WEDNESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER 2020

CBN Unveils Private Sector-led Agriculture Devt Scheme UN supports Nigeria's Economic Sustainability Plan with $250m Omololu Ogunmade and James Emejo in Abuja The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday unveiled guidelines for the operation

of the Private Sector-led Accelerated Agriculture Development Scheme (P-AADS) to facilitate increased private sector agricultural production of staple foods

and industrial raw materials as well as support food security, job creation and economic diversification.

The P-AADS is designed to complement the Accelerated

Agriculture Development Scheme (AADS), earlier introduced by the apex bank to engage 370,000 youths in agricultural production, in collaboration with state

governments as well as address the food security and youth unemployment challenges across the country.

Efforts at growing the economy also received a

boost from the United Nations (UN) with the provision of $250 million for Nigeria's Economic Sustainability Plan.

Continued on page 10

Stock Market Extends Rally, Gains N852bn in Two Days... Page 8 Wednesday 11 November, 2020 Vol 25. No 9347. Price: N250

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Yesufu, Davido, Johnson-Salami, Others Sued over #EndSARS Protests... Page 5

Showdown Looms in APC over Tenure of Caretaker Committee Buni denies tenure elongation plot Secures Buhari’s backing for fresh membership registration Iyobosa Uwugiaren and Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is heading for another round of crisis as power blocs in the party are prepped for a fight over alleged subterranean plots to extend the tenure of the National Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee.

The caretaker committee, chaired by Yobe State

Governor, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni, was set up in June, after the dissolution of the party's National Working Committee (NWC), led by a former Edo State Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, with a six-month mandate to reform the party and conduct a national convention to birth a new leadership.

However, about seven weeks to the end of its tenure, the Continued on page 9

Sanwo-Olu Moves to Abolish Pension for Ex-govs, Deputies Proposes N1.155tn budget for 2021 Davidson Iriekpen and Segun James Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday unfolded a plan to stop the payment of pension to his predecessors and former deputy governors.

He told the House of Assembly while presenting

his 2021 Appropriation Bill that he would soon send an executive bill to repeal the Public Office Holder (Payment of Pension Law 2007) that empowers the state government to pay pension and provide other welfare benefits, including houses in Continued on page 9

REKINDLING HOPE...

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during the presentation of 2021 Appropriation Bill to the House of Assembly in Lagos‌yesterday

Zulum Seeks Multi-stakeholder Team to Track Boko Haram Financiers... Page 5

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

Zulum Seeks Multi-stakeholder Team to Track Boko Haram Financiers

Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri

Borno State Governor, Prof.

Babagana Zulum, has urged the federal government to build on the conviction of six Boko Haram sponsors by the United Arab Emirate (UAE) by setting up a multi-stakeholder team with trusted representatives to fish out more sponsors of the terrorist group.

A statement yesterday by the governor's spokesman, Malam Isa Gusau, said Zulum commended the UAE for the conviction of six Nigerians for Boko Haram funding.

The statement said the governor was happy that for the first time in 11 years, headway was being made on tracking some alleged financiers of Boko Haram terrorism that has resulted in the death of thousands of citizens, displacement of millions as well as the destruction of private and public assets worth $9 billion in Nigeria.

According to media report, an Abu Dhabi court had upheld the conviction of some Nigerians for allegedly supplying almost N300 million to fund Boko Haram.

The State Security Court of the Federal Supreme Court had turned down the appeal by the six Nigerians convicted of terrorist crimes and financing terrorist organisations outside the UAE. The court upheld the ruling

issued by Abu Dhabi Federal Appeal Court, slamming life imprisonment on two suspects and four others with a 10-year sentence.

Two of the convicts, Mr. Surajo Muhammad and Mr. Saleh Adamu, are to spend the rest part of their lives in the UAE prison while the others, Mr. Ibrahim Alhassan, Mr. AbdurRahman Musa, Mr. Bashir Yusuf and Mr. Muhammad Isa will each spend 10 years.

The court also ordered the convicts be deported from the country after serving their terms, and the confiscation of all communications devices, including computers and mobile phones.

The convicts, according to the court, allegedly used bureau de change operations to send $782,000 to Boko Haram in 17 separate transfers from Dubai to Nigeria between 2015 and 2016.

Zulum, however, acknowledged the rights of families of those convicted who, according to the report, have raised questions on the UAE court judgment and maintained that the convicts were innocent of the charges.

The governor urged the “federal government to consider setting up a multistakeholder team with trusted representatives from the Federal Ministries of Justice, Foreign Affairs, the Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA), the

Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), the Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad, and the ECOWAS Intergovernmental Action Group on Terrorism Financing in West Africa, GIABA, to work with the UAE Government to look into the issues raised by

families alleging foul play.

The government, he said, should also follow up on the findings by the UAE with the hope of using the intelligence, if authenticated, to expand the search for other Boko Haram sponsors.

The governor urged the

people of Borno to continue praying for God to expose all sponsors of Boko Haram.

He added that anyone who knowingly benefits from the crisis at the expense of peace in the state will receive the wrath of God. The 22nd report of the

United Nations Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team had identified charitable donations, extortion, smuggling and ransom remittances from kidnapping as some of the ways through which Boko Haram raises funds.

2021 ESTIMATES FOR OSUN...

Osun State Governor, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, during the presentation of 2021 Appropriation Bill to the House of Assembly in Osogbo‌yesterday

Yesufu, Davido, Johnson-Salami, Others Sued over #EndSARS Protests Ozekhome: Prosecuting protesters defeats purpose of states’ panels Davidson Iriekpen in Lagos and Alex Enumah in Abuja An activist, Mr. Kenechukwu Okeke, has filed a criminal complaint before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Abuja against 50 persons for their alleged roles in the #EndSARS protests that took place last month.

Okeke accused them of instigating the protest that triggered a riot that led to the destruction of his property. He demanded that the defendants who promoted the #EndSARS protests must be brought to justice.

Those listed as defendants include musician Damini Ogulu aka Burna Boy; David Adeleke popularly known as Davido; Folarin Falana popularly known as Falz; and social media comedians, Debo Adebayo aka Mr. Macaroni; and Maryam Akpaokagi aka Taoma.

Other musicians sued include, Peter and Paul Okoye; Innocent Idibia aka Tuface; Bankole Wellington popularly known as Banky W; Tiwa Savage; Michael Ajereh aka Don Jazzy; and Yemi Alade.

Apart from musicians, others listed as defendants

include Senior Pastor, Daystar Christian Centre, Pastor Sam Adeyemi; activist, Aisha Yesufu; ex-Super Eagles legend, Kanu Nwankwo; a former Director-General, Bureau for Public Sector Reform, Dr Joe Abah; journalist, Kiki Mordi, and actors, Yul Edochie and Uche Jombo.

Others are ARISE NEWS Channel anchor, Laila JohnsonSalami, as well as social media influencers, Feyikemi Abudu, Olorunrinu Oduala, Pamilerin Adegoke, Japhet Omojuwa, Ayo Sogunro and Deji Adeyanju.

THISDAY gathered that Johnson-Salami, who is a member of Feminist Coalition, one of the groups that mobilised support for the #EndSARS protests, didn't take part in the protests as she was in the office all through the period.

The case was instituted on Monday pursuant to sections 88, 109(a), and 110(1) (c) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

In his supporting affidavit, Okeke said the defendants played active roles in the #EndSARS protests, which later became violent.

It read in part: “That the 1st to 50th accused persons

between the 3rd day of October 2020 and the 28th day of October 2020, using Twitter, an Internet web source with URL https://www.twitter. com within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did conspire amongst themselves to commit misdemeanor, to wit, promoting and acting in such a manner, with intent to assist in the promotion of #EndSARS and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97(2) of the Penal Code Act, C53 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. “That the 1st to 50th accused persons with intent to carry out some common purpose, assemble in such a manner or being assembled under the composition of #EndSARS as to cause persons in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to fear on reasonable grounds that such assembly needlessly and without any reasonable occasion may provoke other persons tumultuously to disturb the peace. “Properties belonging to the complaint were egregiously destroyed by some riotous and tumultuous persons instigated and incited by the 1st to 50th accused persons.�

However, Idibia, popularly

known as 2Baba, has said nobody has received any court summons or documents.

According to Efe Omorogbe, the consultant to 2Baba, they have no comment at the moment as they have not received any notice or summons to that effect. “There’s no comment yet.

We have not been served any paper. We have not received any formal summon. We can’t respond to what is merely trending on social media until we receive a summons we can’t respond,� he said.

Meanwhile, a human rights lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), has said by arresting, prosecuting and freezing the bank accounts of #EndSARS protesters, the federal government is defeating the purpose of setting up states’ panels of inquiry into the protests.

Ozekhome said by taking such steps, the government has pronounced #EndSARS youths guilty even before the panels make their findings.

While justifying what the government did, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, had said those who promoted the protests and allowed it to

degenerate into chaos must be made to face the full wrath of the law.

Shehu added that the country had been harmed by the #EndSARS protests. “Everyone witnessed the massive looting of public and private properties, particularly in Lagos, Calabar, Plateau, Taraba and some other states, even the FCT. “Now, the laws of the country must be allowed to decide, to rule on wrongdoing on the part of just anybody. “I am not particular about any celebrity or promoter, but this country has been harmed enormously and people should be prepared to account for what they did,� he had stated.

However, faulting the federal government’s moves to prosecute the promoters of the #EndSARS protests, Ozekhome said if the government has nothing to hide, it should allow the various panels of inquiries to finish their work and present their findings for discussion at the national level.

He said: “If the government at the centre is taking this kind of decision, what happens to the various panels and commissions set up by state governments? “What will be the

consequence of the findings of those commissions of inquiries?

Will the government not be unduly interfering with the activities of those panels by obviously working from the answer to the question? “Will those panels not be readily duty-bound to agree with the position of the federal government in a country where all governors defer to the President like in a monarchy? “These are some of the questions that state governments have to ask before taking further steps. “If it has nothing to hide, the federal government should make haste slowly and allow the various states to do their work because we are operating a federal system of government. “At the end of the various panel sittings, when the governors meet at their state council meetings, they can then present the finding and discuss the issue at the national level. “But if the government begins to take proactive steps such as blocking the account of the protest sponsors, arresting the protesters and arraigning them, then the government has already pronounced them guilty even before the panels make their findings.�

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Stock Market Extends Rally, Gains N852bn in Two Days Goddy Egene The Nigerian stock market gained N852 billion in the first two days of this week as investors remained upbeat.

The market, which has remained bullish, gained N641 billion on Monday and extended its rally with an additional gain of N211 billion yesterday.

This lifted the capitalisation of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) to N17.059 trillion while the NSE AllShare Index (ASI) climbed to 32,647.10.

The NSE ASI rose four per cent on Monday and rose by another 1.3 per cent yesterday, bringing the gain in two days to 5.3 per cent.

Market analysts had said the Nigerian stock market would remain bullish after

recording an unprecedented growth in October.

The market had jumped

by N1.934 trillion in October, which was its best monthly gain since 2018 on the continued inflow of funds searching for real returns and positive reactions to better-than-expected third quarter(Q3) and nine months earnings so far released.

The Chief Research Officer, Investdata Consulting Limited, Mr. Ambrose Omordion, had said the low-yield environment and other factors had triggered buying interest in the equity space despite the seeming disconnection with economic realities to sustain the four consecutive months of bullish run.

He said: “The possibility of prices rallying further from

At 81, Daura among Worthiest Gentlemen, Says Buhari Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday felicitated with his nephew, Malam Mamman Daura, on the occasion of his 81st birthday, describing him as "a dedicated public servant, consummate administrator and one of our worthiest gentlemen who is widely misunderstood by so many."

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement, said Buhari noted that "Mamman Daura is a thoroughbred public administrator with an all-rounded knowledge and experience in life and government."

According to Buhari, "It's impossible to sit down with Daura without gaining from his vast experience, knowledge and wisdom."

The president noted that "among Daura's unappreciated virtues are his humility, compassion and zeal to provide mentoring to many who are privileged to be with him or close to him."

Buhari, who also described Daura as a veteran of Nigeria's political history and an active participant in its development, said the revered journalist and public administrator is needlessly misunderstood.

"Daura's experience is not unusual because many great men are not appreciated, which stems from the cynical obsession of many of his critics," the president said.

He advised Nigerians to be just and fair-minded in the assessment of public figures like Daura whose contributions to the development of the country, he said, overshadow perceived flaws.

Buhari said: "As you celebrate the ripe age of 81, may Allah bless you with better health and longer life in the service of Nigeria and mankind. You are a fountain of inspiration and an inexhaustible reservoir of knowledge. We are proud of your invaluable support. “I wish you more abundant blessings from God. Happy birthday.�

here is high, amidst portfolio reshuffling on the strength of the Q3 numbers, just as investors would be assured of reward in the form of dividends when the full-year scorecards begin to flow into the market in the early days of 2021 despite the possibility of a dividend cut. “It is expected that discerning investors and traders would take advantage of the prevailing relative low stock prices, year-end season and cycle to grow their income, ahead of major earnings season in the first quarter of 2021.�

After the positive performance in October, the market had opened the month maintaining the bullish trend with a gain of 1.56 per cent last week.

And market analysts had envisaged a sustained bull run this week. “As the Q3 earnings season winds down, we expect investors to shift their attention to yet to be published results from the big banks in the week ahead.

In the short term, we still see scope for expansion in valuation multiples as

hunt for alpha-yielding opportunities in the face of increasingly negative real returns in the fixed income market remain positive for stocks. “However, we advise investors to take positions in only fundamentally justified stocks as the weak macro environment remains a significant headwind for corporate earnings,� analysts at Cordros Research said.

Similarly, analysts at Greenwich Research said: “Positive sentiment, boosted by impressive earnings performance continued to spur interest in the equities space, in the face of recordlow yields in the fixed income space. Notably, gains recorded at the start and the end of the week pinned the market in the green zone. We expect this momentum will be sustained by positive Q3 earnings results, particularly from the banking space.�

This is just as S&P 500 dipped at the open on Tuesday as excitement over signs of a first successful late-stage COVID-19 vaccine trial faded, while investors continued to pull money out

of the big tech companies that have benefited most from the pandemic.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 96.20 points, or 0.33 per cent, at the open to 29,254.17. The S&P 500 opened lower by 7.24 points, or 0.20 per cent, at 3,543.26 while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 91.34 points, or 0.78 per cent, to 11,622.44 at the opening bell.

European shares hovered at eight-month highs on optimism around signs of a breakthrough in developing a COVID-19 vaccine, although concerns about the depth of the economic damage from the pandemic capped gains.

The pan-European STOXX 600.STOXX was flat after rallying 4.0 per cent in the previous session as the United States drugmaker, Pfizer Inc, said its COVID-19 vaccine, developed with a German partner, BioNTech, was more than 90 per cent effective in preventing the infection.

European shares have already surged 11 per cent this month as investors also cheered the possibility of calmer global trade under the U.S. President-elect, Joe

Biden, but strict lockdowns to contain surging coronavirus cases have threatened a nascent economic recovery at home.

Italy's bourse, FTMIB added 0.1 per cent a day after posting its best day since March. The country is ramping up business restrictions in Tuscany and four other regions to rein in the second wave of the pandemic.

Stock market gains in Asia after results from a late-stage COVID-19 vaccine trial fuelled optimism about the easing of global restrictions, which should help the region's tourism- and trade-dependent economies next year.

Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia indexes were up between 2.0 per cent and 3.6 per cent, but those of tech-heavy Taiwan and China were the biggest losers.

Philippine equities rallied more than 5.0 per cent, brushing off the steep economic slump in the third quarter and helped by government assurances that the economy would rebound in 2021.

TO MAKE EDO GREAT AGAIN...

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (left), and Speaker, House of Assembly, Hon. Marcus Onobun, during the presentation of the 2021 Appropriation bill in Benin-city‌yesterday

P& ID: US Court Bars Nigeria from Accessing Hedge Fund’s Documents Ejiofor Alike with agency reports Nigeria’s bid to set aside the P&ID Limited’s arbitration award has suffered a setback as VR Capital Group Limited has secured a United States’ court ruling to block the federal government from accessing its internal documents.

The move to access the documents was part of the federal government’s attempt to stop P&ID Limited, partly owned by VR from collecting the nearly $10 billion arbitration award.

US District Judge, Paul Engelmayer in New York granted the hedge fund’s motion, overturning a ruling from May and quashing subpoenas issued by Nigeria.

Bloomberg reported that Nigeria sought the information to aid a corruption probe into P&ID Ltd., a company in

which VR Capital acquired a 25 per cent interest in 2018.

Nigeria’s anti-graft agency is investigating a gas-supply contract a former minister concluded with P&ID in 2010 and subsequent arbitration proceedings that resulted in the hefty penalty against the country three years ago. The federal government alleged that the British Virgin Islandsregistered company developed sham arrangements designed to fail and has accused P&ID of bribing its officials.

Nigeria is in English courts attempting to overturn both the 2017 arbitration award and a decision by a UK judge last year upholding it, claiming P&ID’s alleged fraud only recently came to light.

P&ID had denied any wrongdoing, saying Nigeria invented the accusations to evade its legal obligations.

Six months ago, Judge

Lorna Schofield, also in the Southern District of New York, granted Nigeria permission to gather information from US banks concerning transactions involving companies and people affiliated with P&ID, as well as former government officials.

The Nigerian government also wanted VR Capital to hand over documents concerning its purchase of P&ID shares as well as the decade-old contract and ensuing arbitration.

But VR Capital applied to the federal court in New York to set aside the subpoenas principally on the grounds that Nigeria should have sought authorisation through its mutual legal assistance treaty with the United States.

While the hedge fund is based in London, the four entities and two directors targeted

by Nigeria are in New York.

Nigeria “misled� Schofield by denying any intention to use the documents in the English proceedings, according to Engelmayer’s November 6 opinion.

VR Capital claimed Nigeria would use the information provided by the hedge fund for the same goal.

Nigeria told Engelmayer that the main use of VR Capital documents would be in its domestic corruption probes.

In his ruling, Engelmayer accepted Nigeria’s argument that it would be permissible for the government to present some material to support efforts to challenge the arbitration award in England.

However, a review of the request by the U.S. Justice Department under the treaty would help decide if the information sought was “genuinely intended for use in a criminal prosecution or

investigation� or “the improper purpose of fortifying Nigeria’s attempt in the English courts to void the multi-billion-dollar arbitral award against it,�

Engelmayer said.

It is unclear if Nigeria plans to submit a new application under the bilateral agreement. “Delay tactics� adopted

by VR Capital and P&ID are “prolonging the discovery process and preventing us from obtaining critical evidence,� a spokeswoman for Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, said. “These evasive efforts are manifestly inconsistent with P&ID’s position that it has nothing to hide,� she said. “Misleading the U.S. court� is part of Nigeria’s last-ditch efforts to avoid payment of the arbitration award,� said Zachary Rosenbaum, a lawyer at Kobre & Kim LLP who is

representing P&ID and VR Capital.

Nigeria scored a victory in September when a London judge ruled the government had established a “strong prima facie case of fraud� against P&ID and should be permitted to test its allegations at a trial to determine the legitimacy of the arbitration award.

Following the decision, Nigeria’s lawyers wrote to Engelmayer asking him to dismiss VR Capital’s motion.

Information collected from the banks had contributed evidence to the anti-corruption agency’s probe, which in turn had been “critical� to the country’s success in the English court, they said.

The case is Federal Republic of Nigeria v. VR Advisory Services Ltd., 20-mc-00209, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan).

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PAGE NINE SHOWDOWN LOOMS IN APC OVER TENURE OF CARETAKER COMMITTEE caretaker committee is far from achieving the task, triggering speculations that it is plotting to seek approval from the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party for the elongation of its tenure beyond December.

But in a swift reaction, Buni described the allegation of planned tenure elongation as false, saying that the committee comprises three governors who are not seeking for new jobs.

The committee also yesterday secured the backing of President Muhammadu Buhari to commence fresh registration of new party members.

The APC NEC, presided over by Buhari, had dissolved the NWC and set up the caretaker committee to arrest a power tussle caused by the suspension of Oshiomhole.

But tension started building up some weeks back, when powerful forces within the party accused the caretaker committee of an attempt to elongate its tenure. And as if confirming the fears of these forces, the committee recently started nationwide membership registration expected to drag till next year, an action some leaders of the party described as ‘’questionable strategy’’ for tenure elongation. A member of the caretaker committee told THISDAY in Abuja yesterday that Buni and his members may have succumbed to pressure and now planning

the party’s NEC before the end of December in order to seek for extension of their tenure to enable them to finish their task, especially the membership registration.

However, different sources told THISDAY that Buni-led group within the party will meet strong resistance at the NEC meeting over their plot. ‘’It is either we push for total dissolution of the national caretaker committee or one-month timetable will be designed - within which a national convention will be organised for us to elect new members of the National Working Committee of the party. ‘’Buni and his cronies have proved to us that they have a different agenda outside the assignment that was given to the committee a few months ago. Many of our leaders and members no longer have confidence in Buni-led committee,’’ the member of the committee said.

The source added that Buni was until recently behaving like a sole administrator of APC until it became clear to him that he will not go far with his dictatorial tendencies.

Also, another source within the party, suspected to be loyal to the National Leader of APC, Senator Bola Tinubu, and some APC governors, said yesterday that the committee had outlived its usefulness and should go after its tenure by December.

The spokesperson for Concerned APC Members, a pressure group in the party, Mr. Abdullahi Dauda, told THISDAY that the duration given for the committee is six months while the two major assignment given to them are to reconcile aggrieved members and organise a convention by December. ‘’There is nobody, again, I repeat it, nobody has the power or mandate to extend their tenure. Even the mandate given to them was a violation of Article 17(4) of our party's constitution. ‘’There is no way Mai Mala Buni should be the chairman because he is already the governor of Yobe State. But we respect Mr. President who appointed the 13-man committee,’’ Dauda stated.

Also, former local government chairmen on the platform of the APC asked the party members to resist the tenure elongation bid of the committee.

The group, under the aegis of the National Association of the former Elected Local Government Chairmen, made the request yesterday at a news conference in Sokoto.

Led by its National President, Alhaji Ibrahim Haske, the group said it was forced at this time to express the fears of members about what he described as the unfortunate state of affairs of the party. “We have no doubt that

you would all agree with us that the ruling APC currently tethers on the precipice of disintegration if urgent care and caution are not taken. “The bitter truth and reality in APC now is while President Muhammadu Buhari is busy working for change, fifth columnists are busy working for their selfish ends. “They do not care whether the APC disintegrates or not as long as their gluttonous nests are feathered,� he said.

The group explained that when the caretaker committee assumed office on June 25, party members accepted the strange arrangement as a result of respect for the president.

The group added: “But unfortunately to our amazement, it began to play the script of the so-called cabal in the party, instead of uniting various entities in the party, the committee is doing the opposite. “The Edo State crisis is a case in point. The interim caretaker committee inexplicably became a lame-duck unable to foster unity within the party. “Indeed, instead of supporting the candidate of the party in the governorship election, the committee allegedly gave full support to the opposition. This led to the disastrous outing of the party in the governorship election.

We stand corrected.�

The group urged the president to be wary of deceitful leaders who might

want to advise him wrongly on the state of affairs in the APC.

Buni Denies Tenure Elongation Plot, Gets Buhari's Nod on Membership Drive The committee, however, yesterday secured the backing of Buhari to commence fresh registration of new party members. It also described as false the accusation that it was planning to elongate its tenure.

The presidential backing followed the presentation of the timetable for the registration to the president at the State House by Buni.

Other members of the committee present at the meeting were governors of Kebbi and Jigawa States, Senator Atiku Bagudu and Alhaji Abubakar Badaru, as well as the committee Secretary, Senator Akpan Udoedehe.

Briefing reporters after the committee's meeting with the president, Buni said following the presidential nod, sensitisation campaign, which he said would herald the registration of new members would kick off immediately.

Buni highlighted how the exercise would be conducted, citing the party's constitutional provisions backing up the membership registration.

He said: "It’s to consult

with him (Buhari) on the process of the membership registration. As from today, we are commencing with sensitisation. Thereafter, it will culminate into membership registration across over 119,000 polling units in the country.

It is part of our mandate as bestowed on us by the National Executive Committee to rebuild this party bottom up.

"I have to read the section of the APC Constitution to you to clearly understand where we are coming from.

In accordance with Section 9 (4) of the Constitution of the All Progressives Congress (October 2014 as Amended), the Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee consulted all stakeholders and have organised for membership registration.

"The said Section 9(4) provides as follows: 'A register of members shall be compiled and maintained at the ward level and be transmitted to the secretariat of the party at the local government area, which shall transmit a copy to the state headquarters, national secretariat. Provided that the party shall update its membership records every six months and remit updated copies to appropriate secretariats. Thereafter, it shall be the responsibility of a member to ensure that his or her name is duly entered Continued on page 10

SANWO-OLU MOVES TO ABOLISH PENSION FOR EX-GOVS, DEPUTIES Lagos and Abuja, vehicles and other accoutrements of comfort to the former governors and their deputies.

Sanwo-Olu, who proposed an N1.155 trillion estimate to the legislature for approval for the 2021 fiscal year, told the lawmakers that the aim of repealing the law is to free the state government of the legal obligations, saying it is a step to reduce the cost of governance.

The 2021 budget estimates titled: “Budget of Rekindled Hope,� is higher than the 2020 budget by N234.5 billion. The 2020 budget was reduced to N920.5 billion due to the COVID-19 pandemic that ravaged the world this year.

But this year's budget proposal is less than the initial 2020 budget of N1.68 trillion

by N53.5 billion.

Sanwo-Olu said the 2021 budget has total revenue of N962.528 billion with N795.744 billion coming from internally generated revenue (IGR).

He explained that the budget has a capital expenditure of N703.272 billion and a recurrent expenditure of N451.750 billion.

The 2021 budget will focus on youth employment, security, youth engagement and social work, among others.

According to him, the General Public Services allocation is N136, 278,189,622.39, under which the Science and Technology sector has N28, 272,741,669 and Other General Public Services has N108, 005,447,953.39.

Also, the Public Order and Safety allocation is N32, 757,159,406.85, while the Economic Affairs sector has a proposed allocation of N381, 852,747,856.72.

Under the Economic Affairs´ allocation is Agriculture with N18,311,948,584.57; Commerce, N41,989,851,318.18; Tourism, Art & culture N6,012,710,830.00; Energy and Mineral Resources, N32,585,739,585.09;

Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n , N98,931,628,325.88; Infrastructure - Works Family, N172,238,545,968.00; and Waterfront, N11,782,323,245.00.

The Environment sector has an allocation of N50, 934,105,592.09, comprising of drainage N11, 936,556,866 and other environmental servicesN38, 997,548,726.09.

Also, the Housing and Community Amenities sector has N40,280,489,878.68, the Health sector, N118,360,479,650.50 while Recreation, Culture and Religion sector is billed to get N5,170,065,144.74.

The Education sector has a budget allocation of N143,655,493,855.89; the Social Protection sector, N9,156,091,555.64 while the Contingency Reserve (including Special Expenditure - Statewide and Special Expenditure -Others) has N20,554,523,753.69 allocation.

The allocation for Loans (repayments, CDSA & debt servicing) is N166, 215,862,798.26; Personnel Cost (Statewide - Pension etc) N49, 807,203,890.38. All allocations will give a total of N1, 155,022,413,005.82 budget for 2021.

The governor said the budget proposal demonstrated the government´s willingness to overcome all obstacles and deliver on all electoral promises to Lagos residents.

He said the COVID-19 pandemic and #EndSARS protests had only heightened the need to urgently implement the various programmes under the THEMES agenda.

According to him, the 2021 budget will, among others, provide for youth employment by focusing on sectors with job-creating potential like agriculture, construction, technology and security.

He added: “We are set to improve the economic conditions and social safety

needed for our youth and all hardworking Lagosians to flourish. We are committing resources to sectors that need to grow for our people to become self-reliant and economically empowered. “Consequently, for the agricultural sector, our food security plan has a cumulative budget of N22.21 billion while we are committing a cumulative budgetary provision of N311.43 billion to infrastructure. “This will cover direct intervention through the Ministries of Works and Infrastructure, Water front, Transportation, the Judiciary, our Schools and Seed Capital of N15 billion for The Rebuild Lagos Trust Fund. “To continue to drive our digitisation strategy, we have committed a total of N37.37 billion investment in technology while in the environment and health services we have committed a total of N48.28 billion and N111.94 billion respectively. “In line with our urgent need to light up Lagos, we will begin a set of initiatives in the energy sector to ensure the Lagos economy is supported by power, one community at a time. To this, we have committed a total of N32.58billion in the 2021 budget.�

Sanwo-Olu said 2021 Appropriation Bill also aligns with the restoration of economic balance as the state navigates its way out of the negative impact of both the pandemic and the destruction of public assets following the #EndSARS protest hijack.

On youth empowerment, Sanwo-Olu said the state would focus on sectors with job-creating potential like agriculture, construction, technology and security.

"We are set to improve the economic conditions and social safety needed for our youths

and all hardworking Lagosians to flourish. We are committing resources to sectors that need to grow for our people to become self-reliant and economically empowered," he stated.

On the plans to scrap the payment of pensions to former governors and their deputies, Sanwo-Olu said: "Mr. Speaker and honourable members of the House, in light of keeping the cost of governance low and to signal selflessness in public service, we will be sending a draft executive bill to the House imminently for the repeal of the Public Office Holder (Payment of Pension Law 2007), which provides for payment of pension and other entitlements to former governors and their deputies.

"It is our firm belief that with dwindling revenues and the appurtenant inflationary growth rates, that we need to come up with innovative ways of keeping the cost of governance at a minimum while engendering a spirit of selflessness in public service."

Lagos State blazed the trail in 2007 when its then Governor, Senator Bola Tinubu, at the twilight of his tenure, signed into law a bill earlier passed to provide pension and other welfare benefits to former governors and their deputies beyond the package outlined for former political officeholders nationwide by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

According to the Public Office Holder (Payment of Pension) Law, former governors of the state, who completed two terms consecutively, are entitled to a house each in any location of their choice in Lagos and Abuja.

Also, a former governor is entitled to six new cars every three years, 100 per cent of the basic salary of the serving governor (N7.7m per annum), free healthcare for himself and

members of his family as well as furniture allowance, which is 300 per cent of their annual basic salary (N23.3m).

The law also named deputy governors as beneficiaries of vehicles, fully-paid vacation, medical insurance and other juicy perks.

Soon after, other governors started replicating the law in their states.

Due to the current economic crisis facing the country, many of the states and some others had to rely on bailouts from the federal government to pay salaries and pensions.

Following a suit instituted by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo of the Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, had in a landmark judgment ordered the federal government to “recover pensions collected by former governors now serving as ministers and members of the National Assembly, and directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), to challenge the legality of states’ pension laws permitting former governors and other ex-public officials to collect such pensions.�

In January, as a sequel to another suit filed by the Taraba State Government against Mr. Garba Umar, a former acting governor of the state, the National Industrial Court had declared as null and void, payment of the controversial jumbo pension and gratuity to former governors and deputies not in harmony with what is fixed by RMAFC.

SERAP Hails SanwoOlu’s Move SERAP yesterday welcomed the move by Sanwo-Olu to scrap the state life pensions for former governors and deputy governors.

SERAP’s Deputy Director,

Mr. Kolawole Oludare, said: “This is a welcome development in line with our consistent advocacy on accountability in governance over the years.

More particularly, this is in compliance with the judgment of Honourable Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo of the Federal High Court, Lagos, in SERAP v. Attorney General of the Federation, mandating the Attorney-General of the Federation to challenge the legality of state pension laws and recover monies paid unlawfully to former governors and their deputies. “SERAP urges the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), to immediately fulfil his promise to enforce the judgment in suit number FHC/L/CS/1497/2017 to recover pensions already collected and challenge the legality of all life pension laws in states across the country.�

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WEDNESDAY, ͚͚˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž T H I S D AY

NEWS

NNPC Cautions against Panic Buying as Fuel Queues Return Explorationists upbeat on oil discovery in Benue Trough Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday dismissed speculations of possible scarcity of petroleum products following the ongoing disagreement between the federal government and members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN).

This is coming as the President of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), Mr. Alex Tarka, has stated that the commerciality of the oil discovery in the Benue trough, one of the frontier basins in the country, is no longer in doubt.

PENGASSAN is at loggerheads with the federal government over the implementation of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), among other issues.

Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Corporation, Dr. Kennie

Obateru, quoted the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, as saying in a statement in Abuja that the industrial action embarked upon by PENGASSAN would not lead to scarcity of petroleum products.

He stated that all fuel stations and petrol depots have enough stock of products to service consumers and are open for business.

While expressing hope that the industrial dispute would be settled amicably, Kyari assured Nigerians that the corporation currently has a stock of over 2.9 billion litres of petrol to meet demands, especially during the Yuletide.

According to him, the corporation is determined to make the 2020 end-of-year festivities free of fuel queues.

He noted that critical stakeholders in the petroleum products supply and distribution chain such as tanker drivers, depot owners and road transport owners have been mobilised to ensure a hitch-free season.

PENGASSAN had embarked on a three-day nationwide warning strike in June to protest what it described as members' forcible enrolment into the “defective� IPPIS payment platform.

The oil industry workers said the strike was pursuant to the demands concerning their members working in federal government agencies, whose salaries were withheld since May, over alleged noncompliance with the federal government’s directive to all its agencies to enrol on the IPPIS payment platform.

Meanwhile, the President of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), Mr. Alex Tarka, has stated that the commerciality of the oil discovery in the Benue trough, one of the frontier basins in the country, is no longer in doubt.

Responding to questions yesterday during a virtual press briefing ahead of NAPE’s conference themed: "Accelerating Growth in Nigeria’s Hydrocarbon Reserves: Emerging Concepts,

Challenges and Opportunities," Tarka said exploration was still going on at the Benue trough.

He said the volumes of the reserve discovered in that axis had been in the public domain as the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, and Kyari had announced the volumes of oil discovered.

Tarka said: "The volumes of what has been seen like the GMD said even yesterday (Monday) in our discussion is already in the public domain.

It is a commercial discovery.

We don't need to bother so much about volumes at this stage because exploration is still ongoing.

"The second well is being drilled. So, the important thing for this meeting is that NNPC's geoscientists, which I am a part, have made a commercial discovery in the Benue trough and the testing results have shown that it is commercial.

"The minister (of state for petroleum) has made the announcement since February when I was at NIPS (Nigerian International Petroleum Summit) in Abuja.

"So, the commerciality of the Benue trough is no longer in doubt. That’s why drilling is going to be sustained because NNPC is a responsible operating arm of the government that the government depends on to sustain the economy of the nation."

According to him, the exploration campaign will be sustained and until it gets to the level of development, nobody can discuss the production.

The NAPE president explained that reserves needed to be discovered to be in commercial quantity, adding: "That should give us comfort as reporters that for the first time in a long while, we now have a commercial discovery in the frontier of Nigeria within the Benue trough."

Tarka added that the NNPC was deploying modern technologies in exploring for oil at the Benue Trough.

"So, for the drilling campaign going on currently, a lot of technologies were deployed: fibre optic machines, best of

its kind across the world were deployed. Things like surface geochemistry, so many advanced technologies.

"And then, all that, plus seismic, the best of seismic, all were integrated, both conventional and nonconventional. It's for each of the technologies to be able to tell you and reconfirm and de-risk as much as possible prior to even moving a rig," he stated.

Earlier, the NAPE president had described technology as the heart of all the significant achievements in the oil and gas industry.

According to him, the way hydrocarbon is discovered, developed and produced has been impacted by evolutionary technologies that have emerged since the Drake well of 1859.

He said the challenge, however, was how far Nigeria has travelled down the technology road, stressing that it was against that backdrop that the conference would be deliberating on the petroleum business and the regulatory environment.

committee to decide. We are operating within the limit of our assignment because NEC of the party said we must rebuild the party bottom up‌.So, it is not for us to say that we are extending (the duration)," he stated.

However, Bagudu said the NEC did not set a date for the conduct of the national convention as he denied the intention of the committee to extend its tenure.

He said: "You may also recall that two days before the caretaker committee was saddled with the responsibility of leading the party, the party lost a serving governor to the opposition.

"So, the chairman (caretaker committee) came at the time when the morale was weak, but the committee worked so hard, including the winning of the Ondo State gubernatorial election, with the reconciliation

of members and the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting that ushered in the caretaker committee did not give a definite date.

"We are conscious that these assignments will unfold and intervening circumstances across the country have made it more difficult, but certainly they (members) are not people that are seeking for appointments or seeking to stay, particularly the chairman."

maximum lending rate for the period the fund was not disbursed.

Also, failure to remit repayments received to CBN within the stipulated period shall attract penalty interest at the PFIs maximum lending rate.

principal acknowledged that the offer aligned with the federal government’s Economic Sustainability Plan.

Highlighting a breakdown of the proposed use of the money, the statement said the offer would mobilise about $250 million with $13.78 million earmarked for the provision of a fund to develop health response system; $53.3 million to protect people; $30.7 million for macroeconomic stability and economic recovery and $26.6 million for social protection to assist communities in building back better.

Osinbajo stated: “I think that the offer aligns with the government’s Economic Sustainability Plan. It seeks to mobilise close to $250 million and will provide targeted support to the development of health response systems ($13.78 m); protecting people ($53.3); macroeconomic stability and economic recovery ($30.7); as well as social protection ($26.6m) to assist communities in building back better. Rallying support and thinking through a programme such as the UN Plus Offer for socio-economic recovery is a demonstration of the kinship that we developed with our partners and the United Nations.�

Earlier, Mohammed had said the launch of the initiative was a demonstration of an effective partnership between the UN system and the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to her, various components of the initiative will expedite interventions in four key areas which are also being addressed under the Nigerian Economic Sustainability Plan. “This offer is aimed at supporting Nigeria in its immediate efforts at risk mitigation by cushioning vulnerable communities, and through medium-term measures that will aid socioeconomic recovery while addressing structural drivers of exclusion, inequalities and discrimination as a component of recovering better,� she said.

The statement also quoted the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative and Chair of Nigeria Development Partners Group, Mr. Mohammed Yahya, as saying that the offer is in response to the UN Secretary General’s call for action, noting that the offer was conceived to support the government’s action on post-COVID-19 mediumterm socio-economic recovery.

SHOWDOWN LOOMS IN APC OVER TENURE OF CARETAKER COMMITTEE in the ward register.'

"So, this is the constitutional provision of our party in line with our membership registration."

Asked to react to allegations by some party members who have accused the committee of seeking to extend tenure, Buni said the accusation was wrong because the committee comprised three governors whom he said were not job seekers.

According to him, it is the NEC of APC, which constituted the committee, that would decide whether the committee's duration of operations would be extended or not.

"You are all aware. We have three sitting governors in the committee and you should know that none of the governors is seeking for a job. Already, we have a job. But we have to sacrifice

to ensure that we reposition the party. So, anybody who is thinking that maybe we are job seekers is wrong.

"We are not job seekers.

We are here to reposition and reunite our party so that we have a party we can all be proud of. This is our mandate and we are ready to discharge our mandate.

That (tenure elongation) is left for NEC of the party to decide. It is not me or caretaker

CBN UNVEILS PRIVATE SECTOR-LED AGRICULTURE DEVT SCHEME The UN offer, which is aimed at complementing Nigeria’s COVID-19 economic recovery efforts under the Nigerian Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) initiative, was hailed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The CBN, in a circular titled: "Guidelines for the Private Sector-led Accelerated Agriculture Development Scheme," signed by the Director, Development Finance Department, Mr. Yusuf Yila, said the scheme shall be funded from the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP).

The CBN pegged the maximum loan accessible under the scheme at N2 billion per obligor- and to be repaid from the Economics of Production (EOP) for cultivating on the cleared farmland.

The apex bank also stated that interest rate under the intervention shall be five per cent per annum (all-inclusive) up to February 28, 2021.

However, interest on the facility from March 1, 2021, shall be nine per cent per annum (all-inclusive), it added.

The guidelines put the maximum tenor for annual crops at six years with a six months’ moratorium while perennial crops have a maximum tenor of 10 years

with a one-year moratorium.

The framework also stipulated that the collateral be pledged by participants under the scheme shall be the title of the cleared land and other acceptable collateral prescribed under the ABP. The CBN added that it will bear 50 per cent of the credit risk in the event of default by the participants while the repayment of the facility shall be made on instalment through the participating banks and spread over the EOP of the cultivated commodities.

The participating banks shall remit repayments received to the CBN on a quarterly or annual basis depending on the commodity financed.

The CBN listed the focal agricultural commodities eligible for consideration under the scheme to include rice, maize, cassava, cotton, wheat, tomato and poultry.

Others include fish, sorghum, oil palm, cocoa, livestock/dairy and any other commodities as may be listed by the CBN from time to time.

On the eligibility criteria, the apex bank stated that prospective P-AADS participants must be existing or new firms engaged in agricultural production with

proven capacity and bankable proposal; possess the acceptable title for contiguous lands of not less than 20 hectares; have good credit record and be able to provide collateral for participation.

The beneficiary will also provide evidence of the capacity to cultivate a focal commodity directly or engagement of farmers, including youths as in-growers or out-growers to cultivate on the land after clearing.

The guidelines specified infractions and sanctions against participating parties.

According to the CBN, diversion of funds by the participating banks shall attract a penalty at its maximum lending rate at the time of the infraction.

In addition, such PFI shall be barred from further participation under the scheme.

Also, non-rendition or false returns shall attract the penalty stipulated by BOFIA, while charging interest rate higher than prescribed shall attract the penalty stipulated by BOFIA. The CBN said any participating bank that fails to disburse the fund within the stipulated days of receipt to the borrower shall be charged penalty interest at the PFI’s

UN Supports Nigeria's Economic Sustainability Plan with $250m The United Nations (UN) has boosted Nigeria's Economic Sustainability Plan with $250 million.

The offer, which is aimed at complementing Nigeria’s COVID-19 economic recovery efforts under the Nigerian Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) initiative, was hailed by Osinbajo at the launch of the United Nations Plus Offer for Socio-Economic Recovery in Abuja.

The offer was made by the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Ms. Amina Mohammed, and top officials of the world body, as an initiative of the UN in Nigeria as well as the Nigeria Development Partners' Group.

A statement yesterday

by Osinbajo's media aide, Mr. Laolu Akande, said his

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 11, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 11, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Strange Disease Kills 17 in Benue Community George Okoh in Makurdi No fewer than 17 persons were reported to have died of a strange illness ravaging the Okpeilo-Otukpa area in the Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State.

The state government in a statement issued yesterday by the Commissioner for Health and Human Service, Dr. Emmanuel Ikwulono, said, “at the time of the receipt of the report yesterday, November 9, 2020, about 17 persons were already said to

have died of the illness.

“We currently have one case which was brought to Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi by a relative of the patient. Others are receiving treatment in different hospitals.”

The commissioner, in the statement signed by the ministry’s

Permanent Secretary, Andrew Amee, said symptoms of the illness usually include fever, abdominal pain, and general body weakness, while some stool and vomit with tinges of blood.

He said that the government was aware of the outbreak and had responded swiftly to facilitate

an investigation to establish the cause of the illness.

The statement added, “His Excellency, Governor Samuel Ortom, has approved funds to enable the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to carry out the investigation.

“In the meantime, we advise

the people of Ogbadibo and its environs to maintain good hygiene practices and report anyone with the said symptoms to the Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers in the local government area, or call the Benue Emergency Operations Centre.”

Two Feared Dead as Hoodlums Attack Edo Police Station Gunmen abduct dep gov’s younger brother Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City No fewer than two persons were feared dead when the Police Division in Igueben, Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State was reportedly attacked on Monday night by some gunmen, who also made away with arms and ammunition.

This is coming as Mr. Fredrick Shaibu, identified as the younger brother of the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Mr. Philip Shaibu has been abducted by gunmen.

Report had it that a police Inspector and a constable were allegedly killed during the attack while several others were wounded.

THISDAY gathered that the attackers were said to have stormed the police station around 8 pm, threw dynamites into the premises before gaining access.

They immediately headed for the armoury where arms and ammunition were carted away.

The bodies of the two deceased policemen have been deposited in the mortuary.

The attack has sparked serious protest in the area as the youths took to the streets calling on government to probe the attack because it was not carried out by the indigenes of the town.

The protesting youth have described the attackers as external invaders.

Reacting however, the Public Relations Officer, Edo State Police Command, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, denied the death

of two policemen.

Nwabuzor who acknowledged there was an attack at the Igueben Police station, said “On November 9, 2020 at about 19.30hrs, hoodlums suspected to be armed robbers invaded the Police Station at Igueben. Immediately, the Police personnel mobilised to repel them.”

He said during gun duel, one of the suspected armed robber was shot dead, while two policemen were wounded and taken to the hospital.

According to him, one motorcycle, suspected to belong to the robbers was recovered by the police.

The Edo State Police spokesman noted that the command is doing its best to weed out criminal elements in that axis of the state, adding that “as I speak, normalcy has returned to that part of the town”.

Meanwhile, Fredrick, identified as the younger brother of Edo State Deputy Governor has been abducted by gunmen.

The kidnap incident was said to have occurred while he was going to drop his kids in school on Monday morning..

However, his abductors were yet to establish any contact with the family.

According to a family source, the abduction of Fredrick took place at Aruogba area, Irhiri in Oredo Local Government Area of the state at about 7 a.m when he was going to drop his children in school.

Minister: 35 Govs, FCT Got COVID-19 Palliatives from FG Udora Orizu in Abuja The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouk yesterday insisted that 35 state governors, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), received COVID-19 palliatives except Rivers State.

Farouk stated this when she appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to defend her ministry’s 2020 budget performance and presentation of the 2021 proposal.

Her response followed a question by a committee member, Hon. Abbas Adigu from Oyo State on whether the palliatives went round the country.

She said: ‘’The issue raised

by Hon. Abbas on COVID-19 palliatives. We distributed these palliatives to all the states. We have given out 70,000 tonnes of grains from the national grain

centre by Mr. President. We were also given food stuff by Customs and this we distributed round the 36 States of the federation, including FCT. We handed over these palliatives to all the state governors for onward distribution to the poor and the vulnerable in their States. In FCT, we handed over the palliatives to the two ministers of FCT for distribution to the poor. It is only Rivers State that has not collected its own share.

It is still there waiting for them.”

The minister also said that her Ministry did not receive any funding from any organisation both within and outside Nigeria.

She said: “We have not received a penny from any organisation within or outside Nigeria. We only operate within the budgetary allocation as appropriated. But we received some relief items from some organisations during the pandemic like food items, beverages. This is what I will say to that. We have not received any funding from any quarters.’’

CONDOLENCE VISIT…

L-R: Husband of the deceased and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Olukayode Oyediran; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; and son of the deceased, Mr. Olumide Oyediran, when the governor paid a condolence visit to Oyediran’s residence over the death of his wife and daughter of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the late Mrs. Tola Oyediran, in Ibadan, Oyo State…yesterday

Buhari Launches Scheme to Engage 774,000 Youths in Agriculture Omololu OgunmadeinAbuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja launched National Young Farmers’ Scheme, an initiative of National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) to engage 1.000 youth in each of the 774 local councils area in agriculture.

At the launch which took place in

the Presidential Villa, Buhari urged agencies involved in agriculture to re-direct their priorities to ensure the inclusion of youth in the promotion of modern methods of farming.

According to a statement by the president’s media adviser, Mr. Femi Adesina, the president assured all parties interested in the scheme that an enabling environment would be created for their full participation.

The president said agriculture remained the bedrock of the Nigerian economy, describing it as the largest contributor to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Adesina quoted Buhari as saying: “Wewilldomoretoexpand,modernise and revolutionise our agriculture, which is our most important asset.

“I have directed that all NALDA’s abandoned farm estates be retrieved to

enable thousands of our young men and women to be engaged in farming.

ThisAdministration will be achieving agricultural mechanisation through this scheme and I am confident that Nigeria under my watch, we will achieve food security in producing most of what we eat.

In good harvest years we may even export our surpluses and earn foreign exchange.’’

House Queries Allocation of N15bn for East-West Road Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta Affairs yesterday queried the allocation of N15 billion out of the N19 billion proposed in the 2021 budget by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs for capital expenditure for the

construction of the East-West Road.

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, while presenting his ministry’s 2021 budget proposal to the committee, said N15 billion out of the N19 billion meant for capital expenditure would be used to

construct the East-West Road.

But, members of the committee disagreed with him, saying the money is too much for just one project.

A member of the committee, Hon. Edim Eta, opined that the bulk of the money should go to youth programmes rather than the road.

According to him, “If you’re budgeting N15 billion for East-West Road, are you saying that only N4 billion is left for other Niger Delta projects. I don’t think that’s fair. I believe the bulk of the funding that’s coming in 2021 should go to youth programmes.

DSS Arraigns Man for Circulating Fake Buhari WeddingVideo The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned one Kabiru Mohammed, for creating and sharing a fake wedding video between President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq.

Mohammed, 32, who was arraigned at a Chief Magistrates’

Court at Nomansland in Kano yesterday, was however granted a N1million bail.

The suspect, who was paraded by the DSS in January this year, had admitted to creating and sharing the videos begged for forgiveness, saying it was a mistake.

The video which was made around August last year, had

gone viral on the Internet.

He was arraigned on two counts of defamation and injurious falsehood.

According to the counsel to the DSS, Mr. IB Bulus, Mohammed’s action caused “confusion and injury to the persons involved, tarnishing their character and causing disaffection among their families and associates, through

the spreading of fake news.”

He urged the magistrate court presided over by Aminu Gabari to order the remand of the defendant in the DSS custody for seven days.

He said this would enable the prosecution team to conclude investigation into the case and obtain legal advice from the Kano State Ministry of Justice.

FG Procures 16 Drones,Three Fighter Jets from China Deji Elumoye and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja In a bid to boost the war against insurgency and armed banditry in the North-east and North-west, the federal government has procured 16 Unmanned Aerial Combat Vehicles (UCAVs) otherwise known as drones and three fighter jets from China.

Seven fighter jets are also to be reactivated in China while four are undergoing the same process in Nigeria.

Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said it would deploy four unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs) in Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto and Kaduna states.

It said part of the containment strategy was the construction of

a runway and ancillary facilities for the UCAVs in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.

Speaking as part of his ongoing tour of NAF bases and formations in Zamfara, Benue and Kano states, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, disclosed that the drones being expected from China were already packaged for shipment to Nigeria

while the training of the NAF personnel to man them is ongoing in China.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari had authorised the construction of a runway and ancillary facilities in Gusau for the deployment of four newly acquired UCAVs to cover Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi and Katsina states as well as parts of Kaduna State.

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 11, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWS

IG: Inadequate Funding Hampering Fight against Banditry, Others Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has blamed the insecurity in the North- west, especially with the bandits waxing stronger, and the difficulty in the restoration of civil authority in the North-east on lack of funding for police operations.

Adamu disclosed this yesterday

in Abuja when he appeared before the House Committee on Police to defend the budget of the force, saying the lack of funding was due to lack of appropriate releases of the 2020 appropriation.

The police boss also decried the non-availability of a budget life to cater for police special operations in the country, adding that there was a negative impact

in the personnel deployment and operational management of various security centres due to lack of operational account.

Adamu stated: “The 2020 appropriation releases were the problems. The capital appropriated was N14.2 billion but the amount released was N12.8 billion, with outstanding N1.4 billion yet to be released.

“Because of lack of appropriate

releases, there were challenges noticed during the implementation of the 2020 budget. The problem of envelope budgeting and sealing is always a problem; partial releases of appropriated fund is a problem, emerging security issues across the country, especially North-west without fund for operational support is a problem for us.

“Lack of funding for police

operation in the restoration of civil authority in the Northeast- that is Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states is a problem for us. Unanticipated crisis such as the global threat of Covid-19 pandemic came unprepared and no funding. #EndSARS protests and the optimal destruction of police national asset will require funding to bring back the structures back to life.”

Adamu further explained that the 2021 budget estimates for the force is N469.4 billion, but added that the budget office’s final submission to the National Assembly indicated that a total sum of N449.6 billion was submitted to the National Assembly, which he said was a reduction of about N21.7 billion from the initial estimate.

Banks in Ekiti Community Shut down over Alleged Police Withdrawal Commercial banks in Ikere-Ekiti, the headquarters of Ikere Council Area of Ekiti State were shut down yesterday following the alleged withdrawal of service by policemen.

THISDAY gathered that ffinancial institutions as well as Point of Terminal(POS) outlets were under lock and key due to fear of being attacked by hoodlums following the withdrawal of policemen.

Policemen have deserted the community following the burning of two police stations and destruction of the Area Command by hoodlums during the #ENDSARS protests.

The Area Command and Divisional police stations in the town were razed with vehicles as well as other vital items in the premises.

Following the absence of policemen in the town, the banks in the town did not open for operation

yesterday, forcing many customers who wanted to transact business to go to Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

The Ekiti State Police Ccommand’s Spokesman, Mr. Sunday Abutu, who confirmed the development, said all the three police stations where its officers and men used to operate had been set ablaze while operational and personal vehicles in the premises were also vandalised.

According to him, residents had however been told to call certain police hotlines anytime they needed their services, especially during utmost emergencies.

Also reacting to the development, the first class traditional ruler of the town, Oba Adejimi Adu, said the withdrawal of services by the police has exposed the town to security threats, calling on the police to return to the town.

Outrage over Starving of Animals in Kaduna Zoo Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja with agency report There was widespread concern yesterday over the discovery of a number of animals at the Gamji Gate zoo in Kaduna, Kaduna State, including a lion and hyena, found to be on the verge of starvation.

Footages and photos of the animals in the facility also showed that crocodiles were kept in shallow waters while the lion was very thin with its ribs clearly visible.

Daily Mail reported that a shocked visitor to the zoo also observed a number of other severely underfed animals,

but noted that after the man’s discovery, a wildlife charity has begun a rescue mission from the “horror zoo” in an attempt to save the life of the severely malnourished male lion.

However, there are questions over whether the lion can survive for long, given that it had lost a lot of weight and had been subjected to unfavourable conditions, as if it was on the verge of death-locked up in a cement cage.

It said the malnourished lion on the brink of starvation had to be rescued from the state-owned zoo by an animal welfare charity after a visitor was horrified at the zoo’s conditions.

Anglican Diocese: Injustice Weakens Bond of Nationhood Members of the Anglican Diocese of Lagos Mainland have decried the prevalent injustice in the country and called on all tiers of government in Nigeria to work tirelessly to promote social justice.

They identified such acts of injustice as inequalities in economic power, access to political office, education, and prolonged police brutality, which they said have culminated in weakening the bonds of nationhood and given vent to agitations for a restructured society.

They noted that the recent protest of youths in the country was a cry against injustice and a call for impunity to stop.

The Anglican Diocese made the call in the communique they issued at the end of the second

session of their fifth synod held at the Cathedral Church of St. Jude, Ebute Meta, Lagos State, and signed by the Diocesan Bishop, Rt. Revd. Akinpelu Johnson and the Synod Secretary, Venerable Emmanuel Adekoya.

The synod welcomed the government’s readiness to address the issues raised, condemned the loss of lives and urged the government to get to the bottom of it through a thorough investigation and meting out of justice to all parties.

The synod urged all Nigerians to consciously protect public and private facilities and infrastructure, stressing that destroying the limited facilities available in the name of protest is wasteful and counterproductive.

IN DEFENCE OF CITIZENS’ RIGHTS…

L-R: Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde; Secretary of Oyo State Judicial Panel of Inquiry for the Investigation of Violation of Rights of Oyo State Citizens, Mrs. OO Ogundele; Chairman of the Panel and former Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Badejoko Adeniji; Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr. Seun Fakorede; and Special Adviser to the Governor on Strategy and Political Matters, Hon. Babatunde Oduyoye, during the inauguration of the panel held at Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan…yesterday

27 Laureates Petition Buhari, Want Saro-Wiwa, Others Exonerated Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Twenty-seven Right Livelihood Laureates, comprising members from all over the world, yesterday sent a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari, demanding the exoneration of its 1994 laureate, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and the eight other Ogoni leaders executed 25 years ago by the General Sani Abacha’s military government.

The ‘Ogoni nine’ were

hanged on November 10, 1995,

by Nigeria’s military regime for allegedly protesting Shell’s destructive environmental practices in the oil-rich Niger Delta.

The persons, who signed the petition on behalf of the body which supports people fighting for a just, peaceful and sustainable world, included Nnimmo Bassey, Daniel Ellsberg, Vandana Shiva and Bianca Jagger, among many others.

The eight others executed along Saro-Wiwa 25 years ago were Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel and John Kpuine.

According to the signatories, 25 years later and despite recantations by witnesses who testified against the activists declaring that they had been bribed with money and job offers, justice had still not been

served.

The body stated that the Abacha regime arrested, imprisoned and sentenced Saro-Wiwa and the eight Ogoni leaders to death under highly questionable circumstances.

It described the hanging of the nine activists as a culmination of the cruel crimes that were committed against the people as a result of extractive activities in their territory.

Catholic Church Warns against Move to Gag Social Media Seeks transparency in EndSARS probe Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Catholic Church in Nigeria has cautioned against any attempt to implement policy that seeks to control freedom of expression through the regulation of the social media platforms in the country.

Similarly, the Church urged a transparent and sincere enquiry into the issues that led to the recent EndSARS protests by the federal and state governments to ensure that justice is done.

The church said that government should not toy with the demands

made by the youths during the EndSARS protest, noting that the matter has taken the form of a revolution that needs careful handling.

Speaking at his maiden interactive session with journalists covering activities of the church, the New Director of Communication, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Abuja, Mike Nsikak Umoh advised federal government to abandon the idea of seeking to clamp down on use of social media.

He said that any move to regulate the social media will amount to

effort in futility.

“The government should not think of regulating the social media.

They should be very careful. You cannot regulate what you are not in control of. The best thing to do is for you to check yourself and refocus, if the social media messages are against you.

“Government should concentrate more on formation of characters of the youths, there are so many social and behavioral problems caused by wrong use of social media which the government can correct for the general good of the society,” he said

According to Nsikak, federal and state government should rather concentrate on ushering in development and social reformation than thinking about regulating the internet.

On the issue of EndSARS, the priest said the protest has become like a revolution that will be difficult to dismiss.

He said that government may succeed in clamping down the protesters but it cannot wish away the memories and issues that gave rise to the protest unless they are genuinely addressed.

INEC to ResumeVoter Registration in Q1 2021, Says Muazu Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has planned to resume its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in the first quarter of 2021, the acting Chairman of the commission, Ahmed Mu’azu, has stated this in Abuja yesterday.

He made the disclosure at the electoral commission’s quarterly meeting with political

parties, where he solicited their collaboration and support for a successful takeoff of the exercise.

Mu’azu stated that the meeting was also to consult with the political parties on the 15 bye-elections in 11 states earlier scheduled for October 31, but which were suspended because of the security situation in the country.

He commended the leadership and candidates of the political parties for the role they played in ensuring

peace during the Edo and Ondo States governorship elections.

According to him, “All efforts, including signing and keeping to the letters and the spirit of the peace accord as well as adherence to the commission’s voters’ Code of Conduct for elections during the COVID-19 pandemic, are fully acknowledged.

“Nevertheless, the commission feels that there is room for improvement. We would therefore

welcome your feedback on the conduct of elections in the country.’’

Mu’ Speaking on behalf of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), the National Chairman of African Action Congress (AAC), Mr. Leonard Nzenwa, decried the destruction of the commission’s critical assets during the #EndSARS protest, which led to the postponement of the bye-elections.

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COMMENT

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

STOP PERSECUTING #ENDSARS PROTESTERS The clampdown on EndSARS protesters is ill-advised, argues Sonnie Ekwowusi

I

t is unfortunate that since the abatement of the #EndSARS protests the government has been unlawfully arresting, torturing and detaining some #EndSARS protesters and promoters. This is unfortunate. Why? Because it could provoke the youths to stage another round of protests. We are yet to recover from the damaging effects of the last spate of protests yet the government is not softening the ground for peace to reign. This is the time to sheath the sword. Let’s give peace a chance. Unfortunately instead of giving peace a chance the government is persecuting the #EndSARS promoters and protesters: the government has been unlawfully arresting, detaining, torturing, confiscating the passports and freezing the bank accounts of some of the #EndSARS protesters and their allies. This is sad. As I was saying here last week, during the #EndSARS protests the government pleaded with the protesters to end the protests on the mutual understanding that it would meet all the demands of the protesters. The ‘five-point’ demand includes the immediate release of all protesters arrested, justice for all deceased victims of police brutality, psychological evaluation of all security officers, setting up an independent body to oversee the investigation of all reports of police misconduct and the increase of the salaries of police officers so that they are adequately compensated for their jobs.

But instead of fulfilling its own part of the understanding with #EndSARS protesters, the government is now resorting to arresting some #EndSARS promoters, confiscating their passports and freezing their bank accounts. Over the years the government has developed a certain proclivity for reneging from mutual agreements (Remember government/ASUU lingering feud over botched agreements?). The government should abide by agreements with second parties. To renege from a binding agreement smack off insincerity and fraud. So, if the government has agreed to the aforesaid ‘five-point’ demand of the protesters, it must not turn around to be arresting and confiscating the passports of the promoters of the #EndSARS protests. For example, #EndSARS promoter Modupe Odele was not only prevented from travelling abroad but her passport has been seized by the state. As at the time of writing, her passport had not been returned to her. This kind of attitude is capable of provoking the youths to stage another uprising. In Director of SSS V Olisa Agbakoba, the court held that an international passport is a private property (not state property) and that by confiscating the passport of Agbakoba the SSS was in contravention of his right to freedom of movement as guaranteed by section 38 (1) of the 1979 Constitution which was then in force in Nigeria. Government is also freezing the bank accounts of the #EndSARS protesters, promoters and their friends. This again can provoke the restive youths to stage another uprising.

Freezing the bank account of a customer without an order of court is a flagrant disregard and violation of the right of

IDLENESS BREEDS VIOLENCE, IMMORALITY, CRIMINALITY AND OTHER VICES. UNLESS SOMETHING IS DONE URGENTLY TO STEM THE TIDE OF YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT WE MAY BE HEADING FOR A FINAL SHOWDOWN

the customer. Neither the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) nor the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has statutory power to freeze the bank account of a suspect without a court order. And any bank that freezes the account of any customer without a court order is heavily liable to the customer. The purported ex-parte order allegedly obtained by the CBN in Abuja in order to freeze the accounts of some #EndSARS protesters is fraught with suspicion. Small wonder some of the persons whose bank accounts had been frozen have dragged the banks to court.

Another foreseeable government action capable of provoking the youths to start another uprising is the “regulation� of social media. Before now, the government had been threatening to “regulate’ the social media in Nigeria. Now it appears the “regulation� is imminent. First: the intended “regulation� amounts to violation of the right to freedom of expression as guaranteed in our 1999 Constitution and the African Charter of Human and People’s rights. Second: assuming the “regulation� is warranted (which is denied), the time is not auspicious. I can’t understand why this government is always looking for trouble. Was it not the same government that was begging the #EndSARS protesters to call off the protests? They called off the protests. Now instead of giving peace a chance, the government is thinking of dislodging the young people from social media.

To avert further loss of human lives, arson, property damage, looting, brigandage and stealing, government should please bury the hatchet. Nothing is gained by bearing grudges. Nothing is gained by revenging against the #EndSARS protesters.

After all, they are our children. So, rather than wage war against our children the government should, in the forthcoming weeks, work out packages, scholarships schemes and others that would help the Nigerian young to grow up physically, mentally, morally, spiritually, socially in a healthy environment and in conditions of freedom and dignity. This is the only way the government can nurture the future leaders of tomorrow.

The truth of the matter is that young people in this country, or, those in the age bracket of, say, 18 to 45 who technically could be categorized as the younger generation, are angry, perhaps more now than before, over the way they are constantly being shortchanged. They are angry about the degenerating country’s politics; about the increasing youth unemployment; about the failed education system, in short, about everything. The paradox is that the Nigerian young constitute the bulk of our population, yet they are completely marginalized in the scheme of things. Therefore it is suicidal to keep on shortchanging the young people, the leaders of tomorrow. Instead of shortchanging them, the government should be concerned about the uncountable number of youth roaming the streets.

FAREWELL, YIMA SEN

pays tribute to Yima Sen, communication scholar and activist

I

t is only in leafing through the late Yima Sen’s curriculum vitae that the reader finds the confirmation for the hunch that here was one of the most academically restless souls, one of the most ideologically ambitious and one of the most experimental when it comes to political praxis.

This is the block profile this citation shall break into its different parts with equal attention.

Yima Sen was so much of belief in the power of ideas that, at death, he was still pursuing a PhD even after a PhD in Mass Communication from the University of Amsterdam. A PhD is a PhD but it could equally be argued that his was not just a PhD, considering that it was supervised by C. S Hamelink, unarguably the world leading authority on International Communication from the lens of Hegemony.

There is something instructive about the connection with Hamelink. Hamelink is the author of the book, World Communication: Empowerment and Self-empowerment in which he argues the insight that transnational media coverage of the non-Western world is guided by the metaphor “it is not yet Biafra�, (1995: 5). By that phrase, he suggests that in the Western dominated international media, news about Africa in particular is never news unless there is mass death, bloodshed and chaos signified by Biafra then or Somalia much later or Libya today. Being able to identify and work under such a giant of critical political economy of Mass Communication after angrily leaving the University of Southern California on the ground of the preponderance of quantitative techniques should send a signal about the notion of knowledge Yima Sen held dear. The puzzle is what a map of this restlessness might look like in relation to any attempt at totalising the departed.

The vastness of the areas he criss-crossed makes the mapping exercise a tedious one.

Good old chronology helps us to start with his birth on February 12th, 1951. That means he died at age 69. At a time the president of Nigeria is 78 years old, that of the United States of America 74 years and the Prime Minister of Malaysia is 95 years just to cite a few, Yima Sen could be said to have died young.

Of Tiv national identity, he spoke the language, added English and Hausa and strove to speak French by studying it. How far he went in that will now remain in speculation or the privileged information of closest circle members. But there is an element of a striving for completeness in that effort to master and add French to his number of languages spoken.

In 1968, the late Dr Yima obtained his West African School Certificate, (WASC) from Bristow Secondary School, Gboko and followed it up with his University of Cambridge Higher School Certificate in Arts in 1970. This was from Gindiri Secondary School, Gindiri in present day Plateau State of Nigeria.

From 1971 to 1974, he was at the Department of Mass Communications at the University of Lagos where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in the discipline. Again, there is something grandly cosmopolitan in this. The University of Lagos or the Obafemi Awolowo University at Ile-Ife were not where potential undergraduates from the Middle Belt turned to for university education. The commoner thing was going to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and later, the University of Jos. As it turned out, University of Lagos was only to serve as a prelude to a spatial shift to the United States of America from 1977 till 1980, landing first at Columbia College in Hollywood, Los Angeles for a short engagement with Communication Studies. This culminated in a Professional Designation in Public Relations in 1978 at the University of California, (UCLA) and a Masters Degree in Public Relations in 1980 but, this time, at the University of Southern California, (USC). Then there was a break with academic pursuit and return to the world of work.

Dr. Yima had his first taste of the world of work while serving in the National Youth Service Corps Scheme in Enugu State of today between 1974/75 where he was involved in producing current affairs programmes for the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, (FRCN).

That was before what must have been a regularisation of that appointment which saw him working with the Nigerian Television Authority from 1975-77 before his flight to the United States. As a graduate student in the US,

he was a freelance reporter for the now rested West Africa, the then London based weekly magazine.

Upon his return from the United States in 1980, he worked first as a media specialist in the Office of the Special Adviser to the late President Shehu Shagari. The office was then held by Dr Chuba Okadigbo who had himself obtained a PhD in Political Science from the United States. Between 1982 and 1983, he served as a Special Adviser and Director of Information to the then Benue State governor, Mr. Aper Aku. The collapse of civilian rule in Nigeria in late 1983 saw Dr. Yima turning to business.

He floated three outfits in consultancy and public affairs. These were African Connexions Limited; Sen Media Limited; Bantu Development Company and Composite Connexions.

While the first two were concerned with business design, investment promotion, policy formulation, project implementation and company management, the last two were supply companies. But what any careful scrutiny would show is the political nature of the company names as in the word ‘Africa’ or ‘Bantu’. These are significant collective identities in human history. In other words, even in business, it was with a certain emancipatory sensitivity to victims of historical nominalisation that Yima privileged.

It would seem correct to infer that while the first set of companies were those he ran from 1984 to 1987, the second set of companies were the ones he managed between 1990 and 1999.

In between them, there was a break during which he took up appointment with two different international governmental organisations, all belonging to the United Nations family. The first business turned out to be such a brief one, ending three years afterwards, with him joining the United Nations Development Programme, (UNDP) as Information and Public Affairs Adviser from 1987 to 1990. That was in Lagos.

In 1999 as Nigeria was entering civilian rule, Dr. Yima was heading out to Nairobi, Kenya as Awareness and Information Specialist with UN-Habitat. Like the UNDP job, the title of this job says everything about it. It was all about managing the outreach of the each of

two organisations vis-Ă -vis their missions.

But he was to return to Government Service again in 2002 and remain till 2006 as Special Assistant to the Vice-President of Nigeria in charge of Policy and Programme Monitoring.

He must have combined studying for his PhD with this office since the PhD was awarded in 2005. It would be very interesting to read such a thesis informed by a rich empirical background from across many spaces of encounter.

It is not clear what year Dr Yima joined Baze University, Abuja but that is what should have come much earlier than whenever it was that he did. He had always been an academic even while criss-crossing multiple domains. Before formally joining academia, he had published widely, from books to journal essays on diverse themes stretching from communication theory; the sociology of the mass media; communication and development; international communication; the media and democracy, media and violence, particularly war and strategic communications.

What is interesting about his academic works is the way they are circumscribed by the organising concept of hegemony. The implication is that his interventions in even domains of media practices such as Public Relations and Advertising that function largely to rationalise the status quo are destabilising of such domains in an emancipatory sense.

This comes out clearly in every of his publications one engages, be it his 2008 book, Critical Communication Science: An African Perspective; his 2005 book, Challenges of African Development in a Globalising World; his 1989 essay “The Political Factor in the Third World Debt Crisis� or his “The Minority Question in Northern Nigeria� published in 2002, just to mention a few.

In his death, therefore, academia has lost another member of that generation whose education in Nigerian universities in those days and what they added from elsewhere positioned them to take on any topic and be able to add value to such topic. There is thus the tragedy in his death, tragedy made worse by the fact that even before Yima Sen has been buried, another member of that generation and a much younger one at that is also gone.

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EDITORIAL

IMPERATIVE OF A NATIONAL CENSUS A reliable census is desirable for proper national planning

T

he United Nations (UN) recommends a national census enumeration at least once every 10 years. Nigeria’s case is a marked departure from that prescription.

It is against this background that we commend the recent approval of N10 billion to enable the National Population Commission (NPC) continue its Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) in 546 local government areas across the country. But this is just the beginning of a long process. While the acting NPC chairman, Eyitayo Oyetunji, may have pledged the determination of the commission to providing accurate, reliable and up-to-date demographic data for national planning and development, nobody is certain as to when that would be, given the huge financial outlay involved in the manner census THERE IS NEED FOR is conducted in A REORIENTATION OF Nigeria.

For sure, we NIGERIANS TO SEE stand for a proper POPULATION COUNTS census because AS AN INSTRUMENT FOR once the baseline ECONOMIC PLANNING demographic footprint of a nation RATHER THAN FOR THE ALLOCATION OF UNEARNED is done properly, subsequent demoRESOURCES graphic changes can be determined almost accurately through satellite imaging and statistical projections. Population updates can then be carried out through mandatory birth and death registrations, patterns of migration such as internal displacements or the attraction of economic opportunities in parts of the country, etc. And in recommending that countries should conduct a census every 10 years, the UN believes that will allow for the capture of changes in structure and movement of population. But census has always been a problem in Nigeria.

Our census trajectory is mired in controversies such that the country went as far as annulling two of them (1973 and 1991). From the 1953 census done by the British to that of 2006, all ended up in

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NO RESTRUCTURING, NO UNITED NIGERIA

H

ausa, Igbo, Yoruba! We are not the same, we are a people of distinct culture, tradition and beliefs, as such, we deserve to grow and develop at our pace as it were in the regional government system we practiced at independence in 1960.

As against the secular idea that we are one, and that the unity of Nigeria is not negotiable, it’s time to tell ourselves the hard truth. The notion that “the unity of Nigeria is not negotiable� is only feasible if Northern Nigeria aligns with Southern Nigeria on restructuring, otherwise Nigeria unity is negotiable.

Denying our differences Is denying the truth of who we are.

We are multi-ethnic nation, a nation of distinct culture, religion and beliefs. What works for the Hausa nation should not be forced on the Igbo and Yoruba nation, and vice versa. The north recently said they want SARS while the south said no to SARS, why the melodrama? Let SARS stay in the north and vacate the south, and for the social media regulations, the north can silent it’s people by clamping down on social media in all northern states while they leave us in the south to find ways to deal with our people our own way; that is the only way we can live in peace in this nation. Every region should develop at their own pace and no region should play supremacy role over the other.

Every nation - “Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and by extension the South South should be allowed to develop at their own pace; to make laws that suits their people through regional models of government as it was from 1960-1966

controversy. That explains why we have relied on estimates and projections that are not very helpful for national planning.

Figures from the last census conducted 14 years ago revealed that Nigeria’s total population was 140.43 million people. Although there was no census in 2016, there was a projection by the NPC that the population had risen to 193.39 million people. The 2020 estimates by the NPC is 210.39 million people while that of the United Nations is 206.14 million. Many would wonder why a simple ‘headcount’ is such a difficult thing to do in Nigeria. It is due to the distortion of our federal structure since population determines how much each state and local government gets from the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) disbursed monthly by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) to the federating units, among others.

There are other political considerations such that over the past 14 years, Nigeria had on several occasions rehashed and made feeble attempts at conducting a credible census. A former Chairman of the NPC, Festus Odimegwu, once declared that Nigeria’s census “figures are just guesstimates; nobody knows whether the population is 120 million, 150 million, 200 million – not Nigerian, not the NPC, the UN, the World Bank. Unless you conduct a proper census, which has never been done without political interference, it is not possible to know.�

Odimegwu is right. Yet, at no other time is a real census desirable than now to help for proper national planning. Many have expressed concern that a three per cent annual population growth rate which is higher than GDP growth rate is a time-bomb. Currently estimated at about 200 million, Nigeria’s population is projected to hit 264 million by 2030 - crossing the 300 million thresholds around 2036. With the emerging trends, it is expedient that a proper census, devoid of the usual controversy is conducted as soon as possible.

But before such an exercise, there is need for a reorientation of Nigerians to see population counts as an instrument for economic planning rather than for the allocation of unearned resources.

before military destroyed that beautiful foundation for our development.

The idea of unitary government is the beginning of our failure to live up to the expectation of our founding fathers 60 years after Independence.

And the negative effect is what played out during the #EndSARS Protest.

So, moving forward is to go back to our default mode of existence, to correct the wrongs of our past leaders, by forcing the present political leaders and traditional monarch to restore the arrangement that our founding fathers negotiated for us during independence.

Now is the time to kick-start the process of total restructuring of Nigeria back to regional government which remains the best system for us, it’s not time to start to play politics of who becomes president and senator in 2023.

Our political leaders will never lead the way to achieve this milestone for us on their own will. Remember the Confab Report during President Jonathan? He had a golden opportunity to get us back on the part of peace and progress but lacked the political will. In the same vein, Gen. Buhari was voted to power in 2015 on the expectation that he will restructure Nigeria back to true federalism, and few years later into his administration, we were told that restructuring means deferent things for deferent people.

The onus is on the youths of this great nation to rewrite history, and set us again on the path of development and peaceful coexistence of diverse ethno-religious nation.

No to restructuring, means no to unity of Nigeria.

FBI Oyefeso, blessingoyefeso@gmail.com

FAKE, OR MAYBE TRUE NEWS IS FUN

“F

ake News� has been the battle cry of the Trump Presidency, especially in regard to the media that most consider reliable, hones and unbiased. The latest fake news seems to concentrate on the election result which was not what Trump wanted even though nearly all the polls predicted this although overestimating the lead.

Most of the time it is easy to determine what is fake or real news although the latest incident “Landscapinggate� is beyond understanding. The online rumors, gossip, and perhaps straight out lies or maybe even the truth suggest the announcement for a Four Seasons media conference

by Rudy Giuliani was moved as the hotel didn’t want it, so it was reannounced as Four Seasons Landscaping, specifically the car park.

There is much symbolism in that apparently there is a crematorium on one side reflecting that the plans for a second Trump presidency are now just a pile of ashes.

On the other side is a “Sex� shop, reminding people of the rumors, unproven, of some misdemeanors in the private life of Trump. The venue itself is an industry that can supply as much manure as any politician could throw around. The business may need to get more manure in given that it is suddenly world famous.

The only true news that can be relied on is that President Elect Biden will provide a more stable presidency. Well done, Sir. Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

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WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 11, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 11, 2020

MIDWEEKPOLITICS

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

For Buni-Led Committee, It’s About Reconciliation, Unity Adedayo Akinwale writes that Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress appears to be committed to achieving peace in the party despite recent allegations that it wants to perpetuate itself in office

Buhari

Mala-Buni

Dogara

Gemade

W

He said, “I personally can’t factor the true reason behind Alhaji Abdullahi Dauda’s Concerned APC members’ preference for a December 2020 National Convention to a genuine reconciliation of a gravely fractured party before convention?

“Methinks we should all support the Buni- led Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee to diligently fix and reposition our great party before any convention.”

“A cursory glance at the damage done to the soul of our great party, beginning from our victory in 2015; to regrettably the culture of impunity which bedeviled our 2018 primaries, to say the least, is unprecedented. Accordingly, the Buni Committee requires deep introspection to gather the pieces, reconcile the various warlords and tendencies. If it takes six or twelve months, one may not mind so as to achieve substantial cohesion before the crucial 2023 general elections.”

to embark on the exercise before going for the convention of the party.

Dr. Alex Otti among others.

Also, the committee has resuscitated the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms and has set up reconciliation committees for Oyo, Edo, Ondo, Imo, Ogun, Ekiti among other state chapters with reported disputes. The committees are already meeting with the key stakeholders in the various states and has achieved substantial reconciliation in many states.

Already, the committee has been able to reconcile the two warying factions in Cross River State and has appointed a State Caretaker Committee led by Sen. Matthew Mbu as acting State Chairman. In Ondo State, all the governorship aspirants were brought together, campaigned and worked for the successful re-election of the APC Candidate, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

In Akwa Ibom State, the committee brought together all the contending interests under one roof and achieved true reconciliation. Today, in Akwa Ibom, leaders such as Sen. Godswill Akpabio, Obong Nsima Ekere, Mr. Umana O. Umana, Sen. Ita Enang, Barr. Bassey Dan Abia, among others are working together and in collective pursuit of party interests.

At the national level, the Minister of Transportation, Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva have been reconciled by the committee and both resolved to work together and strengthen the party, particularly in the South-south geo-political zone.

The Buni-led committee met recently at the party’s National Secretariat and reviewed the implementation of the three-month action plan.

hen the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was constituted, it was well accepted and received by all the members of the party who had expressed worry about the the protracted leadership crisis that bedvilled the party.

The ruling party had during the emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held at the Presidential Villa on June 25, dissolved the Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC) following protracted leadership crisis and set up a committee to manage the affairs of the party in the interim.

The 13-member caretaker committee headed

by Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, was given six months by the NEC presided over

by President Muhammadu Buhari to complete its assignment.

Within the six months, the committee was mandated to organise a national convention for new leaders to emerge and also mandated it to reconcile aggrieved members ahead of the planned national convention of the party.

It was believed that in a short term, the brewing tension, factionalisation of the party, crisis and the ever growing court cases that have threatened the existence of the party would all be sorted out.

Convention Controversy But, less down two months to the expiration of the tenure of the Caretaker Committee, a section of the media have been awash with reports of a tenure extension for the committee.

The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Yekini Nabena, told THISDAY that the Caretaker Committee was working hard to ensure the party goes into the convention a united force, adding that the committee waa already putting together a convention time table and would make it available when it’s ready.

He said; “The good thing about the committee members is that they all have jobs, they are not like they are applicants. The time table for the convention is going to be public, when we call for NEC, everyone will know. We are putting the timetable together, once the timetable comes out, it will be a public document “The committee is working so hard towards holding the convention. You know we had little set back with the two governorship elections we had in Edo and Ondo, and also with this small crisis that just came up with this #EndSARS .

“What the committee is trying to do, which is the most important thing is first of all, to make sure that there is unity, because we must not be divided to go into that convention. The committee is going to do the needful to make sure we are going into that convention with a united force.”

Meanwhile, a chieftain of the party and Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu, believes that what the party needs for re-positioning is reconciliation and not national convention.

Okechukwu, who reacted in a statement recently to the 14- day ultimatum by Concerned APC members to the Committee to roll out a plan for December 2020 national convention, was of the opinion that reconciliation was more germane now than the convention.

New Membership Registration Drive Rather than planning for the convention in line with the timeline given to the committee by NEC, the committee has decided to embark on revalidation and registration of party members.

The leadership of the party last week officially received materials for the party’s nationwide membership registration, update and revalidation exercise to be conducted across 36 states and the Federal capital Territory (FCT).

Buni, while receiving the consignment at the party headquarters in Abuja said the membership registration, update and revalidation exercise would be conducted across the country’s 119,973 Polling Units and 57, 000 Voting Points.

The move, however, infuriated the Concerned APC members and they threatened to approach the courts for interpretation of the party’s constitution especially the composition of the committee which it said was at variance with section 17 (4) of the party’s constitution.

The Committee believes that there is need

Caretaker Committee’s Scorecard The Buni-led Committee has deployed a combination of reconciliation, consultation and inclusiveness in achieving unity and cohesion in the party within the past few months. In order to reposition the party to ensure good governance, Buni proposed the recently-inaugurated tripartite Executive/Legislative/APC consultative Committee which is ensuring synergy, good governance and accelerated implementation of the Next Level agenda.

The committee chairman has also been meeting with all leaders, known party groups and interests in order to accommodate all interests.

This has resulted in renewed commitment on the part of party members.

The caretaker committee’s effort has not gone unnoticed as elected National Executive Committee members at a recent meeting with the party’s leadership, passed a vote of confidence on the Buni-led APC Committee. This came after an earlier vote of confidence passed on the committee by 36 State APC Chairmen, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The committee realises that one of the major causes of crisis within the party was poor reward system of dedicated members of the party. To this end, the committee is already working with the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration to urgently address the reward system for dedicated and loyal party members, particularly on appointment of deserving party members into several boards, agencies and parastatals of government.

The reconciliatory moves by the Buni-led Committee is already yielding results because it has brought back many prominent party members and leaders including, former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Barnabas Gemade; former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and

The committee realises that one of the major causes of crisis within the party was poor reward system of dedicated members of the party. To this end, the committee is already working with the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration to urgently address the reward system for dedicated and loyal party members, particularly on appointment of deserving party members into several boards, agencies and parastatals of government. The reconciliatory moves by the Buni-led Committee is already yielding results because it has brought back many prominent party members and leaders including, former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Barnabas Gemade; former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and Dr. Alex Otti among others

Implementation Status The committee said It was important to take cognizance of the fact that prior to the internal party crisis which was unfortunately left to fester before it took over the affairs of the party and distracted public attention from appreciating the monumental strides that the Buhari-led APC government is making in delivering on APC’s three critical electoral promises – fighting corruption, security and revamping the economy.

Buni said ahead of the planned APC National Convention and indeed the 2023 general election, stakeholders should continue to support the Committee’s efforts to unite the party in order to make it formidable enough to consolidate on the APC’s national governing status and landmark achievements.

According to him, The APC must not go into a National Convention, and indeed a general election in crisis. “We should take it one step at a time and ensure that the ongoing national reconciliation process being undertaken by the committee is sustained, successful and continue to yield results.”

The committee said it is constantly briefing the President, Chairman, Progressives Governors Forum, Senate President and Speaker, House of Representatives with a mid-term report which will enable the committee to take all-inclusive decisions.

Even though, the decision of the committee to embark on the new membership drive dud not go down well with some members of the party, the commitment of the committee to reconcile, unite and ensure the party remains strong ahead of the 2023 elections is not in doubt.

19

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 11, 2020

POLITICS

To the Ochendo of Abia, 70 Cheers!

Charles Ajunwa writes on the landmark achievements of Senator Theodore Orji, former Governor of Abia, who represents Abia Central Senatorial District in the Senate

Orji

A

few months into his second term as governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji, now Senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District, invited me to Umuahia, the state capital, for a private chat. Before accepting his invitation, I had a dream and saw myself sitting alone in the governor’s living room while the governor and his son, Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, now the Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, backing me had a long discussion on the dining table. I woke up and told my wife about the strange dream. But as a Christian, I knew that God’s hand was in the whole arrangement. I never hesitated embarking on the journey to my home state - God’s Own State.

On arrival at the Government House Umuahia, I was warmly received by the governor’s security detail. While sitting at the reception, I was determined not to display any sign of fear. I acted bold and smart. Honestly, prior to the invitation I never had any intimate relationship with the governor. My closest contact with him was on a few occasions, when I was invited with other Lagos-based journalists to cover state functions.

Finally, when I was ushered into his office, the governor received me warmly as a father. He started the discussion by asking me about my family and job.

Then he threw the bomb shell. He said, “Charly, I have decided to appoint you as my Chief Press Secretary. Please, keep it to yourself until the appointment is announced officially.” He told me clearly that the decision to appoint me as his mouthpiece was based on “merit”.

True to his word, I never lobbied for the position. He simply followed his innermost heart and went for the best.

I never regretted serving Ochendo (as the governor was popularly called by his admirers) and the Abia State Gov-

ernment. After his eventful eight years as governor, I told him I had decided to go back to the newsroom. I didn’t get his approval immediately. He had a different idea for me; he wanted me to go to the Senate with him. After seeing that my mind was made up, he obliged me. My rapport with him has continued to be cordial and he treats me as his biological son.

On November 9, 2020, Senator Theodore Ahamefule Orji turned 70. Seventy has a sacred meaning in the Bible that is made up of the factors of two perfect numbers, seven (representing perfection) and ten (representing completeness and God’s law). Let’s celebrate this great

son of Abia in particular and Nigeria in general.

He prefers a gentle lifestyle. This does not mean that he does not inform his friends, especially those around, of his birthday anytime it sets in. But he does not like people making a case out of his birthday like putting up adverts and what not. He prefers the quiet celebration with prayers to his God for His blessings to him.

Orji who is noted for his urbane, simple and humble lifestyle likes going out to reach the downtrodden in the society without clattering over what he shares with them. He would tell people around him that he is not a celebration man,

Orji who is noted for his urbane, simple and humble lifestyle likes going out to reach the downtrodden in the society without clattering over what he shares with them. He would tell people around him that he is not a celebration man, not a party man; not used to throwing parties and inviting friends. He once told me, “It’s not by inviting the whole world and buying drinks and cooking food, and getting every person dancing. Instead, you should be humble before God and thank Him, because He is the person that has made you what you are.

If there is any offering you have, you offer to God. If there is anything you want to do for God for keeping you alive you do it.”

not a party man; not used to throwing parties and inviting friends.

He once told me, “It’s not by inviting the whole world and buying drinks and cooking food, and getting every person dancing. Instead, you should be humble before God and thank Him, because He is the person that has made you what you are. If there is any offering you have, you offer to God. If there is anything you want to do for God for keeping you alive you do it.”

Part of the example above, were the churches he built to honour and appreciate God for keeping him alive to observe his birthdays in good health and sound mind. For example, the huge Cathedral inside the premises of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, which he built from the scratch.

“That is to appreciate God for what he has done for me in life,” he says. “That is just one church; there are many of them I built for Catholic, I built for Church of Christ, I built for Anglican, and just like that, to say God thank you for all you have done for me. And I believe that is the best way of thanking God and celebrating any good thing that has happened to you.”

At the national stage, Orji who loves quality education, has given scholarship to many students. His aim is to make sure that at least 10 or more students from each of the six local government areas of Abia Central senatorial zone receive the scholarship, worth N100,000 per student, every year.

As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Privatisation, Orji has also sponsored many bills and motions of national importance with positive impact on millions of Nigerians.

As the Senator turns 70, I pray that the Good Lord continues to expand his coast and give him more strength to continue to serve Nigerians.

19

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 11, 2020

POLITICS

To the Ochendo of Abia, 70 Cheers!

Charles Ajunwa writes on the landmark achievements of Senator Theodore Orji, former Governor of Abia, who represents Abia Central Senatorial District in the Senate

A

few months into his second term as governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji, now Senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District, invited me to Umuahia, the state capital, for a private chat. Before accepting his invitation, I had a dream and saw myself sitting alone in the governor’s living room while the governor and his son, Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, now the Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, backing me had a long discussion on the dining table. I woke up and told my wife about the strange dream. But as a Christian, I knew that God’s hand was in the whole arrangement. I never hesitated embarking on the journey to my home state - God’s Own State.

On arrival at the Government House Umuahia, I was warmly received by the governor’s security detail. While sitting at the reception, I was determined not to display any sign of fear. I acted bold and smart. Honestly, prior to the invitation I never had any intimate relationship with the governor. My closest contact with him was on a few occasions, when I was invited with other Lagos-based journalists to cover state functions.

Finally, when I was ushered into his office, the governor received me warmly as a father. He started the discussion by asking me about my family and job.

Then he threw the bomb shell. He said, “Charly, I have decided to appoint you as my Chief Press Secretary. Please, keep it to yourself until the appointment is announced officially.” He told me clearly that the decision to appoint me as his mouthpiece was based on “merit”. True to his word, I never lobbied for the position.

He simply followed his innermost heart and went for the best. I never regretted serving Ochendo (as the governor was popularly called by his admirers) and the Abia State Government. After his eventful eight years as governor, I told him I had decided to go back to the newsroom. I didn’t get his approval immediately. He had a different idea for me; he wanted me to go to the Senate with him. After seeing that my mind was made up, he obliged me. My rapport with him has continued to be cordial and he treats me as his biological son.

On November 9, 2020, Senator Theodore Ahamefule Orji turned 70. Seventy has a sacred meaning in the Bible that is made up of the factors of two perfect numbers, seven (representing perfection) and ten (representing completeness and God’s law). Let’s celebrate this great son of Abia in particular and Nigeria in general.

He prefers a gentle lifestyle. This does not mean that he does not inform his friends, especially those around, of his birthday anytime it sets in. But he does not like people making a case out of his birthday like putting up adverts and what not. He prefers the quiet celebration with prayers to his God for His blessings to him.

Orji who is noted for his urbane, simple and humble lifestyle likes going out to reach the downtrodden in the society without clattering over what he shares with them. He would tell people around him that he is not a celebration man, not a party man; not used to throwing parties and inviting friends.

He once told me, “It’s not by inviting the whole world and buying drinks and cooking food, and getting every person dancing. Instead, you should be humble before God and thank Him, because He is the person that has made you what you are. If there is any offering you have, you offer to God. If there is anything you want to do for God for keeping you alive you do it.”

Part of the example above, were the churches he built to honour and appreciate God for keeping him alive to observe his birthdays in good health and sound mind. For example, the huge Cathedral

Orji

inside the premises of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, which he built from the scratch.

“That is to appreciate God for what he has done for me in life,” he says. “That is just one church; there are many of them I built for Catholic, I built for Church of Christ, I built for Anglican, and just like that, to say God thank you for all you have done for me. And I believe that is the best way of thanking God and celebrating any good thing that has happened to you.”

At the national stage, Orji who loves quality education, has given scholarship to many students. His aim is to make sure that at least 10 or more students

from each of the six local government areas of Abia Central senatorial zone receive the scholarship, worth N100,000 per student, every year.

As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Privatisation, Orji has also sponsored many bills and motions of national importance with positive impact on millions of Nigerians.

As the Senator turns 70, I pray that the Good Lord continues to expand his coast and give him more strength to continue to serve Nigerians.

Orji, whose style of politics is devoid of antagonism against opponents, told me before the 2019 general election that he would quit active politics after 2023,

Orji who is noted for his urbane, simple and humble lifestyle likes going out to reach the downtrodden in the society without clattering over what he shares with them. He would tell people around him that he is not a celebration man, not a party man; not used to throwing parties and inviting friends. He once told me, “It’s not by inviting the whole world and buying drinks and cooking food, and getting every person dancing. Instead, you should be humble before God and thank Him, because He is the person that has made you what you are.

If there is any offering you have, you offer to God. If there is anything you want to do for God for keeping you alive you do it.”

to pave way for the younger generation.

He said, “ You see, I’m right now in the Senate and I’m angling to go for a second tenure which I know I will make because the facts are there on the ground.

Since I’m talking have I mentioned any of my opponents? But they go about mentioning my name in their interviews and stories. You see after 2023, I would retire voluntarily from elective politics.

All of you are from the state, to make sure I create a vacancy for you. Because if I go there and say I would stay here as far as I’m popular winning election, how will you advance? Mark my word, after 2023 I’m off to make chance for the younger people. After all, we passed a bill – Not Too Young to Run. How do you practicalise that bill? I was one of those who supported the bill and to put it into practice is what I have told you. So that time I will leave so that the younger generation from my constituency will now vie for that and stay there and for that, they will respect me the more because I was not forced out, I relinquished that position. Any person who takes over will always refer to me, will always respect me. And that is what we need in life, nothing else. That you have retired, you are there and the younger generation will come and value you. You saw what happened in the hall today when I arrived the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, for the 27th anniversary of the creation of Abia. It shows that the people value you; this man is a truthful person. If he tells you yes, it’s his yes. This man is a good hearted person.

Those are the qualities that will carry you in life. So when I retire and come back here – this house I stay – people will still come here bring me hot drink and say ‘Papa Ukwu we have come to see you, take this one and entertain your visitors’. That’s it. So mark it, 2023 I’m off from elective politics!

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍŻ, 2020

20

FEATURES

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

Distinguished by Competence, Service to Humanity Ugo Aliogo writes on the developmental impact of the Chief Executive Officer, De-Prinocc Company, Ambassador Yommy Ogungbe, on the society by linking communities through patriotic engagements

DE-PRINOCC Company link bridge connecting Buknor, Jakande Isolo with Community Road, O Ago Palace, Okota, Lagos

Link road graded by DE-PRINOCC Company

H

ardwork can be painful to those people whose lives are devoid of purpose, but it remains the vehicle which has driven Ambassador Yommy Ogungbe’s determination and developmental vision into national reckoning.

Sustained by his sincerity of purpose and adherence to due process, the Chief Executive Officer of De-Prinocc Construction Company has recorded success in linking communities together through the patriotic engagements of the company.

Born 51 years ago into a royal family, the exemplary Lagosian had his primary and secondary school education in Ogun and Lagos States respectively, after which he proceeded to acquire an Advanced Diploma and later a degree in History and International Studies.

These certifications have strengthened his managerial competence and made it easier for him to build on his father’s legacy.

According to him: “I am from a polygamous family and I lost my father in 1986 while I was in form two.

My father was an illiterate business merchant. After secondary school I thought I would become a footballer, but it did not materialise. I was good and was in the national camp under coach Fani Amu in 1991. Also before I decided to get a degree from Lagos State University (LASU), I was offered admissions in a university in California, USA and another one in Italy, but I could not attend any of them due to lack of fund.�

Determined to live a life of purpose despite these disappointments, the industrious manager tried his hands in car selling business and later joined politics, but what really changed the journey of his life was his decision to go back to his father’s business where he worked as a cashier. His words: “My late father was an indigene of Badagry. He was very hardworking and was involved in fishing, farming, and palm wine tapping. He moved across the riverine areas in Lagos and saw the opportunities in the challenges of movement of people from Ajegunle to Apapa. This motivated him to build wooden bridge to connect these places together while also making his money through toll collection. It is this Apapa –Ajegunle bridge that I went back to and worked as a cashier.�

Asked about his guiding philosophy and his mentors, the recipient of honourary doctorate degree in Philosophy in Leadership and Humanity replied,

Chief Executive OďŹƒcer, DE-PRINOCC Company, Ambassador Yommy Ogungbe

“I learnt the virtue of hardwork from my father and I have applied it positively over the years, so my father remains my mentor. Others are determination and focus, I don’t drink alcoholic drinks, I don’t smoke and I don’t involve myself in unreasonable partying. I hate cheating and I don’t want people around me to be cheated, so some people see my continuous fight for equity as stubbornness. “I have always believed in due – process, this is reflecting in the operations of De-Prinnocc Company. We make sure we get approved from the appropriate government agencies before embarking on our bridge-building and tolling businesses. All these principles have contributed to the achievements I have recorded so far. Apart from my father, others that have inspired me for different reasons are Sen. Ahmed Bola Tinubu, Musiliu Obanikoro and Alhaji Dangote.�

Giving insight into De-Prinocc’s

journey, he hinted: “De – Prinnocc’s story is that of years of seed planting, and those that have germinated and grown are the ones most people know about. It started with video recording and films production many years ago.

I did my IT in that sector, but my son who is an editor has taken over that.

Prinnocc was born before I went back to my father’s business. Later in 2012, I registered Prinnoc Royal Suites when I decided to build a hotel in Ogun State and this is still under construction.

When I decided to disengage myself from the family’s business due to different crises, Prinnocc was rejigged. “The construction engagements of this company started with the construction of a pedestrian bridge besides Lord Chosen Church. While we were on that project, we were invited by the Baale of Oke-Ogbere and later did De-Prinocc link bridge, Oke – Ogbere which connects Bucknor, Isheri to Ago Palace, Apple Junction and Festac –

Okota areas. This link bridge really brought De-Prinnocc out and it has shown our capacity to Nigerians.

Looking back from where I started from in this business as a cashier, I have reasons to thank God who is using our expertise and resources to link communities together and open up different areas for more development.

As part of Prinocc's CSR engagements, we have plans to make the roads around all our bridges motorable and light them up with street lights. All our bridges are well secured and this has kept robbers away.�

The challenges that are involved in managing Public Private Partnership (PPP) businesses in Nigeria are enormous, but Ogungbe has shown that with patriotic zeal, determination and competence, positive results are achievable.

Highlighting some of these challenges, the visionary CEO said: “The building, management and maintenance of public infrastructure cannot be left to government alone. Governments do not have enough money to provide these infrastructures as our population growth and the citizens demand.

PPP is designed to reduce the gap in infrastructural development. Many people and companies still do not want to put their resources in this because of the fear they have on our governments’ policy inconsistency. “ There is also double taxation by government at different levels. For example, there are federal government agencies that are authorised by law to control the business of water ways, but local government officials still come to us to demand for what we are already giving to authorised federal agencies.

This is a major challenge for us.�

Apart from linking communities together, De Princc’s CEO has continued to put his name on the lips of many people whose lives have been touched through his philanthropic deeds. Ogungbe’s scholarship programme has restored the hope of some undergraduates who are benefitting from his giving-heart.

He has also given out free GCE and JAMB forms to indigent students, and his plan to build a skill acquisition centre for youths has reached an advanced stage.

Expectedly, his professional contributions and philanthropic engagement have not gone unnoticed. He is a recipient of awards from reputable organisations. “These awards are testament to the appreciation of what I have been doing through De-Prinocc and in my private life,� he said.

21

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍŻËœ 2020

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OVERNIGHT OBB

A S

REPO 1.25 1

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

1 2 20

A T

Group Business Editor Obinna Chima Email obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com 08152447875

O C T O B E R

S & P INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DATE

743.18% -0.26% 18.59%

S & P INDEX 1/4 TO DATE YEAR TO DATE

3 0 ,

2 0 2 0

18.59% 18.59%

EXCHANGE RATE N379/1US DOLLAR* ĚŠ

Quick Takes Zoom to Enhance Security

COURTESY VISIT

L-REkoElectricityDistributionCompany(EKEDC)Directors,ErnestOjiandGeorgeEtomi;ChairmanofNigerianElectricityRegulatoryCommission(NERC), Prof.JamesMomoh;Chairman,BoardofDirectorsofEKEDC,CharlesMomoh;Director,DereOtubu,andMD/CEO,Engr.AdeoyeFadeyibi,duringanoversight visittothecompany’sheadquartersinLagos...recently

Report: Electricity Tariff Hike Will Boost Industry Liquidity Obinna Chima Analysts at CSL Stockbrokers Limited have expressed optimism that the rise in electricity tariffs will definitely put the power distribution companies (Discos) and ultimately the entire industry in a better liquidity and financial position.

In its latest note on the sector, the financial advisory firm noted that though this may not be adequate to rejuvenate the industry and generate rapid investment in the sector, it would be a step in the right direction.

Analysts at the Lagos-based firm, “believe the rise in electricity tariffs would definitely put the Discos and ultimately the entire industry in a better

ECONOMY liquidity and financial position, though may not be adequate to rejuvenate the industry and generate rapid investment in the sector.�

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had described the bane of the power sector failure as the pricing of the product.

It had noted that the Discos have struggled to raise new investments primarily because the sector remains grossly unattractive to investors (both equity and debt providers) who are aware that the electricity tariffs across the industry are not cost reflective. “We agree with the commis-

sioner that pricing is the biggest challenge facing the power sector. In 2014, the generation and distribution segments of the power sector value chain were privatised with the goal of attracting new investments and introducing private sector efficiency in running the segments. “However, six years later, it is widely accepted that the privatisation process has not yielded desired results. The sector has been plagued by several challenges including; lack of cost reflective tariffs, poor metering coverage, energy theft, decrepit infrastructure, and regulatory stranglehold. However, of all these challenges, the lack of appropriate pricing for power remains the biggest challenge

in our view,� the firm noted.

It stressed that the most potent factor driving the liquidity squeeze in the sector stems from the non-cost reflective tariffs charged by the Discos. “This has remained a major clog in the wheel for the Discos, making most of them technically insolvent. The cash-flow generated from end consumers (in a case where they get paid for all they distribute) significantly fall short of the breakeven point needed to keep operations running due to poor pricing. “Matters worsen when we factor payment defaults, power theft and ATC&C losses. We note that the federal government has had to intervene on different Continued on page 22

EITI Seeks Increased Transparency from NNPC Chineme Okafor in Abuja The global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) has praised the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for its new-found commitment to transparency in its businesses, especially publishing its audited financial statement for the first time in 43 years.

But the agency has also urged the corporation to do more by disclosing the terms of oil and gas sales contracts it has running.

The EITI in a review of NNPC’s recent business disclosures by its Nigeria Country Manager, Murjanatu Gamawa, said it was pleased with the progress made by the corporation so far. It noted that NNPC seems to have turned the corner on its reported sordid past where transparency and accountability to Nigerians was

ENERGY non-existent.

Titled: ‘What NNPC’s financial statement shows us – and why it matters,’ the EITI explained that the embrace of transparency represents a significant milestone for NNPC. “Since Mele Kolo Kyari became the Group Managing Director in July 2019, the corporation has undergone a number of reforms to bring about greater transparency and accountability – chief of which is the Transparency Accountability and Performance Excellence (TAPE) agenda. “Since early 2020, NNPC has been publishing FAAC monthly reports which show how much the corporation transfers to the state from the sale of oil and gas, including royalty and tax payments. In August, NNPC became an EITI

supporting company, signalling its commitment to publish the group’s financial statements,� said the EITI. According to it, with the Integrated Data Sciences Limited (IDSL) taking in a profit of N23 billion profit in 2019, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) making N478 billion profit, the National Petroleum Investment Management Service (NAPIMS) raking in N2.83 trillion, the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) earning profit of N14.2 billion and the Nigerian Gas Marketing Company (NGMC) reporting a profit of N10 billion, the efficiency of the corporation’s subsidiaries remains key to offsetting its business losses.

It also noted that the impacts and realities of the COVID-19 pandemic on the oil market have positioned the NNPC being the main revenue generating organisation in Nigeria, to play

a vital role in increasing revenue to meet the government’s budget constraints and strengthen the country’s economy. “NNPC’s group audited financial statement presents key information on the corporation’s financial health. The statement shows that NNPC reduced its loss by 99.7 per cent – from N803 billion in 2018 to N1.7 billion in 2019 – thanks to a significant increase in profits from its subsidiaries between 2018 and 2019. “These significant gains mean that NNPC will need to spend less of its resources offsetting losses and puts the corporation on course to generate profit from its operations, which could help to maximise revenues for the state,� it added.

It further stated that the recent publication of NNPC’s financial statements, in addition Continued on page 22

ZoomVideoCommunicationsInc.mustimplementanewinformation security program as part of its proposed settlement with the United States regulators over user privacy issues, the Federal Trade Commission has said.

According to Reuters, the resolution did not have any ďŹ nancial component, but the agency said Zoom would face ďŹ nes of up to $43,280 for each future violation under the agreement. It said Zoom’s misleading claims about giving users a secure channel of communication while oering a lower level of protection gave them a false sense of security. “Zoom’ssecuritypracticesdidn’tlineupwithitspromises,â€?theDirector of FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, Andrew Smith said.

The company’s stock, which has climbed sharply this year, skidded more than 13 per cent in afternoon trading, to $433 on Monday.

Acompanyspokeswomansaidthesecurityofitsusersisatoppriority for Zoom. “We have already addressed the issues identiďŹ ed by the FTC,â€? she said.

The FTC voted 3-2 along party lines to approve the settlement.

DemocraticcommissionerRohitChopraissuedadissentingstatement saying the company’s failures warrant serious action. “TheFTC’sproposedsettlementincludesnohelpforaectedparties, no money, and no other meaningful accountability,â€? he said.

Group Releases African Energy Outlook

TheAfricanEnergyChamberhasreleaseditsAfricanEnergyOutlook 2021.The report explored the forces shaping up continent’s energy market after the historic shocks of 2020 and analysed the upcoming recovery on the back of the global energy transition and persisting market uncertainties.

It noted that the pandemic notably came at a particularly diďŹƒcult momentinAfrica,exacerbatingalreadychallengingmarketconditions on the back of a competitive American shale industry, the delaying of major projects due to regulatory uncertainty, and increasing global attention to de-carbonisation.

The African Energy Chamber notably expects a CAPEX spending cut of $30 billion over the 2020-2021 period, and has identiďŹ ed a further $80 billion of investment whose sanctioning would depend on improving market conditions, along with bold policy and ďŹ scal reforms from African regulators.

Thereportprovideddetailedinformationinareasofcriticalimportance andincludedsectionsexaminingjobsandemployment,cash-owand proďŹ t forecasts, the expenditure and investment outlook, carbon emissions, oil and gas market projections, and regional production outlook. ‘’It goes without saying that Africa has witnessed its fair share of diďŹƒcult times this year. Even though oil and gas activities have taken a hit, optimism surrounding African projects, ďŹ scal regime and investments still exist but requires all of us as stakeholders to do more. “There has always been opportunity in drastic and unprecedented times, which gives us a lot to look forward to,â€? Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, Nj Ayuk said.

Orange Reveals Prize Winners

The Orange Africa and Middle East Social Entrepreneur Prize (POESAM) is celebrating its 10th birthday. Owing to this, in addition to the International Grand Prix that has historically rewarded three prizewinnerswithprizesrangingfrom₏10,000(3rdplace)to₏25,000 (1st place), Orange has added two new prizes for this edition.They are the InternationalWomen’s Prize with a value of ₏20,000, supported by the Orange Group Diversity and Inclusion unit; and the Special 10th Anniversary Prize with a value of ₏10,000.

In addition, a project was also awarded the special, “Jury’s Favouriteâ€? prize. So, a total of six prizes were awarded by the POESAM International Grand Prix jury. “After a round of domestic competitions in the 17 African Orange subsidiaries during which 41 winners were identiďŹ ed and supported, 18 ďŹ nalists were selected to enter the international competition which took place at the AfricaTech Festival, the biggest technology fair in Africa.

“The current policy of government is to promote the utilisation of gas in Nigeria. It is expected that gas will provide the muchneeded alternative to petrol and firewood�

Mr. Justice Derefaka

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BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

REPORT: ELECTRICITY TARIFF HIKE WILL BOOST INDUSTRY LIQUIDITY occassions to keep the industry on its feet. The problem of cost reflective tariff stems from the MYTO framework used to guide pricing. The framework’s cost assumptions are far from current realities,� it stated.

The DisCos began implementation of a new service-based reflective tariff (SRT) structure nationwide in September after receiving approval from President Muhammadu Buhari.

However, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had protested the new tariff and called for a nationwide strike.

After a meeting with the federal government a few hours to the protest on Monday, the NLC and TUC suspended the proposed strike after brokering an agreement to halt the electricity tariff increase.

EITI SEEKS INCREASED TRANSPARENCY FROM NNPC

to other disclosures, indicated that, “transparency is becoming an integral and routine feature of NNPC’s governance and management systems.� “These disclosures allow stakeholders and citizens to scrutinise NNPC’s operations, thereby providing an avenue for public debate around the management of Nigeria’s natural resources. “NNPC’s disclosures help to address pressing governance challenges, enabling the government and public to have oversight of important revenue streams at a time when Nigeria’s economy is under strain,� it explained.

Nevertheless, the EITI stated that the corporation could go further to uphold its commitment to transparency and accountability.

It said: “For example, NNPC is encouraged to disclose its oil and gas sales contract and champion the publication of Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas contracts in line with the EITI Standard, to make public the terms of the country’s petroleum deal.

AMCON Seeks Government’s Support in N5trn Debt Recovery Peter Uzoho The President of Nigeria’s Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem and the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Justice R.P.I Bosimo, has stressed the need for speedy dispensing of judgement in cases involving the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and its recalcitrant obligors.

The duo however maintained that that justice must be dispensed within the ambit of the law.

The justices said this at the just concluded 2-day Annual Seminar for Justices of the Courts of Appeal, held in Abuja.

The event was jointly organised by the National Judicial Institute (NJI) and Legal Academy (LA) with the full complement of AMCON management in attendance.

While welcoming participants to the seminar, Justice Bozimo who threw more light in the expectations of the judiciary, which she argued will enable AMCON is to succeed said, “The role of the judiciary in the execution of AMCON mandate cannot be overemphasised. “This is understandable considering that the distinguished bench is indispensable to the realisation of the enormous powers conferred on the Corporation by the AMCON Act.

“It is through these interactions that the judiciary will be sensitised on the complex role AMCON plays at ensuring the sustenance of the financial system stability in Nigeria.

The level of financial stability currently enjoyed in the country is solely attributable to the role played by AMCON in offloading toxic portfolios from the balance sheets of banks thus enabling the banks to perform their intermediating role in the macro-economy.�

According to her, viewing

the peculiarities, uniqueness and the unconventional nature of the AMCON regime, it is evident that AMCON is bound to confront challenges and difficulties in its daily efforts to realise its mandate.

Bozimo added that it was in order to assuage these challenges that the National Judicial Institute ensures that the judiciary especially the Judges are sensitised and provided with updates that have to do with the AMCON regime at all times.

In her address, Justice Dongban-Mensem while welcoming participants to the seminar also recalled that the 2007-2009 global financial crisis had severe impact on the economies of many countries, including developing economies like Nigeria’s, which was why AMCON was set up.

She said that the Corporation having made sure that the financial system in Nigeria did not collapse, now was the time for all sister agencies of government to ensure AMCON

recovers its outstanding huge debt from its recalcitrant obligors who incidentally are exploring judicial technicalities to hold on.

She said, “Although Nigerian banks were restructured prior to the financial crisis through consolidation, the restructuring did not shield Nigerian banks from the effects of the crises. In fact, the crisis further exposed other lapses in the system that needed to be addressed in order to prevent total collapse.

SPECIALRECOGNITION

L-R: Client Service Executive, Route 712 Agency, Fadekemi Lasaki; Managing Director/CEO, Dave Idahoise; Business Executive, Omoniyi Olasukanmi; wife of the Publisher, Marketing Edge Magazine, Mrs. Olubunmi Ajayi;Head, Media, Digital and Sponsorship, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Wasiu Abiola;and Group MarketingDirector, LaCaseraCompany,EmmanuelAgu,atthepresentationof outstandingyoungexperientialmarketingagencyoftheyearawardtoRoute 712AgencybyMarketingEdgeMagazineinLagos... recently ETOPUKUTT

IAR, AATF to Launch New Drought Resistant Maize Variety by 2022 James Emejo in Abuja The Executive Director/ Chief Executive, Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Bello University, Zaria, Prof.

Mohammed Ishiyaku has said it is collaborating with the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), to develop a new variety of maize crop with capacity for pest resistance and drought tolerance.

He said the proposed variety, known as Tela Maize, is a Genetically Modified Organism (GMO), expected to be released to farmers by 2022.

Speaking at the opening of

a two-day capacity building workshop organised for journalists on Tela Maize reporting, in Kano, Ishiyaku said the GMO maize which is a product of home-grown research, seeks to develop and implement effective strategy for environmental release of the maize variety in the country.

He pointed out that when eventual released, the crop will greatly enhance the food security agenda of the present administration amidst the challenges posed by climate change.

Ishiyaku explained that the new solution will also help to preserve the country’s foreign

exchange amidst pressure on its foreign reserves, mainly as a result of the fall in global crude oil prices caused by the outbreak and spread of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as huge food import bill.

The IAR boss said the solution which is being developed through genetic engineering will boost domestic maize yields by 50 per cent compared to the non-transgenic varieties due to protection from insect damages.

He added that the new crop will also reduce cost of production associated with use of pesticides and herbicides, limit health hazards as well as increase the

income of farmers.

Represented by the project Principal Investigator, Prof.

Rabiu Adamu, Ishiyaku, further explained that the country loses about 80 per cent of annual maize production to devastating impact of biotic and abiotic agents including the fall army worm and droughts adding that the new entrant would eliminate farmers constraints and preserve the maize value chain.

He said with an estimated population at over 200 million, Nigeria required about 20 million metric tonnes of maize to meet consumption. However, the country relies largely on importa-

tion with less than 11 million metric tonnes local production as scientists further pointed out that it requires urgent adoption of biotechnology to meet demand.

Ishiyaku, however, he emphasised that the effectiveness of the GMO will be appreciated during droughts and pest outbreaks adding that the crop will be protected from the hazards compared to other less fortified varieties.

He added that Tela maize which was adopted in Nigeria in 2019 is currently being developed in six African countries including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Ethiopia and South Africa.

Aig-Imoukhuede, FMDQ, NSE for Conference on SME Financing Dike Onwuamaeze

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 Okafor (Energy) Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) Reporters

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

Leading global and Nigerian venture fund managers will hold a webinar to guide Nigerian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) on how to use the capital market to attract safe foreign and domestic private equity investments and enable them grow their businesses.

The conference is expected to provide and share ideas on how various capital market regulators and stock exchanges in Nigeria could attract more SMEs listings on their platforms; demonstrate how international exchanges have successfully attracted SMEs for capital raising on their platforms and reinforce the ideas and strategies presented with proven examples from other climes.

It would also facilitate

interactive discussions among participants in order to extract real needs and opportunities toward a new regime of non-bank and market-based financing for SMEs. The conference titled, “Private Equity: A Bridge or An Albatross? Role of the Capital Market,� scheduled to hold on November 24, is being promoted by the Hamilton and George Advisers Limited (H&G), a full-service boutique investment bank providing Proprietary Investments, Advisory and Corporate Finance to clients in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Other promoters of the conference include the Foothold Advisors Limited, which is a boutique financial advisory and management consulting firm that supports entrepreneurs seeking to grow sustainable

businesses with strong corporate governance that would thrive for several generations and the Africa Strategy Advisers Limited that works with businesses that seek to dominate their markets and shape the future of Africa through the power of ideas, relentless enterprise and visionary capital.

Major participants in the conference are the Promoter of the Nairametrics and the CMO of Ikeja Electric, Mr. Ugodre Obi-Chukwu; President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nick Okoye Organisation and Anabel Group, Dr. Nicky Okoye, who was also a former Executive Director the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); the Managing Director/CEO of NASD, Mr. Bola Ajomale; the Chief Executive Officer of FMDQ, Mr. Bola Onadele Koko and the Divisional Head,

NSE Trading Business, Mr. Jude Chiemeka.

The conference will be moderated by the Chairman of Proshare Nigeria Limited, Mr. Femi Awoyemi, while the panelists would consist of the Head, Private Capital Division at FMDQ Private Markets Limited, Mr. Yemi Osinubi; Divisional Head, NSE Listings Business, Mr. Olumide Bolumole and the Partner, Africa Strategy Advisers, Mr. Brainerd Efe Odiete, amongst others.

In addition, the Founder and Chairman Coronation Capital Limited & Africa Initiative for Governance (AIG) and Former President NSE, Mr. Aigboje AigImoukhuede and the Partner, Oliver Wyman, Mr. Paul Calvey are also expected to be among the key speakers during the conference.

Some of the topics that would

be handled at the conference are: ‘Financing SMEs - The Nigerian Capital Market; Financing SMEs - Insights from International Capital Markets; Unlocking the Nigerian Capital Markets for SMEs: A Roadmap as well as SME Financing via Capital Markets- Challenges and Opportunities.

The panelists would answer questions on such vital topics like the requirements for listing on the exchanges for successful fund raising; issues hampering businesses from listing on the exchanges such as poor corporate governance, transparency, key man risk, corporate structure, inadequate financials, etc.; support structures in place to guide SMEs as they consider listing as well as reforms aimed at boosting investor confidence and Investor protection by the exchanges.

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BUA Cement Raises Shareholders’Hope Goddy Egene writes that with a growth of 24 per cent in profit after tax in the nine months ended September 30, 2020, shareholders of BAU Cement Plc are to receive good returns at the end of the financial year

W

hen investors stake their money in shares at the stock market, they expect to get returns in form of capital appreciation or dividend payment. Given the unstable economic environment, the performance of many companies has become unpredictable.

Consequently, returns on investments in terms of dividend, have equally been irregular. However, there are some companies that have ensured that shareholders get regular dividend payment and BUA Cement Plc is among those companies.

The company has raised the hopes of shareholders that at the end of the financial year, December 31, they would be sure of getting handsome dividend. This assurance came from the impressive nine months results recorded by the cement manufacturing company.

BUA Cement, which is one of Africa’s largest cement producers reported a revenue of N156.55 billion in 2020, showing an increase of 21 per cent from N129.429 billion in the corresponding period of 2019.

Gross profit rose from N63.123 billion to N71.729 billion. Selling and distribution expenses rose from N8.341 billion to N9.679 billion, while administrative expenses rose from N6.103 billion to N7.034 billion.

The company was able to reduce its net financing cost by 23 per cent from N3.719 billion to N2.874 billion. This enhanced the profitability as profit before tax (PBT) grew by 19 per cent to N59.484 billion from N50.186 billion. Profit after tax (PAT) grew faster by 24 per cent from N43.253 billion to N53.567 billion.

Speaking on the result, alongside other activities undertaken during the review period, Managing Director/CEO of BUA Cement Plc, Yusuf Binji, acknowledged the positive impact of a less than anticipated COVID-19 pandemic shock on the populace and economy and the expected resilience of the private sector and a short rainy season. “This has been a very heartwarming and resilient performance, underpinned by the continued quality that characterizes the BUA Cement product offerings as we see more end-users able to differentiate the attendant benefits of using our products. Expectedly, we witnessed a resurging demand from a resilient private sector – within and outside Nigeria, as the lockdown was eased, coupled with a short rainy season: despite flooding in some parts of Nigeria and Niger,� he said.

According to him, in view of their ongoing expansion activities alongside working capital requirements, they have concluded on plans to approach the bond market. “This decision to approach the market form part of the considerations put before shareholders at our last Annual General Meeting (AGM) in October, thus, enabling us take advantage of the low interest rate environment, in addition to the discontinuance of funding sources through related-parties transactions,� he said.

Binji disclosed that despite 2020 being a challenging year, they have been buoyed by a growing customer base aided by their deliberate decision to focus on quality.

He said that the continued impressive performance in 2020 despite the challenging operating environment occasioned by the covid-19 pandemic, was a pointer to the value and strength of the BUA Cement brand and product offerings as well as a nod to the excellent implementation of the company’s Business Continuity Plan which ensured that BUA Cement was able to withstand the impact of the pandemic in the period under review. “In a bid to further drive cost efficiencies and sustainability, we entered into strategic alliances for the supply of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) at the Kalambaina, Sokoto State and the management of our mining operations. Given these deliberate and strategic choices amongst other cost management efforts, we continue to combine development and innovation into our offerings and activities,� Binji said.

According to him, in spite of the prevailing economic conditions, “we are quite optimistic about the future because it affords us not only with the opportunity to further evolve our business model but also provides an opportunity for accelerated development. We will continue to push to new markets aided by a focused

BUA Cement Factory

Rabiu

distribution strategy.� “Understandably, the year ahead is fraught with challenges, as global and domestic economies, individuals and businesses make adjustment to disruptions from the pandemic, yet, we a reexcited because of the continued resilience from the private sector, particularly with the increased appreciation of our product offerings; upgrades and development of the infrastructure stock by governments; the possible commencement of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA);the commissioning of our third line at Kalambaina, alongside the first phase of the energy diversification project, which would see the introduction of Liquefied Natural Gas to our operations,� he said.

BUA Cement Plc, is Nigeria’s second largest cement company and the largest producer in its North-West, South-South and South-East regions; with a combined installed capacity of 8million metric tonnes per annum. It is planning to increase existing capacity to 11million mtpa, through the inauguration of a new three million mtpa plant by the first half of 2021 in Sokoto State, Nigeria.

While striving to record improved results and deliver good returns to shareholders, BUA Cement Plc has also be making sure that it gives back to the communities where it operates.

According to the MD/CEO during the period,

BUA Cement fulfilled its commitment to build sustainable communities by successfully relocating community members from Gidam Bailu and Gidam Datti to Girabshi, a close-by settlement purchased and developed by BUA Cement in Sokoto State. “ Subsequently, we have been involved in the electrification of the settlement, provision of clean water and the construction and equipping of a school, a healthcare centre etc. Bags of cement alongside cash donations were made to each of the 387 households, as we pursue an inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable environment. Apart from this, electricity transformers were donated to the Okpella community in Edo State, including patrol vehicles to reinforce existing security measures,� Binji said.

He explained that generally, in executing its corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy, the MD/CEO said BUA Group implements initiatives in line with the Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), aimed to drive economic growth and encourage human development capacity.

According to him, over the years, BUA Group has invested millions of dollars (through its respective subsidiaries) in extensive social impact projects towards the development of host communities by investing in healthcare,eduction and water, sanitation and other areas.

Meanwhile, financial analysts said one major

move that would boost the performance of BUA Cement going forward, is the appointment of Jacques Piekarski as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and executive director effective October 2, 2020.

Commenting on the appointment, Chairman, BUA Cement Plc, Abdul Samad Rabiu, said: The board is confident that Piekarski broad experience, strong leadership capabilities and understanding of the industry will ensure that BUA Cement is well positioned to take advantage of available opportunities to drive improved operational performance and sustain our profitable growth trajectory.�

Also, commenting, Binji said: “We are thrilled to welcome Jacques Piekarski to BUA Cement. He brings a wealth of experience to this role – both in the Nigerian cement industry and the African region as a whole. I am certain his skills and experience will make a significant contribution and continue to drive the company forward.�

A seasoned finance professional with over 26 years experience, prior to joining BUA Cement, Piekarski held several C-suite finance roles across Europe and Africa in FMCG, Cement, trading, and mining.

Over the course of his career, he has had significant achievements in setting-up or re-organising finance departments, financing (loans, bond, rights issue, debt restructuring and re-financing), revenue and cost optimization programs, various expansion and projects including ERP implementations, and controlling.

He is known as a charismatic, results driven and dynamic leader, with a strong business acumen.

Prior to joining BUA Cement, Jacques was Group CFO for TGI Group Nigeria – one of the largest Food and Agri privately owned conglomerate in the country. He joined this role from Flour Mills of Nigeria where he was also Group CFO. Piekarski has also garnered an extensive knowledge of the cement industry form his time as the CFO for Holcim (today LafargeHolcim) in Egypt with a joint venture with the Orascom Group. In this role, he was actively involved in building-up the finance department, financing the plant expansion and monitoring its budget, implementing Holcim financial standards and a vast cost reduction program. During his tenure, the plant was the second largest single plant in the world with 8mt capacity.

A Swiss and French National, Piekarski was born in Switzerland. He is a graduate from the Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland, and holds an MBA from the Robert Kennedy College, Zurich, Switzerland. Piekarski is the President of the Swiss Nigerian Business Council in Lagos.

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RefocusingInsurance Professionals’Forum Ebere Nwoji writes on the need for organisers of the annual Insurance Professionals’ Forum to refocus the conference so that it can contribute to the growth of the industry

W

hen the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), the educational arm of the country’s insurance industry, commenced the Annual Insurance Professional Forum (AIPF) in 1991, one of its top objectives was to equip insurance professionals with requisite knowledge, ideas and experience that would enable them to abide by their professional ethics in their daily business conduct.

In line with this objective, both the regulator and the leaders in the Nigerian insurance sub-sector of the country’s financial system had often set for themselves the target of repositioning the industry in terms of market conduct, product offering and customer satisfaction in ways that would meet the global market standard.

This effort has witnessed the delivery of many addresses, paper presentations and technical sessions by professionals from within and outside insurance circle all to ensure that participants in this annual gathering went home recharged and fired with the zeal to play according to rules of the game in their bid to win mass patronage and grow the industry’s premium.

However, with the benefits of hindsight, it appears that the annual gathering is nothing but a ritual that is long in preaching and hearing, but short in practice.

A critical look at the widespread unprofessional conducts among insurance practitioners and its telling negative impact on the growth of the insurance market, throws up the question of whether the noble ideas of nurturing strongly ethical minded insurance professionals that inspired the hosting of the AIPF for 29 years have been achieved?

According to an industry player who spoke to THISDAY on the condition of anonymity, most of the participants at the annual event are there for reasons not connected to building their ethical and professional practice. The source said that most of them attend the forum to gather papers they would use to write their professionals examination without any intention of putting what they have learnt into practice.

She said: “The professionals read for the purpose of qualifying, what is discussed at public sessions like the professional forum is quite different from individual company’s claims processing and payment policy. “Again, every insurance firm appears to be in an uncontrolled race to grab any available business at all cost and at a lowered premium rate.�

Observers have pointed out that most of the events that occurred this year points to the importance of insurance and the need for more Nigerians to embrace its services as a cushion for unforeseen circumstances coming the way of their lives and businesses. However, they noted the low level of trust on insurers due to their unprofessional is a big hindrance.

Among those that confirmed this viewpoint was the Managing Director of the Universal Insurance, Mr. Ben Ujoatuonu, who acknowledged that recent happenings in the country are enough to encourage Nigerians to embrace insurance services.

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

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

He added that the anticipated mass patronage of insurance services obviously would grow the market.

Currently, in spite of Nigeria’s standing as the highest population and the biggest economy in Africa its insurance sector still has one of the lowest contributions to the GDP in the continent when compared with a country like South Africa whose size of economy is close to Nigeria’s.

The Nigerian insurance sub-sector is made up of 58 insurance underwriting firms, two indigenous reinsurance firms, more than 500 insurance brokers and more than 20,000 insurance agents both registered and unregistered and at least 40 loss adjusting firms.

Currently, about four new underwriting firms are

rearing to go into business having been approved for licensing by the NAICOM. Despite the seemingly impressive numbers of players in the sub-sector, the industry is yet to attain the desired level of growth when compared to its counterpart markets within the continent.

Premium generation is still very low while density and penetration are still at their lowest ebb.

For instance, the industry currently contributes less than one percent to the country’s GDP compared to the insurance sub-sector of South African that is contributing more than 10 per cent to the country’s GDP. This is also a far cry from the insurance regulator’s target of attaining the contribution of at least three per cent to Nigeria’s GDP, creating 250,000 new jobs, achieving gross premium of N1.10 trillion and a per capita of N7500 in 2012.

The attainment of these targets would have made the insurance industry more relevant to the economy and wean it from being perceived as the poor cousin of banking sub-sector.

Moreover, the performance of insurance listed firms on the Nigerian Stock Exchange leaves much to be desired. The exchange’s daily listing and stock market reports showed that the insurance industry is not very active. In addition, dividend payments and capital appreciation are also too poor to be sources of motivation to investors to stake their funds on them.

Going by the annual reports of insurance quoted companies as at December 2019, the overall industry premium is about N500 billion, which is still below the 50 percent of the regulator’s targeted N1.01 trillion since 2009.

Obviously many reasons accounted for this and they ranged from poor disposable income of the Nigerians to lack of awareness, nonpayment of claims as well as lack of trust from the insuring public.

Unfortunately, insurers are fast to increase efforts towards addressing the awareness problem and most often turn a blind eye on nonpayment of claims as at when due.

Till date, many insurers would repudiate a claim by coming up with one excuse or the other even when it is obvious that the clam is genuine.

They would rather mobilise all their key staff, including their legal personnel, claims managers and marketing managers against one policy holder who has come to demand for his claims.

Some companies can even afford to schedule meetings up to five times at their head office for a single client who has come to demand for his claims.

The situation is worst if the client went into direct purchase of the policy or bought the policy through an agent instead of a broker.

Some insurers have advanced in their claims repudiating tactics to the extent that they would from the outset tell the loss adjuster accessing the risk and the occurring claims to declare the claim

non genuine even when it is genuine.

The situation is worsened by the fact that insurance underwriter now pays the loss adjuster rather than the policy holder.

In some instances, the underwriter may give the policy holder the liberty to bring his own adjuster.

But even this gesture would not help bring the policy holder any succour as the loss adjuster depends on the patronage from the insurance firm to survive and continue the business because the drummer must beat his drum to the tune of the paymaster.

The question begging for an answer as sharp practices, unprofessional and unethical conducts pervade the length and breadth of the insurance landscape in Nigeria is: where is the place of professionalism in Nigerian insurance companies and the relevance of all the lessons taught at the APIF that is organised annually by the CIIN in the day to day practice of insurance organisations and their workforce in the country?

The landscape might be level and the play fair when big corporate entities like West Africa Milk Company (WAMCO), the Nigeria Breweries Plc are at the receiving end. Then the insurance firm could even go the extra miles of bringing foreign adjusters to adjudge the case fairly and equitably. But the rule of the game changes where an individual that bought life policy or holds investment related policy or insured his personal property is involved.

The former Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Fola Daniel, had condemned the attitude of insurance firms that indulged in this kind of behavior. Daniel said that no advertisement would be stronger for an insurer than prompt payment of claims.

Similarly, the current Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Sunday Thomas, who has severally encouraged insurers to ensure prompt payment of genuine claims, had said: “I believe that the recapitalisation will be the leveler because we are going to factor in all those outstanding claims before we adjudge any company as having met the requirement. There is what we call age analysis and this ensures that if you have claims that have been more than some number of months in your book, you have to clear them.�

Also former President of the CIIN, Mrs. Funmilayo Babington Ashaye, had said that the time has cme for the regulator to adopt ‘name and shame’ strategy to weed the non-claims paying companies from the system.

Ashaye had noted that as an industry that indemnifies investors and risk takers, insurance underwriters must remain stable, strong, resilient and financially solvent to be able to meet emerging obligations, addiong that achieving these goals in a sustainable manner is part of the objectives of that year’s forum.

She said: “By delivering value to our clients, we would be able to make profit for our shareholders over the short to long term. Also, we need to minimise our cost of operations and engage

in financial engineering as strategies for growing our businesses on a sustainable basis.�

Findings by THISDAY showed that insurers repudiate claims because of their quest to win an account at all cost, an attitude that constrained them from assessing and charging the risk professionally.

The implication is that they already have it in their mind from inception that they were not going to homour the claims.

Recently, the Chairman of Mutual Benefit Assurance, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi, at the insurance conference organised by the National Association of Insurance and Pension Correspondent, disclosed that some insurers gave as high as 99 percent discount on premium they charge, which raised the question on how such insurer would pay claims on such business when risk occurs.

These are but few of the dirty games played by insurers in the discharge of their professional duties, yet all of them on yearly basis rush down to Ogun State for the professional forum.

Through critical observation, it has been observed that one of the shortfalls of the professional forum is that over the years, speakers and paper presenters focus their theme on what to do to meet underwriting standard in the international market but hardly do they talk about nonpayment of claims and the harm it portend to people’s confidence and patronage of the industry.

The 2020 edition of the AIPF had as its theme: “Insurance Industry: Defining the future.�

In his address, CIIN’s President, Mr. Muftau Oyegunle, said: “We had previously acknowledged the changes that the advent of technology was gradually institutionalising but that slow and measured process has been heavily jolted by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic disease.�

He pointed out in his speech that consumers have experienced highly personalised, self-directed shopping experience followed by instant fulfillment and they are looking for this same service from all service providers including insurers.

He, however, failed to specifically mention that there is no quality service delivery to customers in insurance transaction without quick payment of claims.

In the same manner, the immediate past President of CIIN, Mr. Eddie Efekoha, anchored the theme of the 2019 edition.

Then, he was also was here and that artificial intelligence was playing a major role in its evolution.

During her tenure as the President of the CIIN, Mrs. Isioma Chukwuma, at the 2015 edition, had emphasised on ethical conduct and had also failed to mention claims repudiation as one of the professional misconducts that has remained a killer virus to the industry.

Therefore, it appears that over the years, insurance professionals and their leaders have been regarding claims as the least important topic to be discussed at the annual forum.

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T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍŻËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

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Benefits of CBN’s Rice intervention Ummi Kabir

T

he thrust of the agricultural policy of the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin EmeďŹ ele, especially the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) is essentially to provide farm inputs in kind and cash to smallholder farmers to boost production of farm commodities which states have comparative advantage to produce including cereals namely rice, maize, wheat, cotton, roots and tubers namely cassava, potatoes, yam, ginger, tomato, poultry, oil palm, ďŹ sh, sugarcane among others.

The apex bank’s intervention was particularly strategic towards the resuscitation of moribund sectors of the economy in line with the present administration’s agenda to diversify the economy from oil as well as preserve foreign exchange.

With Nigeria’s then annual rice importation at over $2 billion, it was worrisome enough for the government and offered sufficient motivation for the CBN chief do something about as it constituted a major drain on the nation’s foreign reserves.

For some, the policy of Emefiele, regarding his decision to delve into agriculture was a needless deviation from the mandate of the apex bank which centres on monetary policy and financial systems’ stability. Interestingly, that deviation, like a master stroke, is giving the country a lot to cheer especially with the unexpected intrusion of COVID-19 into the nation’s socio-economic life.

It has been emphasised at various fora that had Emefiele not done what he did in the agricultural sector, when COVID-19 came, Nigeria would have been a real dire strait.

The Anchor Borrowers Programme, the arrowhead of that policy, as a result of the doggedness of the CBN Governor, is yielding multiple benefits in terms of job creation and what has come to be known as the rice revolution which is about to transform the country into a net exporter of rice. It is also justifying every resource and effort invested in the sector. The thinking behind the policy is for it to create a demand-driven ecosystem that will link smallholder farmers with agro-processors.

Fundamentally, it is designed to create and ensure linkage through a financing framework that is aimed at relating these investments across agricultural value-chain. Understandably, this thought process derives from the nation’s experience, over the years, which has shown that there are enormous potentials in the agricultural value-chain and there is immense local capacity that can be optimized to guarantee food security.

The success of the policy can be measured by the significant increase in the number of rice mills.

Within the period, over 95 standard processing

EmeďŹ ele mills across the country have been built and made effectively operational. Commendable also is the contribution of private sector players operating under the Private Prima Anchor.

They participation is the programme has, in a significant way enhanced the need to improve productivity and drive growth.

It is important to also note that a Public Private Partnership (PPP), an initiative by the CBN, is further expanding the possibilities of the programme as far as food security is concerned.

It is an arrangement in which the states are expected to make available land for cultivation and then the private sector operators will use the land in partnership with state governments to increase output.

This ABP policy came into effect in 2015 and since then, the CBN has financed over 1.3

AFMESI Holds Symposium on Marine Pollution Eromosele Abiodun As part of efforts to tackle the problem of marine pollution, which has hindered the growth of Africa’s blue economy, the African Marine Environment Sustainability Initiative (AFMESI), has dedicated its 2020 conference to explore prevention and control measures for marine pollution.

The organisers of the annual symposiums posit that the event would provide headway to ensure that resources in the continent’s marine environment are tapped in a sustainable manner.

The event with the theme: “Marine Pollution Prevention and Control towards Blue Economy,� is the second symposium to be organised

by AFMESI. In a press statement, the Founder of AFMESI and former Director of Marine Environment Management department at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and

Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Felicia Mogo, stated that the discourse on marine pollution is apt in the continent’s bid to explore the numerous potentials of the blue economy.

Her words: “Having served the Federal government of Nigeria for about 23 years and attended meetings both local and international committees; I found myself as a negotiator for the African region to the United Nations. I became one of the advisors of the United Nations on issues of marine environment protection and there are so many opportunities of engagement at that level. I found out that there is a huge need to ensure that the resources in the marine environment of Africa are tapped in a sustainable manner. “Most African countries have coastal corridors but these nations are not associated with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

On issues of marine environment protection, these

countries are not there to negotiate despite the fact that the resources are there.

The significance of the blue economy to the African continent is huge, especially for nations with coastal areas, but this is not appreciated.

There is a huge deposit of waste dumped in the marine environment and this includes solid and liquid waste. There is also the problem of noise pollution and air pollution.

AFMESI decided to intervene and ensure that we create awareness on this issue.�

According to her, the group intends to provide quality advice to the regulators and the operators in the marine space to ensure a sustainable environment where marine biodiversity thrives.

She revealed that AFMESI has secured partnerships with Ocean Initiative in the University of Victoria, Canada, while the group is also a stakeholder with the African Union and several other organisations.

million farmers and in the process facilitated the cultivation of over 1.3 million hectares of land across the country as well as the production of an average of 5.5 million metric tons of paddy at four tonnes per hectare. It is from this perspective that we view the CBN’s role in the attainment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s pledge of creating 10 million jobs. The multiplier effect of financing 1.3 farmers in terms of people they engage as labourers and/or harvesters for each hectare is capable of creating further three to four additional jobs.

It is estimated that the Anchor Borrowers Programme has received in excess of N264 billion injected through the deposit money banks and other cosmetic financial institutions. A sizeable chunk of this money went into the rice project for reasons that are obvious.

The seeming focus on rice can be easily explained as the crop is a major staple food in Nigeria, and had formed a significant part of the import bill. So, the bank’s interest is to really develop local production capacity which would do a couple of things to drive productivity, to boost employment because small holder farmers are going to be involved in this. Ultimately and very importantly, it will conserve foreign exchange requests for rice importation.

Another reason that motivated his foray into agriculture can be gleaned from the provision of Section 31 of the CBN Act. This part of that law makes it possible for the apex bank to carry out development financing as well as involve the banks in such development finance activities while aligning with the strategic mandate of ensuring price and exchange rate stability. To that extent, it is pertinent to observe that food prices and unemployment are key indices of the macro economy which should interest the CBN because food price inflation adds to the basket in tracking total inflation.

And when it appeared that most of the previous governments’ economic blueprints to revive the economy had been mere statements of intent rather than action, Emefiele, in a practical and dynamic way, took the bull by the horn to undertake a difficult mission to stop the importation of commodities which the country can easily produce.

The CBN governor’s efforts towards food sufficiency especially in rice production have now materialized and there has been a revolution in local rice production, as most of the inactive rice mills across the country have suddenly received life again while the staple has become the favourite in most Nigerian homes.

Emefiele’s feat in revolutionizing agriculture especially in the areas of rice, tomato, milk, textile production had pitched him against powerful interests in the society, who hitherto benefitted from a largely dysfunctional system as they continued on huge food import at the expense of the country’s hard-earned reserves.

His passion and commitment to economic diversification had been strengthened as well as applauded from far and near, as those who never thought a revolution could ever happen in rice production have eaten their words.

He had stressed that agriculture presented the major opportunity for long-term sustainable development in the country and noted that in spite of the current levels of unemployment, the sector remained vital to the efforts of the federal government in diversifying the country’s economy away from oil. According to him, agriculture has been proved to possess the potential generate huge revenue for those who ae involved in it and remained pivotal in job creation.

LG Unveils New OLED TV Brand LG Electronics has again expressed its commitment to providing consumers with outstanding viewing experience with the launch of its Signature OLED 8K TV (ZX Series).

The company explained in a statement that the move was to ensure that customers get future-proofed products that delivers mesmerising picture quality regardless of the format. “Not only do the new TVs deliver Real 8K, they are also future-proofed to provide customers peace of mind with multiple ways to enjoy the Real 8K experience. The new models offer the capability to play native 8K content, with the support of the widest selection of 8K content sources from HDMI and USB digital inputs, including codecs such as HEVC, VP9 and AV1, the latter being backed by major streaming providers including YouTube. LG’s 8K TVs will support 8K content streaming at a rapid 60FPS and are certified to deliver 8K 60P over HDMI.

“The LG SIGNATURE OLED 8K TVs line-up includes premium 88-inch which is the size currently in the market and 77-inch class to arrive later, exceeds the industry’s official new 8K Ultra HD definition set by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), with trusted independent labs such as TĂœV Rheinland validating that LG SIGNATURE OLED 8K exceed this definition. “LG’s AI Sound Pro analyses and classifies the audio of content among five categories –music, movies, sports, drama or news – for clearer voices and richer, more textured background sound. Spoken words are isolated and their volume increased, making it distinctively easier for viewers to understand while background noises are identified and the scene up-mixed to virtual 5.1 surround for a heightened level of viewer immersion. “On top of the exceptional viewing experience, LG OLED 8K TV offers a new level of convenience made possible

by AI technology. Users can monitor and control compatible IoT devices directly from the TV’s Home Dashboard, while Hands-Free Voice Control allows viewers to easily control multiple connected devices with just their voice, even from across the room. “Available in 144 countries, ThinQ voice recognition is built into every LG 8K TV. And with LG’s popular smart TV platform, webOS, the new TVs support Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit as well as both Google Assistant,� the statement explained.

According to the General Manager of the LG Home Entertainment Division, Mr Vanjamin Kim, “LG is deeply committed to providing consumers with an outstanding viewing and gaming experience with Eye Comfort Display that protect the eyes whilst watching favourite contents. With LG 88OLEDZX, customers can know they are getting future-proofed television that will deliver mesmerizing picture quality regardless of the format.�

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IMAGES

Cultural troupe performing during 2020 Ganni Festival, at Kaiama in Kwara State....recently

L-R: Oba of Lagos, Oba Riliwan Akinolu and Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, during the Presidential delegation peace meeting with Southwest stakeholders in Lagos...recently

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍŻ, 2020

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: Secretary, Presidential Committee on Correctional Reform and Decongestion, Mrs Leticia AyoolaDaniels; Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Prof. Muhammad Ladan; Chairman of the Committee, Justice Ishaq Bello; and Executive Secretary, National Human Right Commission, Mr Tony Ojukwu, during a 3-Day National Summit to articulate strategies to sustain the reform and decongestion correctional centres in Nigeria, in Abuja...recently

L-R: Chief of the Air Sta (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar; AVM Mohammed Usman; and AVM Oluesgun Philip, during the inauguration of the remodeled Nigerian Air Force Air Intelligence School at NAF Base in Makurdi...recently

L-R: Head, Marketing and Communications, Shola Adekoya; Head, Lead Management & Marketplace; Patricia Duru; Chief Executive OďŹƒcer, Soumobroto “Sunnyâ€? Ganguly; Head, Finance, Elizabeth Iyi-Eweka; Head, Technical Operations, Pankaj Bohra and Head, People Operations and Central Support Services, Olajumoke Obembe at the Cars45 media engagement session held in Lagos...recently PHOTO: ABIODUN AJALA

L-R: Area Sales Manager - Festac, NB Plc; Harrison Azekhome; A beneďŹ ciary of NB Life Lager Progress Booster, Blessing Nwafor; Brand Manager - Life Lager Beer, Chidi Egwu; Regional Trade Marketing Manager Lagos South, NB Plc, Kingsley Anyanwu; Representative of Mandilas United Trade Association, Tradefair Complex, Mr IK Yomi Unigwe and President of the Mandilas United Trade Association, Tradefair Complex, Chief Anthony Okeke; at the presentation of Life Lager’s Progress Booster grants to beneďŹ ciaries, in Lagos... recently

R-L: Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Mrs Ipalibo Harry Banigo; Hon. Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola,SAN; Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, and his wife, Mrs. Eberechi Wike during the Commissioning of Rebisi Flyover Bridge built by the Rivers State Government at Rebisi Junction, Aba Road, Port Harcourt...recently

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 11, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍŻ, 2020

EDUCATION We Want to Expand Science Base of Nasarawa State Varsity, Says VC The Vice-Chancellor of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Prof. Suleiman Bala Mohammed in this interview with Igbawase Ukumba, speaks on the introduction of whistle blowing policy to fight unethical conduct on the campus, and other matters. Excerpts:

Y

ou recently introduced whistle blowing policy in the Nasarawa State University. Have you started reaping to that effect?

The whistle blowing policy you rightfully observed is one of our overall agenda.

It falls under the context of trying to establish or fight unethical conduct on the campus. Because we observed that there are a lot of unethical conduct going on among staff and students.

We don’t have so much worry about students, because they appeared to be powerless; once a student is engaged in exams malpractice you can bring him/her before the committee and if found guilty, we can expel him.

But for staff, it is a bit difficult. For lecturers who lecture through proxy, and there are staff who mark their exams through proxy and some don’t even submit results on time. And what we have done, we say look for lecturers and non-academic staff, we must be ethical and must do our jobs properly. And if we don’t do, the victims are the students and the general public. They should have the courage to complain. It is a policy that was launched with the aim of exposing our colleagues teaching and non-teaching staff who are unethical on what they are doing.

Has it yielded any result?

Fantastic results. In fact, we have seen results that are very impressive. One I like to say that it has already been able to serve as a deterrent. The mere fact that we have launched that policy, a lot of our colleagues have retracted from what they were doing and I have evidences all over. People have come here to thank me for what I have done.

Number two, from the dedicated ones, we are able to receive quite a number of complains, and we have been able to track some of them. We have found some of them to be genuine and they are at certain levels of investigation. We will investigate them and those that we find culpable, we will put them into the disciplinary process.

Do you have a speciďŹ c number of culprits?

I don’t have the number, because it is the Deputy Vice- Chancellor, Academics that is handling it.

Approximately, what is the number sir?

Approximately about five or six, are under investigation.

Recently you constituted two committees; one for the establishment of Faculty of Engineering and the other for College of Medicine. How far with the two committees?

So far so good the committees are actually not meant to submit any final reports. We were actually supposed to be working with them until we admit students in October 2021. It is a committee that is supposed to assess what we are doing and submit reports. They have submitted their first report, which actually dealt with the schedule we submitted to them and their overall observations about our regulatory agencies, we have gotten those reports and we are working with them.

You see our plan is that the committee is made up of experts, professors, as well as practitioners and we are supposed to be working with them based on what we have in place. They will make their own observations and contributions that by the time we set or we begin these programmes, it will be one of the best in the country.

We have received one observation which is very good. They told us Edo State University has one of the best Faculties of Engineering and Medicine. And I have sent a delegation comprising the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics, Registrar and the Dean of Engineering to go and observe. And they said it is marvelous. We are going to pick some of the best practices there.

announced the date of their resumptions.

College of Education, Akwanga, Polytechnic and College of Agriculture have announced the date of resumption.

In our case, we are having challenge of strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). We are hopeful that this strike will end very soon. They are meeting soon; we hope that they will have a common ground.

I am sure the pressure is on all of them both ASUU and the federal government. Our students are at home for a very long time now. Once the strike is suspended, we will call a senate meeting to look at the calendar. We have to adjust it and we have to amend it.

Mohammed So, are the faculties taking off in 2021?

Yes, they are taking off by 2021. We have done a schedule where we hoped that between now to the end of the year, we are going to advertise and recruit staff. We are also going to work on the take-off sites, and by early next year we will invite NUC for visitation and once they visit, hopefully they will give us the go ahead so that JAMB can include them in the brochure for next year’s admission and we will admit by October, 2021.

How many staff are you willing to recruit?

There is usually what we call Basic Minimum Standard (BMIS) that NUC normally puts in place which deals with number of staff per department and equipment per department, library materials and so on. We are actually guided by that. In addition to that, we are guided by the professional body for engineering, that is COREN. For medicine, it is Medical and Dental Council. The two have to come and do accreditation and we are working closely with them. In fact, in our steering committees we had representation from these two professional bodies.

From experience in other state and private universities, they admit students into the college of medicine, by the time they get to 300 level, they switch them to other disciplines of medicine. How grounded are you that such a thing does not happen in this university?

Yes, incidentally, I had that kind of experience from University of Abuja where I came from.

At the University of Abuja, we set up college of medicine, we were very ambitious. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture and Faculty of Engineering; four at the same time and we ran into the problem of funding; we ran into the problem of facilities and the students wanted to demonstrate at the Abuja- Lokoja Highway and it caused a lot of damages. Immediately the federal government had to intervene and they assisted us in solving those problems.

And the problems we also had, we cannot fund the students in other universities because there is a limited number that every college of medicine can accommodate. So the option we had was to distribute them. Of course we had candidates who will tell you that I have been admitted into MBBS and I won’t do any other thing except MBBS. Of course they have the right to ensure justice.

In our own case we are thinking not of that.

We have done our planning in terms of staffing.

We are able to work with the government and we have the approval of the government and that of our visitors.

In fact, when the Conference of Nigeria Alumni Association went for a meeting, what they said was that they are going to give 100 per cent support to ensure that our programmes in engineering and medicine take off.

So we have that support and we don’t have any issue with recruitment of staff. The other one is the issue of building. For engineering our site is in Gudi; complete school structure was handed over to us. The state government built that structures for disable but they have handed over the structure to us. So what we require in that place is simply to realign the structure to meet the need of engineering and make additional workshops. So we have a good structure for engineering.

For medicine, we have awarded contract for the construction of the first phase of the College of Medicine. But meanwhile, we have identified a new site. We have a new site for the Faculty of Environment. So we want to use the old site for the Faculty of Environment as the take-off site for the Faculty of Medicine which is going to take off on this campus.

So we are going to sort the issue of staffing, we are going to sort the issue of facilities and we are going to sort the issue of books. And we believe that we are good to go. And we are going to have this inspection early in 2021 and we can now have approval to start.

The state government has just directed tertiary institutions in the state to resume, how prepared are you?

We are prepared. We have been working with the state government first as a team. With all the tertiary institutions in the state, we are working together. We are also working together with the ministry to ensure that there is safe resumption. In the course of our working together, we discussed with the government on the need to assist the institutions to get the health protocol facilities require by the task force of the state and the federal government.

We have worked with the government and I want to report that they have given us that assistance.

Government has also taken up the responsibility of fumigation or disinfection of the environment. They have also taken the responsibility of training of our health staff and other staff on the health protocol. That is why virtually all the tertiary institutions in the state, apart from the university, have

Looking at your ďŹ ve point agenda for this institution, you have three years left, which one have you achieved to the latter?

Well, there is supposed to be ongoing projects that we are supposed to achieve at the end of the first year. Some of them are not something we can conclude but we have set the machinery.

For example, we want to build a university system. Building a university system, you have to have a system which is guided by the rule of law.

Guided by the rule of law means that the regulations that are so stated are the ones that will guide the relationship of all staff of the university. We also said the system has to be based on accountability and transparency. In building that kind of system is not something you can say it will be built at the end of one or two years. Our expectation is that over time we will be able to have a university where people can say if you come to Keffi, your ward, I am sure, can go to class base on timetable, take his/her lectures, can write exams based on timetable, if he/she deserves accommodation he/she will easily get accommodation. And if you graduate from Nasarawa State University and come to collect your transcript you will just go online and get it.

In other words, we want to see a system that is guided by rules and regulations, and there is some openness in what we are doing.

This is one of the core tasks that I set for myself. We have been working on it and it is really work in progress. My expectation is that we will keep improving until the time it becomes so obvious to the public to begin to notice.

Another issue is on ICT. You cannot build a 21st century university without having effective ICT unit. It is work in progress. I want to express our appreciation to TETFund who gave us a new befitting ICT block. We have ICT block that is about 1,000 seater capacity.

What of the one donated by Maigida Foundation?

The one donated by Maigida Foundation is for Postgraduate School. But this one is so unique because it is about 1,000 seater capacity. Currently TETFund is training our non-academic staff. So we are gradually getting the infrastructure. We want to ensure that there is campus internet connectivity, once you come to the campus there will be service for you to connect and do what you want.

We want ICT to drive teaching and learning, this is not something you will say you have finished. But towards the end of five years, we should see a considerable progress in the system.

The other ones are the setting up of new programmes. the university is 20 years old. All our contemporaries, including the ones that are junior to us have science based programmes, but ours is tilting towards art or social sciences.

That is why we said, look it is time we go into medicine and engineering.

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

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T H I S D AY Ëž NOVEMBER 11, 2020

EDUCATION

Kwara Receives over N7bn Grant to Rehabilitate Basic Schools Hammed Shittu in Ilorin The Kwara State Government has received a total of N7,151,142,190 grant from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) for the rehabilitation of the basic education sector in the state.

The Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Fatimah Ahmed disosed this in Ilorin in a statement.

She said the grant was the first time since 2013 when the state was blacklisted from the national scheme According to her, “the development represents a historic feat for Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who has spent the last one year working to reposition basic education in the state, beginning with the payment of N450 million diverted funds which had brought Kwara State under the hammer of the UBEC.�

She said “the N7.1 billion is a cumulation of UBEC grants that were not accessed between 2014 and 2019. The money was not accessed because the former administration failed to pay its own counterpart funds. “The UBEC grants are meant for rehabilitation of dilapidated basic schools, construction of new ones, equipment of the schools with ICT tools, training of teachers, and project evaluation, among other purposes contained in the UBEC work plan.�

She added: “This money would be spent in phases over the next two years to fix up to 600 elementary schools out of the over 1,400 decrepit basic education facilities across the state. “The projects would be monitored by UBEC to ensure compliance with the work plan submitted by the government. “This development has

taken Kwara State out of the bottom position in the ranking of states with highest figures of outstanding UBEC grants. “The pitiful state of basic education infrastructure in the state is a reflection of the failure to access UBEC funds

and the near-zero investments in the sector over the past few years.�

Meanwhile, the government would be organising a three-day workshop for local contractors and anyone who is interested in working with the

Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (KW-SUBEB).

The workshop according to the government began on Tuesday, November 9, 2020 while further details will be released.

The government stated that

“in compliance with the Public Procurement Act 2007, the KWSUBEB will be inviting interested registered, competent, capable and reputable contractors to submit their pre-qualification document to tender.�

LSUBEB Releases Primary Six Pupils’ Placement List Funmi Ogundare The Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LSUBEB) has released the lists of prmary six pupils to all the six education districts in the state.

The Chairman of the board,

Wahab Alawiye-King, in a statement, said pupils whose names appear in the lists are now qualified for placement into public Junior Secondary Schools (JSS).

He said parents and guardians should check the

placement of their children at the various primary schools they attended.

The statement read in parts: “This is to announce that the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board has released the lists of primary six pupils

to all the six education districts in the state for placement into public Junior Secondary Schools (JSS). “Parents/guardians are advised to kindly check their wards’ placement at the various primary schools they attended.�

Nigeria’s First Feature-length Animated Film for Release Dec 11 To help children and families deal with the challenges of 2020, Hot Ticket Productions, a Nigerian mass media company involved in the production of movies and other forms of entertainment, has announced the date for the premiere of Nigeria’s first feature-length animation film, Ladybuckit and the Motley Mopsters (LBMM).

The movie will start showing in cinemas across Nigeria and internationally on Friday, December 11, 2020.

It will feature the voices of some of Nigeria’s finest actors - Kalu Ikeagwu, Patrick Doyle, Bimbo Akintola, Bola Edwards, and others. It will also feature fresh voices of 11 and 13-year-old Jessica and David Edwards. Popular music producer and songwriter, Clement ‘DJ Klem’ Kponu and versatile film composer, Ava Momoh are the brains behind LBMM’s original 14-tracker album.

The CEO/founder of Hot Ticket Productions and the film’s Executive Producer and Producer, Blessing Amidu, who reiterated the importance of an exhilarating family-focused entertainment during this moment in history said: “This year has been a tough one for the world.

Families have had to deal with a pandemic, economic challenges and civil unrests.

As we approach the end of the year, it is important to provide some succour and means of escape and release for children and the entire family. We strongly believe that entertainment is a powerful tool for this. “We hope the fantastic universe of Ladybuckit and the Motley Mopsters will serve as a source of joy and laughter for Nigerian

families and millions of people around the world, during the festive season and for many years to come.�

According to her, “it took 30 incredible talents and two years to make this movie.

We are truly proud of the production and are privileged to have been able to tell a great Nigerian story.�

LBMM is valued at approximately $1 million. Since the release of the first teaser in August 2020, interest for the movie has been steadily growing, especially among fans of animation, cartoons and Nollywood watchers. “With scenes showing notable Nigerian landmarks and historical places such as Oloibiri, a community in Bayelsa State, where crude oil was first discovered in commercial quantity in 1956, it is expected that parts of the movie will serve as a flashback to Nigeria’s early years.

Bisi Adetayo, the movie’s Director also served as the lead animator. He referenced the power in the LBMM story, saying, “we want to take everyone’s imagination on a ride. It was a thrill to have incredible actors voice a powerful story and just let our creativity run free.�

According to PwC, the Nigerian entertainment and media industry will be worth $10 billion by 2023, while Forbes reports that animation is currently fueling the emergence of a creative economy across the African continent.

With the release of Ladybuckit and the Motley Mopsters, Nigeria and its abundant supply of extraordinary talents is taking its rightful place at the forefront of this creative explosion.

Some members of Conservation Community - Based Club in Agbare Community, Agbagi, lfo, Ogun State, participating in the 2020 Climate Action Project Day by converting waste to reusable items, courtesy of Dr. Oyekanmi, Oyemade for Trust in God Organisation (TIGO)... recently

Kwara Stakeholders Seek Quick Resolution of ASUU-FG Faceoff Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Quick resolution of the lingering ASUU-federal government crisis was top on the agenda of stakeholders in Kwara State at a town hall meeting called by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

The groups, who frowned at the unending friction and disagreement between the federal government and public university lecturers, said among other inconveniences, idleness created by the eight-month ASUU strike made Nigerian youths to be ready tools in the hands of trouble makers.

Among the stakeholders at

the event included civil societies, students, Academic Staff Union of Universities University of Ilorin, market women, farmers, NACCIMA, NURTW and RTEAN Leading the agitators include the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, Chairman of the University of Ilorin chapter of ASUU, Professor Moyo Ajao, President, Kwara State chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Azeez Jaji, among others like parents and professional associations.

The traditional ruler, who described the lingering strike as irritating, said children and wards of the poor parents in

the country are mostly suffering the effect of the disagreement between the lecturers and the federal government. “The issue of the ASUU strike is highly irritating. The poor parents in the country are those who have children in these public universities. They are the ones who suffer negative effect of the unending ASUU strike.

It’s only the rich that can send their children to private tertiary institutions or abroad for studies. “So I urge the government to look into the issue and resolve it as quickly as possible. Enough is enough. It’s no longer palatable,� he said.

Also speaking, Professor Ajao,

accused the federal government of discouraging negotiation with the ASUU leadership.

The university don, who accused the federal government of using hunger and starvation to fight striking lecturers, said government has refused to pay their salary for the past eight months.

He also appealed to the government to be more committed to the educational development of the Nigerian youth.

Also, members of NANS, who came into the hall singing solidarity song, echoed what the monarch and the lecturer said, calling for immediate and quick resolution of the strike.

My Vision is to Strategically Reposition BSU, Says New VC George Okoh in Makurdi The new Vice-Chancellor of Benue State University (BSU) Professor Joseph Tor Iorapuu has said his vision is to strategically reposition the institution, as well as change the attitude of Benue people towards the school.

Iorapuu, who made the promise while speaking with journalists in Makurdi after assuming office as the sixth

vice-chancellor of the university, also, pledged to ensure stability and enhance quality learning environment.

He further promised to set up a centre of entrepreneurship to promote skills acquisition among students. “We want to produce students who can think strategically and not engage in bureaucracy.

BSU is the heart and soul of Benue State and as such, all stakeholders must own it.

“My approach and desires are to model the way by building on existing blocks, inspire shared leadership and vision, promote academic excellence, enable others to act through staff welfare and training and encourage the heart with the right attitude. These pillars will help us in achieving the objective of repositioning the university as a centre of innovation, knowledge creation, technology-enhanced enterprise

driven, learning and adaption as core competences.�

He appealed for cooperation from all stakeholders, students and the different unions including ASUU, SSANU, NASU, and NAAT to enable him succeed.

He particularly called on all the unions at the national level to call off their strike in the interest of the students.

Iorapuu succeeded Professor Msur Kambe whose tenure ran out recently.

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EDUCATION

Oke-Odo Senior High School Wins Lagos Debate Contest Funmi Ogundare Oke-Odo Senior High School, Alimosho has emerged winner of the 2020 Lagos State Schools Debate (Season 10) with 75 points, defeating Lagos State Senior Model College, Kankon, Badagry, 73 points and Babs-Fafunwa Millennium Secondary School, Ojodu, 71 points to the second and third positions respectively.

In the junior category, Alimosho Junior Grammar School; Lagos State Model Junior College, Kankon and Lagos State Junior Model College, Igbokuta, came first, second and third positions respectively.

The star prize of the primary school category went to Olisa Primary School, Mushin, while the second and third prizes were won

by African Church Primary School, Alimosho and Saint

Agnes Primary School, Kosofe respectively.

Speaking at the virtual grand finale of the programme recently, the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo said the competition, which is aimed at producing socially stable and self-reliant students that can easily integrate into the larger society, is no doubt serving its purpose.

She said the competition over the years, has enabled students to think critically, analysing topical issues that concern them and relate to their environment. “This gave them an opportunity to express themselves and proffer solutions to situations affecting the nation and beyond,� she said.

Apart from cognitive skills taught in the classroom, Adefisayo said the competition created an avenue for the students to

explore their public speaking skills, which boosted their confidence, made them more assertive, adding that the debate enabled them to read more and do research about various topics and trending issues.

She said the initiative is in line with the education and technology agenda of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration and its commitment to the revitalisation process of the sector and ensuring that technology is integrated to improve learning outcomes, adding that the programme was held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Adefisayo congratulated all participants, saying, “everyone is a winner and no one should feel dejected for not emerging the overall best. I consider you all as winners and deserve to be celebrated.�

In her remarks, the Per-

manent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Abosede Adelaja commended the teachers, saying that irrespective of the schools closure, they have devised means of grooming the students virtually for the competition while engaging them on how to make their salient points and convince the audience. “Learning should not just be academics, but creating an enabling environment where the child can display his/her skills and abilities is very germane.�

She thanked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his support through the provision of qualitative education to enable children achieve their dreams of becoming whatever they want to become in life. “The ministry will not relent in its efforts of providing a habitable environment for teaching and learning.�

KEHINDE OMORU www.kayomoru.com

STILL ON OUR CHIBOK GIRLS! When I ďŹ rst wrote in year 2016 on our precious Chibok girls that were kidnapped by Boko Haram on April 14, 2014, I was of the ďŹ rm opinion that they would be released before the end of that particular year. I did state then and reiterating same that adolescence is fraught with a lot of challenges for girls. My own teen years were quite traumatic.

I lost my mum at twelve and a half years of age, and had no surrogate mother ďŹ gure to turn to; to answer the many questions that teenage girls have. All around us daily, there are gaps in the lives of budding girls, we could bridge. But, do we care enough at all?

The process of rapid physical changes in adolescence begins around the age of 11 years for girls. With these body changes come periods of restlessness and moodiness. Both teen boys and teen girls begin to think dierently and seek close relationships of non-family members.

They are becoming more independent, therefore they are eager to try out new things.

Onsexualmatters,thephysicalchangeshappeningtoteenagers’bodies may either push them into shyness and embarrassment on the one hand, or into boldness and even deďŹ ance on the other. Consequently, someteenscan’twaittoexploretheirownbodiesandwouldbragabout their newly discovered sexual abilities and experiences.

Quiteoften,ifagirl’sďŹ rstsexualintercourseoccursduringheradolescent years, especially if by a much older man, that experience is likely to be a coercive or forced sexual experience. Amina Ali Nkeki, the adolescent secondary school girl, kidnapped alongside 276 other Chibok girls in 2014, knows this only too well. Deep in the forest of Sambisa, Amina, was sexually violated and at a very young of about 19, she was delivered of a baby born to one of her abductors.

Amina’s experience is a clear demonstration of power, control and terrorism. Notwithstanding, similar exploitative and conniving sexual relationships do exist. Many young girls are daily violated by uncles, benefactors, relations and stand at risk of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. It is a known fact that teenage girls are less likely to use contraceptives. Therefore, let’s look out for our school-agegirls.Wearestilldemandingtheunalloyedreleaseofourgirls.

Omoru is a freelance writer, education, health and social care advocate

L-R: Miss Salam Hamdalat and Miss Anifowose Mary of Alimosho Junior Grammar School, winners (junior school category); Master Babalola David and Miss Alli Rokibat of Olisa Primary School, Mushin, winners, (primary school category); Miss Enabulele Adebukola and Master Iyiola Abdul Razaq of Oke-Odo Senior High School, Alimosho, winners (senior school category), during the awards presentation ceremony for the 2020 Lagos State Schools Debate Competition (season 10), held recently

NIHOTOUR, Repositioned for Better Training, Service Delivery, Says DG Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi The Director General, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Alhaji Nura Kangiwa has reiterated his commitment towards repositioning the institute for better training and service delivery of manpower in the tourism industry.

While stating that the institute will ensure high quality training of personnel that conforms to international standards so as to achieve better service delivery in the industry in line with best practice, he urged stakeholders in the industry to imbibe the culture of training and retraining of its personnel for maximum productivity.

Kangiwa stated this in his remarks during the closing ceremony of a two-day training programme for tour guides, organised by the NIHOTOUR in Bauchi.

According to him, capacity building for performance enhancement and competence

is vital to the success of a vibrant and enduring tourism industry.

The director general, who was represented by the Director, Public Relations of the institute, Alhaji Ahmed Sule, reiterated that “manpower development is a vital ingredient to qualitative tourism development.

NIHOTOUR will continue to play a significant role in this direction.�

He added: “Your presence here today is indicative of the importance you attached to training as an indispensable catalyst for growth and development, and in particular, towards the evolution of a vibrant tourism sector in the state.�

He called on operators in both the public and private sectors of the industry to avail themselves of courses and training programmes in the institute to enhance their skills and knowledge for the growth and development of the Nigerian tourism industry.

Also speaking, the state

Commissioner for Commerce and Tourism, Dr. Asamau Giade said Bauchi State is blessed with tourist attractions like the famous Yankari Games Reserve, Marshall Caves, Sumo and Lame Burra Wildlife Parks, Tungan Dutse popular for the ancient engraving on the rocks, and the former Prime Minister, late Abubakar Tafawa Balewa’s tomb, among others.

To this end, the commissioner said the role of the tour guides is important to project these top destination sites and the image of the state.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Alhaji Ali Babayo, the commissioner said the training will improve the knowledge and communication skills of the tour guides, as well as equip them with techniques for planning and preparing a tour.

She added that the state government has keyed into the culture and tourism sector

to serve as another means of revenue generation for the state.

She commended the management of NIHOTOUR for organising the training in the state, saying that the state government will continue to partner the institute for the growth and development of the tourism industry in the state and the country in general.

In their separate remarks the Chief Trainer/HOD Tourism Studies at the institute, Edwin Enenta and the Zonal Coordinator, NIHOTOUR Bauchi Campus, Mr. Ibrahim Tanko said participants demonstrated high level of cooperation, and hoped they will use the skills acquired at the training to promote tourism in the state.

An elated Tanko said the tour guides are expected to provide quality services to visitors in order to meet their expectations, pointing out that the training is an important part of giving every visitor to Bauchi a great experience.

2018 MTOTY Winner Hopeful of Emerging Best Teacher Globally The winner of the 2018 Maltina Teacher of the Year (MTOTY), Mr. Olasunkanmi Opeifa has expressed hope of emerging winner of the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2020, which is billed to be announced at a virtual ceremony on December 3, 2020.

Opeifa, who teaches English Language at Government Day Secondary School, Karu, Abuja, was recently shortlisted among the top 10 teachers for the coveted global prize.q “I am highly excited to be shortlisted among the final top 10 teachers for the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher prize. This really meant a lot to me and would go a long way to boost my morale in continuously contributing my quota to the growth of the teaching profession. Having gone this far, I am highly hopeful of winning this prize,� he stated.

Opeifa made the final cut having been selected from a pool of 12,000 nominations and applications from over 140 countries across the world.

If he emerges the winner of the global initiative, he would become the second African to win the coveted prize and would be rewarded with $1 million, the largest prize of its kind.

A Kenyan science teacher, Mr. Peter Tabichi won the previous

edition of the initiative. The prize, which is in its sixth edition, is being awarded in partnership with UNESCO. The Global Teacher Prize was set up to recognise an exceptional teacher who has made outstanding contribution to the profession, as well as shine a spotlight on the important role teachers play in society.

By unearthing thousands of stories of heroes that have transformed young people’s lives, the prize hopes to bring to life the exceptional work of millions of teachers all over the world.

With 10 years to go to meet UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 - providing a quality education for every child- the Global Teacher Prize has partnered with UNESCO to ensure teachers are right at the top of governments’ agenda.

Opeifa is reputed to have introduced a lot of innovations and techniques in teaching and ensuring the mastery of English Language among the pupils.

To stimulate his students, he has been known to use edutainment/fun-based learning for teaching English Language concepts, for example linking essay writing with popular dance steps and, to demonstrate phonology and grammar, he has even taken to rapping and hip-hop songs.

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 11, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍŻ, 2020

CITYSTRINGS

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Danbare, Kano’s Forgotten Communities Ibrahim Shuaibu writes that the communities of Danbare in Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State have continuously decried the absence of governance and basic amenities, especially accessible roads and healthcare

T

he communities of Danbare in Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State have decried the absence of government attention to them for quite a number of years which led them untold hardship.

The residents also decried the absence of access roads to their areas, especially during and after the raining period, lamenting that the government forgot the community for years without motorable road despite its closeness with federal Highway linking the community with the Bayero University Kano.

The community said the only road leading to the communities was in a deplorable state and had become impassable, especially during the rains.

When THISDAY visited the area, landlords, residents and business owners lamented that the abandoned road project had negatively impacted commercial activities in the area and called for its speedy completion by the state government.

It was also observed that conveying pregnant women for routine ante-natal care has been hindered by inaccessible roads One of the residents, Malam Umar Muhammad, told THISDAY that the road was “horrible� and that the residents were wondering if the state and local governments had not forgotten them.

Umar, said the condition of the road was more disturbing because of flooding, which often made it difficult for the residents to get back to their homes after work. “As you can see, whenever it rains residents find it difficult getting back to their houses because the road will be flooded. Sometimes, the situation will be so bad that the few people that manage to ply the road are scared and residents returning from various destinations walk home, wading through the flooded stretch.�

He said those that own cars and motorcycles were avoiding the route due to the damage it often caused to their vehicles. “Honestly, the road is a problem to us.

Many people have stopped coming to their houses because of the access road.�

Another resident, Mr Emmanuel Ilias, said many people had moved out of the area due to the bad road and called on the state Ministry of Works to come to their aid. “I appeal to the government to come to our rescue by including the road in its urban roads rehabilitation programme,� he said.

Speaking in the same vein, another resident of the area, Malam Yusuf Danbare said the community had been playing host to the hordes of students studying at the Bayero University over the years considering the compelling need for the establishment of adequate hostels on the campus.

According to him, the time has come for the Kano State government to extend a helping hand to the community in the form of physical infrastructure, adding that earning a good living is the best way to pay them with the positive side of the coin.

THISDAY reports that the communities are not only parts of Kano, but densely populated with farmers, civil servants, businessmen and students due to their proximities to the state seat of power and several federal, state and religious institutions.

Among the institutions situated in the nearby Danbare community is Bayero University Kano, among other federal government organisations.

A resident of the area, Lawan Muhammad, appealed for the state government’s urgent intervention on the failed portion of the road to avoid what he termed untold hardship it would cause on the populace.

At the moment, there is no healthcare

The state of the road leading to Danbare

Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje facility owned by the state government and the only healthcare centre is owned

by Kumbotso Local Government Area.

In the area of the healthcare system, it is disheartening that Danbare communities have been neglected and marginalised to the extent that they would need to travel miles to get medical attention. The community is therefore in dire need of a well equipped and staffed health-care facility.

This is because the health facility built in the area is lying fallow without medical and health personnel. The predicament came to the fore during the recent COVID-19 pandemic whereby the inhabitants resorted to private hospitals nearby their area for medical attention.

The residents also had a standard power supply by the power holding company and are not economically enjoying the power supply because of the government’s inability to construct a befitting motorable road.

The residents also lamented that the Kumbotso Local Government Council, which Danbare is among its community, has forgetten the community for years as there is no any move by previous and the present leadership to fix some basic needs in the area. They noted that this attitude by the local government might not connected with the state government’s failure to allow the local government areas in the to control their federal government allocation.

The residents therefore appealed to the state government to provide social amenities for them.

Mr Adam Yunusa, said that Danbare has no hospital, recreation centre, police post, adding that the entire community has only one government public primary and secondary schools that are even in bad condition and far away from the community.

Therefore, the residents appealed to the Kano State government to urgently come to their rescue and build a befitting road and even equip the Primary Health Care facility with adequate manpower to improve health services in the community to stem maternal and infant mortality. “Complaints have been made to the Kano State government but all to no avail,� said Lawan. “We are calling unto the government to consider the Danbare and also reconstruct the road network and provide us with basic social amenities because over one million people are leaving in the area.�

Malam Umar Iro Musa, also an occupant of Danbare says the state government has ignored all the complaints by the community to fix both the roads and construct drainages in the area, coupled with provision of basic social amenities.

The Kano State government has neglected us, Umar lamented, adding that “the absence of the road has negatively affected our daily activities. Most times, pregnant women lost their lives due to bad roads. During the rainy season, transporting is hard, it has impacted our access to health care services�.

Our reporter also tried to contact the Chairman of Kumbotso Local Government Area to find out why the Danbare town was being neglected, but he declined to speak, but a source told our correspondent that the government was planning to build a road in the town.

Other sources also confirmed that the chairman of the local government area also submitted the proposal for construction of roads in this community.

An official of the state government told our correspondent under the condition of anonymity that the residents were neglected because of their closeness with Bayero University Kano and government believed that the community can rapidly develop without even projects from the state government due to caliber of community that are mostly from the main city of Kano and those who are partially non indigenes.

Efforts to speak with two commissioners of rural community development Mr Musa Ilyasu and his counterpart of Works and Infrastructures Mr Idris Garba proved abortive.

Recall that government is making necessary step to construct the road and may likely be involved in the 2021 budget proposal by the state governor Mr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

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CRIME&SECURITY

Unlawful Parade of Tween in Post #EndSARS Era in Edo One of the aftermaths of the #EndSARS protest in Edo State was the unnecessary and unlawful parading of an 11-year-old boy among hoodlums and masterminds of the burning and looting of police stations in Benin City, Edo State by the police, writes Adibe Emenyonu

T

o him, it was fun time especially when some hoodlums hijacked the #EndSARS protest in Benin City, capital of Edo State. As soon as the hijackers succeeded in sacking men of the police force in their stations and began to loot whatever was in sight, Gift Osayuhi, aged 11, went for the police uniforms, hung in one of the offices, wore it and pronounced himself the new Inspector General of Police henceforth.

Gift, as he is fondly called by his peers, has stopped going to school. His classroom was the busy Ring Road (King Square) where he assists his widowed mother to sell sachet water before daily meal is guaranteed.

What a way of life for the teen who at that age has become familiar with jungle life. Therefore, when the hoodlums attacked the Oba Market Police station, within the precint of the Ring Road, he couldn't help but join the crowd.

Incidentally, this coincided with the time he finished selling the first bag of pure water given to him by his mother to sell.

He therefore grabbed the opportunity to join the army of protesters to grab a police uniform as his own palliative and appointed himself the IG, oblivious of the consequences of his action.

Eventually, when the dust died down and the law enforcement agents began a manhunt of those they claimed were involved in the arson and looting, Gift was conspicuously identified and the search for him began until he was arrested.

Gift would have gone scot free but for the video which went viral in the social media that captured him wearing a uniform meant for the "original IG". But his offence, according to the police authorities when he was paraded alongside other suspects was his involvement in the burning of the police station.

During a brief interview with him after the civil society group secured his release on grounds of being a minor, he said his ambition is to become the Inspector General of Police.

He simply said: "My dream is to become the Inspector General of Police." Further probe did not elicit any other answer from him.

This prompted some member of the public to question the police on the rationale behind apprehending an eleven year old because he was seen wearing a police uniform during the EnSARS protest.

Speaking on the issue, Kola Edopkayi, leader of the Talakawa Parliament, one of the civil society groups in Edo State that secured Gift release, said "We have been able to secure the unconditional release of the 11 year old boy by name Gift Osayuhi whose picture went viral on social media for allegedly joining some miscreants to break into Oba Market Police station, took their police uniform, wore it and declared himself as the new IG of Police during the ENDSARS protest."

Edokpayi disclosed that boy was released after the parliament made an undertaking to rehabilitate and reform him.

"The young boy said his dream is to become the IG of Police and we also undertook to ensure the boy is giving a proper education so as to help him achieve his dream. We sincerely thank Edo State Commissioner of Police and Edo State Ministry of Justice for the kind understanding and cooperation.

"We also met with his mother who told us she is a widow that takes care of her children alone and the little boy usually assist her to sell water and drinks in Ring Road", Edokpayi stated.

To make well their undertaking, the civil society group has launched an education endowment fund for Gift Osayuki and his back to school in pursuant of the dream.

As as much as the episode involving the eleven year old appears comic, the legal profession did not take it lightly as they lampooned the police for unlawful detention and infringing on the fundamental human rights of Gift.

Gift Osayuhi (m) anked by members of the Talakawa Parliament shortly after he was released to them by the police command in Benin

Eleven-year-old Gift Osayuhi, when he was paraded by the Edo State Police Command, Benin The member, Monitoring Committee of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Benin, Prince Madojemu is one of those who carpeted the Nigeria Police for parading little Gift alongside other suspected criminals, knowing fully well he is a minor that needed protection.

He said it is not only shameful for the police to parade the 11 year-old child as one of the masterminds of the arsonist attack on one of their stations, but equally actrocious to see how the rights of the child has been violated with this parade vis-a-vis the extant provision of the CHILD RIGHTS ACT. Madojemu asked, "Can the Edo State Police Command say in certain terms that a well equipped police station famed for its abuse of human rights before the #EndSARS period was sacked, looted and burnt down by an 11 year old child?"

He described as ridiculous and shameful to see 11 year olds chasing trained police personnel out of their own station.

According to him, the Child Rights Act explicitly made provisions for the detention of a perceived child offender and sundry things to be done in respect of the arrested child which Section 212 states as follows: "Detention pending trial (1) Detention pending trial shall—(a) be used only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest possible period of time; (b) wherever possible, be replaced by

alternative measures, including close supervision, care by and placement with a family or in an educational setting or home.

(2) While in detention, a child shall be given care, protection and all necessary individual assistance, including social, educational, vocational, psychological, medical and physical assistance, that he may require having regard to his age, sex and personality."

According to him, "The Act also in sections 213 and 214, give directions on how the child should be prosecuted in court including the coverage of his trial and how the prosecution handles the child while being prosecuted for the allege offence. The child should not be treated like an adult that have committed a crime, rather the police should struggle to unravel the reason for the child's involvement in the crime and other things.

"By the Provisions of Section 211(2) of the child Rights Act, the Act explains that the child should be protected to avoid harm coming to the child. It defines harm to include the use of harsh language, physical violence, exposure to the environment and any consequential physical, psychological or emotional injury or hurt."

However, the legal practitioner noted that the exposure and parade of this child by the police has actually violated the right of the child and caused him more "harm" than the allege offence he committed.

The parade he further stressed, has caused

the child emotional and psychological hurt as he is currently the butt of joke on the internet when he ought to be protected in accordance with the provision of the Child Rights Act. Madojemu also picked holes on the Nigeria Police Act 2020 which did not outlaw the incidences of parading suspects on television when a court of law has not pronounce them guilty, demanding what happens to the presumptuous of innocence until proven guilty mantra as enshrined in Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution as amended?

His words: "One of the failings of the recently passed Nigeria Police Act, 2020, is it's failure to outlaw the incidences of parading suspects on television when a competent court of law has not pronounced them guilty. What happens to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty as espoused in Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended)?

"The courts has repeatedly warned about the dangers of parading suspects for alleged offences committed before their actual trial.

What happens when the court discharges and acquits them of the alleged offence?

Will they be adequately compensated for the psychological trauma and torture they go through? What about the stigma it brings to them when friends, loved ones and family watch them on television as criminals? But as usual, the Police and other law enforcement agencies, are oblivious of this pronouncements by our Courts. What a Shame!

"It is my respectful opinion that the Nigerian Police Force, Edo State Command should ensure that the Rights of the young "IGP" arrested in connection to the looting and burning of Oba Market Divisional Police station be taken into consideration and well protected while in their custody. “I think the sanity of the child should be taken into consideration if the police are certain that the child was amongst those that sacked a heavily armed division. If these things are not considered, any charges brought against the child may not see the light of the day. The child should be protected at all times and not be made to form a source of comic relief to the Post #EndSARS era.

"It is wrong to treat children the same way an adult will be treated given the circumstances of a crime being committed.

The law protects the child. We should all ensure that the protection accorded the child under the law should be well exercised in favour of the child. Not only has the parents and/or guardians of the child failed the child, the society has equal share in the upbringing of this child. The child needs love and rehabilitation and not social media reprimand and stigmatisation!"

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BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Capital Market Operators Advocate for N1tr Infrastructure Fund Dike Onwuamaeze The newly elected President of the Association of Issuing Houses of Nigeria (AIHN), Mr. Ike Chioke has urged capital market operators in the country to champion the floating of a N1 trillion infrastructure fund for the country.

Chioke, made the call yesterday in Lagos, during the Annual General Meeting of the association and the 2020 Investment Banking Awards, where he emerged the president of the AIHN. He stated that the AIHN believed that the, “capital market should be at the centre of mobilising funding for key infrastructural projects in the country. As such, we shall be advocating that the capital market should float a N1 trillion infrastructure fund.�

He also said the proceeds from the fund would be applied

to packaging and developing bankable target infrastructural projects which require funding in line with the Sukuk bond model.

Chioke said: “These should be commercially viable, ringfenced, legally secured, high impact with enabling guarantees where needed,� adding that the fund should accommodate, “public sector sponsored projects protected from public sector bureaucratic execution framework yet compliant with all relevant public sector procurement rules.�

He affirmed the notion that crypto-currencies are now a financial reality, stating that the time has come for the AIHN to encourage its members to brace up to the future of capital raising in the digital market. “One of the things the AIHN will be championing going forward,� he said, “is how to prepare our members for the

future of capital raising in a digital financial market. “While crypto-currencies emerged as an experimental and alternative way to store value, they have now become the norm with a future that will significantly change the financial markets as we know it.�

Chioke said data from Bitcoin promoters in the country have shown that Nigeria recently overtook the United States as the country with the most downloads of the Bitcoin wallet.

According to him, 3,473 out of the 18,613 wallets downloaded between July and August this year were from Nigeria, which was well ahead of the 2,802 from the United States America while India remained a distant third with a total of 1,420 downloads during the same period. “According to Usetulips, Nigeria is Africa’s leader on Bitcoin transfers averaging about $8 million in transfers weekly�.

Firm Raises $10m, to Expand Digital-first Banking Operations Kuda, a startup out of Nigeria that operates a popular mobile-first challenger bank for consumers has announced that it has raised $10 million — the biggest seed round ever to be raised in Africa.

According to a techcrunch.com report, the funding comes on the back of strong demand for the firm’s services and its ambitions, which it quoted it CEO, Babs Ogundeyi to have said was to become the go-to bank not just for those living on the continent, but for the African diaspora. “We want to bank every African on the planet, wherever you are in the world,� he said in an interview. It’s starting first in its home market: since launching in

September 2019, it has picked up around 300,000 customers — first consumers and now also small businesses — and on average processes over $500 million of transactions each month,� he added.

The $10 million was being led

by Target Global, the giant venture capital out of Europe, with EntrĂŠe Capital and SBI Investment (once part of SoftBank, now no longer) also participating, along with a number of other notable individual fintech founders and angels.

The list includes Raffael Johnen (founder of Auxmoney), Johan Lorenzen (founder of Holvi), Brandon Krieg/Ed Robinson

(founders of Stash), and Oliver and Lish Jung (angel investors in Nubank, Revolut, and Chime).

Prior to this Kuda — which is co-founded by Ogundeyi and CTO Musty Mustapha — had raised $1.6 million in a pre-seed round to launch a beta of its service, and Ogundeyi had said he’s already working on a much bigger Series A. No valuation is currently being disclosed.

In a year where many have been watching the world economy with some trepidation on the back of a raging health pandemic hitting multiple geographies, fintech in Africa has been in the spotlight of late.

NERC Chairman Hails Eko Disco The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Prof. James Momoh has described the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) as a pacesetter and best performing Electricity Distribution Company in Nigeria.

Momoh, according to a statement, disclosed this during an oversight visit to the corporate headquarters of the company at Lagos. He was quoted to have said: “Since I assumed office as the Chairman of NERC, Eko Disco has been the leader among its peers in terms of performance and all measurable indices.

They have been impressive in automation, metering, minimum remittance, commitment to service improvement and importantly in the reduction of the Aggregate Technical Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) losses. They have remained the Industry leader, pacesetter and the best�.

Momoh was received by the Chairman, Board of Directors of the Company, Charles Momoh who appreciated him for his visit and the cordial relationship between the Commission and the Disco. The NERC Chairman was commended for his role in bringing ease into the working relationship between

the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the Distribution Companies.

Also, in attendance at the meeting were Directors of the EKEDC; Dere Otubu, Ernest Oji, George Etomi and the Managing Director/ CEO, Adeoye Fadeyibi.

Momoh also praised the company for its role in the adoption of new technology and advancement of its processes. He charged the company to carry on with its performance in the electricity space and called on all employees of the Nigerian power sector to put in their best as they are the engine room expected to drive the sector to the desired heights.

Chivita Wins ‘Outstanding Juice Brand’Award Chivita 100% Fruit Juice has announced that it won the 2020 Marketing Edge Outstanding Juice Brand Award.

This year’s award made it the fourth time in five years that Chivita 100% is coming top in this category and thereby reaffirms its dominance in the fruit juice market. The award was seen as a deserved recognition for the brand’s category leadership which it has earned through superior product quality, consistent innovation, advocacy, as well as engagement approach aimed at deepening conversations on the role of 100% fruit juice in

everyday wellness.

Renowned for its quality nourishment, Chivita 100% is a great tasting 100% fruit juice made from real natural fruits with no added sugar, no artificial colours and no preservatives. According to the award organisers, the nomination and subsequent emergence of Chivita 100% as the ‘Outstanding Juice Brand of the Year’ was a product of painstaking review and assessment of the Juice segment of the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector of the Nigerian economy. “It is on record that Chivita 100% has since its entry into

the market dominated the Juice segment with variants that are individually iconic brands. It has also brought so much innovation to product development, packaging, branding and advocacy. This development has literally shot it to the peak of the pack in its product segment and sustained it there,� they stated.

Responding on behalf of CHI Limited, Brand Manager, Chivita, Ademola Mafikuyomi, stated that the Marketing Edge Most Outstanding Juice Brand of the Year award for Chivita 100% is the latest in a long line of awards for the brand.

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 ͡ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $39.97 a barrel on Monday, compared with $39.22 the previous Friday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), ZaďŹ ro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela) SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

35

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍŻËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

International Breweries Plc Reduces Loss after Tax to N11bn Goddy Egene International Breweries Plc has reduced its loss after tax (LAT) for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 to N10.877 billion from N16.445 billion in the corresponding period of 2019.

The reduction in loss resulted from a significant decline in financing cost and other cost reduction strategies.

Details of the results showed that International Breweries Plc

posted a revenue of N95.768 billion, down from N97.26billion in 2019.

However, the company was able to reduce administrative expenses from N19.5 billion to N17.613billion, while market and promotion expenses fell from N11.812 billion toN8.416 billion. Financing cost took a big plunge from N13.136 billion to N1.8billion. Consequently, loss before tax stood(LAT) at N17.719billion in 2020, compared

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R

DEALS

with N24 billion in 2019, while loss LAT reduced fromN16.44 billion to N10.877 billion in 2020.

Commenting on the third quarter (Q3) performance, analysts at Meristem Research said unlike the first half of the year, where revenue was down 11.68per cent, International Breweries Plc, posted a comparatively stronger Q3, which lifted overall revenue for nine months toN95.77 billion, a 1.53 per cent decline from 2019. “The upsurge in sales during

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

the quarter rode on the back of recovering demand for alcoholic beverages, particularly as on-trade sales channels came back on stream. Although we consider International Breweries Plc’s product-price mix as a source of competitive advantage, we envisage that alcohol demand would come in slower than is usually witnessed in the celebration ridden Q4 period.

Our view is also informed by pressured disposable incomes and

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

even weaker purchasing power as consumers continue to grapple with surging inflation,� they said.

The analysts noted that higher finance income and lower finance costs reduced the burden from interest payments. “At just N1.83bn, net finance charges for 9M:2020 showed a significant 86.09 per cent improvement over 9M:2019 levels. The brewer also benefitted from tax credit of N6.84 billion which settled its LAT position atN10.88

O F

billion. For the rest of the year, we reiterate our expectation of the firm remaining in a loss position due mainly to lingering cost pressures,� they said.

Looking ahead, they said as they highlighted in H1:2020, their bearish outlook for International Breweries is informed by preexisting industry headwinds (intense rivalry, excise duties and soft consumer spending)as well as the impact of COVID-19 on sales.

1 0 / 1 1 / 2 0 2 0 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

36

˾ WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2020

Wednesday, November 11, 2020 Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index Gains 1.6%

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

The Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index yesterday rose 157bps to ƐĞƩůĞ Ăƚ ϭ͕ϰϲϭ͘ϯϳ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ dŚŝƐ ǁĂƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ďƵLJŝŶŐ interest in MTNN ;нϰ͘ϭйͿ͕ ZENITH ;нϮ͘ϯйͿ ĂŶĚ ACCESS

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

;нϮ͘ϯйͿ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϰϵ͘ϯй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘

The Bulls Extend the Lead... ASI up 1.3% dŚĞ ƐƚŽĐŬ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ƵƉďĞĂƚ LJĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůů^ŚĂƌĞ ŝŶĚĞdž ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ϭ͘ϯй ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ Ăƚ ϯϮ͕ϲϰϳ͘ϭϬ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ŐĂŝŶƐ ŝŶ MTNN ;нϰ͘ϭйͿ͕ STANBIC ;нϰ͘ϰйͿ ĂŶĚ ZENITH ;нϮ͘ϯйͿ͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƌŽƐĞ േϮϭϭ͘ϭďŶ to േϭϳ͘ϭƚŶ ǁŚŝůĞ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ ϮϬ͘ϲй͘ ĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ĚĞĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞͲ ĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ ϵй ĂŶĚ ϲ͘ϭй ƚŽ ϱϳϴ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ േϳ͘ϳďŶ ƌĞƐƉĞĐͲ ƟǀĞůLJ͘ dŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁĞƌĞ ZENITH ;ϲϳ͘ϵŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ FBNH ;ϲϰ͘ϳŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ĂŶĚ ACCESS ;ϲϬ͘Ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ ZENITH (േϭ͘ϲďŶͿ͕ GUARANTY (േϭ͘ϮďŶͿ ĂŶĚ DANGCEM (േϱϱϲ͘ϯŵͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘

ůů ϲ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ͘ dŚĞ /ŶͲ ƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ and AFR-/ d ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƉĂĐŬ͕ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝͲ ĂƟŶŐ ϯ͘ϯй ĂŶĚ Ϯ͘ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ŐĂŝŶƐ ŝŶ CUS;нϭ͘ϴйͿ͕

Current Price

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

LINKASSURE

;нϴ͘ϵйͿ͕

and

MTNN ;нϰ͘ϭйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ and ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ŝŶĚŝͲ

Price Previous Current Change Price Weightin YTD g Change

Price Change Index to Date

ROE

ROA

1.57%

-0.4%

46.1%

16.3%

3.4%

5.6x

0.7x

5.2%

11.7%

4.1%

32.5%

48.8%

43.3%

189.4%

11.9%

16.1x

27.1x

4.5%

6.2%

2 Airtel Africa PLC

410.20

0.0%

15.7%

37.2%

37.2%

7.7%

2.8%

3 Guaranty Trust Bank PLC

35.00

-0.7%

10.5%

17.8%

19.9%

29.4%

4.7%

4 Zenith Bank PLC

24.50

2.3%

6.9%

31.7%

31.0%

1,400.00

-1.5%

3.8%

-4.8%

-4.8%

83.0%

185.00

0.0%

4.7%

30.3%

30.3%

30.8%

8.90

2.3%

3.1%

-11.0%

-11.9%

15.3%

5 Nestle Nigeria PLC 6 Dangote Cement PLC 7 Access Bank PLC

1.5x

8.1%

19.4%

3.4x

0.8x

11.7%

29.1%

20.5%

27.2x

26.5x

5.0%

3.7%

14.6%

12.4x

3.9x

8.9%

8.1%

1.3%

3.2x

0.5x

7.3%

31.4%

8 United Bank for Africa PLC

8.80

0.0%

2.9%

23.1%

22.2%

13.0%

1.2%

4.1x

0.5x

11.1%

24.4%

9 FBN Holdings Plc

7.10

0.0%

2.5%

15.4%

9.2%

14.2%

1.4%

3.4x

0.4x

5.3%

29.2%

10 Nigerian Brew eries PLC

52.50

1.0%

2.0%

-11.0%

-11.0%

6.6%

2.5%

38.9x

2.6x

3.8%

2.6%

11 Lafarge Africa PLC

21.00

-2.1%

3.1%

37.3%

52.2%

6.5%

4.6%

14.6x

0.9x

4.7%

6.8%

420.00

0.0%

1.3%

-36.2%

-29.1%

2.5%

1.5%

0.4x

9.2%

-3.2%

25.8%

3.8%

1.5x

5.0%

16.3%

0.8x

5.0%

12 SEPLAT Petroleum Development C 13 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

48.00

4.3%

2.0%

17.1%

20.0%

14 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

28.45

0.0%

1.2%

44.4%

44.4%

15 International Brew eries PLC

7.05

2.2%

0.6%

-25.8%

-25.8%

-26.3%

-6.2%

6.20

3.3%

0.7%

-4.6%

-5.3%

11.0%

0.7%

2.5x

0.3x

17 Fidelity Bank PLC

2.78

-1.1%

0.8%

35.6%

37.6%

10.7%

1.1%

3.1x

0.3x

7.0%

32.3%

190.00

0.0%

0.7%

28.5%

28.5%

16.4%

7.6%

10.3x

1.6x

4.2%

9.7%

19 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

80.00

0.0%

0.7%

43.9%

43.9%

23.5%

15.8%

11.9x

2.4x

2.3%

8.4%

20 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

19.40

7.2%

0.6%

42.6%

38.6%

30.8%

15.6%

6.9x

1.9x

6.0%

14.6%

1.0%

18 11 PLC

1.02

9.7%

0.4%

3.0%

-4.7%

-3.5%

-0.8%

0.6x

14.35

1.4%

0.3%

-34.8%

-30.7%

-9.8%

-6.5%

1.3x

23 Guinness Nigeria PLC

3.8%

0.2%

-36.8%

-36.8%

-16.2%

-8.4%

-1.2%

0.6%

81.1%

84.1%

9.8%

1.1%

3.3x

0.3x

4.3%

29.9%

25 Sterling Bank PLC

2.00

0.0%

0.3%

0.5%

5.3%

8.7%

0.8%

5.6x

0.4x

1.5%

17.9%

26 UAC of Nigeria PLC

8.00

0.0%

0.2%

-7.0%

-10.1%

7.8%

3.7%

113.5x

0.5x

1.3%

0.9%

27 Custodian and Allied Insurance

5.60

1.8%

0.2%

-6.7%

-6.7%

13.9%

4.8%

5.2x

0.7x

8.0%

19.1%

68.50

0.0%

0.3%

44.2%

44.2%

18.5%

7.7%

13.1x

2.2x

2.9%

7.7%

5.80

1.8%

0.2%

-3.3%

-4.1%

7.7%

1.0%

7.3x

0.7x

4.3%

13.8%

129.90

0.0%

0.2%

17.1%

17.1%

10.7%

2.1%

15.7x

1.7x

5.2%

3.26

9.8%

0.1%

-18.3%

-18.3%

14.5%

2.6%

1.4x

0.2x

32 NASCON Allied Industries PLC

15.45

10.0%

0.2%

19.3%

19.3%

18.4%

5.8%

10.1x

3.3x

2.6%

33 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

17.50

0.0%

0.1%

5.5%

-12.1%

10.8%

1.2%

18.9x

0.7x

9.5%

5.3%

0.75

8.7%

1.4%

10.3%

8.3%

0.6%

3.9x

0.5x

5.4%

25.3%

14.40

7.1%

0.1% 0.1%

-20.4%

-20.0%

3.1%

1.1%

35.1x

1.0x

7.8x

28 Presco PLC 29 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC 30 Total Nigeria PLC 31 Oando PLC

34 Wema Bank PLC

0.1%

3.0%

3.0%

10.3%

7.2%

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

-13.1%

-3.6%

39 AXA Mansard Insurance PLC

2.20

5.8%

0.1%

11.1%

11.1%

21.5%

6.6%

40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

4.00

0.0%

0.0%

-18.4%

-18.4%

-10.4%

-5.0%

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ƚŽ ϯ͘ϱdž ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ϰ͘ϱdž ƌĞĐͲ ŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ĚĂLJ ĂƐ ϯϵ ƟĐŬĞƌƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ƚŚĞ 11

ƚŚĂƚ

OSMITH

ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ͘

NEIMETH

;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͕ CADBURY

;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͕ ;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ

and

NAS-

ϴ͘ϴйͿ͕ PZ (-ϱ͘ϰйͿ ĂŶĚ CHAMS (-ϰ͘ϯйͿ ůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞƌƐ͘ tĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƚŽ ƚĂŬĞ ƉƌŽĮƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŶĞdžƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐͲ ƐŝŽŶ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĞĚ ďƵůůŝƐŚ ŵŽŵĞŶƚƵŵ͘

T ic k er

0.6x

-31.3%

6.4% 71.2% 9.9%

2.8%

0.0%

3.7x

0.8x

0.0x

12.8%

1.6x

-6.7%

0.7x

26.8%

0.6x

0.0x

-18.7%

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

T o p 10 G a i n e r s

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

N EIM ET H

2.20

10.0%

Z EN IT H B A N K

67.9

2.3%

C A D B UR Y

9.35

10.0%

FB NH

64.7

0.0% 2.3%

GLA XOSM IT H

6.60

10.0%

A C C ESS

60.2

N A SC ON

15.45

10.0%

F ID ELIT YB K

35.5

-1.1%

34.8

-0.7%

NNFM

6.65

9.9%

GUA R A N T Y

OA N D O

3.26

9.8%

UB A

25.0

0.0%

T R A N SC OR P

1.02

9.7%

D A N GSUGA R

23.9

7.2%

WA P IC

0.46

9.5%

ET I

19.5

3.3%

ET R A N Z A C T

2.30

9.5%

WEM A B A N K

19.2

8.7%

LIVEST OC K

1.27

9.5%

J A P A ULOIL

16.7

8.3%

GLAX-

CON ;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƉ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĞƌƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ABCTRANS (-

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

36 Continental Reinsurance PLC

ƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ŚƌŝŶŬƐ

-5.7% -8.3%

3.35

0.0%

and BUACEMENT ;нϭ͘ϭйͿ͘

40.6%

19.00

55.40

in DANGSUGAR ;нϳ͘ϮйͿ͕ NIGERIAN BREWERIES ;нϭ͘ϬйͿ

-24.6%

24 FCMB Group Plc

62.50

ƚŽŽŬ

1.3x

22 Unilever Nigeria PLC

38 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd

investors

6.1x

16 Ecobank Transnational Inc

37 Beta Glass PLC

ĂƐ

2.5% 5.1x

ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĞĚ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ in OANDO ;нϵ͘ϳйͿ͕ ARDO-

ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

156.20

35 Ardova PLC

/ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ďLJ Ϭ͘ϴй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘Ϯй

P/BV

1,461.37

ĐĂƚŽƌƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ϭ͘ϯй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϵй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͕ ƌĞŇĞĐƟŶŐ ƚŚĞ

VA ;нϳ͘ϭйͿ ĂŶĚ ZENITH ;нϮ͘ϯйͿ͘ >ĂƐƚůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ ĂŶĚ

P/E

1 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC

21 Transnational Corp of Nigeria

Outstanding Sector Performance

TODIAN

Ticker

T o p 10 L o s e r s T ic k er

P ric e

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

A B CTRA NS

0.31

-8.8%

Z EN IT H B A N K

1621.3

2.3%

PZ

4.40

-5.4%

GUA R A N T Y

1208.8

-0.7%

CHA M S

0.22

-4.3%

D A N GC EM

556.3

0.0%

UC A P

4.28

-3.2%

NB

539.5

1.0%

LA SA C O

0.34

-2.9%

A C C ESS

538.7

2.3%

WA P C O

21.00

-2.1%

FB NH

464.0

0.0%

N EST LE

1400.00

-1.5%

D A N GSUGA R

449.4

7.2% -1.5%

FCM B

3.35

-1.2%

N EST LE

383.4

F ID ELIT YB K

2.78

-1.1%

WA P C O

351.7

-2.1%

GUA R A N T Y

35.00

-0.7%

UB A

217.3

0.0%

Brokerage

Asset Management

Investment Research

Ayodeji Ebo | aebo@afrinvest.com

Ola Belgore | obelgore@afrinvest.com

Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com

Florence Warikam | fwarikam@afrinvest.com

Adedayo Bakare | abakare@afrinvest.com

37

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

Standard Chartered Launches Women in Tech Programme Goddy Egene Chartered Bank (Nigeria) Limited has

launched the second edition of its SC Women in Technology Incubator, to support and promote the economic and social development of

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

women in Nigeria through innovation or technology led entrepreneurship.

This follows the successful completion

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 09Nov-2020, unless otherwise stated.

of the first edition which saw five winners emerge and received seed funding for their businesses.

Through this initiative, the bank will be focusing on capacity building for womenowned small enterprises and sees this as a

great opportunity to support greater diversity in gender representation within technology entrepreneurship for women in the country.

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 1.03 1.05 15.26% ACAP Income Funds 0.85 0.85 11.20% 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 3.51% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.71 3.83 51.62% 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 0.78% Anchoria Equity Fund 127.35 127.80 19.96% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.47 1.47 22.45% 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 17.92 18.46 16.99% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 396.28 408.23 14.72% ARM Ethical Fund 33.13 34.13 13.92% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.17 1.18 17.45% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.11 1.12 11.66% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.41% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 118.21 119.04 23.03% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.05% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.31 2.31 23.37% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.21 2.25 51.70% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.61% Paramount Equity Fund 15.17 15.45 21.22% Women's Investment Fund 129.84 131.24 17.71% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 2.16% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 126.15 126.75 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 141.21 142.37 Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 107.05 107.05 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 1.86% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.11 1.12 19.66% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.75 1.75 32.07% 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 1.62% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 1.44% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,188.53 1,204.80 7.28% 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 1,489.52 1,491.05 25.35% FBN Balanced Fund 176.84 178.35 20.45% FBN Halal Fund 109.82 109.83 9.82% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 2.05% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 118.29 118.69 4.91% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 118.29 118.69 4.39% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 147.32 149.65 13.21% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.38% Legacy Debt Fund 3.85 3.85 5.30% Legacy Equity Fund 1.38 1.41 21.83% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.13 1.13 4.27% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 3,536.29 3,576.36 16.06% Coral Income Fund 3,216.31 3,216.31 4.79% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 3.44% 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 2.61% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 127.29 127.82 16.41%

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 2.43% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.67 2.73 22.22% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 7.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 154.49 155.36 7.82% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.54 1.57 24.96% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.04 12.13 6.88% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 2.48% PACAM Equity Fund 1.41 1.42 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 133.89 136.59 8.32% 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 8.21% 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 N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 1.36 1.39 13.94% United Capital Bond Fund 1.87 1.87 8.22% United Capital Equity Fund 0.83 0.86 17.44% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.54% United Capital Eurobond Fund 115.71 115.71 5.87% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.06 1.07 0.93% 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 11.97 12.12 16.51% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.26 13.40 14.17% Zenith Income Fund 24.82 24.82 9.27% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.39%

REITS NAV Per Share

Fund Name SFS Skye Shelter Fund

Yield / T-Rtn

119.50

6.47%

53.51

2.80%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

10.50 111.42 81.98

10.60 111.42 83.49

25.06% 16.69% 9.12%

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

4.18 5.55 15.22 1.00 14.32 233.81

4.22 5.63 15.32 1.00 14.52 235.81

21.50% -6.06% 24.85% 2.55% 37.45% 22.37%

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.

38

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 11, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

24 HOURS...

24 HOURS...

ICPC Indicts 88 MDAs for Procurement Act Violations The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has indicted 88 Ministries, Departments and

Agencies (MDAs) for violating the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 in the last three years.

Court Convicts Gombe House Member for Lying on Oath A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Zone 6, Wuse, Abuja, yesterday convicted a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Victor Mela, of lying on oath in his Form CF001 submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a candidate in the 2019 general elections.

The chief magistrate convicted the lawmaker representing Billiri/ Balanga Federal Constituency in Gombe State, in a case instituted against him by the police.

The magistrate deferred the sentencing of the lawmaker.

But reacting to the development in a tweet yesterday, Mela said he would immediately file an appeal against the court’s decision, adding that he would continue

to keep his legislative seat and discharge his duties.

He stated, “I would like to call on our friends, supporters and our sympathisers to remain calm as well as rest assured that I will challenge today’s perverse decision at the appellate court, immediately “In the same light, I will continue to discharge the functions of my office as the legislator representing the good people of Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency, Gombe State.

“The House of Representatives seat which I occupy today as a result of your trust and belief in me remains intact. Together we shall prevail! Thank you all!”

SARS Ruptured My Scrotum during Torture, Anambra Lecturer Tells Panel David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka A lecturer in the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Dr. Justin Nwankwo. recently told the sad story of how members of the defunct Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) ruptured his scrotum in the process of torturing him in 2013.

Nwankwo also asked for compensation for properties that were carried away by men of the SARS from his room during his ordeal and for unjustly branding him a kidnapper and human parts dealer.

He told journalists that “the incident happened in 2013. I was the manager of Upper Class Hotel in Onitsha, and I was also a PhD student then. We had rented out one of our rooms to a guest, who was properly checked in.

“In the morning, policemen came and searched the hotel and discovered some skulls in room 102, and the guest to whom we rented the room was not there. We told them that we duly recorded the guest before check in, and that

same morning, we had taken our manifest of all people who were guest to the CID department as was the practice, but they refused to listen.

“We urged them to investigate the guest as only he could tell how the skulls got there, but they were more interested in parading us as kidnappers and human parts dealers. I had brutality, torture and near death experience for 81 days in SARS office Awkuzu, and I almost died.

“We (staff of Upper Class Hotel) were detained, tortured and released without any charge.

I sustained damaged testicles, and ruptured scrotum, with lots of bodily harm. I am seeking compensation for the demolition of the hotel and for my name to be cleared and my property paid for.”

He regretted that immediately after they were arrested, no investigation was carried out, nor any panel set, but the then State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, ordered the demolition of the hotel on the same day.

Policemen Storm Ekiti Panel to Claim Damages for Burnt Cars Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti Some personnel of the Ekiti State Police Command yesterday appeared before the Ekiti Judicial Panel of Inquiry (EJPI), to request for compensations over their burnt and damaged vehicles.

The EJPI wasset up by the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, to probe alleged cases of rights violations and brutality against operatives of the disbanded Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS).

The policemen, Sergeant Kolawole Adesina and Inspector Yaqubu Aminu , were requesting for a total of N1.7 million to purchase new car and repair the damaged one.

This came as the Chairman of

the EJPI, Justice Cornelius Akintayo, asked complainants and lawyers appearing before him to accord their cases utmost priorities for expeditious trial.

Kolawole and Aminu, who were attached with Afao Divisional Police Station, Ikere Ekiti, said that on 20 October, 2020, they were in their office when hoodlums invaded the place and razed down the station, including their cars.

Kolawole said: “I was on duty and around 1p.m. I heard people shouting EndSARS and before I could understand, they began to throw stones at the police station.

They attacked, assaulted some police officers, they even injured many of them. This made me to run for my life.

The anti-graft agency also said 53 MDAs were guilty of tax default, noting that they had been on the Federal Inland Revenue Service tax defaulters list for three years.

In ICPC’s Ethics and Compliance Scorecard of Federal MDAs 2020, the agency classified 132 MDAs that did not respond to its assessment as ‘corruption high-risk MDAs’ and vowed to treat them as such.

The commission disclosed that none of the MDAs attained full compliance with ethical and accountability standards for

efficiency and service delivery.

The report indicates that 27 MDAs attained substantial compliance, while 77 MDAs attained partial compliance and 106 non- compliance.

It stated, “Sixty MDAs do not have Board/ Governing Councils responsible for policies. This gap creates opportunities for tyranny, abuse and misuse of power and funds by the Management of the affected MDAs. “All Federal Medical Centres nationwide do not have an Establishment Act thus giving room for the Board and

Management of the Hospitals to take arbitrary decisions with no legal backing.

“88 MDAs violated the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 in the last three years; 53 MDAs have been on the FIRS tax defaulters list in the last three years while 132 MDAs were non-responsive and classed as corruption highRisk MDAs and will be treated as such.”

The ICPC explained that the outcome of its analysis revealed that MDAs scored higher under the

Financial Management System due to compliance to reforms introduced by the government to ensure that payment transaction systems are automated to aid transparent and accountable systems.

The commission recommended that the government should take steps to appoint and inaugurate statutory boards for MDAs not having existing boards to speed up policy formulation, implementation and check abuses.

UNDERSTANDING THE PANDEMIC…

L-R: Deputy Head of Investigations, Premium Times, Mr. Mojeed Alabi; Communications Coordinator, ActionAid Nigeria (AAN), Lola Ayanda; Research Consultant, Isine Ibanga; Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Ene Obi; and Executive Director, Media Careers Development Network, Lekan Otufodunrin, after the unveiling of a new research report on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mass media and journalism practice in Nigeria, in Abuja…yesterday

Woman Can Succeed Buhari, Says UN Deputy Secretary-General The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Mrs. Amina Mohammed, has challenged women to take over leadership from President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

Mohammed, who is leading a delegation of UN senior officials on a visit to Nigeria, stated this yesterday while speaking on a television programme in Abuja.

Mohammed said all Nigerians

must come together to rebuild the country, regardless of ethnic or political affiliations.

“We need to recognise what is not right, work towards making it happen and know that we can do this together; individually and collectively we have responsibilities,” she said, adding that there was the need to respect each part of this country as “we all have something

of value to offer”.

Mohammed noted that Nigeria can provide the kind of leadership that Africa wants by working towards achieving the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

When asked whether she would like a woman to succeed Buhari as Nigerian leader, the UN top official said, “That is my hope and I do not see that there isn’t

a woman that cannot do that. I always believe that you should strive for that aspiration and don’t fail for want of trying.

“So, women should stand up.

They have 50 per cent of the votes and if they can convince the ‘hes’ for ‘shes’, the men who support women, then absolutely why not? There is no reason why a woman cannot lead Nigeria,” she said

Police’s Unpreparedness to Defend Accused Personnel Stalls Sitting of Abia Panel Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia The inaugural sitting of the Abia State Judicial Panel of Inquiry (ASJPI) on police brutality, extra judicial killings and other related matters was adjourned abruptly yesterday following the unpreparedness of the police to enter defence of its accused personnel.

The panel, which sat at the Aguiyi Ironsi Conference Centre Umuahia, has so far received 44 petitions out of which four were

listed for hearing at the inaugural sitting.

But the hearings could not proceed beyond the opening formalities following the inability of defendants to appear before the panel while their counsel said he was not prepared for the proceedings.

As the four slated cases were called up one after the other, the police counsel, Mr. Stanley Ofoegbu, a Superintendent of Police, repeatedly told the panel that he needed to go through the

petitions before he could enter defence for the police.

Ofoegbu, who is also the officer in charge of the legal section of Abia State Police Command, insisted that the hearing should be adjourned to enable him “verify the facts of the petitions.”

After hearing the police counsel’s monotonous excuses, the Chairman of the ASJPI, Justice Sunday Imo (rtd), adjourned the sitting to Wednesday (today), saying that it was proper to serve all parties the notice of hearing.

He, however, adjourned till November 18, 2020, the hearing of the four cases that could not be heard yesterday because of police unpreparedness even though the complainants and their counsels were ready to go ahead with the hearing.

Justice Imo stated earlier in his address that the judicial panel of inquiry was specifically set up “to ensure that justice is not only done but is manifestly seen to be done to all victims of police brutality in the state.

I was Locked in SARS Cell Next to Shrine, Witness Tells Panel A witness, Godwin Ukude, arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), yesterday narrated before the Delta State Judicial Panel of Inquiry into Police Brutality and Ex-judicial Killings, the sequence of events leading to the disappearance of Counsellor Ikporo arrested in August 2019.

Ikporo was last seen on August 2019 after he was allegedly arrested

by SARS team alongside the witness and another victim.

The Counsellor’s father, Mr. Christopher Ikporo, had lodged a

petition with the Delta Judicial Panel of Inquiry on police brutality about his missing son.

Ukude, a bricklayer, said that on August 8, 2019 after close of work he was arrested by a SARS team alongside Counsellor and another friend and taken to SARS office at Issele-Azagba in a black Lexus jeep where they were beaten with rods.

Ukude identified the SARS team leader as Ijeogu, a native of Agbor and described him as a light complexioned officer with a white

beard who walked with a limp Ukude said the bungalow where he and his friends were incarcerated was next to that of a shrine, adding that goat meat was served to inmates in the night every day.

His words, “It was not a police station. In the bush behind SARS office was a shrine. At 1.00 a.m every night, goat meat is brought to us. I didn’t partake in the eating because I suspected it was used as rituals.”

He said many exotic cars were parked in the compound, adding that in the cell many internet fraudsters were kept.

He said the team leader shot Counsellor at SARS office on his leg after Counsellor protested their innocence.

He said the SARS team dispossessed him of his Infinix Hot 6 while Counsellor’s two phones and money were also taken away and never returned.

39

Ëœ ͚͚˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAYSPORTS

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

AFCON 2022 QUALIFIER

16 Players Light up Eagles’Training Ahead Clash with Sierra Leone Edo Dep. Gov train with team *Chukwueze, Onuachu at NFF event in Lagos

Duro Ikhazuagbe Sixteen Super Eagles players yesterday started Nigeria’s preparations ahead of the clash with Leone Stars of Sierra Leone at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City on Friday.

Amongst the 16 players that trained for the first time on the lush playing turf of the newly refurbished arena include; Captain

PLAYERS IN TOWN Ahmed Musa William Troost-Ekong Alex Iwobi Ola Aina Joe Aribo Leon Balogun Kevin Akpoguma Sebastin Osigwe Zaidu Sanusi Tyronne Ebuehi Oghenekaro Etebo Maduka Okoye Ikechukwu Ezenwa Chidozie Awaziem Kelechi Iheanacho Emmanuel Dennis *Samuel Chukwueze *Paul Onuachu (*Both players were at NFF event in Lagos)

Ahmed Musa, William Troost-Ekong, Alex Iwobi, Ola Aina, Joe Aribo, Leon Balogun, Kevin Akpoguma, Sebastin Osigwe, Zaidu Sanusi, Tyronne Ebuehi, Oghenekaro Etebo, Maduka Okoye, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Chidozie Awaziem, Kelechi Iheanacho and Emmanuel Dennis.

Two other players who arrived the country but yet to land at the team’s Eterna Hotel camp in Benin City were Villarreal winger, Samuel Chukwueze and Paul Onuachu of KRC Genk.

Both players were at the Nigeria Football Federation’s partnership signing ceremony with CIG Motors yesterday.

GAC Motors became the Official Automobile partners of the NFF with the sealing of the deal.

According to the newly appointed Media Officer of the Super Eagles, Babafemi Raji, the spirit in camp is very high with all the players promising to give their best in the double header matches with Sierra Leone.

Speaking on behalf of his teammates after the evening training, Captain of the team, Ahmed Musa said all the

Leone Stars Set for Clash with Nigeria Just as the Super Eagles’ players are gathering in Benin ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations clash with Sierra Leone, so also are their opponents not leaving anything to chances.

According to Football Sierra Leone, the Leone Stars had their first training session in Freetown on Tuesday.

Anderlecht attacker Mustapha Bundu, Finlandbased experienced midfielder Mohamed Medo Kamara, Orebro SK left-back Kevin Wright, Queens Park Rangers right-back Osman Kakay have all arrived and trained at the Freetown stadium yesterday morning ahead of travelling to Nigeria.

Long time absentee and former AC Milan midfielder Rodney Strasser, Randers striker Alhaji Kamara and LA Galaxy top scorer Augustine Williams are all set for the

quick double after the first assessment by Head Coach John Keister.

In all, seven foreign-based professionals have joined the local home-based players in Freetown ahead of the trip to Edo State for this Friday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

The likes of MLS veteran Kei Kamara, FC Zurich defender Umaru Bangura, John Kamara, who plays for Keshla, Icelandbased right-winger Kwame Quee and Zire FC defender Alie Sesay are all expected in Nigeria today.

Football Sierra Leone also reported that Spain and RB Linense winger Ahassan Koroma will be in Freetown latest today.

Meanwhile, Sierra Leone fans are optimistic that with the energy bubbling in the team Sierra Leone can spring a surprise in Nigeria.

players in camp were happy and just waiting for Friday to come. “ As you can see we are all happy with everyone ready to give his best to the team.

We are waiting for Friday to go into the field to pick the maximum points and fly into Freetown to also win to make our qualification a sure bet

even before the remaining two games,� observed Musa who recently ended his contract at Saudi Arabia club Al Nassr.

He admitted that the two friendlies Nigeria played against Algeria and Tunisia helped a great deal in showing the quality in the youngsters recently added to the Super Eagles.

“As you can see from the last friendlies we played in Austria, the coach gave everybody the opportunity to come show what they have to offer. Now, we have a bunch of super talented players who have added value to the team.

We are all waiting for Friday to make Nigerians happy,� concludes Musa.

The Leone Stars are expected to fly into Nigeria today ahead of the fixture on Friday in Benin City.

The match scheduled for 5pm is to be played behind closed gates on the order of CAF as part of the measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Super Eagles players and oďŹƒcials in a group photograph with the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu shortly after the state’s number two citizen trained with the team at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City...yesterday

GAC Motor Becomes Official Automobile Partner of NFF Super Eagles to get fully-equipped ambulance as part of the deal The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and GAC Motor yesterday in Lagos signed a partnership agreement that had all the components of a groundbreaking relationship.

The union confers on GAC Motor the title of Official Automobile Partner of Nigeria Football Federation.

The momentous signing ceremony at the GAC Headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos marked the first time Nigeria’s football governing body was having a remarkable partnership with an automobile company, and both the NFF and the fastest-growing automobile company in the country were delighted with the consummation of the union. “We are thrilled to extend our partnerships with GAC as our exclusive automobile partner,�

said NFF President, Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick, as he exchanged mementos with Chief Diana Chen, Chairman of CIG Motors (authorized distributors of GAC Motor in Africa). “This union moves us forward in our determination to become a self-funding Football Federation.

We are happy to be partners with GAC because it is a fastgrowing organization with a lot of qualitative and farsighted persons, just like the NFF. “After our long and hard deliberations, NFF is convinced that GAC is our ideal partner, because of its long-standing history of premium partnerships and support tied to youth development in Nigeria. “With its involvement in the Lagos City Marathon, Asaba Marathon, the AMVCA, The Voice and much more, this

partnership is a pivotal step towards deepening an alreadyexisting relationship between the brand and the sports industry,� concludes the NFF chief.

In her own remarks, Chief Chen said: “Football has always been a reckoning power for uniting all interests and differences of Nigerians, over time, bringing together the old and the young from all walks of life – united in the spirit of true sportsmanship that knows no tribe, gender or religion. Football will always have a special place in the hearts of Nigerians because of the pride and sense of honour that it brings, and the spirit of unity that it fosters, and these matters to us too as a company operating in this country. “Our company and Nigeria football share the vision of a great future.�

It is a three –year agreement in the first instance, but Pinnick said: “It is renewable and we believe that we are in this relationship for the long haul.�

GAC Motor, which has been operating in Nigeria since 2014, has been at the forefront of championing the cause for the sports and entertainment industries, providing opportunities and supporting the dreams of Nigerians.

Deputy Chairman of the House of Reps’ Committee on Sports, Hon. Afolabi Olalekan Rasheed, reiterated that football is big business globally and it was important that big business continues to get very much involved with the game in Nigeria.

He hailed GAC Motor for the gesture to Nigeria football, describing football as the greatest unifying factor in the country.

Sylvester Begins Title Defence with Easy Win, Hits Third Round

L-R: Deputy Chairman of the House of Reps’ Committee on Sports,Hon. Afolabi Rasheed; Super Eagles winger, Samuel Chukwueze;Chairman, CIG Motors, Chief Diana Chen; NFF President, Amaju Pinnick and Super Eagles forward, Paul Onuachu at the NFF, GAC Motor partnership agreement signing ceremony in Lagos... yesterday

The Defending Champion of the Men’s Singles event of the Central Bank of Nigeria Senior Tennis Championship, Emmanual Sylvester, yesterday proved that he is not in a hurry to relinguish the title after seeing-off the challenge of Joshua Daniel whom he defeated 6-2, 6-0 to advance to the third round.

Sylvester had on Monday started the defence of his crown on a good note by stopping Uk-based Andu Muktar 6-2,

6-3 in the championship opener.

Tournament Number 3 seed, Abdulmumuni Babalola booked his third round ticket with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Michael Ayoola.

The 2019 Central Bank of Nigeria Senior Tennis Tournament Number 2 seed, Joseph Imeh who eased passed Augustine Stepphen 6-1, 6-3 in their first round clash on Monday to book a second round ticket, is still slugging it out with Wilson Igbinovia in a match that will

determine who moves into today’s 3rd round games as at the time of filing this report.

After dropping Idris Aliyu 7-5, 6-3 in the first round, Daniel Joshua who is still licking wounds of defeat following his second round exit from this year’s tournament is blaming mother luck for his woes.

Joshua said, drawing him against the top seed was the last thing he could have imagined and prayed for better luck next

time.

Meanwhile, actions are equally heating up in the CBN women’s singles category as former two-time champion, Sarah Adegoke, who was not ranked due to her absence from national tennis scene sins 2018, but granted a wild card entry into the tournament, eliminated Salamatu Haruna, 6-1, 6-0 while women’s Number 2 seed Christie Agugbom, edged past Jumai Mohammed with a 6-3, 6-1 victory.

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Wednesday November 11, 2020

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MISSILE

IBA to FG “Nobody is above the law. The right to protest peacefully belongs to citizens of democratic nations across the globe, and must be upheld” – The International Bar Association(IBA) and the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) asking President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the investigation of the alleged killings of peaceful protesters in Nigeria.

KAYODEKOMOLAFE THE HORIZON

kayode.komolafe@thisdaylive.com

0805 500 1974

Freedom, the Real Democratic Gain I t has become customary since the beginning of this civil dispensation in 1999 to measure governance only in terms of bricks and mortar.

The popular perception of a chief executive officer “who is working” is that of an efficient awarder of contracts for the construction of bridges, roads, buildings and other items of infrastructure.

In the popular imagination, a governor or minister is often expected be televised inspecting projects and closely monitoring the implementation of programmes of infrastructural developments.

Hence, in the build -up to the anniversary of May 29, the date in 1999 when President Olusegun Obasanjo and 36 governors were inaugurated, the federal and state governments advertise yearly the projects executed or planned for execution by their respective governments.

The projects are celebrated as “dividends of democracy” and indices of development.

More frequently, it is also the tradition that at the end of weekly federal executive council meeting announcements would be made of the approval of awards for construction of bridges, roads, laboratories, water schemes and other constructions. Nothing is ever said about the policy perspectives informing the execution of the projects in the context of national planning.

So, governance is often perceived as just a little more than awards of contracts for constructions and projects.

In many respects, it is a gross misnomer to limit the concept of dividends of democracy to physical constructions and establishments.

Democracy is not necessarily a condition for awarding contracts to revamp infrastructures.

Anti-democratic regimes too execute projects.

Many of the important roads, bridges and buildings in Nigeria were constructed by dictatorships. Abuja was largely built by the military government of President Ibrahim Babangida. The military government of General Olusegun Obasanjo established three refineries between 1976 and 1979 when he honourably handed over power to the elected government of President Shehu Shagari.

The real dividend of democracy which the people lack under any military government is human freedom. This intangible thing is the most precious one for the people in a democratic milieu. Any threat to it in any political experiment should worry the people.

In fact, human progress is truly measured by how much the frontier of freedom is expanded.

It is a crucial part of governance, therefore, to have political, ideological and moral leadership for this purpose.

Recent developments in Nigeria should compel a deep reflection on the ideas of justice and freedom.

Freedom is so central to liberal democracy that if you remove it as a factor, all that’s left is a political farce.

These are the freedoms guaranteed by the 1999 constitution.

Watchers of the civic space in the last few weeks must be intrigued by the inspiring phenomenon of the #ENDSARS agitation and its sad aftermath.

The peaceful protests organised with unprecedented sophistication were widely acknowledged as popular democratic expressions.

Not a few people read the development as capable of deepening democracy.

Correspondingly, the responses of the federal

Buhari and state governments were unprecedented on a very positive note. After a little delay, President Muhammadu Buhari said the government heard the voices of the youths who occupied the streets “loud and clear.”

In a most appropriate manner, the federal and state governments moved swiftly to respond to the five-point demand of the protesting young women and men.

The target of the protest, Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police, was immediately “dissolved” by Inspector-General Mohammed Adamu. He quickly set into motion the process of establishing a new outfit the Special Weapon and Tactic (SWAT) unit.

An emergency meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) comprising the Vice President (as chairman) and the 36 state governors as well as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was summoned. Panels of enquiry were inaugurated by state governments to receive petitions on the alleged atrocities committed by some bad eggs in the scrapped SARS. As a matter of fact, the Nigerian army is already appearing before the Lagos panel in a ringing reminder of the subordination of the armed forces to civil authorities.

Steps are already being taken towards police reform. There is also a visible effort at the implementation of the report of a presidential panel submitted in 2018. The panel recommended the dismissal of 37 policemen and the investigation of 22 others.

State governments are also to establish human rights committees.

The CBN has put in place a scheme in which N75 billion would be available as soft loans to the youths.

Some governors have announced plans to employ thousands of youths to take some social pressures off the society.

It was simply unpredictable even three months ago that the foregoing actions could

Freedom is so central to liberal democracy that if you remove it as a factor, all that’s left is a political farce

be taken by the federal and state governments in a matter of days! These could rightly be called the well-deserved gains of the #ENDSARS protests. Yes, they happened.

However, the rhythm of #ENDSARS in public perception became distorted when lumpen elements exploited the situation of the protests to unleash violence in the land. Policemen and soldiers were killed in different incidents. Public properties including police stations as well as businesses of private individuals and organisations were destroyed in the mayhem. This was soon followed by the activities of some other desperate elements ransacking warehouses in which palliatives were stored to bring succour to the poor affected by the socio-economic impact of the spread of coronavirus.

Even at that, it is implicit from official rhetoric across the country that governments realise that deepening poverty and widening inequality are at the roots of the crisis. Far from rationalising criminality, many of the citizens involved the destructive and murderous activities are indeed socially excluded.

Again, to the credit of the President he made a distinction in his October 22, 2020 between the legitimate peaceful #ENDSARS campaigns and the criminal actions of the lumpen elements.

It would, therefore, be anti-climax to the popular-democratic momentum already generated for agencies of the state government departments to turn round to punitively curtail the freedom of the #ENDSARS protesters and their supporters. It would be a huge irony if those protesting human rights abuse (which the state has not denied) now become targets of repressive measures. Democratic heroes and heroines should not be treated as villains unjustifiably. The protesters fought for the human rights of the whole society and asserted the collective humanity of the Nigerian people.

In any case, the protests were largely supported by the Nigerian public. The ferment was felt in every part of the country despite the unhelpful attempts to sectionalise things in some quarters. Indeed, warehouses were looted in Lagos, Calabar and Yola. So the problem of the socio-economic vulnerability of some citizens is a national one.

Hunger has no ethnic or sectional colour.

Those in power often find it convenient to rationalise the abridgment of the freedom of other citizens. It is even more dangerous when the judicial system is seemingly employed in the process. In any just system, the matter of human freedom should transcend technicalities.

It should rankle all lovers of freedom when waving the flag of technicality, the state refuses to release an accused person granted bail by the court in the course of prosecution. Officers of law who are in power should be more interested in the justice for the accused instead of rushing to appeal against the freedom granted him by the court.

This case for freedom is made in the supreme interest of all – the powerful and the powerless – at the present time.

It is a surprise that politicians in power forget that persons who once wielded powers later had their own freedoms assaulted by their successors. This has been amply demonstrated in the history of this country in the last 40 years. Outside power, presidents, heads of state, governors, senators, senior officers, top civil servants etc. have had their freedom tampered with by those holding power at various times.

Members of the public have had cause to cry for justice on their behalf at critical periods of history. While some were incarcerated, others had their daily activities under menacing surveillance while their movements were restricted. It has been a tragic play of transience of power. Once upon a time, one former head of state had cause to lead the campaign for the freedom another head of state in custody. Less than a decade later, the former leader who fought for the freedom of another had his own freedom taken away by a brutal dictator.

So, the principle of the fundamental human rights actually applies to all including those deciding on the freedom of others today. That’s why human rights are said to be universal in application.

In the struggle against military dictatorships, a huge inspiration was drawn from this universal conception of human rights. If that could be done in a military regime in which there was no pretext to democratic principles, it would be doubly justified in a civil dispensation.

The same human rights would be the battle cry of the Nigerian people against any attempt to constrict the civic space by any agency of the state.

Besides, efforts at economic development in terms physical constructions would be democratically empty without freedom.

It is the dialectical link between freedom and development that makes the 1998 Nobel Laureate in Economics, Amartya Sen, define development as the “the enhancement of freedoms that allow people to lead lives that they have reason to live.” In fact, the title of his 1999 book is Development as Freedom. In the book, Sen draws a chain of freedoms that leads to human progress - access to justice, socio-economic rights to education, healthcare, the legitimacy of political and civic dissent etc.

For any of the Buhari’s advisers who might contemplate discounting freedom while pursuing implementation of projects, Sen’s proposition could be worth reflecting upon: the process of the “expansion of substantive freedoms” is “both an end and a means of development…”

That’s why in assessing the activities of a government, what is done or not done in the arena of freedom are considered as intangibles as different from punitively the tangibles – the magnificent structures sometimes labelled as landmark achievements.

Yet, taking a long view of history a greater weight is often assigned to the intangibles more than the tangibles.

It would not only be a great political mistake for any government or its agencies to seek to delegitimise protests, it would also be immoral to do so.

The Fourth Republic itself is a product of protests against assault on human freedom and dignity by military regimes. Between 1999 and now, some of the leaders of the party in power, the All Progressives Congress (APC), have had cause to legitimately protest on the streets while they were outside power.

The Buhari administration is borrowing a lot of money to put sorely needed infrastructure in place. Posterity may forgive the administration for the huge indebtedness if the projects are solid enough to stand the test of time. In contrast, the administration doesn’t need a loan of one kobo to expand the frontier of civic freedom.

The verdict of history would certainly be harsh on any administration in the 21st Century that tampers with the freedom of Nigerian people.

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