s staff housing scheme but the staff were not able to access the money.

"Following the federal government’s directive on 14th September, 2015 that all funds

held with commercial banks be transferred to the bureau’s Treasury Single Account with the Central Bank of Nigeria, it was discovered that Aso Savings and Loans Plc could not meet its deposit repayment obligations, leading to a new repayment agreement.�

The statement added that despite the new arrangement, Aso Savings and Loans Plc. defaulted in meeting its obligations under the agreement, noting that as a result, the bureau has made several demands on ASL, which has not been met till date.

CONSOLING THE MONARCH...

Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwanu Akiolu (left), and Vice President, Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria, Sheikh AbdurRasheed Adiyatullah, during a visit by a delegation of SCSN to the monarch on the recent hoodlum attack on his palace in Lagos‌Wednesday

Agbakoba Writes Senate, Calls for Devolution of Powers Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has written to the Senate, proposing that powers should be devolved to the nation’s federating units in order to forge a stronger union.

In the letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, Agbakoba, a rights activist, said there is no one-size-fits-all kind of “true federalism,� noting that the country must choose its own model, considering its peculiarities.

He called for a review of the exclusive and concurrent lists,

with the 98 items re-jigged to give more powers to the states, which are powerless given the lopsided nature of the legislative lists.

He stated that the simple proposal to what is considered a complex issue will help resolve many of the challenges currently besetting the nation and expressed his willingness to appear in person before the Senate to explain his position clearly.

He stated: “Nigeria has been long engaged in the federalism question. It is clear that because of our diverse nature and large size, the political system best suited for Nigeria is a federal

system. “But the challenge has been what type of federalism.

Many proposals, including restructuring, have been put forward without success. I believe there is a simple solution. This is the devolution of powers. “The constitution has two legislative lists namely, exclusive and concurrent. These lists have 98 items of powers. The federal government exercises exclusive power over 68 items on the exclusive list. The states in concurrence with the federal government, exercise power over 30 items on the concurrent list. “But the states may only exercise power on the

concurrent list, only if the federal government has not already ‘covered the field' on any of the 30 items. In effect, state governments really have no power.�

Agbakoba suggested that to resolve this, a committee may be set up to review the 98 items on the exclusive list and assign what is best to the federal government and what is best to the states based on the principle of subsidiarity. “I also suggest the exclusive list and concurrent list be renamed as the federal legislative list and state legislative list. The federal government will exercise reserved powers. The states will

exercise devolved power,� he said.

He explained that as president of the NBA, he worked with the Forum of Federations, which reviewed diverse models of federalism which can be of assistance to the National Assembly.

He said: “In their book: ‘Federalism: An Introduction by George Anderson,' the author points out that many federal models have strong central governments; yet other models have a weak central government. “Some models have interlocking features where the principle of cooperative federalism enables the federal

and state governments to jointly share heads of legislative powers. “I enclose a copy of the book as I believe it will be of value to the National Assembly. In truth, the concept of true federalism is a myth and does not exist.

Every nation chooses its form of federalism. “I have enclosed a draft schedule of how powers can be devolved from the federal government to state governments. “In my opinion, the simple process of devolved powers can be by virtue of an enactment styled, constitution alteration (devolution of powers) bill. This will resolve the self-imposed complex issue of restructuring.�

Dangote Refinery Targets Marketing Petroleum Products By 2021 Company’s fertiliser to hit market this month Peter Uzoho Dangote Group has announced that refined petroleum products from its 650,000 per day refinery under construction will hit the market by the last quarter of next year.

Also, products from its completed fertiliser plant will be in the market this month.

The Executive Director, Strategy, Capital Projects and Portfolio Development, Dangote Group, Mr. Devakumar Edwin, told journalists yesterday in Lagos that the refinery has reached 80 per cent completion, adding that engineering and construction were 100 per cent over while procurement was 98 per cent ready.

He said: “If you look at the overall percentage completion

we are at 80 per cent. But that overall includes engineering and design, which is 100 per cent over. Procurement is about 98 per cent over. So, it covers various aspects. But the core activity which is going on today is construction.

"So, if you look at exclusively construction, we have finished 60 per cent of construction.

But overall, it is 80 at per cent level. The progress is going reasonably well. “We had the impact of coronavirus because many of the countries where our equipment are being manufactured were affected.

"So, now, we hope to complete everything - all the assembling by the middle of next year. Then, we will start the commissioning process.

Middle of next year, we start

the commissioning process, and it's a huge refinery, the commissioning process may take three to four months.

"And then with start of products coming into the market. So, by last quarter next year, we should have our products coming into the market."

On the impact of the refinery on the price of petrol in the country, he said the basic economic principle of demand and supply would determine that.

Edwin explained that the increase in refining capacity in the country resulting in the rise in supply of petroleum products will bring the price down as was the case in the cement subsector in the country.

"This is a basic economic

principle: demand and supply.

When the demand exceeds supply, the price will go up.

When the supply exceeds demand, the price will come down.

"You can see it in the refinery too. BUA too has announced that they are going to put up 200,000 barrels per day refinery.

And you can see a lot of cottage refineries coming up - 5,000 barrels, 3000 barrels.

So as more capacity comes in, the philosophy of demand and supply will automatically act.

"Yes, it (petrol price) will not crash in one day but with a period of time it will come down to almost half the price currently," he added.

He noted that the group's primary aim of venturing into building petroleum refinery was to add value

to the country, especially as the nation's foreign exchange has been getting weak over the years.

He said: "One of the primary reasons foreign exchange is just getting drained out is fuel. You, people, know the acute crisis we are facing in dollars. I have been with you for 29 years, I have never seen this kind of crisis. There is something really radically wrong somewhere.

"Even during Abacha's time when it was $8 per barrel, we didn't face this kind of crunch.

So if you have this kind of refinery, the forex outflow will be minimised, the currency destabilisation will stop.

"By the grace of God, probably the currency can even get strengthened because after all, a lot of naira is chasing a

few dollars. So your dollars can be saved within the country."

Edwin, however, stated that finished products from the Dangote Fertiliser Plant will be in the market this month.

"And talking of fertiliser, actually the commissioning has started. I hope by the grace of God, we will have the product coming into the market in this month," he added.

According to him, 20,000 people are working in the refinery project and the group plans to employ as many as over 240, 000 people.

He said job creation was a key focus of the President of the group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, whom he said was always concerned about the rate of unemployment in Nigeria.

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PAGE NINE NORTHERN GOVS, MONARCHS’ MEETING DIVISIVE, SAY SOUTHERN, M’BELT LEADERS northern governors, ministers, traditional rulers and other senior officials of the federal government as against the concept of indivisibility of Nigeria, which the meeting made heavy weather of.

They expressed concerns about the state of the nation against the backdrop of Monday's meeting by the northern leaders in Kaduna during which they backed the federal government's quest to censor the social media and described the #EndSARS protests, hijacked by miscreants, as an attempt at regime change outside the ballot box.

They wondered where Nigeria would be heading to if they also decide to call their own meeting with their governors and top officials in the federal government.

They faulted the regime change label against the #EndSARS protests and said the protesters were peaceful and their demands clear until the Nigerian state hired thugs to attack them.

But in a swift response, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) denied the allegation that the core north is dictating to other parts of the country, saying that every section of the country is free to express itself in a democratic setting.

The Southern and Middle Belt leaders stated in their communique: "We make it abundantly clear to our

colleagues from the core North that yesterday (Tuesday) ended last night and never again shall this country be run the same old way as no section of the country can play any supremacist role again as if the rest of us are fools.

"It is either, we live together as equals under the same rules of engagement, or we explore other options as dignified human beings."

The SMBLF explained that its latest stand is not unconnected with the Monday meeting of northern governors with emirs, chiefs and northerners in senior positions in President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

The leaders described the Kaduna meeting, coming soon after the #EndSARS protest when everyone should be putting heads together nationally to seek solutions to Nigeria's problems, as most distractive and divisive.

They said the Kaduna meeting made Nigeria widely scattered as against the indivisibility and other non-sequiturs that were regurgitated at the end of it.

"Where would this country be heading to if we also decide to call our own meeting with our governors and top officials in the federal government?� they asked.

According to them, "We do not see any responsibility displayed by those who have been serially accused of

sectionalising our national government to allow such insensibility, insensitivity and total subversion of the unity of the country that only exists on the lips of those behind the meeting.

"It not also lost on us that the communiquĂŠ of the meeting was making space for National Executive Council (NEC) nominations to a sectional initiative as the utmost level of disregard to the rest of the country whom they are treating as serfs when we are supposed to be joint and equal stakeholders in the project Nigeria."

The communiquĂŠ added: "The meeting wondered the quality of humanity of any group meeting at this period of mourning not to have a word of compassion for those that were recklessly murdered by state forces and hired thugs during the protests.

"We reject the indecent approach to paste the peaceful protesters in dark colours. They made their demands clear and were orderly before the violent Nigerian state deployed armed soldiers and thugs in 911 Lorries against them. “It is wickedness to place ‘our power’ above every other national interest by playing the ‘regime change’ label on the peaceful protesters who were not armed like Boko Haram that the regime is chasing about with negotiations in the same spirit it has been cuddling and

pampering killer herdsmen.�

The leaders said they did not see the thoughtfulness in the celebration of northern youths not participating in the #EndSARS protests as if they did not also loot like their deprived young people in other areas of the country, which showed they were suffering the same thing.

The stated: "We foresaw all that is happening now, which is why we have been calling for restructuring as a multi-ethnic country like Nigeria can only be run along federal lines. “We were not oblivious of the damage the military did to this country by using fiat to create LGAs with headquarters in the villages of top shots mostly from the North. “Kano State today has 44 local governments and Bayelsa has eight. When you want to recruit 10 policemen per LGA, Bayelsa will have 80 and Kano 440. That affects where the materials to be drawn into SARS and others are drawn.

The inequalities multiply everywhere. And this is why we insist on restructuring of the country now before we go for any national election."

Other leaders of the SMBF who signed the communiquĂŠ for PANDEF are Air Vice Marshal Idongesit Nkanga (rtd.), Chief Broderick Bozimo, Mr. Solomon Asemota (SAN), Senator Bassey Henshaw, Prof.

Gordon Darah and Chief TKO Okorotie.

Other Afenifere signatories are Mr. Yinka Odumakin, Senator Kofoworola AkereleBucknor, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, Senator Femi Okunrounmu, Chief Supo Shonibare, Chief Demola Folarin and Dr. Akin Fapohunda.

Those who signed for Ohanaeze Ndigbo are Chief Guy Ikokwu, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Mr Chuks Muomah (SAN), Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN), Mr. Madu Bright O Allwell, Mr. Chuks Achi- Okpaga and Chief Alex Ogbonnia.

The representatives of the MBF that signed the communiquĂŠ are Air Commodore Dan Suleiman (rtd.), Dr. S D Gani, Mr. Stephen Bangoji, Hon. Jonathan Asake, Mr. Chris Aba, Mr. Mark Jacob and Mr. Festus Nyiwo.

Although Trump is leading in four of the remaining states, Biden would only need six electoral votes from one state to emerge the 46th president of the US. Sensing he is an inch away from winning, Biden called on both Republicans and Democrats to unite in building the nation, saying there was a lot of work ahead, which would

require the support of every American.

He said: "We are campaigning as Democrats, but I will govern as an American president. The presidency, itself, is not a partisan institution. It's the one office in this nation that represents everyone and it demands a duty of care for all Americans and that is precisely what I will do."

He talked about the anxiety and division that many Americans feel, saying that although there are opposing views across the country, "We have to stop treating our opponents as enemies. We are not enemies. What brings us together as Americans is so much stronger than anything they can tear us apart.

era.

Abdi described water and sanitation as a human rights needs that could have catalyst impact on other sectors of human life and the economy. “Water scarcity threatens more and more communities each year. We are witnessing increased competition for the scarce water resource.

This situation demands new solutions and new approaches, including better water governance and efficient management in the face of changing climate. “Sanitation is a public good and requires public funding to ensure equity and safe management of waste. Quite too often these investments are not being made. We believe that inaction will bring greater costs measured in lost productivity and rising healthcare challenges and pollution. “A recent report estimated that Sub-Saharan Africa collectively needed to spend 2.5 per cent of its GDP to extend safe sanitation. A substantial aspect of this must be targeted to reach the most vulnerable and the poor. This is an investment we must make. Let us work together to make this vision a reality for everyone, every community and every family and every child,� Abdi said.

(WHO), Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, also stated that investing in water is critical in preventing the outbreak of diseases like cholera.

Ghebreyesus said all humanity is at risk when some segments of the population are unprotected, noting that underinvestment has left 800 million Africans without safe water and more than 700 million without basic sanitation or the means to wash their hands.

Similarly, the World Bank’s Managing Director for Development Policy, Ms. Mari Elka Pangestu, said that finance ministers would appreciate the evidence that investing in WASH is critical to health and economic growth by helping to create and sustain millions of jobs.

Pangestu said a dollar investment in WASH would create four dollar returns “Water is a critical input for productive activities including agriculture, SMEs and large industries. Indian solution has shown the world that a large scale supply of safe water could be delivered in a short period of time,� she said.

In his contribution, the SWA High-Level Chair and former Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. Kevin Rudd, made the social, political and economic case for investing in WASH. Rudd said: “My argument is that even in this crisis, acting now for sanitation

is excellent politics for each African government bearing in mind that a lot of economic and political loss comes as a result of not investing in water. Globally, we lose $260 billion every year in economic growth through inadequate investments in sanitation.

Non-performance in sanitation takes 1.5 per cent from your GDP.�

Core North Doesn’t Dictate to Other Parts, ACF Replies However, in a riposte to the allegations against the North, the ACF said every section of the country is free to express itself in a democratic setting.

The spokesman of ACF, Mr. Emmanuel Yawe, told THISDAY yesterday that politics is a game of numbers and that northerners always vote together.

He said: “These groups are free to say what they want.

After all, Nigeria is said to be

a democratic country. They are talking to a section of the North they call ‘core north.’ “We in the Arewa Consultative Forum do not discriminate where a Northerner comes from. “Once you come from the defunct Northern region, you are accepted and treated as equal in the ACF. “They say the ‘core North’ cannot dictate to them anymore. That means there was a time they accepted dictation from the core north. “It will be nice if they go further and tell us what they did together at that time. “These groups are looking for whom to fight in Nigeria.

We in the ACF count ourselves lucky because we are not their target. “If you look at the heads of state most of them come from the North. “But most of these heads of state did not come through democratic means, they came through undemocratic means. “So, when we are talking in a democracy, it is different from somebody who carried a gun and chase people out of power. “We have had more heads of state than the South. But they came through a democratic process. You see politics is a game of number. If the North has dominated the politics of the country, it means they have more numbers and they always vote together.�

BIDEN IN CUSP OF VICTORY, TRUMP GOES TO COURT Although he has also won 23 states, his chances of returning as the 46th president are dim.

But the final results may not be known until as late as tomorrow as Trump and Biden await results from six battleground states to know the winner of this year's quadrennial election.

The outstanding results, held up by the counting of mail-in ballots are from

Alaska (three), North Carolina (15), Pennsylvania (20), Arizona (11), Georgia (16) and Nevada (6). As at press time, vote counting was still ongoing in the battleground states.

The prospect of losing his re-election bid has prompted Trump to threaten lawsuits, especially to stop the counting of mail-in ballots that he did much to deligitimise prior to

Tuesday's presidential poll.

Already, the president has headed to the Supreme Court to arrest further counting of votes from Pennsylvania.

In contradistinction to Trump's surly mood yesterday, the former vice president was upbeat about victory as he called for patience and for all votes to count, at a press conference he addressed later yesterday.

Continued on page 38

FG MULLS GREEN BOND TO FUND SAFE WATER, SANITATION education and the economy.�

She added that the government has exhibited its commitment to improve access to safe water when it collaborated with state and local governments and development partners to declare a state of emergency in the water sector in November 2018. “This declaration was quickly followed by a launch of a national action plan that indicated a strong political leadership toward reaching universal access to safe water.

"This action plan gives us an opportunity to strengthen the political leadership and also create and sustain existing partnerships and also mobilise the community to participate so that behaviour can change," Ahmed said.

According to her, “access to clean water in Nigeria is still a daily challenge for many of our people. This problem is particularly acute in the Northern part of Nigeria. It contributes to the very high prevalence of water-borne diseases and threatens lives and livelihood especially of small holders’ farmers.�

She added that her ministry “is a major stakeholder in this endeavour. And we are working with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to continuously increase our investment in water and sanitation, recognising the fact that investing in WASH

is actually investing in human capital development and direct investment into the economy.�

The Chief Executive of SWA, Ms. Catarina De Albuquerque, in her welcome address, noted that “smart investment in water saves lives and helps the economy to recover and is making a difference all around the world.�

She added that water, sanitation and hygiene initiatives in Nigeria has continued to have a positive impact on education.

The Acting Vice President of AfDB, Ms. Wambui Gichuri, said investment in WASH would not only provide employment opportunities but create opportunities for youths.

Gichuri noted that the annual investment requirement in Sub-Saharan Africa to meet SDG 6 is $35 billion while North Africa needed $4 billion.

She said: “This is many times more than what that has been historically invested.

The AfDB will continue to prioritise the water sector.

The bank has invested over $6 billion in WASH. It is also mobilising $160 million green climate finance to fund water and sanitation. We are also placing emphasis on private sector participation as an option for a lot of players to afford and expand sustainable management of financing.�

The Executive Director of UNICEF, Ms. Henrietta Fore,

said it was strategic that the meeting took place at a moment the world was faced with the challenges of COVID-19, which has exposed the weaknesses and inequalities associated with poor funding of WASH in dramatic ways.

Fore, however, noted that the government would be under enormous fiscal pressure and might not be able to fund social programmes as COVID-19 is deepening global recession.

This, she said, represented a huge threat not only to development progress but to social stability.

She, therefore, challenged the finance ministers to come out with lasting policies for financing WASH through policies that would maximise value from existing national funding and mobilise additional funding to close the gap in water and sanitation by gathering more partners around the world, including the private sector. “So let us work together to develop and deploy investments and solutions to ensure safe water and sanitation and handwashing a smart and necessary investment,� she said.

Also, the Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF, Mr. Omar Abdi, said the international agency was discussing on how to improve WASH financing during and after COVID-19

The Director-General of the World Health Organisation

TOP GAINERS CHI PLC PRESTIGE FCMB AIICO JAPAUL TOP LOSERS MBENEFIT WEMABANK JBERGER

NGN NGN 0.03 0.37 0.04 0.58 0.15 3.05 0.04 0.87 0.01 0.24 NGN 0.01 0.20 0.02 0.62 0.45 17.05 GSK 0.10 5.90 HONEYWELL 0.01 1.02 HPE Nestle Nig Plc â‚Ś1,421.70 Volume: 286.446 million shares Value: N3.094 billion Deals: 2,889 As at yesterday 4/11/2020 See details on Page 37

% 8.8 7.4 5.1 4.8 4.3 % 4.7 3.1 2.5 1.6 0.9

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COMMENT

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

CRY FOR ‘FALSE START’ POLIO-HIT DEVELOPMENT There is failure to embrace heroic roles in Nigeria’s history, argues Okello Oculi

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he Commissioner for Health in Kogi State wept openly on surveying the destruction of health care equipment imported by his government; lamenting that his government does not have the money to import replacements. If research and development by scientists at the State University was being funded with billions of Naira to invent and produce medicines out of local flora, his losses would have been minimised. Demonstrators who destroyed and burnt equipment were probably rejecting a policy of importing technology; regarding it as a “false start’’ on the road to development.

The level of destruction of property associated with “ENDSARS’’ echoed protests in Hong Kong and French officials in 1958 punishing Guinea (for choosing full independence), by destroying clinics; chairs, window panes, tables, black boards in classrooms; telephones ripped off, and equiment returned to France.

The choice location of storage and properties looted and burnt suggested a study of Gordon Thomas’ book “GIDEON’S SPIES: The Inside Story of Israel’s Legendary Secret Service: THE MOSSAD’’. In its operation political and commercial centres at national and local government centres are daily researched and reported on by agents.

Lucrative details like storing bags of rice, fertilisers, agricultural tractors, television studios, and alcoholic drinks are noted. Cameras inside Satellites and drones chip in.

Such details would have proved vital for shocking Lebanon by exploding bags of phosphate ignored by officials of Beirut. Agricultural tractors stored in Jalingo, in Taraba State, were noted at lootable data; computers in a private school classroom in Yola; cars and archives burnt; television equipment ransacked in Calabar, were mapped and shared the fate of buses parked in LVT’s yard in Lagos.

Visual images of the trail of destruction has shown the power of “propaganda of the deed’’. Various contents of that power have emerged. Among “Southeast leaders’’ there is a need to call for “concerns of our people that are peculiar in various states’’, namely the safety of Igbos. As evidence of bad governance, Chie Bode George denounced the descent of teachers from giving quality education to becoming “Cheats’’ through examination “malpractices’’, thereby producing unemployable “illiterate graduates’’ that expend their frustration by beheading policemen; burning cars and buses.

Chief Bode George also denounced selfishness, greed, nepotism and corruption by government officials in the use of public power and funds; doubting the merit in the Governor of Lagos State offering jobs to 4000 youths because boiling volcano of millions at the base of the youth

OBAFEMI AWOLOWO’S POPULARITY WAS ANCHORED ON GIVING FREE EDUCATION TO CHILDREN OF POOR PEOPLE. MALLAM AMINU KANO WAS A HERO OF THE TALAKAWA BECAUSE HE ROUSED THEIR PROTEST AGAINST FEUDAL RULERS

pyramid would not be excluded.

The rage of the Commissioner for Information of Cross River State is likely to be mocked by this volcanic mass of youths. They have shed floods of tears while governments preferred to export billions of Naira to foreign contractors import bulldozers while the potential power in their arms to clear bushes and swamps remained ignored.

Governments have imported rice soaked in cancer-causing chemicals and bought radiation technology for treating cancer patients. They have not given loans to cooperative youths to grow rice locally, thereby, preventing imported poisons.

There is a failure to embrace heroic roles played by aroused people in Nigeria’s history. Usman Dan Fodio, for example, built his revolution of 1804 on igniting anger in masses of people ruthlessly exploited and terrorised by their Hausa rulers. He warned his successor against committing sins of Hausa rulers. Because they forgot his warning, British invaders were hailed as lions that broke Fulani power.

Obafemi Awolowo’s popularity was anchored on giving free education to children of poor people. Mallam Aminu Kano was a hero of the Talakawa because he roused their protest against feudal rulers. Ignoring this legacy underlies the record of depending on imported expensive technology and millions of pharmaceutical drugs and NOT on mobilizing the energy in Nigeria’s population to take preventive measures. Kickbacks from awarding contracts is more rewarding for officials, Millions of women in Nigeria’s diverse agricultural ecologies have invented nutritious beverages. Their geniuses continue to be denied markets and investment capital. Governments purchase beverages sold by multinational corporations rather than investing in those produced by millions of Nigerian woman. Empowering vast numbers of these women is betrayed. That blocks these women from employing millions of youths in their beverage processing and textile weaving. Also blocked are the application of inventive youths who would fabricate and manufacture local food-processing technology.

Television telecasts show “High Society’’ celebration events which must provoke intense competition among Commercial Attaches of foreign embassies wishing to market the exotic and expensive garments worn at these occasions. Organisers of ENDSARS must see in these rituals evidence of billions of national income being used to support creative textile labour and genius abroad while unemployment is worn by Nigeria’s youth.

These “FALSE STARTS’’ in economic and cultural roads to development fuel ‘’ENDSARS’’.

KATSINA AND TYRANNY OF FAKE NEWS

writes that documents ying around alleging all kinds of fraud against the state government should not be taken seriously

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ost unfortunately, as humanity strives to halt the proliferating hazards of fake news, there are elements within the same humanity who, knowingly or unknowingly, engage in the promotion and sustenance of the fake news industry.

Those who indulge in it knowingly are certainly motivated by desperation for mischief or to cause some chaos of which they would become the ultimate beneficiary.

Of recent, the Katsina State government has been at the receiving end of a string of vicious fake news through forged state government documents dripping with abominable falsehood. There is no doubt that the intent of the originators of the documents is to paint the state and its leadership with the tar brush of orchestrated embezzlement, mismanagement and corruption. Of course, the goal is to give the impression that the leadership of Governor Aminu Bello Masari is selfserving and in no way working to improve the lives of the people.

Alongside these spurious documents is a petition forwarded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

by Mahdi Shehu, a business man, alleging mismanagement of a whopping N52.6billion as security votes in five years in the face of mounting security challenge in the state. Shehu says the state government squandered the funds without achieving any meaningful outcome. This allegation, as well as sundry others, is false in its entirety.

But thankfully, the state has responded responsibly by rightly describing the N52.6b security expenditure as absolute falsehood, initiated and promoted by the petitioner for reasons best known to him.

Dr. Mustapha Inuwa, the secretary to the Katsina State government, pointed out at a press conference in July that contrary to

the petitioner’s claims the escrow account, which was initiated by the late former governor Umar Yar’Adua’s administration, had received only N6.4b since the Masari administration took office in May 2015.

In fact, from records in the government’s financial profile, the total amount spent on security from May 29, 2015 to September 2020 is N5,085,714,929. So, we ask the petitioner: where did the N52.6b come from?

There are different verifiable documents on the security fund and its disbursement to the appropriate security personnel and agencies. In making sure it maintains the escrow account, a commendable decision by all standards, the Masari administration considered the meagre funds at their disposal and slashed quarterly contribution of state and local governments to N150m and N170m. Until June this year when a new account was opened with N4m, the state government had no transaction. All of this easily points to the fact that the petitioner’s claims are a figment of his imagination.

As a way of further straightening the records, it must be stated that in the list of the government’s alleged spending the expenditure referenced in the escrow account from January to April 2015 were made before Governor Masari assumed office.

For instance, there are available documents to show that under his able leadership there has been a significant reduction in the amount disbursed as allowances of the 10 security operatives guarding Lambar Rimi windmill project since taking office in May 2015. And in any case, the allowances were stopped completely in August, contrary to claims by detractors that government resources have continuously been misappropriated through bogus disbursement of allowances to security operatives.

A careful study of Shehu’s petition shows that it is loaded with repetitions of entries that put a huge question mark

on the total amount said to have been squandered by the current administration.

For example, the petition claimed that the administration spent N780m on military operation during COVID-19 lockdown in August 2018. This a most ridiculous allegation because, as everyone knows, the COVID-19 pandemic only began to rear its ugly head in Nigeria in March 2020.

This, again, is the best illustration of the petitioner’s utterly mischievous intent.

As earlier hinted, there are so many fake documents circulating in the public alleging one form of financial malfeasance or the other on the part of some Katsina State government officials. One such document went as far as alleging that N500m was released to the senior special assistant on political matters to sponsor APC Convention in Abuja. But the truth, going by available documents, is that such amount was never approved for that purpose and no such fund was approved for that office, whether in one fell swoop or in instalments. And to confirm that this allegation is false, the date on the document (May 29) is a public holiday and the charge vote 461218 belongs to the Ministry of Religious Affairs and not office of the political adviser.

Another fake document alleged that personal accounts were used to siphon money from state government accounts.

How can this possibly be the case, when everybody knows that government does not pay money into accounts of individuals for services or procurement? Yet another wild claim alleged that N49b hotel bills was paid into the account of a political appointee. False. Truth is, no money was paid into the personal account of any appointee. The person in question has tendered his account statements and challenged anybody with contrary evidence to present it. The bills were cleared directly with the respective hotels.

The documents flying around alleging all

kinds of fraud are all politically motivated and so do not deserve to be given the smallest atom of attention for no other reason than the fact that they are what they are: fake. All are concocted by desperadoes who are hell-bent on rubbishing the good work the Masari administration has been doing to uplift the state and its people.

Good thing is that the state is also not folding its arms and allowing these mischief makers have their way. Following in the footsteps of the robust, eye-opening clarification by the SSG, the state’s commissioner for information, culture and home affairs, Alhaji Abdulkarim Sirika, has alerted the public on the circulation of these documents which obviously the sponsors disingenuously presented as belonging to the state government. Only an unwary Katsina indigene would fall for the sponsors’ gimmicks.

Alhaji Sirika has also taken pains to counter the fake documents and put out a clearer picture of Masari’s government as one driven by not just the values of competence, but also of utmost integrity.

It is just too obvious to any discerning observer of events in that state that these doctored documents turned facts on its head by referring to the expenditure of funds that the government doesn’t even have.

In their desperation to embarrass the government, they went as far as forging the signatures of key government officials, including that of Governor Masari. This is a horrific crime that the government cannot afford to ignore. Those who are behind this dangerous pastime of sowing the seed of discord and trying to cause disaffection in the state should be made to face justice just so the message can be sent to potential agents of destabilization, especially the purveyors of fake news, that there is no space for them in the home of Hospitality.

Abdulrahman wrote from Katsina

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EDITORIAL

DEATH AND THE AFRICAN MIGRANTS African leaders must contain the trend by turning their economies around

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o fewer than 140 African migrants were last weekend drowned off the coast of Senegal in the deadliest shipwreck recorded this year, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). Four shipwrecks were recorded in the Central Mediterranean and another in the English Channel. “We call for unity between governments, partners and the international community to dismantle trafficking and smuggling networks that take advantage of desperate youth,� said IOM Senegal Chief of Mission Bakary Doumbia.

The migration crisis, as we have reiterated several times, is a cruel twist of the logic of the transatlantic slave MANY WHO MADE IT trade. In the old trade, African TO EUROPE OR THE agents of EuroMIDDLE EAST ARE pean slave traders USUALLY FORCED INTO hunted men and PROSTITUTION, USED AS women and forcMERCENARIES, DEPLOYED ibly sold them off AS HOUSEHOLD SERVANTS, to be transported across the Atlantic.

FACTORY WORKERS, DRUG In the new ‘trade’, COURIERS AND EVEN AS Africans are willingly subjecting ORGAN DONORS and submitting themselves as fodder and merchandise for enslavement across the Mediterranean. From the accounts of some of the returnees, many who made it to Europe or the Middle East are usually forced into prostitution, used as mercenaries, deployed as household servants, factory workers, drug couriers and even as organ donors.

Driven by economic desperation, thousands of able-bodied young men and women are, almost on a daily basis, embark on suicide missions in the bid to migrate towards the northern hemisphere in search of opportunities that have since disappeared in those very societies. While only few of these migrants eventually reach their destinations where they face disappointment and frustration,

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majority of them usually perish on the way. In Nigeria, it is important to interrogate the conditions that create the desperation to leave the country for unknown destinations. Today, we live in a country where many are not only poor but cannot find jobs. Factories are closing down and selling their warehouses to promoters of religious organisations while several businesses are shut down or moving out of the country due to lack of electricity.

Meanwhile, there is also a criminal dimension to the problem with some unscrupulous people now recruiting from their villages and towns young girls with the promise of securing for them good jobs abroad only to turn them to prostitutes.

There are chilling statistics which suggest that human trafficking has become one of the biggest money-making businesses after drug trafficking.

Today, our country is regarded not only as a transit route for this illegal trade but also a source as well as a destination with children and young adults, especially of the womenfolk, now becoming merchandise for what has become a cross-border crime.

Curiously, hardly any African country has embarked on a conscious effort to address the scourge of the new migration. Yet the increasing number of our citizens being humiliated, repatriated or killed in recent migration reversals places a heavy burden on leaders within the continent. In what is clearly an organised crime involving international syndicates, human traffickers move their victims to Europe through North Africa by caravan, most often forcing their victims to cross the desert on foot. In the process many die even as the survivors are subjected to all forms of indignity, in the bid to repay the heavy debts owed their “benefactors� by way of travel expenses. But the trade is thriving because most of the people involved wield powerful influence with which they circumvent the law.

While we condemn this modern day slavery to which our young men and women are unwittingly submitting themselves to, those in authorities could do more to stop the ignoble traffic. There is an urgent need for a sustained campaign to let our young men and women know that the grass is not necessarily greener on the other side.

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.

RESTRUCTURING: EL-RUFAI IS PLAYING TO THE GALLERY

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he Nigerian political class has gained proficiency not in providing good governance but in pulling the wool in the eyes of the electorate.

They have mastered this act to the extent of making an attempt to call white as black; and calling black as white.

In the heat of the debate for the restructuring of Nigeria in 2017, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) made an attempt to hijack the issue with the inauguration of the El-Rufai restructuring committee on Thursday 10th August, 2017.

At the end of the committee’s sitting, several recommendations were tabled before the leadership of the party in a well-publicized event. Unfortunately, that was where the issue ended. The setting up of the El-Rufai’s committee on restructuring was simply meant to undercut

the opposition, pull the wool in the eyes of the electorate and weaken the demand for restructuring.

It is quite unfortunate that Governor El-Rufai lends himself to be used for these horrendous tasks. You can then imagine my surprise to read that Governor El-Rufai has finally woken up again to the restructuring debate.

Speaking in Kaduna at the 50th anniversary of the Centre for Historical Documentary and Research, El-Rufai stated that restructuring is inevitable.

Pray, what has become of the report of his committee that was submitted to his party before the last election?

I can submit to you that this is another attempt by El-Rufai and his friends to once again hijack the restructuring debate without any meaningful strategy on the way forward.

The narrative for restructuring should not be hijacked to protect the status-quo which

in itself is not equitable and lopsided.

True federalism and genuine restructuring should never be state-based but rather REGIONAL AND SPECIFICALLY REGIONAL AUTONOMY. The regions can then restructure themselves to determine the appropriate number of states within each region and the economic viability of the proposed state within their regions.

To equate state restructuring with regional restructuring is only self-serving and not in line with the expectations of the demand of the youths or the best equitable interests of Nigeria.

And to Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who is now proclaimed as the adopted son of the north, he should note that restructuring only means one thing to the Yoruba nation and the progressives - Regional autonomy, nothing less. Dr. Fayemi and Governor El-Rufai

must not change the narrative.

The progressive agenda is restructuring through regional autonomy, abolishment of the unitary system and reinstating true federalism.

The federal republic of Nigeria is only on paper – it means nothing because it does not exist. Nigeria has not lived up to its potential.

Nigeria was a negotiated secular federation aspiring to be the light of Africa not a feudal state based on nepotism and ruled by the forces of darkness.

If we must take Mallam El- Rufai seriously, he should promote regional restructuring and autonomy rather than state restructuring. The time for true restructuring of Nigeria is now!

Prof. Babs Onabanjo, President/CEO of A.D. King Foundation, USA and President, Nigerian Alliance for Democracy (1993-1999)

I WON, FOR A WHILE

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onald Trump is talking of claiming a victory if the early numbers go his way. I like this approach as my football team led at the end on the first quarter - victory assured, although later quarters were less positive. I had the first two numbers of the Lotto - time to spend the money, although not all subsequent numbers matched mine. My racehorse was leading as it entered the straight - time to collect the cup, even though a few sprinted past soon after. I look for the positive in life too but I’m not claiming victory till someone else, who is credible, confirms it.

Aim for a win, hope for a win, although be ready to congratulate the winner if it is someone else.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY NOVEMBER 5 2020

POLITICS

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

‘Nigeria Has Resorted to a Lot of Loans to Survive, Even to Implement Her Budget’ In a recent dialogue with Professor Abubakar Olanrewaju Sulaiman, former Minister of National Planning and current Director General, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, Hammed Shittu uncovers his thoughts on many issues of national importance

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Mallams, Pastors must also come in.

Our clergymen should support what government is doing, we must see security as our business. We must all address it. As a matter of fact, we must assist government in addressing insecurity in this country.

ith your experience in your new office, how do you think Nigerian democracy can be deepened?

Sixty years of independence of this country is full of ups and downs as well as various challenges and progresses. But quite frankly, if we have not got anything at all in terms of deepening democracy, our 21 years of uninterrupted democratic governance points to good future of peoples’ government, a future of democracy, a future that despite our differences as a people, we can still make tremendous progress in the areas of democratic practice and procedure. Yes, in my stewardship of almost 16 months in the institute, we have seen some politicians who are ready to learn about democratic tenets, we have seen the people, politicians, parliamentarians that are ready to let go, we have seen the people who want to conduct election without necessarily going to litigation thereafter, we have seen consensus among contestants, we have seen acceptance of defeat; what we had in 2015, we never had it before in this country, the election we had in Edo, we never had it before now, the Ondo election was not bad. So, I think we are making tremendous progress.

INEC has released timetable for 2023 elections, some political parties have been deregistered, while some people are calling on the National Assembly to look into the amendment of the Electoral Act, what is your take on these issues?

There is no doubt about the fact that our democracy cannot survive with the kind of “jankara” political parties we have in this country. We have to cut the number down. A lot of political parties we have are “shoprite” political parties, let me use that language. Just one shop, no office, no followers, no members and no disciples. You begin to ask a question, of what relevant are they? Adding to the number on ballot papers, adding to the confusion in electoral process? I think we need some legal frameworks to bring them down. I pray to Almighty God that their recourse to the law court for justice in their own word, will not see the light of the day. We must have two or three vibrant political parties that can represent the various opinion of people of this country. We cannot survive with 60, 70 or 80 political parties. It does not make sense at all. If we must practice democracy the way it should be, we don’t need all those “shoprite” political parties.

So, we need serious electoral reform.

National Assembly is looking into it, and I want to believe that with the kind of National Assembly we have now as we had in the 8th National Assembly, we should see something possible in terms of result that will come out from the National Assembly as far as electoral reform is concerned.

What can be done secure the ballot, electoral officials and the voters?

Government has done its own, government is doing its own, security is everybodys business. My clamour and advice to Nigerians should not see

Sulaiman

security or insecurity as government business alone. Boko Haram members reside somewhere, militants reside somewhere and kidnappers reside somewhere. People know them. The various Talibans we have in Nigeria, let me use that word, reside somewhere, we must be able to expose them. As long as we are not ready to support the security agencies in exposing all these criminals, insecurity will thrive in this country. And I keep on saying it that these security agencies are not God and they only see what they can see within their own limited knowledge unless they use intelligence. So, my prayer and advice to Nigeria people

is that we must see security agencies as our people, we must assist them with useful information. Government could budget trillions for them, if people do not support and assist them in terms of useful information and intelligence, we cannot get solution to various situations to various threats we find ourselves. Before, threat get into our communities, we must be able to identify it. To identify it therefore, people must assist before they now do what is called threat assessment.

So, we must assist them with useful information especially the Police.

Then, the various traditional rulers must be involved, religious leaders,

It is simple, as long as we practice democracy, peoples will to prevail. We have gone beyond the military mentality where people that handle weapons believe that they are at liberty to make use of the weapons the way they feel. It suggests that our Police Force needs reorientation. This is a Police Force that had their root in the colonial and military era, but with uninterrupted democratic dispensation of 21 years, our law enforcement agencies need to inculcate the spirit of democracy into their operation. Police Force should be civil, law enforcement agencies should be civil. The army could be uncivil but the Police should be civil

On ASUU strike, what do you think can be done to resolve the impasse ?

The trade dispute on campuses between ASUU and government is being resolved, I want believe that, National Assembly has waged into the crisis. It is a persistent thing. Even after this, another one will still come because resources are very limited and demands of academics are unlimited, and when you give to them, it is in the best interest of Nigeria people, our students and our children. In managing resources, government needs to have one and let go the other one.

It is not an easy thing to so, what we have today as TETFUND, UBEC emanated from the struggle of ASUU. Nigerians should not see academics or trade unionists as hoodlums. These are intellectuals These are people that trained all of us and still training our children. Therefore, their demands should be seen from the objective point of view. Yes, we appreciate government’s predicament, we had lockdown, prices of oil at the international market have gone down. We are resorting to a lot of loans to survive and even to implement our budget, a lot of crisis. When you have these kind of crises, I think we just have to appreciate ourselves. The one government could do, they should accept it, the one they could not do, they should let go. And with the intervention of the Senate President, the Speaker of the House, it is being resolved and I want believe in next one week or so, ASUU will call off the strike.

What are the implications of the EndSARS protest for the future of this country?

It is simple, as long as we practice democracy, peoples will to prevail. We have gone beyond the military mentality where people that handle weapons believe that they are at liberty to make use of the weapons the way they feel.

It suggests that our Police Force needs reorientation. This is a Police Force that had their root in the colonial and military era, but with uninterrupted democratic dispensation of 21 years, our law enforcement agencies need to inculcate the spirit of democracy into their operation. Police Force should be civil, law enforcement agencies should be civil. The army could be uncivil but the Police should be civil. It calls for reorientation, reformation of the Police force. It goes beyond mere cosmetic change of name, there must be tactical reformation and reorientation of the Nigerian Police force May we ask transpired at the meeting you had with the Governor of Kwara State?

The governor is my friend. He is my long time friend. He is my brother.

We were in the same political parties.

We have the same ideology and that ideology we still share. It was private meeting to strengthen our friendship and brotherhood. It was nothing more than that.

21

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY NOVEMBER 5 2020

POLITICS

‘In Ekiti, Nothing is Too Big to Invest in Education’ Victor Ogunje holds a discussion with Mr. Akin Omole, Ekiti State Commissioner for Information on the second anniversary of the Governor Kayode Fayemi-led administration, highlighting his achievements in sectors like education, infrastructure and agriculture

T

he Governor has just celebrated two years in office. How has the journey been?

The journey though has not been easy, but you know that our Governor Kayode Fayemi is not a novice in the art of governance. This is his second term and he knows how best to navigate the bumpy road and he has been doing that effectively well, particularly regrading the paucity of funds. In spite of the fact that the year 2020 has been a very challenging one, occasioned by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and its attendant devastating effects, which obviously hindered the pace of work in the state, the Fayemi -led administration has continued to ensure that governance and commitment to the pillars of the administration are faithfully implemented.

Government has demonstrated uncommon grit and braveness in confronting not only the pandemic and its implications, it has remained resolute in delivery of quality governance to the admiration of our people.

It is in the realization of this, that ‘Steady Strides Impacting lives, Building Legacies’, has been adopted as the theme of the celebration of the second anniversary of the administration. Recall that the theme for the first anniversary was ‘Walking the Talk’, Restoring our Values Enhancing Impacts’.

Since then, government has continued o work towards the restoration of the dignity and prosperity of our state and her people.

Restoration of our values, the pillar upon which the super structure of policies and programmes rest has continued to give direction to the philosophy and action of the administration. Whether in policy direction about access to education by all, our universal basic health coverage and our social investment intervention, the administration has remained undaunted in the realization of the objectives. Never again would our school- age children stay out of school due to inability of parents to pay fees. Never again will heads of families, mothers and even children face the indignity of having to line up in the open to be handed alms like people in IDP camps. So, guided by the administration’s 5-point developmental agenda of good governance, agriculture and rural development, infrastructure and industrial development , social investment and knowledge economy, the John Kayode Fayemi second term popularly called JKF2 has continued to ensure proper management of resources of the state to the benefit of the people.

But Governor Fayemi just established an additional university. How do you intend to fund it?

Let me start by clarifying this, Dr. Kayode Fayemi decided to establish an additional university in spite of financial drought to enhance the level of education in the state.

The university of Education, Science and Technology that Fayemi just established through the upgrading of the College of Education, Ikere Ekiti, will improve learning and create avenue to expose people to modern training in education. The only thriving industry that had earned us national and global respect is education, it even earned us here in Ekiti the sobriquet ‘Fountain of Knowledge’, so nothing is too big for us to invest in education, it is part of our lives. The University of Education was an agitation by the college and Ikere communities that the College of Education in Ikere Ekiti town be upgraded to a university status and governor Fayemi as a listening governor acceded to the demand.

If you check the trends, our people are no longer interested in NCE programme. The management of the College complained recently that admission for NCE programme was declining annually .

The University of Nsukka has a degree programme in the College and there was an opinion that there might not be what we called College of Education in five years

Fayemi time and that was why we granted that request. Even what we give as subvention to the College monthly has not been easy for the government to dispense. We have mapped out the scope and it will be limited to science, education and technology courses alone. Recall also that Governor Fayemi just built four model secondary schools in Ado Ekiti. They were named after four prominent sons of this state: Chief Deji Fasuan, Prof Banji Akintoye, Prof. David Oke and Senator Ayo Fasanmi. The four model schools established by government in Ado Ekiti metropolis were primarily conceptualised to decongest the public secondary schools. After a careful study, we saw that the number of pupils - per -teacher were higher and we knew that we had to decongest some of these schools for efficiency. If you check very well, the schools were located at the outskirts that were far from schools, so that pupils in those areas can walk a few metres and get to their schools.

Apart from education, what other areas has the government made tremendous impact?

We are doing excellently well in all sectors of the economy. When we came, the

IGR was so poor that the governor said he had to think outside the box by revamping some of our moribund state ventures through Public-Private partnership. If you go to Ikun Dairy farm in Ikun Ekiti, the industry has begun production. The Promasidor Nigeria Limited has invested over N2 billion in the industry. Cows, both local and foreign ones have been brought.

Milk production facilities were brought and soon that place will become a veritable milk production centre. The target is that, at full production, about 10,000 litres of milk will be produced per day. In the area of agriculture, the DANGOTE Company, Cosharis and Stallion Groups are building rice processing Mills worth over $50 million in the state. This will not only empower our youths in terms of employment and generate IGR for the state, it will also boost local production of rice to the level that the price can go down for our people to afford.

Don’t forget that the Igbemo brand of rice is one of the best delicacies in Nigeria, with this huge investment, we are sure of better production and the branding of this specie of our own rice. It will also encourage our old and young farmers to go into rice production. The Social Security scheme to the elderly is also on course. In fact, it has been

The World Bank, African Development Bank, Usaid, DFID, European Union have been so fantastic . The World bank recently approved a sum of 20 million dollars for the state and this would be expended on critical sectors of the economy like agriculture, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises and and social investment, to create wealth for the populace. The European Union donated facilities worth over N30 million for the Turn Around Maintenance of Egbe Dam, so that the dam can be reticulated. The present rescucitation of Ero Dam and the reticulation of water to some towns especially in Olorunsogo and Olorunda and some parts of Adebayo in Ado Ekiti metropolis was largely funded by the World Bank. Most of our expenditures on primary education were also as a result of partnership with international donors because of the integrity of our governor. Since we came on board, Ekiti is no longer a laughing stock in the comity of states

rejigged and expanded. In the first term of Governor Fayemi’s administration, what we were enjoying was the Owo Arugbo (Monthly stipend for the elderly above 65 years). But in this second term, we also have what we called Ounje Arugbo(food for the elderly). The government has a food bank where elderly who are poor and widows are getting monthly upkeep in terms of food supply to reduce their sufferings. All these we are doing to alleviate poverty and restore family value and dignity. Don’t also forget that the government employed 1,000 youths into the state’s civil service, 1,000 into the primary school as teachers and 1,000 into the Teaching Service Commission, I mean, secondary school teachers. These had also taken some of our jobless youths out of the unemployment market to the productive side. The government is also at the completion stage in the building of a Civic Centre around Fajuyi Park in Ado Ekiti metropolis where our youths can interact and exchange ideas. The centre will also have different departments where you can acquire skills and study about cultural things through a museum among others . We also have the airport project that will also boost our economy, it is ongoing and the idea behind it is to expose our local agriculture products to the international market, because it is an international cargo airport. The yams, cocoa, banana and plantains that we are producing locally here can also be seen in the world market for foreign earnings. We also have the Oja Oba Market, Civic Centre, Traditional Council Chambers, Judiciary Complex and other road infrastructure projects of the Fayemi -led administration that would be completed before the end of 2021 to expand the scope of our socio-economic facets for the betterment of all of us. The Agbado-Ode road has been completed and we are extending to Isinbode-Omuo axis.

What roles are the international development partners playing under this context?

In fact, they have been so supportive. The World Bank, African Development Bank, Usaid, DFID, European Union have been so fantastic . The World bank recently approved a sum of 20 million dollars for the state and this would be expended on critical sectors of the economy like agriculture, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises and and social investment, to create wealth for the populace. The European Union donated facilities worth over N30 million for the Turn Around Maintenance of Egbe Dam, so that the dam can be reticulated. The present rescucitation of Ero Dam and the reticulation of water to some towns especially in Olorunsogo and Olorunda and some parts of Adebayo in Ado Ekiti metropolis was largely funded by the World Bank. Most of our expenditures on primary education were also as a result of partnership with international donors because of the integrity of our governor.

Since we came on board, Ekiti is no longer a laughing stock in the comity of states.

We have been able to establish a system in Ekiti on how a 21st century governance should be. We are not beggarly, what we do is to work hard and make a better life and that culture has been restored. Though, the COVID-19 slowed down commissioning of some of the projects that were billed for commissioning this year, but we have not abandoned those once, they will be taken care of next year. The state’s Anti Land grabbing laws promulgated to stop land grabbers from prowling across the state will be committedly implemented to protect the land owners. Wide consultations have been done by the Ministry of Justice to sensitize all stakeholders about the provisions of the law.

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

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FEATURES

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

Citation Premieres in Glitz and Glamour

Movie Producer, Kunle Afolayan and Lead Cast of Citation, Temi Otedola at the premiere of #Citationthemovie

Bayo Akinloye

C

lose your eyes: Imagine a room filled with people heaving 'huh?' and sighing 'ha!' That’s exactly what went down during the screening of the movie, 'Citation.'Ahead of its November 6, 2020 release date, the exciting flick has begun gathering momentum at its glitzy October premiere. After the goose-bumpy teaser and Netflix trailer for #Citationthemovie, the exclusive premiere of Citation took place at Terra Kulture on Saturday, 31 October, 2020.

In one breath, the premiere was exhilarating and evocative. The event was a mix of music, cocktails and movie screening and on hand to grace the occasion were the cast of Citation.

The attendance included top-drawer personalities like Dr. Ibukun Awosika, Temi Otedola, Ini Edo, Gabriel Afolayan, Wole Olowomojuore, Seun Kuti, and Toyin Ogundeji.

Others were the partners behind the movie: Ford Foundation; Access 'W’ Initiative; Natnudos; Canon; Flyboku; GAC Motors; Arik Air; Ajike Foundation; and other fabulous guests like Sola Sobowale; Director General of NFVCB, Adedayo Thomas; President and Executive Producer of All Africa Music Awards

L:R Nollywood Actress Ms Ini Edo; lead actor of Citation, Gabriel Afolayan; movie producer, Kunle Afolayan and lead cast of Citation, Temi Otedola at the premiere of #Citationthemovie

(AFRIMA), Mike Dada; and music video director, filmmaker and cinematographer, Clarence Peters.

There were also Chioma Chukwuka Akpotha, Chief and Mrs Taiwo; former Lagos State Commissioner For Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde; former DG of NFVCB, Emeka Mba; Group Head/Programme Coordinator for The Access 'W' Initiative, Ayona Aguele-Trimnell; MD of Terra Kulture, Bolanle Austen Peters; MD of Ecobank, Patrick Akinwuntan; Mrs Eniola Fadayomi; and a host of others.

Starting off with the red-carpet moment and great conversations, the screening began with a opening speech by the movie producer, Kunle

Afolayan, who emphasized the film's stance against gender-based violence.

The screening ended with a loud ovation as the producer came on stage for the curtain call. He began by inviting Chairman of Access Bank, Dr. Ajoritsedere Awosika, on stage to share her reasons for partnering Golden Effects Services & KAP Motion Pictures for the production of Citation.

The cast later appeared on stage. Jimmy Jean-Louis (the movie's lead actor) and Adjetey Anang (co-star) who were unable to attend the event were, tied in via a video call.

For all movie buffs, Citation will be released on Netflix come November 6.

Lagos Community Lauds Rotary Club for Donation of Potable Water Rebecca Ejifoma Residents of Ibasa/Ijegun Agboyojoye Community, a riverine settlement, could not contain their joy after Rotary Club of Satellite Town Lagos donated potable water to their community after years of dire thirst.

Oba Oba Afeez Oriyomi Shittu of Ijegun/ Egba commended the club at the weekend, its Governor for Lagos and Ogun State District, Mr. Bola Oyemade, and the Rotary President of Satellite Town, Mr. Jones Olomu.

"I cannot do without thanking my good friend Mr. Joe Vincent who has deemed it fit to recognise me and the good people of lbasa land to bring this project," he continued.

While further appreciating the commissioning of the water, the Oba accepted the potable water in good faith and prayed, "I pray that God will continue to empower you in every facet of life".

Commissioning the project at the community, the District Governor, Oyemade, expressed that what Rotary did was simply give opportunity to people that are less privileged to have potable water in their community. “Most communities in Lagos and Ogun State have been benefitting in various aspect not only water and sanitation but also in basic education, some in child and maternal

Rotary District Governor, Mr. Bola Oyemade (far left) with chiefs from Ibasa/Ijegun AgboyojoyeCommunity

care and in many other activities," he said.

As the district governor for district 9110 Nigeria comprising all the clubs in Lagos and Ogun States, Oyemade said what the Rotary Club of Satellite Town will do is visit

the borehole water regularly to ensure it is being sustained, maintained and taken care of by the local people.

On how COVID-19 and lockdown affected the club, the district governor said, “For us

at Rotary, it has enabled us not to do all the service projects which we would have done regularly so to that extent it has held us down.

However, ours is one of the organisations that have not given up in any way."

He emphasised: “We keep doing stuff for the members of the community. In fact, some clubs gave palliative funds, food and a whole range of things to people in the community.

We would have even given more but for the pandemic.�

For the President of Satellite Town, Olomu, the club embarks on sustainable service projects to communities around them.

Seeing that the community has a new Oba, the president added that they approached him to know their challenges; hence the commissioning of the project.

Part of its quest is to promote Rotary awareness to the community so that they “will know that we are existing there and that we are partnering them�, Olomu added.

For Rotary Club Satellite signature project for the year, it will begin surgical treatments on prostrate cancer in collaboration with its district for less privileged communities in Lagos and Ogun States. “Our district initiated it. So, we are supporting it. It is going to be beneficial to every community in Lagos and Ogun States,� he noted.

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Quick Takes Glo Facilitates Access to Social Media

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Phase3 Clocks 17 Years of Operations

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

L-R : Commissioner for Health, Lagos State/ Keynote Speaker, Prof. Akin Abayomi; CEO/Convener Arise Women’s Conference, Dr. Siju Iluyomade; Special Assistant to the President on SDG, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; Dr. Tokunbo Oluwole; and Chairman, Access Bank Plc, Dr. Dere Awosika, at the Arise Women’s Conference and inauguration of Arise Palliatives to be distributed to participants and some local government areas, held in Lagos... recently PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

Experts Urge FG to Make Internet Access Fundamental Human Rights Stories by Emma Okonji Participants at the annual Nigeria Internet Governance Forum (NIGF) have called on the federal government, to as a matter of urgency, begin the implementation of the process that will ensure that access to internet is a fundamental human right for all Nigerian citizens.

The forum, in its ninth edition, which held virtual recently, with the theme: “Virtual Nigeria Internet Governance Forum (vNIGF) 2020,� stressed the importance of internet access to national development and called for collaboration between the federal government agencies and relevant human rights stakeholders to ensure

TELECOM that access to the internet is a fundamental human right of the citizen, on the same level with the right to life and health care.

The vNIGF 2020 was organised by the Nigeria Internet Governance Forum Multistakeholder Advisory Group (NIGF-MAG), which is a collaborative effort of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy (FMCDE), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), ISOC Nigeria Chapter, DigitalSense Africa, with other

internet stakeholders.

The vNIGF 2020, which was preceded by the Youth Nigeria Internet Governance Forum (YNIGF) and Women Nigeria Internet Governance Forum (WNIGF), focused on how the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the critical importance of digital technologies in fostering inclusive national development.

In a communique issued at the end of the 2020 virtual events, participants urged the federal and state governments and private sector to increase their collaboration to ensure that Nigeria achieves the goal of increased Internet access. “Government should forgo short term benefits of ICT investment, such as taxes and fees,

and focus more on long term investment in infrastructure and capacity building. Nigerians should take responsibility for the protection of their personal data by reading through terms and conditions of products and applications and strive to join in building regulation policies,� it added.

In one of the breakout sessions that discussed cyber-security and trust, the participants stressed the need to develop a national strategy for the operation and financing of a data ecosystem; the need to strengthen capacity in order to build resilience; the need to identify the demand for actionable, policy relevant insights Continued on page 24

ITU Highlights Role of Entrepreneurship-driven Innovation Participants at the just concluded 2020 edition of the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Global Innovation Forum, have highlighted the critical role of entrepreneurship-driven innovation in the context of a global pandemic.

The forum also honoured the winners of the 2020 ITU Innovation Challenges.

ITU Secretary-General, Houlin Zhao, said “Supporting entrepreneurship-driven innovation has never been more important.�

According to him, “Simply put, innovation pushes the boundaries of what is possible.

It creates jobs, economic growth, and new ways to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges, including the COVID-19

TELECOM pandemic. ICT innovators need access to the resources to take their ideas to market and access to a well-developed broadband infrastructure.�

He said while digital technologies have the potential to change lives and significantly accelerate sustainable development, many communities lack access to an enabling environment as key stakeholders often fail to understand, develop and renew the competitive practices that fuel digital transformation, adding that the COVID-19 pandemic has created additional challenges for countries’ transition to a digital economy by negatively affecting socio-economic conditions worldwide.

The Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, said: “Entrepreneurship-driven innovation has been a rising priority for ITU stakeholders since the 2014 World Telecommunication Development Conference in Dubai. The forum therefore enabled participants to share insights and discover new practices. By bringing diverse stakeholders to connect with change-makers for more action-oriented outcomes, we hope that symbiotic relationships will develop to ensure sustainable and competitive digital ecosystems that unlock communities’ potential.�

During the five-day event, 175 experts in innovation, entrepreneurship and technology

discussed how to accelerate digital transformation in their communities, mainstream entrepreneurship and find resources required for digital innovation, and bring resource, problem and solution owners together to achieve digital inclusion.

The forum concluded with an awards ceremony honouring the 20 winners of the 2020 ITU Innovation Challenges and a virtual pitch session of seven winning projects to a global audience of experts.

Twelve women and eight men received awards across three challenge categories: The digital change-maker, ecosystem best practice, and women in tech.

Continued on page 24

Ă’Ă‹Ă?Ă?Íą Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă—Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂšĂ?Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă“ĂŒĂ?Ăœ ÙÚÞÓĂ? Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ• Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă?ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂžĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù××Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă? ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ?ĂœËœ Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă“Ă˜ Ă—Ă™ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ Ă‹ Ă?Ă?Ă Ă?Ă˜ ĂšĂ™Ă“Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă Ă‹Ă–Ă&#x;Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜Ă˜Ă™Ă Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂ‘Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ĂœĂ™Ă‹ĂŽĂ—Ă‹ĂšËœ Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ù××Ă?Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă“ĂžĂ? ͯ;ÞÒ Ă‹Ă˜Ă˜Ă“Ă Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂŁ åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ? ÞÒĂ?Ă—Ă?Ë? ËŤ Ă™Ă Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™ĂœĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽËŹË› Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă˜ĂŁËœ Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂŒĂ?Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă˜ Ă“ĂžĂ? ÙÚĂ?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă“Ă˜ Í°ÍŽÍŽÍąËœ ÞÙ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ? Ă?Ă“ĂŒĂœĂ? ÙÚÞÓĂ? ĂŒĂ‹Ă?Ă•ĂŒĂ™Ă˜Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă?ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ëœ ĂŒĂœĂ™Ă‹ĂŽĂŒĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽËœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă Ă?ĂœĂ‘Ă?ĂŽ Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ëœ Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ùà Ă?Ăœ ÞÒĂ? ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ëœ Ă?Ă˘ĂšĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?ÙÚĂ? Ă™Ă? Ă“ĂžĂ? ÙÚĂ?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? ĂŒĂ?ĂŁĂ™Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă’Ă™ĂœĂ?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ëœ ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ Ă“Ă˜Ă Ă‹Ă–Ă&#x;Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă‘Ă–Ă™ĂŒĂ‹Ă– ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂžĂ˜Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă’Ă“ĂšĂ?Ë› Ă’Ă&#x;Ă?Ëœ Ă–Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă—Ă&#x;ÖÞÓÚÖĂ? Ă?Ă˘ĂšĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă”Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ? ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂ‘Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ăž ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă‹ËŞĂ? ĂžĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù××Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă–Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă‹ĂšĂ?Ëœ Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“Ă˜Ă˜Ă™Ă Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă Ă? ĂžĂ?Ă?Ă’Ă˜Ă™Ă–Ă™Ă‘ĂŁËœ Ă‹Ă? Ă–Ă?Ă Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă‘Ă? ÞÙ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?ÞÓà Ă?Ă–ĂŁ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ăž ĂšĂ?ÙÚÖĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? ĂĄĂ“ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂŒĚ‹ĂœĂ?Ă‘Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ăž Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ–ĂŽË› âĂ?Ă?Ă&#x;ÞÓà Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă“ĂœĂ—Ă‹Ă˜Ëœ Ă’Ă‹Ă?Ă?Íą Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă—Ëœ ĂœË› ĂžĂ‹Ă˜Ă–Ă?ĂŁ Ă?Ă‘Ă?ĂŽĂ?Ëœ Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽË? ËŤ Ă™Ăœ ÍŻÍľ ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ëœ Ă’Ă‹Ă?Ă?͹˪Ă? ĂœĂ™Ă–Ă? Ă“Ă˜ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă‹ËŞĂ? ĂžĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù××Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă— ĂžĂ?Ă?Ă’Ă˜Ă™Ă–Ă™Ă‘ĂŁ Ă?ÚËĂ?Ă?Ëœ Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ù×Ă? Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ? Ă—Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă?ĂœĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? Ă‘Ă–Ă™ĂŒĂ‹Ă– Ă˜Ă?ĂĄ Ă˜Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă‹Ă– Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ Ě‹ÍŻÍˇËœ Ă‹Ă? Ă“Ăž ÚÖËĂ?Ă?Ă? Ă–Ă“Ă—Ă“ĂžĂ? Ă™Ă˜ face-to-faceinteractions,anddisruptstraditionalaswellastestedways, businesses engage with customers, partners and stakeholders across Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂ•Ă?Ăž ĂŽĂ?Ă—Ă™Ă‘ĂœĂ‹ĂšĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă?ËŹË› Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ Ă’Ă“Ă—Ëœ Ă‹Ă? Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă™Ă?Ăž ĂŽĂ‹Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă’Ă?ËÖÞÒ Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ×ÙÎĂ?ĂœĂ˜ Ă’Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂŁËœ ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ă—Ă“Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă˜ĂŁËŞĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂœĂ?Ě‹ Ă?Ă˜Ă‘Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă“ĂžĂ? Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ• Ă?Ă‹ĂšĂ‹ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă? ÞÙ Ă?Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂž Ă‹ Ă?Ă?Ă Ă?Ă˜ ĂšĂ™Ă“Ă˜Ăž ĂœĂ™Ă‹ĂŽĂ—Ă‹ĂšËœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ Ă—Ă&#x;ÖÞÓÚÖĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă‹ĂœĂ“Ă™ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă—Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă‘Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ĂšĂ–Ă‹Ă˜ ÞÒËÞ Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă’Ă?Ă–Ă—Ă?ĂŽ Ă™Ă˜ ĂœĂ?Ě‹Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁĂ? Ă™Ă? ĂŽĂ?Ă–Ă“Ă Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă’Ă‹Ă?Ă?Íą Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă Ă“ĂžĂŁËœ Ă?Ù××Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă–Ă™Ă&#x;ĂŽ Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă?Ë›

Nokia Releases Android 10 for Phone Users

Ă–Ă™ĂŒĂ‹Ă–Ëœ ÞÒĂ? ÒÙ×Ă? Ă™Ă? ÙÕÓË ĂšĂ’Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹ Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă™Ă? ĂšĂ’Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă? ÞÙ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂžĂ’Ă?Ăœ Ă?ÙÖÓÎÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă“ĂžĂ? Ă™Ă˜Ă‘Ă™Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ù××ÓÞ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž ÞÙ Ă‹Ă–ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁĂ? ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă&#x;Ú̋ÞÙ̋ÎËÞĂ? Ă˜ĂŽĂœĂ™Ă“ĂŽ Ă?ÙÖĂ&#x;ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒËÞ Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă?Þ˛ Nokiasmartphonesremainattheforefrontofbothsecurityupdatesand Ă˜ĂŽĂœĂ™Ă“ĂŽ Ă&#x;ĂšĂ‘ĂœĂ‹ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ëœ Ă‹Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă™Ă‘Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ă’ Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂšĂ™Ă“Ă˜ĂžË› Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ ĂŽĂ‹ĂžĂ‹Ëœ ͡Ͳ ĂšĂ?Ăœ Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? ÙÕÓË Ă?Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂžĂšĂ’Ă™Ă˜Ă? ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ?ÙÖÓÙ Ă&#x;ÚÎËÞĂ?ĂŽ ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă?Ăž Ă˜ĂŽĂœĂ™Ă“ĂŽ Ă Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă“Ă™Ă˜ ĂĄĂ“ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ ĂŁĂ?Ă‹Ăœ Ă™Ă? Ă˜Ă?ĂĄ Ă˜ĂŽĂœĂ™Ă“ĂŽ ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă—Ă‹ĂŽĂ? Ă“Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ?Ă?Ăž ĂŒĂœĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÙ ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă’ ÞÒÓĂ? Ă–Ă?Ă Ă?Ă–Ë› Ă’Ă? Ă˜ĂŽĂœĂ™Ă“ĂŽ ÍŻÍŽ ĂœĂ™Ă–Ă–Ă™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă?Ù×ÚÖĂ?ĂžĂ?Ă? åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ? Ă&#x;ÚÎËÞĂ? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? ÙÕÓË ͹˛ͯ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? ÙÕÓË ͳ˛ͯ˛ Ă’Ă“Ă?Ă? ĂœĂ™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă?ĂœËœ Ă–Ă™ĂŒĂ‹Ă–Ëœ Ă&#x;Ă’Ă™ Ă‹ĂœĂ Ă“Ă•Ă‹Ă?Ëœ Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽË? ËŤ ĂšĂ‘ĂœĂ‹ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? ÙÚĂ?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?ĂŁĂ?ĂžĂ?Ă— Ă™Ă? Ă‹ ĂšĂ’Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă“Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ? ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă Ă™Ă–Ă Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă—Ă&#x;ÖÞÓÚÖĂ? ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂžĂ˜Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ Ă Ă‹ĂœĂ“Ă?Þã Ă™Ă? ĂžĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ?Ë› Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă’Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă?Ă–ĂŁ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă&#x;ĂŽ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁĚ‹Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? ĂĄĂ? Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÚÖËĂ?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÙÕÓË Ă?Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂžĂšĂ’Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă? ÞÙ Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă? it a key priority of ours to ensure our customers benefit from the latest Ă˜ĂŽĂœĂ™Ă“ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜Ă˜Ă™Ă Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă’Ă?Ă‹ĂŽ Ă™Ă? Ă?Ù×ÚĂ?ĂžĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă Ă?ĂœĂŁ ĂšĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? ĂšĂ™Ă“Ă˜ĂžË›ËŹ

Ă˜ Ă”Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž Ùà Ă?Ăœ ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ?Ă? ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ëœ ÙÕÓË Ă?Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂžĂšĂ’Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă?ÙÖÖĂ?Ă?ÞÓà Ă?Ă–ĂŁ ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă˜ Ă&#x;ÚÎËÞĂ?ĂŽ ÍŻËœÍŽÍŽÍŽ ÞÓ×Ă?Ă? Ě‹ Ă‹ Ă?Ă“Ă‘Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ăž Ă—Ă“Ă–Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™Ă˜Ă? ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă˜ĂŁËŞĂ? Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂĄĂ‹Ă Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ commitment to ensuring its fans are always using the most up-to-date Ă?Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă™Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă˜Ă Ă“ĂœĂ™Ă˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžË› Ù××ÓÞÞĂ?ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–Ă– ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă?ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂ?Ă˜Ă?ĂŁËœ Ă–Ă™ĂŒĂ‹Ă– Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă“ĂžĂ? ÞÓ×Ă?Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă&#x;ĂšĂ‘ĂœĂ‹ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“ĂžĂ? Ă˜ĂŽĂœĂ™Ă“ĂŽ ÍŻÍŻĚ‹ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂŽĂŁ ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ?ÙÖÓÙ ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă?Ăž Ă˜ĂŽĂœĂ™Ă“ĂŽ Ë› Ă’Ă? ĂœĂ™Ă–Ă–Ă™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă“Ă? ĂšĂ–Ă‹Ă˜Ă˜Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă?Ù××Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ Ͳ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă?ĂĄĂ–ĂŁĚ‹Ă‹Ă Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? ÙÕÓË ͜˛͹ Íł Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? ÙÕÓË ͳ˛͹˛

“Given the current speed and capacity of cellular networks with LTE, there are opportunities for African service providers to deliver broadband services to homes and small and medium-sized enterprises economically using Fixed Wireless Access�

Vice President and Head of Ericsson West Africa,

Nora Wahby

T H I S D AY Ëž NOVEMBER 5, 2020

24

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

EXPERTS URGE FG TO MAKE INTERNET ACCESS FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS

Cybersecurity: Experts Warn against Nigeria’sVulnerability

and public good applications; the need to have political will, commitment and influence, adding that it is important that every country in the West African region records success stories and impacts that can be shared with one another country.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, who gave the keynote address, stated that the government has expanded the agencies and put some policies in place to address the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta gave the opening remarks, stating that the outcome of the forum is expected to build consensus among stakeholders on actionable recommendations for both state and non- state actors in the internet ecosystem.

Cyber-security experts in the country have warned against vulnerable websites of individuals and organisations across the country, saying it may lead to serious security breaches, loss of data and money.

The President of Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN), Mr. Remi Afon, who narrated how the recently held #EndSARS protest across Nigeria exposed the country’s vulnerability in the cyber space, called for early detection and patches that will make websites resilient at all times to avoid unnecessary downtime.

Afon gave the narrative in his opening remark during a free cyber-security awareness seminar, organised recently by the association, to create awareness as part of the National Cyber Security Awareness Month, held every October.

According to him, a lot of security hackers and other twitter users exploited the #EndSARS protest that lasted for about three weeks to steal sensitive information both from the government and private citizens.

He cited instances of many twitter users changing their handles to anonymous with the sole aim of increasing their activities and ultimately, get unauthorised access to data that can be used to cause havoc. “Two significant events

ITU HIGHLIGHTS ROLE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIPDRIVEN INNOVATION Tafadzwa Ronald Chikwereti (Zimbabwe), Carlos Eduardo Mosquera Reyes (United States), Mojca Karin Rehar (France), Ikechukwu Umezurumba (Nigeria), James Gachara Kiruri (Kenya), and Thomas MĂźller (South Africa) won the digital change-maker challenge category.

In the category of the ecosystem best practice challenge, the following contenders won: Dominic Chidiebere Nwaogu (Nigeria), Diana Artiom (Moldova), Nahel Muhammad Amirah (Egypt), Ivana Kostic (Serbia), Galina Dremova (Russia), Wilda Romadona (Indonesia), Laila Abdullah Khasib Al Hadhrami (Oman), Zainab Khan (Pakistan), and Franca Vinci (Italy).

The Global Innovation Forum is a flagship ITU event that focuses on fostering innovation based on information and communication technologies (ICTs), in line with members states’ expectation from the Connect 2030 Agenda to “enable innovation in telecommunications/ICT in support of the digital transformation of society.

Emma Okonji

happened this year that have actually impacted cyber-security awareness. One is global, which is the COVID-19 pandemic and the other is local, which is the #EndSARS protest, where Nigerian youths were agitating against police brutality and for good governance on the part of government. These events clearly had serious cybersecurity impacts,� Afon said.

While calling on the government and other institutions to step up their cyber resilience by collaborating with experts, Afon explained that the #EndSARS protest sparked a lot of upward

trend in cybercrime, exposing the vulnerability of government and other institutions in the country.

He said cyber-security experts needed to go away from the conventional delivery methods that they were used to in creating cyber-security awareness and adopt a more reliable online delivery method, stressing that as experts, they need to think out of the box.

Senior Program Manager at Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN), Mr. Adeboye Adegoke, also called on government institutions, especially the

health sector to have what he tagged ‘Attitudinal Change’ in the area of data privacy.

Stressing that cybersecurity should be more of approach and attitude than technicality, Adegoke noted that the health sector in Nigeria was yet to grasp what it means to conceive data of healthcare users. “It is a matter of culture and attitude. Healthcare practitioners must be made to understand that data of healthcare users should be kept private,� he said.

He also challenged associations like the Nigeria Security

Experts Association of Nigeria to engage the health sector in creating awareness about cybersecurity.

He suggested that standards that are based on Nigeria and International laws should be created to serve as guide as to how to handle information of healthcare users in health institutions.

Key cybersecurity themes like digital rights, data privacy, child online safety, social engineering and computer security, among others, were discussed at the free cybersecurity awareness seminar.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Farouk Salim (left), receiving an award from the President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Sam Ohuabunwa, during a dinner organised by PSN in Abuja...recently

Expert Predicts Africa’s Renaissance Oluchi Chibuzor A Fellow at the Asia Research Institute and Founding Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, Prof.

Kishore Mahbubani has predicted a shift in economic power from the West to Asia in the first half of the 21st Century, with the second half moving into the Afro-Asian Century.

Speaking at the fourth edition of the Ndiaye Lecture with the theme, “Africa and Remaking of the New World Order,� that was organised by the Afreximbank, Mahbubani, noted that as at 1820, China and India were the two largest economies of the world.

“It is only in the last 200 years that Europe took off, followed by the United States. In contrast to the plight of the bottom 50 per cent in the United States today, the bottom 50 percent in China have had their best 40 years of socio-economic advancement in 4,000 years of Chinese history,� Mahbubani, a world-renowned geopolitical thinker and veteran diplomat said.

According to him, “In the 1990’s, China decided to become more pragmatic and the West decided to focus on ideology.�

Four decades later, pragmatism which emphasises the adoption of development models and solutions with a proven track record, enabled

China to overtake the US as the largest economy in the world in purchasing power parity terms after a successful demographic transition.

He predicted that the second half of the 21st century would be the Afro-Asian century, especially with the African population projected to double in the coming decades.

Mainstreaming the culture of Meritocracy, Pragmatism and Honesty (MPH), which helped achieve successful demographic transitions in China, will play the same role in the process of African renaissance and the return of the continent to the global centre stage.

The MPH structure also has the potential to stem endemic

corruption which in the view of Professor Mahbubani has been the single most important impediment to development over the years.

Mahbubani exhorted future generations of Africans to aspire to be as honest as Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela.

Earlier, the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, Prof.

Benedict Oramah, underlined the visionary spirit of Dr. Babacar Ndiaye and his development impact. “Afreximbank which was created in response to the sovereign debt crisis of the 1980’s has become the African crisis management institution par excellence,� Oramah said.

The event also featured a

tribute to Ndiaye from his former colleague, Ms. Arunma Oteh, who was African Development Bank Vice President for Corporate Services, World Bank’s Treasurer and is currently at the Said Business School at University of Oxford as an Academic in Residence.

She gave a moving tribute about Dr Ndiaye’s life as her mentor and shared his vision of Africa as an economic powerhouse.

The poet Dike Chukwumerije gave a rousing rendition of African history, highlighting the exceptional contribution of Africa to the world and paying homage to systematically organised civilizations of Africa’s past.

Jumia Repositions, Opens Logistics Service to Third Parties Nosa Alekhuogie

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

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) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafo (Energy) Ă—Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă?Ă– ĂŽĂŽĂ?Ă’ (Energy) Reporters

Ă&#x;Ă—Ă? Ă•Ă?Ă‘Ă’Ă? (Money Market) Ă™Ă?Ă‹ Ă–Ă?Ă•Ă’Ă&#x;ÙÑÓĂ? (ICT) Ă?ĂžĂ?Ăœ äÙÒÙ (Energy)

Jumia has said that its logistics service is now available for use by third parties.

Until today, Jumia’s logistics services were reserved for e-commerce and food vendors operating on its marketplace. Jumia’s logistics services are now open to third party businesses who wish to leverage its network, technology and expertise for last mile deliveries across 11 countries in Africa.

Senior Vice President Logistics Services at Jumia, Apoorva Kumar, said: “Our technology and last mile services have a wide coverage that enhances faster turnaround time, reliable handling of products and

transparent reporting, all of which have contributed to the success of Jumia, both in urban and rural areas.

We are proud to share this technology with a broader set of businesses and give them new opportunities to grow.�

In 2019, Jumia processed more than 20 million packages, thanks to the seamless integration of more than 300 logistics partners of all sizes. In addition, partnerships with players such as Total, Vivo Energy and Posta Kenya allow for an even wider presence across the 11 countries where Jumia operates on the continent. “Businesses across the countries are re-examining their costs, especially during COVID-19. For many, logis-

tics is a major cost driver and headache to manage. We have the right infrastructure, people, partnerships and technology required to help third parties and partners solve logistics and marketing challenges. We believe we can provide better quality of service at lower cost,�

Kumar said.

Over the last few months, Jumia has been piloting its offering with selected clients, from small businesses shipping a few packages every week to larger corporations.

CEO, Premier Food Industries Ltd Kenya, Joseph Choge, said: “Our new partnership with Jumia forms an integral part of our strategy to grow our e-commerce sales in the next five years. Jumia’s unique

ability to handle logistics – order management and processing, shipping and delivery and payments across the country to end users has opened for us a new way to reach our consumers in a fast efficient and effective manner more so especially during this time of COVID-19 pandemic.�

Management staff of First City Monument Bank Limited (FCMB) Nigeria, Temitope Onibaniyi, said: “Jumia is facilitating the deliveries of our ‘Home Card delivery service’ via road and air freight to customers across Nigeria. We see a lot of value in Jumia’s supply chain solution; Technology integration with Jumia ensures close to real time visibility and a secure last

mile delivery process of card products.�

The move is also a boost for all Jumia Logistics local partners who will be able to drive more volume through the Jumia logistics network.

CEO ACOA Logistics Nigeria, Chidi Jud, said: “We have been Jumia’s logistics partner for many years. Our business has grown into an expansive operation hosting today 25 carriers and about 44 staff spanning multiple cities, all held together by Jumia’s integrated technology. We have adapted our business using Jumia’s apps that drive riders’ efficiency and customer experience. We are very pleased to be able to receive more volumes in order to help us gain scale and grow our business.�

T H I S D AY ˾ NOVEMBER 5, 2020

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BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Omoniyi: Telecoms Will Facilitate Digital Economy Drive Group Managing Director/CEO, VDT Communications, Mr. Biodun Omoniyi, speaks with Emma Okonji on the imperatives of digital economy and the need for government to support small telecoms businesses to fast-track digital transformation. Excerpts:

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experience free Wi-Fi hotspots, they are being funded by government and we need our government to do so in Nigeria.

hat is your view about broadband penetration in the country and how will it help in achieving Nigeria’s digital economy

Telecoms development is largely tilted towards urban cities, while the rural and underserved areas remain impoverished of telecoms services. Is it not possible for the operators to use the gains made from cities to deploy services in underserved and unserved areas of the country?

The NCC had rightly said Nigeria has 114 access gaps and about 25 million Nigerians are not connected to broadband. Nigerians should not expect telecoms operators to invest their gains in unserved areas of the country because investments love profit. Every business person will want to invest in areas where investments are easily recouped. They invested money and the need profit and they cannot get that kind of profit in underserved and unserved areas, and no investor will want to invest in such places unless there are incentives from the government and that is exactly what the USPF funds are meant to achieve. More profits are made from urban areas because of the population and no operator will install a 3G and 4G networks in rural areas where return on investment in very low.

drive?

Nigeria has come a long way in broadband penetration. As at 2015 when the current EVC of the NCC, Danbatta, was appointed, broadband penetration was between four per cent and six per cent. In December 2018, the country surpassed its 30 per cent broadband penetration target and today the country can boast of 43.3 per cent broadband penetration, with another target of attaining 70 per cent broadband penetration by 2025.

So with the current broadband penetration level, Nigeria is ripe to achieve its digital economy drive. We have reached a point at our broadband penetration level, where nothing can stop us as country from achieving our dream of digital economy. With sufficient broadband penetration, businesses will grow and new businesses and companies will spring up. With broadband, companies will save cost and the country will generate new streams of revenues, despite the challenges that come with digital economy.

People have called for collaboration in order to achieve digital economy. What form of collaboration do you think can lead to achieving the digital economy?

I quite agree that collaboration is necessary to achieve digital economy. VDT, which I operate, for instance, has its focus on providing the enabling infrastructure for broadband growth in the country. In achieving digital economy, we have to consider all sides of the digital economy framework like the consumer side, producer side, enterprise side, and regulatory side. The enterprise side of it has to do with industries, factories and offices, and that is where VDT plays a key role in the country’s digital economy drive. Our retail, business is fast growing and supporting the digital economy growth of the country.

Telecoms operators are asking for seed funds to sustain their telecoms business.

Do you see funding as a challenge to achieving digital economy in Nigeria?

Nigeria is an emerging market and as a player in the emerging market, I strongly believe that telecoms operators need seed funds for their businesses. Naturally, it is very difficult to operate in an emerging market because the cost of sustaining business is on the high side. There are so many things militating against raising funds in an emerging market like Nigeria. The Nigerian economy for instance, has not enjoyed economic salability, and the country has to devalue her currency severally to stabilise the economy, yet the economy kept dwindling and it is difficult for businesses to thrive in a dwindling economy like ours. For this reason, funding of long term projects like the telecoms project has been a herculean task for business owners.

The situation is also affecting infrastructure companies because they need huge money to purchase equipment for infrastructure rollout. VDT operate on the infrastructure aspect of telecoms business and I can tell you the fact that it is difficult to raise money for infrastructure and service rollout. Those clamouring for seed funding for telecoms business are right and government must see to that in order to keep telecoms business running. Just like the Bank of Industry and the Agricultural Development Bank, the telecoms sector needs a telecoms bank that will fund telecoms business in the country.

The multinational players in the telecoms sector do not have much funding challenges like the local players do, so government must support local and small players in the telecoms sector to grow and sustain their telecoms businesses.

Omoniyi

So how small is VDT in the telecoms sector, when it has operations outside of Lagos?

VDT is a small telecoms operator that is focused on retail aspect of telecoms business, but even at that, there are several telecoms operators that are even smaller than VDT in terms of their operational capacities. If VDT, as small as it is, still struggle to raise funds for major projects, you can imagine how the smaller operators will be struggling even more than VDT to raise funds for capital projects, hence the need for seed funding for local and small telecoms operators.

Given the scenario where only few companies are offering fiber-to-home services in Nigeria, where the majority of people now work online from home as a result of the new normal caused

by COVID-19 pandemic, what is the possibility of sustaining working from home?

Connectivity has gone far beyond offering fiber-to-home services. Today, many operators offer wireless services just like VDT. With wireless services, people can still work conveniently from home with thier wireless devices without depending outrightly on fibre-to-home service that has to do with fiber optic cables. So the combination of wireless and wired services can conveniently sustain the new normal, where people can work from outside of their offices without getting to the office.

Once there is adequate coverage of fiber and wireless connectivity, the tempo could be sustained. It is technology enabled and it is all about internet and broadband connectivity. For example, today, Nigeria boasts of 43.3 per cent broadband penetration, but 40 per cent of that penetration level is from wireless connectivity, and that is where VDT operates, providing wireless connectivity services to homes, offices and schools. What we need is incentives.

What kind of incentives do local operators need to remain competitive in the telecoms business where the big players operate?

The incentives can be in various forms.

The telecoms regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), said they were giving palliatives to infrastructure companies (InfraCos), but such palliatives need to go round the small operators and VDT should be considered for palliatives because we need support to sustain our kind of telecoms business.

VDT is into wireless connectivity, just like several other operators, yet we have little presence of free wireless hotspots in public places where people could connect to the internet for free like it is the case with most developed countries of the world. Why is the case of Nigeria different?

Yes, people could get free connectivity in public places like airports and malls in developed countries, but it is not so in Nigeria because of the issue of lack of adequate funds to operate free internet services in public places. The free wireless internet services you experience at airports and malls in developed countries, were installed by small players who got funding from the government, but in Nigeria, it becomes difficult to set up free wireless hotspots where there is no funding from government. Lagos State tried it some years ago by using small operators to establish free Wi-Fi hotspots in some parts of Lagos, but I do not know if those hotspots are still working because of funding and sustainability. There has to be continuous funding for installation and maintenance for such projects to be sustained. The operators cannot go to the bank to take loan for such projects because of the two digits interest rate that is involved in bank loan, which makes highly expensive and risky to take bank loan for telecoms business.

What happens to the USPF funding for telecoms operators. Why can’t small players take advantage of such funds to provide free Wi-Fi hotspots?

If the telecoms regulator channels the Universal Service Provisions Funds (USPF) to small operators, then I think they should be able to provide free Wi-Fi hotspots in some designated public places across the country. In developed countries where you

Given the fact that Nigerian youths and small business owners form the bulk of Nigerian population and startup organisations, to what extent can government tap into the strength of their numbers to drive tech development across the country?

Youths and start-ups, no doubt, have the numerical strength to drive technology development and help Nigeria to achieve its digital economy drive a lot faster, but they do not have the capital for expansion. So the government needs to see their numbers as opportunity to tap into by providing incentives for them. One of the incentives is to provide them with cheap capital, supported by training and education. Government also need to provide a better business enabling environment for our youths and SMEs to enable them thrive and become employers of labour. They need protection in their business with special preference to help them grow with less stress. It must be a conscious effort on the part of government to address youth unemployment in the country, and this is one of the better ways to achieve it. It is not enough for government to be collecting taxes from organisations without developing its youths. So part of the money generated from taxes should be invested in youths and SMEs development. If the SMEs are protected today, they will surely grow large to compete with the exiting large enterprises in the telecoms sector, who also started very small, but became very large with time because of the initial support they got from their government.

What is your view about regulating technology activities in the country, in relation to the Nigerian Data Protection Regulation(NDPR), which the National Information Technology Development Agency is championing?

The NDPR, which the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is currently promoting, is a good move by NITDA, and they should be commended, because data protection and regulation have become global issues. The data regulation embarked upon by NITDA, will compel big and small organisations to be mindful in handling personal data, because data is now the new oil that will boost the Nigerian economy, if properly regulated, analysed and put into proper use.

Continued on page 26

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T H I S D AY ˾ NOVEMBER 5, 2020

BUSINESSWORLD

PERSPECTIVE

America’s War against African Leadership of International Bodies Cletus Adole

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wo years ago, US President Donald Trump was widely reported as describing Africa and some other developing regions of the world as “shithole countries”. The statement generated myriad reactions across the world, many

by Africans who expressed deep unhappiness at the sweeping, negative and tone-deaf characterization of millions of people. Though some tried to defend the description as factual and honest, the consensus was that the comments were unfair and disrespectful and very unhelpful to international cooperation and mutual co-existence.

Whatever may have been the US President’s intent, literal or metaphorical, there is now a real basis for concern with regard to current US policy and mindset towards Africans who are heading or competing for the headship of international organizations. It is no exaggeration to say that the world’s most influential superpower is averse to, in fact hostile to the idea of high achieving Africans leading multilateral organizations.

More and more, it seems that a core component of US foreign and economic policy is to ensure that Africans don’t get into the top positions in such bodies and even if they manage to, invent reasons to frustrate them out of office.

The “America first” anti-globalization, protectionist ideology which animates current US foreign and economic policy is shaking up the international structures and norms established after the second world war in unprecedented ways. In Africa, the impact of US policies is not only economic and political; it seems to have a decidedly racial element.

Increasingly, it seems that high achieving Africans whose impressive track records have earned them respect of peers and stakeholders in their areas of specialization have not been forgiven for the crime of being citizens of “shithole countries”.

The evidence is piling up and cannot be denied.

The case of Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization also bears all the hallmarks of this deep-seated US hostility to Africans in multilateral organizations. The first African to hold the position, Tedros was endorsed by the African Union after serving as Minister of Health and Minister of Foreign Affairs. But in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, Washington has launched a blistering campaign designed to demonize and oust him. Trump administration has called the WHO a “puppet of China” under Tedros’s leadership and accused the global organization of allowing the pandemic to spin out of control.

It is also threatening to defund and pull out of organization.

Many of the US allegations against Tedros have been proven to be false.

For instance, the US government alleged that WHO “consistently ignored credible reports of the virus spreading in Wuhan in early December 2019 or even earlier, including reports from the Lancet medical journal”. But the editor of the respected publication, Richard Horton, has come out to debunk the claim, stating that “the Lancet did not publish any report in early December 2019 about a virus spreading in Wuhan. The first reports we published were from Chinese scientists on Jan 24, 2020.” Many other allegations against Tedros betray the same sweeping, woolly, “get them by any means” charges that characterize the US government’s campaigns against Africans at the helm of multilateral institutions.

This unofficial but trenchant antiAfrican mindset also recalls US hostility to the second term bid of the president

Okonjo-Iweala

of the African Development Bank, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina. Based on his solid first term performance, Adesina was the popular choice of the relevant decision-makers in the organization for a second term. But his independent spirit and insistence on the best interests of the continent were not pleasing to the current US administration.

Though comprehensively cleared by the bank’s Ethics Committee of spurious allegations made by some anonymous whistleblowers, the US did its best to get him out of office in disgrace. Deploying its powers as the Bank’s largest non African shareholder, the US backed the whistleblowers position that the Ethics Committee did not have the capacity to conduct an independent investigation.

Expressing “deep reservations about the integrity of the committee’s process, US Trade Secretary Steven Mnuchin insisted on an additional investigation of the allegations by the whistle blowers “using the services of an independent investigator of high professional standing”.

As it turned out, Adesina was vindicated by the subsequent investigation which proved conclusively that the charges against him had no substance and he went on to win an unprecedented unanimous endorsement by the shareholders for a second term. Once again, America’s objection to a high

performing African was shown to have no basis in fact or logic.

And now, the latest. After many months of a grueling and highly competitive process, Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has emerged as the clear and overwhelming choice of member countries of the World Trade organization to serve as the next Director-General of the organization. From an initial eight candidates, the intensive process eventually pruned the number to two: Okonjo-Iweala and South Korea’s Yoo Myung-hee. The final tally, according to international media reports, was 100 votes for the former Nigerian finance minister and 60 for the Korean trade minister, but some say that is a conservative count, that Okonjo-Iweala’s votes is actually about double her opponent’s.

Anyhow, it was a landslide win by any definition. The number and spread of the votes garnered by the Nigerian is also impressive. Her support cuts across both developed and developing countries, nations of different geographical regions and different levels of economic development.

By any measure, Okonjo-Iweala has earned the right to head the organization which operates the global system of trade rules, acts as a forum for negotiating trade agreements and settles trade disputes between members – functions

that are ever more critical as the world battles the negative impact of protectionism and the ravages of the Covid-19 pandemic.

But in a move that is as arbitrary as it is illogical, the US has announced its opposition to Okonjo-Iweala’s emergence as DG, ostensibly because the Trump administration is dissatisfied with the electoral procedures – even though the US and other WTO countries had agreed on the same procedures before the commencement of the process. Not surprisingly, many member countries have come out strongly against the American position which is seen as arrogant and disrespectful of the consensus position of member countries. Many international experts also consider the statement by the US Trade Secretary that Myung-hee “has all the skills necessary to be an effective leader of the organization” as an after thought.

The idea that Okonjo-Iweala does not have trade skills as the Americans implied defies belief. Without taking anything away from the esteemed lady from Korea, the leadership skills, technical knowledge and experience of Okonjo-Iweala in many areas, including trade, are beyond doubt as anyone who looks at her resume can see. Additionally, the suggestion that the countries and regions who backed Okonjo-Iweala are ignorant of the mandate of WTO and the qualification requirements for prospective director-general simply doesn’t make sense. Perhaps most important, the robustly-expressed democratic choice anchored on time-tested, institutionally-certified processes should be more important than the opinion of one member, however influential.

The US objection to the emergence of Okonjo-Iweala as Director-General of the WTO is undemocratic and indefensible.

It flies against logic, the clear facts and justice. It is thus gratifying that the majority member-countries from the global north and south who voted for her have come out to defend the winning candidate and the integrity of the rigorous process that produced her victory. Their decision to ignore the untenable American position and proceed with the General Council session on November 9 which will formally put forward Okonjo-Iweala as head of WTO is the right step.

America’s efforts to deny a better qualified and legitimately elected candidate who happens to be a dual citizen of the US and Nigeria the opportunity to head the organization is a travesty which should not be allowed to stand.

-Adole is a public policy analyst

Despite COVID-19, Plateau Revenue Generation Surpasses Target by N500m Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Despite the ravaging effects of COVID-19 on the global economy, Plateau State Internal Revenue Service (PSIRS) said it surpassed its target for the first, second and third quarter

by N500 million.

Addressing journalists in Jos on Tuesday, the chairman of PSIRS, Mr. Arlat Dashe who disclosed this while presenting the second and third quarters reports of the Service, added that the feat was achieved following aggressive tax audit and investigations of individuals and organisations within and outside state, where it recorded a remarkable

recovery of over N3.8 Billion from MDAs alone.

He also identified sustained engagement with Plateau business community, trade unions and associations, which according to him played special role in ensuring a harmonious tax administration in the state. “To this end, the Service through the Department of Informal Sector has continued to interface with all stakeholders in the unions to ensure that there is synergy between the tax authority and tax payers.”

Dashe also said increased enforcement in the formal and informal sector in 2020, aggressive monitoring and evaluation

in the year, and aggressive tax audit and investigation were other strategies implored by the Service.

He, however, said the Service applied some tax relief measures to mitigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

These measures, Dashe said included, “extension of timelines for filing of annual returns; waiver of penalties and interests charged due to late returns and reduction of interest for late payments.”

Others relief measures, he said were: granting one per cent bonus to all tax payers who file returns early; suspension of enforcement of outstanding tax liabilities;

and reduction of taxes payable by informal sector businesses by 50 per cent.

He lamented that, “The pandemic has unfortunately taken a heavy toll on human lives and businesses in the state. This has consequently slowed down the efforts of the Services towards achieving targets within the period under review.

“As a sensitive and responsive government, the Services recognised the suffering of businesses across the state, and that’s why it quickly introduced palliative tax relief measures to help mitigate the adverse effects of covid-19 on Plateau businesses.”

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T H I S D AY ˾ NOVEMBER 5, 2020

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Albuquerque: Innovation Needed to Attract Investments in Water, Sanitation The Chief Executive Officer of the Sanitation and Water for All, the global multi-stakeholder partnership committed to achieving universal access to clean drinking water and adequate sanitation, Ms. Catarina de Albuquerque, in this interview speaks on why there is large financing gap in water, sanitation and hygiene and how that can be filled. Dike Onwuamaeze brings the excerpts:

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hy do you think there is such a big financing gap when it comes to achieving the water, sanitation and hygiene-related targets?

There are several reasons that are all part of the vicious cycle.

Very often what we see is a lack of enthusiasm by ministers to give greater allocations to the sector because it is seen as a sector that brings bad news and drains public budgets. All these circumstances then also lead to a lack of political prioritisation, which then leads to a lack of funding. For example, it’s as if the money is used to build a school but no thoughts are given to finding teachers, furniture, and books. This is what happens in the water, sanitation and hygiene sector. Not enough attention is being given to the systems that are needed for the infrastructure to work properly: policies, regulations of monitoring, of accountable institutions and professionals.

This is what we call systems blindness. Some years ago, I was in the Pacific Island States.

I saw a building and was told it was a desalination plant that had been built years ago with the support of a development partner. The problem was that this country did not have a systems approach, hence they could never recover the money they were spending on the energy to run the plant. They didn’t have anyone who knew how to operate the plant, or any spare parts, or anyone who could fix problems. It was basically a white elephant. When I asked the minister about his strategy to provide water, he said “We are building eight desalination plants.” Here you see a huge divide between just focusing on the infrastructure and focusing on the systems.

Official development assistance commitments to WASH increased by per cent between 2016 and 2017, indicating renewed focus by donors, but what other sources of investment need to be mobilised?

I could mention some outof-the-box, innovative financing mechanism, such as creating enabling environments to attract private investment so the state could focus on the non-sexy invisible issues such as independent regulation, policies, and capacity building. But the reality is that a large part of the change will need to come from how governments and their partners work with the financing sources they already have, but are underutilized; domestic water tariffs, taxes, and micro and macro loans. We know that when water and sanitation tariffs are low, the state is subsidising the rich because they are the ones connected to the network. People living in remote and rural areas or slums are not connected. They

either need to take the water from the well or a protected water source and then boil or filter the water or buy water from a private informal water vendor where there are no guarantees of quality. There is also a tendency by donors and external support agencies — even United Nations agencies, big nongovernmental organisations, and private foundations — to fall back on project financing and not look at sector-wide approaches. External sources such as aid, development funding and concessional loans can have a catalytic effect if well used.

Would you say there are certain political and institutional reforms that need to be made in order to achieve SDG 6?

It depends on the development of the sector in a specific country.

Sector planning to ensure that public funds are effectively directed to the most challenging areas would indeed help governments focus on how to finance their goals. With that there is tariff policy that is focused on cost recovery allowing public funds and needs to be reserved for the less attractive investments: rural water supply, water supply to most marginalised areas, etc.

While we would then gradually decrease subsidies for the mainstream urban water supply — which is much more appealing for commercial investors, for example — in addition adequate tariff structures being in place and an effective regulatory environment for the sector is essential to ensure the delivery of affordable, high quality and sustainable services. In terms of banks and investors, their performance and accountability levels of water service providers in developing countries are too often still unknown.

The foundation of a healthy investment climate demands stronger sector regulation: well-documented standards with targets for performance, clear lines of accountability, incentives, and penalties.

Are there any interventions that you believe represent best value for money for the private sector or government to invest in?

There are no silver bullets. The call of my partnership, the SWA, is for a much more macro approach that is not mainly focused on projects. Only putting money into one side of the system will not lead to the desired changes.

On the other hand, investing in the institutional set up and capacities of the people will mean more efficiency and money saved that can be used for additional investment. For governments, I would say you need to lead and take up the responsibilities that you have.

You cannot delegate, wash your hands, or expect international development banks, the U.N. agencies, civil society, or the private sector to do the job that

you are mandated to do. But don’t do it alone: bring in others and gain from their experience and knowledge. Convene and work in a multi-stakeholder fashion. Allow for meaningful participation; involve the people who are the beneficiaries.

Bring along the people who make financial decisions is key, hence the SWA’s regular Finance Ministers’ Meeting.

On 4 November, we’ll hold the Africa Finance Ministers’ Meeting. They are a unique opportunity for our sector to position itself not as a drain on national resources, but as an investment in the human and economic development of a country. Ultimately, make sure you also have an enabling environment. Invest in systems

of accountability and you’ll see you are planting seeds that will flourish very quickly: you will attract investments and build confidence among donors. You will have all the elements to allow the sector to flourish.

What is the situation in the African continent when it comes to investment in water, sanitation and hygiene?

Several African countries are implementing some of the most innovative approaches in the world when it comes to using taxes, tariffs, external transfers and repayable finance to ensure people’s access to water and sanitation. For instance, Kenya’s reform programme in the urban water and sanitation, Rwanda’s innovative funding mobilisation

programme, Senegal’s mechanism that ensures social projects are funded by projects that can easily access financing and Egypt’s initiatives to reform the water and sanitation as a vehicle for employment generation and increasing women’s involvement in decision-making. Through the SWA partnership these governments are sharing these experiencing with other regions.

These innovative approach are very welcome because in 2015, 736 million people in Africa lacked a basic sanitation service, 234 million of whom practise open defecation. In the same year, 435 million people in the region lacked a basic drinking water service in 2015, 84 per cent of whom live in rural areas.

Also, 810 million people lacked

Ms. Catarina de Albuquerque

a basic handwashing facility in 2015, 600 million of whom had no facility. Also, 500 children die every day from lack of safe water and sanitation in sub-Saharan Africa.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY NOVEMBER 5, 2020

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

‘No Company is Immune against Cyber Attacks’ Emma Okonji

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he Co-Founder and the Chief Operating Officer of Digital Encode Limited, Dr. Peter Adewale Obadare has said no company is totally immune against cyber-attacks, no matter the state of readiness and resilience of the network.

The Information Technology expert noted that the high dependency on the internet and adoption of digital transformation has led to the increase in cybercriminal activities.

Addressing the issue of cyber-attacks, Obadare stressed that cyber security readiness and resilience were mere processes and journey, but not a destination.

The Digital Encode boss stated this at the 2020 National Information Technology

Reporters’ Association (NITRA) webinar held recently.

According to him, “Cybercrime damages are projected to cost the world over $6 trillion annually in 2021, up from $3 trillion in 2015.”

Speaking on the biggest threat to enterprise organisation, Obadare stated that findings had shown that at every 11 seconds, businesses will fall victim to a ransomware attack in 2021.

“More than 90 per cent of successful hacks and data breaches steam from phishing scams. Most frequent attack methods are social engineering, advanced persistent threats, unpatched ransomware, he said.

Obadare also stressed that cyber security/ fraud is a discussion topic for the board and not for the data centre alone. Backing up his claim, he explained that 60

per cent of small businesses that suffer cyber-attack are out of business within six months.

He also highlighted that 53 per cent security personnel believed that their enterprise will experience a cyber-attack in the next 12 months.

While urging vigilance, he said the survey revealed that 87 per cent believed that the rapid shift to work from home will increase the risk of data privacy and protection issues.

“Also, 54 per cent believe will take advantage of the pandemic to disrupt organisation. However, 51 per cent, which is about only half of the population are highly confident in their security team to detect and respond to cyber threats during the pandemic.

Although much is at stake, Obadare

expressed worries that the confidence level is low.

Speaking further, he urged and advised organisations to invest in people and process and not only in technology, in an effort to collectively combat the looming threat.

He recommended that for safety in the cyberspace, organisations must address cyber security readiness and resilience on a number of dimensions so as to understand the big picture, while integrating and coordinating all operational risk management activities.

He added that it was important that the executive team develop a risk intelligence quotient and also build an Intelligent Security Operations Center (SOC), based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML).

Amaechi, Danbatta, Others for Summit on Economic Diversification

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ith the global economy still battling with the coronavirus pandemic, coupled with the recent protest by young Nigerians, the 2020 edition of the annual WorldStage Economic Summit is set to hold virtually on November 10, to discuss how economic diversification can help meet the yearnings of the youths and other stakeholders in the country.

According to a statement by WorldStage, the organisers, keynote speakers at the summit will include Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation, Nigeria; Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science and Technology, Nigeria; and Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission.

The experts who will discuss the theme of the summit: ‘New Reality: Consolidating Economic Diversification’ include Abiola Rasaq, Head, Corporate Strategy, Central Securities Clearing System, Lagos, Nigeria; Dr Joy Ofinjite Ogaji, Pioneer Executive Secretary of the Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC); Nosa Omorodion, Director, National Companies & Independents; Schlumberger Companies Nigeria and West Africa; and Dr Ayodele Shittu, Economics, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Coach, Department of Economics, University of Lagos.

President/CEO, World Stage Limited, Segun Adeleye said the theme of the WES 2020 was timely as the twin challenges of COVID- 19 and EndSARS protests across Nigeria exposed the fragility of

the peaceful coexistence.

He said economic diversification was key to address youth unemployment which could be linked to the frustration that sparked off the latest protests.

“The lesson learnt from EndSARS protests by the youth demands rapid action on the part of the business and political leaders to open up opportunities through economic diversification,” he said.

With the non-oil sector contributing 91.07 per cent to Nigeria’s total GDP in Q2-2020 compared with 8.93 per cent from crude oil, one may not be wrong to say that the economy is already diversified.

But there is an anomaly in the reality that the oil sector is responsible for 95 per cent of foreign exchange earnings.

Since oil was discovered in Nigeria in

1956 at Oloibiri in the Niger Delta after half a century of exploration, there is still a wide gap between the exploration and integration into the economy to reflect an appreciable contribution to employment and the GDP, while the non-oil sector has not stepped up to become competitive, break into the global market and attract commensurate quantity of foreign exchange to strengthen the Naira and attract foreign investment.

With Nigeria accounting for over 51 per cent of West Africa’s population of 403,303,318 as at August, 2020 (United Nations estimates), its products- services, agriculture, and industries can dominate the sub- region if well packaged and delivered to bring in the much needed foreign exchange.

T H I S D AY Ëž Íł, 2020

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Investing in Industrial Ethanol Production for Exports Godwin Uba

I

t is disheartened that Nigerians at this level of technological development worldwide are still importing alcohol from overseas countries, when we can boast of more than enough cassava and other useful raw materials in this country.

The technology and manpower are also available to produce enough industrial alcohol for use within the country and reserves for exports.

Ethanol (industrial alcohol) has wide industrial applications. It is used in pharmaceutical companies, distilleries, laboratories, hospitals, soap and detergents (cosmetics) and beverage industries to mention but few.

The importance and demand for this product have necessitated the massive importation from overseas countries. Yet the supply cannot match the ever increasing demand, hence, the need for more investors into this aspect.

It is imperative that producing this product within this country will forestall further importation, which in turn will increase the supply base, add to the achievement of the nation’s macro-economic objectives in the areas of employment generation for the unemployed, and add to foreign reserves which will maintain a favorable balance of payment positions.

It is also worthy to note that Nigerians stands at a better position to produce most concentrated and more internationally acceptable ethanol than any part of the world.

This is because the raw materials needed for this project are all available in large quantities in this country, unlike Ghana that has been aspiring to increase their production base and export of the product.

Raw Materials Requirement The major raw material for this project is cassava tubers.

Apart from cassava, other raw materials needed for this project are palm-wine, maize, potato, molasses, sawdust, and yam to mention but few. All these are equally abundant in Nigeria.

Required Plants, Machinery & Equipment The machineries required for this project can be produced locally. Durable, functional and sophisticated machines are available for prospective investors. The machines required

are filtration unit (distillation columns), Hammer mill, Mixer, Fermentation tanks, Stirrers, Plastic pumps, Laboratory quality control units, Pasteurizer, Filling and corking machines.

The application of some of these machines depends wholly on the type of raw material needed.

Production Processes in brief The production process is simple but technical and depends also on the type of raw materials applied. For application of cassava tubers, relevant details include washing, peeling, cutting and drying, to produce tapioca/ chips with about 90% starch content. This is transferred to the feed line weighed through conveyors. The raw materials are moved to the milling and liquefaction section. The hammer mill will grind the cassava into fine powder.

The powder is mixed with water and transferred to the slummy tank and then heated.

At this point, the superfine cooker where it is heated up to 140c, using steam injected hydro-heating mechanism. This breaks down the starch and makes it more soluble and gelatinous.

Liquefying enzymes is added which breaks starch into molecular chain called dextrin. A saccharifying enzyme is added which converts the dextrin into dextrose or sugar. They yeast contained in the pre-fermentator is added for conversion of sugar to alcohol.

One tone of cassava tubers yields between 400-600 liters of alcohol, while palm-wine yields between 128-140 liters of ethanol.

Details will be worked out in a bankable and comprehensive feasibility studies available for prospective investors.

Market Potentials: In spite of huge consumption by various chemical industries in Nigeria and the West African sub-region, there are a few ethanol plants in the country with very low production capacity. At the last count there were only four. In effect, about 90% of local consumption is still imported at exorbitant prices. An investment in ethanol production will certainly be good especially when viewed from industries that need the product such as: (a) Alcoholic/ Beverages Industries: The many products of various gin, brandy, whisky, wine, etc make use of ethanol in large quanti-

ties. (b) Surface Coating Industries: Paint makers consume a lot of ethanol during the production of certain paints and thinners.

Certain adhesives incorporate ethanol as an important solvent. (c) Cosmetics Production: The cosmetic industries find ethanol useful in the production of perfumes, dyes, after-shave lotions, etc. (d) Drugs Making: Ethanol is used in making over the counter (OTC) drugs such as dermatological creams, methylated spirit, some syrups and mixtures. (e) As Preservatives: Biological specimens are preserved in laboratories using ethanol. (f) Fuel: Ethanol is used as fuel for spirit lamps and stoves and for flaming in hotels and foundry works where soot is not required.

Ethanol has been used and is still being used as substitute to petrol as fuel in countries like Brazil, etc. (g) Other uses: In laundry and dry cleaning ethanol is used to some extent. It is good antifreeze for automatic radiations. It is also raw material for making resins, acetic acid, chloroform, etc. Aside from these, the by-products are also very useful as it will be seen later.

The international demand for this product is so high. The product is demanded by reputable industries in USA, Germany, South Korea, Poland et cetera at a very competitive prices. The international market prices required exportable standards.

Suitable location of the project This project can be located in any part of the country. Due consideration will be given to accessibility, raw material availability, electricity and good roads.

Legal Requirement It should be noted that there is no legal constraint on establishment of this project in Nigeria. There is a sustained and intensive campaign by the government for industrial development, backward integration and self-reliance. Investment of this nature is in line with the nation’s industrial policy and objectives. The project can conveniently be set up in between one to two plots of land.

Suggested Capital Requirement for take-off Before an exact amount for the proposed project can be determined, there are some

basic questions to be answered by the prospective investor. Such questions as location, proposed capacity of production and what the promoter has on the ground need to be answered. However, the writer is of the view that the project could be established with the sum of N20.55 million. The writer can assist prospective investors to source the required funds for this project on request.

Our Investment Analysis Analysis carried out had shown that profit after tax in the first two years is 3.9 million and fifth year 11.6 million. Net cash flow in the first year is N15, 694 million and fifth year of operation 34.799 million. The payback period is under one year of operation. The return on investment is 94 per cent. The total projected turnover of N135 million is expected in first year. This project is foreign exchange free since no importation is required. The raw materials and human requirement of 12 persons in the first year of operation are all locally available.

Professional evaluation of this project indicates that both profitability and viability analysis are all positive and highly impressive.

The writer is of the opinion that this project will contribute to the nations GDP, earn foreign exchange to the proposed investor, increase the nations export based and generate more employment for some of the nation’s teeming unemployed. Cassava and palm-wine the major raw materials are locally available.

There is also high demand for this product on both local and international level. This project is socially desirable, economically worthwhile, technically feasible, commercially viable and highly profitable. Hence do recommend this project to the numerous commercial cassava farmers, local government areas, Federal Government and other numerous investors in the country and other parts of the world.

For further enquiries, please contact the writer.

Implementations For details on comprehensive & Bankable feasibility studies, Business Plan; procurement & installations of strong and durable machines, packaging methods, Export markets and funding arrangements, please contact the writer -Uba, can be reached via 08034494437 or ubagodwin@yahoo.com

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IMAGES

L-R, Minister of State Finance,Budget and National Planning Clem Agba; Minister,, Zainab Ahmed and the Permanent Secretary Aliyu Ahmed at the 2021 Budget defence at the National Assembly, Abuja....recently juliuy atoi

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Photo Editor ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜ ÔËÖË Email Ă‹ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜Ë›Ă‹Ă”Ă‹Ă–Ă‹ĚśĂžĂ’Ă“Ă?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ–Ă“Ă Ă?Ë›Ă?Ù×

L-R, Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev Yakubu Pam ; Initiator, Eradication of malaria in Africa, Prince Ned Nwoko and Project coordinator, Mr Chukwuebuka Anyaduba after the meeting on advocacy and mobilization to eradicate malaria in Abuja....recently

Ekiti State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Wale Fapounda; and members of the state Judicial Panel of Inquiry into Allegations of Human Rights Violation Against Police OďŹƒcers including SARS Operatives, during the inaugural sitting of the panel in Ado-Ekiti...recently Representative of the Director-General of NYSC, Muhammed Momoh (right), presenting certiďŹ cate to a graduate of Information and Communication Technology on Digital Marketing, Obafemi Kenhide-Agbesusi, during a conference on Youths in Health and Safety organized by African Scholars Care Initiative in Abuja ...recently

L-R: Members, Edo State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on SARS, Mr. Francis Osayi; Bishop Feb Idahosa; and Chairman, Justice Ada Ehigiamusoe (rtd), during a meeting in Benin City...recently

L-R: Representative of Mandilas United Trade Association, Tradefair Complex, Mr IK Yomi Unigwe; President of the Mandilas United Trade Association, Trade fair Complex, Chief Anthony Okeke; Brand Manager - Life Lager Beer, Chidi Egwu; and Regional Trade Marketing Manager Lagos South, NB Plc Kingsley Anyanwu; during the Life Lager Progress Booster grants presentation in celebration of the New Yam Festival which held in Lagos...recently

L-R; Past Chairman, National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners(NAGGMDP Dr. Odusote Olufemi; Ogun State Deputy Governor, Engr Noimot Salako-Oyedele; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; Secretary to the State Government, Mr Olatokunbo Talabi; Secretary,(NAGGMDP), Dr. Ajayi Abiodun and the Vice-Chairman, (NAGGMDP), Dr. Adebisi Olushola during a meeting with the Governor by the medical practitionersin Abeokuta...recently

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍłËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

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L-R, Permanent Secretary, Ministry Of Defence, Babaginda Oseni and Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Bashi Salihu at the 2021 Budget defence of the Ministry befofe the National Assembly in Abuja...recently julius atoi

L-R: Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman; Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mohammed Bello-Koko; and Chairman, Governing Board of the NPA, Chief Akin Ricketts, inspecting the damage done to the NPA Headquarters by hoodlums during the #ENDSARS protests on Marina, Lagos...recently

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Adamu (left) being welcomed by the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during his courtesy visit to the Governor at the Lagos House, Marina...recently

R-L; Chief Naval Sta, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, Maj Gen I.O Amao, Lt General L.O Adeosun and Chief of Defence Sta, General Abayomi Olonisakin during the brieďŹ ng by the Committee on Maritime Security held at the Council Chambers State House., Abuja.... recently state house

Imo State Governor , Hope Uzodimma(middle) anked by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Cosmos Iwu (left) and Commissioner for Health, Dr Damaris Osunkwo (right).during an Inspection Tour of Imo State Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH), Orlu...recently

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; with St. Luis College students after their performance, during the opening session of the 3-day induction programme for the newly recruited teachers organized by Teaching service commission in Ikere-Ekiti‌recently

Cross-section of participants during the meeting of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike with non-indigenes residing in Rivers, in Port Harcourt ...recently

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T H I S D AY ˾ , NOVEMBER 5, 2020

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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

Health Workers, Key to Preventing Second Wave of COVID-19 in Nigeria With many countries, including France, the United States and the United Kingdom, now experiencing a second wave of COVID-19, there is need for Nigeria to prevent this resurgence in the country through the protection of health workers on the frontline, as well as intensify campaigns against the disease. Martins Ifijeh writes

W

hen the World Health Organisation (WHO) in January alerted the globe to the emergence of COVID-19, there was panic across continents. It was the first time since 2009 that the entire world would confront a global pandemic.

At least, three existing generations must have felt a sense of novelty, with most inexperienced and some deeming it an unfathomable scenario.

WHO eventually called a global state of emergency, calling on all healthcare workers to once again don their uniforms to save the world from an impending pandemic which would prove to be utterly devastating to many lives, businesses and economies in the subsequent months.

The virus had reportedly emanated from a Wuhan lab in China with other publications linking it to the consumption of tainted bat meat.

Accurate details of its origin are still unclear, but the sheer panic and fear it instilled still lingers even as the number of confirmed cases appear to be on the decline.

The virus had made its way from China, down to Europe and then to North America and other remaining continents of the world before making its stop in Africa. In Nigeria, records of the first-ever COVID-19 case was on February 27 when the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed that an Italian citizen in Nigeria had contracted the virus.

While the Nigerian government’s response to the virus was reactive, it was a response nonetheless. Airports were shut indefinitely, lockdowns and curfews were imposed, and certain businesses ordered to shut down operations for the unforeseeable future.

In the nine months since the virus made its way to the country, Nigeria has witnessed different phases of contraction, including a peak period, a medial phase and now, a period characterised by a reduction in infection rates across the country.

While the world ground to a halt due mostly during the second quarter of this year, some gears never stopped grinding to keep the wheels rolling. Health workers were immediately thrust to the frontlines – testing, treating, and helping in the nursing of patients to optimum health.

However, their jobs were made harder than ever due to certain factors. First, they had to circumvent the poor healthcare system in the country to maximise treatment.

Also, public mistrust and misinformation took centre stage with many ignorantly dismissing the virus, describing it as the “rich man’s disease” and an embezzlement ploy for allocated response funds, resulting in non-compliance with lockdown measures and social distancing restrictions. This potentially undermined the impact of the government containment response and more specifically, it rendered the painstaking work done by health workers over the past few months almost useless.

What was even more dispiriting was that healthcare workers were subjected to prolonged isolation from their families, resulting in considerable amount of mental stress. According to numerous research papers - depression, anxiety and stress have been prevalent among healthcare professionals.

Fortunately, in October, the number of confirmed cases is evidently on the decline.

However, to ensure the country completely defeats the health crisis, it is important to eradicate complacency.

Nigeria can take learnings from developed countries currently experiencing a second

The Coca-Cola Foundation’s intervention for health workers

wave. The United Kingdom, for example, has received backlashes over its initial response to the pandemic. s National Health Service (NHS) workers complained that a shortage of vital personal protective equipment (PPE) put them at risk while some staff said they were forced to wear bin bags as makeshift protection, according to The Telegraph.

At the height of the outbreak, some NHS staff were sick or forced to quarantine because of suspected exposure. Other countries across Europe currently seeing resurgence in COVID-19 cases after successfully slowing down outbreaks include Albania, Bulgaria, Macedonia France, Poland, among others. France last Thursday commenced a one month lockdown following a second wave of the disease. The US has started experiencing a surge in cases, with experts already warning that the present wave might be bigger than the first if care is not taken.

The Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu had last week warned that Nigerians will begin to see the effect of the #ENDSARS campaign in increase in COVID-19 cases, as the protest did not put into consideration the need for social distancing, wearing of face masks, among other health protocols against the disease.

Health workers believe the country is at a critical stage in the eradication of the virus, and that its response to the declining numbers of confirmed cases could be a determining factor in reaching the finish line as well as prevent a second wave.

Stakeholders like The Coca Cola Foundation believed for Nigeria to prevent a second wave of the pandemic, health workers must be equipped to play a key role for that to happen; laying emphasis on the provision of personal protective equipment.

To TCCF, the philanthropic arm of The Coca

Cola Company, health workers are first on the scene during diagnosis of the infected and have an increased risk of contracting the disease if not adequately protected.

The foundation has devised a strategy that would directly impact the lives of those they sought to provide relief for, with the exercise involving a painstaking work, and guarantying the company’s impact in the lives of key stakeholders in the COVID-19 relief efforts.

One of the stakeholders the company identified and deemed crucial were health workers. TCCF leveraged its longstanding relationship with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to support national efforts in the fight against the disease through the provision of essential medical supplies, personal protective equipment and risk communications to impacted communities, healthcare personnel on the frontlines and treatment centres across the country.

Citing a research report on The Lancent, “In the UK and the United States, risk of reporting a positive test for COVID-19 was increased among front-line healthcare workers. Health systems should ensure adequate availability of PPE and develop additional strategies to protect health-care workers from COVID-19 …

With ongoing community transmission from asymptomatic individuals, disease burden is expected to rise. As a result, there will be an ongoing need for front-line health-care workers in patient-facing roles. Because this work requires close personal exposure to patients with SARS-CoV-2, front-line health-care workers are at high risk of infection, contributing to further spread.”

Corroborating the above excerpt is a local perspective from the Chairman, Committee on COVID-19, Nigerian Medical Association, Lagos State chapter, Dr. Japhet Olugbogi. In his words, “Health workers are like soldiers.

You cannot send a soldier to the battlefront without giving him ammunition, body armor, helmet, boot and uniform. So, health workers need adequate PPE. “ Concerning the transmission of the virus, I have said it before, health workers are the most at risk. They are the ones that can spread the infection more than any other set of people.

This is because they have direct contact with these patients. If they get infected, they can spread it to other patients. They can spread it to their colleagues and to their family members.”

As the pressure increased on a handful of key health facilities across the country, so did the risk of infection for the health professionals working there. Currently, as the number of confirmed cases continues to reduce across the country, it is expected that some level of complacency will set in, with most public spaces declaring themselves open and more people choosing to ignore preventive measures.

The Coca-Cola Foundation’s intervention could not have come at a better time and points to the company’s approach to COVID-19 relief as well-informed. By providing health workers – who are at a high risk of infection and spread due to their patientfacing role – with much-needed protection at this critical stage, we are closing a loop which otherwise could devastate a country still finding her feet socially, economically, and health-wise.

The journey to eradicating this virus is still a long one. Nigeria has done remarkably well in responding to the threat and containing it. At this critical stage, it is expedient that the public and private sector direct their resources towards ensuring the circumvention of situations that could land us in the second wave of COVID-19 – a situation which would no doubt plunge the country into unprecedented levels of crises.

T H I S D AY Ëž , NOVEMBER 5, 2020

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NEWS

Nutrition Expert Advises Nigerians to Explore Protein Complementation to Curb Deficiency Chiamaka Ozulumba In furtherance of efforts to stem the tide of protein deficiency in the country, especially in the light of the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigerians have been advised to complement their meals with protein food sources.

Beatrice Oganah (PhD), a nutritionist and Chief Lecturer at the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Lagos, who made this call, noted that the major cause of protein deficiency in humans is inadequate consumption of protein in meals. InNigeria, this is further worsened by the way the family diet is usually plated.

According to Dr. Oganah, “in Nigeria, carbohydrates and other food nutrients on the plate are usually in the ratio of 5:1. For example, a typical Nigerian plate for lunch of ‘swallow’, or a rice-based dish, is 80 per cent ‘swallow’ (Eba, Amala, Tuwo or Pounded yam) to 20 per cent soup (containing vegetables, beef/ fish and spices) for all ages. For younger children, the beef/fish and soup is even less than 20 per cent.�

She revealed that studies, notably the National Nutrition Health Survey 2018 and the Nigerian Protein Deficiency Report 2019, have shown over the years, the prevalence of protein deficiency in Nigeria, especially among the vulnerable.

This deficiency manifests in the form of low-birth-weight, stunting, wasting, under-weight and the burden of infectious diseases, and its complications as a result of low immunity. The nutritionist stated that protein is present in plants (mainly legumes – cowpea, locally called beans, soybeans, groundnut, lentils, black beans

Dr. Beatrice Oganah (PhD) kidney beans, lima beans, jack beans, green peas, almond, cashew nuts, pigeon pea, Bambara (Okpa), melon, sesame seed, oil bean seed, etc.) and animal food sources like meat, seafood, milk, eggs, milk, among others.

She added: “The quality of the proteins from both sources is not the same. Proteins from animal sources are higher in biological value - meaning that animal protein is superior to plant protein. “Animal proteins are also more expensive than plant proteins essentially because of the cost and time of breeding and processing before it is ready for sale. “Legumes, on the other hand, are grown and sold in the markets all year round in Nigeria.

All legumes contain a significant quantity of proteins; however, soybean stands out because its amino acid content is comparable to that of animal protein, both in quality and quantity.�

Dr. Oganah suggested that one of the methods of increasing the gap between legumes production and consumption is meal complementation with legumes, particularly soybean.

She explained that the concept of complementary proteins arose from the need to blend plant protein-rich foods with other

foods and consume as a meal in one sitting.

This complementation, or blending, can be done at the household and industrial levels.

If properly implemented, it would boost the consumption of soybean, enhance quality protein intake, boost the health of individuals and families and reduce food budget since soybean is cheaper than meat and fish.

Dr. Oganah noted that this technique is more important now especially in the midst of the pandemic, when the cost of meat and seafood has increased astronomically, while the purchasing power of the populace has progressively reduced.

She remarked that at the household level, soybean flour can be added during meal preparation to staple foods such as elubo, garri, semo, yam/sweet potatoes/ plantain pottage; incorporated into soups, sauces and stews; use as soup thickeners in Banga, Nsala and black soups and as a composite with cowpea (beans) in making moi moi and akara balls.

At the industrial level, she noted that, food processing companies can contribute to the fight against protein deficiency through research, development of composite self-raising flour containing soybean with comparable texture and quality, that can be used to produce confectioneries.

Noodles, spaghetti and Macaroni can also be simulated from soybean composite flour to suit the nutrition transition trend of the young people and at the same time boost their quality protein intake.

She concluded that nutrition education was also a key ingredientin the quest to reduce protein deficiency in Nigeria.

Minister Worries over Imminent COVID-19 Second Wave, Warns against Complacency Kuni TyessĂ“ Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire has expressed his concerns over the COVID-19 second wave of infections which he says may be imminent and has called for more strengthened health systems which he noted are already overwhelmed.

He said Nigeria, having moved from the first few cases recorded in Lagos, Ogun and the FCT, to the current COVID-19 community transmission phase, with over 60,000 confirmed cases and 1,135 deaths across the country, has been able to strengthen its testing, tracing and treatment capacity.

Ehanire who gave the keynote address during virtual Annual General Meeting(AGM) and 30th anniversary of Guild of Medical Directors, Lagos Chapter, said the huge second wave of COVID-19 outbreak raging in Europe and America gives great reason for concern due to high volume of human traffic between Nigeria and those countries.

He said the private sector remains a vital contributor to Nigeria, having moved from the first few cases recorded in

Lagos, Ogun and the FCT, to the current COVID-19 community transmission phase, with over 60,000 confirmed cases and 1,135 deaths across our country, has been able to strengthen its testing, tracing and treatment capacity.

He added that Lagos State being a major international travel entry point and an extensive, vibrant metropolis, with corresponding high risks, suffered the double impact of being the most severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and also the #EndSARS protest, putting the resilience of the health institutions and systems to the test.

Soliciting for the support of private practitioners, the minister urged the association to propagate known effective public non-pharmaceutical measures, increase index of suspicion and caution, and above all cooperate with public health officials to prepare for, and respond to all emerging health challenges.

According to him: “I have reason to worry that our own second wave in Nigeria may be imminent. We therefore have no reason for complacency, but every reason to wake up. Although we

have done much to strengthen our health system, we are weary of it being overwhelmed. Lagos is a major international travel entry point and an extensive, vibrant metropolis. The risks are corresponding. “Nigeria, having moved from the first few cases recorded in Lagos, Ogun and the FCT, to the current COVID-19 community transmission phase, with over 60,000 confirmed cases and 1,135 deaths across our country, has been able to strengthen its testing, tracing and treatment capacity.“ Encouraging all states and private sector practitioners to cooperate with the federal government and buy into its health sector next level agenda, the minister disclosed that a national post-COVID-19 sustainability plan has been developed to guide the nation’s return to normalcy and ensure that all sectors, especially the health sector, are better strengthened.

Minister of state, Health, Sen. Olorunnimbe Mamora said the appearance of a new disease, and its progression to the declaration of global pandemic status was challenging for healthcare providers.

FERTILITY

with DR. KEMI AILOJE Info@lifelinkfertility.com; Website: lifelinkfertility.com 08033083580

DYSPAREUNIA:Painful Intercourse (Part Two)

This week, our discussion will continue with focus on those at risk of painful intercourse, possible prevention and management.

WHO IS AT RISK OF DYSPAREUNIA? r 1PTU NFOPQBVTBM XPNFO XPNFO XIP BSF post-menopausal are more likely to experience pain during or after sex or with any form of penetration, this is as a result of a condition known as Atrophic vaginitis (thinning, drying and inflammation of the vaginal wall caused by low estrogen). r 1PTU QBSUVN NPUIFST JU JT OPU VOVTVBM for women who just gave birth to experience post-partum dyspareunia, women who had episiotomy (a surgical cut made at the entry of the vaginal during childbirth for easy delivery and to prevent the rupture of tissues) are also atrisk of pain during sexual intercourse as a result of this minor surgery.

NOTE: Dyspareunia is very rarely seen in men.

However, the possible causes of dyspareunia in men can be Infections such as thrush, Sexually transmittedinfections such as genital herpes and chlamydia, tightness or tear in the foreskin of the penis or Inflammation of the prostate gland.

PREVENTION OF DYSPAREUNIA Not all causes of dyspareunia can be avoided (for example history of sexual abuse, trauma etc.), however some of these causes may be prevented and they include: r 4FYVBMMZ 5SBOTNJUUFE %JTFBTF B LOPXO cause of dyspareunia can also be prevented by abstinence, practicing safe sex and avoidance of multiple sexual partners. r :FBTU JOGFDUJPO IBT CFFO NFOUJPOFE UP DBVTF dyspareunia, it is important to keep the genital area dry; this is because moist environment supports fungal growth. Always change clothes immediately after a swim or a workout session. r *U JT BMTP JNQPSUBOU UP BWPJE UJHIU DMPUIFT and wear cotton underwear so that your skin gets to breathe. r #MBEEFS JOGFDUJPO XIJDI JT BMTP B DBVTF ofdyspareunia could be prevented by wiping from front to back after visiting the loo, also urinating after sexual intercourse may also be a means of preventing bladder infection. r *G EZTQBSFVOJB JT DBVTFE BT B SFTVMU PG FOEPmetriosis, it may help to avoid deep penetration and also having sexual intercourse during the week of ovulation because sex is less painful at this period. r *U JT BEWJTBCMF UP XBJU GPS BU MFBTU TJY XFFLT before having sex after childbirth. r %ZTQBSFVOJB DBVTFE CZ WBHJOBM ESZOFTT DBO be prevented by the use of lubricant during sexual intercourse.

DIAGNOSIS OF DYSPAREUNIA To diagnose dyspareunia the following has to be done: r " EFUBJMFE NFEJDBM IJTUPSZ DIJMECJSUI trauma,surgical history by the physician to ascertain the duration or length of pain, point of pain, type of pain, whether the pain happens with a particular sexual partner or with all sexual partner, if pain happens with all sexual position, is taken. r 1IZTJDBM FYBNJOBUJPO PG UIF WBHJOBM XBMM for dryness, inflammation, infection, scarring and genital warts.

r 1FMWJD FYBNJOBUJPO UP DIFDL GPS BCOPSNBM pelvic masses, tenderness, skin irritation, infections etc. The exact location of pain would also be checked for by applying pressure to the genitals and pelvic muscles. r 7JTVBM FYBNJOBUJPO PG UIF WBHJOB VTJOH B speculum to separate the vaginal walls, for some women this may cause pain. r 4FSJFT PG UFTU TVDI BT DVMUVSF UFTU UP DIFDL GPS bacterial infection, urine test, allergy test is done. r 'VSUIFS UFTUT TVDI BT B QFMWJD VMUSBTPVOE PS laparoscopy if the cause is a condition inside the pelvis. A laparoscopy is a surgical procedure where a small incision is made in the umbilicus (navel) and a thin viewing instrument (laparoscope) is inserted to view the pelvic organs and also detect fibroids,ovarian cysts etc.

TREATMENT OF DYSPAREUNIA This depends on the causes: r *G WBHJOBM ESZOFTT JT UIF DBVTF UIJT DBO CF eased using lubricant (for example natural oils includingpetroleum jelly, olive oil, or over the DPVOUFS MVCSJDBOU TVDI BT ,: +&--: BMTP JODSFBTJOH clitoral stimulation before penetration prevents pain associated with dryness. r %FTFOTJUJ[BUJPO UIFSBQZ 5IJT JOWPMWFT learningvaginal relaxation exercises that can decrease pain. r 'PS EZTQBSFVOJB DBVTFE CZ 6SJOBSZ 5SBDU Infection, antibiotics can be used. r *G EZTQBSFVOJB JT DBVTFE CZ GVOHBM JOGFDtion, topical cream can be used to treat the infection. r 'PS EZTQBSFVOJB DBVTFE CZ TLJO EJTFBTF which affects the genital area, treatment would be based on the type of disease. r *G EZTQBSFVOJB JT DBVTFE CZ FOEPNFUSJPTJT medications may be used or surgery may be required to remove the excess growth of the endometrial lining. r *G NFOPQBVTF JT UIF DBVTF PG EZTQBSFVOJB the MonaLisa Touch Laser treatment may berecommended, this is because the laser treatment treats the dryness of the vaginal wall by using CO2 and this stimulates the natural collagen in the body and regenerates healthier cells that produces natural lubricant needed to tackle the dryness. Also a topical oestrogen or lubrication may also be used directly on the vagina to increase lubrication. r 'PS EZTQBSFVOJB GSPN OP BQQBSFOU DBVTF counselling, lifestyle modification and home remedies such as sex therapy, discussion of sexual routine with partner, change of position during sexual intercourse, communicating with partner during intercourse are essential.

CONCLUSION Dyspareunia may be caused by several factors and it can also result into relationship or family challenges. Talking to a counsellor or sex therapist can help resolve some of these psychological and behavioural issues.

However if you notice persistent and unusual pain during or even hours after sexual intercourse, it is important to talk to your physician/fertility specialist so diagnosis, cause and the appropriate treatment can be commenced. t3FGFSFODFT QIPUPDSFEJU 4IFIFBMUI IBWBSE IFBMUI FEV

34

T H I S D AY ˾ , NOVEMBER 5, 2020

HEALTH

Nurturing Receptiveness Towards Persons with Special Needs Rebecca Ejifoma writes that Mary Special Needs Foundation, a charity organisation founded by Mrs. Adedoyi Oseni for people with special needs, is bent on nurturing positive receptiveness towards persons with special needs, with special focus on epilepsy. In her quest to change the narrative, her book on “Epilepsy Guide” bridges the information gap between the specialist in the field and the common man on the streets off all generational myths.

There is a need for awareness to increase, hence, Oseni started the projects on September 19, 2019.

“We decided to print the information guide with the publication of the book since we may not be able to reach everyone.”

“We now came up with the objective on epilepsy.

Our aim of writing the book is to bridge the information gap between the specialist in the field and the common man on the streets,” she listed, as she said it is also to reduce or prevent sudden death in epilepsy.

“This is because when any of these people suffering from these conditions have a crisis people will run away from them,” she speaks on.

In the charitable words of Oseni, people don’t know how to manage epileptic people because of the myths that have shrouded this condition.

She recalled, “Look at the case of Dr. Orji that plunged into Third Mainland in 2017, it was because of the stigma and depression he suffered from this ailment. He was not allowed to do his exam like the others were doing.

“The seizure probably was uncontrolled and the environment does not understand how to support him. He got depressed and jumped into the lagoon. He was a good potential who could have maximised what comes out of him but for the stigma.”

“Caring has the gift”, an age long saying goes, “of making the ordinary special”. This is the true picture of Mary Special Needs Foundation (MSNF) whose mission is to create awareness on issues and conditions that affect people with learning disability or epilepsy.

MSNF was formed out of the dire desire to nurture positive receptiveness towards persons with special needs, especially epilepsy, and to also cater to their needs.

Today, MSNF is a home to children and adults with special needs in Lagos State and Nigeria.

This is all thanks to a mother’s undying love after her second son developed epilepsy at age one.

Established in 2013 with seven board members to its name, Mrs. Adedoyi Oseni is piloting the affairs of the NGO. She is a mother, Chartered Accountant, fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountant, MBA from the University of Ife, and holds a Diploma in Adult Social Care from England and Wales. Most imperatively, she has the experience and the knowledge, and she is certified.

Birth of the Foundation In a nostalgic mood, Oseni reminisced about her life before and after the foundation came to being despite her background in Accounting.

With her imposing certificates in different fields and her enviable position with the Lagos State government, Oseni narrated how she jettisoned all just to care for her second son, the brain behind the foundation and child with special needs.

“The journey started with my son. My son is a treasure child. I suffered secondary infertility. I had him six years after the first child. My husband is a bit more elderly than I, so there was anxiety to have another baby after the first one,” says the founder.

When in 1993 she finally had her second baby six years after the first, this mother of two was elated. “It was a joy to behold but I didn’t know I had gestational diabetes because I am very slim.

Unfortunately, we had diabetes running in the family.

“When I had him, he was 4.6kg while I was about 55kg. He suffered asphyxia (when a child is deprived of oxygen) when I was having him.

He was very big and that caused delay in pushing but we didn’t know.”

Sadly, that fateful evening in 1994 changed the lives of the Oseni’s for ever. While juggling motherhood and career, she was returning home from work with her son who just celebrated his first birthday.

She recounted: “I was returning home from work. There was heavy rainfall and standstill in traffic. When I got home, I noticed something was different about him as he lay on the bed.”

Oseni, alongside her mother, took her baby to the hospital. They visited about five hospitals.

“He twitched and jerked from about 7.30pm until 2am when he came around. We were told he had febrile convulsion.” Subsequently, her baby started having seizures. “We took him to LUTH. We took him everywhere just to make sure that he is fine, but this thing kept on going.”

When the family of Oseni could not find the soothing succor they longed desperately for, they left Nigeria for England.

“We thought of what to do since we were not getting the kind of succour we were looking for and we were not getting it in Nigeria. We had to move to England,” she added.

Determined to give her son a better and normal life, Oseni the went through different workshops in England. She made herself available to unlimited information about epilepsy, did some training programmes and also worked in environment of people with special needs. This was all for her son.

Indeed, life in England as a mother and carer exposed the chattered accountant on ultimate help for her son and others with special needs.

Suicidal Attempt “It really exposed me on how to help and support him even with the father. We went about to see how to help him. One day, when I was in one of the facilities, I felt so suicidal that I should kill my son and kill myself to end all the problems,” she lamented.

For the mother of two, her current status had dethroned her. “It brought me so low. I lost my self-esteem. I lost everything in terms of emotion.

Mrs. Adedoyi Oseni I’m a Chartered Accountant by profession. I hold a very good position in Lagos State but then found myself working in that kind of environment because for me to understand him I had to work in the care setting.”

Change in Mindset Her down moments went on until 2009 when her focus altered. Motherhood brought compassion out of her. “I saw a lot of things happening to him which I could not explain”.

Oseni sat, thought and concluded on her next move after a still small voice whispered to her.

“But I heard it clearly that I have not sent you to come and work in this environment.”

“How do you help me? If you are going through this you can imagine what is happening to them back home in Nigeria. it was at that very moment my focus changed. That was in 2009 after having my baby in 1993.”

Being kindhearted, Oseni could not wish any mother or father same daily trauma and distabilised health she and her husband, Mr. Oseni, put up with.

She admitted, “I am not a carer,” while declaring, “I still retain who I am. All I’m looking at now is how do I help other people, how do I understand my child. Whatever I do to help my child then I can transfer it to other people.

“From there, when I went to the facility to work, I told my manager, a Ghanaian – Lucy Ampafo – that I wanted to replicate what we did in the house in Nigeria. She also said she wanted to do same in Ghana”.

Henceforth, whenever Oseni’s manager wanted to do something she would call her to come and have a look. “She knows more about it and knew that I was different from people working in the environment.”

The concerned mother dived into the system fully. “Lucy started exposing me to a lot of trainings that would help me to build understanding and a portfolio to do the same in Nigeria. With all that exposure I was able to help my son. Today, he is seizure free for over four years now though he had some traumatic experience. He is really doing well in England.”

Knowledge Transfer As whey vowed to do, she returned to Nigeria to replicate all. Although it may take a while, Oseni expressed how robust the welfare package is in England. “England has a lot of robust support for people with special needs,” even though her son’s needs are not really profound.

She counts the commendable package, “They have robust care welfare package for them. They go to special school, they support them, they have a budget, they ensure their needs are catered for, social budget, employment support allowance and medical is free.

“They have got a lot of things to use to support people with special needs. If you are named someone with special needs, every of your need

will be catered for: carers and it is going to be 24/7,” said the CEO. When the MSNF boss was going to England, she sought for medical leave from the government since she was in employment with Lagos State.

“When the medical lapsed, I had to return to Nigeria. My husband supports him in England.

When I came back to Lagos State, I was posted to Ministry of Education as the Financial Director.”

Oseni joined the permanent secretary on a tour to Modupe Cole facility, a care home and educational facility that houses about 430 residents.

“When we got there on the visit from the ministry, all the residents clustered outside, because I know what operates abroad and what I had seen in the environment. I knew it was a case of misinformation for the managers, which we will call institutional abuse; a lot of things were lacking,” she bemoaned.

But because she didn’t have the authority and wherewithal to change what was happening to those people in that facility, Oseni could not do anything. “We went further inside the facility. There is a big plot of land in front of the dormitory of the residence.”

When the CEO saw the state of Module Cole, she wept. “The place is an abandoned environment with thick bush, abandoned vehicles, sticky and swampy,” she described.

She gave an anecdote of the site. “This is the part they took to their dormitory. You could see them falling from their wheelchairs. It was highly inhabitable. While with the team, the spirit said, ‘This is what I’m talking about. What can you do for me here?’ This was in 2015.”

Just like many others, passion and idea trickled in, but the wherewithal was her only setback.

Hence, Oseni soliloquised, “I asked myself where I will get the money to do this. The first thing I did was to get the approval from the Lagos State government. A lot of people didn’t know I was the one doing the project. It took about two years before the approval finally came”.

Swiftly on the heels of the approval, “What we first did was to remove all the abandoned vehicles. We cleared it. There was a project that schools should be rehabilitated. They were pouring debris into the site.

She recounted, “We returned there in March 2020. We built the recreational park for them with support from families and friends and a corporate organisation that gave us N400,000. Altogether, we may have spent about N10 million to do this.

While we were working, five of the residents had (seizure) epilepsy. I had to call in the nurses, who took time to come.”

Need for Awareness For Mary Special Needs Foundation, its mission is to raise awareness on issues and conditions that affect people with learning disability. Its vision is to nurture positive receptiveness towards persons having special needs through our outreach to ward

Outreaches Since MSNF took off the ground last August, they have been to Redeemed, Wave Academy and brought out surveys to teachers in five special schools in Lagos. “We visited hospitals to meet sufferers and know what they are going through as outreach”. MSNF is using social media platforms like Instagram to talk about the book, Guide on Epilepsy, its treatment and types.

Citing statistics, Oseni said every one in five persons with learning disability will have epilepsy.

“Most of these care homes will have at least one person,” the founder said.

About Epilepsy Accordingly, Oseni expounded, “When we say someone has special needs it means he has got some impoverishment. Some have physical, visual, intellectual and mental impoverishment.

People with learning disability is people with intellectual disability.

“The levels vary. Because of innovation and the way things are changing, people with learning disability are no more called learning disability, in developed world they call them special needs because they have specific needs that should be taken care of.” She estimated that one in five people with disability will have epilepsy, which means about 20 per cent of people with learning disability will have epilepsy. “Epilepsy is something that is not age bound. It can affect anyone at any time. When the public is aware and is conscious, one is guided against it.”

The one that is rampant, says Oseni, is people with stroke. “If you have high blood pressure and you are not checking your blood pressure because you think you are young you cannot have it and you have a mini stroke, you are likely to suffer neurological problems. Once that happens then you have end up having epileptic seizure.”

Providing Better Lives for Epileptic Persons Now, for people with special needs to live better and healthy lives “last year, the disability act was established by the president Muhammadu Buhari. Earlier this year, they commissioned a body, the disability commission which has about five representatives from each zone to bring up things used in supporting people with disability”.

With this establishment of the commission and the establishment of the act for people with disability, Oseni said that, “if we benchmark against the best practices of what is happening in developed world we bring it to bear in terms of social welfare I’m sure there will be a huge change with people with special needs”.

Through MSNF, Oseni and her team members are making a passionate call for sponsors to get the books on Epilepsy across the country. This is in its ultimate quest to effect a generational change in terms of the way people perceive epilepsy, to be able to remove, to a great extent, the myths about epilepsy and let the public know that they can support people with epilepsy.

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T H I S D AY ˾ , NOVEMBER 5, 2020

HEALTH

Physiotherapists in Lagos Donate Palliatives to Physically Challenged, Provide Free Therapy Rebecca Ejifoma The NeuroRehab Group of over 300 physiotherapists has shown some love to the Lagos Cheshire Homes in Mushin area of the state, and two others in Egbeda and Badagry with a pledge to provide the people with special needs free therapy monthly to help them stay fit.

The experts carried this activity out to mark the global Physical Therapy (PT) Day of Service 2020 to raise awareness of what physiotherapy and medical rehabilitation are about.

The group’s founder, Dr. Adejugbagbe Muyiwa, noted that members of the group visited some homes simultaneously in Lagos- House of Mercy Children’s School in Egbeda,

and Lady Atinuke’s Home in Badagry.

Seeing that those are not popular homes, members of the group tasked themselves, and raised about N300,000 equally shared among the three homes.

According to the Head of Department at the Hospital for Trauma and Surgery, Victoria Island, Muyiwa because of the pandemic and skeletal school resumption, the group visited the three homes to put a smile on their faces and make some donations.

Part of the items donated to the homes were noodles, cassava flakes, rice, beans, salt, spaghetti, toiletries, stationery, and detergent.

He recalled: “When we met with the management, Mr. Sun-

day, he discussed that they will need some medical attention.

Of course, a home with people with special needs coupled with my influence and the influence of neuro rehab institute, we are thinking of giving them some medical checks monthly like a partnership.”

The NeuroRehab Group, which comprises orthopedic physiotherapists and neurological physiotherapists, has mapped out plans to send some physiotherapists, doctors, dieticians and some pharmacists, to the Lagos Cheshire Homes

to review their drugs.

As the team lead, Muyiwa revealed, “We want to make it a lifelong agreement between this wonderful home and also the body of neuro rehab, like our way of actually giving back to the society.”

In his reaction to the donations, the Chief Operations Officer of the Home, Mr. Sunday Ojebiyi expressed much gratitude.

“The donations have been helpful because it is all these ones we have been gathering together to fulfil all the objective

of the founder of the home.”

While recounting the tough times COVID-19 and the lockdown brought, Ojebiyi said they had donors visiting them with items.

Since its existence in 1961, “We have been trying our best. It is purely an NGO and through the self-assistance from people like this organisation, we have been able to keep on.”

While hoping for assistance from individuals and governments for the expansion to create an annex, the home

currently has 12 residents and 15 nonresidents. Their health and feeding are sole priority of the home at the moment.

One of the volunteers, Mibi Ojewale, boosted the confidence of the physically challenged persons present. She urged them never to mind their disabilities.

“Love yourselves. Love your body. You are perfect and unique. The only person that can defeat you is you. If you think like a victim, you will be a victim. If you think like a victor, you will be victorious” she emphasised.

Labour Tasks FG, States on Improvement of Health Sector tDemands payment of salary arrears to health workers Onyebuchi Ezigbo ÓØ ÌßÔË Organised labour has urged the federal and state government to take advantage of the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic to redirect investment in country’s health sector.

The labour movement regretted that successive governments have failed to take healthcare as top priority beyond mere policy statements.

Labour also urged the federal government to pay the two months salaries owed health workers arising from an industrial dispute in 2018.

It expressed worry that the recent seven days warning strike by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) to resolve the outstanding issues is yet to receive the attention of government.

President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba who made the charge at a press conference to mark the year 2020 Global Day of Action on Care last Thursday, said that it took the outbreak of COVID-19, for federal and state governments in the country to wake up to the reality of the decadence in the healthcare sector.

He said there is the need to invest heavily in the health sector as no country survives without effective health care.

“With the massive resources at our government’s disposal, Nigeria can afford to build and effectively equip some of the best hospitals in the world, with global best practices and personnel.

“But successive governments failed to take healthcare as a top priority beyond mere policy statements.

“We believe now is the time for our government at all levels to demonstrate more than keen attention on the health sector. The current pandemic has shown how important healthcare is to all sectors and citizens of any country,” he said.

Wabba said this year’s Day of Action on Care came at a most auspicious time as the world undergoes a very challenging period occasioned by the sudden

outbreak of the novel COVID-19, which has caused a pandemic of scary dimensions across the world; endangering everyone on earth, with care workers and other frontline health personnel encountering more serious risks.

In addition, the NLC president said the theme for this year’s event was apt as it highlighted the urgent need for massive investment in the care sector.

He said: “COVID-19 has fully exposed several countries, including Nigeria as not having invested enough in our health care institutions, putting everyone, both rich and poor at high risks.

“The theme: ‘’Invest in Care Now!’’ is to drum up demands for heavy investments in the care sector by our government and big businesses, if we must keep a healthy society and productive human resource base.

“Apart from the open fact that our healthcare sector has been neglected for too long, healthcare workers have been subjected to unfair treatment for too long.”

According to Wabba, essential workers do not have the necessary personal protective equipment to work with, especially before the outbreak of COVID-19.

“Government waited for the pandemic before it woke up to the reality of the decadence in our health care sector. Even now, enough has not been done to properly equip the sector and properly kit health workers across the country.”

Wabba further said that COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the risks health care workers face daily in the course of their duties as they don’t have adequate and appropriate safety gears, access to their own health care, extended to their families as well as decent pay commensurate with the work they do.

He said health care workers need standard daycare centres to keep their children when schools are not open and or infants that are not of school age, to enable them concentrate on their work.

The NeuroRehab Group with some palliatives for the physically-challenged

Consortium on Newborn Screening in Africa Launch, Promote Care of SCD Patients Each year, an estimated 150,000 babies in Nigeria are born with sickle cell disease (SCD). Yet many do not live past the age of five because they lack access to diagnostic testing and comprehensive care.

In response to this challenge, the University of Abuja and the Sickle Cell Support Society of Nigeria have launched the Consortium on Newborn Screening in Africa (CONSA) Abuja and Kaduna sites.

CONSA’s mission is to evaluate the effectiveness of newborn screening and early therapeutic interventions for babies with SCD in Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.

Through the leadership of hematologists and public health officials in these countries, CONSA introduces standardof-care practices for screening and early intervention therapies (such as antibiotic prophylaxis and immunizations) at participating institutions, screening up to 16,000 babies per year in each country and providing

clinical follow-up for babies living with SCD. Sickle Cell Disease is a genetic blood disorder that can be passed to a child when both parents have the Sickle Cell Trait. Normally, red blood cells are disc shaped and flexible to move easily through the blood vessels.

For those living with SCD, red blood cells are crescent or “sickle” shaped. These cells do not bend and move easily and can block blood flow to the rest of the body. Individuals with SCD suffer from acute pain episodes and chronic pain and may be affected by various other organ complications, which can cause disability or even death.

Due to lack of public knowledge on the cause of SCD, and misinformation that it can be spread between individuals, there is intense stigma around SCD. According to the WHO, up to 15 per cent of mortality in children younger than five years of age is due to SCD. Newborn screening allows families to know their baby’s

status and seek low-cost interventions that can reduce adverse health outcomes.

In Nigeria, newborns will be screened at different sites in Abuja and Kaduna. In Abuja, the sites include the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada Town Clinic, Dobi Clinic, and Dagiri Clinic and other primary and secondary hospitals in the Federal Capital Territory and Federal Medical Centre Keffi.

In Kaduna, the sites include Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital, Gwamna Awan Memorial Hospital, Kawo General Hospital.

As mothers deliver children in the hospitals, or bring them to the clinic for their first vaccines, they will be offered the screening.

Professor Obiageli Nnodu, Director, Centre of Excellence for Sickle Cell Disease Research and Training, University of Abuja and the Nigerian National Coordinator for CONSA said, “We are excited to be the first

country in CONSA to launch to demonstrate how newborn screening as an important public health intervention can save the lives of babies born with sickle cell disease in Nigeria. “ We are happy that despite delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be able to increase the number of newborns screened, and to promote care for all persons living with SCD in partnership with the Federal Capital Territory Health Authority.

“The Abuja and Kaduna sites will begin screening newborns and entering any who test positive for SCD into clinical follow-up. Staff will examine the long-term health outcomes of people with SCD up to the age of five, providing low-cost interventions and education to the family.

“Through such interventions, we aim to reduce under-five mortality, support achieving Nigeria’s Sustainable Development Goals, and promote the quality of life for all those affected with SCD.”

FG to Begin Enforcement of COVID-19 Protocols at MDAs Onyebuchi Ezigbo ÓØ ÌßÔË The Ministry of Labour and Employment has inaugurated a taskforce for the implementation of COVID-19 protocols in all the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs). The Permanent Secretary of the

Ministry, Dr Yerima Peter Tarfa, who inaugurated the the Ministerial Taskforce recently said it would ensure that people in the work place complied with the COVID-19 Protocol, aimed at curtailing the spread of the virus.

He said the federal government through the Nigeria Centre for

Disease Control (NCDC) had articulated and communicated the protocols on the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 in the country. “The implementation required proper monitoring and comprehensive enforcement for effectiveness,” he said According to Tarfa, the

information on the prevention of the spread of the virus needed to be passed down to different levels, and disseminated across the board, especially at the work place, adding that the Ministry’s Taskforce on the Implementation of COVID-19 protocol was set up for that purpose.

36

T H I S D AY Ëž Í˛Ëœ 2020

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Report: Unfavorable Economic Climate, Access to Credit Constraining Businesses Obinna Chima The Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) October 2020 Business Expectations Survey Report has once more identified insufficient power supply, financial challenges, high interest rate and competition as some of the factors constraining businesses in the country.

The report posted on the central bank’s website also identified unfavourable economic climate, unclear economic laws, unfavourable political climate, insufficient demand, access to credit and lack of equipment as other factors hampering business activities in the country.

It showed that while respondent firms expected that the naira to depreciate in October, they anticipated that the nation’s currency would strengthen between this month and the next six months. Also, inflation level was expected to rise in the next six to 12 months, while borrowing rate was expected to rise between this month and the next six months.

The October 2020 Business Expectations Survey was conducted

online from October 12th and 16th, 2020 with a sample size of 1,050 businesses nationwide.

A response rate of 89.4 per cent was achieved, and the sample covered the agric/services, manufacturing, wholesale/retail trade, and construction sectors The respondent firms were made up of small, medium and large corporations covering both import-oriented and export-oriented businesses. “At -1.5 index points, the overall confidence index (CI) on the macro economy was pessimistic in October 2020. However, respondents are optimistic in their outlook for November with a confidence index of 37.9. They also expressed optimism in the overall business outlook for December 2020 and April 2021 as shown in a greater confidence of the economy at 46.1 and 59.7 index points, respectively. “The pessimism on the macro economy in the current month was driven by the opinion of respondents from agric./services (-3.1 points), construction (-0.7 points) and wholesale/retail

trade sectors (-0.5 points). The major drivers of optimism for next month were agric./services (20.0 points) and manufacturing sectors (13.4 points). “Further analysis revealed that businesses that are neither import nor export-oriented (-2.2 points) and import-oriented (-0.3 points), drove the negative business outlook for the month under review,� the report stated.

Respondents from the construction and wholesale/retail trade sectors expressed pessimistic opinions on own operations in the review month with outlook of -0.3 and -0.4, respectively, while those from manufacturing and agric./services sectors expressed positive confidence of 1.3 and 1.8 index points, respectively.

Respondents’ outlook on volume of total order, volume of business activity, average capacity utilisation and financial condition (working capital) were positive at 7.9, 46.1, 11.2 and 2.3 index points, respectively. However, their outlook on access to credit was negative at -2.1 index points in October 2020.

MAN Commends CBN on N100bn Healthcare Intervention Fund Dike Onwuamaeze The President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr. Mansur Ahmed, has commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for creating a N100 billion intervention fund for the pharmaceutical industries in the country.

Ahmed, who spoke on Tuesday during a capacity building forum organised by the Finance Correspondent Association of Nigeria (FICAN) in Lagos, saying: “I think the CBN has done a wonderful job by creating this intervention fund, which will go a long way at expanding the capacity of our members. “I would, therefore, wish to use this opportunity to appreciate the Governor of the CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, for the wonderful opportunity given to our members; the manufacturing sector as a whole and the development of the Nigerian economy in general. “We would further assure the CBN that members would

complement the effort of the government by utilising the fund to develop the industry and provide the necessary platform for Nigeria to compete with her peers in the industry within the African continent as we approach the single market for Africa through the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement next year.�

He said about 10 companies had accessed the fund, stating that the CBN is not responsible for any delay in accessing the fund. “As at now, and from the information available to MAN, only 10 members in the industry have obtained the facility. This was not due to lack of funds or any technical hitch from the CBN. But investigation revealed that some of them have not been too willing to take facility of a huge sum as provided by this scheme. “Another reason is that many are still trying to perfect their document; given the technical details required by CBN as

being administered through the Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs). “I believe some other companies in the industry who are yet to obtain the facility are only trying to put things in order and whenever such are ready, the funds are there for them to access as graciously provided by the CBN,� Ahmed said.

He disclosed that some of the conditions attached to the loan for working capital included a maximum period of one year with provision for rollover not more than three years while the tenure of the loan has a maximum tenor of not more than 10 years with a maximum of one-year moratorium on repayment.

Ahmed said the intervention fund, which was meant to cushion the harsh effects of COVID-19 on the healthcare industry, would provide credit to indigenous pharmaceutical companies and other healthcare value chain players at five per cent to build or expand their capacity.

Paxful Adds Bitsika as Payment Method Paxful, a global peer-to-peer crypto marketplace has announced the addition of Bitsika to its platform, expanding its range of local payment methods in Nigeria.

The addition enables users to deposit Cedis, Naira, Dollars, CFA through the Bitsika app to facilitate easy transactions.

Speaking on the partnership, CEO and co-founder of Paxful, Ray Youssef, was quoted in a statement yesterday to have said: “As an organisation that constantly devises alternatives to ensure seamless and safe transactions for our users, we’re excited to add Bitsika as a payment option to the platform. “With this partnership, users

don’t have to worry about the restrictions on the US dollars imposed by African banks. Dollars can be held in a crypto form called BUSD. And with simplified security measures, there is no need to provide full Naira bank details, all that’s needed is a Bitsika tag.�

Bitsika was launched in 2019 to provide faster and easier payments across the globe while curbing the high costs of traditional money operators. “With Bitsika you can load up money in a particular currency (say Cedis, Naira, USD, etc). Once done, you can now anonymously and instantly send the money to anyone who has a Bitsika cashtag, without fail,�

the CEO of BitSika, Atsu Davoh said, adding, “Say goodbye to revealing the personal info of your Mobile Money number or Naira bank details every time you do or receive a transfer. And the best part is that all internal transfers are free.� “There is a growing demand for crypto as Nigeria becomes one of the fastest-growing markets in the world. To deepen Paxful’s integration in the country’s crypto industry, the company has been recently recognized and accepted as a premium member of the Fintech Association of Nigeria.

The partnership will help Paxful become an important part of the local financial ecosystem and protect its Nigerian users better.�

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 Íą Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $38.44 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $35.89 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

37

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍłËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

Stakeholders Advocate Review of New CAMA to Revive Market Goddy Egene Stakeholders who converged for the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) annual conference in Lagos yesterday called for the amendment of some sections of the new Company and Allied Matters Act ( CAMA) as a precondition for revival of the Nigerian capital market. The new CAMA had been under attack by different stakeholders over some of its sections that they said are

anti-Investment.

Speaking at the conference, one of the stakeholders , Co-founder, Banwo and Ighodalo, a law firm and Chairman, Sterling Bank, Mr AsueIghodalo, who made a critique of the new CAMA in its presentation on “Rebirth of CAMA: Implications for the Capital Market Ecosystem�, explained that much as it contains many sections that would enhance the growth and development of the capital market, there was a need to review some

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

new sections that could inhibit market growth.

He said:“ Whilst CAMA 2020 amends and addresses a number of the loopholes and problem areas in the Repealed Act, and also tried to revise our companies’ statute to bring same in tune with the 21st century, it would appear that the introduction of some oversight provisions and concepts suggest an overregulation of companies and company practices. Some of these excessive regulatory provisions

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

actually impede transactions in the market. “Section 142 of the Act provides that a company shall not in any event allot newly issued shares unless they are offered in the first instance to all existing shareholders of the class being issued in proportion as nearly as maybe to their existing holdings.

The applicability of this provision does not distinguish private and public companies. The implementation of this provision will pose significant problems for public

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

companies seeking to raise capital by the issuance of new shares. In undertaking such capital raising transactions, public companies would not be able to make public offers or undertake private placements without first making an offer to all their shareholders.�

According to him, this amendment has raised concern amongst operators, corporates and investors, and is a significant deviation from the provision of the Repealed Act which only specified preemptive

O F

rights for private companies. “ I align with these concerns as this provision may restrict public companies intending to undertake equity capital raise and restrict (or at best delay) the admission of strategic investors, because the offensive provision implies that companies will not be able to undertake public offer transactions or private placements without first going through the process of formally making an offer to their shareholders,� Ighodalo declared.

3 0 / 1 0 / 2 0 2 0 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

38

THURSDAY, Í˝Ëœ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž T H I S D AY

NEWS

INEC Ready for Early, Diaspora Voting To spend N2bn on voter registration, Anambra election Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is ready for early and Diaspora voting if the 1999 Constitution as altered and the Electoral Act 2010 as altered are amended to allow for them, the Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, told the Senate yesterday.

Speaking while defending the commission’s 2021 estimates, he said the agency was eager to have Nigerians living in foreign countries participate in the electoral process.

Yakubu explained that early voting would enable essential service providers like the police, members of the armed forces, INEC’s ad hoc staff, journalists and others to exercise their franchise either before or during the elections.

He said diplomatic staff in foreign missions as well as participants in the Technical Aid Corps (TAC) will also be able to vote when the relevant legal instruments are put in place.

He said: “The commission is desirous of giving Nigerians living abroad the right to vote, after all, all our neighbouring countries do so. But it requires the amendment to the constitution and the Electoral Act for that to happen. “And we have already worked out the document.

Once the law is amended today, we can roll out. We are ready. We have had several meetings with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) but we can’t go beyond what the law provides.�

On some groups who are often disenfranchised during the election, the INEC boss said such essential workers can either vote before or on election day when there is a relevant legal provision to support the idea.

According to him, “It is not just those in the armed services, the police involved in election duty, journalists, INEC ad-hoc staff and some INEC staff don’t vote. “The reason is that you are posted for election duty to places other than where you are registered, and the law says you vote where you are registered. “So, if you pass some amendments to the Electoral Act to enable people to vote, there are two solutions perhaps: Early voting, so that those involved in election duty can vote early or major reform of electoral legal framework to allow people to vote wherever they are.�

He said 20 months after the conclusion of the 2019 general election, INEC is still battling with about 1,700 cases filed by aggrieved parties.

He unveiled plans by the commission to spend N1 billion each for the conduct of the forthcoming Anambra State governorship election and the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), respectively.

However, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Kabiru Gaya, challenged the election management body to urgently work out a special remuneration package for its staff in view of their enormous responsibilities.

Yakubu said that the CVR would commence in the first quarter of 2021, adding that the exercise will last for 18 months, which is six months to the 2023 general election.

He said INEC was spending between N3 million and N4.5 million to prosecute each pending case.

He explained: “Each time anyone goes to court, INEC is joined, but we have to hire lawyers to defend us. We are not paying a fantastic fee, we are applying the Federal Ministry of Justice scale of fees. “If for instance, you have a case for governorship election before the Supreme Court, it’s a maximum of N4.5 million but others could be as low as N3 million. We are almost getting close to 1,700 pre-election and post-election cases in 2019 alone, and every day you hear people going to

court and joining INEC. We will continue to do what we can within available resources.�

According to him, the legal department of the agency has about 860 pre-election and 807 post-election cases, adding that the figure is rising.

Yakubu told reporters that the commission has resolved to draw N6.2 billion from its N10 billion INEC Fund, which was established in 2010 to augment its 2020 budget shortfall.

He said: “The commission cannot be independent unless it is financially independent.

There are some activities that happen that are time-bound or bound by some specific provisions of the constitution that the commission has to undertake. “So, the fund was established to allow the commission to discharge those responsibilities. It was established in 2010 but there was no cause to spend from it, and from the last five years, this commission did not spend from it. “But what has happened now is our budget for 2020 dropped to N40 billion from N45.5 billion in 2019. And as a result of the 10 per cent COVID-19 cut, it further dropped to N36 billion in the middle of the year when we had already made preparations for expenditure.

“Therefore, since that fund is made for the rainy days, I informed the committee that the rainy day has come. So we are taking part of the fund to balance our budget for this year.�

He added: “For the Continuous Voter Registration, the commission intends to resume voter registration in the first quarter of 2021. And once we resume, it will be continuous for one-and-half years, at least until six months to the next general election. “In other words, the commission is not going to resume voter registration for a week, two weeks or a month but we are working out the details.�

On the request by the committee that the INEC should urgently implement an enhanced salary structure for its staff, Yakubu said: “I remember when this matter was discussed last year, you specifically tasked the committee to come back with suggestions and ideas on how we can enhance salary remuneration. “We promised to discuss with the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission and we will come back to see what can be done.

We have not gone far on this matter mainly because there were many distractions. “Essentially, COVID-19 came

in and the nation was shut down and after COVID-19 we were confronted with two major elections – Edo and Ondo governorship. “I assure you we will resume our discussions with the relevant agencies to see how we can get a totally different salary structure for INEC for the kind of work the commission staff are involved in. It is work in progress.�

In his reaction, a member of the committee, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, said the National Assembly in carrying out electoral reforms, would ensure that the people that INEC relies on to be able to do their work as an umpire are also immune or sanctified against unnecessary temptations.

Bamidele said: “We believe this issue of enhanced remuneration must be addressed. It is something that should be addressed because it is important. “We will appreciate it if you can report back in the next three months specifically on this issue and if it requires any form of legislative action on our part this committee would be happy to work with the Senate Committee on Establishment and other relevant committees that can sit down with both INEC and relevant authorities to address the issue.�

Sanwo-Olu Signs Executive Order for Rebuilding Lagos Segun James Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has signed an executive order to establish the Lagos State Rebuilding Trust Fund that will rebuild the state after hoodlums, who seized the #EndSARS protests, unleashed an orgy of violence resulting in the destruction of public and private assets.

The governor also announced

an eight-man board to coordinate efforts to restore lost assets.

Citibank Nigeria Chairman, Mr. Yemi Cardoso, will head the Board of the Lagos Rebuild Trust Fund.

Other members of the board are the Managing Partner, Olaniwun Ajayi LP, Prof. Konyinsola Ajayi (SAN); Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Bank, Mr. Abubakar

Suleiman; Co-Founder and CEO, Flutterwave; Mr. Gbenga Agboola; Vice Chairman, Standard Chartered Bank, Mrs. Bola Adesola, – all representing the private sector – and a representative of an international donor agency.

Sanwo-Olu said: “In the last few weeks, we have been inundated with local and global offers of assistance to rebuild our state and recover all we

lost to arson and violence in October. It is obvious that we can no longer wait to begin the onerous task of reconstructing Lagos. In the next few days, our government will be sending a bill to the House of Assembly for the establishment of a Trust Fund to Rebuild Lagos. “Today, I am signing an Executive Order to set up an eight-man Lagos Rebuild Trust Fund Committee, which

will begin to oversee our recovery process. To ensure the highest standards of probity, transparency and accountability, FBN Trustees headed by Mr. Kunle Awojobi will oversee the Lagos Rebuild Trust Fund Committee. The committee will comprise five members from the private sector, two members from the public sector and one member from the international donor aid community.

“We will embrace new standards of governance and build stronger partnerships, stronger people, stronger institutions, and stronger Lagos. Our strength lies in our uncanny ability to overcome the most complicated challenges because we have people who genuinely love Lagos State and will assiduously do all they can to preserve its peace and unity.�

Corruption Closed Opportunities for Young Nigerians, Says ICPC Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has said that the high level of corruption in the country has denied many young Nigerians the opportunity to succeed and realise their dreams.

The commission vowed to continue combating graft in

the country and called for support from all Nigerians, saying it cannot succeed without public support.

Speaking during the presentation of plaques to the runners-up in the ICPC 20th anniversary national essay and music competition in Abuja yesterday, a board member of the commission, Mr. Dauda Yahaya, stated that the anti-

graft agency would equally continue to recognise and reward talents in the country. “Corruption has closed opportunities for many young Nigerians. If not for corruption, opportunities would have been flowing on the streets of Nigeria. Opportunities were not created for the youths due to corruption but we are determined to tackle

corruption but we can’t do it alone without the support of Nigerians.�

In his address at the brief ceremony, the ICPC Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye noted that the essay and music competition was meant to “reduce corruption by inculcating sound moral values in young Nigerians to grow up as good citizens.�

He added that the competition was also expected to motivate public officials to develop zero tolerance for graft and encourage them to imbibe honesty and hard work “rather than collecting bribes and cutting corners.�

Owasanoye, who was represented by an ICPC board member, Abdulahi Maikano, explained that the

overall best winners of the competition, Malam Hamza Buwai, 54, of the National Boundary Commission and SP Francis Erhabor, 48, the Divisional Police Officer, ‘D’ Division, Itam, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, had earlier been honoured by the President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on September 28.

Mr. Bill Stepien, alleged, without providing evidence, that his team had not been allowed legally guaranteed access to observe the vote counting in “numerous� locations.

Similarly, the Trump campaign said it was demanding a recount in Wisconsin, a crucial state which Biden won with a slender lead. “There have been reports of irregularities in several Wisconsin counties which raise serious doubts about the validity of the results,�

Stepien said in a statement. “The president is well

within the threshold to request a recount and we will immediately do so.�

A recount in Wisconsin during the 2016 presidential election, in which Trump took the state as part of his win against Democrat Hillary Clinton, found only 131 extra votes for Trump. “20,000 is a high hurdle,� former Wisconsin governor Scott Walker, a Republican, tweeted.

The US media outlets projected wins for the Republican incumbent in 23 states, including big prizes Florida and Texas, as well as Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri

and Ohio — all states he won in 2016.

Biden has also captured 23 states, including his home state Delaware and big prizes California and New York, as well as the US capital, Washington DC. The former vice president has flipped one state won by Trump in 2016 — Arizona, in the southwest.

Nebraska split its electoral votes between the two — four for Trump and one for Biden.

Maine was won by Biden, but so far, he has only three of the four electoral votes on offer, with the last still to be decided.

BIDEN IN CUSP OF VICTORY, TRUMP GOES TO COURT "It's time for us to do what we have always done as Americans – to put the harsh rhetoric of the campaign behind us, to lower the temperature, to see each other again, to listen to one another, to hear each other again and respect and care for one another; to unite, to heal, to come together as a nation."

After initially declaring himself the winner of the poll in the early hours of yesterday, Trump has set the stage for a potential legal battle, vowing to challenge results of the 2020 election at the Supreme Court.

He accused Biden of electoral fraud, saying voting was still going on in many polling centres after expiration of voting time.

In a briefing at the White House yesterday, Trump said: “This is a fraud on the American public. This is an embarrassment to our country. We were getting ready to win this election. “Frankly, we did win this election. We did win this election. So our goal now is to ensure the integrity for the good of this nation. This is a very big moment. This is a major fraud in our nation. “We want the law to be

used in a proper manner.

So we’ll be going to the US Supreme Court. We want all voting to stop. “We don’t want them to find any ballots at four o’clock in the morning and add them to the list. Okay?

It’s a very sad moment. To me, this is a very sad moment and we will win this. And as far as I’m concerned, we already have won it.�

Later yesterday, his campaign said it had asked a court to stop the counting of votes in the pivotal state of Michigan, where Biden held a thin lead.

Trump campaign manager,

39

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

Japaul Recovers from Loss to N91m Profit in Nine Months Goddy Egene Japaul Gold and Ventures Plc,

formerly Japaul Maritime and Oil Services Plc, has recorded a profit after tax of N91 million for the

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

nine months ended September 30, 2020, showing a recovery from a loss of N2.10 billion posted in

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 03Nov-2020, unless otherwise stated.

the corresponding period of 2019.

Market operators said this is a good development for

the company that diversified from oil and maritime services business to the exploration,

mining, processing and export of minerals, such as gold, lithium among others.

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 1.00 1.02 11.81% ACAP Income Funds 0.85 0.85 11.15% 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 3.62% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.71 3.84 51.67% 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 0.94% Anchoria Equity Fund 120.26 120.68 15.24% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.46 1.46 21.92% 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 N/A N/A N/A ARM Discovery Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Eurobond Fund ($) N/A N/A N/A ARM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.29 2.29 22.86% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.18 2.22 44.75% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.81% Paramount Equity Fund 14.20 14.47 13.50% Women's Investment Fund 124.85 126.15 13.17% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 2.24% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 123.93 124.49 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 136.54 137.63 Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 103.59 103.59 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 2.11% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.09 1.10 17.47% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.75 1.75 31.41% 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 2.30% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 1.60% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,187.20 1,203.08 7.15% 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 1,532.43 1,534.02 24.97% FBN Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Halal Fund 109.41 109.42 9.41% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 2.16% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 117.15 117.59 3.95% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 117.15 117.59 3.44% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 139.58 141.77 7.26% 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 N/A N/A N/A Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FSDH Treasury Bills Fund N/A N/A N/A GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 2.74% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 125.29 125.83 16.63%

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 2.46% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.63 2.69 20.43% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 7.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 154.07 154.93 7.52% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.31 1.33 16.43% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,130.18 1,130.18 8.76% 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 1.48 1.50 20.36% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.77 11.86 4.74% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 2.44% PACAM Equity Fund 1.32 1.33 PACAM EuroBond Fund 108.87 111.18 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 131.08 133.81 3.73% 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 1.01 1.01 8.08% 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 20.52% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 5.89% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 17.78% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 6.95% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 21.84% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 2.32% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 14.30% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.22 1.22 4.71% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 110.29 110.29 5.83% 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 1.28 1.30 7.63% United Capital Bond Fund 1.87 1.87 8.09% United Capital Equity Fund 0.74 0.77 5.63% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.48% United Capital Eurobond Fund 115.59 115.59 5.77% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.04 1.05 -0.57% 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 11.36 11.77 11.87% Zenith Ethical Fund 12.90 13.01 10.95% Zenith Income Fund 24.61 24.61 8.31% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.40%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

126.41

12.27%

53.51

2.80%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

10.44 108.72 81.19

10.54 108.72 82.68

24.41% 13.87% 8.07%

Fund Name SFS Skye Shelter Fund 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

3.80 5.45 14.49 1.00 13.55 232.62

3.84 5.53 14.59 1.00 13.75 234.62

10.92% -7.81% 18.97% 2.53% 30.13% 21.78%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.71

13.11%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

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THURSDAY NOVEMBER 5, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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THURSDAY NOVEMBER 5, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Three Nigerian-Americans Win Legislative Seats in US Martins Ifijeh Two Americans with Nigerian descent, Oye Owolewa, Esther Agbaje, and Nnamdi Chukwuocha have emerged victorious in the US elections held on Tuesday.

While Agbaje won a House of Representatives seat in Minnesota, Owolewa was declared winner of the shadow election in the District of Columbia (DC).

During elections, voters of the District of Columbia elect a shadow representative who is recognised as equivalent to US representatives by the District of Columbia, but the US government does not recognise the individual as an actual member of the House of Representatives.

Owolewa scored a total of 164,026 votes, which represents

82.84 per cent of the total votes cast to beat his distant rival who polled 18,600 votes representing 9.25 percent.

Owolewa from Kwara State, who holds a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Pharmacy from the North-Eastern University, Boston, contested on the platform of the Democratic Party as a ‘shadow’ (non-voting) House of Representatives member out of the District of Columbia (DC).

Owolewa is the first NigerianAmerican to be elected to US congress.

The Nigerian-born democrat took to Instagram to express gratitude to his friends, family and D.C. residents, for their support.

“Good morning. Looks like WE DID IT!!! I want to thank everyone, from family and close friends to DC residents.

Because of your contributions

and sacrifices, I stand before you as America’s first Nigerian American congressman. In this role, I’m going to fight for DC statehood and bring our values to the lawmaking process.

While today is day for some celebration, the hard work also follows. Again, thanks so much for everything. I wouldn’t be here without you all,” he wrote.

Nnamdi Chukwuocha won reelection as a member of Delaware House of Representatives from District 1.

As a Democrat without an opponent, he won 100 per cent

of the votes with 7,640.

Chukwuocha was elected to represent District 1 in the Delaware House of Representatives in 2018.

With a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in social work from Delaware State University, he has several years of experience in local politics in the state.

He once served on the Wilmington City Council as President Pro Tempore and Chair of the Education, Youth and Families Committee.

In 2019, he was a member

of the Corrections Committee, the Education Committee, the Health & Human Development Committee, the Veterans Affairs Committee as a US Army veteran and Vice-Chair of the Transportation/Land Use and Infrastructure Committee He is part of the spoken word duo “Twin Poets” which was appointed as the State of Delaware 17th Poets Laureate.

On her part, Agbaje won by a landslide, scoring a total of 17,396 votes, which represents 74.7 per cent of the total ballots cast.

Her closest rival, Alan Shilepsky, a nominee for the Republican Party, scored 4,126 votes, which represents 17.7 per cent of the total votes cast.

She will represent district 59B in the 134 member house on the democratic farmer Labor Party, an affiliate of the Democratic Party.

Abaje was born in St. Paul, the state capital of Minnesota, to Nigerian immigrant parents.

She attended George Washington University, DC, with a first degree in political science.

Katsina Won’t Negotiate with Bandits, Masari Insists Police kill suspected armed robber in gun battle Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State yesterday reiterated the determination of the state government not to negotiate with bandits and urged the security agencies to be ruthless with bandits terrorising the state as well as neighbouring Kaduna and Zamfara states.

This is coming as a suspected armed robber was killed on Tuesday night during an encounter with the police along Bakori/ Kabomo Highway in the state.

Masari made the declaration when heads of security agencies in Katsina brought two repentant bandit commanders from Illela village in Safana Local Government Area.

The repentant bandit commanders also returned 10 AK-47 rifles.

The two bandit leaders, Sale Turwa and Muhammed Sani Maidaji who returned eight AK-47 and two AK-47 rifles respectively, were presented

STILL COUNTING LOSSES…

before the Governor by the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sanusi Buba, and his colleagues L-R: Edo State Deputy Governor, Hon. Philip Shaibu; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; and Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed from the 17 Brigade, Katsina, the Adamu, during Adamu’s working visit to the state to inspect the destruction of police facilities following the hijack of #EndSARS protests, Department of State Services (DSS) in Benin City…yesterday and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The Commissioner of Police informed the governor that it was using nebulous agricultural worsen the food security in the national interest. the view and consensus of all Chuks Okocha in Abuja programmes as justification challenge.

Instead of this recourse the security chiefs in the state to “Our party invites to reckless borrowings, the request him to accept the bandits’ The Peoples Democratic Party for further accumulation of remorse and forgive them so as (PDP) yesterday raised the foreign loans, without clear Nigerians to note that with PDP urged Buhari to apply to encourage others to follow suit. alarm over what it described terms and conditions, to the the $1.2 billion (N459 billion) itself productively by looking While describing the as the fresh plan by President detriment of the poor masses Brazilian loan, in addition to inwards and finding ways to Buhari-led and generations yet unborn. the N5.20 trillion borrowing harness and create wealth with development as a very Muhammadu The party, according to a already proposed in the 2021 the resources abounding in significant milestone in the administration to further fight against banditry and other mortgage the country through statement by the National budget, our nation’s debt the country.

“What Nigeria needs now criminalities, Masari urged the an additional $1.2 billion loan Publicity Secretary, Mr. burden will hit a disastrous security operatives not to relent, from Brazil despite the public Kola Ologbondiyan further N36.2 trillion which will is for government to be more but redouble their efforts in outcry against the accumulation warned that the loan request, plunge our economy into a innovative and resourceful in galvanising a productive fighting the bandits until they of loans from China and other if approved by the National devastating pitfall.”

Assembly, will exacerbate the The PDP therefore urged the economy instead of reducing are completely degraded and foreign interests.

The PDP cautioned the nation’s debt burden, mortgage National Assembly to save the our nation to a beggar rendered permanently ineffective.

He declared, “I’ve instructed Buhari’s presidency not to the agricultural sector, weaken nation by being circumspect status among the comity of the security operatives to deal further weaken the nation and the investment capacity and in handling the loan request nations.” ruthlessly with the bandits until they are rendered permanently ineffective.

PDP Knocks Buhari over $1.2bn Brazilian Loan

Doctors Begin Indefinite Strike in Cross River

Osun Police Arraign 69 Suspected Looters The Osun State Police Command has arraigned 69 suspected looters at the State High Court, Osogbo, the state capital.

All the 69 suspects have been remanded in Ilesa Custodial Centre.

The eight suspects are still under investigation.

The suspects were charged to court over their involvement in the destructive invasion, vandalism and looting of public and private properties across the State.

The suspects appeared before Magistrates Ayilara Olusegun, Ajiboye B. O., Oloyede O. A. and Awodele M.O. on Friday, Monday and Tuesday.

It will be recalled that last Tuesday, the Osun State Police Command announced that it had made arrests in connection with the looting spree across the state, adding that investigations

were ongoing on the suspects’ culpability.

According to the Special Adviser to the Governor of the State of Osun on Security, Mrs Abiodun Ige, the 69 persons that were tried have been remanded in the Custodian Centre, Ilesa, adding that those who embraced the state Government’s offer of amnesty were pardoned according to Governor Gboyega Oyetola’s promise.

Oyetola had promised amnesty to those who returned looted properties in their possession within a 72-hour time frame while those caught with looted items after the amnesty window closed would face the full might of the law.

Ige also stated that the law enforcement agents were working with the government to further maintain peace and stability within the state.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Cross River State chapter, yesterday embarked on an indefinite strike over the kidnapping of its member, Dr. Godwin Udo of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.

The state Chairman of NMA, Dr. Innocent Abang, disclosed this yesterday in

a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar.

Abang told NAN that Udo was kidnapped in his residence at Bateba Street on November 1.

He said the association had decided that anytime a medical doctor or his/her

dependent was kidnapped, they would embark on an indefinite strike until the release of the victim.

“It is true that Udo has been kidnapped, in fact, we got to know about it on Tuesday, November 2 and we are taking it up from there.

“His car was left at the point where he was taken

away at Bateba Street in Calabar,” Abang said.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Irene Ugbo, also confirmed the kidnap.

“The police are aware that Udo has been kidnapped; The Police Anti-kidnapping and Cultism unit is doing its best to rescue him.

COVID-19: DSS Shuts School, Sacks Teachers Following what it described as the effect of COVID-19 on the Nigerian economy, particularly its crippling financial situation on the school, the Department of State Services (DSS) has sacked the teachers and other staff members of its Community Staff Schools, Asokoro (CSSA), Abuja.

The secret police has also shut down the institution and directed the pupils in the nursery, primary and secondary classes to stay at home for two weeks.

The primary school commenced in 1992/93, while the secondary classes took off in 1998.

It was gathered that the fee for the nursery and primary classes was increased from N25,000 to N35,000 for children and wards of the rank and file, while children of senior DSS officers were required to pay N45,000 up from N35,000 per term.

However, for children of civilians, the tuition was increased from N45,000 to N60,000.

The tuition for secondary school classes was increased from 35,000 to 45,000 for children and wards of the rank and file, while officers’ children were asked to pay N60,000 up from 40,000.

But students who did not fall in either of the categories will pay N90,000 from N70,000.

In the letter of disengagement dated November 2, 2020, signed by the Executive Secretary, CSSA, M. Onyilo, the DSS hinged its decision to sack the school staff on poor financial situation brought about by the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nation’s economy.

The letter was titled: ‘Disengagement from the service of Community Staff Schools, Asokoro.”

It reads partly: “Due to the

effect of COVID-19 on the Nigerian economy vis-a-vis the crippling financial situation of the school, I am directed to convey the Director-General, State Services/Proprietor’s approval to disengage you from the services of the school with effect from 3rd November 2020.”

It was however learnt that the workers had in 2018 dragged the school management to the National Industrial Court (NIC) demanding better conditions of service, which the court okayed but the DSS failed to obey the court judgment.

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THURSDAYNOVEMBER 5, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Court to Hear APC’s Perjury Suit against Obaseki November 16 Alex Enumah in Abuja

Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday fixed November 16, 2020, for hearing in an alleged perjury suit instituted against

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.

The judge fixed the date for hearing following a request by counsel to the plaintiffs, Chief Akin Olujimi (SAN).

The plaintiffs, All Progressives

FG Uncovers N1.3tn Revenue Leakages in Mineral Sector Udora Orizu inAbuja The Chairman of Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Mr. Elias Mbam, yesterday disclosed that following a nationwide monitoring exercise on the Solid Minerals sector with the aim of examining royalty collections to the Federation Account for the period 2009 to 2015, it has shown that the country was losing an estimated revenue of about N1.3 trillion annually.

Mbam, made the disclosure when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Finance, to defend the commission’s 2021 budget proposal.

He explained that the analysis of the exercise, which is still ongoing, was carried out on 10 mineral type, namely: Gold, Tin-ore, Coal, Columbite, Kaolin Crude, Lead, Gypsum, Tantalite

Crude, Zinc and Manganese, taking into consideration their qualities, quantities and their international value.

Mbam also revealed that the commission, during the monitoring, verification and reconciliation exercise on revenue collections and remittances by commercial banks, companies and collecting agencies, also recovered the sum of N75 billion.

Similarly, he said the commission in collaboration with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in 2020 conducted an exercise on reconciliation and recovery of tax liabilities owed the Federation Account from 2008 to 2019 by some federal ministries, agencies and department (MDAs, states and their MDAs and local government councils respectively, saying the exercise is ongoing and over N79 billion liabilities has been established.

FEC Approves N30.69bn Road in FCT

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the award of contract for the full scope development of arterial road from Northern Parkway, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Way to the Northern Express Way (ONEX)/Muritala Mohammed Way-North within the Federal Capital City, Abuja.

The Minister of FCT, Mr. Mohammed Bello, disclosed this Wednesday while speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the weekly FEC meeting, said the contract was awarded to Gilmor Engineering Nig. Ltd, at the cost of N30,686,609,298.68 with a completion period of 32 months.

Bello said, “Federal Executive Council (FEC), approved the award of contract for the full scope development of Arterial Road N20, from Northern Parkway (N8) Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Way to the Northern Express Way (ONEX)/Muritala Mohammed Way-North with the Federal Capital City, Abuja.”

The minister stressed that the project area is within Phase II of the FCC serving as boundary road between the adjoining districts of Mabushi, Kado, Katampe and Jabi.

He added that the project would improve access to the above mentioned districts, improve security, while also providing employment for both skilled and unskilled.

Nigeria Army Underfunded, Ndume Insists Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Ali Ndume yesterday insisted that the Nigeria Army is underfunded Ndume made the disclosure in Sokoto at the Nigeria Army 8 Divisional Headquarters, Kalambaina, during an an oversight function with other members of the committee.

Ndume further explained that they were at the division on an annual oversight function to know whether the money appropriate for them was being judiciously used.

According to the committee chairman, their second mission was fact-finding on the various military operations going on in the North-west region.

“You are aware that we have been briefed by the GOC and most of the information we shared are highly confidential,” he stated He commended the GOC of the Division, Brig. Gen. Aminu Bande for fiercely waging war against kidnappers and banditry He disclosed that apart from waging war against the bandits, the division has also lived up to their cooperate social responsibility by providing health service delivery , portable water and palliatives to the host communities.

“Comparatively, the security situation here is better than that of North-east ; here, with exception of few cases people could go to their farms,” he added.

Congress (APC) and Edobor Williams had dragged Obaseki, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court over alleged perjury.

In the suit marked FHC/B/ CS/74/2020, the plaintiffs specifically prayed the court for an order disqualifying Obaseki from contesting the September 19 governorship election in Edo State on the grounds that he supplied false information on

oath to INEC, an act said to be contrary to Section 31(5) and (6) of the Electoral Act, 2010.

The suit, which was filed on July 14, 2020 at the Benin Division of the Federal High Court, suffered some setbacks before it was set down for hearing yesterday by Justice Mohammed of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.

When the matter was called Olujimi, announced appearance

for the plaintiffs, while Chief Ken Mozia, (SAN) and Mr. Rasaq Isenalumhe announced appearance for Obaseki and PDP respectively.

There was no representation for INEC. Olujimi, who informed the court that the matter was for mention, prayed the court to adjourn for hearing of the matter.

Responding, Obaseki’s lawyer, Mozia, noted that although he was not able objecting to the

request for adjournment, he drew the court’s attention to a motion on notice he filed challenging the competence of some processes contained in the processes filed by the APC. Before granting the request of the plaintiffs, Justice Mohammed reminded parties in the matter that the suit was filed on July 14 and being a pre-election matter, has a life span of 180 days and so will terminate in January next year.

LIGHTING UP GATEWAY STATE…

L-R: Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Energy, Mr. Lolu Adubifa; Deputy High Commissioner, UK High Commission in Nigeria, Mr. Ben Liienellyn-Jones; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; and Property Counsellor at the UK High Commission, Mr. Guy Harrison, shortly after signing a Memorandum of Understanding on the 250mw integrated distribution model to service over 50,000 connections in the state at the Governor’s Office, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta …yesterday

No Special Salary Structure for SWAT Officers, Says Minister Udora Orizu in Abuja

The Minister of Police Affairs, Mr. Muhammad Dingyadi, yesterday said selected cops for the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team will be placed on the same salary structure as their colleagues in other police formations and units.

He stated this on a live television programme, adding that the selected officers are professionals who are being taken through more rigorous training for the special task

of combating armed robbery and other related crimes in the society.

The minister also noted that the police authorities were giving greater attention to the re-orientation of the cops.

When asked whether the new SWAT operatives would be placed on a special salary scale, Dingyadi said, “No, it is not like that; they are going to earn the usual salary that is being earned by every police officer but you are aware that Mr. President has already directed that a new

salary structure be put out for police officers in this country to be commensurate with the duty they are performing.

“So, it is going to be the same salary structure. The only difference is that every police officer is assigned to a different duty. The duty is different from the others but the salary is the same.”

Better welfare package for police officers was one of the five-point demands of #EndSARS protesters whose demonstrations against police

brutality and extrajudicial killings in October led to the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force.

The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu had announced the SWAT team as replacement for the disbanded police unit.

At least 1,850 SWAT personnel had commenced training on October 19, 2020 at the Police Mobile Force Training Schools in Osun and Nasarawa States.

Magu’s Lawyer Faults Salami’s Panel for Inviting Witnesses Behind His Client The counsel to the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has accused the Ayo Salami-led Presidential Panel of inviting witnesses despite the conclusion of his defence.

Magu’s lawyer, Mr. Wahab Shittu, said despite his client’s closure of his defence about six weeks ago, the panel has

continued to invite witnesses behind his client.

Magu, who is currently being investigated by the panel over allegations of graft and insubordination, closed his defence before the panel recently He had through his lawyer written series of letters accusing the investigative panel of preventing him from calling

a witness to strengthen his case, as well as subpoenaing certain individuals for his defence.

The Premium Times quoted Shittu as saying in a statement issued yesterday that the reports reaching them showed that the panel has continued to invite witnesses, about six weeks after they closed their defence.

He said, “We understand from reports reaching us

that the panel has continued to invite witnesses, about six weeks after our client has closed his defence.

“The invitation of witnesses (who have cases to answer and those who are being prosecuted by the EFCC) to testify behind my client and the verification of assets in his absence are patently illegal and offend the principle of fair hearing.

Anxiety in Ekiti as WAEC Withholds Results of Candidates Withheld results to be released Friday, says state govt

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti Panic has gripped parents and candidates who sat for the 2020 West African Examinations Council (WAEC), as the body withheld the results of all candidates that sat for it in all public schools in Ekiti State The state government has however doused the tension, promising that the results would be released on Friday

(tomorrow).

Parents and wards,who besieged their respective schools yesterday to collect the results released few days ago were disappointed, as they were told that they were yet to be released.

The same disappointing scenario played out in some of the cybercafes (ICT centres) where the candidates had gone to check their results in Ado

Ekiti metropolis.

WAEC had on Monday released the results across the country.

The 2020 edition of the examination was the most tension-soaked in the history of the country, as the schedules had to be shifted from April to August due to the global COVID- 19 pandemic that necessitated closure of schools across the country.

Meanwhile, the Ekiti State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Akin Omole, has doused the tension generated by the seizure, debunking the allegation that the state’s indebtedness to WAEC necessitated the withholding of the results.

Omole clarified that the results were put on hold owing to computation mistakes made

by WAEC and not because of debt.

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Northern Groups Berate Region’s Leaders over #EndSARS Protests, Social Media Bill John Shiklam inKaduna The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has berated the northern governors and other leaders for focusing attention on #EnSARS protests and censorship of the social media instead of addressing serious issues of insecurity, youth restiveness, unemployment and poverty and that is bedeviling the north.

CNG also condemned the

Northern States’ Governors Forum (NSGF) over its silence on the alleged attacks on northerners and destruction of their property in some southern states.

Addressing a press conference yesterday in Kaduna, spokesman of the group, Mr. Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, stated that the group was disappointed with the outcome of the governors’ meeting with traditional rulers and top federal government functionaries on

Injured, Deceased Officers to Get Promotion, Says IG Adibe Emenyonu in Benincity Consequent upon the #EndSARS protest, the Inspector General of Police (IG), Muhammed Adamu, has said the police are working with the Police Service Commission (PSC) to ensure that all officers who lost their lives and those injured would be promoted to the next rank.

He also declared that officers and men of the force would continue to enjoy Health Insurance Scheme of the government even after their retirement.

Adamu disclosed this yesterday in Benin-city, Edo State, shortly after on-the-spot assessment of burnt police stations in the state.

According to him, “I am working with the police service commission so that those who lost their lives

and those injured will get promotion to the next level.

“Also, the family of those who lost their lives and those who were injured as a result of the #EndSARS violence would be compensated.”

Adamu also disclosed that the federal government had adjusted the salary of all officers to a higher grade in order to encourage them for utmost performance.

Commending men and officers of the force for the restraint despite the utmost provocation, the IG told them not to be demoralised or leave the public space for criminals to occupy.

Furthermore, he said: “While in service, we registered for Health Insurance Scheme but it stop when we retired, but now, it is now part of the law that those who have retired from the force will continue to enjoy the health scheme.”

Monday in Kaduna.

Although the group endorsed the need to control the social media, which it noted “has been turned into avenues for dissemination of fake and dangerous information,” it expressed disappointment that nothing was said about the attacks on northerners in some southern parts the country.

Suleiman said: “The CNG and indeed the vast majority of the cultured northerners are disappointed that such a meeting of northern governors and traditional leaders, elected representatives and top federal government

officials from the north should find it more important to dwell on #EndSARS and social media and neglecting the more serious issues of security, youth restiveness, unemployment, poverty, dwindling fortunes of agriculture and general economic decline.

“We are disappointed that such a meeting should lack the courage to make clear pronouncements on the unprovoked attacks on northerners and their property at a time when their southern counterparts are proposing claims of trillions of naira in compensation for their people.

“We are disappointed that the meeting lacked the requisite statesmanship to define the northern position with regards to the falsified reports around the fictitious attacks on Lekki protesters that is causing the nation international worries.

“It is disappointing that the meeting felt to see as priority the need to send a delegation to ascertain the extent of damage and to console the affected northerners in the southern states.

“We are disappointed that the meeting did not have the

presence of mind to discuss the necessity of compensating the innocent northerners who were unnecessarily attacked, assaulted, killed, displaced and deprived.”

The CNG however commended the Rivers State governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike for taking steps to protect people from the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), noting that he is “the only southern governor that called out IPOB and its activities, by committing efforts to the protection of residents from other sections of the country, including northerners who were targeted in Rivers.”

GOING DIGITAL…

Director General/CEO, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Kashifu Abdullahi (left), and Governor of Katsina State, Hon. Aminu Masari, during the governor’s visit to the NITDA corporate headquarters in Abuja... yesterday KINGSLEYADEBOYE

Ex-Oyo Dep Gov, Arapaja, Shortage of Cash Hits Anambra Banks Aboderin, Others Defect as Police Refuse to Resume Duties to PDP David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

Prominent opposition parties’ members in African Democratic Congress (ADC), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State led by a former Deputy Governor, Taofeek Arapaja, yesterday formally defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Others, who defected at the event held amid fanfare yesterday, included a former Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to late Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Mr. Deji Aboderin, and a former member of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Ademola

Ige, leading hundreds of their supporters to join PDP. Aboderin was also the candidate of the APC for the Ibadan South East/North East federal constituency in the 2019 general election.

The event, which took place at Christ Church Primary School, Odinjo, Ibadan, was well attended by the leaders of the PDP in the state.

Arapaja, while addressing the party supporters at the event on behalf of the returnees, said he took the decision to return to the party after a critical review of the present administration and with the obvious steady development being experienced in the state.

Deaths Toll from ‘Strange Disease’ in Delta Community Rises to 30 Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

The fatality figure from the yetto-be-detected disease that has, in the last two weeks ravaged the communities of Ute-Okpu and Idumesa in Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State, has risen to at least 30.

There were reports last weekend that no fewer than 15 persons between 18 and 25 years had reportedly died in the affected area, prompting a visit last Sunday by a team of medical experts, including the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mordi Ononye,

and representatives of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The health commissioner, who disclosed that medical officials from his ministry had already visited the community to collect samples for necessary clinical tests, said: “Hemorrhagic fever possibly from substance abuse” was suspected, considering the age bracket of those that had died.

However, it was gathered that some of the victims vomited blood before their death, but others were said to have complained of general fatigue, headache and feverish condition.

Investigation has shown that the delay by police personnel to resume duties in Anambra State has affected the operations of some commercial banks in the state.

Some bank customers who spoke to THISDAY yesterday said they discovered that most of the banks were only rendering other services that didn’t include cash withdrawal because there

was shortage of cash.

A bank customer of a popular commercial bank in Awka, Mr. Ejike Uzondu, said: “I came to withdraw N350,000, but the manager said I should cut down the amount to accommodate other customers, saying they didn’t have much cash.

“I was surprised when, after filling the teller, the bank staff wasted a lot of time before attending to me. She later took me to the bank manager, who

started appealing to me that they had shortage of cash.

“He told me they had money, but cannot move it to the branch because police who usually escort their vans have not started operations. He said they cannot risk moving money from one location to another without security personnel because anything can happen.”

At another commercial bank on the Enugu-Onitsha expressway in Awka, a bank customer, who

refused to disclose his name, lamented that he has been waiting for some time because the amount he needs will require clearance from the bank manager before he can be given the money.

It was gathered that in most cases, customers who were withdrawing large sums of money were made to wait for a long time, while customers coming to make deposits were attended to, just to get enough cash to pay customers.

NAF: Aircraft Hangar from US Ready by December Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The aircraft hangar expected to accommodate 12 Super Tucano fighter jets recently procured by the federal government from the United States would be ready by December, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has said.

Also, the delivery of the fighter jets procured by the federal government in 2018 is due by the second quarter

of 2021.

This is coming as 200 pilots and engineers expected to operate and maintain the aircraft are presently undergoing training in different countries.

Abubakar, who stated this during an inspection and assessment tour of the facilities, expressed satisfaction with the progress of ongoing infrastructural development projects at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base in Kainji,

Niger State, emplaced to accommodate the 12 x A-29 Super Tucano aircraft when they arrive in Nigeria as well as the NAF personnel that would operate and maintain them.

He applauded the appreciable level of work on the in-country Periodic Depot Maintenance (PDM) on two Alpha Jet aircraft, NAF 465 and NAF 471, as well as the engine recovery efforts being undertaken by the 407 Air Combat Training Group

(407 ACTG) in Kainji.

Air Marshal Abubakar, while on an operational visit to Kainji NAF Base, also inspected the ongoing construction of three blocks of 10 single-bedroom Single Officers’ Quarters (SOQ); one block of 6 x 3 bedroom Married Officers’ Quarters (MOQ) as well as a block of 30 x single-bedroom transit accommodation for Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs).

FG Implements N172m Youth Empowerment Projects in Bauchi Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi The Minister of State for Industries, Trade and Investment, Ambassador Maryam Yalwaji-Katagum, has disclosed that the Bank of Industry (BOI) has disbursed N172 million in the past one year on 27 projects that were designed to empower youths in Bauchi State.

Yalwaji-Katagun explained at a town hall meeting on security issues that the projects are sited in 11 Local Government Areas of the state and were among the 67 of such projects proposed for the state.

She said that the projects are in agro-processing, printing and solid minerals, among others while the local governments are Katagum, Dass, Tafawa

Balewa, Alkaleri, Toro, Kirfi, Ningi, Ganjuwa, Jama’are, Darazo and Misau.

She lauded the efforts of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) that engaged a minimum of 2,242 persons from 2018 to date in its various empowerment schemes.

Yelwaji-Katagum explained

that the federal government placed high premium on acquisition of vocational skills and entrepreneurial development as vehicles of employment generation and poverty alleviation.

She said that the plan of government to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years is on course and would be pursued vigorously.

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Again, FG, ASUU Meeting Ends in Deadlock We can’t afford N110bn revitalisation fund, says Ngige WFG to take final decision Friday Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The meeting reconvened yesterday between the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over the poor funding of universities and the controversy surrounding the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPI), payment platform, ended without any resolution.

This is coming as the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, who hosted the negotiations said the federal government cannot afford the N110 billion demanded by the ASUU for funding of revitalisation of universities.

However, the federal government’s team would meet on Friday to decide on

the final offer to be made to the striking lecturers.

Speaking at the end of the meeting, Ngige told journalists that the government cannot meet the demand of ASUU of revitalisation because of the damaging effects of COVID-19 on the economy.

Ngige disclosed that the federal government had offered the union N20 billion for revitalisation and N30 billion for Earned Academic Allowances, making it N50 billion.

The minister said the government side made all these offers to show its commitment towards the resolution of the prolonged strike of the union.

“There are three issues: Revitalisation fund where government offered ASUU N20

billion as a sign of good faith based on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) they entered into in 2013 as a result of the renegotiation they had with government in 2009. This present government is still committed to it. That is why we are giving them offers of some fund,” Ngige said. “This government is not against revitalization but this government says that because of dire economic situation and COVID-19, we cannot really pay the N110 billion which they are demanding for revitalisation.

“We offered N20 billion as revitalization fund. On Earned

Academic Allowances (EAA), the government offered N30 billion to all the unions in the universities, making it N50 billion all together.

“ASUU is saying that the N30 billion should be for lecturers alone, irrespective of the fact that there are three other unions. So there is a little problem there.

We don’t have any money to offer apart from this N30 billion.

“Again, another cardinal issue is the University Transperancy and Accountability Solution (UTAS) versus IPPIS. Today ASUU submitted their document on UTAS for onward submission to National

Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

As you know last week, the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy had approved that NITDA gets their system (UTAS) and subject it to integrity test. This test should be conducted without fear or favour and as early as possible.

So, today they have submitted the document for onward transmission to NITDA.” They want an exemption from IPPIS. And the government side headed by the Accountant General of the Federation said that IPPIS is the only government-approved payment

platform.

“So, that is where were are for now. So we are all going back to our principals and they will receive via me the irreducible minimum of what federal government has to offer.

The government side will meet on Friday and after that they will communicate ASUU and in communicating them, if there is a need for a meeting, a date will be fixed for it”.

On what federal government will do if ASUU continues to reject government’s offers, Ngige said that it may be forced to approach the National Industrial Court for arbitration.

INEC 2021 Budget Proposal Tears House Committee Members Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The members of the House of Representatives Committee on the Independent National Commission (INEC), yesterday had a hot argument with their chairman, Hon. Aisha Dukku, during the presentation of the 2020 budget performance and 2021 budget proposal.

Dukku claimed that the 2021 national budget proposal submitted by the President to the National Assembly for passage is not different from the 2020 budget and suggested that the committee should approach it from both process and content perspectives.

She added that the door of the committee would remain open to the INEC on any issue that would aid the commission to meet its operational commitments, adding that both the committee and the electoral body are partners in progress to strengthen the country’s electoral process and aid the INEC in discharging its functions.

However, as soon as Dukku finished her address and ushered in the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmou Yakubu, to defend the commission’s 2020 budget performance and the 2021 budget proposals, a member of the committee, Hon. Solomon Bob, raised a point of order, saying that the members were just receiving copies of the commission’s 2021 budget presentation.

Bob was of the opinion that they ought to have been given time to go through the document in order to know the appropriate questions to ask, stressing that the committee did not carry out any oversight function on the implementation of the 2020 budget since it was passed into law.

He said: “I want to draw the chairman and the visitors by way of point of order. This committee met with the INEC team and approved the 2020 budget. As we speak, we just got copies of the 2021 budget.

In law we called this dumping.

BOOSTING HEALTHCARE…

L-R: Secretary to the Imo State Government (SSG), Mr. Cosmos Iwu; Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma; and Commissioner for Health, Dr. Damaris Osunkwo, during an inspection tour of Imo State Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH), Orlu…yesterday

ICAN Submits Recommendations to FG on NDDC, EFCC Probes

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has tabled recommendations to the federal government on the going public investigation of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The 56th President of ICAN, Mrs Onome Joy Adewuyi made the disclosure yesterday when she led the Governing

Council on a courtesy call to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha.

She noted that the institute, having closely followed the public investigation of the NDDC, in September compiled and sent its comments and recommendations to the SGF’s office.

According to her, ICAN recommended the improvement in internal audit function and staffing of the NDDC in

addition to more efficient fund management and monitoring of the projects being carried out by the commission.

She noted that the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB), the world public sector standard setter, is also considering incorporating monitoring in its public sector standards (Exposure Draft 72).

ICAN similarly recommended to the federal government to review of the enabling Act as

well as look at the qualification of the prospective Chairman of EFFC before appointment, in addition to placing emphasis on the training of key and core staff notably those in its Internal Audit Unit.

“As more businesses are conducted in the virtual space, it behoves the commission to ensure their staff have the requisite skills to ensure the resources of Nigerians and investors within Nigeria are safe in cyberspace,” Adewuyi said.

Uzodinma, in a recent state broadcast, accused the opposition party in the state of sponsoring the violence that resulted in the loss of lives and properties in some parts of the state.

However, the state chapter of the PDP has frowned at what it described as the “persistent and glaring false accusations leveled against the party as the instigator and promoter of the EndSARS protests in the state, charging the

All Progressives Congress’ (APC) led administration in the state to “wake up from slumber so that they can face the enormous challenges and problems confronting it, instead of chasing shadows and looking for escape goats.”

The statement denied that the party had any hand in the EndSARS protests, adding: “The Imo PDP expressed condemnation for loss of lives and hijack of what began as a peaceful protest. Let it be

emphatically stated that the PDP had no hand whatsoever in the unfortunate uprising, looting, arson and huge damage done to public and private assets in the state that dislocated the lives of innocent citizens.

“As a responsible party, we join the majority of concerned and patriotic Nigerians in commiserating with those who lost their loved ones in the unnecessary violent aftermath of an otherwise peaceful protest by patriotic youths.”

Bauchi NUJ Inaugurates Imo PDP Asks Uzodimma to Stop Blame Game Ethics, Disciplinary Committee Amby Uneze in Owerri

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi The Bauchi State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has inaugurated a five member ethics and disciplinary committee.

The State Chairman of NUJ, Mr. Umar Sa’id, said that the committee is needed to check the excesses and unethical behaviors of journalists in the state.

Sa’id regretted that journalism is losing its respect, honour and dignity in the state because of the bad behavior of few members of the NUJ. He charged the members of the committee to discharge their task with the seriousness it deserved saying, “you have the constitutional powers to invite any member, including me, for questioning in the event of any unethical behavior.”

The NUJ chairman added: “By your pedigree, character,

status in the profession and wealth of experience, we as a council is convinced that you will make positive impact on the profession to reclaim our dignity and honour.”

The Chairman of the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee (EDC), Mr. Mohammed Sani Mohammed, assured that members of the committee would do their best to reclaim lost glory of the profession.

Mohammed, however, warned that “we are not a court but an ombudsman who will ensure that the right thing was done always. We are to ensure that unethical behavior among members were corrected no matter who is involved.”

He then appealed to journalists in the state to approach the committee because “we are here to direct and not to victimise anybody.”

The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State has called on the Governor of the State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, to stop playing the blame game and start addressing the challenges in the state.

The call was contained in a press statement that was jointly signed by the State Chairman of PDP, Mr. Charles Ugwuh and the State Secretary of PDP, Mr. Ray Emeana.

Akeredolu Decries High Burden of Running Three Universities James Sowole in Akure Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has lamented the burden of running three state universities in the state, saying it is draining the resources of the state.

Akeredolu stated this when the top management team of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), visited him in his office.

The state is running three universities independently.

The universities are AAUA, the University of Medical Science (UNIMED), and Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa (OASUTECH).

However, the governor reiterated the commitment that his administration would continue to sustain and develop the three state-owned universities

despite the financial challenges.

He said his administration would continue to raise the banner of excellence at AAUA and sustain the already attained status of the institution as one of the best in the country.

According to Akeredolu, “Although the burden of running three universities is draining the resources of the state, our administration will continue to do its best to keep

the institutions going in line with the desire of the people of the state. ‘’Running three universities is not a child’s play. We are going through some trying times, particularly financial challenges.”

The governor said it was unfortunate that the accreditation of courses in the three state universities would be holding this month.

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THURSDAYSPORTS

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

Bangura Missing as S’Leone Unleash 16 Pros against Eagles Femi Solajawith agency report

Nigeria’s opponents in next week’s 2022 Africa Cup of Nation qualifier, Sierra Leone, yesterday confirmed the absence of their inspirational captain, Umaru Bangura of FC Zurich when they storm Benin City with 16 other professional players for the all important match.

According to Sierra Leone publication, footballsierraleone. net, Head Coach, John Keister, has named 16 foreign-based players in his 23-man squad for the back-to-back encounters at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin and Freetown.

However, former AC Milan midfielder, Rodney Strasser, who is a longtime absentee from the Leone Stars made his return to the team to take on the Super Eagles next

weekend and four days later in Freetown in the reverse fixture.

According to the report, Bangura who has returned to his Swiss club after being cleared of Covid-19 in Niger, may be available for the reverse fixture in Freetown.

America Major League Soccer all-time fifth top scorer, Kamara, 36, who scored a brilliant goal against Liberia last September has been recalled for both legs of the clash with Nigeria.

Similarly, LA Galaxy II striker, Augustine Williams, who won USL Championship’s Player of the Month for September/October after recording seven goals in his last eight games, is set to make his Sierra Leone debut.

Also in the list of foreignbased pros are big names like Anderlecht striker Mustapha

Bundu; Hebei Fortune (China) attacker, Mohamed Buya Turay; Haka FC and former Bolton midfielder, Mohamed Medo Kamara; USL championship side Tampa Bay Rowdies’ right-back, Mustapha Dumbuya and Alhaji Kamara of Randers FC in Denmark.

A win for Super Eagles in Benin will put Nigeria on nine

maximum points with just a draw in the reverse fixture qualifying the three-time Africa champions for the AFCON 2022 to be hosted

by Cameroon.

The 16 Foreign-based Defenders Alie Sesay (FC Zire Azerbaijan), Mustapha Dumbuya (Tampa Bay Rowdies USA), Osman Kakay

(QPR England), Kevin Wright (Orebro SK Sweden), and Ishmael Koroma (Vasalunds IF Sweden).

Midfielders John Kamara (Azerbaijan Kela FK), Mohamed Medo Kamara (FC Haka Finland), Rodney Strasser (TPS Finland), George Davies (SKN Polten Austria) and Kwame Quee (Víkingur Reykjavík Iceland).

Strikers Augustine Willaims (LA Galaxy II USA), Mustapha Bundu (R.S.C. AnderlechtBelgium), Kei Kamara (MLS Minnesota United FCUSA), Mohamed Buya Turay (Hebei Fortune China), Alhaji Kamara (Randers FCDenmark) and Alhassan Koroma (RB Linense Spain).

U E FA C H A M P I O N S L E AG U E

Ighalo Benched as Rookies Basaksehir Embarrass Man Utd in Istanbul

Odion Ighalo was an used substitute last night as Manchester United suffered an embarrassing 2-1 defeat against rookies Istanbul Basaksehir in Turkey.

Former Chelsea and Newcastle striker Demba Ba could not have wished for an easier way to get off the mark in the 12th minute as United’s defence went to sleep so early in the game.

He ran clear from the halfway line and fire past hapless Dean Henderson in goal for the Red Devils.

United’s defensive efforts for the second goal were almost as bad, Deniz Turuc dispossessing Juan Mata and finding Edin Visca in acres of space in the box to smash home.

The visitors from Old Trafford were given hope of a possible fightback when Anthony Martial headed in from a Luke Shaw cross two minutes before the interval, but they could not

salvage a result in a shabby second half showing, Basaksehir picking up a famous victory.

Basaksehir, formed only in 1990, claimed their maiden Turkish Super Lig title last season and had not scored a goal or claimed a point in their opening two games in the competition.

United’s 6-1 humiliation at the hands of Tottenham last month looked to be the low point in their season, picking up three victories and a draw after that result.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (RESULTS) Basaksehir 2-1 Zenit 1-1 RB Leipzig 2-1 Chelsea 3-0 Barcelona 2-1 Ferencvaros 1-4 Sevilla 3-2 Club Brugge 0-3

Man Utd Lazio PSG Rennes Dynamo Juventus Krasnodar Dortmund

Arsenal, Leicester, AC Milan’s Europa Games Live on StarTimes AC Milan, Arsenal and Leicester City can take a major step towards the knock-out stage of the Europa League this week as the competition enters its third match day.

With so much at stake for some of Europe’s leading clubs in the Europe League, African football fans will be keen to watch the action.

They can do so on the StarTimes channels as Africa’s leading digital-TV operator brings all the best action from the competition – live and exclusive for African football fans.

The Gunners top Group B with six points from their opening two matches and are at home

against Molde on Thursday.

The Norwegian club also won their opening two matches and the winner will all but have guaranteed their place in the next round.

Mikel Arteta’s side go into the game against the Norwegian champions on the back of a morale-boosting league victory at Old Trafford against Manchester United.

The only goal of the game was scored by Gabonese international Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, who also got his name on the score-sheet in Arsenal’s first Europa League match – a 2-1 comeback win in Austria against Rapid Wien.

Umaru Bangura...not available for Nigeria, Sierra Leone AFCON 2022 qualifier in Benin City next weekend

Oboh Heads to Saudi Arabia for Aramco Ladies Golf Tournament Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja Nigerian professional golfer, Georgia Oboh will continue with her development when she takes a crack at the inaugural Aramco Saudi Ladies International Ladies Golf Tournament.

The event, slated for the Royal Greens and Country Club, which is set up at the King Abdulla Economic City on the coast of the Red Sea between November 12 and 15, commands a $1 million prize fund, which is a big prize for a non-major female golf tournament.

Oboh, who has made a giant stride on the tour in spite of the effect of Covid-19 on female golf, is one of the eight ladies selected on a sponsor’s exempt.

Overall, 108 players drawn

Georgia Oboh...Set for honours in Saudi Arabia

from the Ladies European Tour will make up the tournament field.

The Nigerian teenager has featured in eight events after the lockdown, including the Scottish Ladies Open, Czech Ladies Open

and VP Bank Ladies Open.

Aramco and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) are using the tournament to inspire the next generation of young Saudi female golfers.

While summing up her mood

ahead of the tournament, Oboh described the invitation as the best feeling this year while stressing her readiness to step up to the challenge.

“I give God all the glory and feel very honoured to have been invited to such a prestigious event which is set to host the very top of the ladies on the Ladies European Tour and members of the LPGA too.

“I am happy with the way that my game is developing and looking forward to a great learning experience once again.

“The abbreviated season due to Covid-19 gave me a chance to work on my game and it has been great just to pause and see some return now,” Oboh concluded with optimism ahead of the trip to Saudi Arabia.

Wike Cup: Iyaye Says Port Harcourt Safe, Draw Holds Today Rivers Sports Commissioner, Boma Iyaye has said that Port Harcourt and indeed, Rivers State is very safe for all sports lovers and Nigerians from all walks of life.

He stated this shortly after meeting with the organizing committee for the second edition of Governor Wike Pre-season Soccer Tournament starting in Port Harcourt tomorrow, Friday, November 6, 2020.

According to him, Port Harcourt has hosted several high profile sporting and non-sporting events without a single incident, pointing out that the Governor Wike Pre-Season tournament

would be held successfully without any distractions.

He stressed that security of lives and property remain paramount to the Governor Nyesom Wike-led administration, hence the safe environment being enjoyed by Rivers people.

The sports commissioner noted further that Port Harcourt has always been home to people from all over the world and particularly, for sports men and women, who have attended several sports competitions in the state.

Meanwhile, the draw for the tournament would be held

today, Thursday, November 5, 2020at the Ministry of Sports Conference Hall at 11:00am.

Chairman of the Organising Committee, Bashir Badawiy, who disclosed this noted that Rivers United, Akwa United, Abia Warriors, Nasarawa United, Kwara United, Lobi Stars, MFM FC, Bayelsa United, Niger Tornadoes, Plateau United, Cynosure FC, Udala FC, Ottafolo FC, Goddosky FC, among others have all confirmed their participation in the high-profile soccer fiesta.

Badawiy said all arrangements have been put in place to ensure a glorious competition

that promises to be the most glamorous pre-season tourney in Nigeria.

“The clubs have all confirmed their participation and I can tell you some of the clubs are departing from their various locations from today. This is the biggest pre-season tourney in Nigeria and you can be sure that we will have a great event.

“Port Harcourt is safe and you can see that everywhere is calm. All the teams coming for the tournament will have a good time in the Garden City.

We welcome them with open arms and promise that it will be a successful one,” he stressed.

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Price: N250

MISSILE Kokori to President Buhari

“You have a president who has made himself very difficult to reach and everybody under him worships him. Everybody is afraid of him, so they can’t talk to him the way they should talk to somebody. So, he does things at his own pace. He said that is his style but I won’t support that type of style” – Former NUPENG President, Frank Kokori on President Muhammadu Buhari’s approach to leadership.

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

Election Cliffhanger in America A lmost everything you might expect from a presidential election in any Third World country were on full display in the days preceding Tuesday, November 3. Intimidation and thuggery on the streets of major cities occurred when supporters of the two candidates clashed. Threats of violence were made by militia groups should the result not conform to their expectations. Fears that the country could descend into chaos after the polls were demonstrated by businesses boarding up windows. Even ‘stomach infrastructure’ was on offer for prospective voters in some places.

And concession in the event of a defeat was not an option for the incumbent president.

In the end, the presidential election in the United States of America could not produce a clear winner by election night. Contention is now focused on legitimate mail-in-ballots in ‘battleground states’ that may tip the balance when all the votes are tallied.

Unsurprisingly, President Donald Trump, who had pledged not to play games with the process, has already declared himself winner and is alleging attempts to rig the polls. “We are up BIG, but they are trying to STEAL the Election. We will never let them do it. Votes cannot be cast after the polls are closed,” the president tweeted on Tuesday night. Jen O’Malley Dillion, the campaign manager of former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic party challenger, responded.

“The counting will not stop. It will continue until every duly cast vote is counted. Because that is what our laws - the laws that protect every Americans’ constitutional right to vote - require,” O’Malley Dillon said in a statement that described Trump’s comments as “a naked effort to take away the democratic rights of American citizens.”

I arrived Boston, United States last Thursday and am currently in Washington DC where there is so much uncertainty about who the next president will be. I have witnessed the past five American presidential elections and given how momentous this particular one promised to be, I was determined not to miss the drama. It has certainly lived up to its billing. Biden and the mainstream media had made the election a referendum not only on Trump’s stewardship but particularly on his mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic which the president wished would just go away. But the Republican candidate and his supporters pushed back with the narrative that the contest was between ‘Mask and Jobs’. They want the economy reopened by discounting COVID-19 and its protocols, including lockdowns and wearing masks, as opposed to the campaign of the Democratic Party on the need to contain the pandemic that has claimed the lives of no fewer than 233,000 Americans.

If there is any lesson America has taught the world over the years, it is that democracy can only grow if people begin to understand that for every election, there must be a winner as well as a loser. And that such contests are a process rather than an event. This appears lost in the acrimony of the current election in which the only outcome that can guarantee peace is for the incumbent to win. Although the odds appear against him, President Trump may still win this close contest but

President Trump by demanding that the process be jettisoned midstream and resorting to self-help, he has done much damage to the American brand across the world. Democracy is about casting

ballots and making the votes count.

As at the time of going to press this morning (Nigerian time), Biden was leading in four critical ‘swing states’ that could hand him the much-needed 270 electoral college seats and the presidency: Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona and Nevada. Georgia and Pennsylvania were also still in play. If the former vice president (who has already received the most popular votes in any presidential election in history) eventually wins, the electoral college margin could be so narrow that it may take weeks of litigation before Americans know for certain who their next president is. President Trump admitted on Tuesday night at his campaign headquarters, “Winning is easy. Losing is never easy. Not for me, it’s not.”

I am well aware that Trump has a large following in Nigeria. It is easy to understand in a society where politics and religion blend so perfectly. Which then explains trending videos of processions in aid of Trump on the streets of a country he considers no better than a ‘shithole’. He even shared one of such videos on his Tweeter page, expressing gratitude to the Nigerians parading the streets, waving his picture and the US flag. But the real issue is that we also have many people with the mindset and bigotry of Trump in our

country. Those who are adept at manipulating differences. Those who fuel fear rather than hope. Those who demonise other people with whom they disagree. And those who have no qualms verbalizing anger, hate and resentment to advance their own careers while dividing people along dangerous fault-lines.

Those are not attributes that align with faith regardless of whatever one may consider the licentiousness of the political party Trump contends against.

It is interesting that people who went to bed on Tuesday thinking that President Trump had won woke up yesterday to realise that the entire equation had changed as early votes were being counted in critical states.

There may still be no official decision on who the next president is in the days ahead. But most Americans have faith in the capacity of their institutions to deal with the electoral fiasco. If President Trump eventually loses, I don’t see how he can play Laurent Gbagbo by remaining in the White House beyond his tenure. Ultimately, the rule of law will prevail.

That precisely is the lesson that should not be ignored, regardless of how tempting it may be to mock America for their current political crisis.

Reform in Police Interest fter his degree in Accounting and Finance at Buckingham and a year studying Arabic in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Aminu was back to Nigeria for his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) primary assignment.

He had the option to proceed for his Masters and professional qualifications immediately or start work in a corporate environment. His father was therefore surprised when Aminu expressed interest in joining the police. The father, by the way, was then on the throne as the 14th emir of Kano. When Muhammadu Sanusi II sought to know why his son would choose police of all the options available to him, the young man explained his mission to make a difference in a much-maligned institution that is critical to the enforcement of law and order in Nigeria. “Besides, I also remember that my grandfather was a Native Authority police officer before he became a parliamentarian and then ambassador and later, Emir?” Aminu said, in obvious reference to the late 13th Emir, Ado Bayero (father of his mother).

That softened Sanusi who responded with a joke: “Then maybe it’s in the blood”. And with that, Aminu proceeded to Police College in Jos where he graduated as an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP). He is currently at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the police in Panti, Yaba, Lagos.

But given the experience of the past four weeks, Aminu has been reflecting on the career choice he made and asking himself serious questions. He is not alone.

I am on the Board of the Kashim Ibrahim Fellowship (KIF), an in-residence one-year programme. Chaired by Mr Dele Olojede, it is an initiative of Governor Nasir El-Rufai

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of Kaduna State. In 2018 when we selected the first cohorts of 16 fellows from a list of 31 accomplished young men and women, the guy who came tops happened to be a serving policeman! Then 29, ASP Eyinnaya Chukwueke obtained a Bachelor in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Law, York, United Kingdom and LLM in International Law from the University of Law, London Moorgate. He also attended the Nigerian Law School after which he was called to bar. As Eyinnaya stated in his application form, he joined the police because of his ‘interest in crime and future of criminal justice system in Nigeria.’ He is still a policeman.

I have cited the foregoing examples to debunk the erroneous impression about the police in Nigeria being peddled by some people just because of the notoriety of a few bad eggs. I know many brilliant young men and women in the police who went in with that same mentality to effect change from within whose morale has been dampened by events of the past four weeks. While the police leadership may have mismanaged the handling of the EndSARS protests, we must feel sad about the brutalities visited on some of their personnel by hoodlums who took advantage of peaceful protests to unleash mayhem.

I am an ardent supporter of Amnesty International and the works it does in Nigeria. But there is a line in the statement released last week by the police that I find very instructive. Wondering why Amnesty International report on refused to acknowledge the police personnel killed in the violence that followed the EndSARS protests, DCP Frank Mba stated: “One wonders if in the

estimation of Amnesty International, police officers are not also human beings equally entitled to the protection of their fundamental rights to life and dignity of human person.”

In the course of the looting by hoodlums that followed the EndSARS protests, a story surfaced on WhatsApp of Rabiu Garba, said to be the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at Onitsha, Anambra State. According to the report, when the rampaging youths came to burn his Police Division, the DPO “walked out to meet the mob with the courage of a man who had nothing to fear. They recognized him and the angry chants were silenced!

Most of the youths could vouch for him as a professional cop and a role model for many young men in the community. They even granted him audience to address and counsel them before the mob dispersed. It had nothing to do with his tribe. It had nothing to do with his religion. He was just a model cop.”

I have always stated that the majority of our police personnel are good professionals whose image are being smeared by a few bad eggs. Many of them are also victims of the Nigerian malaise. But for the police to regain public trust, there is need for a fundamental reform. On 14th December 2017, following a social media campaign against SARS, I wrote what has turned out to be prophetic: “While police brutality is a universal phenomenon, the authorities in Nigeria should be careful in the manner they handle the protest against SARS so that the people are not pushed to carry the campaign beyond Twitter posts to a street war.”

We must learn from the ugly experience by ensuring such never happens again. And the only way to do that is to reform the police.

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