TUESDAY 16TH NOVEMBER 2021

World Bank: Boko Haram Caused Economic Activities to Decline in North-east by 50% Nume Ekeghe The World Bank has stated that the destruction caused by the Boko Haram sect caused

economic activities in the northeastern part of the country to decline by 50 per cent.

The multilateral institution noted that Adamawa, Borno

and Yobe states which are in the Lake Chad region saw economic activities decline from 10 to 14 per cent between 2009 and 2013, adding that the region

has recorded 50 per cent decline in activities from 2018.

Speaking at the Launch of the Lake Chad regional economic memorandum, Lead Economist,

World Bank and Co-author of the report, Mr. Marco Hernandez said: “In northern Nigeria, we see that 50 per cent or more of crop yields have been affected

as a result of conflict, there is a huge cost that could very well turns into a benefit because that Continued on page 10

Domestic Airlines May Demand Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination, Says Ehanire... Page 8 Tuesday 16 November, 2021 Vol 26. No 9717. Price: N250

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In Damning Report, Lagos #EndSARS Panel Says 11 Killed at Lekki Tollgate Reveals 24 injured, 15 assaulted, 96 corpses found across states Says Army refused to allow medical help for the wounded Recommends various sanctions for accused officers Indicts LCC for manipulation of videos Sanwo-Olu sets up implementation c'ttee, submits report to NEC Segun James in Lagos and Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja In a damning report released yesterday, the Judicial Panel of Inquiry (JPI) set up by the Lagos

state government to probe the October 20, 2020 #EndSARs protest has revealed that at least 11 persons were killed during the peaceful demonstration at the Lekki Tollgate and another four missing

but presumed dead making a total of 15.

The report, which also called the Lekki Tollgate shootings of October 20, 2020, “a massacre,” was an incriminating indictment

of heightening extrajudicial killings and unprofessionalism by Nigerian law enforcement agents The report described as “atrocious”, the maiming and killing of unarmed, helpless and unresisting

protesters, while sitting on the floor, waving their Nigerian flags and singing the National Anthem, stressing that the act could be equated to a “massacre in context.”

According to the report, aside

the 11 confirmed dead, four others were presumed dead, while in all 48 were casualties of the Lekki incident which shook the entire Continued on page 11

2ND INTRA-AFRICA TRADE FAIR IN DURBAN...

R-L: President of AFREXIMBank, Prof. Benedict Oramah; President Muhammadu Buhari; President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa; President, Republic of Malawi, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera; President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa and President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, at the opening ceremony of the second Intra-Africa Trade Fair in Durban, South Africa ... yesterday

Buhari, Jonathan, Atiku, Lawan, Gbajabiamila, Governors, Others Mourn Sani Dangote... Page 5

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

NEWS

SHOWING THE PRESIDENT ROUND NIGERIA’S PAVILION...

President Muhammadu Buhari (left) being conducted round the Nigerian Pavilion by the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo at the ongoing Intra African Trade Fair (IATF) in Durban, South Africa ... yesterday

Buhari, Jonathan, Atiku, Lawan, Gbajabiamila, Governors, Others Mourn Sani Dangote Emmanuel Addeh and Udora Orizu in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari, former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, were among prominent Nigerians who yesterday sympathised with Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote over the death of his younger brother and Vice Chair, Dangote Group, Sani Dangote who died on Sunday.

Others included the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Deputy Speaker, Hon. Idris Wase; Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State; Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano; his Niger State counterpart, Governor Sani Bello and former Senate

President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

In the president’s condolence message signed by his spokesperson, Mr. Femi Adesina, Buhari who expressed shock over the incident, noted that over the years the younger Dangote had played a key role in the success of the family business, devoting his time to ensuring optimal results in all the businesses.

“President Muhammadu Buhari commiserates with Founder/ Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, over the passing of his younger brother and Vice President of the Dangote Group, Sani Dangote on Sunday.

“President Buhari joins the family in mourning the industrious son, who over the years played a key role in the success of the

family business, dedicating his time to ensure fairness and optimum result in all endeavours.

“Reputed for his gentleness, loyalty and generosity, the president urges approximation of his wonderful deeds on earth, praying that the Almighty God will grant him eternal rest,” the statement said.

Former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan also commiserated with the Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, and members of the Dangote family over the death of Sani Dangote.

In a condolence message sent to the family,. Jonathan described the late Sani Dangote as an industrialist who had made significant contributions to the growth of the nation’s economy.

The former President stated: “I

CBN Grants Airtel Approval-inPrinciple to Operate Super Agent Emma Okonji The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday granted Airtel Nigeria the approval in principle to operate super-agent network in Nigeria.

Airtel Africa, the parent company of Airtel Nigeria, announced this in a statement.

With the super-agent licence, Airtel would be able to create an agent network that could service the customers of licenced Nigerian banks, Payment Service Banks (PSB) and licenced mobile money operators in Nigeria.

The approval came few days after the CBN granted Airtel and MTN approval-in-principle to operate as PSBs in Nigeria.

According to the statement, "Airtel Africa, a leading provider of telecommunications and mobile money services, with a presence in 14 countries across Africa, announces that its subsidiary Airtel Mobile

Commerce Nigeria Ltd has been granted approval in principle by the Central Bank of Nigeria to operate as a super-agent in Nigeria.

“The super-agent licence is distinct from the PSB licence, for which we received approval in principle on November 4, 2021.”

The PSB licence was required for Airtel to be able to provide financial services in Nigeria such as accepting cash deposits and carrying out payments and remittances, issuing debit and prepaid cards, operating electronic wallet and rendering other financial services.

"Under the super-agent licence, we would be able to create an agent network that can service the customers of licensed Nigerian banks, Payment service banks and licenced mobile money operators in Nigeria," it added.

Just like the CBN's approval in principle for PSB operational licence, the final CBN's approval

of the super-agent licence to Airtel Nigeria, is also subject to the Group satisfying certain standard conditions.

condole with the Dangote family on the death of Sani Dangote, Vice President of Dangote Group of Companies.

“As a businessman and industrialist, Sani made a significant impact to the growth and development of Nigeria’s economy. He will be greatly missed by people from all walks of life in Nigeria and beyond for his philanthropy as well as his creative and innovative ideas in business and entrepreneurship.

“May God grant his soul eternal rest and give his family , friends and colleagues the strength to cope with this loss.

In his message on his official Twitter account, Atiku described the late Sani as, “an astute businessman who has engaged in diverse sectors of the economy.”

“It is with a heavy heart that I mourn the passing away of Sani Dangote, VP of Dangote Group and founder of Dansa Agro-allied Limited. He was an astute businessman engaged in diverse sectors of the economy.

“My deepest condolences to @ AlikoDangote, the Dangote family, friends and management and staff of all the companies he was associated with. May Allah forgive

his sins and grant him Aljannah Firdaus. Ameen,” he wrote.

On his part, Obaseki, described the news of his death as shocking, noting that he was deeply saddened by the unfortunate loss.

According to him, “Having known Sani for many years and developed a close bond with him and the Dangote family, the news is as devastating as it is numbing.

“A thorough-bred businessman and pacesetting entrepreneur, Sani had a knack for excellence, which is evident in the chains of businesses he set up and managed, ranging from agriculture to manufacturing, banking and oil services.

“He turned every business enterprise he touched into success stories. He built a thriving business empire and diversified into different fields. Some of the businesses he owned are Dansa Foods Limited, Dansa Energy, Sagas Energy Limited, Bulk Pack Services Limited, Dansa Agro Allied Limited, and Dangote Farms Limited.”

He continued: “His deep interest in agriculture is expressed in the nature of companies he set up, which were focused on farming and agro-processing, as well as in the fertilizer business. He no

doubt was a towering personality in Nigeria’s private sector. Sani made insightful contributions to the Edo State Palm Oil Initiative, for which we remain grateful.

“As chairman of Dansa Holdings, Sani brought a new verve to the beverages sector of the economy, growing the business to become one of the most notable brands in the country.”

“On behalf of the government and the good people of Edo State, I extend deep-felt condolences to the Dangote family, as well as friends and associates, and pray that God will grant us all the fortitude to bear this painful loss,” he added.

Also, Niger State Governor and Chairman, North Central Governors' Forum (NCGF), Bello, described the death of the younger Dangote as a colossal loss to the family and the nation.

In a statement, the governor said the country had lost an experienced technocrat, established business magnate and a silent achiever who contributed immensely to the economic growth of the country.

He added that the business tycoon with more than 30 years Continued on page 10

Inflation Drops to 15.99% as Food, Commodity Prices Moderate James Emejo in Abuja The Consumer Price Index (CPI) which measures inflation dropped to 15.99 per cent (year-on-year) in Octo¬ber compared to the 16.63 per cent it recorded in September, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) stated yesterday.

The NBS noted that the 0.64 percentage point reduction resulted from moderate increases in all parameters that determine the headline index.

It was the seventh consecutive month of decline in the headline index since March, indicating favourable economic conditions.

According to the CPI report for October, which was posted on

the NBS website, food inflation rose to18.34 per cent in October compared to 17.38 per cent in October 2020.

This rise in the food index was caused by increases in prices of food products, coffee, tea and cocoa, milk, cheese and eggs, bread and cereals, vegetables and potatoes, yam and other tuber.

On the other hand, core inflation, which excludes the prices of volatile agricultural pro¬duce increased to 13.24 per cent, up by 2.10 per cent compared with 11.14 per¬ cent recorded in the corresponding year.

According to the statistical agency, the core index recorded the highest increases in prices

of gas, fuels and lubricants for personal transport equip¬ment, vehicle spare parts, non-durable household goods, solid fuel, passenger transport by road, passen¬ger transport by air, garments, cleaning, repair and hire of clothing, and major household appliances whether electric or not.

Others included wine, clothing materials, other articles of clothing and clothing accessories and liquid fuel.

However, month-on-month, the headline index increased by 0.98 per cent in October, which is 0.17 per cent lower than the 1.15 per cent recorded in September.

On month-on-month basis, the food sub-index increased by 0.91

percent in October 2021, down by 0.35 percent points from 1.26 percent recorded in September 2021.

Month-on-month, the food sub-index slowed to 0.91 per cent in October from 1.26 per cent recorded in the preceding month.

Also, the core sub-index moderated to 0.80 per cent in October compared to 1.24 per cent in September.

The urban inflation rate increased to16.52 per cent (yearon-year) in October from 14.81 per cent rec¬orded in October 2020, while the rural inflation rate also rose to 15.48 per cent in October 2021 from 13.68 per cent in the preceding year.

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NEWS

NACOFED CONFERENCE ON PUBLIC SECTOR FINANCE MANAGEMENT...

Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola; Minister of Finance, Budget & National Planning, Dr. Zainab Ahmed, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and member, House of Representatives, Hon. Kabiru Idris, during the National Council on Finance and Economic Development (NACOFED) conference with the theme ‘Public Sector Finance Management in the New Normal (Post COVID-19)’, at the Lagos Marriott Hotel, GRA Ikeja ... yesterday

In Durban, Buhari Says Nigeria's Economy Now Restructured from Oil Dependence to Multiple Revenue Sources States Africa’s challenges traceable to inability to domesticate production, provide jobs Deji Elumoye and Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has said his administration has transformed the nation's economy from being solely dependent on oil revenue to diverse revenue sources in the past years.

He also stressed that the implementation of the free trade zone in Africa would lead to the doubling the continent's trade in 10 years.

The President who spoke yesterday during the opening of the 2nd IntraAfrican Trade Fair 2021 holding in Durban, South Africa, emphasised that the Nigerian economy under his administration had witnessed a re-engineering.

This is just as speaking exclusively with Arise News Channel, THISDAY’s broadcast arm, on the sidelines of the event, the president stated that despite the fall in oil prices as well as challenge of insecurity in parts of the country, his administration had done well, especially in the areas of rail transportation.

Asked what more he could do to support Small and Medium

Scale Enterprises (SMEs), Buhari stated that his decision to invest in infrastructural development base was part of the plans to help the country's businesses grow.

He reiterated that for several years, when Nigeria’s oil and gas production and sales were at their peak nothing much was done, saying despite the many constraints, Nigeria was forging ahead with its development agenda.

The president said: “What we are doing, first is to build infrastructure.

I am constrained to go over it several times, that people should check the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Between 1999 and 2014, Nigeria was producing an average of 2.1 million barrels per day at the average cost of $100 per barrel.

“When we came, the militants unleashed on us, production went down to half a million per day and price went down to $37 from $100.

And you know the condition of the north-east, the condition of the southsouth, then you will appreciate, with the time and resources available to us, how well our administration has

been doing.”

On whether he intended extending key infrastructure development to other parts of the region in the spirit of the AfCFTA, he answered: “We should start from home. You used to see the accidents between Lagos and Ibadan alone, not to talk of Kano.

Go and see the rail and the road that we have done now and people are moving comfortably,” Earlier, while delivering his speech, he noted that in the past five years, Nigeria has made significant strides towards the diversification of her economy from an oil revenuedependent country to a nation with diverse revenue sources.

He said: ‘‘We were able to achieve this by putting in place fiscal, monetary and trade policies that support investments and investors in key sectors such as agriculture, mining, telecommunications and digital economy, banking and financial services, tourism, and manufacturing."

Stating specifically that Nigeria was open for business, president Buhari emphasised that progress was being made in the reforms of

key institutions, the fight against corruption as well as the ease of doing business in the country.

He assured participants at the ongoing Intra-African Trade Fair, that Nigerian delegation was attending with ‘‘full force’’ to maximise the advantage of the gathering.

The president said: ‘‘Let me assure you that Nigeria has come to Durban in full force to actively participate in this very important trade fair and take full advantage of all the opportunities it provides.

“We have streamlined the country’s participation under one roof to enable you access all the information you need."

President Buhari’s expectation of a good performance by Nigerian businesses at the Durban Fair was hinged on the outcome of the last edition in Cairo, Egypt whereby the country got deals worth over $3.3 billion.

Current records showed that Intra African trade accounts for only 15 per cent of the transactions.

The president expressed optimism that the creation of the biggest free trade area in the world, the African

Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), will work, especially with the active collaboration of the public and private sectors.

He called for the implementation of the free trade initiative, listing several benefits to the continent, including doubling trade in 10 years and reducing over-reliance on imports.

The Nigerian leader expressed concern that most of Africa’s existing challenges, whether security, economy, or corruption, can be traced to the inability over the years to domesticate the production of most basic requirements and provide jobs to her teeming and dynamic youth population. ‘‘Under the African Continental Free Trade Area, we can double our intra-African trade by 2030, reduce our reliance on imports and therefore create more jobs within the continent. ‘‘We cannot achieve this goal by talking alone. The implementation will be a difficult journey. But all challenges are surmountable if both the public and private sectors collaborate. ‘‘On the public sector side,

ASUU Issues Fresh Strike Threat, Gives FG 3-week Ultimatum Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has given the federal and state governments a three-week ultimatum to implement the memorandum of understanding and agreements they reached with the union, threatening that lecturers might be constrained to resume nationwide industrial action.

The union also decried the rising debt profile of the country, describing government's borrowings as "reckless".

It expressed regret that while public debt was rising, the cost of governance was also skyrocketing, adding that there was need to declare austerity measures on government apparatuses and drastically reduce the cost of governance.

Addressing journalists at its headquarters in Abuja, ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, said the union was worried that almost one year since it suspended the nine month strike over non-implementation of the 2009 agreement, the federal government was yet to honour agreements reached with the university workers.

"We are very dissatisfied with government's attitude to our issues.

We have given the government three weeks to meet our demands during the NEC meeting we had Saturday and Sunday," he warned.

Osodeke said the decision was part of the resolutions reached at the National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU held last weekend at the University of Abuja.

He listed some of the outstanding issues to include, funding for revitalisation of public universities, Earned Academic Allowances, deployment of the University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS), and promotion arrears.

Other outstanding issues highlighted by ASUU included renegotiation of 2009 ASUU-FG agreement and inconsistencies in IPPIS payment.

Osodeke said the N30 billion revitalisation fund for public universities kept in a dedicated account at the Central Bank of Nigeria was yet to be disbursed even when majority of the Vice Chancellors had successfully defended their proposals as conditions precedent to accessing the fund.

He said: "The proposal defense exercise which took place from October 4th to 8th, 2021 was fol-

lowed by the transmission of the report to the minister of Finance for the release of allocated funds to the successful universities.

“On the strength of this, representatives of the federal government gave assurance that the qualified universities would get the funds on or before the end of October, 2021.

Surprisingly, as of today, November 15, 2021, government is yet to fulfill its promise, with no cogent reason made available to our union."

On the issue of Earned Academic Allowances, ASUU said the federal government had assured that N22.127 billion was appropriated in the 2021 budget, adding that the Ministry of Finance would take up to the end of October, to effect payment to members.

However, Osodeke lamented that nothing had been done to implement that part of agreement as well as other demands contained in the MoA signed with the federal government before ASUU suspended their strike last year.

Regarding the controversy over the appointment of Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, to the rank of Professor by the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, ASUU said its NEC

rejected the report of the five-man panel which held that due process was adhered to in the appointment.

According to ASUU president, there were critical questions begging for answers which he said included whether Pantami met the 12-year post qualification requirement as contained in the advertisement.

ASUU said another issue in contention was whether the man possesses the required relevant academic publications and 70 percent being in web presence.

The union also wondered whether a serving minister in Nigeria could take up a tenured appointment in the university and whether he was capable of carrying out his official duties as required of a professor at same time as a serving minister.

After raising 10 issues against the appointment of the Pantami

by FUTO authorities, ASUU NEC resolved to set an up independent panel to investigate the issues afresh.

The union also said that it would appoint another committee to visit ASUU-FUTO to determine the role of members in the controversial appointment, assuring that outcome of the panel's findings will be made public.

ASUU further spoke on the union's assessment of the state of the nation, saying that it was regrettable that insecurity has become a norm and the fact that the nation's security architecture has almost collapsed.

"ASUU is particularly worried by the incessant attacks on our educational institutions especially the universities. Not too long ago, a young pregnant pharmacist and staff of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital was abducted and killed. The reign of terror unleashed on schools and colleges in states like Niger, Kaduna, Zamfara, Borno, Yobe has not only caused distress to the families whose children and wards were abducted for ransom but has discouraged schooling and compounded the problem of outof-school children," he said.

ASUU suggested the tightening of the porous borders around the North West and north east parts of the country and stoppage of unrestrained movement of illicit arms across the country.

In addition, ASUU urged the federal government to immediately address the problem of inequality, rising poverty and youth unemployment in the land.

governments must support local entrepreneurs to build scale and therefore improve productivity. ‘‘This means providing incentives to encourage our businesses to formalise and comply with laid down regulations".

On the rules of engagement for the free trade initiative, President Buhari reminded fellow Heads of State and participants at the trade fair: ‘‘Free trade must also be fair and fairness can only be achieved when there is full compliance with regulations, especially those relating to rules of origin. ‘‘The AfCFTA is for “madein-Africa” products and services.

Africa must be a marketplace where no country is left behind. As we implement, we must ensure that we create jobs and enhance revenues for all parties. We must leverage on one another’s strengths to succeed,’’ he said.

President Buhari also called on businesses in Africa to key into existing regional value chains or build new ones, either to extend operations into the higher value segments of their industries or to satisfy the Area’s rules of origin requirements.

He expressed delight that the Intra-African Trade Fair was uniquely positioned to help in these areas.

The Nigerian leader congratulated the African Union Commission, the AfCFTA Secretariat and the Africa Export-Import Bank for their dedication and relentless effort in seeing the Trade Area become a reality.

He said: ‘‘Today is a great day for Africa as we start our collaborative journey towards collective economic prosperity through the African Continental Free Trade Area.

I very much look forward to seeing more African products manufactured in Africa using African resources. ‘‘I also commend the people of Durban for hosting this year’s Intra-African Trade Fair. I sincerely hope that we will witness milestone agreements among African businesses at this gathering. ‘‘Through these gatherings, we will be laying a solid foundation for future business-to-business, business and government, and governmentto-government co-operation."

The president also conveyed, on behalf of the federal government, the country’s condolences over the demise of former president of South Africa, Mr. Frederik Willem de Klerk.

He opined that together with former President Nelson Mandela, they gave birth to a new South Africa.

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67 HEARTY CHEERS TO PASTOR BAKARE, 61ST TO HIS WIFE...

L-R: Son-in-law, Laolu Fabode; daughter, Fisayo Bakare; Serving Overseer, Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare; his wife, Olayide; and son, Segun, during the celebration of the pastor’s 67th birthday and his wife’s 61st birthday in the church in Lagos… on Sunday.

Domestic Airlines May Demand Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination, Says Ehanire 5,891,305 Nigerians vaccinated so far Targets 50% vaccination by January 2022 Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja As the December deadline fixed for all federal civil servants to get vaccinated against COVID-19 draws near, the federal government is mulling the possibility of compelling passengers of domestic airlines to show evidence of vaccination.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire who gave the hint while speaking at the regular media briefing of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 yesterday, said it was commonplace in many foreign countries for people to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination, in

order to be admitted to restaurants, cinemas, nightclubs, even to board aircraft on international flights.

While calling on those yet be vaccinated to drop their hesitancy and get the vaccine jab, Ehanire said the vaccines being used in the country are trusted and are of high standards.

"So I urge all citizens to drop their hesitancy and take the vaccines. It is commonplace in many foreign countries now that proof of Covid-19 vaccination is needed, in order to be admitted to restaurants, cinemas, nightclubs, even to board aircraft on international flights.

“This trend is intensifying around the world and will, no doubt, begin to take root in Nigeria in due course.

I will not be surprised if domestic Nigerian Airlines start to demand vaccination cards, before boarding.

I advise that, nobody should be left behind in vaccination, lest they face an embarrassing situation," he said.

The minister said Nigeria had so far tested a total of 3,392,457 samples, of which 213,147 were confirmed positive for Covid-19, while active cases are 4,447 and cases discharged to date are 205,732.

He also said bed occupancy in the week under review was 16.17 per

cent in 86 isolation wards, adding that oxygen was widely available, mainly in cylinders, with oxygen concentrators as back up.

He said there was presently no surge in demand for oxygen ventilators, adding that a review of oxygen situation in 125 treatment centres was ongoing, to also identify non-functional plants for repair.

Ehanire further explained that majority of patients (67%) on admission in isolation wards have comorbidities like diabetes, hypertension obesity and other non-communicable diseases, which are known determinants of the

severity of Covid-19 illness.

On his part, the Executive Director of National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib said that: "As of this morning, Monday November 15th, 2021, a total of 5,891,305 eligible persons have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine."

He said the number represented only 5.3 per cent of the overall eligible population while 3,252,067 have received their second dose and are fully vaccinated, thereby representing only 2.9 per cent of the overall population of eligible persons.

APC National Convention: We Haven't Been Notified, Says INEC Chuks Okocha and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

Expectations that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) might hold its national convention next month could be forlorn as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, claimed it hadn't been notified by the party on the possibility of conducting its convention next month.

National Commissioner, Voter Education and Publicity of INEC, Mr. Festus Okoye, told THISDAY that the ruling party has yet to notify the electoral body about it.

Also, the APC has denied ever suspending the ward congresses in Zamfara, held last Saturday, even as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has raised the alarm as well as alerted Nigerians about plans by the APC to heighten tension, instigate violence and derail democratic practice and peaceful co-existence in the state.

But, Okoye, while explaining the conditions for national convention, said political parties were mandated by the Electoral Act to give INEC 21 days notice, whenever it planned to hold its national convention.

"There is no indication yet; they have not communicated to INEC," he said.

However, a former National Executive Committee (NEC) member of APC, who pleaded anonymity, said the party would hold its convention between December and January.

He said insinuations that the convention would be shifted to June or July next was wrong.

"The convention is feasible; the insinuation that it will be shifted till June/July is wrong. It will be held between December and January. I know it is December, but it will still be given small space if there is any issue," he said.

But another party, source who also pleaded anonymity, said the possibility of the party holding its convention next month was dicey.

He said from all indications, the national convention of the party would be shifted to next year June or July.

"The convention is not holding next month. It is not feasible. If at all, it will be next year June or July.

There is so much flexibility here (in APC) for now and they are not the ones making the decision. If Buhari comes back now, whatever he says will be the final. But next month isn't feasible."

Realistically, the crises rocking the various chapters of the ruling party make it difficult if not impossible to hold a national convention.

At the moment, Osun, Oyo, Zamfara, Kano, Kwara, Niger, Delta, Lagos, Imo, Enugu are all riddled with crises, which have defied logic and resolutions.

Meanwhile, the war of words between the Chairman of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the party and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buniand Senator Kabiru Marafa continued yesterday.

Spokesperson for the Marafaled APC, Hon. Bello Maradun, in a statement issued yesterday said the malpractices under the Buni-led committee were at variance with the ideals of APC and President Muhammadu Buhari's administration.

He challenged Buni's Director General of Press and Media, Mr. Mamman Mohammed, to address the issue raised by Marafa.

"We believe strongly that the malpractices, we see under his questionable leadership of APCare incongruent with the ideals of APC and President Muhammadu Buhari's administration,"he said, insisting that he wouldn't be distracted by the outburst of Buni's spokesman and

lose sight of the real issues he raised.

In another development, APC has denied initially suspending ward congresses in Zamfara, held last Saturday.

APC had on October 27 written a letter to Marafa informing him of the constitution of the Wards Congresses committee with Alhaji Kabir Masari as the Chairman. Also, on November5, 2020, APC wrote another letter to Masari, chairman of the committee directing the immediate suspension of the ward congresses.

But Marafa said on November 10, the party wrote to INEC, informing the electoral body that it had rescheduled its congress in the state on November 13, 2020.

However, National Secretary of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the party, Senator John Akpanudodehe, said the claim by Marafa was misguided.

"Our attention has been drawn to uninformed and misguided comments by Senator Kabiru Marafa regarding the All Progressives Congress (APC) Ward Congresses held in Zamfara State on Saturday 13th, November 2021" and urged Marafa and his cohorts not to reduce the political issues to a contest of personalities, but submit to party supremacy and internal dispute resolution structures adequately provided for by the APC Constitution.

Shuaib said the overall population of eligible persons in Nigeria targeted for COVID-19 vaccination to enable the country reach herd immunity against the disease is 111,776,503.

He assured that government was committed to mass vaccination campaigns.

"We hope to vaccinate at least 50 percent of our population by the end of January 2022. We will be conducting the National flag off of this mass vaccination campaign this Friday November 19th 2021 by 10am," he said.

Shuaib said as part of our accountability measures, being taken by government, the agency has received reports of investigations into some fraudulent cases involving illegal procurement of vaccination cards.

For instance, Shuaib said there was a case of one Mr. Amako who attempted to travel outside the country with a vaccination card that could not be validated.

He said upon investigation, "it was found that the reason for the non-validation was that the expiry date of the 1st and 2nd dose was altered, and there was inconsistencies with the vaccine expiration dates and batch number and the QR code scanned belonged to another person.

This clearly showed that Mr Amako illegally obtained the vaccination card without getting vaccinated."

He said the man was denied travel and his case is currently with the law enforcement authorities.

“Once we conclude the investigation, we will reveal his full names to the public,” he added.

Head of Service Laments Nepotism, Abuse, Corruption in MDAs Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, has lamented that quality service delivery has been relegated in the civil service, giving room for corruption, nepotism, abuse and lack of confidence in government.

She admitted this yesterday in Abuja in her address at a two-day Service Innovation roundtable discussion organised for Heads of departments and divisions in charge of innovation, service wide, by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation in conjunction with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS).

The HoS, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties Office (SDO), Mrs. Ibiene P. Roberts, urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to rebuild trust in governance through effective and efficient service delivery to the public.

“The world that we live in is now described as vuca-volatile -uncertain, complex and ambiguous. The world we were born into no longer exists and a shift is no longer a choice,” she said.

She recalled that one of the eight pillars of Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP) 2017-2020

was to improve service delivery through innovation with various activities, such as promotion of annual innovation challenge to cultivate ideas, development of entrepreneurship culture and commercial orientation, amongst staff.

She expressed delight at past innovation competitions, where women were among the top on the winners’ list, adding that such further portrayed the fact that inclusion of women in the public sector innovation led to better outcomes.

The HoS also highlighted some of the innovations in the Public Service to include the new

Performance Management System (PMS) and the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) developed in conjunction with the African Initiative for Governance (AIG).

This manual, according to her, would enable seamless transition to Enterprise Content Management Solutions (ECMS) for effective communication service wide.

In his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Service Policies and Strategies Office, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole, said the Nigerian civil service was geared towards a world class service for accelerated national development.

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FG Approves N656bn to Cushion Effects of Bailout Deductions on States Gets additional N750m from World Bank for states’ accountability programme Let’s cut down on wastes, Sanwo-Olu urges other Govs

Segun James and Nume Ekeghe The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mr. Zainab Ahmed yesterday disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari has okayed the release of N656.1 billion for states over a period of six months to cushion the effects of their ongoing repayment of their bailout facilities as well as to enable them meet their salary obligations.

This is also as she disclosed that the World Bank has approved an additional $750 million financing to support the States’ Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) programme.

This is just as Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has advised his fellow governors to cut down on wastes, but ensure that every unit of expenditure delivers maximum value and impact, for the benefit of the populace.

Ahmed and Sanwo-Olu said these at the National Council on finance and Economic Development (NACOFED) conference held in Lagos.

She explained: “The approval of

Mr. President has been obtained for a bridging facility in the sum of N656.1 billion to be granted to states over a period of six months towards cushioning the effects of their resumption in the repayment of the three federal government bailout facilities (Salary Bailout, Excess Crude facility and Budget Support facility).

“Already, the modalities of the facility has been worked out and the disbursement is expected to commence by the CBN very soon.

“Government will also continue to provide other financing options to states in the form of concessionary loan facilities to support the development of vital sectors of the economy such as health, agriculture and SMEs aimed to complement the states in fighting the pandemic, creating the needed job for the people and alleviating poverty.

“The combined effect of these policies would assist in addressing the current security and other socioeconomic challenges confronting the nation.”

According to her, “the introduction of the SFTAS programme

for results and other similar programmes by the federal government assisted by World Bank are initiatives aimed at strengthening public finance management at the sub-national levels.

“I am highly impressed with the commitments shown by all the 36 state governments in implementing the reforms brought about by these laudable programmes. To this end, the federal government recently concluded arrangements with the World Bank to further make available another sum of $750 million as additional financing for the states under the SFTAS programme.”

She further pointed out that the federal government through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently cut-down the interest rate on intervention facilities from nine per cent to five per cent per annum, which according to her, would aid growth and recovery.

She added: “The last couple of years presented series of challenges to us as a nation and the entire globe. From the decline in revenue to slow growth and recovery largely

due to the fall in crude oil prices on account of falling global demand and the containment measures to fight the spread of COVID-19, which affected virtually every sector of the economy.

“The good news, however, is that our recovery rate from the pandemic has been sustainably good and encouraging. Fortunately, things are now looking up for us and our economy is bouncing back to normal.

“Based on the current economic outlook, our economy is projected to grow by 1.5 per cent this year and 2.9 per cent in 2022. Therefore, as we move to the reset opportunities, our focus should be on growing and consolidating the recovery efforts.”

Furthermore, she added that the federal government was committed to increasing non-oil revenue and had positioned to achieving a tax to revenue ratio of 15 per cent by 2023.

She added: “Our revenue reforms which are mainly focused on sustained improvement on non-oil taxes have started yielding results.

The amendments introduced by the support of the National As-

Dutch Govt Scrambles as Shell Plans Movement of $170bn Headquarters to UK Company to drop ‘Royal Dutch' from corporate name

Emmanuel Addeh with agency report

The Dutch government yesterday launched an eleventh-hour attempt to keep Shell in the Netherlands by seeking to abolish a controversial dividend tax cited by the energy group as reason to unify its share structure and move its headquarters to the UK. Officials from the Dutch government told the Financial Times that the caretaker government of Mark Rutte was seeking to find a last-minute parliamentary majority to scrap a 15 per cent withholding tax that has long been a source of complaint for Shell and fellow Anglo-Dutch multinational Unilever.

The political machinations came hours after Shell announced it would end its dual share structure and shift its entire tax base to the UK, but the Dutch government said the announcement was an “unwelcome surprise” and is now scrambling to keep Shell from leaving.

Earlier this year, Shell chief executive Ben van Beurden cited the Netherlands’ failure to abolish the dividend tax as a potential reason for leaving the country. The UK is an exception among most European countries by not having a withholding dividend tax.

Under the plan, Shell would still be listed in Amsterdam, London and New York but with a single line of shares, widening the pool to which the 25 per cent cap is applied and so allowing it to boost its buybacks.

FT recalled that Rutte’s coalition government promised in 2017, to scrap the 15 per cent withholding tax to make the country more business-friendly, and encouraged both Unilever and Shell to relocate entirely to the Netherlands.

But the proposal was shelved after sparking political uproar

among green and left parties, which objected to the government offering tax favours to multinationals worth about €1.9 billion a year. Unilever subsequently announced last year it was moving its headquarters from Rotterdam to London.

Shell has faced other problems in the Netherlands this year.

In May, a court in The Hague ordered the company to make bigger and faster cuts to its carbon emissions than it had planned, a ruling against which Shell is appealing. Then last month Dutch pension fund ABP said it was divesting from all fossil fuel companies, including a significant stake in Shell.

The energy group was also under fire from US activist hedge fund Third Point, which after having built a large stake is calling for a split of the company, which it accuses it of being bogged down by an incoherent strategy.

Shell shareholders are set to vote on the company’s planned changes at a general meeting on December 10.

A Reuters report stated Monday that Shell’s chief executive announced that he was proposing to move the $170 billion oil giant’s headquarters, its corporate tax residency and himself from the Netherlands to the UK. “Then there’s the recent Dutch court ruling obliging Shell to slash its annual emissions by 45 per cent by 2030. The company says it will do that regardless of where it’s based.

“But its own target only applies to the fraction of its 1.6 billion tonnes of annual emissions that come from its own operations, rather than those produced by its customers,” it had reported.

The departure and loss of the Dutch “royal” label will win Shell few friends in its former home. But with the Dutch government in post-election limbo and a parliamentary proposal

to tax departing conglomerates stalled, the downside at least for now seems limited, Reuters said.

Earlier this year, Shell, which has been restructuring its operations in many parts of

the world, also announced that it was selling off its onshore and shallow water assets in Nigeria, saying it could no longer cope with community issues in the Niger Delta.

sembly the Finance Act of 2019 and 2020 combined with the Government Strategic Revenue Growth Initiatives (SRGI), have also cumulatively yielded the desired results of enhancing sustainable increase in government revenue, promoting fiscal equity, aligning domestic tax laws with global best practices, tax incentives for infrastructure development and capital markets as well as micro, small and medium enterprises.”

“The initiatives have also helped in strengthening our institutions and Agencies. With this development, we are already on our way to achieving our target of a tax to revenue ratio of 15 per cent by 2023.”

Continuing, Sanwo-Olu said the ultimate goals for states must be value for money and the enhancement of the quality and timeliness of service delivery.

According to Sanwo-Olu, a robust public finance management system was the critical pathway for efficient and effective delivery of the dividends of democracy to the citizens, which according to him, must be carried out in a manner that was transparent and accountable to all.

In his keynote address titled: “Public Sector Finance Management in the New Normal, (Post Covid-19)” the governor said the gathering was to provide an opportunity to share thoughts, exchange views and forge a common front in addressing some of the fiscal and socio-economic challenges foisted on the country by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"What the pandemic (COVID-19) has done is to compel us all, whether in the public or private sectors, to

focus more attention on exploring ways 'to do more with less.'

“We have been forced to find ways of optimising spending, to ensure that, one, we are cutting down on waste excesses and things that we do not need, and two, that every unit of surviving expenditure delivers maximum value and impact, for the benefit of our populace.

"This is the time for Commissioners for Finance and Commissioners for Economic Planning to be sincere with their principals, who may have asked you to do the impossible.

“But indeed, we know this is the time for you to be frank and sincere to your principal that we have to think out of the box. You have to be very creative and do away with what will not be considered as important this time," he said.

The governor also commended the federal government for faithfully implementing various initiatives aimed at improving the quality of Public Financial Management in Nigeria.

He said initiatives like the Treasury Single Account (TSA), the Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA), the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), among others, including the States’ Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability Programme for Results (SFTAS) Programme, have provided support to states to help them achieve desired fiscal reforms underlined by prudence, openness, transparency and accountability.

The governor said the programme has also highlighted to states, the need to redouble efforts aimed at increasing Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

WORLD BANK: BOKO HARAM CAUSED ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES TO DECLINE IN NORTH-EAST BY 50% takes into account other factors that have been going on at the time, including, for instance, issues related to climate.

“When you look at the effects of Boko Haram alone, once

again, you now isolate it from all the different things that are going on in the region, what we have seen is that there are two messages to highlight on the one hand, that economic

activity has fallen and the large reduction in economic activity has become even more apparent with time.

“It used to be 10 to 14 per cent of reduced economic activity

BUHARI, JONATHAN, ATIKU, LAWAN, GBAJABIAMILA, GOVERNORS, OTHERS MOURN SANI DANGOTE of experience in manufacturing, agriculture, and oil services would be greatly missed.

While condoling with the family members, friends, and associates of the deceased, the governor urged them to take solace in the Almighty as death is inevitable and a necessary end for all mortals.

“As we mourn the passing of our brother and friend, we should accept his demise as an act of Allah, knowing that death signifies the end of our sojourn here on earth.

“I sympathise with his family members, friends, and business partners. All that is left for us to do now, is to pray for the repose of his soul and pray Allah forgives his shortcomings and give the family the courage to bear the irreparable loss,” he said.

On his part, Ganduje, while commiserating with the family, noted that he was shocked when he received the information about the passing of the businessman, pointing out that the country and the business community had lost an illustrious son.

“It is therefore on behalf of the government and good people of Kano state, that I, the governor of Kano state, send heartfelt condolences to the immediate families of Alhaji Sani Dangote, to his brother, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, over his (Sani’s) death,” he stated.

Former Senate President, Saraki, who also prayed for the repose

of the late Dangote, described his passing as sad.

He wrote on his Twitter handle: “My family and I are extremely sad to learn about the death of Alhaji Sani Dangote, the Group Vice President of the Dangote Group and younger brother to our dear friend, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

“As we join the family to mourn this loss, we pray that Almighty Allah grants Alhaji Sani a place amongst the righteous ones in Aljannah Firdaus.”

Similarly, the President of the Senate sent his condolences to the Dangote family, saying the death of Sani was a great loss to Nigeria and Africa given the passion of the Dangote Group for the development of the country and continent.

The Senate President in a statement commiserated with Aliko Dangote, even as he condoled the government and people of Kano State over the incident.

"Alhaji Sani Dangote was a great entrepreneur who brought his business acumen to impact positively on the Nigerian economy and Africa in general, particularly in the areas of manufacturing, agriculture and oil services.

"I share the grief of the entire Dangote family on the sad incident and pray that they find comfort and strength in their faith in Almighty Allah.

"My heart goes out to the immediate family and all the relations

of the deceased.

"I pray Allah to comfort and grant them all the fortitude to bear the loss and to accept the soul of the departed into Aljannah Firdaus," Lawan added.

Also, Gbajabiamila and Wase commiserated with the Dangote family. The duo in seperate statements expressed sadness over the death of Sani.

Gbajabiamila, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, said Sani's demise was a painful loss, given his role in the Dangote Group.

The Speaker said Sani Dangote would be sorely missed by many Nigerians, noting that his contributions to the development of the Dangote Group and by extension, the private sector in Nigeria would remain indelible.

He prayed to the Almighty Allah to grant the soul of late Alhaji Sani Dangote a peaceful resting place in Jannatul Firdaus.

On his part, the Deputy Speaker, in a statement issued by his chief press secretary, Uma Puma, described the deceased as a committed nationalist who gave all for the unity, progress and industrial development of the nation.

While praying to Allah to reward his good deeds with Jannatil firdaus, Wase prayed to the Almighty Allah to give the family the fortitude to bear the loss.

when Boko Haram was just starting, but now closer to 2018 and so it has been closer to 50 per cent of economic activity.”

He added: “Boko Haram is not just on those places where insurgency happens, it also affects neighbouring parts for where the actual attack happens as well.”

Furthermore, for the region to grow, the bank called for enhanced trade, improved infrastructure to move people good and services, improved governance and management of natural resources.

He added: “Now, when we take into account that security as an underlying precondition for developing the Lake Chad region, we focus on four key areas that we believe are essential to help break that cycle.

“The first one is trade facilitation; the ability to move goods and services from one place to another; connected infrastructure specially to make it easier for those goods and services to move in and including labour as well.

“The third area is governance and the importance that it has across all the different development challenges that Lake Chad region faces. And the fourth one is about natural resource management.”

On his part, the Country Director for Nigeria, World Bank, Mr. Shubham Chaudhuri advised Nigeria to urgently tackle insecurity to enhance growth especially in the north-east.

He said: “I think especially for an institution like the World Bank, you know we are for development and for that, we need peace and security to proceed with development.”

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NEWS

LAGOS ENDSARS PANEL SUBMITS REPORT...

L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, and Chairman, Lagos State Judicial Panel, Justice Doris Okuwobi (Rtd), during the presentation of the Report on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and other matters at Lagos House, Ikeja... yesterday

IN DAMNING REPORT, LAGOS #ENDSARS PANEL SAYS 11 KILLED AT LEKKI TOLLGATE country last year.

Of the 48 casualties listed, the panel stated that 24 sustained gunshot injuries, while 15 others were assaulted by soldiers and police, revealing that 96 other corpses were presented by a Forensic Pathologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Prof. John Obafunwa.

In the 309-page report, which specifically indicted the soldiers and the police, the panel stated that it unravelled the fact that after the Nigerian Army exited the scene, the Nigeria Police Force, followed up with the killing of the protesters, shooting directly at fleeing protesters who had run into the shanties and the Lagoon.

Stating that a number of unidentified bodies were removed by security agencies and the Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (LASEHMU) and deposited at various hospital mortuaries in Lagos State, the panel stressed that trucks with brushes underneath were brought to the Lekki Tollgate in the morning of October 21, to clean up the scene and conceal evidence.

The panel comprised a retired Judge of the Lagos State High Court, Justice Doris Okuwobi as Chairperson, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Taiwo Lakanu, Patience Patrick-Udoh (Representative Civil Society), ‘Segun Awosanya and Oluwatoyin Odusanya.

Others were Lucas Koyejo, Majekodunmi Oluwaseun and Mr. Babajide Boye, who acted as secretary .

The two-volume document which were presented to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide SanwoOlu at the Lagos House, Ikeja, a copy of which was obtained by THISDAY, called for the establishment of a body to look at human rights abuses in Lagos because it could not hear all the petitions submitted to it.

According to the panel, there were evidences of cover-up by the Army when they removed the corpses of the fallen protesters with their vans.

The Panel stated that Army should never have been deployed in the first place since the protest was largely peaceful. “in the light of all the above that issue of whether or not the Army kept to any particular rules of engagement is immaterial since the invitation of the Army to Lagos state and the deployment of the Army to Lekki Toll Gate in the first place was totally unwarranted.

The Army should on no account

be deployed against unarmed.”

The panel also found out that most of the 96 corpses for which autopsies were conducted by the state’s chief pathologist, Obafunwa, remained unidentified but were labelled #Endsars, lending credence to the belief that the shooting by security agencies resulted in mass deaths.

Specifically, it recommended disciplinary actions against one Lt. Col S.O. Bello and Major General Godwin Umelo, who refused to honour the summons of the panel in order to frustrate the investigation.

It declared that all officers (excluding Maj. Gen. Omata) and men of the Nigerian Army that were deployed to the Lekki tollgate on the date should be made to face appropriate disciplinary action, stripped of their status, and dismissed as they are not fit and proper to serve in any public or security service of the nation.

The panel stated that all those arrested in the course of the protest should be granted bail, prosecuted for any offence that may be alleged against them or where no prima facie evidence of culpability is disclosed upon due investigation, should be released forthwith.

It also recommended that the Nigeria Army should be discouraged from intervening in internal security of the country forthwith.

Panel’s terms of reference

Among others, the body was set up to identify victims of abuse, brutality and extra judicial killings in the hands of officers of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and officers of the Nigeria Police and to carry out investigative duties in respect of petitions received on police brutality and extra-judicial killings in Lagos State In addition, it was to evaluate evidence and draw conclusions on the validity of such petitions received; to determine and recommend compensation for verifiable/deserving victims and their dependents; and to interrogate serving or dismissed officers of the disbanded SARS and the police responsible for the abuse of victims and recommend their prosecution In summary, the panel’s duty also involved unravelling whether the Nigerian Army used live bullets on unarmed and defenceless protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate on 20th October 2020 and whether the live bullets resulted in injuries or casualties on the part of the protesters.

Furthermore, it was to find

out whether the police was at the tollgate on the night of the 20th of October 2020 and the morning of the 21st of October 2020 and whether they shot at unarmed and defenceless protesters.

As part of its terms of reference, the panel also probed whether the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) played any role in the events of the night of the 20th of October 2020 and generally whether the Lagos State played any role in the Lekki Tollgate incident.

Key findings

The Okuwobi-led panel noted that it found out indeed the Nigerian Army was indeed invited for intervention in the state and was deployed to the Lekki Tollgate on the said date, saying the invitation of the armed was unwarranted.

At the Lekki tollgate, it noted that during the probe, it discovered that “officers of the Nigerian Army shot, injured and killed unarmed helpless and defenceless protesters, without provocation or justification.”

It pointed out all these happened while the peaceful demonstrators, “were waving the Nigerian Flag and singing the National Anthem,” adding that “the manner of assault and killing could in context be described as a massacre.”

The panel also found that the conduct of the Army was exacerbated by its refusal to allow ambulances render medical assistance to victims who required such assistance and did not adhere to its own rules of engagement.

“The panel found that the Nigerian Police Force deployed its officers to the Lekki tollgate on the night of the 20th October, 2020 and between that night and the morning of the 21st of October, 2020, its officers shot at, assaulted and battered unarmed protesters, which led to injuries and deaths.

The police officers also tried to cover up their actions by picking up bullets.

“The panel found that the LCC hampered the panel's investigation by refusing to turn over some useful and vital information/evidence as requested by the panel and the forensic expert engaged by the panel, even where such information and evidence was by the company's admission, available. It manipulated the incomplete CCTV video footage of the Lekki Tollgate on the night of the 20th of October 2020, which it tendered before the panel,” the report said.

It stated that there was indeed an invitation of the Nigerian Army to Lagos State by the state government through the governor before

the hierarchy of the Nigerian Army deployed its soldiers to the scene on the said night.

It added that there was an attempt to cover up the incident by the cleaning of the Lekki scene and the failure to preserve the scene ahead of potential investigations.

Recommendations

In all, the panel made a total of 32 recommendations, which included sanctioning of the officers of the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Police Force respectively who participated in shooting, injuring and killing of unarmed protestors at the Lekki tollgate on the 20 and 21st of October 2020; It also called for the development of more robust engagement between the youth and the government

and the setting up of a standing committee/tribunal to deal with cases of violation of human rights by security agencies and a trust fund to settle compensation awarded by such tribunal.

It added: “There should be a public apology to #ENDSARS protesters who were killed, injured and traumatised by the incident of the 20th of October 2020 and the memorialisation of the Lekki Tollgate and the 20th of October going forward.

“The recognition of hospitals and medical doctors who played heroic roles following the Incident of the Lekki tollgate on the 20th of October 2020 thereby saving lives and minimising the impact of the injuries suffered by the victims, most

of which were on a pro-bono basis.”

The panel further recommended various sums of compensation to victims of the Lekki incident, which must be expeditious in order to accelerate the healing process, insisting that any data that may have been generated over the years on the impunity of the police across Nigeria be studied and deployed as early warning signs (EWS) mechanism.

The panel stated that it had the cooperation of most stakeholders save for the Nigerian Army and some others who ignored summons issued by the panel and lauded those represented by their counsel , including, the Nigerian Continued on page 35

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COMMENT

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

UDOM EMMANUEL AT AREWA HOUSE Emmanuel harps on unity in diversity, writes Sadiq Umar

T

he Arewa House, the north’s foremost Research and historical documentation centre, does not just invite figures to speak on its exalted platform.

Nigeria’s equivalent of London’s Royal Institute of International Affairs, better known as Chatham House, is a place where cerebral public figures of note share ideas and contribute to the body of knowledge on economy, diplomacy and national unity.

The intellectually resourced Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Governor Udom Emmanuel was the Keynote Speaker at The Arewa Media Interactive and Development Forum in Kaduna.

He spoke on the burning national issue of Unity in Diversity. The topic was apt in light of the cacophony of separatist agitations and the undue exploitation of national fault lines by fifth columnists.

Emmanuel, a renowned banker whose strength was in financial matters wowed his audience with his deep sense of history, anecdotes and national experiences to drive home his points.

Without hanging any tribe or interest group, the governor deftly dissected sensitive and touchy issues with injury to no one.

For sustaining the tradition of national dialogue and serving as Think Tank at periods of national turmoil, the governor commended the organizers and extolled their patriotic zeal in seeing a more united Nigeria.

He said, “In the mood of our current national despair, heightened by insecurity on a level only seen in war time, you have lit a candle of hope, unity, and love. My prayer is that this flame should be fanned into an enchanting blaze of love that would light and soften dark crevices of our nation and bring forth a new dawn of hope anchored on unity and brotherhood for our country and our people.”

Governor Emmanuel set the discussion in motion by giving a historical background to the topic under review which anchored his thoughts from drifting off course. He noted that, “For decades, the drumbeats of our nation have filled and seared the ears about the fragility of our unity and elasticity of the tolerance of our diversity. Some have prophesied the imminent demise of our nation, so many scenarios depicting the coming Armageddon have been pushed, and predicted.

“But in all of these, our nation still remains intact. Though the contours of our national unity may not be straight, though the lines of development may be zigzag, the tone and tenor of discordant and divergent, but the soul, the spirit and the identity of our nation remain sacrosanct. And on this, all Nigerians of goodwill have come to a solid agreement”.

The erudite keynote speaker showed with historical evidence that founding fathers of Nigeria had a dream of unity for Nigeria.

He spoke about the North sage, the revered Premier of the old Northern Region, the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello particularly where he said, “Here in Northern Nigeria, we have people of different races, tribes and religions who are knit together to common history, the things that unite us are stronger that the things that divide us”.

He cited another impeccable authority of Northern extraction, elder statesman and Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, Alhaji Sir

THE DIVERSITY AND MULTI-ETHNIC NATURE OF NIGERIA SHOULD BE A SOURCE OF STRENGTH, AND NOT THREAT. GOVERNOR UDOM EMMANUEL BROUGHT THE INTERDEPENDENT ROLES OF ETHNIC NATIONS THAT COMPRISE NIGERIA INTO FORE INDICATING THAT PROVIDENCE HAD PLANS FOR BRINGING US TOGETHER

Abubakar Tafewa Balewa who said, ‘’We have acquired our rightful status, and I feel sure that history will show that the building of our nation proceeded at the wisest pace: it has been thorough, and Nigeria and now stands well-built upon firm foundations”.

The sentiments expressed by these great patriots and statemen were correct and they came from their hearts. Unfortunately, the very issues they spoke eloquently about, our unity in diversity, have, instead of being our bulwark, have become something else, standing in the way to our unity and the definition of our common purpose as a united, indissoluble nation, shaped by common aspirations and hopes. They have unfortunately been exploited by purveyors of divisive narratives, enlarged by the merchant of tribalism, and promoted to a level that has created a chasm of alienation amongst our people.

These are deep words that should evoke emotions in well-meaning Nigerians especially the elite who are fanning the amber of disunity. The diversity and multi-ethnic nature of Nigeria should be a source of strength and not threat. Governor Udom Emmanuel succinctly brought the inter-dependent roles of ethnic nations that comprise Nigeria into fore indicating that Providence had plans for bringing us together.

To buttress his argument on inter-dependence he cited foods produced in one part of the country which gain prominence in other parts. The governor said, “So, Nigeria is a nation that is diverse, and beautiful as a coat of many colours. What tends to divide us should bring us together. Is it tribe, is it language, or is it food, or is it dance or is it religion?

Take, for instance, the consumption of Kolanuts. Few know it is grown in the Southwest, used for prayers in the East, and consumed for recreation in the North. It comes to life among the Yoruba, gives life in Igboland and is lively in the jaws of the Hausa man. In the same way, a lot of onions come from the North; it enriches OfeNsalla in the East, Ewedu in the Southwest and Afang in my house in Uyo. Governor Emmanuel demonstrated mastery of anecdotes in driving home his message. He opted for examples both the elite and the commoners can relate with. He said that tribe and religion have never been determinant factors in brokering business deals. The ultimate economic gains often bury the myopic sentiments of tribe and religion. Why can’t this play out in the polity?

Also the collective unity among Nigerians, regardless of tribe or faith invest in sports and also came handy for the governor whose audience listened with rapt attention. He noted that, ‘’In 1996, in faraway Atlanta, United States, we showed the world what we are capable of when we come together as a united entity. No one gave us a chance in the semi-final football match against the mighty Brazilians and tournament favourites. With less than 20 minutes to the end of the match, we trailed Brazil by three goals to one but because a united Nigeria is an unconquerable force, we stormed back to victory even after missing a penalty”.

CHARLES SOLUDO AND THE STOPWATCH Kene Obiezu writes that Soludo faces a formidable challenge to do well by the standards of Anambra voters

W

ith his belated victory at the November 6,2021 election in Anambra State, the stars have finally aligned for Mr. Charles Soludo, one of Nigeria`s preeminent public intellectuals, after many failed attempts to become governor of his state.

When the fate of the victor was said by INEC to hang on Ihiala where it was said that because there had been no valid elections, there would be supplementary polls, many feared that INEC was about to invoke its electoral sorcery, of course, at the instance of the powers that be.

But it is not for nothing that Anambra has always been a graveyard for electoral thieves and brigands; it is not for nothing that the state has a unique electoral cycle having drawn several groundbreaking judgments from Nigeria`s highest courts.

So, the INEC rollercoaster moved to Ihiala and at the end of a day spent on the edge of a razor, APGA`s Mr. Charles Soludo made a meal out of Mr. Valentine Ozigbo of the PDP and Mr. Andy Uba of the All-Progressives Congress who came a distant third. In the case of Mr. Ozigbo, but especially Mr. Uba and the APC, the Omambala River certainly milks the mirth of Anambra voters in roaring laughter at the humiliating defeats they have suffered. For indeed, Anambra always remembers - its voters showing an elephantine electoral memory that is in starkly short supply in many of Nigeria`s 36 states in spite of the atrocious aggravations suffered at the hands of political hyenas and jackals since 1999.

In 2003, the PDP`s electoral witchery was stopped dead in its tracks in Anambra State.

However, the party bought the collusion of INEC and invaded the Awka Government House where its stooge and one of Nigeria`s most recycled politicians, Mr. Chris Ngige, reigned as Governor for three years under immense pressure from Mr. Andy Uba, his brother Mr. Chris Uba and their battery of political barracudas.

In 2006, a historic verdict by the Court of Appeal put Mr. Ngige out of his misery to forever change the electoral landscape of Anambra State. In 2007, INEC was again at its ugliest in Anambra State. When its stomach, undoubtedly bloated by corruption and complicity, vomited Mr. Andy Uba as Governor, the painstakingly shrewd Mr. Peter Obi, his faith restored in the Nigerian judiciary by the 2006 verdict, approached the Supreme Court. Mr. Andy Uba was to spend all of two weeks before Nigeria`s highest court sent him packing with his tail wrapped between his legs just like Mr. Chris Ngige the year before.

Mr. Uba must still habour nightmares of his short-lived experience as governor. Having played a stirring role in the heinous attempts of his principal and former Nigeria President, Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo, to twist Nigeria`s infant constitution and democracy to perpetuate himself in office, Mr. Uba had shown that when power was the prize to be won, no strategy was too repulsive or repugnant.

Today in Anambra State, whenever the ubiquitous umbrellas of iniquity go up, matchlessly sophisticated Anambra voters remember

those who tried to rob them of their votes in broad daylight more than a decade ago.

So, during the election, it happened that in Ebenebe, a sleepy town, close to Awka, the Anambra State capital, electoral thieves, stuffed with public funds, arrogantly sought to purchase the votes of people so as to gain them a purchase in poverty and bad governance at least for the next four years.

Unfortunately for the brigands, they ran into a bevy of battled-hardened women voters drawn from the Anambra school of electoral sophistication. Seeing through their sophistry, and seeing their Greek gift for what it was, the women rejected what the men peddled and, in the process, pronounced a fatwa on the APC, recalling the hardship the party has foisted on Nigerians since 2015.

With his victory at the polls, the stopwatch has begun to run for Soludo and he must remember the ruthless transience of power. He can only have four years in the first instance. If he does well by Anambra voters, he may get another four years. But he must be ready to work and work hard.

His strides in the academia, consulting and public service stretch across the world in testament to his searing intellect. However, he must remember that in Nigeria, because things have been broken for too long, the journey between ideas and reality is a forbiddingly treacherous one.

Anambra has had good governors since 2006. The standards have always been high.

The outgoing governor, in spite of his rumored debaucheries, did relatively well as he found

himself under immense pressure from the beginning as a result of the soaring expectation his predecessor left behind by his excellent performance in office.

Thus, Mr. Soludo will not find a state all broken up and crying out for just anyone but the incumbent as Nigeria cried out for Mr. Buhari in 2015. What Mr. Soludo will encounter is a sophisticated electorate with a sixth sense perfectly honed to detect both the sophistry that abundantly clothes Nigerian politicians and excellent performance in public office. Mr. Soludo faces a formidable challenge to do well by the standards of Anambra voters.

The stopwatch is running for him and he must fear failure. But he can have nothing to fear from his defeated opponents who must now lick their wounds because the good people of Anambra State never return to their vomit.

Meanwhile, Nigerian voters can learn from the striking examples of the women of Ebenebe who startled the thieves who came to steal their votes that there is no miracle of multiplication that can see a paltry N5000 sustain anyone for four years. Nigerians must also note that unlike the biblical Elijah at Zarephath, because the men who share uncooked rice during elections in exchange for votes are inherently evil, they cannot guarantee that their poisoned chalice will not run out before the next elections.

The salt they offer in exchange for votes has no taste. It only comes to salt the wounds of their victims.

Obiezu, keneobiezu@gmail.com

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T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021

EDITORIAL BRIGANDAGE IN PLATEAU, IMO ASSEMBLIES The cost of constant bickering in the legislative houses is high on good governance

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fter weeks of acrimony following the impeachment of their Speaker, Abok Ayuba, by eight out of 24 members, the premises of the Plateau State House of Assembly was recently sealed up by the police. In a similar development, the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Paul Emeziem, was last week impeached at a session presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Amara Iwuanyanwu, who had been impeached a week earlier by the same members. The immediate consequence of this interminable bickering in the legislative houses is its toll on the quality of debate and legislation for good governance in our country. The ultimate victims of this unfortunate state of affairs are people of Imo and Plateau States who are denied quality and effective representation.

The overall cost of the ongoing actions to our democracy is high. The message unwittingly being sent out is that politicians could engage in any reckless, unlawful, improper and questionable activities as long as their interests are served. It is then THE ULTIMATE VICTIMS OF little surprise that we THIS UNFORTUNATE STATE are being marked down as a country OF AFFAIRS ARE PEOPLE where anything goes, OF IMO AND PLATEAU where obstacles are STATES WHO ARE DENIED deliberately placed on QUALITY AND EFFECTIVE perceived opponents, REPRESENTATION and where a constitutional instrument meant to enhance good governance can easily be wilfully abused and desecrated. Last Tuesday, the Senate passed a resolution condemning the disruption of legislative business in the Plateau Assembly due to the illegal impeachment of the speaker by a minority, a decision that has also been similarly condemned by the Conference of Speakers of the 36 States. But nobody seems to be paying them any attention.

Although the frequency of impeachment of speakers

Letters to the Editor

of Houses of Assembly may seem like a circus by some unserious political jesters, what it does is to present Nigeria in bad light. With very little excuse and sometimes for pecuniary reasons, legislators have no qualms about impeaching their speakers. Yet behind most of the impeachments is the overbearing disposition of the governors who seek to lord and emasculate the legislative arm of government in their states. That is particularly the situation in Plateau State where Governor Simon Lalong is fingered as the man behind the crisis.

S T H I S D AY EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITOR WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN N KAYODE KAY K AYODE KOMOLAFE AY KOMOL

T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGED ENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

peakers, as we have reiterated several times, do not have absolute powers of their own. They remain ‘executive heads’ of the legislative branch by virtue of being elected by their peers. In other words, they are first among equals. But the moment some of them are elevated to the office, they begin to hobnob with the executive branch, sometimes turning themselves into errand boys of their governors at the expense of the legislature. That has led to the undoing of some speakers.

But the manner in which many have lost their jobs indeed calls to question the seriousness with which the lawmakers perceive their assignment.

Although there are constitutional provisions for removing speakers and other erring public officers, assembly members most often invoke flimsy excuses for seeking the ouster of the incumbent office holder. While advocating that the parties in the Plateau Assembly crisis should look beyond their personal interest, a former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, said the issue is about how the world sees us as a serious democratic country. “It is about whether the rest of the world will see us as a people who lack respect for due process and therefore incapable of putting the provisions of our constitution to work on simple matters,” said Saraki. “How can we, after 22 years of democracy, be talking of the impeachment of a Speaker by eight members in a 24-member legislature, and a picture of a parliamentary proceeding to impeach the Speaker holding at 7am?”

That is a question for all the political stakeholders in Plateau State to answer.

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

DIALOGUE AND INTERFAITH-BELIEF COMMUNICATIONS STARTED BUT

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ialogue is imperative to improving relations between people of various faiths and none. Too often, religion has been an enabler and sanctifier of intolerance and conflict. The relationship amongst persons of religious and nonreligious affiliations leaves much to be desired.

Interfaith-belief communications have mainly been a master-slave, king-subject, lord-servant, conqueror-conquered affair. The relationship has been characterized by hate, hostility, mistrust, persecution, oppression, impunity, and conflict. Established religions treat nonbelievers with indignity and contempt.

Mainstream faiths are often rallied against no faith traditions and non-believing communities. Religion is codified not to tolerate or include the other, the nonreligious or unbelieving other. This unfortunate situation applies because people of faith wrongly assume that they have a monopoly of truth, knowledge, and morals. Believers are socialized to dislike or loath non-believers. They are conditioned to regard nonbelief in god as a serious crime, a capital offense, and, yes, a forbidden habit. Interestingly, a believer in one religion is regarded as an unbeliever by other religions. Dialogue within the universe of belief has been framed in faith, theistic or religious terms.

Belief in a God has been made a criterion to participate in a dialogue. Interfaith or inter-religious, not interfaith-belief, dialogue has been the norm. An interfaith-belief dialogue that includes atheists and other non-believers is an exception. But this should not be the case. The dialogue project should be inclusive.

The entrenched religious antagonism towards the non-religious should not be a surprise. Religious intolerance is rooted in teachings, indoctrinations, and traditions.

The Christian scripture explicitly describes non-believers as fools (Psalms 14:1), that is, those without knowledge and wisdom. Non-believers are designated as blind and ignorant (Ephesians 4:18). Belief in the existence of a God constitutes an automatic investor of wisdom and understanding. The scripture enjoins believers not to relate or yoke equally with nonbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).

Sacred texts sanction oppression and unequal treatment of nonbelievers. They make a virtue out of persecuting and discriminating against non-believers. The Islamic holy book contains verses that incite hatred and violence against non-Muslims. The Qur’an

enjoins Muslims to attack and kill non-believers (Surah 3:151) and treat them without mercy. Other verses contain chilling statements of violence and intolerance. For instance, Surah 2:191 says: “And kill them (non-Muslims) wherever you find them … kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers (non-Muslims). Surah 9:5 states: “Then kill the disbelievers (non-Muslims) wherever you find them, capture them and besiege them, and lie in wait for them in every ambush.

Among the Islamic traditions, conversion to Islam is celebrated, but renunciation of the islamic faith is an offense and a dishonor to the family. Deconversion from Islam is punishable by death or long imprisonment. Views that are critical of Islam are regarded as blasphemies and serious infractions.

But it is pertinent to note that religion is a mixed bag of doctrines. There are religious teachings and scriptural verses that emphasize love, tolerance, and compassion.

But the antagonism towards people from no faith traditions is rooted in the hateful and immoral teachings and indoctrinations of religions. The time has come to take a critical look at these teachings that undermine interfaith-belief dialogue. Dialogue will transform communication between faith and no faith constituencies. It will turn the imparting or exchange of information between people of faith and no faith into a two-way process. What obtains at the moment is a one-way- an unyielding one-way religious communication. What applies is a monologue, an intense religious monologue. The non-religious are constantly informed about religion and belief in God. There is no room to inform the religious about nonbelief or irreligion. Due to this one-way communication, the religious continue to languish in prejudice and ignorance of nonreligious canons including humanism, atheism, and freethought. The religious find it difficult to engage in a meaningful dialogue with the non religious.

In addition, a dialogue will change interfaith-belief relations into a business of equals, not unequals. It will transform interfaith-belief relations into an interaction marked by mutual respect. Dialogue will emphasize shared values and translate interfaith-belief relationship into an asset, and a mechanism to foster peace and development in the country.

Leo Igwe, nskepticleo@yahoo.com

NOT FINISHED YET

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he passing of South Africa’s last white president FW de Klerk marks the end of those from the leadership of South Africa during the apartheid times. He did start the process of transition to democracy where everyone had a vote, but he also worked for a long time in the apartheid system and didn’t seem to really apologize, recognise and refute apartheid as completely as he should have.

It is customary to praise those that pass, and he did start the process, but the full picture is more complex than that.

Although apartheid has officially gone are all the people in South Africa offered the same opportunities? I think there is more to do.

Rest in peace and hope that others continue with the journey to full equality in South Africa.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne,

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TUESDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Again, Rampaging Bandits Kill 28 in Sokoto, Raze Houses in Niger

Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto and Laleye Dipo in Minna

Gun men suspected to be armed bandits on Sunday and yesterday killed no fewer than 28 persons in three communities of Illela Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

A source in the area said the three communities where the killing took place are Kalmulo, Runji and Kawadata.

A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said bandits in their hundreds stormed the three communities Sunday and yesterday shooting sporadically killing about 28 persons.

Another source said most of the villagers are now taking refuge in Niger Republic as the place is not yet safe He further said the remaining people in the communities are living in high apprehension, fearing further attack.

According to source, the whole local government is not safe.

When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Sanusi, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) neither picked nor returned a telephone call put across to him.

But when THISDAY contacted the Commissioner of Security and Career Studies Col, Garba Moyi , he confirmed that bandits attacked the three communities.

Moyi further said the local

vigilante in these communities resisted the attack, stressing that there were casualty in both camps of the bandits and the vigilante. But he refused to disclose the number of the casualty.

Illela, a commercial and border town in Sokoto state has been affected due to the activities of bandits and kidnappers.

THISDAY earlier reported that both the local government

chairman and some big men in the local government took refuge in Niger Republic for the fear of being kidnapped.

Meanwhile, bandits also invaded communities in Munya Local Government

Area of Niger State setting houses ablaze and kidnapping villagers.

THISDAY learnt that the villages already overrun by the bandits include New Kachiwe, Zagzaga and old Kabila.

CREATING AWARENESS ON DIABETES…

L- R: Chief Medical Director, Gbagada General Hospital, Dr. Segun Babafemi; Marketing Manager, Diabetes Care ISN Medical, Mrs. Yewande Maborukoje; General Manager, Diabetes Care Unit ISN Medical, Mrs. Ify Chioke; Assistant Director, Social and Welfare Services, Gbagada General Hospital, Mrs. Modupe Badmus, and Managing Director, ISN Products Limited, Mr. Felix Ofungwu, during the World Diabetes Day Awareness Campaign in Lagos…recently SUNDAY ADIGUN

Askira-Uba: Troops Kill 50 Electoral Offenders Should be Imprisoned, Says Igini More ISWAP Fighters review of the Anambra election Very many of them that we see cannot be sustained without Funmi Ogundare concluded last week. today are supposed to be in the rule of law. We are looking Kingsley Nwezeh inAbuja

The Nigerian Army Headquarters, yesterday, said troops had decimated 50 more fighters of the Islamic State for West African Province (ISWAP) after a fierce counter offensive in Uba Askira Local Government Area of Borno State.

The army, in a statement, said troops of Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) destroyed several of their combat equipment during the confrontation in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

The killing of the Commander, 28 Task Force Brigade, Chibok, Brigadier-General Dzarma Zirkushi and three soldiers in an ambush in Uba-Askira, last weekend, triggered an offensive by the military as rampaging troops killed 37 terrorists.

The military had deployed three fighter jets, one Alpha jet and two A-29 Super Tucano attack aircraft

and ground troops that engaged the insurgents in long-drawn fire-fight.

This comes as the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya, led a team of top brass of the Nigerian Army to pay a condolence visit to the family of the late Zirkusu, on Sunday, where he commiserated with families of the fallen heroes.

The army war update stated that, “In the counter offensive, troops eliminated top commanders of ISWAP as well as foot soldiers.

The gallant troops also unleashed massive destruction on the terrorists’ Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle and 11 Gun Trucks”.

It said the equipment destroyed by troops included an MRAP vehicle and 11 Gun Trucks.

The troops also recovered large cache of arms and ammunition, notably, five gun trucks, two anti aircraft guns, five AK 47 rifles, one HK Machine Gun and one HK Machine Gun links.

Akwa Ibom State Resident Electoral Commision and lawyer, Mr. Mike Igini, yesterday, expresed concern about Nigeria’s permissive electoral system, saying electoral offenders or vote buyers must be made to face the wrath of the law and sent to jail.

Igini was a guest on The Morning Show of the AriseTV and spoke on the backdrop of the

He recalled the viral video of a political party agent distributing money during the Anambra election, saying it was the primary responsibility of security agents to arrest anybody commiting such offences, as vote buying.

“What is going on in our country is that we have a permissive system. If we must drive home our seriousness, we must deal with the big guns first.

prison. The pyramid of value is upside down and integrity is at the base,” he said.

He described democracy as an orchestra, saying the democratic process was a multi-stakeholder responsibility.

His words: “The whole embrace of democracy is because it brings about participation and accountability in the process of human development. Democracy

forward to that day and we hope that some of the innovation we have put in place, we will be proud of what we have done, when we leave office. What we see in Nigeria, when people have opportunity to be in office, they will suddenly become activists, but so far so good. In Anambra politics, by the time the dust settles, we realise that we made remarkable success.”

Insecurity: FG to Recruit 10,000 Policemen Annually

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

In a bid to boost the security architecture of the country, the federal government, yesterday, said it would embark on the recruitment of 10,000 policemen annually.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of Interpol Week in Abuja, Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Dingiyadi, said government was working

in concert with the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the police high command to recruit 10,000 policemen annually to boost the security architecture of the country.

“We are currently working in concert with the Police Service Commission and the IGP on the development of a government policy on recruitment of 10,000 policemen annually to boost the security architecture of the

country.

“The ministry under my direction has been working with the Inspector General of Police to ensure that the necessary tools and equipment needed by police is secured to take the police to the next level.

“We are also collaborating with other agencies and international partners to make sure that the NPF is adequately equipped to support other

relevant agencies to deliver on their mandate,” he said.

In his remarks, the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr Usman Baba, stated that Interpol had provided support for the law enforcement community in combating diverse crimes, particularly, cyber crime, terrorism, maritime piracy, human trafficking, illicit trafficking in goods and environmental crimes.

APGA Assembling Lawyers to Bauchi to Access N30b World Bank Facility to Defend Soludo’s Victory Fight Environmental Problems David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has said it had begun recruiting lawyers to defend the victory of its candidate, Prof.

Chukwuma Soludo from being stolen.

APGA said the move was was to defend its mandate from the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Andy Uba, who has promised to contest the result of the just concluded election in court.

Former National Chairman of APGA, Senator Victor Umeh, who stated this at a press briefing at Aguluizigbo in Anaocha Local Government Area of the the state, derided the APC candidate, saying Anambra State was not Imo. Umeh, who described the litigation threat as an empty one, said APGA lawyers were ready to meet Uba in court and

urged the people, especially APGA supporters, not to lose sleep over such threat.

Umeh said: “Our lawyers are fully prepared for the challenge, any time Uba is ready. Uba has no mandate to reclaim, because the people of Anambra voted for APGA. The election took place in all the 21 local government areas in the state and he didn’t win any council area, so what is he going to court to do?

“The outcome of the election, was a true reflection of what Anambra people want. Anambra people didn’t give Andy Uba any mandate. They wanted Soludo, and they voted for him massively.

“We are used to such cases.

I have been in politics for more than 20 years, so, APGA is not afraid of going to court with Andy Uba. Nothing will make Anambra people to vote for a party that has nothing to offer.

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

Determined to check environmental problems largely caused by flood disaster in various local government areas during this year’s raining season, the Bauchi State government is to access a N30 billion World Bank grant.

This was disclosed yesterday by the Director General of Bauchi State Environmental

Protection Agency (BASEPA), Dr. Kabir Ibrahim, during the commencement of evacuation of sand that covered some areas of Cheledi, in Kirfi Local Government Area during the raining season.

The BASEPA DG said flooding in the state was rampant as it ravaged many local government areas including Kirfi, which was so devastated that the state government solicited the

support of the World Bank.

He explained that the state government agreed to contribute N1billion as counterpart fund,which would be captured in the proposed 2022 state budget saying, “We know that the state government cannot do it alone, that was why we asked for World Bank intervention funding, which they promised after paying the counterpart, and is one of the state government priority

at the moment”.

Chairman of Kirfi local government council, Garba Musa Bara, reiterated the determination of the people of the area to contribute thier quota to the evacuation exercise.

“We have been able to get the listening ears of the DG of BASEPA, who mobilised to come here and evacuate the sand that is a menace to us. It will be cleared from our pathways.

INEC Registers New 4,167,547 Voters Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, gave an update on the ongoing continuous voters registration exercise, said to have surpassed over four million new registrants.

In an updated website, the commission said new registrants were 4,167,547.

According to INEC, the completed online & physical registration as at Monday, November 15, was 1,737,618.

Giving further details on gender specifications, INEC

said 882,624 male completed registration, while 854,994 female completed theirs.

The commission further stated that Persons Living With Disability were some 17,619, who completed registration.

On the type of registration,

the commission said it consisted of online, which was 684,822, and physical, put at 1,052,796.

Within, the youth category, INEC said between 18 and 34 years Nigerians registered, representing a total of 1,241,610.

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2021

POLITICS

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

Lawmakers Free Selves from Overbearing State Governors, Godfathers through Direct Primary The decision of the National Assembly to ensure that the direct mode of primary is backed by legislation may have put an end to godfatherism and overbearing influence of some state governors during the nomination of parties’ candidates, writes Adedayo Akinwale

Lawan

A

fter intense public pressure, the Senate finally beat a retreat by reversing its earlier decision to subject electronic transfer of results to the discretion of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and gave the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the sole right to the innovation.

The Senate had, shortly before proceeding on a two-month annual vacation on July 15, 2021, during the consideration of a report on the 2010 Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021, submitted by its Committee on INEC, amended clause 52(3) as recommended that INEC may consider the electronic transmission of results, provided the national coverage is adjudged to be adequate and secure by the National Communications Commission and approved by the National Assembly.

While the clause as presented in the committee report stated that INEC could transmit election results electronically, where and when practicable, the Senate had passed the amended version which stated that, “INEC can transmit election results electronically subject to confirmation of Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) of adequacy and security of national network.

However, the Upper Chamber revisited the issue recently sequel to the presentation of a motion by the Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, for the re-committal of some clauses of the Electoral Act No 6 2010 (Repeal and Reenactment) Bill (SB122) to the Committee of the Whole.

He pointed out that the decision to subject the amended clauses of the bill to re-committal was reached after critical examination by the Senate Committee on INEC. Abdulahi added that some fundamental issues, which required fresh legislative action, were observed by the Senator Kabiru Gaya-led Committee in the bill.

In his submission, Senator Adamu Aliero, said it would strengthen the electoral process and give Nigerians more power to select their desired leaders.

He said the motion, if adopted, would help the electorate to ensure that questionable characters were not elected in governance.

Eventually, the Senate at the Committee of the Whole chaired by Dr. Ahmad Lawan, amended Clause 52(2) of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill to read: “Subject to section 63 of this Bill, voting at an election and transmission of results under this Bill shall be in accordance with the procedure determined by the Independent National Electoral Commission, which may include electronic voting.”

Parliament Liberates Self through Direct Primary This wasn’t the only landmark agreement, as the Senate despite appeals from different quarters, concurred with the House of Representatives by giving legislative backing to direct mode of

Gbajabiamila

Gaya

primary for aspirants seeking election in all the registered political parties in the country.

How the House Set the Pace During the consideration of Electoral Bill by the House, the House Committee on Electoral Act amendment Bill had recommended in Clause 87 under Nomination of candidates by parties that: (1) A political party seeking to nominate candidates for elections under this Bill shall hold direct or indirect primaries for aspirants to all elective positions, which may be monitored by the Commission.

(2) The procedure for the nomination of candidates by political parties for the various elective positions shall be by direct or indirect primaries.

(3) A political party that adopts the direct primaries procedure shall ensure that all aspirants are given equal opportunity of being voted for by members of the party.

(4) A political party that adopts the system of indirect primaries for the choice of its candidate shall adopt the procedure outlined below — (a) in the case of nominations to the position of presidential candidate, a political party shall — (i) hold a special presidential convention at a designated centre in the Federal Capital Territory or any other place within the Federation that is agreed to by the National Executive Committee of the party where delegates shall vote for each of the aspirants.

Gbajabiamila’s Amendment However, the Speaker of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila proposed that in Subcluase (1), line 2, leave out the words “or indirect” and anywhere it appears in the Bill.

His proposed amendment was agreed to and the House passed direct primary as the mode of primary by which political parties can nominate their candidates for election.

Implications What these landmark decisions mean

Aliero is that apart from taking away attraction and concentration of power and influence from the state governors in the choice of who runs for what office, it might have dealt a huge blow to godfatherism factor from the power equation.

What it all comes down to is that it gives power back to the electorate. It means people will simply go and queue behind the poster of the candidate they support.

The votes are counted and result declared for all to see.

It will also effectively end imposition of unpopular candidates on the party by godfathers. It’s like Option A4 all over again. For long, governors had wielded enormous influence on the parties and were the principal determinants of who runs and who doesn’t. With direct primaries, they have lost that vital influence.

Analysts views Besides, political analysts believe that Direct Primary is the most transparent mode of nominating a candidate in any election, because it allows for mass participation, while also ensuring that candidates are selected instead of elected.

They were also of the view that direct primary will allow for more women and youth participation in the political process, heck god-fatherism; enhance internal party democracy in all registered political parties and also create a level playing ground for aspirants.

Above all, they pointed out that through Direct primary, the role of money or influence to buy delegates, voters or members is whittled down. In the event that political thugs disrupts voting before declaration of winner,direct primary method will still be revert back to in the re-run primary elections.

“Some governors and political players ganging up against Femi Gbajabiamila and his fellow National Assembly members for leading these landmark electoral reforms may need to realise that the people they govern are now wiser, more agitated and yearning for a new lease of life at all level of governments. Nigerians are in for a

The Senate at the Committee of the Whole chaired by Dr. Ahmad Lawan, amended Clause 52(2) of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill to read: “Subject to section 63 of this Bill, voting at an election and transmission of results under this Bill shall be in accordance with the procedure determined by the Independent National Electoral Commission, which may include electronic voting

new political order that will empower them to reject any non-performing office holder in the Legislature and Executive and unpopular new Aspirant,” an analyst said.

By these decisions, however, the INEC has not only been empowered to electronically transmit election results, the Parliament has also given power back to the people in the choice of their representatives at different levels of leadership.

Lawmakers Reactions Senator Adamu Aliero believes that direct mode of primary would strengthen the electoral process and give Nigerians more power to select their desired leaders and would also help the electorate to ensure that questionable characters were not elected in governance.

According to Aliero, It would discourage money bags from taking over and determining the outcome of elections in the country.

On his part, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele cited Clause 87, which has to do with conduct of primaries, saying: “Direct primary is a way of giving power to the people since every member will enjoy that right of selecting a candidate.”

He said if democracy must grow, direct primary should be adopted.

Senator SmartAdeyemi, however, spoke against the amendment of Clause 87 to introduce direct primary election, saying the motion to amend the clause to introduce direct primaries would make the electoral process burdensome to the people.

Lending his voice, Hon. Akeem Adeyemi said with direct mode of primary, the power has been returned to the masses.

He stated: “Power returned to the masses. If you want to contest, approach the members of the party you joined, no fear of someone has cornered delegates. You have been set free from any godfather and money bag.”

Also, the Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the House, Hon. Kingsley Chinda said Clause 87 of the Electoral Bill cannot stand against existing laws and court decisions that party primaries, selection or election of candidates as party flag bearers remain the internal affairs of political parties. He however added that he remain part of the decison and he’s bound by it.

He said, “Clause 87 of the Electoral Bill can not stand against existing laws and court decisions that party primaries, selection or election of candidates as party flag bearers remain the internal affairs of political parties. It will be wrong to attempt to compel political parties to adopt a stated method in producing their flagbearers. I still believe that the various party constitutions should take care of that.

“However, the NASS having decided by majority as is required by our rules, I am bound by it and remain part of that decision.”

The lawmakers can now heave a sigh of relief by making people oriented laws without any fear that they would be denied a return ticket to the Parliament by any godfather or governor.

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2021

POLITICS

Understanding the Musical Chairs at Imo House of Assembly Amby Uneze explains the current crisis rocking the Imo State House of Assembly, the impeachment and counter-impeachment of presiding officers and the subsequent election of a new speaker

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hinking back to the episode of post January 14, 2020 surprise Supreme Court ruling on Imo state governorship debacle, the state house of assembly has been playing the winner takes it all game. As soon as governor Hope Uzodimma was sworn in on January 15, 2020, in compliance with that Supreme Court judgement, nine Imo lawmakers that were of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) immediately defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), being the party appointed by the Supreme Court to be in power.

One could recall that the speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Collins Chiji representing Isiala Mbano who had abandoned his former party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and declared for PDP in order to grab the speakership announced his defection to APC in order to retain his speakership position. While Chiji and majority leader, Mr. Chigozie Nwaneri, announced their defection on the floor of the House, others wrote letters of defection.

They are: Chyna Amara Iwuanyanwu (Nwangele local government); Innocent Egwim (Ideato North local government); Chidiebere Ogbunikpa (Okigwe local government); Obinna Okwara (Nkwerre local government); Paul Emeziem (Onuimo local government); Ekene Nnodim (Orsu local government); Duru Johnson (Ideato South local government); Ngozi Obiefule (Isu local government) and Herculus Okoro (Ohaji-Egbema local government).

Few days later, the likes of Eddy Obinna (Aboh Mbaise), Samuel Otibe (Ahiazu Mbaise) and Uche Ogbagu (Ikeduru) all of PDP defected to APC. In order to maintain equity and decency in the distribution of appointments, the deputy speaker of the assembly, Okey Onyekamma (Mbaitoli, PDP) decided to resign his position as a principal officer of the Assembly. To many, that action was honourable and alien to our polity where politicians would want to remain in their juicy position even when it was detrimental to the system.

The minority leader, Ekene Nnodumele (Orlu, APGA) first resigned his position, and then defected to the APC. However, he has since gone back to PDP to rejoin his other eight colleagues. It is pertinent to note that there are 27 legislators representing the 27 local government areas. At the inception of former Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha’s seven months regime as governor, PDP had the majority members in the house. But as soon as he was removed by the Supreme Court, APC moved to majority as some of the PDP members defected to APC, leaving die-hard nine members of PDP to play the minority.

The disciplined and uncompromising six lawmakers that remained in PDP ab inito include the former deputy speaker, Okey Onyekamma (Mbaitoli), Frank Ugboma (Oguta), Anyadike Nwosu (Ezinihitte), Tochi Okereke (Ngor Okpala), Philip Ejiogu (Owerri North) and Solomon

Kennedy Ibe

Anukam (Owerri Municipal).

Months later, the leadership of the house was changed as Mr. Paul Emeziem of Onuimo replaced Collins Chiji of Isiala Mbano as speaker, while Amara Iwuanyanwu became the deputy speaker.

One of the inglorious actions of Emeziem’s leadership according to political pundits was the sudden and unceremonious suspension of six active members of the house by the speaker.

Those suspended were four APC members and two PDP members. They included: Uche Ogbuagu (APC, Ikeduru LGA), Anyadike Nwosu (PDP, Ezinihitte LGA and Minority leader), Ezerioha Dominic (APC, Oru West LGA), Philip Ejiogu (PDP, Owerri North LGA), Micheal Onyemaechi (APC, Ihitte Uboma LGA), and Kennedy Ibe (APC, Obowo LGA). The former speaker had attributed reasons of suspension of the six members to “unparliamentary conduct.”

Pointedly so, because of the inordinate and inundated ambition for power and position in the house, members had been busy planning on how to outwit each order in order to come on top to lord it over other members. Based on this scenario, therefore, an attempt was made to impeach the deputy speaker, Amara Iwuanyanwu last Tuesday.

Already, 18 members out of 27 were said to have signed the impeachment notice as

claimed by the former speaker, Emeziem.

This action did not go down well with the powers that be at Government House.

Efforts were quickly made to reverse the trend which subsequently led to the impeachment of the speaker, Emeziem on Monday. Invariably, it was the period of the recall of the six suspended members and superior power carried the day as Emeziem was subsequently impeached as speaker because he was allegedly accused of working with Senator Ifeanyi Araraume to impeach the governor.

One of the recalled members, Kennedy Ibe of Obowo was subsequently elected by his colleagues as the substantive speaker while Iwuanyanwu was returned as deputy speaker of the house. Nineteen out of 27 members were said to have signed the impeachment of Emeziem.

He was immediately suspended over claims of alleged forging of the signatories of some of the members that he claimed signed for the removal of Iwuanyanwu. Two other members: Onyekamma and Ekene Nnodim of Orsu were also suspended.

Receiving the new speaker to the Government House on Tuesday, Governor Hope Uzodimma challenged members of the house to work as a team and trust each other if they wanted to make the desired impact. He also reiterated that he would

not interfere in their independence as an arm of government but rather partner with the members on how to serve Imo people better.

The governor congratulated the lawmakers for resolving to elect the speaker of their choice peacefully without external interference, saying “what happened that resulted into a peaceful and democratic election of the new speaker is a victory for democracy.”

He called on them to work towards a united house where there will be mutual trust. “Imo State needs a united, functional, effective and efficient house of Assembly that will work towards giving the people the desired dividends of democracy.”

While noting that as a democrat he submits to the doctrine of separation of powers, insisting that “when this is fully applied the three arms will surely deliver on their mandate.”

Uzodimma urged the members to imbibe the spirit of team work, requesting that they “forgive each other and forge ahead, “emphasizing that all the arms of government must strive to contribute their quota to serve Imo state better, noting that “whether as an executive, legislature or judiciary member if government succeeds it is for all of us, and when it fails they have all failed.”

Regrettably, Imo people believe that members of the state house of assembly for the past 10 years have not lived upto the expectations of the people who they represent. The house has remained an offshoot of the executive arm. During the regime of the former governor, Rochas Okorocha, it was alleged that there were virtually no ideal people-oriented programmes or policies initiated and carried out inform of making laws to the growth of humanity. Imolites argue that what had been in vogue as achievements, have been focusing solely on the needs of the Government House (governor) and doing his dictates instead of spreading their tentacles to make laws for the good of the people.

According to a group, Concerned Imo Citizens for Good Governance, the house of assembly was there and their people were being massacred in their hundreds by hoodlums. “Even security agencies were allegedly accused of being the masterminds of most of the killings in the pretence that they were fighting the unknown gunmen. As Imo people cried and called on the government and the house members to intervene in curbing the reckless killings, they looked the other way.”

It took some concerned personalities like His Grace, Most Rev. Anthony Obinna, and Archbishop of Owerri to send a powerful message to the governor to intervene in the killings, urging him to convoke a stakeholder’s dialogue. In his message of June 3, 2021 titled: “Stop the killings, convoke a ceasefire meeting”, the archbishop expressed concern about killings of innocent citizens by “known and unknown gunmen and called on the governor to stop the killings.

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

Uzodinma Has Restored Democracy in Imo, Says Emelumba At a recent encounter with the Imo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, journalists including Vanessa Obioha were inundated with some of the achievements of Governor Hope Uzodimma

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or the Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Imo State, Declan Emelumba, the state is experiencing true democracy due to the leadership shrewdness of Governor Hope Uzodinma.

Emelumba expressed this sentiment during a meeting with journalists yesterday. According to him, there was no democracy in the state before his principal took office.

“The people did not know what was happening in government. It was ‘familiocracy’, just a clique of a family and cronies running the state. There was no due process. The funds of the state were spent carelessly. Even a private man would not have been that reckless.

“It was so bad but Uzodinma has restored order, due process and sanity. Today, Imo people can say that they’re involved in the running of the government. That is why he has held over four stakeholders meeting within two years, where he consults regularly with the people.

This is a statement of stewardship. So the people know exactly what the government is doing

Uzodinma

and are at the same pace with him.”

He added that Uzodinma is in continuous talks with the local governments and

has also introduced the people’s budget where the LGs needs are added to the fiscal budget of the year.

“When you compare the legitimate administration of Rochas Okorocha within eight years, what Uzodinma has done In two years surpasses what Rochas has done in eight years. There was no democracy under Okorocha. He was just doing what he liked.”

These leadership traits of the governor, Emelumba believes, will fetch him a landslide victory if he runs for the governorship in 2023. He dismissed comments by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the 2019 elections, Emeka Ihedioha, who claimed that Uzodinma will be edged out in the 2023 elections.

“Ihedioha never won and will never win any election,” Emelumba stated emphatically, citing Ihedioha’s defeat in 2015 and 2019 when a Supreme Court ruling

upturned the election results that crowned him the winner. As long as Emelumba is concerned, Ihedioha’s dewy victory at the elections was negotiated.

He argued that Ihedioha’s ambition for the Number One seat in the state is curious.

“What he is not telling Imo people is why his eyes are still focused on that seat. The reason is because he wants to continue from where he stopped. In seven months that he occupied the Government House, illegally though, what did he achieve?

“He didn’t do anything more than expanding his estate and spreading the news that he wanted to build the stadium which was one of the ways he used to siphon money. If Ihedioha had spent four years, he would have made Okorocha a saint, because the way he was going, he would have been far worst than Okorocha.”

He maintained that Ihedioha’s only agenda for the state was to expand and consolidate his imperial ambition, and that would have left the state in ruins.

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FEATURES

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

Tackling the Scourge of Out-of-school Children in Katsina Francis Sardauna writes that the Back-to-School and Behavioural Change Campaign launched

by UNICEF in collaboration with the Katsina State SUBEB would tackle the spate of out-ofschool children in the state

Stakeholders after the flag-off of the campaign in Kafur LGA

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he United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) report shows that out of the 10.5 million out-of-school children in the country, 6.5 million are in the northern part of the country. The most worrisome aspect of the report is that 40 per cent of Nigerian children aged six to 11, do not attend any primary school with the northern region recording the lowest school attendance rate.

Another challenge besetting the northern part of the country is the issue of girl-child education.

The gender gap remains particularly wide and the proportion of girls to boys in school ranges from one girl to two boys, to one to three in almost all the 19 states.

In Katsina, according to Annual School Census Report released by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and UNICEF, the state has 775,000 out-of-school children across the 34 local government areas of the state as a result of banditry and COVID-19 pandemic. The report further revealed that Kankara and Kafur local governments have the highest number of the out-of-school children.

For instance, in Kankara, the report indicated that 75 per cent of children in the state's most largest landmark (1,462 km2) local government, drop out of school upon completing primary school. It also indicates that 82 per cent of children aged between six and 11 attend primary school in the area, while 28 per cent are out of primary school.

More worrisome, only 25 per cent of the children between the ages of 12 to 14 are in junior and senior secondary schools, while 75 per cent are out-of-school. This shows that majority of the children that attended primary school do not transit to even junior secondary school (JSS). They drop out at primary level for either marriage, farming or trading.

In Kafur, 71 per cent of children between the ages of six and 11 are in schools, while 29 per cent within the same age range are out-of-school.

Transition ratio from primary school to junior secondary school (JSS) is 65 per cent and 35 per cent of students are out-of-school according to the Annual School Census of 2020. Thus, a total of 69,062 children are currently in schools in the area.

Investigation by THISDAY revealed that early marriage, poverty, socio-cultural barriers, transition, inadequate junior and senior secondary schools, lack of adequate learning facilities, banditry and

COVID-19 are the major factors triggering the spate of the out-of-school children in the affected LGAs. Access to secondary schools in the area is another challenging issue as most students trek for 15 kilometres to attend junior secondary schools in nearby communities.

Other factors militating against basic education in the LGAs range from the fact that many children do not attend school because their labour is needed to either help at home or bring additional income to the family. Many families cannot afford the costs of sending their children to schools such as uniforms and textbooks. Some parents also prefers to send their children to Qur’anic schools instead of formal schools.

It is against this backdrop that UNICEF, Kano Field Office, in collaboration with the state government through SUBEB, launched "Back-to-School and Behavioural Change Campaign" in the state. The campaign was flagged-off in Katsina, the state capital, and the headquarters of Kankara and Kafur local governments.

The life-changing campaign, which is being implemented by UNICEF with funding support from Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), is targeted at returning over 200,000 out-of-school children, including Al-majirai to school this year (2021) to eradicate the menace of out-of-school children from across the 361 political wards of the state.

At Kankara, the stakeholders comprising traditional and religious leaders, headteachers, classroom teachers and parents converged on the local government education authority (LGEA) secretariat where they brainstormed extensively on how to tackle the scourge in communities across the LGA. They, thereafter, vowed to end the age-long predicament by returning their children to school.

At the launch of the Back-to-school and Behavioural Change Campaign in the area, the Executive Chairman of SUBEB, Lawal Buhari Daura, represented by the Board Secretary, Isa Muhammed, said only 82 per cent of children aged between six and 11 attend primary school, while 28 per cent were out of primary school.

He said: "Katsina State is one of the identified states in the northern part of the country with a significant number of out of school children, with children within the 6 to 14 age bracket having a higher percentage. The figures are alarming, with Kankara among the leading LGAs in the state. And access to secondary schools is challenging.

“In Kankara, which has an area of 1,462 square kms in size, some students trek more than five kilometres from their communities to the nearest secondary school.

Moreover, the lack of secondary schools in some communities in Kankara, mostly stopped pupils transiting from primary to JSS level.

"Similarly, 25 per cent of the children between the ages of 12 to 14, were those in Secondary schools, and 75 per cent are out-of-school. Thus, this signifies that the majority of the children that attend primary school do not transit to Junior Secondary School (JSS), as they drop-out at the primary level".

He added: "Transition is one of the challenges that had contributed to the out-of-school-children in the LGA, as pupils complete the cycle, but were unable to transit to higher levels. This is alarming and need immediate attention or a state of emergency on education in Kankara, so as to propel avenues and activities, as well as implementing them to overcome the challenge.

Early marriage, poverty, socio-cultural barriers, transition, inadequate junior and senior secondary schools, lack of adequate learning facilities, banditry and COVID-19 are the major factors triggering the spate of the outof-school children in the affected LGAs

The SUBEB secretary explained that the state government and other development partners had achieved a lot in terms of ensuring that school age children were in school, retained, complete, as well as transit to a higher level of education.

On his part, the Kankara Local Government Head of Administration, Nura Labaran, said the high number of out-of-school-children in the area was 95 per cent caused by insecurity.

He noted that three per cent of the cause could be attributed to inadequate learning structures and materials, while the remaining two per cent were due to negligence by parents.

While flagging off the programme at Kafur Local Government Secretariat, the SUBEB Secretary, Isa Muhammed, explained that 71 per cent of children between the ages of six and 11 are in schools, while 29 per cent within the same age range are out-of-school.

He reiterated that transition ratio from primary school to junior secondary school (JSS) is 65 per cent and 35 per cent of students are out-of-school according to the Annual School Census of 2020.

Thus, a total of 69,062 children are currently in schools in the area.

During the launch of the campaign, stakeholders in the local government unanimously agreed to work assiduously to return the 64 per cent of out-of-school children in primary and secondary schools back to school for educational and socioeconomic development to thrive in the area.

To ensure acceptability and sustainability of the programme, 100 head teachers, classroom teachers, traditional and religious leaders carefully selected by UNICEF in Kankara and Kafur Local Government Areas, have been trained by the international non-governmental organisation to carry out the back-to-school campaign to rural dwellers in the affected councils.

As part of efforts to encourage the out-of-school children in Kankara and Kafur to return to school, the organisation and the state government has concluded plan to distribute incentives to pupils and junior secondary school students in the affected LGAs. It is heart-warming that the state government under the leadership of Governor Aminu Bello Masari is making deliberate concerted efforts towards addressing the challenge, but there is urgent need for the government to ensure timely release of budgetary allocations for the funding of basic education in order to complement efforts of donor partners like the UNICEF.

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FEATURES

Passion for Human Development In walking the talk, the United Bank for Africa Foundation’s National Essay Competition, which promotes literacy and encourages healthy and intellectual competition amongst senior secondary students is geared to award educational grants worth millions of naira to the outstanding. This year, the foremost Pan African bank has increased the prize money by 33 per cent in a bid to impact the lives of many students and their respective communities. Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that the initiative, which is in its 11th year, was born out of a passion for human development, especially the youth

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or the United Bank for Africa (UBA), its National Essay Competition (NEC), is part of its foundation’s education initiative aimed at promoting literacy and encouraging healthy and intellectual competition amongst senior secondary school students in Nigeria and across the African continent.

Serving as a creative avenue for young writers, the NEC is geared at impacting the lives of many students and their communities including the three winners, who would cart away educational grants worth millions of naira, alongside laptops for them and nine other finalists.

This year, the NEC has unveiled the invitation for prospective writers to submit their applications, albeit digitally, just as they increased the prize by 33 per cent from what was obtainable last year.

Increase in Prize Value Like the previous year, the prizes for the NEC 2021 winners have increased in value considerably by 33 per cent.

While the first prize winner will receive an educational grant of N3 million to study at any African university of their choice, up from the N2.5 million in 2020, the second and third prizes now stand at N2.5 million and N2 million educational grants respectively.

Winners of the 12 best essays will also go home with state-of-the-art laptops to help them with their tertiary research work and other studies.

The Chief Executive Officer, UBA Foundation, Mrs. Bola Atta, said the foundation scaled up the prizes for the second year in a row in order to accommodate the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and also the fluctuation in the currency levels.

Digitisation As announced by UBA Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of UBA Plc, the call for the commencement of the 2021 edition of its annual competition, which is its 11th, was modified to ensure ease of access and the increased participation of students from Senior Secondary School across Nigeria, who submitted their entries from the comfort of their homes and schools through the UBAF NEC digital submission portal.

According to Atta, with the digital submission portal, more students in secondary schools across the country had the opportunity to scan and send in their entries and compete to win educational grants for study at any university of their choice on the African continent.

She said: “At UBA Foundation, it is imperative that our programmes continue to impact lives in meaningful ways. We realise that the use of technologically driven initiatives is part of the modern day. We want to be able to reach the students where they are and this is mostly online.

"The digital portal for online submission has made it more comfortable for students to send in their applications and compete with ease. For those who do not have access to computers or data, we are going to make this competition inclusive by allowing them access to any UBA branch near them to submit their entries digitally. " Every student who wishes to, will be able to enter for the NEC 2021 and stand a chance to win a fully funded University education through the UBA Foundation’ said Atta.

Modalities According to the foundation, the modalities of this year's competition has been streamlined.

While the essay topic for the year is: “What is the role of technology in educating the African Youth?”, they further posited that all essays were handwritten and students uploaded the scanned copies of their handwritten entries as well as their IDs on the digital portal.

As at now, the essays have been sent in and grading by the top lecturers, who are professors from reputable Nigerian Universities, have begun

Kennedy Uzoka in earnest to select the 12 best essays and by the first week in December the 12 finalists will write a final supervised essay while the winners are expected to be announced on December 6.

Essentially, the submissions will be evaluated by judges and they will select the top 12 finalists who will take home consolation prizes including personal computers. Afterwards, the 12 finalists will write another supervised essay where the top three winners will be announced at the grand finale to be held at UBA’s head office in Lagos, Nigeria.

National Initiative Targeted at senior secondary students in Nigeria, the UBA Foundation's National Essay Competition is an initiative under the education pillar of the foundation.

Organised annually as part of UBA Foundation’s education initiative, it is aimed at promoting the reading culture and encouraging healthy and intellectual competition amongst secondary school students in Nigeria and across Africa.

Now in its 11th year, the aim of the NEC is to ensure that more African youths have access to education as the programme also highlights the good quality of education that exists on the continent as it stresses that the grant must be used in any university of the winners’ choice on the African continent.

Already, the UBA Foundation’s National Essay Competition has been rolled out in four other countries where UBA operates, with plans in place to cover 19 African countries in the next couple of years.

Embodying the UBA Group’s CSR

At UBA Foundation, it is imperative that our programmes continue to impact lives in meaningful ways. We realise that the use of technologically driven initiatives is part of the modern day. We want to be able to reach the students where they are and this is mostly online

objectives which seeks to impact positively on societies through several laudable projects and initiatives, the foundation through its education pillar, has donated hundreds of thousands of books to students across Africa under the ‘Read Africa’ initiative aimed at encouraging and promoting the reading culture in African youths.

About UBA Foundation For UBA Foundation, as the CSR arm of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Africa’s global bank, it is committed to being a socially responsible company and role model for all businesses in Africa.

As the CSR arm of the UBA Group, the foundation is committed to the socio-economic betterment of the communities in which the bank operates, focusing on development in the areas of education, environment, economic empowerment and special projects.

Incorporated in 2004, the UBA Foundation's Board of Trustees include Mr. Kennedy Uzoka as Chairman; Bola Atta as MD/CEO; Mrs. Mary Udu-Ejembi and Dr. Bala Magaji as Trustees.

With the recent 33 percent increase in prize value, many are it the opinion that the bank continues to walk the talk in its commitment and passion for human development with a particular focus on education.

According to them, the act of empathy and consideration clearly puts the bank ahead of its peers as one bank that sincerely prioritises the growth and development of its community and humanity.

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TUESDAY, ͹;˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

THE ALTERNATIVE

with RenoOmokri

Twitter Hypocrisy of Buhari’s Men

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omestic and foreign Investigative journalists have since revealed that solid members of Buhari’s kitchen cabinet, or even his cabal, who were very vocal in supporting his impulsive knee-jerk Twitter ban have been unable to resist their Twitter addiction and have been caught Tweeting.

They include the ill-tempered Nasir ElRufai, currently the Governor of Kaduna state that is unfortunate to have him at the helm of affairs, and Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to Buhari, and last and definitely the least, Bashir Ahmad, Personal Assistant to Buhari on New Media.

Their use of Twitter erupted into a scandal in the media, although in the case of El-Rufai, he tried to spin the news by claiming to be tweeting from abroad.

But did it matter where they were tweeting from?

Banning Twitter in Nigeria for Nigerians then going abroad to tweet is like criminalising stealing in Nigeria and travelling out to steal, making you a cross-border bandit.

And using Twitter abroad after banning it in Nigeria makes you a cross-border hypocrite!

These guys should just face it. They cannot do without Twitter. Meanwhile, Twitter can do without them. They are waiting for an apology that will never come, and their frustration is causing them to relocate temporarily so they can be allocated some Twitter time.

The Bini people have a proverb that goes, ‘it is those who argue with the Oba that spend a long time kneeling down’.

Lai Mohammed says their suspension of Twitter has not been lifted because Twitter has fulfilled only 10 out of 12 conditions.

Meanwhile, Twitter does not care, because Nigerians access the microblogging site with a Virtual Private Network. Who is the Oba in this scenario and who is kneeling down?

Certainly, Twitter is unconcerned. Its revenue has gone up! Last month, on October 26, 2021, Twitter revealed that its revenue for the third quarter of 2021 had risen 37% from a year ago to $1.28 billion. Its number of unique visitors in Nigeria was affected for the first few days but has since returned back to normal since Nigerians discovered that Buhari is a bulldog that can be rendered toothless by a VPN. The whole thing makes Buhari look small and Twitter look like a conqueror!

Jack Dorsey is just laughing at the man who is cutting his nose to spite his face.

Agbaya jati jati!

And why did Buhari ban Twitter precisely 164 days ago on June 5, 2021? Though they deny it, it was because three days earlier, Twitter had rightly deleted Buhari’s warmongering tweet threatening the Igbo of Southeastern Nigeria, of whom he has barely disguised his hatred and disdain for.

It was a classic case of the witch flew last night and the baby died in the morning.

Buhari threw a tantrum, like the bully he is.

And his tantrum is costing Nigeria, and he is expecting Twitter, that it has little or no effect on, to apologise. Obviously, this man is not a fit and proper person to occupy the office he is currently occupying.

And his minions, like El-Rufai, Garba Shehu, and Bashir Ahmad, know it, that is why they are flouting his childish ban the same way his own Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, defied his Cryptocurrency ban, by exposing a screenshot of his phone which inadvertently showed a cryptocurrency icon for LAToken.

What can we say? Buhari is a hypocrite, surrounded by other hypocrites. And his hypocrisy has been on full display since he assumed the office he is occupying.

He refused to shake his female ministers in November of 2015, but then went on to shake hands with the Queen of England

President Muhammadu Buhari

on April 19, 2018. He told Nigerian youths that they were the best thing after sliced bread while campaigning in 2015, but when he thought the cameras were not rolling, he described Nigerian youths as lazy during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting of 2018.

He accused former President Jonathan of running a scam by paying subsidy, saying that the practice was unnecessary.

Today, he is paying more than twice the subsidy amount Jonathan paid.

He campaigned that he would fight corruption, and has allowed it fester. You may also recall that on February 1, 2021, Transparency International’s most recent Corruption Perception Index revealed that Nigeria is more corrupt today than it was under the previous administration, having moved 13 places backwards in the CPI, from 136 in 2014 to 149 in 2021 (our worst performance ever).

Think Babachir Lawal, NNPC’s $25 billion worth of contracts without due process, Aisha Buhari’s ADC and his looted billions, his nephew, Sabiu Yusuf’s sudden wealth Syndrome, the Ikoyi Apartment billions, the 100 private jets that attended his son, Yusuf’s, wedding.

But most significantly, think of how he talked down and lambasted medical tourism as a Presidential aspirant, only to become the world’s biggest medical tourist as President.

And annoying, Buhari’s labour minister

last week asked Nigerian doctors to show patriotism by not relocating abroad. What patriotism has Buhari shown by himself relocating to London for healthcare?

If not for fear of #HarassBuhariOutofLondon, the hypocrite would have relocated permanently! He wanted to sneak into London, but our eagle-eyed patriots kept watch and he chickened out. Ngige should give me his account number, let me send him some money to buy some courage so he can find the gumption to tell Buhari that if he wants to identify the problem of Nigeria, he should buy a mirror!

I challenge anyone in Buhari’s administration to explain the economic viability of building a $2 billion standard gauge railway in Niger Republic, when they have not even built a narrow gauge railway in Anambra.

The economy of Anambra is two times larger than the economy of Niger Republic.

Research it. Niger has a Gross Domestic Product of less than $15 billion. Yet, Amaechi and Buhari are building a $2 billion railway for them when Anambra has not even smelt a railway.

And you wonder why APC lost Anambra? It makes no economic sense for Nigeria to be building that railway. It is only being prioritised because Buhari wants to leave a legacy for his father’s people. Same way he voted for a Nigerienne against a Nigerian, during an election to elect a

new leader for the defunct Organisation for African Unity in 1985.

Having said that, let me seize this opportunity to congratulate Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, on his election as the Governor-elect of Anambra state. It was well deserved. May the wonders he worked at the federal level, while he was the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, be child’s play to the economic miracle he will work in Anambra, and may God bless him with wisdom and understanding, in Christ’s Name, I pray.

Reno’s Darts Buhari claims he closed the Benin RepublicNigeria border because of banditry. That is a lie from the mouth of Lai Mohammed. The real reason behind the closure is to pressure the Beninese government to hand over Igboho to him. There is more banditry from Niger Republic into Nigeria than there is from Benin Republic. As a matter of fact, Benin is a larger consumer of Nigerian products than Niger Republic. Yet, not only does Buhari keep our borders with Niger Republic open, he and Amaechi are also building a $2 billion railway for Niger with money borrowed in Nigeria’s name, simply because Buhari has first cousins in Niger. If nobody will talk, I, Reno Omokri, will talk! #TableShaker #BuhariTormentor

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯʹ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

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Photo Editor Abiodun Ajala Email abiodun.ajala@thisdaylive.com

Chairman Awards Committee, Nigerian Legal Awards, and Independent non-Executive Director, FBN Holdings Plc, Ms. Cecilia Akintomide (right), presenting the Business Law Icon Award to the Managing Partner, Copley Partners and immediate-past Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)-Section on Business Law, Mr. Seni Adio (SAN) (middle), while the lawmaker representing the Ogun West senatorial district in the National Assembly, Senator Tolulope Odebiyi (left), looks during the award ceremony held at the Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos…recently

L-R: Brand Ambassador, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc (HFM), Michael Alao; Point of Consumption Officer, HFM, Femi Okunnuwa; Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Apapa 3, Olusegun Ogungbemide; Assistant Brand Manager, HFM, Tofunmi Haastrup; FRSC Unit Commander, Apapa, Sikiru Aduloju; and Trade Marketing Officer, HFM, Sunday Aigbokhai, at the Honeywell/FRSC ember months safety campaign in Apapa, Lagos...recently PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

L-R: Vice President (Africa) Global International, Hon. Sam Onuigbo; President, African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina; and Chief Executive Officer, Natural Eco Capital, Dr. Eugene Itua, at COP26 in Glasgow Scotland...recently

L-R: Head, Ancillary and New Markets Business, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc, Mr. Patrick Nri; Head, Communications and Marketing, CSCS Plc, Mrs. Tomilayo Aluko; Managing Director/CEO, CSCS Plc, Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri; Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), Mr. Muhammed Mammam Nami; and Project Manager, Electronic Document and Records Management Project, FIRS, Ms. Nneamaka Okafor, during a stakeholders’ engagement session between the executive management officials of FIRS and CSCS in Lagos...recently

L-R: Country Director, PanAfricare, Dr. Patrick Adah; Advisor, ExxonMobil Foundation, Tauhida Zayyad; acting Secretary/Director of Administration and Finance, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Education Secretariat, Mallam Leremoh Abdulrazaq; Director, Basketball Operations, NBA-Africa, Kita Mutungulu; and Director, Co-curricular, FCT Secondary Education Board, Haija Fatima Gambo-Baba, during the Power Forward eighth anniversary celebration in Abuja...recently

L-R: Former Inspector General of Police (IG), Sir Mike Okiro; Corps Commander, Lagos State Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Sector Command, Olusegun Ogungbade; Chairman of the occasion, Monday Ubani; Chairman, Onigbongbo LCDA/recipient of James Faleke NAOSNP Iconic Man of the Year 2021, Mr. Dotun Olakanle; and President, National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), Mr. Oke Samson, during the NAOSNP 2021 conference and awards ceremony held in Lagos...recently PHOTO: KOLAWOLE ALLI

L-R: Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Hon Chudi Offodile; a guest; Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Baje (rtd); NIMASA DG’s daughter, Umma Hani; Director-General, NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh; his wife, Hajia Zulai Jamoh; former Minister of Industry, Chief Mrs. Onikepo Akande; and others during the conferment of the Zik Prize in Leadership on NIMASA boss, Jamoh, in Lagos…recently

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TUESDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2021• T H I S DAY

MARKET NEWS 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

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 12Nov-2021, unless otherwise stated.

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 168.53 170.01 4.11% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 9.03% Nigeria International Debt Fund 321.00 321.00 -15.98% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 105.76 106.81 -4.44% 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 N/A N/A N/A AIICO Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 8.69% Anchoria Equity Fund 141.59 143.39 6.45% info@anchoriaam.com Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.14 1.14 -13.99% 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 20.80 21.43 14.71% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 456.89 470.67 14.12% ARM Ethical Fund 39.84 41.04 18.17% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.09 1.09 -0.94% ARM Fixed Income Fund 0.99 0.99 -5.82% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.51% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 107.26 107.26 5.46% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,052.23 1,052.23 5.22% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.07 2.07 -4.44% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.24 2.28 4.00% mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com ; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.03 1.03 4.55% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 9.09% Paramount Equity Fund 17.64 17.97 10.32% Women's Investment Fund 142.52 144.19 7.10% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.65% Cordros Milestone Fund 133.55 134.40 14.28% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 109.77 109.77 5.29% 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 8.01% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.26 1.28 5.08% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.42 1.42 -10.66% 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 7.60% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 8.08% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,167.86 1,189.34 1.55% assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-assetmanagement-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.27% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.03 1.03 2.92% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.12 Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 104.04 FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price FBN Bond Fund 1,372.01 FBN Balanced Fund 175.12 FBN Halal Fund 114.31 FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 FBN Dollar Fund (Retail) FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Legacy Money Market Fund Legacy Debt Fund Legacy Equity Fund Legacy USD Bond Fund

121.79 151.11 Bid Price 1.00 3.99 1.74 1.20

1.12 11.32% 104.04 4.00% invest@fbnquest.com Offer Price 1,372.01 176.42 114.31 100.00

Yield / T-Rtn 11.48% 5.06% 9.24% 8.98%

121.79 4.07% 153.17 14.14% fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Offer Price 1.00 3.99 1.78 1.20

Yield / T-Rtn 6.92% 3.02% 14.42% 5.29%

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 Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral 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 8.00% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.90 2.97 1.69% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 154.88 155.16 -0.40% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.28 1.32 1.60% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.06 1.06 3.64% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.49 1.51 9.03% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,147.15 1,147.15 7.54% 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 11.96 12.03 14.33% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 10.03% NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 100.85 100.86 7.42% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 8.51% 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 1.59 1.62 13.11% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.04 11.06 -9.10% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 7.52% PACAM Equity Fund 1.47 1.48 -7.26% PACAM EuroBond Fund 112.44 114.60 2.50% 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 135.52 137.88 11.73% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.07 1.07 10.05% 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 3,406.63 3,435.18 5.95% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 234.52 234.52 4.30% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.28 1.30 9.32% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 310.54 310.54 5.39% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 240.75 244.46 10.34% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.72% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 11,201.62 11,366.00 6.77% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.28 1.28 4.71% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 116.37 116.37 4.76% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 105.25 105.25 UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.35 1.37 5.63% United Capital Bond Fund 1.94 1.94 5.87% United Capital Equity Fund 0.93 0.96 16.94% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.03% United Capital Eurobond Fund 121.48 121.48 6.10% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.09 1.11 6.83% United capital Sukuk Fund 1.07 1.07 6.83% 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 Balanced Strategy Fund 13.16 13.28 10.92% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 14.63 14.79 19.88% Zenith Income Fund 24.62 24.62 2.61% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.41%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

124.98 54.20

10.62% 7.24%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

14.57 132.55 105.83 17.90 21.25

14.67 135.84 108.15 18.00 21.35

10.19% 10.23% 6.67% 1.03% 18.04%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

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

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Money Market Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.93 5.64 18.22 1.00 21.87 157.74

4.03 5.74 18.42 1.00 22.07 159.74

4.82% -0.72% 12.35% 6.60% 6.52% -15.03%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.28

13.11%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

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QUOTABLES

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‘We cannot take the lead when Counsel file frivolous cases in our courts, just for nuisance value…..We must not only do self assessment, we also need selfcleansing. All hands must be on deck from the Bar and the Bench, to rid the legal profession of bad eggs.’ - Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad CFR, Chief Justice of Nigeria ‘No Politician agrees that he lost the Primaries.

The Political Party declares A the winner, then B says he won, he was the one declared that day; then you see C who didn’t take part in the election, he also says he won! So, all these Politicians go to court to get the orders they want…..This is where Conflicting Orders start!’ - Hon. Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour CFR, Retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria

Torture Persists in Nigeria Despite Anti-torture Act, ProCat Participants Page V

Nigeria Needs Strong Crypto Laws, Charles Von Simson Page V

LAWYER

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE: EDITOR, JUDE IGBANOI: DEPUTY EDITOR, PETER TAIWO, STEVE AYA: REPORTERS

III THE ADVOCATE

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021

Inconclusive Elections: A Constitutional Inconsistency Freedom of Expression s I watched an interview programme after the Anambra State Gubernatorial election which held last week, I again, saw a negative trend which I have been observing in recent times on such programmes across the different television stations - the Nigerian media seems to be gradually being cowed into submission by a Government that does not tolerate criticism, dissension or hearing the bitter truth. How sad! How unconstitutional and undemocratic. See Sections 22, 38(1) and 39(1) & (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended in 2018)(the Constitution). The body language of the Television Anchors seems to be that, along with their television stations, they may already have been pre-warned that if they allow their guests to make what Government perceives to be uncomplimentary statements on air, even if they are true, unpalatable consequences may follow. You therefore, see Anchors shutting their guests up ever so often, when they feel that they may be being too verbose or speaking out of turn.

Let Government however, remember the famous words of Abraham Lincoln: “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but, you cannot fool all the people all the time”. And, more importantly, the words of George Orwell: “If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear”!

Do we really think our democracy can thrive and develop under such oppressive circumstances? I think not. Do we even have a democracy? What Nigeria presently has, resembles a semi-autocratic democratic semi-stratocracy to me (stratocracy in that several of those who occupy elective positions, are ex-military)!

During the military regime of Major General Buhari, Journalists, Nduka Irabor and Tunde Thompson, then of the Guardian Newspaper, spent 11 months in prison, not because the information they disseminated was false or hate speech, because it was in fact, the truth, but, because the powers that be detested the fact that the news was circulated. At the time, Decree No. 4 of 1984 had been issued, to further gag the Press. But, today, in a so-called democratic dispensation, what excuse does Government have to shamelessly oppress, harass and gag the media or the public?

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Jibrin Okutepa, SAN’s Interview Funny enough, my Law School classmate, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN (JSO) was the guest on an interview segment, and the victim of gagging this time around.

Part of the discussion, was about the declaration of the Anambra elections as inconclusive by INEC. As I asserted in two of my previous editorials when I discussed the Osun State Gubernatorial election which suffered the same fate as that of Anambra State with regard to the declaration of inconclusivity, JSO was trying to stress the point that Section 179(2)(a) & (b) of the Constitution has set out the parameters for victory in a Gubernatorial election.

That, in accordance to the said provisions, once the candidate who secures the highest number of the votes cast in each of at least two-thirds of all the local government areas of the State is determined, such a person is deemed to have been duly elected as Governor. So, that, Ihiala votes outstanding or not, if now Governor-elect, Chukwuma Soludo had already met this threshold, constitutionally he was the winner.

The Anchor immediately shut him down as trying to declare the results of the election, without being INEC (which is the only body that is empowered by law to make such a declaration). I was glad that JSO stood his ground, and maintained that he was in no way trying to declare anybody the winner of the election, but simply stating the law.

Inconclusive Elections I have always maintained that INEC is not empowered to declare any election inconclusive, once the constitutional threshold for victory has been met.

Some maintain that the Supreme Court decision in Hon. James Abiodun Faleke v INEC SC. 648/2016 is the authority for empowering INEC to declare elections inconclusive. I wonder. Is it that the decision in Faleke’s case can be drawn from the provisions of Section 78 of the Constitution, even though it is at variance with Section 179?

Even though the rationale behind the declaration of inconclusivity in this particular instance may be legitimate, since every individual who is eligible to vote and registered so to do, is also empowered by law to exercise this right (see Sections Section 77(2), 132(5) and 178(4) of the Constitution and Section 12(1) of the Electoral Act), a constitutional amendment, a proviso or exception to Section 179 (and the other sections pertaining to the election of candidates) is required; to provide that even in the circumstance that such constitutional threshold has been met, if INEC determines that certain areas have been disenfranchised and they must be given the opportunity to vote, the final results shall not be announced until the results of the outstanding

parts of the North is alarming, and a clear and present danger to the stability of the State. Add the restless burgeoning unemployed and unemployable youth demographic to the mix, and we have a perfect storm.

Let the State act with speed, decisiveness, inclusiveness, fairness and justice.

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE onikepo.braithwaite@thisdaylive.com onikepob@yahoo.com Twitter: @TheAdvocate

A.A.R.

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Dear Editor, Re: Ikoyi Building Collapse: Picking the Pieces

Advocate

Dear Editor,

“I have always maintained that INEC is not empowered to declare any election inconclusive, once the constitutional threshold for victory has been met. Some maintain that the Supreme Court decision in Hon. James Abiodun Faleke v INEC…. is the authority for empowering INEC to declare elections inconclusive. I wonder” elections are in.

It’s really between a rock and a hard place. On one hand there is disenfranchisement, while on the other there is the clear constitutional provision. Of course, many sceptics believe that the if others are allowed to vote after most of the votes have been cast and counted, some unscrupulous Politicians may seize the opportunity of supplementary elections as a golden opportunity to rig the rest of the election, to get their desired outcome!

In fact, many indigenes of Osun State believe that this was the ploy used to deprive Senator Ademola Adeleke of the PDP of his initial victory before the election was declared inconclusive, and Governor Oyetola of the APC emerging as the final winner after the supplementary elections. However, if our electoral process is as transparent and fair as it should be, there should be no reason for this apprehension. Be that as it may, the issue of disenfranchisement is a recurring decimal in our elections, and it is preferable for it to be handled constitutionally within the ambit of the law, instead of how it is being done outside of it.

Inter-Clause Conflict Granted, Section 78 of the Constitution does give INEC the mandate to register voters and to conduct elections. However, this provision is not superior to Section 179 of the Constitution, which sets out the parameters of how a Gubernatorial candidate is deemed to be duly elected; Section 179 is specific, explicit and unequivocal, while Section 78 is broad and general. The declaration of inconclusive elections, therefore, somehow leads to some type of inter-clause conflict.

Conclusion While Section 1(3) of the Constitution is clear that if any law is inconsistent with its provisions, that law is void to the extent of its inconsistency, the grundnorm doesn’t seem to envisage a situation

An insightful review. The availability of substandard materials in the market across all industries is unlikely to be seriously tackled until we have comprehensive benchmarking, and both import licences and trade licences are at stake, as well as uncompromising building site inspections.

A.A. Dear Editor, Great points made, but unfortunately, I, and most Nigerians no longer have faith in the system. As you have cited time and time again, the guilty go scot free. However, the poor man with no Godfather commits a small crime, and will experience the full weight of the law. What a nation!

T.A. UK Dear Editor,

I have been looking forward to the Lawyer’s perspective from you.

As an Architect, it is not prudent for me to throw in my thoughts until the investigation is over. However, I will say that the dreamy nature of Nigerians and failure to be accountable may be part of the problem.

My Church is constructing a school building, proposing three floors. I told the Chairman of the Building Committee to tell the Structural Engineer to design for five floors, in case tomorrow after we're all gone, some Faithful decides they want to go up more floors.

What baffles me is the lack of faith to believe God for finances to do a good foundation, yet plenty of Re: The Challenge of Democracy in Africa faith to believe God that the foundation designed to take four floors will take an extra 15 floors!

Dear Editor, Honestly until people are held accountable for their criminal (albeit) wishful thinking, these kind of scenarios Salam Alaikum. will continue to play out.

Zanzan Uji a renowned Professor of Architecture Your submissions are outstanding. and a learned person like you are (he studied Law after Architecture School like late Vice President, Dr The raid on Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili is Alex Ekwueme), said in his inaugural lecture that hare-brained brigandage, and condemnable. building collapse is a sign of the collapse of values You raised very valid and convincing argu- in Nigeria. I agree. ments. However, prospects of a constitutional conference or even a referendum to resolve E.A.G. these issues, as proposed by some, is dim, as the election season is imminent. People should Dear Editor, hold the contesting parties and candidates to a commitment on these issues, as a determinant of I totally agree with your last paragraph here. who to vote for. Fragile as it is, we must strive to strengthen our democratic institutions. Other It needs to be an independent panel of inquiry, and important issues include the reduction in cost of as a matter of fact, the panel of inquiry report on governance; do we need a full time bicameral SCOAN is still gathering dust. From each collapse, legislature? State Police, fiscal Federalism etc. should be a lesson learnt.

Will the ongoing constitutional amendment The Governor talked about manifest. How many sites process, adequately address these issues? indeed have manifest? Not one. How many have The thesis of the inevitability of instability in site meetings notes, signed off by each professional African developing countries as propounded engaged? Is there a mandate for an independent Building

by Prof James O’Connell, hinges essentially Surveyor to inspect at each stage? So many questions. upon constitutional settlement and economic The system needs trust right now. Though the high challenges. The current unprecedented failure rise segment of the industry is not in trouble as those of State security in the South East and wide involved have been more serious than the regulators,

where the outcome of one of its provisions, can be inconsistent with another one of its provisions.

If one provision was subject to the other, the one that it is subject to would take precedence. But, in this particular scenario, neither provision is subject to the other. The easiest way to address the issue, therefore, is to effect a constitutional amendment in this regard.

Dear Editor

but now with fly by night developers coming on board, it is time to wake up.

G.I., Lagos Dear Editor, You have said it all .....both the regulator and the regulated are 100% culpable ...sheer hypocrisy to be declaring three days of mourning .....more bloodshed in a land on which the blood of the innocent is already flowing...

D.A., Lagos Dear Editor,

Anambra State Governor-elect, Prof Charles Soludo

I always enjoy your articles, this one included. I just want to add that the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) should be more effective, with regard to inferior building materials and other fake products being imported into Nigeria.

S. A. Sofolahan

IV LAW REPORT

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021 • T H I S D AY

Judicial Interpretation of Registered Chieftaincy Declarations

Facts Upon the demise of Oba Daniel Adetayo Kupakude 1, the Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo, in 1994, it became the turn of Ojuromi Ruling House to fill the vacancy created by his death. In line with the Chiefs Law of Ogun State, Cap 20, Laws of Ogun State, a meeting of kingmakers was called by the Ojuromi Ruling House to select the Oba-elect. The Appellant and the Respondent were among the candidates nominated from the Ojuromi Ruling House, and at the meeting which held on 6th January, 1997, the Appellant was selected to fill the vacant stool by a majority of six votes, against the 1st Respondent who had three votes.

Dissatisfied, the 1st Respondent filed an action at the High Court of Ogun State seeking inter alia, a declaration that the nomination of the Appellant was illegal, null and void. He also sought an Order of injunction, restraining the 2nd and 4th Respondents from giving effect to the said selection and appointment of the Appellant as Oba elect. The case of the 1st Respondent was that the selection exercise by the kingmakers was irregular, and the Appellant was not eligible to be proposed as a candidate for the vacant stool.

After the conclusion of trial, the court delivered its judgement wherein it held that the selection of the Appellant was valid, and in accordance with the Orimolusi Chieftaincy Declaration and the Chiefs Law of Ogun State. However, the trial court held that the participation of a certain Chief J.A. Onadeko, who was the 14th Defendant at the trial Court, was improper, and his participation invalidated the meeting of the king makers.

Aggrieved with the different findings of the trial court, both the Appellant and the 1st Respondent filed separate appeals before the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/1/69/99 and Appeal No. CA/1/267B/99. The two appeals were later consolidated, and heard together. In its judgement, the Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the trial court, only to the extent that the Appellant was entitled to be selected as a candidate to fill the vacant stool of Orimolusi of Ijebu Igbo; however, the Court of Appeal held that the Appellant is from the female line, and ought to have been considered only where there is no suitable candidate from the male line according to the Orimolusi Chieftaincy Declaration.

The Appellate Court also held that the 8th, 9th, 14th and 15th Defendants were not entitled to participate at the kingmakers meeting, though their participation did not render the meeting invalid as held by the trial court, but only invalidated their votes. The Court of Appeal thereby, ordered a fresh exercise by qualified kingmakers to select a qualified candidate from the male line, in the absence of which candidates from the female line should be considered and presented for selection.

Dissatisfied, the Appellant appealed to the Supreme Court.

Issues for Determination The court considered the following issues in its determination of the appeal: 1. Whether the Court of Appeal erred when it decided that the “male line” by virtue of the Orimolusi Chieftaincy Declaration, means an unbroken line of male and that the Appellant was from the female line of the Ojuromi Ruling House.

2. Whether the Court of Appeal was right when it held that the 7th - 9th and 13th - 15th Defendants admitted in their pleadings that the 8th, 9th, 14th and 15th Defendants were not kingmakers, and were thus, not qualified to participate in the selection exercise of the Orimolusi elect.

Arguments On the first issue, counsel for the Appellant argued that the Court of Appeal misconstrued the term “male line” as provided in paragraph (iii)(a) and (b) of the Orimolusi Chieftaincy Declaration and therefore, erroneously concluded that the Appellant was from the female line of the Ojuromi Ruling

Honourable John Inyang Okoro, JSC In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 7th day of May, 2021 Before Their Lordships

Musa Dattijo Muhammed Chima Centus Nweze Helen Moronkeji Ogunwumiju Abdu Aboki Tijjani Abubakar Justices, Supreme Court SC. 476/2017 Between PRINCE MUSAFAU OMOWALE KASSIM

APPELLANT

And 1. PRINCE ADEBOLA ADESEMOWO 2. THE MILITARY ADMINISTRATOR OF OGUN STATE 3. THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF OGUN STATE 4. THE SECRETARY, IJEBU-NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESPONDENTS

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable John Inyang Okoro, JSC)

House. He submitted, relying on OLADOKUN v THE MILITARY GOVERNOR OF OYO STATE & 13 ORS (1996) 8 NWLR (Pt. 467) 387, 407, that the ascendancy to the throne of Orimolusi does not connote a direct and continuous male lineage of progenitorship in unbroken order, but one of reference to and inclusive of a grandfather or ancestor who so qualifies. In response, counsel for the 1st Respondent submitted that once a person is a member of the ruling house or the son of a previous holder of the Orimolusi of Ijebu Igbo, they are both qualified to be entitled to the throne under paragraph (iii)(a) of the Orimolusi Chieftaincy Declaration. He contended that there was abundant evidence that the 1st Respondent was the son of the Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo who reigned between 1929 and 1947, whereas the Appellant is only related to the Ojuromi Ruling House through

“In the interpretation of a Chieftaincy Declaration, the court is guided by the general principles of interpretation of statutes, bearing in mind that the community concerned has already stated what the applicable customary law is.

The court is enjoined to give the words used their natural meaning where they are clear and unambiguous, unless to do so would lead to an absurdity”

his mother. Hence, the Court of Appeal was right to have adjudged the Appellant as a candidate from the female line. Counsel for the 2nd to 4th Respondent on his part, submitted that there was nothing in the evidence before the trial court to suggest that “male line” in the context of the Orimolusi Chieftaincy Declaration, means a line commencing from males and continuing through males.

Arguing the second issue, counsel for the Appellant submitted that the pleadings have to be considered as a whole, to determine if there has been an admission or not. He urged the court to hold that 8th, 9th and 15th Defendant were qualified to act as kingmakers in the selection of the Appellant as Orimolusi of Ijebu Igbo. Counsel for the 1st Respondent argued that the statement contained in paragraph 23 of the Further Amended Statement of Defence is unequivocal, and cannot be said to be a typographical error as held by the trial court. He submitted that the Court of Appeal was correct to arrive at the conclusion, that the statement amounted to an admission. In his submission, counsel for the 2nd - 4th Respondent argued that the onus is on the Claimant to succeed on the strength of his own case, and even where there is an admission in any paragraph of the Defendant’s pleadings, the court ought to examine the evidence and the subsequent paragraphs in the pleadings of the parties, in arriving at a decision on the matter.

Court’s Judgement and Rationale Deciding the first issue, the court held that it

is the duty of the court to apply the provisions of a Chieftaincy Declaration to the facts of the case established by evidence, particularly as the court has no power to assume the functions of the Chieftaincy Committee as regards the making or amendment of Customary Law governing the selection and appointment of Traditional Chiefs in such relevant case. Where evidence is led by a party which is contrary to the provisions of a registered Chieftaincy Declaration, such contrary evidence should be discountenanced by the court, as no evidence shall be led to defeat the contents of a Chieftaincy Declaration. The court relied on OLADELE v AROMOLARAN II (1996) 6 NWLR (Pt. 453) 180 and ADIGUN v ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF OYO STATE (1987) 1 NWLR (Pt. 53) 678.

Further, the court held that in the interpretation of a Chieftaincy Declaration, the court is guided by the general principles of interpretation of statutes, bearing in mind that the community concerned has already stated what the applicable customary law is.

The court is enjoined to give the words used their natural meaning where they are clear and unambiguous, unless to do so would lead to an absurdity - IBRAHIM v BARDE (1996) 9 NWLR (Pt. 474) 513 at 577B. The court held that the proper interpretation of Clause (111) (a)&(b) of the Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo Chieftaincy Declaration is that, consideration would first be given to members of the ruling house or the son of the previous holder of the title, of the male line, and it is only where there is no qualified candidate of the male line, that consideration would be given to the female line. Relying on the definition of “male line” in STROUD’S JUDICIAL DICTIONARY, the Court held that the male line referred to in the Chieftaincy Declaration means an unbroken line of males commencing from males and continuing through males, and not merely a trace of the male ancestor; and having regard to the emphasis on the male line in the words used in the Declaration, it could not have been the intention of the makers of the Declaration that if a person from the female line becomes a holder of the title due to the failure of the male line, his male descendants will automatically metamorphose into candidates of the male line.

The court held that there was undisputed evidence before the trial court that both the Appellant and the 1st Respondent both trace their roots through a common grandfather, Oba Adesemowo, who only came to the throne through his mother who was a descendant of Ojuromi as a result of a failure of the male line. The Court of Appeal was thus, right to have held that both the Appellant and the 1st Respondent are of the female line of the Ojuromi Ruling House and ought only to be considered when there is no qualified candidate from the male line.

On the 2nd issue, the Court held that an admission is a voluntary acknowledgment made by a party of the existence of the truth of certain facts, which are inconsistent with his claim in action. It is a concession made by a party of the existence of certain facts, which are relevant to the cause of the adversary. The court held that the facts contained in paragraph 23 of the 7th -9th and 13th – 15th Defendant’s further Amended Statement of defence that the 8th and 9th Defendants became chiefs after the death of Oba Adetayo in 1994, and had not been recognised as kingmakers to be eligible to participate in the affairs of the kingmakers, were too detailed to be regarded as a grave drafting error as erroneously held by the trial court. Apart from the fact that this was a clear and unequivocal admission of their ineligibility to participate at the meeting, the evidence adduced before the trial court, particularly the unshaken and unchallenged evidence of PW8 and the 4th Respondent testifying as PW2, supported the pleading on the ineligibility of the 8th, 9th, 14th and 15th Defendant.

Appeal Dismissed.

Representation Dr. Olumide Ayeni, SAN with others for the Appellant.

Debo Odugunwa with Kolade Akinyele for the 1st Respondent.

Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (NMLR)(An affiliate of Babalakin & Co.)

V NEWS

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021

L-R: Asiwaju Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, Ambassador Joe Keshi, Dr Mrs Valerie Azinge, SAN, Professor Epiphany Azinge, SAN, This Day Lawyer Editor, Onikepo Braithwaite, Dr Sam Amadi (1st left 2nd Row) and Prof Paul Idornigie, SAN (3rd Row Centre) and Participants at the 2021 Epiphany Azinge Foundation Colloquium which took place on Thursday, November 21, at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja

L-R: Dr Segun Aina; Chief Anthony Idigbe, SAN, KSS, Senior Partner, PUNUKA Attorneys & Solicitors; Prof Charles Von Simson, Associate Clinical Professor, University of Wisconsin; Mrs Elizabeth Idigbe, Managing Partner, PUNUKA Attorneys

L-R: Representative of NUJ Lagos Chairman, Philip Nwosu, Case Law Manager Advocat Sans Frontieres, Edugie Amihere, NBA Ikeja Branch Chairman, Barth Aguegbodo and Valentine Lazarus

Stakeholders Want ECOWAS Treaties, Judgements, Binding and Enforceable Alex Enumah in Abuja The need to strengthen legal framework establishing the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to the extent that its treaties and judgements of its court of justice are not only binding but enforceable, was one of the highlights of the Colloquium organised by the Epiphany Azinge Foundation, in Abuja last Thursday.

The Annual Colloquium, which had as its theme: “ECOWAS Treaty and State Sovereignty: Redefining Constitutional Parameters of Nationhood”, focused on issues ranging from the legal framework establishing ECOWAS to current issues of insecurity and terrorism, and suggested the way forward for the region.

Speaker after Speaker all agreed that the goal of the founding fathers of the regional block though, well founded, has not achieved much in the promotion of economic integration within the sub- region, despite the 1993 reforms of the organisation.

The Speakers however, agreed that if the dream of establishing the subregional block would be realised, member States must learn to cede part of their sovereignty to the ECOWAS treaties they are signatory to; and in addition, learn to speak in one voice, while at the same time, extricating themselves from the apron of their colonial masters.

In his keynote address, Director General, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), Professor, Muhammed Ladan, argued that an efficiently funded supranational Commission and Court of Justice will accelerate integration.

“The understanding of Supranationality as a situation where a regional organisation is empowered to take decisions that are binding on itself and on all its Member States, is quite clear.

“ECOWAS, with the support of an efficiently run and adequately funded Supranational Commission and Supranational Court of Justice, can facilitate and accelerate the process of regional economic integration in West Africa”, he said.

The Director General however, added that Member States must demonstrate greater commitment to their treaty obligations by addressing the fundamental operational and financial challenges facing the Community Institutions and the capacity deficits to implement Community Laws, Programmes and Decisions at National levels.

Other Speakers in their various contributions, identified factors such as clash of interest, mutual suspicion, rivalry between the anglophone and francophone countries that make up ECOWAS, insecurity, poor infrastructural linkages of Member States, as well as political instability.

According to them ECOWAS usually looks the other way or keeps mum while some States are amending their Constitutions to extend the President’s tenure in office or attempt to manipulate to occupy the office for life, only to turn around and find its voice when there was a coup d’etat in such a State.

In the area of economic integration, the stakeholders call for an effective price regulation of goods and services in the region, noting that ECOWAS cannot compete favourably

with other regional blocks, without uniformity in price of goods and services.

They also remarked that Member States stand to gain more from other regional blocks and countries, when they learn to negotiate businesses and trade on a collective platform such as ECOWAS than doing so in their individual capacities.

In his remarks, Ambassador Musa Nuhu, who

noted that Nigeria is a major benefactor from the sub-regional block, stated that institutional reforms when pursued vigorously, will further improve the living standard of citizens of ECOWAS. He argued that ECOWAS, despite challenges, has made some progress in the area of free movement as “Poor citizens can travel within West Africa without taking visas”, adding that Nigerian

citizens are today residing and working in places like Benin Republic, Togo and Ghana because of the Right of Establishment.

However, Founder of the Foundation, Professor Epiphany Azinge, SAN, said it is high time some of the treaties and protocols guiding ECOWAS be reexamined, in the light of increase in light and small firearms proliferation and insecurity in some countries

like Nigeria. wHe said, “Redefining the parameters of statehood of nationhood for Nigeria, is to know whether we can call a meeting of ECOWAS and see which aspect of it we need to modify, in order to hold our sovereignty in such a way and manner we will even exist first as a nation”.

Mrs Onikepo Braithwaite, Editor of This Day Lawyer, moderated the Session.

Torture Persists in Nigeria Despite Antitorture Act, ProCat Participants Steve Aya Participants at a human rights training program for Journalists have called on the Federal Government to do more to uphold the human rights of Nigerians, and to help in the current push to stop the use of torture by its security agents. They also noted that the Nigerian society is full of torture inducing elements, that need to be eradicated for the benefit of our society.

The two-day training programme which was facilitated by Advocats Sans Frontieres (Lawyers Without Borders) with support from the German Embassy, held at the Amber Residence, Ikeja with over 15 Journalists from print and electronic media in attendance.

In her opening remarks, Promoting Convention Against Torture (ProCat) Case Law Manager of Avocats Sans Frontiers France, Mrs Edugie

Amihere, stressed the need for Nigerians to understand and uphold the fundamental human rights of everyone. She maintained that since the nation is a signatory to various international law and conventions on human rights, the rights of its citizens as provided in these international laws and our Constitution should be sacrosanct.

While lamenting the rising cases of human rights abuses and the use

of torture as a major tool of oppression, Mrs. Amihere expressed her joy that the training is timely, because of the level human rights abuses using torture as a weapon have reached in our society.

During the training, topics such as accountability of perpetrators of human rights abuses under the Anti-Torture Act 2017, prevention of human rights abuse, human rights advocacy, among others were discussed.

Nigeria Needs Strong Crypto Laws, Charles Von Simson Steve Aya Contrary to popular opinion, Nigeria seems to be making good and steady progress in the electronic financial market, and what it now needs is a good strong law that will further push its frontiers.

These were some of the views of Associate Professor Charles Von Simson, a Law and Entrepreneurship Clinic, University of Wisconsin in USA. The University don who was the Guest Speaker at the Punuka Annual Lecture 2021 Edition, further noted that Stable Coins are digital access that are designed to maintain a stable value relative to a national currency or other reference asset.

Speaking under the theme: ‘Fintech, Crypto and Frontier

Technologies in Trade; Prospects and Legal Challenges’, Prof Von Simson however, warned that stable coin users are at the risk of both financial and systemic loss, because of the economic power of the currency.

He also stated that while the Fintech Crypto Currency has many laws, the world and indeed, Nigeria, who has made remarkable progress in this area requires a strong crypto law that will protect this emerging market.

In his Keynote Address, the Guest of Honour at the event and Hon. Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, commended Punuka Attorneys and Solicitors for choosing such a topic, because of its relevance to the nation, particularly with the recent

launch of the eNaira.

He said that with all the measures put on ground by the Federal Government, especially with the repositioning of the budget calendar back to January to December, which culminated in the recent launch of the National Development Plan, the Nigerian economy is on it way to a strong revival as millions of jobs will be created over next five years with the Fintech and crypto currencies playing a big role in the nation’s economy.

Convener of the event and Senior Partner at Punuka Attorneys and Solicitors, Chief Anthony Idigbe, SAN, said that technology has affected all sectors of all nations including Nigeria, and there is therefore, the need for proper regulation for the Fintech Crypto market

on one hand, and to protect Nigerians on the other.

He stressed the need for players in this field to not only understand what they are getting into, but to also cover themselves legally so as to be able to navigate the various risks associated with it.

In her welcome address, the Managing Partner of Punuka, Mrs Elizabeth Idigbe said that traditional banks have seen a great change since the introduction of technology into the banking world, with many banks today having their own mobile and saving applications, while digital payment has surged more than fivefold since its introduction.

This is the 13th edition of the Punuka Annual lecture, and the first to be held with both physical and virtual audience in attendance.

VI COVER

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021 • T H I S D AY

The Collapsed Building on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos

Late Femi Osibona

Building Collapse in Nigeria: Concerns and Practicable Remedies

Building collapses are not uncommon around the world. Many countries, including USA, have had their fair share of failures which have resulted in the collapse of buildings. Recently, on June 24, 2021, a 12-storey beachfront condominium complex in Miami partially collapsed, leaving 98 people dead. On November 1, 2021, one of the three high-rise buildings in the 360 Degrees Towers Complex located at 44, Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos fell down like a pack of cards claiming 46 lives. What really happened? Putting conspiracy theories aside, Olawunmi Alade and Oghenekevwe Ibodje, Aderemi Fagbemi and Bayo Owojori tackle the legal and regulatory issues arising from the monumental disaster from which the nation is yet to come terms with growing in leaps and bounds. According to the development in Lagos State. Other administrative regulation to notify the Building Control Agency Ikoyi Building Collapse: Bureau of Statistics, this sector recorded a 3.9% agencies established under this law include (i) of such intention to commence construction, and growth in Q2 of 2021 as compared with 1.8% the Lagos State Planning Permit Authority the notice must be accompanied by a Planning Challenges of Building in Q1 and -22% in Q2 of 2020. This represents (“Planning Permit Authority”), (ii) The Lagos Permit and a General Contractors' All Risk (CAR) its best performance in the preceding six years. State Building Control Agency (“Building Insurance Policy for buildings above two floors, Construction, Regulation The growth in this sector has translated into Control Agency”) and (iii) The Lagos State amongst others. The Developer must ensure that a increased and easier housing for citizens, and Urban Renewal Agency (“Renewal Agency”). project site board is erected at the construction site, and Protection asset diversification for investors. showing the Planning Permit number, title of the Olawunmi Alade and Oghenekevwe Ibodje Background n November 1, 2021, one block of an under-construction 21-floor luxury apartment building located in the highbrow Ikoyi area of Lagos State collapsed, taking with it tens of innocent lives. The collapse of the building has the whole city talking, and stakeholders scrambling to understand what exactly happened on the fateful day.

All over the world, building collapse is not new.

In June 2021, a beachfront condominium in Miami collapsed killing 98 people. An apartment building in Cairo also collapsed, killing 25 people. Building collapse could be as a result of wide-ranging “acts of God” like earthquakes, hurricanes, flood and landslides. However, human factors such as negligence, flouting of building codes, use of defective or substandard materials, incompetence and corruption are also factors resulting in building collapse. Such factors account for the preponderance of collapses in Nigeria. It is why we need to pay close attention to building regulations, laws and codes in Lagos and in Nigeria at large.

O

Introduction The real estate sector in Nigeria is a vibrant one,

Framework for Construction and Real Estate Development in Nigeria The right to own property in Nigeria is guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) (“CFRN”). This right is modified by the Land Use Act 1978 (“LUA”) which vests all urban lands comprised in the territory of each State (except those vested in the Federal Government or its Agencies) solely in the Governor of the State, to hold in trust for the people and to allocate to individuals and organisations for residential or other uses. Given this proviso, the highest level of interest that can be held in land is a mere right of occupancy (NWOKOCHA v GOVERNOR OF ANAMBRA STATE).

Thus, a person seeking to develop real estate must first acquire land in accordance with the LUA, and obtain the relevant permits under the applicable laws.

In addition to the LUA and the CFRN, the major State laws on property development include the following: 1. The Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2010 The Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law regulates the administration of physical planning, urban development, urban regeneration and building control in Lagos State. This law recognises the Lagos State Ministry of Urban and Regional Planning, as the apex regulator of planning and property

“The Regulations provide that where any person develops beyond the limit prescribed in a Planning Permit, it is an offence….It is an offence for a public officer to encourage or conspire with members of the public, to violate the provisions of the Regulation”

2. Lagos State Physical Permit Regulations 2019 The Planning Permit Authority is empowered to enforce these Regulations, in accordance with its mandate to issue planning permits to developers and builders for any form of physical development and construction on any land in Lagos State. A ‘Planning Permit’ is an approval or assent given for the time being to a development, and includes layout or subdivision plan and building control authorisations given at construction and post-construction stages.

The Planning Permit Authority may revoke planning permits where (i) the developer or owner of the planning permit has developed in excess of the approval granted, or has not complied with the terms and conditions under which the permit was granted; or (ii) the permitted development or use has been modified, altered, varied, added to, or renovated without permit.

The Regulations provide that where any person develops beyond the limit prescribed in a Planning Permit, it is an offence, and such person may apply for a fresh permit within 21 days of being served an enforcement notice, and an application for regularisation must be made to the Planning Permit Authority within the same timeframe.

It is an offence for a public officer to encourage or conspire with members of the public, to violate the provisions of the Regulation.

3. Lagos State Building Control Agency Regulations 2019 The Building Control Agency is responsible for enforcing these Regulations, which begin to apply from the commencement of construction activities on site till completion of the project.

The Building Control Agency is required to conduct periodic inspection of building developments within the State, to identify defective and distressed structures, and has the power to demolish buildings that do not conform with the Regulations and Planning Permits.

Prior to commencing building construction, real estate developers are required under this

project, names and addresses of the professionals and consultants of the project, name and address of the main contractor and number of floors.

The developer is required to engage qualified professionals to be always present on site, to supervise every aspect of construction. In this regard, the supervisors are to ensure that quality materials and clean water is used during construction, to minimise structural defects and consequent collapse. The responsibilities of the developer under the Regulations include: (a)Ensuring that the building is certified by the appropriate professional at every stage of construction; (b)Carrying out comprehensive tests on concrete cubes, reinforcement and other materials as may be deemed necessary, and the result must be submitted to the Building Control Agency at every stage of the building construction; (c)Carry out the authorised work, and to notify the Building Control Agency in writing that such work is ready for inspection; and (d)Report collapsed structures to the nearest office of the Building Control Agency within 24 hours of such collapse, stating the cause and extent of damage to the adjoining properties.

Under the regulations, any structural development which is at variance with a planning permit is deemed illegal, and the Developer is required to remove such variations within 21 days of receiving notice of illegal structural development. Failure to comply with such notice, is a ground for sealing off the property and subsequent demolition by the Building Control Agency.

4. Environmental Impact Assessment Act 1992 The Environmental Impact Assessment Act requires Developers to conduct environmental impact assessments, in respect of public and private projects. The Lagos State Government maintains a mandatory policy, which requires contractors to secure an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report before embarking on projects in the State. This would ensure the optimum safety of residents of the areas, where the projects would be carried out.

Insurance Policies Notably, Section 64 (1) of the Insurance Act, (Cap.

VII

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021

COVER

Building Collapse in Nigeria: Concerns and Practicable Remedies I 17, LFN, 2004) (“Insurance Act”) provides for the insurance of a building under construction. The section provides that: “No person shall cause to be constructed any building of more than two floors, without insuring with a registered insurer his liability in respect of construction risks caused by his negligence or the negligence of his servants, agents or consultants which may result in bodily injury or loss of life to or damage to property of any workman on the site or of any member of the public”.

Further, Section 65 (1) of the Insurance Act makes it mandatory to insure every public building against the hazards of collapse, fire, earthquake, storm and flood.

The existence of the State building codes and regulations even though not perfect should ordinarily suffice, but the lack of compliance on the part of developers and non-enforcement by the government agencies in charge of construction, is one of the major challenges faced by this sector. Lack of compliance with set laws and standards, employing unskilled workers and use of sub-standard materials, corruption and negligence are contributories to poor structural integrity and incidental building collapse.

It does appear to be prudent practice on the part of the government agencies to encourage compliance with the established building rules rather than compromise.

The Position of an Off-taker Following the event of the collapse of a building, where persons have fully paid or made monetary commitment on the collapsed building under construction, this implies that money has been lost. The question then, is what happens to the obligations of the developer in relation to the off-takers or buyers?

This will largely be dependent on the nature of the transaction/contractual agreement between parties.

However, the off-taker or buyer can bring a legal claim for negligence, breach of contract, breach of warranty, or strict liability as the case may be and depending on the type of insurance policy, proceeds from the claims of an insurance cover.

Recommendations Government agencies in charge of building construction must be stringent and uncompromising, in enforcing compliance to existing laws. These agencies must be held accountable and sanctioned for any act of negligence or corrupt practices on their part that may have led to or lead to poor building standards, defects in building structure and/or building collapse.

For the developers, there must be graver consequences meted out to them for the flouting of regulations.

Criminal and civil proceedings can be brought against them. Developers should be deterred from the practice of compromising quality, in order to maximise profit.

Also, with the current realities, the need for investors, builders and buyers to engage professionals in property development, cannot be over-stressed. No longer should any of the parties be eager to discard the services of architects, engineers, estate surveyors, Lawyers etc, when making decisions on building or buying.

There exist some laws and insurance policies in developed countries which help to protect the off-takers, and keep the developer liable for the construction of a building for a specific number of years. An example of such is the Builder’s Legal Liability (BLL) Act and the Inherent Defect Insurance (IDI). The BLL provides that the builder is liable for the building constructed by him for a specific period, typically for 10 years.

Any factor that would make the building unfit for use, like use of low quality material, incorrect use of materials, faulty design, poor workmanship or any defect, would be on the developer’s hands. But, such a law will prove futile if the builder disappears, or lacks any financial resources to correct the defects.

In such cases the IDI comes into play, covering the cost of rectification or reconstruction if any structural defect occurs. Unfortunately, these are not present in our country.

Conclusion The real estate sector has been a major economic booster; the setback in mode of practice, provision of Acts and regulatory and enforceability of same notwithstanding. The practice of property development through real estate developers/contractors is the norm in developed parts of the world, which in turn has immensely contributed to development of infrastructure, commerce and easy housing for its citizens. Therefore, the recent happenings without making light of its high effects on loss of lives and resources, should not be allowed to discourage stakeholders or make light the progress the sector has achieved. Rather, the recommendations stated above together with the global best practices, should be encouraged and emulated.

Olawunmi Alade Senior Associates, Detail Commercial Solicitors

Regulation of Construction and Building Projects in Nigeria - Inadequate or Unenforced? A Case Study of Lagos State Aderemi Fagbemi Introduction The recent collapse of a 21-storey building on Gerard Road, Ikoyi area of Lagos State and the consequent loss of precious lives in that debacle, has once again brought to fore the persisting unresolved issues plaguing the built environment sector in Nigeria, and the inadequacy of existing measures put in place to safeguard the life and property of citizens.

Over the past two decades, the number of collapsed buildings in Lagos State alone has risen to worrisome levels, and this once again raises the question of whether Nigeria is behind in enacting adequate laws to regulate this crucial sector, or whether adequacy is not the problem but rather, that the laws are more honoured in their breach than in their observance.

Despite Nigeria’s huge housing deficit, and the need to encourage foreign direct investment into the built environment sector, investors and citizens continue to encounter various challenges in obtaining building permits from regulators. A four-year assessment of business regulations by the World Bank around the 36 Nigerian States and FCT Abuja in four regulatory areas including dealing with construction permits, discloses Kaduna, Enugu, Abia, Lagos and Anambra as States showing the largest advancement toward the global good practice frontier. The assessment ranked Lagos the least State in dealing with construction permits, as investors and developers have to go through 17 procedures to obtain permit which is estimated to take about 118 days.

In 2017, this writer was privileged to be a member of the Construction Permits Working Group which participated in compiling an Enabling Business Report on the Nigerian Business Climate, a project of the Steering Committee of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council & an NBA-SBL Collaboration. Sadly, the same issues identified in the Report then, continue to plague the sector, and it seems there is no respite in sight.

The World Bank’s Doing Business indicator has a building quality control index that evaluates as a prototype, the time, and costs of the permitting process of building a warehouse, transparency of processes, quality of building regulations, the strength of quality control and safety mechanisms,

Olawunmi Alade and Oghenekevwe Ibodje,

“Lack of compliance with set laws and standards, employing unskilled workers and use of substandard materials, corruption and negligence are contributories to poor structural integrity and incidental building collapse”

liability and insurance regimes, and professional certification requirements. Permitting Processes are regarded as important, because delays in obtaining a building permit, particularly with planning approvals, can create adverse effects on a building project and can lead developers to abandon otherwise viable investments. In many instances, it may also cause builders to choose to bribe building officials for a “fast-track” permit or resort to building informally, which can lead to poor compliance with standards and increased risks to lives, as well as loss of critical infrastructure.

Good permitting practices are regarded as those which ensure that building quality control and safety mechanisms are in place, set rules and ensure that they are clear and coherent, use one-stop shops to improve coordination, and differentiate projects by risks. At the moment, most of the nation’s permitting processes fall below these standards.

Building Regulation in Nigeria The National Building Code 2006, was first initiated by the National Council on Housing and Urban Development which deemed the Code necessary to halt the ugly trend of perennial building collapse in the built environment sector, and promote integrity of building projects and qualitative housing for every Nigerian. The Code makes provision for the administration of the entire building process, and implored State Governments in Nigeria to integrate its provisions into their local laws, particularly those relating to Design, Construction and Maintenance (Post Construction), and efficiently monitor its implementation.

Aside from the industry concern that the Code is obsolete, which has in recent years been looked into, one of the major issues has always been the fact that the Code is only applicable in States where the State Government chose to integrate the provisions of the Code into their local laws. Lagos is one of those States which has integrated the Code into its construction permitting processes, and as the commercial nerve centre of the country, our discourse will focus on Lagos State’s building and construction permitting processes.

Lagos State Building Regulation and Permitting Process With the plethora of reform guidelines issued by international institutions such as the World Bank and examples from other jurisdictions that have been able to effectively regulate their built environment sector, as well as recommendations from Commissions set up in the past to look into the issue, has Lagos State, which is lauded as a pacesetter State in Nigeria, been able to implement standardised good practices in its construction sector in a manner that ensures a high level of regulatory compliance with planning and building code requirements, and improve the outcome of industry practitioners’ interactions with regulatory agencies in the permitting process? The obvious answer is of course in the negative. Building collapse (of both old and new structures) continues to be a reoccurring decimal in the State, notwithstanding the regulatory policies on building construction and the establishment of agencies for the monitoring of building development from its design stage through the various stages of construction to completion. A brief review of extant enforcement and building control regulations in Lagos State,

clearly indicates that the problem is not inadequacy of relevant laws and monitoring agencies, but rather, lack of proper enforcement of building regulations either due to corruption on the part of the enforcement agencies or inexperience, lack of capacity and industry knowledge amongst agency officials, infrastructural deficit, and lack of adequate monitoring mechanisms amongst others.

Extant Statutory Provisions in Lagos State Aside from the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2010, established to provide for the administration of physical planning, urban development, urban regeneration, building control and other connected purposes (the “Planning Law”), which established relevant Physical Planning and Development Agencies that would play crucial roles in the execution of the provisions of the law, a very significant establishment of the Planning Law is the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (“LASPPPA”), established for processing and issuance of Planning Permit in the State and ensuring compliance with planning approval standards, and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (“LASBCA”), established as a necessary measure to combat lapses in building projects in Lagos State, by enforcing building control regulations and implementing the Planning Law. Recently, LASBCA Regulations 2019 (the “Regulations”) was released, and it sets out the procedures for obtaining authorisation of LASBCA and LASPPPA for commencement of construction, building stage certification, certificate of worthiness for electrical, mechanical elements and fire safety before occupation of high-rise buildings and, a certificate of completion and fitness for habitation amongst others. There is also the Building Control and Stage Certification Process Law, the Building and Civil Engineering (Construction) Materials Quality Control Laboratory Law, the Model City Plans Approval Orders, Operative Development Plans, Operative Approval Orders on Approved Layout Plans, as well as other bodies such as the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (“LASURA”) for clearance for urban renewal sites, LASURAInspectorate & Quality Control Department – for stage Certification and Habitation for Fitness, Lagos State Material Testing Laboratory–for Building Material and Equipment Testing, Lands Bureau – for Clearance on Land allocation and associated clearances. Thrown into the mix also, is the need to obtain tax clearance from Lagos State Internal Revenue Services. In addition, there are other MDAs involved in the permitting and certification process such as the Ministry of Environment - for Drainage Clearance, Ministry of Transportation – for Traffic and Transportation Clearance, Waterfront and Infrastructure Development Agency - clearance from water bodies, Ministry of Agriculture - clearance for agricultural lands where applicable.

Is the Multiplicity of laws and enforcement agencies a good thing?

The reality is that multiplicity of agencies dealing with different levels of the permit process can create unwanted bottlenecks, notwithstanding the efforts made by Government to make all relevant information and required permitting processes available on a single platform. There is, therefore, need for streamlining of processes and collaboration between agencies, and stripping off some layers of approvals to reduce processing time and bureaucracy. Considering the limitations of these agencies in carrying out their functions, it is important that they collaborate with approved cont'd on page VIII

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private building practitioners to assist in the permits and inspection process and stage certifications to reduce workload, delays, and bottlenecks.

The process should be clearly thought out and would involve some form of certification and accreditation process for the professionals beyond registration with relevant professional bodies, as well as imposition of accountability and liability obligations. Such professional consultants may be retained by Government, or be contracted by the developers directly from a list of approved, accredited professionals or agencies, with requisite checks and balances and enforcement of higher mandatory professional standards including the enforcement of adequate insurance coverage. The agencies themselves should be required to undergo periodic rigorous trainings, to keep them up to date and informed.

Accessibility of Building Regulations Lagos State has embraced the use of technology, in disseminating information. The Planning Permit Authority has established an online presence in an attempt to provide access to regulations, permit and certification requirements, stages of approval/ procedure for grant of Permit, as well as availability of electronic application system. This however, needs to be fine-tuned for greater effectiveness.

The permitting/inspection/certification processes need to be reduced and simplified to encourage developers, and there is a need to discontinue physical/paper applications, in order to reduce the avenues for corrupt practices. The Government can take a cue from successful systems from other jurisdictions, such as Singapore’s CORENET. An effective, unified Building Guidelines/Regulation, should capture all the provisions for an Online Single Window System for complete process: building plan approval, stage level inspection etc. The system should be sophisticated enough to issue online building plan approvals with digital signature, in downloadable format. There should be established a One Stop Shop for all the building stages with collaboration between relevant MDAs, thus, improving administrative efficiency, transparency, and cost management.

Regulatory Controls Exercised Before, During and after a Building Project Section 5(1) of the Regulation mandates developers to request authorisation from LASBCA to commence construction, in the manner provided under Schedule 2 of the Regulation. The developer is required to keep on site a copy of the Planning Permit granted, for sighting upon demand by officers of the agency. To ensure building quality control following the issuance of a permit and an authorisation to commence construction, Section 11(1) & (2) of the Regulation provides that the Agency shall monitor the use of certified professionals and artisans in construction sites, and to ensure compliance, the Agency is authorised to request any professional or artisan working on a construction site in the State, to show evidence of registration with their respective professional bodies and/or the Lagos State Government.

The law also demands the display of details of the permit granted by LASPPPA using a project site board erected at the construction site, which shows the planning permit number, title of project, names and addresses of the professionals/consultants appointed for the project, name and address of main contractor, number of floors approved, inclusive of the ground floor, project duration, safety and health coordinator, and quality control consultant (where applicable). Developers are also required to obtain a Stage Certification, upon the conclusion of each stage of building construction. Additionally, every developer is required to obtain from the agency, a Certificate of Completion and Fitness for Habitation. The Certificate shall be issued upon an assessment of satisfactory completion, and where a defect is observed or an alteration made, the Certificate issued may be withdrawn or revalidated.

Buildings under construction are also required to undergo material evaluation and testing, and developers are required to carry out a structural integrity test upon conclusion of the building project in authorised centres of the agency, prior to the grant of the Certificate of Completion and Fitness for Habitation. The Certificate is to be issued upon the submission of the pictures of all elevations of the

Oghenekevwe Ibodje building, Electrical Certification, Gas Certification, Mechanical Certification, Fire Safety Certification, Insurance Policy on the building, and a Letter of indemnity obtained from all relevant professionals (Architect, Builders and Structural Engineers). Where any of these requirements are not adhered to, the agency has power to issue different notices including a Contravention Notice, Stop Work Order, Quit Notice, Seal Off Order, Demand Notice, Regularisation Notice, and a Demolition Notice.

Clearly, these requirements are not strictly adhered to, and in the writer’s view, aside from monitoring constraints experienced due to lack of proper data on all construction works embarked upon in the State, the major culprit for non-compliance is corruption. Using the collapsed Ikoyi building as a case in point, if the officials of the relevant agencies had done their work conscientiously, the building should not have been raised to the level it was, when the collapse happened. To combat this, there is the need to adopt an automated system that publishes information online, including the application processes, the permitting approval processes, with e-signatures of the approving officers, for accountability purposes.

Liability for Defects and Regulatory Requirement for Insurance Where a development is above two floors, the developer is required to obtain a Contractors' All Risk Insurance Policy and Building Insurance Certificate. Where a structural defect is observed, or the building fails due to negligence leading to collapse, the law holds the developer liable, including the Civil Engineer/Structural/ Mechanical, the Builder, and the Architect who participated in the development of the building structure. Section 43(1) – (19) also provides for penalties where a developer commits offences such as, failure to obtain permission before commencement of construction work, giving of false information to the Agency, failure to insure building, proceeding to another stage of development without obtaining stage certification, failure to obtain certificate of completion and fitness for habitation before occupation, failure to comply with fire requirements, amongst others.

Conclusion Based on the foregoing, it is clear that lack of adherence to laid down laws by developers with or without the complicity of enforcement agencies and the inefficiency of these agencies are some of the major problems experienced by the State, rather than inadequacy of regulation or enforcement provisions. The State Government needs to urgently take things in hand. Beyond the efforts already made to improve the permitting processes, decisive steps must be taken to clean up the Agencies, and implement recommended

“The assessment ranked Lagos the least State in dealing with construction permits, as investors and developers have to go through 17 procedures to obtain permit which is estimated to take about 118 days…..The Government can take a cue from successful systems from other jurisdictions, such as Singapore’s CORENET. An effective, unified Building Guidelines/Regulation…..”

measures for transparency and accountability in its processes. There is also an urgent need for public awareness of regulatory requirements for buildings, which calls for public action including the demand for transparency from developers and landlords by occupiers and purchasers of properties. Adequate transparency would be evidenced by a disclosure of requisite approvals, and a whistle blowing policy which rewards exposure of erring developers and State officials.

Aderemi Fagbemi, Partner, Tope Adebayo LLP; Secretary, Construction Projects and Infrastructure Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law ((NBA-SBL)

Collapsed Ikoyi Building: Legal Rights, Duties, Liabilities and Remedies for Victims, Developer and BuiltIndustry Professionals Bayo Owojori The incident of the collapsed 21-storey building in the high-brow residential area of Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria has once again raised issues of rights, obligations, liabilities, and remedies for stakeholders in the construction and infrastructural industry whenever such tragic event, with its concomitant loss of lives and properties occurs in Nigeria. Without prejudice to the outcome of the Investigative Panel set up by the State Government, this paper examines the duties of the developer, the professionals who supervised the building construction, regulatory bodies, the legal rights of the victims, liabilities of the industry participants and available remedies as provided under the extant laws in Nigeria.

The opinions expressed in this paper are that of the writer and do not in any way represent the opinion of the NBA- SBL. Legal Framework for Physical Planning and Development in Lagos State Section 4(7) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) empowers the House of Assembly of a State to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the State or any part of it, with respect to any matter not included in the Exclusive Legislative List (ELL), set out in Part I of the Second Schedule to the Constitution, any matter in the Concurrent Legislative List (CLL), set out in the First column of Part II of the Second Schedule to the Constitution, and any other matter with respect to which it is empowered to make laws in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.

In other words, a State has constitutional power to make laws on any matter not included in the ELL and CLL – Residual List. One of such legislative areas for the States, is urban and physical development. The power to make laws for physical planning and urban development in Nigeria resides in the State Houses of Assembly, which gives validity to the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law, 2015, CAP U2 (URPD Law). Section 24 and 45 of the Law establish the

Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority – (the “Planning Permit Authority”) and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (the “Building Control Agency”) respectively. Pursuant to section 99 of the Law, the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit (LASPPPA) Regulations (2019) and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABSCA) Regulations (2019) were made by the Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, and approved by the State House of Assembly.

It goes without saying therefore, that the above cited Law and the Regulations are the extant legal frameworks for physical and urban development in Lagos State, moreover when Section 101 of the Law has specifically repealed the previous physical planning Laws in the state before it; that is – i. The Lagos State Urban Renewal Board Law No. 7 of 1991 Cap . L53 L.L.S 2003; ii. The Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law, No. 9 of 2005; iii. The Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning Board Law , No. 2 of 1998, LLS, and iv. The Lagos State Planning Commission Law. L.38 L.L.S 2003.

In addition to the above-mentioned Law and Regulations, Insurance Act, 2015 and Professional Regulatory Bodies’ Establishment Acts are important legal frameworks, which have the objective of ensuring that safe and sustainable buildings are achievable in Nigeria and in Lagos State in Particular.

Lagos State URPD Law 2015, LASPPPA Regulations 2019 and LABSCA Regulations 2019.

Tragic Incidents Prior to the tragic incident of the collapsed 21-storey building on Gerrard Road in Ikoyi on 1st of November, 2021, building collapse has been a recurring phenomenon in different parts of the country, especially in Lagos State. The collapse of the Synagogue Church Guest House in 2014 in Ikotun-Egbe area of Lagos State where 116 people lost their lives, including 84 South Africans; the collapse of a six-storey building under construction by Lekki Gardens in 2016 in Lekki area of the State which took the lives of 34 people; and the collapse of a five-storey building in 2019 at No. 63, Massey Street, Ita-Faaji area of Lagos State where over 20 people, including no fewer than 12 school pupils died, while 45 people were reported to have sustained various injuries, are still fresh in our memory. The above- mentioned tragic incidences threw up many legal issues on the rights, duties, obligations and liabilities of the different interests that were involved which have remained unsettled.

Consequent upon the collapse of No. 63, Massey Street, the State Government set up a Five-Man Investigative Panel to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the unfortunate incident, with a view to putting an end to building collapse in the State. The report of the investigation submitted and the recommendations made, motivated the State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, pursuant to his power under Section 99 of the URPD Law 2015 to make the LASPPPA Regulations 2019 and the LABSCA Regulations 2019, for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of the Principal Law. The Law and the Regulations make far-reaching provisions for safe and sustainable physical and urban development in the State, which, if they had been complied with by the developer, the professionals involved and the regulatory Agencies, the unfortunate and catastrophic incident of the collapsed 21-storey building in Ikoyi would not have happened. cont'd on page IX

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Building Collapse in Nigeria: Concerns and Practicable Remedies cont'd from page VIII

Functions and Obligations of the Physical Planning Permit Authority LASPPPA and LABSCA have statutory obligations to ensure that developers and construction professionals in the State comply with the provisions of the law at every stage of all building construction projects, from the design stage to construction stage, and up to post – construction stage.

Each stage of the development from foundation till the completion of the project, must comply with the provisions of the law and its regulations.

The cumulative of the stage certifications are to be submitted to the Agency by every developer which shall thereafter be evaluated, for the grant of a Certificate of Completion and Fitness for Habitation, which must be obtained on any building on satisfactory completion before occupation. It is important to emphasise that the issuance of the Certificate, is conditional upon satisfactory completion of the building construction and that Application for it must be accompanied with, among other stipulations- Insurance Policy on the building and Letter of Indemnity from all relevant professionals (Architect, Builders and Structural Engineers) who were involved in the project.

Power of the Agency to Issue and Enforce Statutory Notices The Agency has power to serve any of the enforcement statutory notices prescribed in Schedules 14- 20 of the Regulations which include- Contravention Notices, Stop Work Order, Quit Notice, Seal Off Order; Demand Notice, Regularisation Notice, and Demolition Notice. Where any of the provisions of the law or any Regulation made pursuant to it is contravened, depending on the nature and degree of contravention, the relevant Agency has power to order the developer to submit an application for planning permit and building control authorisation; or carry out such alterations to the building as may be necessary to ensure compliance; or pull down the building, or reinstate the land to its prior state.

Defective Structure Where a structure is defective and poses danger or constitutes a nuisance to the occupier or the public, the Building Control Agency has the duty and powers to serve on the developer or holder for the time being of a planning permit, a demolition notice which shall contain a date not later than 21 days after which the Building Control Agency shall take steps to commence demolition of the defective structure at the expiration of the time given, and the owner or developer of the structure shall pay to the State Government the cost of the demolition, and failure to pay the cost of the demolition shall cause the property to be forfeited to the State Government.

Obligations/Responsibilities of Developers under the Law Every developer, be it an individual, a corporate Body, Federal, State or Local Government or their agencies intending to carry out any development in Lagos State is under obligation to apply to the LASPPPA for a grant of Planning Permit. The application must among other requirements, include all architectural and engineering design drawings as stipulated in the Law, a letter of indemnity from a Civil/Structural Engineer undertaking to supervise the proposed construction, which must be sealed and stamped by him, and a report of sub-soil investigation in the case of structures more than two floors and all developments in areas with low bearing capacity soil in the State.

Regulation 22 of LABSCA stipulates the responsibilities of the Developer to include among others – “(1)(a) - to ensure that the building is certified by the appropriate professionals as specified in Schedules 5 to 10 to the Regulations at every stage of construction, without prejudice to the inspection of the project at every stage of construction by the Building Control Agency”. It is worthy of being emphasised here that, Schedules 5 to 10 require each stage of building construction to be certified by a Registered Architect, a Registered Civil/Structural Engineer, and a Registered Builder, with their stamps and seals affixed to the Compliance Forms; and where the Law requires involvement of a Mechanical and an Electrical Engineer on any project, a Mechanical and an Electrical Engineer must also in addition to the three professionals earlier mentioned, sign the Compliance Forms as required. “(1)(b) to carry out mandatory tests on building materials and concrete

Aderemi Fagbemi cubes and submit the results to LABSCA at every stage of the construction; (1) (c) Notify the Agency in writing whenever a work is ready for inspection; ……….. (1)(i) comply with health and safety standards at all times”.

A developer who has been granted Planning Permit has obligation to inform the Agency of his intention to commence construction works and submit to the Agency the under-listed documents - (ix) which are: “(i) Planning Permit (ii) Sub-soil Investigation Report (buildings above 4floors); (iii) Sanitary Inspection and Disinfestation Report (by a Licensed Environmental health Officer); (iv) Design Drawings (v) General Contractor All Risk Insurance Policy (buildings above 2 floors); (vi) Letter of undertaking of supervision by professionals involved. (vii) Programme of Works in 5 copies of – a) Builder’s site execution document; (sic) b) Construction methodology; c) Construction of programmes; d) Project quality management. (viii) - Health, Safety and Environment Report (ix) – Any other report as may be required.

The above requirements are mandatory, and the Agency does not have any discretionary power to alter, reduce or modify them.

Insurance Obligation, Entitlements and Liabilities Section 64 of the Insurance Act, 2015 imposes obligation on every developer of a building of more than two floors, before embarking on the construction, to insure his liability “in respect of construction risks that may be caused by his negligence or the negligence of his servants, agents or consultants which may result in bodily injury or loss of life to or damage to property of any workman on the site or of any member of the public”. This provision is relevant to buildings under construction only, and its contravention is an offence which upon conviction, renders the contractor liable to a fine of N250,000 or imprisonment for three years or both. This legal obligation on the developer is also provided for by the Lagos State URPD Law 2015. The developer or owner of such building must submit to LABSCA at the time of submitting application to commence building works, a General Contractors All Risk Insurance Policy Certificate, and the Certificate must be produced on demand to LABSCA for verification on an annual basis. Failure to insure a building as required under the Law, is an offence punishable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding N500,000 or one month community service or both. It is the opinion of this writer that the penalties attached to breach of this important provision of the Law is too low, and may not discourage contravention of the Law.

“…..victims of the collapsed building and their relatives may also have remedies in negligence against the Developer and Lagos State Government, for breaches of their legal duties of care, which resulted to fatal injuries and emotional trauma”

Bayo Owojori Implication of the Law The implication of the provisions of the laws cited above, is that individual and families of those who lost their lives and properties in the collapsed 21-storey building, would be entitled to compensation as the Laws have mandated builders and developers to obtain insurance covers as a prerequisite to getting approval for their building construction. The insurance policy would also be expected to cover third parties, arising from the collapsed building.

Consequently, if the developer of the collapsed building had complied with this provision of the Law, it is expected that the insurance companies with which the building was insured should have been involved in the monitoring of the construction of the building, knowing fully well the financial obligation that the collapse would cost them.

Requirement of Project Site Board In order to ensure that the identities of the professionals involved on any building construction site are made public and for the purpose of holding such professional(s) responsible for their actions on the project, LABSCA makes it obligatory that a project site board is erected at the construction site which must show the relevant details of the Project and the Professionals involved in it.

Without prejudice to the outcome of the on-going investigative panel, the developer of collapsed building clearly violated this provision of the Law, as can be seen that the site project board does not have the mandatory information on it.

Professional Regulatory Bodies’ Establishment Acts Pursuant to Item 49 of the Exclusive Legislative List, Second Schedule of the Constitution which empowers the National Assembly to make laws on professional occupation in Nigeria, the following professional bodies are recognised in the built-industry1. The Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) Act 2. Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) 3. Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) 4. Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria (TOPREC) Act 5. Surveyor Registration Council of Nigeria (SURCON) 6. Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria, (ESVRBON) 7. Quantity Surveyor Registration Board of Nigeria QSRBON. However, only registered members of the first five of the professional bodies listed above, are considered appropriate to practice in the Nigeria Construction industry. The reason for this may be because, only members of the first five regulatory bodies have ‘direct relevance’ in the delivery of a safe building.

Each of these professional bodies sets both ethical and practicing competence standards for their members, in accordance with their Establishment Acts.

All the Professional Regulatory Bodies mentioned above have different provisions in their Laws, which give them powers to set standards for their members and to monitor and control the practices of their areas of specialisations as established by Laws and also to check quackery in their professions. For example, Section 19(1) of the Builders (Registration, etc,)

Act CAP. B13 LFN2004 provides that: “Any person who not being a registered builder- (a) for or in expectation of reward, practices or holds himself out to practice as such; or (b) without reasonable excuse, takes or uses any name, title, addition or description implying that he is authorised by law to practice as a registered builder, commits an offence punishable under this Decree”. Furthermore, these Professional Bodies have statutory duties to keep and maintain up-to-date registers of their members, and to punish unprofessional conducts by erring members. It was therefore, expected that the professional bodies highlighted above should have played active roles in the supervision and monitoring of their members engaged on the collapsed building, if such professionals were engaged as required by the laws.

Consequence of a Collapsed Building or Structure In circumstances where there is a collapse of any property or structure within the State, due to negligence on the part of the owner or the developer which has been established through investigation or publication in the State Official Gazette, such property may be forfeited to the State Government. Section 74 of URPD Law 2015. Section 75 of the Law and Regulation 43 of the LABSCA Regulations, stipulate different offences and penalties, ranging from a fine of N250,000 to N500,000 against violation of the provisions of the Law and the Regulations by any person. It is to be noted that, reference to “any person” under Section 75 of the Law includes an owner, his servants, agents or privies, a developer, an independent contractor, Architect, Engineer or Builder, and each of these persons who knowingly participated in contravening the provisions of the Law or any Regulation made under it.

Remedies Whenever there is a breach of legal right, there are usually remedies provided by law to assuage the injured persons or parties, as the case may be.

While the different laws highlighted above have various penalties against offenders and violators of the provisions of the laws which become offences against the State where they are established, victims of the collapsed building and their relatives may also have remedies in negligence against the Developer and Lagos State Government, for breaches of their legal duties of care which resulted in fatal injuries and emotional trauma. Furthermore, as earlier pointed out, the individual and families of those who lost their lives and property in the collapsed 21-storey building, would be entitled to compensation under the Insurance Act 2015 and Section 48 of URPD Law 2015. The insurance policy would also be expected to cover third parties, arising from the collapsed building.

Conclusion The incidence of the collapsed 21-storey building on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos was another avoidable tragic incident. Without prejudice to the outcome of the investigative panel constituted by the State Governor to unravel the causes of the collapse, a cursory examination of the extant laws available for the monitoring, controlling and enforcement of the physical planning and development in the State, shows that there is enough legislative framework to achieve safe and sustainable buildings in Nigeria in general, and in Lagos State in particular. The will to comply with the provisions of the relevant laws by all stakeholders in the built industry and to enforce the laws by the Government is desirable, and cannot ≥be overemphasised if the ugly incidences of building collapse is to be ended in Nigeria.

Bayo Owojori, Specialises in Construction and Real Estate Law

X

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021 • T H I S D AY

TALKING CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY DR. MIKE OZEKHOME, SAN

0809 889 8888 SMS ONLY

Aare Afe Babalola: Impossibility Made Possible Birth and Early Life nonagenarian, he was born into an agrarian family in Ado Ekiti 92 whopping years ago. However, because his parents were illiterates, he does not really know the exact year, month or date. He merely conjectured. While growing up, he lost six of his siblings to poor maternal care and preventable diseases. This story of “Impossibility Made Possible” (the title of his personal autobiography), is one that rends the heart. He is none other than, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN. Babalola was raised in the farm with his parents in a mud house, covered with thatched roof. They used to sleep on banana leaves at night, which they would change after about 2 or 3 days. But, he not only enjoyed it, he actually thought it was the best thing in life.

After all, he had never experienced a better life, due to his humble beginnings. So, he was not even born with any wooden spoon in his mouth, let alone a silver or golden spoon.

Nor was his case that of a child of destiny, who had his palm kernel cracked for him by a benevolent spirit. He was simply a case of Romans 9:15; and raw dint of hard work and perseverance. As he once put it, "we didn't bother about clothes. I was a young boy, I didn't wear clothes, of course, there were no shoes at that time. I thought and I prayed then, that one day, I will inherit part of my father's farm. I will inherit part of his cutlasses and hoes. That was my ambition".

Babalola’s father had inherited a portion of his own father’s land at Ajipon, towards the present-day Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti.

He later moved to Odo Asa, Igirigiri, seeking fertile land for cocoa cultivation. He did not strike gold, forcing him to again relocate to Alayegbe, eight miles from home. This forced the young Afe and his father to stay in the farm for about three months at a time; coming home merely to participate in annual festivals like Ogun or Egungun. So, the Aare grew up in farm settlements, romancing with elephants, antelopes, tigers, gorillas, monkeys and pythons.

Thus, from 6am to 6pm, the Aare and others would work in the farm and also hunt for animals, that would serve as delicacy with pounded yam at about 7pm. Farm life was not without its inherent dangers. Huge snakes mistaken for rodents dug holes, and menacing tigers, were common place.

locally and internationally, bagging the LL.D (Honoris Causa) from Universities in Ekiti, Kogi, Lagos, Jos, Akure, and the University of London.

The London LL.D degree award made Afe Babalola to belong to the elite class of honorary recipients of the degree of the University of London, preceded only by two Africans in the history of the University, Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

A

From Grass-to-Grace That is the classical “grass-to-grace” story of AARE AFE EMMANUEL BABALOLA, LL.B (Hons), BL, B.SC (Econs), OFR, CON, SAN, LL.D, D.LL, D.Litt, FCIArb, FNIALS. Very few Nigerians can claim to be as decorated as the Aare, whose only romance with a school was Emmanuel Primary School, Ado Ekiti.

Afe is a Lawyer, Barrister, Economist, Teacher, Industrialist, Scholar, University Administrator, Farmer, Philosopher, Author, Philanthropist, Columnist, Educationist, etc.

When the cerebral legal pugilist was about eight years old, a Reverend Father pleaded with his father to send one of his children to school. As he was the eldest child, his father ordered him to go. This was how he left the farm house in 1937, to live in the town. Even then, it was not easy, as he had to walk about five kilometres every day from his family house to Emmanuel Anglican Primary School, Okesha, Ado-Ekiti.

This inconveniencing ritual went on for about seven years, even when he did not have any interest in learning; principally because on the farm, he didn't have to bathe; or change his

Aare Afe Babalola, SAN clothes; or clean his teeth. But, in the school, he was forced to. Nonetheless, the renowned humanist managed to complete his Primary 6, where he obtained his Standard Six Certificate.

That was the end of his formal education, in a school setting. All the other educational qualifications listed against his name were obtained through private study, because he could not afford school fees for secondary school. He later obtained his degrees in both Economics and Law (LL.B). I will tell you how the Aare wielded this Professor Peller’s abracadabra magic wand.

Chief Afe took advice from a white man, and ordered course-wares from Wolsey Hall, Oxford, one of the oldest home-schooling colleges in the world, founded by Joseph William Knipe in 1894, which offered courses for Primary, Secondary, IGCSE and A Level subjects to home-Schoolers. This is similar to what is today obtainable on the internet, as e-learning.

For a course that should take him six years to complete, he chose to do it in five. He would read, prepare, write exams and send his answers by post to England, where they would be marked, with necessary corrections and sent back in 14 days. By 1950, he attempted both Cambridge School Certificate Exams (the equivalent of Senior School Certificate) and Cambridge Advanced Level Certificate Exams, all from home. Although he passed the exams, he was however, dissatisfied with his grades.

So, he repeated the Advanced Level Exams to enable him prepare for a University degree.

By 1953, he cleared all the four subjects at the Advanced level, more than the two that was required. At that time, there were only three Nigerians who had passed four subjects at one sitting, in the Advanced Level Exams.

The other two Nigerians aside the Aare were Igbos. It was a record then.

After passing his Advanced Level Exams, In 1953, he went further to prepare for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics from the University of London, still studying from home. In 1959, he obtained BSc in Economics, but still proceeded to study for his Bachelor of Laws LL.B (Hons) degree, still from University of London, again from home. He completed this in 1963. He had to travel to London to sit for the Bar Exams.

Upon completing his law exams in London, in 1963, he was subsequently called to the Bar

“In 1987, he became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria…..

Chief Afe has handled over 10,600 court cases, many of which were such landmark cases that could have scared away the cowardly. He has handled many cases that have helped to redefine the law, and recreate our jurisprudence”

as a member of the Lincoln’s Inn, London; and he registered as a member of the Bar of England and Wales.

Aare’s Legal Practice Thereafter, he returned home to begin his legal practice as a litigation Lawyer at the Chambers of Olu Ayoola in Ibadan, until 1965, when he established his own law firm: Afe Babalola & Co (Emmanuel Chambers) in Ibadan. His Chambers has since remained a reputable, leading law firm in Nigeria, with offices in Ibadan, Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. He has produced over 1,500 legal practitioners, including Judges, Senior Advocates of Nigeria and Attorney-Generals.

In 1987, he became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, the highest rank in the legal profession in Nigeria. After reaching the pinnacle of Law Practice in Nigeria, he was offered the position of a Judge, by Justice Oyemade who was then the President of The Court in the Defunct Western Region of Nigeria, but he rejected it, because he wanted to remain in active law practice.

As a Solicitor and general practitioner, Chief Afe has handled over 10,600 court cases, many of which were such landmark cases that could have scared away the cowardly. He has handled many cases that have helped to redefine the law, and recreate our jurisprudence.

As a Presidential Nominee at the 2005 National Political Conference, Chief Afe chaired the Revenue Allocation and Fiscal Federalism Committee, unarguably one of the most sensitive Committees. The living legend was twice offered the ministerial position of Attorney-General of the Federation by former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; but he twice rejected it.

In 2001, he was appointed Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. He held the position till 2008, during which he emerged as the best Pro-Chancellor of Nigerian Universities, consecutively in 2005 and 2006.

Accolades With the Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) and Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) firmly in his kitty, the cerebral Advocate was conferred with the title of the Aare Bamofin of Yoruba Nation, in 2008

by His Royal Majesty, Alayeluwa Oba Dr Lamidi Adeyemi II, the Alaafin of Oyo. This was in recognition of his legendary exploits in legal practice and his fame that spreads like wild fire, abroad beyond the African shores and the Black Race.

The Alaafin in pronouncing him as Aare Bamofin, decreed his pre-eminence as a Royal Highness and tribal legend. He was forbidden from ever prostrating to any man, except God. He is required to carry himself in the manner of a royalty. The Aare has won several awards and honours,

About ABUAD In 2009, Chief Babalola, at the ripe age of 80, established the now famous Afe Babalola University (ABUAD) on a 130-hectare vast expanse of land in Ado Ekiti, to promote education in Nigeria. The University's College of law has, at different times, been rated best in Nigeria. Indeed, in 2013, this University was ranked the second-best private University in Nigeria, and 17 out of all the 136 universities in Nigeria.

The University with three-star Guest Inn facility, offers academic programmes in six Colleges: Law, Natural Sciences, Engineering, Social and Management Sciences, Medicine and Health Sciences. It also offers Postgraduate Studies. Its College of Engineering is built on about three and half acres of land, and is well equipped with sophisticated state-of-the-art facilities brought in directly from Europe and the Americas. It is reputed to be one of the largest in Africa. ABUAD’s College of Medicine and Health Sciences and its Multisystem Teaching Hospital with theatres, eight modular CT and MRI scan machines, ICU and 16 kidney dialysis and machines, are nullus secondus in Nigeria, given their sophisticated medical facilities and the professional expertise with which patients are handled.

When I visited this living legend in May, 2018, he spritely took me from his offices upstairs, downstairs, and handed me over to a highranking University official, who took me on a guided tour of ABUAD’s facilities. I gawked at vast expanse eof agricultural trees, mangoes, guavas, oranges, pineapples; fish ponds, factories to process, package and sell the fish; potteries; piggeries; etc. The University is a town within the Ado-Ekiti town. Chief fondly calls me, “Mike Ozekhome, my son”, an acknowledgment I proudly swallow, hook, line and sinker. He fires the embers in me, I also being a grass-to-grace story; elevated only by God Almighty. Babalola inspires Africans, Nigerians and the black race.

Wealth or money? This is no longer Aare’s headache. He is rated among the Top 10 Richest Lawyers in Nigeria; and highest private Investor in Ekiti State; with an estimated net worth of $350 million. Even with his stupendous wealth, goodwill, societal reach and intellectual fecundity, Aare Babalola still wears humility like a second skin. At his age, when his peers should be relaxing, smoking a pipe and sleeping, Chief Afe works round the clock. He personally oversees his vast empire, called a University. As a multi-columnist, he still directs national affairs with his rare insights and lucid adumbrations.

Words of Wisdom Believing that “no idea is stupid; it is better carried out than ignored”; Chief Afe once said: “The only change that can be a lasting change, that would change the world and change the people, is changing the mind of the youths”. Then, he added the clincher: “Hard work does not kill; what kills is indolence.” Then the icing on the cake: “My legacy is not in the buildings I have, not by the money in my account, but in these children, students of my school”.

Conclusion My good friend, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, once described Chief Afe as a man who has broken into smithereens, the usual adage that a tree cannot make a forest. I agree with him that his gargantuan contributions to national development have put the proverb to severe test, as the national icon has become a tree that has made a huge forest, both metaphorically and in reality.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK “If you can dream it, you can do it”. (Walt Disney)

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

A T

REPO

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

08056356325

N O V E M B E R

S & P INDEX

1 5 , 2 0 2 1

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OBB

9.00%

CALL

4%

INDEX LEVEL

564.02%

1/4 TO DATE

5.82%

N413.03/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

10.75%

1-MONTH

6%

1-DAY

–0.17%

YEAR TO DATE

– 15.85%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.19%

After Months of Improvement, Nigeria’s Oil Rig Count Declines in October

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja After months of relative growth, Nigeria’s oil rig count fell from 11 in September to nine in October 2021, according to data released by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in its November Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR).

The reduction of the country’s oil assets by two is in contrast to a number of other countries that have their facilities increase

markedly, including Algeria’s, which climbed by three, Congo’s which rose by one, Saudi Arabia’s which increased by seven and United Arab Emirates which added four oil rigs.

Angola’s rigs remained constant, staying at four in September and October, but overall, between 2018 and 2021, total OPEC rigs from the 13 member countries fell from 549 to 380, but rose by 13 month-on-month from 367 to 380.

But in all, world rig count,

that is, the combination of OPEC and non-OPEC members’ rigs, fell from 2,357 in 2018 to 1,610 in October 2021, but with the United States taking the lead with additional 29 rigs, followed by Canada with 13 assets monthon-month.

However, the number of Nigeria’s total offshore oil rigs remained unchanged in September as the country continued to struggle to meet the production quota allocated to it by OPEC.

According to the cartel’s MOMR, the total number of rigs stood at 11 in September as it was in August, but despite that, was about half of the country’s total oil assets in February 2020 which stood at 23.

From around May last year, Nigeria began shutting down many of its offshore platforms as oil prices took a downward slope and the producers’ group embarked on production curbs to stabilise the market.

Historic rig count figures earlier obtained by THISDAY showed that although Nigeria’s rigs experienced zero growth in September, it was however far better than in July when the count was seven and in June when it was just five.

The increase between July and August reflected in the country’s production figure for that period, signalling readiness by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and

its partners to pump more oil.

Nigeria pumped an additional 155,000 bpd in September.

The country has been unable to meet its OPEC quota due to weakening infrastructure and difficulty in restarting oil facilities that were shut down due to the cuts in production assigned to the country.

In the month of May 2020 when Nigeria started adhering to the Continued on page 26

Odu’a Investment Floats Oil Firm, Begins Farm-out Talks with Chevron on 40m Barrels Oilfield Peter Uzoho

Odu’a Investment Company Limited (OICL), the successor company of Western Nigeria Development Corporation (WNDC) has floated an oil and gas exploration and production subsidiary, BITA Exploration & Production Limited.

The new firm emerged successful at the 2020 marginal

field bid round where it was awarded a 40-million barrel marginal field located in Ondo State alongside an operating partner.

The Board Chairman and the Group Managing Director of OICL, Dr. Olusegun Aina and Mr. Adewale Raji jointly unveiled the oil firm and two other new businesses at OICL’s 45th anniversary commemora-

tive lecture in Lagos.

The two other firms included; South West Agricultural Company (SWAGCO) Limited, and South West Innovation and Technology (SWIT).

Managing Director of BITA Exploration & Production, Mr. Andy Boyo, disclosed at the event via a recorded audio-video message that the company was currently en-

FOOD NAME OF COMMODITY

MAIZE

LOCATION

PRICE

100KG JIGAWA

N9000

100KG ENUGU

N24000

100KG DELTA

N15000

100KG

ABIA

N14000

50KG

LAGOS

N13500

SIZE

gaging with Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), the original owner of the asset, on the farm-out agreement negotiation to enable it take operatorship of the field.

“We are still at an early stage. We are negotiating with Chevron, who originally owns the field and the negotiation is for the farm-out agreement negotiation. We want them to

COMMODITIES

PRICE

come to an agreement with us for us to run that field,” Boyo said.

He added that based on the Competent Person’s Report (CPR), the field has about 40 million barrels of oil, with offsides that had not been investigated, stressing that the potential for the field was for a long time.

Boyo further revealed that

T O D AY

the firm has signed a 15-year lease agreement with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), noting that the field was profitable and worth investing in for oil search.

“So, as a matter of potential, based on the CPR, which is one of the Competent Persons Continued on page 26

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS FOOD

NAME OF COMMODITY

PALM OIL

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

25CL LAGOS N20,000-N25000 25CL

PH

RICE

N21,000-24,000

COMMODITIES SIZE

25CL

IMO

N21,000–N24,500

25CL

EDO

N17,000–N20,000

PRICE

100KG ABUJA N23,000–N25,000 50KG 50KG

25CL IBADAN N18,000-N22,000

STATE

OYO

N22,000-N25,000

PLATEAU N23,500-N25,000 (JOS)

50KG KWARA N24,000–N27,000 50KG

LAGOS N23,000–N26,500

50KG RIVERS N23,000–N26,500

25CL ABUJA

N19500- N25000

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

COCOA

T O D AY SIZE

EDO

N17,000–N20,000

PRICE

N740,000

1 TON ONDO – N760,000 1 TON OSUN 1 TON

EDO

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

ONIONS

100KG

IBADAN

N25,000

100KG

KANO

N10,000

100KG

BENUE

N27,000

100KG GOMBE

N12,000

100KG DELTA

N21,000

100KG LAGOS

N25,000

100KG ENUGU

N15,000

100KG

N29,000

N730,000 – N750,000 N720,000 – N740,000

CROSS N700,000 1 TON RIVER – N720,000

50KG SOKOTO N11,500–N13,000 50KG

STATE

1 TON

AKURE SOUTH, ONDO

N730,000 — N755,000

ABIA

KPMG Seeks Govt Clarification on Exemption of Diesel from VAT Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja KPMG has urged the federal government to clarify the confusion surrounding the removal of Automobile Gas Oil (AGO) or diesel from Value Added Tax (VAT) Modification Order 2021, recently signed by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr. Zainab Ahmed.

Making the comments in its November 2021 bulletin on the “Impact of the Order on Taxpayers and Businesses Operating in Affected Sectors,” the global firm stated that the order, which was gazetted in September, was creating some confusion on the status of diesel as it relates to the modified taxes.

It noted that it was important that there is clarity on the tax exempt status of diesel to avoid unnecessary dispute as was provided in the erstwhile VAT Order, 2018, explaining that pending this clarification, it will be interesting to see how the general phrase “petroleum oils’ will be interpreted and applied in practice.

The firm wrote: “The Order defines petroleum products as aviation turbine kerosene, premium motor spirit, household kerosene, and locally produced liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and crude petroleum oils (i.e. oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude).

“This suggests that Automobile Gas Oil (AGO), that is diesel, which was hitherto included in the definition of petroleum products, that qualified for VAT exemption in the VAT Act (Schedule Modification) Order, 2018 (“VAT Order, 2018”), may no longer be a VAT exempt petroleum product.

“While the seeming exclusion of AGO from VAT exemption may reinforce the deregulation of AGO marketing in Nigeria, the key question is what do the phrases: ‘crude petroleum oil and petroleum oil’ mean? Can these be extended to cover diesel? “ Interestingly, KPMG argued that there is no specific petroleum product that is referred to as “petroleum

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Comms/e-Business Editor Emma Okonji Aviation Editor Chinedu Eze Asst. Editor, Money Market Nume Ekeghe Senior Correspondent Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafo (Energy) Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) Reporters Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy) Ugo Aliogo (Development)

oil”, adding that rather, the word is of general application referring to liquid petroleum products.

Again, it maintained that it also appeared that there was a careful attempt to distinguish the specific oil covered from other oils with the use of the modifier ‘petroleum’.

“In other words, petroleum oil will not extend to edible oils, such as vegetable oil, palm oil, and other types of oils, not obtained from crude oil or bituminous minerals.

“Simply put, any oil derived from crude should qualify under the general words ‘petroleum oil’ based on the ejusdem generis principle of statutory interpretation.

“It should be noted that the

exempt items are being identified by the Common External Tariff (CET) Codes. Thus, as there is no specific CET code for diesel, this may explain why it is not specifically listed in the Order. The only item that it can fit under is petroleum oils under the general CET code,” the report insinuated.

Furthermore, KPMG stated that the Order was made available to the public in October 2021 though it was issued on 21 September 2021, questioning, therefore, whether companies in the oil and gas industry will be subjected to back duty assessments on VAT that should have been charged on the sale of diesel during the lag

between the commencement date and date of issuance of the Order.

“However, as the amended definition of petroleum products in the Order was unavailable to the public during the period, and the term ‘petroleum oils’ can be interpreted to include AGO/ diesel, the affected companies should be able to make a case against back-duty assessment by the FIRS. “Whilst it is unclear whether the continued exemption of the specified petroleum products from VAT is evidence that the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) will continue to participate in the downstream sector, it is noteworthy that excluding these items will

make the products more affordable for the populace. However, the consensus is that the continued regulation of prices of petroleum products is not sustainable and will not attract the desired investment into the sector,” it added.

On the exemption of gas supplied within the power sector value chain from VAT, the firm described it as a welcome development as it would have an impact on the illiquidity issue that has plagued the sector over the years.

KPMG argued that it also demonstrates the commitment of the federal government towards reducing the tax burden of operators in the sector and improving

the ease of doing business.

“The exemption would have a positive impact on electricity tariffs as the VAT incurred on gas supplied within the sector would have been recovered from the end-users,” it explained.

However, KPMG maintained that there are questions as to whether the reference to generation companies (Gencos) relate only to the successor generating companies of the erstwhile Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), stressing that to the extent that there is no specific definition of Gencos in the Order, it should be given its plain meaning and interpreted broadly and not narrowly.

NEITI to Automate Operations from December Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) is set to digitalise and automate its audit data collection process from December 2021.

According to the agency, The NEITI Audit Management System (NAMS) will ensure real time delivery of information and data by the covered entities involved in

the NEITI Audit exercise.

The Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr. Ogbonnaya Orji disclosed this at the launch of the global Opening Extractives programme in Abuja.

Opening Extractives is a programme that will support Nigeria to implement reforms geared towards the disclosure of the ownership of extractive companies.

The NEITI boss explained that, “The NAMS project will transit

NEITI information/data gathering process from analogue to an automated/digital process, improving efficiency in time and resources while reducing human interference and error in the audit process.”

He also stated that the NEITI 2020 reports for the oil, gas and solid minerals have reached the final stages of completion and will be ready for release by the NEITI board before the end of the year.

In addition, Orji said the ongoing Fiscal Allocations and Statutory Disbursement Report that tracks revenues receipts and utilisation in resource-rich states and statutory recipients for the period 2016 -2019 will be released next month.

“Establishing a publicly accessible register of beneficial owners cannot be the end to the campaign against ownership secrecy. Making the registers count through constant

interrogation, update and utilisation of data and information contained in these registers to demand accountability are critical to the success of this campaign, ”he emphasised.

The Chairman NEITI Board, Mr Olusegun Adekunle noted that the board was delighted over the value addition that the opening extractives will bring to bear in deepening beneficial ownership disclosures in Nigeria’s extractive sector.

‘Nigeria Facing Worst Acute Food Shortage in History’ The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has stated that Nigeria is facing its biggest worst acute food shortages during the peak of harvesting period and largest ever agriculture investments in its history.

Indeed, statistics from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), indicated that agric intervention funding through the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) has already gulped N1.3 trillion distributed to local farmers, merchant farmers and processors across the country’s

agriculture value chain.

The National President of AFAN, Mr. Kabir Ibrahim, affirmed that there is truly acute food shortages and hoarding of foodstuff in the country currently.

However, the Apex Bank’s survey projection showed that the N1.3 trillion agro spending ought to have drastically crashed down the prices of foodstuffs in the country but on the contrarily, it is soaring on daily basis following worsening insecurity, unscrupulous middlemen activities, illegal mop

up by aggregators or merchant processors from local farmers.

The AFAN national president disclosed that the faulty agro policies of the federal government should be blamed for the skyrocketing prices of food in the country.

Ibrahim also noted that the worsening security risks that constrained many local farmers to stay away from farming also contributed to the inflated food prices the country is experiencing nowadays.

He also blamed the unscru-

pulous commercial or merchant farmers who got the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) intervention funds without paying back. Rather they decided to mop up local farmers’ agric produce and also deliberately refusing to release those agricultural produce into the Nigerian markets in a bid to cushion the ongoing soaring food prices nationwide.

He said: “You see, a typical Nigerian always edges for higher price in commodity sales. As you

know, if you are a producer of items, you can keep it until the value increases. But as a Muslim businessman, you are not allowed to buy things cheaper, keep them, because it’s costly in the market. This is against the will of God. So what is happening in Nigeria’s agriculture is that we have a lot of movements of these items like grains and animals feeds mills produced in the North by smallholder farmers (SHF) and kept in warehouses and then sold to first; the poultry farmers who need them a lot.”

ODU’A INVESTMENT FLOATS OIL FIRM, BEGINS FARM-OUT TALKS WITH CHEVRON ON 40M BARRELS OILFIELD Reports, it has about 40 million barrels of oil in that field and there is an offside that we haven’t investigated yet.

“So, the potential for that field is for the long time. I think we have a 15-year lease agreement with NNPC, and to

run further than that is very possible. I think it’s a very good field to invest in if you have an eye to invest in oil search,” he added.

Highlighting the essence of setting up BITA, Aina said the firm was a special purpose

vehicle integrated through a partnership initiated by Pioneer Global Energy Resources and Odu’a Investment Company Limited.

He said the company incorporated in 2021 was established following the

2021 marginal oilfield bid round conducted by the federal government through the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

He stated that BITA was expected to help OICL create Southwest presence in the oil

and gas sector, which is one of its focal business sectors.

He added that the company was poised to work closely with oil giants such as Shell, Chevron, and others to achieve its target oil and gas production volumes.

AFTER MONTHS OF IMPROVEMENT, NIGERIA’S OIL RIG COUNT DECLINES IN OCTOBER OPEC allocation, the country’s producing oil rigs fell from 16 to eight. Two months later, in July, it fell further to six; it was eight in August, 10 in September, seven in October of 2021, eight in November and seven in December.

Furthermore, in January the shutdown of the rigs continued to take its toll on the country’s production levels, as only six rigs produced that month. In February, it was seven, in March, it was six, while in April 2021, total rig count was five.

A further analysis of the data showed that while in 2018, the average rig count was 13, it was 16 in 2019 but fell to 11 in 2020,

a reduction by five oil rigs.

Put side by side a country like Algeria, the north African nation has a high of 50 and low of 21, while the United Arab Emirates (UAE), for instance has a high of 62 and a low of 40.

In the oil industry, the rig count is a major index of measuring activities in the upstream sector, with a breakdown showing that Nigeria utilised six, seven, and six rigs in January, February, and March 2021, respectively, against 21, 23, and 21 used in the corresponding period of 2020, when production was at about 2 million bpd.

Despite asking for a higher baseline, Nigeria has failed to

meet the existing quota assigned to it by OPEC in the last couple of months, losing 90,000 barrels per day in the month of August alone, which when cumulated for the entire month amounted to roughly 2.8 million barrels, making the month’s production of 1.43 million bpd one of the lowest in five years. It has since then fallen to 1.399 million bpd in September and 1.354 million bpd in October.

While Saudi Arabia and Iraq were the main drivers of OPEC’s production for August, with an additional production of 290,000 bpd and 200,000 bpd respectively, Nigeria, which has a capacity to produce 2 million bpd, other

things being equal, slumped from its July figure of 1.520 million bpd, according to the OPEC document.

Production growth in Nigeria, Africa’s highest oil producer, going by recent data, has proved a major challenge due to infrastructure challenges and technical difficulties, leading to shut-ins.

In addition to decreasing rig counts and highly degraded facilities due to old age and lack of investments, there have also been instances of community workers’ protests, which incessantly disrupt operations, leading to severe losses.

The previous month, a document obtained by THISDAY

showed that the NNPC and its partners lost 6.035 million barrels of crude oil to emergency shutdowns.

In its August presentation to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), which held between the 18th and 19th of August, the corporation recorded that there were 32 of such incidents throughout its facilities in the country.

In the last few months, Nigeria has been unable to meet the quota allocated to it by OPEC, due to weakening infrastructure and difficulty in restarting oil facilities that were shut down due to the cuts in production assigned to the country.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021

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BUSINESSWORLD

OIL AND GAS

Panacea for Waning Oil, Gas Investment The decline in investments in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, partly caused by lack of access to finance for critical exploration and production projects, has been a source of worry to the players and the government. This situation is now being worsened by the global energy transition that is seriously threatening fossil fuels. Amid these challenges, stakeholders in the industry are advocating for the creation of a national energy bank as solution, writes Peter Uzoho

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igeria has not recorded many major oil and gas development projects for many years, owing to several factors, including funding challenges, lack of clarity in the investment climate, anti-market policies, among others.

With the advent of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which is now in the implementation process, it is believed that the issue of uncertainty in the investment environment and some regulatory and administrative encumbrances are receiving attentions.

But one major challenge facing the industry is how to increase access to finance for exploration and production activities so that the country can ultimately optimise its oil and gas resources.

Although, there exist financial institutions in Nigeria that ought to make funds available to oil and gas producing firms for the development of critical projects, however, industry stakeholders say those banks are not disposed to providing the huge funds needed to carry out high profile, capital-intensive projects, aimed at optimising the nation’s yet untapped hydrocarbon resources.

They contend that even when such funds may be made available by the local banks, such loans come with short repayment period and with high interest rates. This, they believe, do not augur well for the sector and their business plans, as oil field development projects are mostly long term projects.

NEED for ENERGY BANK

To address the funding challenge stated above, some stakeholders in the industry have called for the federal government to consider establishing a national energy bank, which will be in the mold of Bank of Industry, Bank of Agriculture or the Export-Import bank.

This energy bank, they suggest, should solely be dedicated to providing funding to the investors to enable them accelerate investments into various value chains of the oil sector -from upstream, midstream and downstream, particularly in the upstream.

Most field development projects, whether for oil or for gas, take long time, and so require long term loan facility. This has forced operators to look outside the country for funds as an alternative.

But even the opportunity to access funds outside the country is now being limited by the energy transition campaign. Foreign lenders, mostly from the developed countries, are now joining the energy transition campaign, making it difficult for them to lend for oil and gas development projects.

They are now shifting their attention and financial commitment to renewable energy and business undertakings that support the global push to achieve net-zero carbon emission by 2050.

This is evidenced by the outcome of the just ended Climate Change Convention (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, where world leaders and climate change agents had converged for 14 days.

For instance, governments and private institutions in Europe, United States, and other developed nations, who are fronting the energy transition campaign, have agreed to commit series of funds, including $100 billion, to support climate change projects in developing countries.

The development is indeed, not quite good for Nigeria and the oil and gas industry, as such apparent

anti-fossil fuels commitments have the potential to severely impact the industry, further exacerbating the bad state of the Nigerian economy.

Making a case for alternative funding mechanisms for the nation’s oil and gas industry, the Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG), Mr. Abdulrazaq Isa, said government should create an energy bank dedicated solely to the industry with capacity to fund major oil and gas projects at lower and globally competitive interest rates.

He said exploring alternative funding mechanisms to address cash call challenges in the industry, such as the Financial and Technical Service Agreements (FTSA) was needed.

Isa added that access to funding was critical to the survival and optimal performance of assets in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

“As funding opportunities become limited due to global industry concerns regarding the climate, it is imperative to explore creative ways of funding operations /projects industry funding.

“We can explore alternative funding mechanisms to address cash call challenges (example, Financial and Technical Service Agreements –FTSA); creation of an Energy Bank (energy bank dedicated solely to the industry with capacity to fund major oil & gas projects at lower/ globally competitive interest rates),” Isa said.

He stressed that the formulation of targeted policies to create an avenue for easier access to funding industry-wide, as in the energy bank establishment and alternative funding mechanisms for the industry was highly imperative.

The President of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), Mrs Patricia Ochogbu, concurred that the normal traditional banks in the country may not be ideal for exploration activities, adding that “It is even difficult to get a 10-year mortgage in the local banks.”

According to her, field development, from exploration through development to production, takes some time, maintaining that oil and gas investments are capital intensive.

She said the exposure to these investments has proven to be a burden to the commercial banks in Nigeria, pointing out that the investments in prospecting for oil is capital intensive with high risk.

Having acknowledged the dwindling investment in exploration, Ochogbu noted that NAPE had at different times spoken on the need for something like an energy bank to be floated by the government.

She contended that the PIA had partly addressed the financial constraints in exploration through the 30 per cent exploration fund, but argued that the fund was not going to be available to the private explorers, hence the need to take care of private operators through the energy bank.

She said: “So, to take care of the private explorer, I would encourage the government to come up with an energy bank similar to what we have as bank of industry, similar to the export-import bank.

“And we can collaborate regionally, work with

other African nations and even the European Union and World Bank, because you need funds that are at the long term and at good rates. Not the one they keep changing every time there is a change in the rate of exchange. So, the energy bank is the way to go.”

NEED FOR COLLABORATION

Responding to the funding challenge and the call by the operators for alternative funding mechanisms, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) recently called for collaboration among the industry players for that to be achieved.

The Chief Executive Officer of NUPRC, Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, during his separate meetings with the IPPG penultimate week, charged them to come up with plans for alternative ways of getting funds to accelerate hydrocarbon exploration and production in the country.

Admitting that he understood the challenges faced by the indigenous operators, Komolafe noted that the industry generally, was facing a critical challenge including access to finance.

He said the world was now in energy transition, adding that the outcome of the ongoing discussions at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, would impact financing in oil and gas industry negatively, hence the need for the commission and the indigenous operators to think outside the box on funding.

He said despite the energy transition threats, Nigeria would not abandon its God-given hydrocarbon resources, urging the IPPG to work with the commission to pursue international financing groups that would commit to funding critical upstream projects in the industry.

Komolafe said: “We will not abandon hydrocarbon, our God-given resources, because of energy transition. We really need to think out of the box. And as you depart, I want us to come back to the table, let us see how we can actually get, maybe, international financing group to commit to financing critical projects in our upstream.

“So, I want us to look at this, because I understand that financing is a critical issue posed by the energy transition. But I know that if we sit down and think together, we will overcome.”

He said the PIA had not only made the commission a conventional technical regulator, but now a commercial regulator and business enabler.

The NUPRC chief executive said the commission would operate with a different regulatory culture as prescribed by the PIA, reiterating that the law has made the commission both a technical and commercial regulator.

In that wise, Komolafe said the commission would equally be concerned about how it facilitates financing for members of IPPG. The NURPC boss said ideas coming out of such collaboration could lead to getting finance that would empower the indigenous firms to be able to leverage on the divestment of the international oil companies (IOCs) and enhance their capacity in the onshore and

shallow water operations.

He added: “So, we are going to do this together.

We are not going to do it in isolation of your members. So, Mr. Chairman (Isa), I’m placing this before you for your members to come up with ideas that can equally be facilitated by the regulator.

“If you could put in place an initiative, being triggered and spearheaded by the regulator in terms of attracting financing for your members, that will empower your members to be able to leverage on the divestment by the International Oil Companies (IOCs) for them to enhance their capacity in the onshore and shallow water aspect of the investment in the upstream.

“So, all these I urge your members to look at as a way that we can optimise the production in the upstream, and thereby enhancing the federation’s revenue.”

BADLY NEEDED FUNDING

Nigeria wants to grow its oil and gas reserves and ramp up production in order to remain relevant and influential at the global oil and gas market as a strong member of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Due partly to this funding challenge, Nigeria has not been doing well in the area of oil and gas reserve growth and daily production for years. So pathetic is the fact that the country has just been displaced from its position as Africa’s largest oil producer, by Libya.

Nigeria has 37 billion oil reserve, 206 trillion cubic feet (tcf) proven gas reserve, and over 600tcf unproven gas reserve. The country’s daily oil production has maintained a plummeting run and currently stands at 1.354 million barrel per day, as at October 2021, even at a time the oil price is on a bullish trajectory, trading above $80 per barrel.

Nigeria’s oil output fell to about 1.354 million barrels per day in October 2021, from about 1.399 million barrels in September while Libya’s oil production rose markedly.

Nigeria aspires to raise its oil reserve to 40 billion barrels, increase daily oil production to 4 million barrels, increase gas reserve, and raise gas production to 10 billion cubit feet (bcf) from 8bcf.

The government wants to ensure there is more discovery to raise the nation’s hydrocarbon resources, particularly gas, the declaration of 2021 to 2030 as the decade of gas.

Government hopes to industrialise the country by using gas as an enabler and wants to accelerate investments in the gas sector.

Also being pursued by the government is to ramp up the nation’s 40 million tonnes per annum Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) supply to 40 million tonnes per annum through the Nigeria LNG Train 7 and Brass LNG. According to industry experts, $150 billion is required to achieve the nation’s 10bcf per day gas production target, translating to 5 gigawatts power generation.

All these aspirations are realisable only when funding is available. Therefore, national energy bank, as being canvassed by industry stakeholders, is badly needed more than anytime ever, and the need for stakeholders to work together on exploring alternative financing mechanisms is necessary.

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

MANUFACTURING

Excise Tax: One Tax Too Many for Manufacturers Stakeholders in the Nigerian food, beverage and tobacco sub-sector of the Nigerian manufacturing sector have appealed to the government to stay its hand on the planned reintroduction of excise on non-alcoholic beverages in order to avert serious negative unintended consequences on the economy, writes Dike Onwuamaeze

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he latest push for the re-introduction of excise tax on non-alcoholic beverages is sending the jitters down the spine of stakeholders in the food and beverage segment of the Nigerian manufacturing sectors.

It all began sometime in August 2021 when the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, Mr. James Faleke, asked the Controller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Colonel Hamidi Ali (rtd), why the NCS does not charge excise duty on non-alcoholic drinks.

Faleke asked the question during at an interactive session on the 2022-2024 MediumTerm Expenditure Framework (MTEF) that was organised by the House of Representatives’ committee on finance.

Ali, who seemed to have been waiting for this opportunity, seized every minute it offered to push for the re-introduction of the excise tax on non-alcoholic beverages, which was suspended in 2009 to soften the harsh effects of the global financial crisis.

He said: “On several cases, I have made submissions, Mr. Chairman is aware that I have been on this battle that we should re-excise the companies that were de-excised in 2009.

“What we have been fighting for is that if alcohol beverages and tobacco are injurious to our health that is why the government decided to tax them, the carbonated drinks are equally injurious to our health and they should be taxed. For us, we have been battling for it, and I hope that one day, we will start collecting.”

Ali brief comment won the support of the committee members who promised to add the excise tax in the Finance Act of 2021.

The committee chairman said that the lawmakers may consider amending the Finance Act so that excise duty would be charged on both carbonated and non-carbonated drinks.

THISDAY’s efforts to get the reactions of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and other stakeholders in the food and beverage industry did not yield much information. The executive Secretary of the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers, Mr. Adewale Jones, told THISDAY that the matter is not yet clear to him; therefore, he could not comment on it for now.

Similarly, the Director of Corporate Affairs of the Nigeria Breweries Plc, Mrs. Sade Morgan, also declined to comment while the Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Director of Nigerian Bottling Company Limited, Mr. Ekuma Eze, told THISDAY that it is too early to speak to the press on the matter. Eze said that he is hoping that there would be a dialogue between the stakeholders in the beverage sector and the federal government to consider the pros and cons of the excise tax and the way forward.

However, the Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader at PwC, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, has warned that care must be taken to avoid imposing excessive burden on the beverage

industry, which is a major contributor to the manufacturing sector with respect to the proposed reintroduction of excise tax.

Oyedele also challenged the proponents of the claim that the consumption of soft drinks is harmful to health to back it up with established evidence on whether Nigeria indeed has a sugar problem compared to other countries with such excise taxes given country’s relatively low sugar consumption.

He noted that the government’s argument that justified the tax on health ground is untenable because it did not provide free healthcare for its citizens.

“In effect, this is tantamount to paying taxes for healthcare and yet you have to foot your medical expenses in the event of a health challenge. Therefore any tax on soft drink is really for revenue generation, which raises questions as to whether the tax is desirable from a broader economic perspective and if so whether the timing is right,” Oyedele said.

However, an Economist and the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr. Muda Yusuf, has described the proposal as ill-timed, insensitive and most inappropriate given the prevailing harsh economic and business conditions in Nigeria today.

Yusuf stated that the norm globally at this time is to provide incentives for industries to aid their recovery from the shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic and escalating costs. Therefore, Nigeria could not afford to be doing the exact opposite as manufacturers, across all product segments need a respite, especially in the light of the unprecedented escalation of production and operating costs.

Yusuf, who was the immediate past director general of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), claimed that the factors stated above were affecting sales, turnover, profitability, shareholder value and the sustainability of investments.

He also said that the proposal is a negation of the economic recovery and job creation aspirations of the federal government as many upcoming small businesses in the beverage sector would be hard hit by it.

He said: “The millions of micro enterprises in the soft drinks’ distribution chain will be adversely impacted by the imposition of the excise tax. This is detrimental to the job creation and poverty reduction commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Nigerian manufacturing companies, and indeed most investors, are going through tremendous stress at the moment. They are currently grappling with serious macro-economic challenges and structural constraints impacting on

capacity utilisation, productivity and competitiveness.”

Yusuf contended that the manufacturing sector is currently constrained by multiple challenges and pontificated that the reintroduction of the excise duty should be put on hold.

He argued that Nigerian manufacturers are grappling with, according to him, include the dislocations inflicted by the pandemic and the recession that followed it; they are also contending with a serious crisis resulting from liquidity challenges in the foreign exchange market, which is impacting adversely on the cost of production; in addition, manufacturers are suffering from intense pressure on cost of production arising from numerous structural bottlenecks that are creating sustainability challenges for investors in the sector, especially those in the SME segment.

He also argued that manufacturers have experienced significant spikes in the cost of raw materials, cost of fund, high import duty, elevated energy cost, prohibitive cost of transportation and high cost of logistics. He, therefore, concluded that significant “proportion of these costs cannot be passed on to the consumers because of high consumer resistance.”

He said that “manufacturing contribution to GDP is still less than 10 percent and giving the strategic importance of manufacturing to the economy, what the sector needs at this time is more stimulus to ensure better contribution to the GDP. “The economy is currently characterised by weak purchasing power, which is taking a huge toll on sales and turnover of many manufacturers, leading to high inventory of manufactured goods.

“In the light of the above challenges, the proposition to re-introduce excise duties on a segment of the food and beverage industry should be put on hold. The excise duty proposition is not consistent with the desire of Mr. President to create jobs and to lift hundred million people out of poverty in ten years. If anything, it is a negation of the President’s aspiration on job creation and alleviation of poverty.

We implore the National Assembly and the Federal Ministry of Finance to put on hold any move to impose excise duty on any segment of the Nigerian manufacturing sector.”

“It is worthy of note that manufacturers (including soft drinks producers) are already paying numerous taxes and levies which put a lot of pressure on them. Some of the taxes and levies that are already being paid include: corporate income tax of 30 per cent, education levies of 2 per cent, VAT 7.5 per cent, withholding tax, land rent, environmental tax and numerous unofficial taxes. There are also multitude

of fees and levies imposed by many other government agencies at the federal, state, and local government levels. The appeal is that the Nigeria Customs Service and the National Assembly should have a rethink on this matter.”

THISDAY’s investigation revealed that a study that was commissioned by concerned stakeholders in the Nigerian manufacturing sector on the implications of the re-introduction of the excise on non-alcoholic beverages said that both the government and the economy would lose more than they would gain.

The study stated categorically that the government will lose more revenue if the excise is introduced. It pointed out that the government could lose up to N197 billion in VAT and Company Income Tax (CIT) revenues occasioned by drop in industry performance in its bid to recieve projected revenue of N81 billion with the reintroduction of the excise tax. “This excise gain does not compensate for potential revenue losses from CIT, VAT and TET. Now is not the right time to introduce the proposed excise,” the stydy said.

It also projected that the food and beverage sector would lose up to N1.9 trillion in sales revenue between 2022 -2025 indicating a 39.5 per cent loss due to imposition of the new taxes with concomitant impact on jobs and supply chain businesses.

Moreover, re-introducing excise would be counter-productive to the federal government’s Sugar Master Plan as the “sugar industry would be hard hit when volumes plummet as a result of excise.”

The study warned that the plan to reintroduce excise on non-alcoholic beverages would likely cause a 0.43 per cent contraction in the country’s GDP and about 40 per cent drop in total industry revenues in the next five years.

It further warned that excise tax would lead to high production costs, which would adversely affect production levels and resulted in dwindling profits. “Introducing the excise will easily reduce production capacity causing manufacturers to struggle to meet investor commitments as well as cause investor to take investments to other countries. Introducing excise taxes will also have adverse impact on employment, households’ income and consumers’ purchasing power.

“As seen from previous impact analysis, excise affects production outputs, revenues and profits. This causes companies to pursue cost cutting measures to reduce the effect of diminishing revenue and profits by reducing employee salaries or retrenchment.”

It recommended the suspension of the planned re-introduction of excise on nonalcoholic beverages in 2022 and so that it would be reviewed in 2023 while working with the industry to carry out an in-depth impact assessment that would fashion out the best approach that drives value for all stakeholders.

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

‘Nigeria Can be Self-sufficient in Rice Production’ The National President, National Rice Producers, Processors, Millers and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NARPPMMAN), Mr. Mustapha Amadu, in this interview shared his thoughts on the challenges, opportunities in rice production and his plans to use the association to transform the nation’s rice value chain to create employment for graduates, market women and widows. Gilbert Ekugbe brings the excerpts: The Government has been focusing on rice production and as a player in the industry, does Nigeria have the capacity to produce rice? igeria has the capacity to produce rice and not only to feed Nigerians but to also export. We have a lot of places where we can cultivate rice in Nigeria and if government is serious in supporting the farmers and all the complete rice value chain so that we can improve in the production of rice in Nigeria and as we are now today, if our farmers can be assisted to go into their farms both dry and wet seasons, I believe within a year, we will be able to feed ourselves as well as export to other countries.

influx of smuggled rice into the country?

We are in support of that because this is why we are having shortages of food in our market, because most of the marketers are going there to purchase the produce and take them out, but in our association we are sensitising our members on the need to utilise what we have in Nigeria, because we have the farmers, and if we produce, we have the processors, we have the millers, we have the marketers and when they produce we have the marketers that will buy the produce from the farmers and when they buy we have the millers who will mill the rice to standards, so there is no need for us to take our rice somewhere because we have all the equipment that will mill the rice to standards in Nigeria because some of our marketers are in that activity to smuggle our rice outside and that is why we are having issues. Some of these marketers give money to small holder farmers in the village during planting season and after harvesting, they come back to collect a certain batch of the money they have given to the farmers and this is causing a lot of problems and these farmers have no money to go to his farm and if anybody comes to give him money he would gladly collect it and that is why we are calling on the federal government to improve on the ABP and also the associations too as it would help us to address the issue of smuggling in the country.

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What areas do local rice farmers need assistance from the federal government?

Actually the federal government is trying through the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) and we want them to improve so that the programme can be sustained. In the rice value chain, we have the farmers, the producers, miller processors and the marketers. This is the complete rice value chain where we can produce very clean rice to a very good standard where we can eat in Nigeria and also export to other neighbouring countries and the world at large. If we are properly assisted by the government, I think our millers, processors and the other stakeholders in the rice industry will improve too so that we can produce standard rice for Nigerians.

Given the current level of rice production in the country, can Nigeria produce enough rice to meet the growing population estimated to hit 264 million people by 2030?

Yes, if we can be properly assisted, funded and it would require time and if we are given the opportunity to go into rice farming at the right time, I am telling you that with proper supervision and management, we can feed this nation. We have the processors and we have the farmers and they are on ground and if we work with the real farmers we can get what we want. Let us go back to the rural areas like places like Taraba, Adamawa, Kebbi, Jigawa, Kano and Niger States. These few states that have mentioned to you can feed this nation and even export the rice to other countries because we have the places on ground and we have the determined farmers that are ready to work. The only thing we want now is for the federal government to encourage them and show them how to farm, give them the necessary support and I am assuring you that we can be the best in rice production.

Do you think the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) ABP is effective?

It is working and it is effective. It has helped the farmers and it has helped the country because this scheme has helped in the production of rice as we are now trying to feed ourselves and we also want to commend CBN because the Governor has plans for our farmers and we are really appreciating him and will also like to encourage our farmers to do more because with their help Nigeria will be able to feed itself whole also come out of poverty.

What are some of the challenges hindering your members and rice production in the country?

We need support both for the processors, farmers, millers and marketers. We need support of the federal government so that we can improve on what we have on ground.

Some of our members have small drilling machines, modular machines, the processors, the market women in the markets all need

Amadu support so that we can move from where we are and we are also ready to bring Nigeria out of poverty because we have a lot of programmes for youths, widows and women to encourage them to go into agriculture, marketing, processing so that we can all join hands together to boost the country’s value chain Nigeria still prefers foreign rice despite the fact that local rice is still more nutritional. What is your advice to consumers who still prefer foreign rice to local rice?

This is the problem we have in Nigeria.

Beside most of our people believes that foreign rice is better than local rice, but I am assuring you that with this development we have on ground and the present administration, most of our people are now consuming local rice. I am also telling you that local rice is far better than foreign rice because the local rice we are seeing in the market is your local man here that is cultivating that rice, you know his farm, you know where he is cultivating the rice and you know the time he is cultivating the rice and the time he brings the rice to the market. So you are sure that this rice is pure and you are consuming natural rice, not artificial. Nigerian rice is better than foreign rice, but our people have penchant for foreign things and I do not know why, but with this development and the encouragement we are getting from the federal government, most of our people are now consuming local rice.

What are some of the achievements you have recorded as the president of the association?

We are a newly formed association and the association is a brainchild of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and

Investment and we were just elected about two months ago. We have our national headquarters in Utako, Abuja and under my leadership, we have the structures of all the 36 states and in all the 774 local governments across the federation and we also have about 150 farmers registered with us, we have millers registered, we have processors registered and marketers registered with us and for now, we want to see how we can partner with many agencies so that we can help our members and we are also sensitising our members on the activities of the association so as to bring the complete rice value chain to standards for Nigeria.

What makes your association different from other associations?

Some people think association is just to come and enjoy participation. This association was created by the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment and it is a mega association. We have RIFAN, Mega rice farmers, RIMAN, rice growers.

We have about 14 different associations amalgamated into one umbrella under the control of NAPMAN. We have all merged together under the ministry and that is why the name is National Rice Producers, Processors, Millers and Marketers Association of Nigeria. We have all these bodies in the association because we want to see how we can bring a change, we want to see how we can bring that change and we want to see how we can bring the complete Nigeria rice value chain to standard so that is why we have all come together under the federal ministry and we are all represented in each state and local government from down to up is being represented by this association.

Do you support the need to check the

Going forward, what are some of the plans you have for the association?

We have different rice association in the complete rice value chain, and for this association, we want to reduce the rate of unemployment amongst our youths. We want to assist the widows and the market women and we also have a programme that will encourage graduates that will come and join us so that we will go back to agriculture.

We also want to look for farms from our various state governments and in each state we need not less than 300,000 to 5,00,000 hectares where we will gather our graduates, train them, give them inputs and afford land to farm in that land so that we can reduce that redundancy and each state. We want to have at least 300 to 500 graduates where we can train them on agriculture, so also, we want to encourage our women leaders and marketers most especially those in the rice value chain. We will encourage them, train them on milling activities and assist them where necessary so that we will also improve the quality of locally produced rice and the same thing with our major millers as we are working seriously to see how we can improve their milling activities and standards to produce quality rice for Nigerians and for export. We have a lot of programmes and we are just starting and we are praying that our members will give us the full support, from the executive to the local so that we can achieve the desired end How has insecurity affected the production of rice in the country?

It has affected farmers seriously most especially in Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto, Adamawa and Taraba. I am telling you that most of our farmers are not going to the farm because of issues of kidnapping and banditry, but despite the insecurity, we are still trying and our members are still trying and I believe in Nigeria that if we address this insecurity, we will be surprised with what we will be surprised about what will come out from Nigeria with regards to rice because insecurity has hampered farmers’ productivity and it has taken us back seriously and we are appealing to the federal government, state government and security agencies to please add more efforts on what they are doing so that it would curtail the high level of insecurity in the country.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021

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BUSINESSWORLD

PERSPECTIVE

Affordable Path to Green Certification for Nigerian Developers Terhemen-Mark Chieshe

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s a major emitter of greenhouse gases, the construction industry has a huge role to play in the global effort to combat climate change. This has meant stakeholder-wide coordination to rethink building design, construction, and operations to optimize energy and water efficiencies and reduce the industry’s negative impact on the environment.

The good news is that the construction industry has made significant progress over the past three decades in charting an alternate and sustainable path.

Rapid advances in green building technologies, advanced resource efficiency methods and a mix of transparent and quantitative certification programs present a viable and measurable path toward a zero-carbon construction industry.

On the technology front, the use of improved energy efficient measures is enabling property developers to deliver future-ready buildings with energy and water efficiencies of up to 40 per cent and near zero negative impact on the natural environment. Furthermore, the additional cost of building green is on a steady decline to comparable standards. Efficiency measures include solar thermal systems, heat pumps, low-flow water fittings, solar PV systems, and heat pump for hot water, amongst others.

These technology efficiencies and the resulting cost reductions have led to a spike in global demand for sustainable buildings and a proliferation of green building certification programs. The certification programs use clearly defined metrics to prove a buildings compliance with specified energy efficiency standards – reduction in energy and water usage, and embodied energy while projecting the impact on the natural environment. Certification helps property owners achieve brand differentiation; enhance marketability and their ability to raise funding from institutional investors that are increasingly making sustainability a key criterion.

One of the leading international green certification systems is EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies), an innovation of the IFC, a member of the World Bank Group. The free EDGE App focuses on empowering developers of residential and commercial buildings to deliver resource-efficient buildings in a fast, easy, and affordable way. EDGE is a key part of IFC’s efforts to lead a sustainable future by encouraging construction developers worldwide to build a safer climate and currently in use in over 140 countries.

EDGE – LEADING A GREEN TRANSFORMATION

In Nigeria, EDGE is a green certification system that is quickly gaining grounds and has certified projects in Lagos, Abuja, Maiduguri and Benin City. Over the past four years EDGE has supported

Lekki Pearl Estate, an EDGE certified green building in Lekki Lagos several forward-looking pioneers of green buildings to lead a profitable transformation of the country’s real estate sector. Some of the early adopters include Alphamead Development Company, Echostone, Alliance Capital, Greenage, Modern Shelter, MISA, American University, Karmod Nigeria, Sachela Limited and Student Accommod8. These EDGE Green Pioneers are delivering greener and energy efficient buildings in different niches that range from residential accommodation, student housing, high performance office buildings, and mass housing and witnessing impressive results.

From helping them achieve corporate social responsibility as climate conscious entities to utility cost savings to occupants, these early green pioneers are at the forefront of the transformation that is set to take hold on the Nigerian real estate scene. Their experiences should encourage more developers to build green.

Like the early adopters, prospective Nigerian property developers planning to make a smooth, informed and value-based transition to green buildings have a reliable and competent partner in EDGE. They can leverage the global industry depth, strengths, and benefits of EDGE certification to chart a sustainable path for their business.

HOW EDGE WORKS

EDGE has three key components: First is a web-based software application that is available for free at edgebuildings.com. The EDGE platform allows design teams to quickly determine the optimum combination of building design strategies for the best return on investment. Within minutes, a building designer can determine the optimum combination of design strategies for the best return on investment.

Based on a building’s parameters, the EDGE software discovers energy- and money-saving design opportunities through region-specific and use-based analysis. As a free design tool, EDGE presents incremental costs, savings, and payback periods for green building measures (e.g., low flow taps and solar connectors), helping developers and buildings make the business case for green building.

The second component is a global standard.

EDGE has three global levels of certification.

The first requires that a building achieve a minimum projected reduction of 20 per cent in energy and water use, and embodied energy in materials as benchmarked against a standard building. The second level is the EDGE Advanced certification that requires 40 per cent or more on-site energy savings. The third is the Zero Carbon certification. 100 per

cent renewables on-site or off-site or purchased carbon offsets to top off at 100 per cent.

The third aspect is the EDGE Certification system.

EDGE uses reputable independent third parties of EDGE certification to validate the green credentials of a building’s sustainable achievements at a modest cost for financial and community stakeholders. In Nigeria, EDGE uses Sintali-SGS, https://www.sintali. com/ as an exclusive provider of its certification services. They work with EDGE clients to evaluate the green building credentials of projects, conduct necessary tests, and provide the certification.

EDGE green building certification has two stages: design and construction. Each stage mirrors the other, except that a site audit is required at the construction stage. Upon completion of the design stage, a preliminary EDGE certificate is awarded.

Upon completion of the construction stage, a final EDGE certificate is awarded. The cost of certification covers both stages. If a project is already built, only the construction stage of certification is required.

There are many reasons why Nigerian developers should build green using EDGE. First, securing EDGE certification for their building projects at the design stage would help them to position their companies at the forefront of change and attract better financing. This includes access to new sources of financing, such as green bonds, green mortgages, and better loan rates from institutional lenders and financial institutions committed to a sustainable future.

Second, EDGE certification would empower property developers in Nigeria, especially in cities such as Lagos, Abuja and Portharcourt, with the measurable clarity to build and deliver a new breed of resource efficient and high-performance buildings that meet the changing taste and preference of high-profile clients that value sustainability and a commitment to climate change. By labeling their properties as green and EDGE-Certified, it would help them differentiate themselves in the competitive market, lead to higher sales and significant increase their profitability.

Third, they would be investing in real buildings that are future ready and not threatened by the inevitable transition to a zero-carbon real estate future.

What is clear is that the global building and construction sector, which Nigeria is a key part of, is undergoing a historic sustainability transition.

Property developers that would dominate the emerging sector, tap the immense opportunities, and reap financial gains are those that are quick to join the green building movement. It is time for more players in Nigeria’s construction industry to ditch traditional building methods and embrace sustainable ones. It is good for the climate and good for their bottom lines. t $IJFTIF JT B IPVTJOH QPMJDZ BOE HSFFO CVJMEJOHT BOBMZTU CBTFE JO "CVKB NDIJFTIF! HNBJM DPN

Exporter Seeks Intervention Funds for Export Market Gilbert Ekugbe A Renowned Agro-allied Exporter and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sourcing and Produce, Mr. Lanre Awojoodu, has called on the federal government create access to loans for exporters in their quest to be part of the regulated global commodity platform.

Awojoodu stated that export companies need cheaper capital to be able to compete on prices globally.

He said that now is the crucial time for government to make funds available for exporters of agricultural produce and suggested that an NXP pre-financing scheme would be the best option as it

would enable government to identify exporters who have a track record of NXP’s to get available affordable loans for their export businesses.

He noted that a framework along this line would be positive for the country’s non-oil export sector as it would make government to see more exporters using importer and exporter

foreign exchange (FX) window.

Awojoodu explained: “I would suggest an NXP prefinancing scheme, this will really help the government and exporters. Government makes available affordable loans for exporters who have a track record of NXP’s. Let us say a situation where you can get a loan of 50-70 per

cent of your NXP value of the previous year in a loan.

If you default, then you are blacklisted. Capital needs to be cheaper to be able to compete on prices globally.

A framework along this line will be positive. The government will see more exporters using importer and exporter FX window.”

Speaking on some of the challenges confronting the export market, he explained that getting credible customers, funding, poor road infrastructure and cost of freight remained the biggest drawbacks affecting the business noting that over the last 10 years, the business has gone through many phases.

Husk Power Systems Announces NBCC Inaugurates New President, Invites Seven Targets at COP26 Rewane to Present 2022 Economic Outlook Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Husk Power Systems, a solarcentred company has announced seven ambitious targets to scale the rural energy economy and mini-grids in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia by 2030.

At the SDG7 pavilion at the just-concluded COP26, Husk Power Systems, which prides itself as the rural clean energy services leader in Africa and Asia, put forward an agenda to scale the rural energy market in the next nine years.

Husk also called on governments, financiers and other companies to increase their level of ambition to achieve the full potential of mini-grids and other rural clean energy services.

Chief Marketing Officer of the firm, William Brent, listed the

targets as building at least 5,000 renewable energy mini-grids to power rural communities, businesses and households in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, including India and Nigeria.

In addition, he stated that the company planned to connect at least 1 million customers, including micro- small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and benefitting at least 11 million served by Husk Power’s mini-grids and other energy services.

Furthermore, Brent noted that Husk intended to provide power to at least half a million (500,000) MSMEs, with specific focus on productive use applications including agricultural activities such as irrigation, agro-processing and cold chain and installing at least 500MW of rural commercial

& industrial (C&I) through Husk Power’s turnkey rooftop installation business “We plan selling at least 5 million energy efficient appliances for both household use and for productive uses, including agricultural activities, while also providing financing to increase accessibility of such appliances and displacing 7Mt of CO2, thereby reducing diesel consumption by 687 million gallons.

“As rural electrification in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia rises to the forefront of international development and climate equity, it is critical that the private sector meet the opportunity by having ready a robust pipeline of bankable, shovel-ready projects, and the ability to execute at scale,” said Husk Power CEO and co-founder Manoj Sinha.

Dike Onwuamaeze The Nigeria British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) has announced that the Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Derivatives Limited, Mr. Bismarck J. Rewane, would address its members on Nigeria’s economic outlook in 2022.

This was disclosed by the Chairman of the Presidential Inauguration Dinner Committee, Mr. Akin Osuntoki, when he briefed the press on the inauguration dinner for the 17th President and Chairman of Council of the NBCC, Ms. Bisi Adeyemi, which would hold on December 3, 2021, at the Eko Hotel and Suites.

Osuntoki said that this year’s Annual Presidential Dinner, which is the premier event of the NBCC, would be used to celebrate excellence in the Nigerian business sector and to promote Anglo-Nigerian business relationships.

He said: “This year, the dinner is set to be even more symbolic with the inauguration of the chamber’s 17th and second female president, Ms. Bisi Adeyemi and the launch of the NBCC Programming Academy and Incubator for young women.”

Speaking on the inauguration dinner, the DirectorGeneral of the NBCC, Mrs. Ayomide Olajide, said that the presidential dinner “is not

only to celebrate and honour the president but also to hold a grand and befitting event to showcase the chamber and its activities.”

Olajide said that this year’s dinner promised to be riveting experiences as the Chairman of Citibank Nigeria Limited, Dr. Olayemi Cardoso, would be the Chairman of the Day while the Chairman, Guiness Nigeria Plc, Dr. Omobola Johnson, will be the guest speaker.

She added that the presidential inauguration dinner would also be used to, “showcase the NBCC as the foremost bilateral chamber in Nigeria, diligently striving to deepen Anglo-Nigerian trade and investment.”

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2021

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT At 6% Interest Rate, Lagos State COP26 Agrees 1.5C, Begins Full Implementation of Paris Agreement is Closing Housing Deficit Bennett Oghifo

T

he 26th Conference of Parties (COP26) on climate change ended at the weekend in Glasgow, UK, with nearly 200 countries agreeing the ‘Glasgow Climate Pact’ to keep 1.5C as global temperature limit.

With 197 Parties, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has near universal membership and is the parent treaty of the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement. The main aim of the Paris Agreement

is to keep a global average temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius and to drive efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The UNFCCC is also the parent treaty of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. The ultimate objective of all agreements under the UNFCCC is to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system, in a time frame which allows ecosystems to adapt naturally and enables

sustainable development.

Regardless of the celebrated achievements of the Glasgow Climate Pact, non=governmental organisations have continued to highlight some of its failings.

For instance, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a think tank, based in New Delhi, India, in a statement it issued after the conference said, “Glasgow Climate Pact’s fatal flaw: dismisses climate justice as a concept that is important only for “some”.

Fails to understand that climate justice is the pre-requisite for an effective and ambitious global agreement.”

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said at 6% simple interest rate, Lagos State was best committed to providing affordable housing for the teeming populace compared to any other organisation, state or federal government.

The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinpelu Fatai, at the 2021 Housing Summit, held recently in Abuja, said, “In Lagos we have commissioned eleven estates so far. What I’m selling at Iponri for N30 million I’m selling it in Igbogbo at N8.5 million. You pay 5 per cent and

you pay the rest over the next nine years but we don’t allow you sell until you have finished paying at simple interest rate of 6 per cent.

“I challenge any organisation here in Nigeria, either federal or state that has been able to provide that.”

On urban renewal plans, Sanwo-Olu said, “We are looking at a position that in the next 20 years we have to be thinking vertical, we are looking at the Singapore and Hong Kong models, we have 50 hectares in Ijanikin so that the rail line can evacuate people into the island.”

The President, Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Emmanuel Okas Wike said the country would require the sum of N24 trillion to bridge the existing housing deficit.

He lamented that past efforts by government to make houses available for the masses failed because the private sector was ignored.

He noted that though there were many unoccupied houses in cities, especially in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the masses cannot afford them and so continue to lack decent accommodation.

JPTS Takes Centre Stage, Grabs Paradise Foreshore Begins Land Best Training Institute Award Reclamation Joint Professional Training Support International (JPTS), a trail blazing professional institute in Nigeria, has again bagged a prestigious award as it was named, ‘The Best Training Institute in Nigeria’, at the Nigeria Public Service Award 2021, just as Senator Dino Melaye received a Honorary Degree from the institute and becomes one of its alumni.

This was disclosed recently to the media in Lagos, by the Vice Chancellor, Global Wealth University Togo, Professor Christopher Imumolen, who

also doubles as the President JPTS. Professor Imumolen, who was elated with the award bestowed on him and JPTS, said. “I have been crisscrossing Abuja, meeting with traditional rulers towards enhancing the security situation in the country, and to our surprise JPTS got honoured on the 29th of October, 2021 as the Best Training Institute in Nigeria by the Nigeria Public Service Award 2021.

According to him, “We were in Abaji, Abuja for two programmes. The first

was the award given to our organisation, JPTS as the Best Training Institute in Nigeria.

We also gave awards to some of our graduates, some of them are Senators like Dino Melaye, Managing Director of NIPCO, Alhaji Aminu and others. “ We went to Abaji to support them in terms of community development, we are working with the police and appropriate authorities to assist them in security. Also, we are planning to set up educational institutes, through which we could offer scholarships to the indigenes.”

Paradise Foreshore Estate, an urban living redefined property has commenced dredging and sand-filling on-site in LekkiLagos, keeping to the promise of providing a pristine waterfront living experience for Nigerians.

The estate located in Ajah directly facing the Victoria Garden City waterfront is designed to cater for people who value comfort, security, serenity and modern smart home designs.

According to Christiana Kanu, Managing Director of Property Crew, developers of Paradise Foreshore Estate,

work is continuously ongoing on and off site since the ground breaking launch of the estate in early August this year.

She said, “Since the launch of Paradise Foreshore Estate, we are speedily working on and off site to deliver the promise of a smart waterfront property that will put visible smile on the faces of all our clients, subscribers, investors and stakeholders respectively. We have also introduced a lake in the estate layout as one of the estate recreational facilities, this would add more value to the estate as Paradise Foreshore

Estate is the only estate on the Ikoyi-Lekki-AjaH lagoon front with a lake. We have also commenced the construction of our on-site sales office which would be ready by end of November 2021.”

The estate is designed in compliance with the Lagos State Government smart city policy boasting of a smart entry and exit system, round-the-clock CCTV security, regular electricity with back-up solar energy, good roads network, gym, sporting facilities and jetty services for crisscrossing the sprawling waterfront.

Building Collapse: NIOB Urge Govt Grand Bonny Rotary Club Provides to Implement Physical Planning Laws Infrastructure to Improve Community Fadekemi Ajakaiye The Nigerian Institute of Building, NIOB has called on the government to implement its physical planning laws in order to curtail building collapse in the country.

The institute stated this at the press briefing held at their Secretariat in Lagos, recently.

With reference to the 21-storey building that collapsed in Lagos recently, as well as other ones occurring across the nation, NIoB called for the implementation of strict laws to guide against recurrence.

The Nigerian Institute of Building has also appealed to the Lagos State government to strictly implement its existing

physical planning laws to curtail illicit construction and avert building collapse.

NIoB, Lagos Chapter Chairman, Mr. Lucky Isename, stated some of the causes of building collapse as ground vibration, poor workmanship, poor procure processes, lack of supervision or management of the construction process and so on.

“We need to state categorically that the laws regulating the construction sector viz a viz roles of relevant professionals, minimum requirement for the standard of materials, stage certification process, must all be fulfilled before the commencement of construction,” he said.

“To eliminate building collapse, professionals in the built

environment should be engaged in all projects as stipulated in the regulations; make compulsory the use of builders’ document at all stages of construction and registered builders should be engaged in the management of building production,” he said.

He stated that the Institute is calling for the engagement of only qualified builders and other certified built environment professionals in all projects to guarantee quality assurance and prevention of collapses.

“The Lagos State government has set up a 5-man panel of enquiry on the recent collapse in order to be able to ascertain the cause(s) of the collapse and give recommendations, we at NIoB await the outcome,” he said.

L-R: Bashorun MD Eseyin; Senator Dino Melaye; and the President of JPTS, Prof Christopher Imumolen, shortly after Senator Melaye received an Honorary Degree from JPTS institute in Abuja… recently

The Rotary Club of Grand Bonny, Rivers State will not rest on its oars in boosting the socio-infrastructural and economic framework of the Bonny Kingdom by way of intervention in the seven Rotary International areas of focus viz: The Environment; Peace Building and Conflict Resolution; Community Economic Development; Basic Education and Literacy; Maternal and Child Health Care; Water Sanitation and Hygiene and Disease Prevention and Treatment.

This assurance was given by the President, Rotary Club of Grand Bonny, Rotarian Tamunotonye Jonathan Banigo while speaking to the press recently during his installation as the fourth president of the club stating that the club has already started giv-

ing out Interest-Free Loans to deserving persons and proposed a Fishermen Waiting Hall in Orosikiri Community of the riverine kingdom.

According to the president, the club is also partnering with The Promise Eatery in Bonny to train five persons in Catering and Confectionery Professional Services.

Rotarian Tamunotonye Banigo told journalists that since the chartering of Rotary Club of Grand Bonny on April, 25, 2018 and the re-introduction of Rotary International activities in Bonny Kingdom which hitherto was in full swing between the mid-70s and late 90s; the club has given the kingdom humanitarian projects worth millions of Naira in the form of continued sponsorship of Polio immunization; donation

of medical equipment and consumables to the General Hospital and various Primary Health Centers and donation of chairs to Government Girls Secondary School, Bonny, (a Disgrict 9141 assisted project).

Others, the Rotarian President noted, included annual vocational training of residents and students within the community and promotion of various basic education and literacy activities in different forms in partnership with various organisations to improve the quality of life in the kingdom.

Provision of quality palliative food supplies during the lock down to some deserving persons (a District 9141 assisted project); provision of wheel chairs and other mobility devices (a District 9141 assisted project).

L-R: Past President, Dave T. Banigo; Rotarian Sofiri S. Hart; Rotarian Harriet I. Jamaica; President Tamunotonye Jonathan Banigo; President Elect, Regina M. Orumbie; Secretary Rotarian Sotonye N. Wilcox; Rotarian Rose N. Baaka; and immediate past President Dagogo Mina-Jumbo, after the installation of Rotarian Banigo, as 4th President Rotary Club of Grand Bonny, Rivers State… recently

32

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ NOVEMBER 16, 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Bank of Industry Offers Funding Opportunity for Start-ups The Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Kayode Pitan, has said that the emergence of Start-ups in business has come with creative solutions to some of everyday problems faced by Nigerians.

Speaking at the first edition of the community engagement development workshop organised by the Arthur Mbanefo Digital Research Centre (AMDRC) of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), he noted that Start-ups and many others are leading the charge in shifting the country’s economic narrative into a more positive trajectory and are therefore worth supporting.

Describing Start-ups as the new rockstars of the entrepreneurship world, he said it is imperative that any economy that wants to thrive in the 21st century must support and have a thriving start-up ecosystem.

He said, “Their success and impact, in spite of the challenges they face, has further bolstered arguments made about the importance and roles of entrepreneurship and innovation in the economic future of Nigeria.

“It is commonly acknowledged that innovation is a key trigger for any economy that hopes to be competitive and achieve sustainable progress. Economies that desire to become innovative must also foster a culture of entrepreneurship, as there cannot be innovation without entrepreneurship.

“Unlike traditional enterprises, these high-growth enterprises or Start-ups face enormous uncertainty as they seek to create their own business models that can be scalable, but by continuously experimenting, learning, and innovating, start-ups differentiate

themselves from other traditional enterprises and became leaders in their respective markets.”

In response to the need to support Start-ups, he said the Bank of Industry offers funding opportunities for them leverage capital through the Alitheia IDF in which the bank is a key investor.

He said, in addition to these funds, BOI has an ongoing programme to establish technology incubators across the country, 7 of which are currently in operation across various states with 2 of them operating at the University of Lagos.

“These incubators provide promising start-ups with an environment that allows them to generate and test their ideas, have access to resources (such as training and mentorship), and grow without any pressure,” he said.

L-R: Group Managing Director, Afrinvest West Africa,Mr. Ike Chioke; Chief Executive Officer, Mega Million Naija, Mr.Okwy Okeke; Managing Director, Union Bank,Mr. Emeka Okonkwo; Director, Mega Million Naija,Mr. Gafar Williams and Director, Mega Million,Mr. Francis Nwadickson, at the official launch of Mega Million Lottery in Lagos recently ǏNJNj džǐǏǏ

Firm Pledges Food Sustainability through Investment, Innovation Funmi Ogundare Tetra Pak, a food processing and packaging solutions company, has expressed its readiness to address the challenges of food sustainability in the country through investment and innovation efforts.

Speaking during the virtual media lunch of the organisation’s 2021 sustainability report, held recently, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the organisation, Mr. Adolfo Orive noted that it is focused on reducing its carbon footprint, increasing recycling, protecting biodiversity and enhancing access to safe, nutritious food for people worldwide.

According to him, “our sustainability report reiterates

the need for a comprehensive, holistic approach to sustainability; where we are protecting the food that is produced globally, the people that we work with, and the planet we live on.”

He added that the organisation is fully committed to playing its part, both in enhancing food access and reducing environmental impact, adding that every step will count if it is able to meet its sustainability ambitions.

“As long as we keep innovating and collaborating, we can strive for a sustainable future that protects what’s good,”Orive said. Managing Director, Tetra Pak, West Africa, Oshiokamele Aruna said the organisation is constantly harnessing the inherent potential and the greater

value proposition that investment in sustainability offers.

“Food access and food insecurity have significant environmental impacts especially in West Africa, and finding a common ground between food production and environmental conservation is crucial to survival.

“We will continue to employ more sustainable and innovative models as well as continued innovation to advance the food packaging and processing space,” he said.

In its bid to leverage partnerships and expand its sustainability initiatives, he noted that the organisation signed a recycling agreement with Onward paper Mill to develop sustainable recycling solutions for post-consumer beverage cartons in Nigeria.

Develop Nations Urged to Take Interest in Africa Kasim Sumaina ÓØ ÌßÔË The Minister of State for Transportation, Gbemisola Ruqayyah Saraki has urged the rest of world to care about what happens in Nigeria, noting that Africa as global issues are not restricted within sovereign confines, hence the need for cooperation beyond understanding of sovereign states.

Saraki who made the disclosure in Paris, France at the Nigeria International Partnership Forum with the theme: Building Excellence for the Future of Nigeria’s Transportation System: Reforms, Results and the Road Ahead, called on developed nations to take an interest in what is happening in Africa because how African nations tackle development through its policies and projects are not only beneficial to its citizens, but

also reverberate – positively or negatively- on the global stage.

According to her, the world needs a new model of development and growth that is/will be beneficial to all. The global community, she said, must be prepared to have these difficult conversations, “As closing the Continent’s huge infrastructural deficit is vital for the continent’s economic prosperity and sustainable development as improved infrastructure would facilitate increased intra-regional trade, reduce the cost of doing business, enhance competitiveness, create employment, and reduce the tide of illegal migration.”

The Minister of State in a statement in Abuja further noted that it was in recognition of these gaps that the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration came up with the vision for

economic recovery, diversification, and sustainability hinged on the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) initiative, which focused on non-oil sectors such as Agriculture, Transportation, Industrialization, Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI).

She added that the proposed rail projects will generate sustained freight growth of an average 7.9% between 2021 and 2025. Saraki said the government has been able to secure the Gulf of Guinea through the instrumentality of the Integrated Maritime Safety, Security Waterways and Environmental Protection Strategies otherwise known as the Deep Blue Project that involves provision of Satellite and Communication Equipment, patrolling Assets and Capacity Building for the enforcement/ intervention teams.

LAPO Wins Microfinance Bank of the Year Award Sunday Ehigiator LAPO Microfinance Bank Limited, (LAPO MfB) a premium and frontline financial institution, has been conferred with the award of the ‘Microfinance Bank of the Year’ at the 9th edition of the Businessday Banks’ and other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.

In a statement, the Head of Communications and Branding, LAPO, Oluremi Akande, revealed

that the bank has won the award for eight consecutive times.

He said, “This is an implicit indication of LAPO’s unflinching commitment to its over 30 years mandate of empowering members of low-income households, impacting communities and environment in a sustainable way.

“This award is dedicated to our over 6 million loyal clients spread across 34 states of the country, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), our

extremely dedicated Staff, Board and Management who in spite of visible challenges have an uncommon resolve to serve our various stakeholders’ interests sustainably and profitably.”

Akande said LAPO MfB remains committed to its over 30 years mandate of empowering members of low-income households and owners of MSME by providing easy access to micro-credits, social interventions funding and advocacy support.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

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

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE ˜ ͵

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

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T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯʹ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

CBN Grants Airtel Africa Licence to Operate as Super Agent Kayode Tokede Airtel Africa Plc yesterday said it has been granted approval-in-principle by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to operate as a super-agent in Nigeria.

The company in a statement on the Nigeria Exchange Limited (NGX) said Airtel Mobile Commerce Nigeria, its subsidiary will operate the agent banking licence.

The super-agent approval was granted a week after the telecommunication company received the apex banking regulatory body approval to operate a payment service bank (PSB) via Smartcash Payment Service Bank Limited.

Super agents are companies approved by CBN to recruit agents for agency banking, such as financial services within communities on behalf of banks to deepen financial

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inclusion.

The company in the statement explained further that: “The super agent licence is distinct from the Payment Service Bank (PSB) licence for which it received approval in principle on 4 November 2021.

“The PSB licence is required for Airtel to be able to provide financial services in Nigeria such as accepting cash deposits and carrying out payments and remittances, issuing debit

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QUANTITY TRADED

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and prepaid cards, operating electronic wallets, and rendering other financial services.

“Under the super agent licence we would be able to create an agent network that can service the customers of licensed Nigerian banks, Payment service banks and licenced mobile money operators in Nigeria.

“Final approval of the super agent licence is subject to the Group satisfying certain

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

standard conditions.”

The Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Africa, Segun Ogunsanya in a statement had said: “I am very pleased that Smartcash has been granted an approval in principle to operate a service bank business in Nigeria. We will now work closely with the Central Bank to meet all its conditions to receive the operating licence and commence operations.

He added that: “The final

O F

operating licence will enable us to expand our digital financial products and reach the millions of Nigerians that do not have access to traditional financial services.

“I am looking forward to working closely with the Government, the Central Bank and traditional financial institutions to expand financial inclusion and meet the evolving needs of our customers and the economy.“

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TUESDAY, ͹;˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

16 November 2021

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THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

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UBA DQG ETI

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Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

ƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϯ͘Ϯй͘ ůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϴ͘ϲй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘

^/ ƵƉ ϭϭďƉƐ ĂƐ E' D 'ĂŝŶƐ ϯ͘ϯй dŚĞ ĞĂƌƐ KƉĞŶ ƚŚĞ tĞĞŬ͘​͘​͘ ^/ ĚŽǁŶ Ϭ͘ϭй

zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͕ dŽĚĂLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ƉƌŝĐĞ ďŽƵƌƐĞ ŽƉĞŶĞĚ ƵƉƟĐŬ ƚŚĞ ŝŶ ǁĞĞŬ ŽŶ ,KEz&>KhZ Ă ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ͕ ŶŽƚĞ ĂƐ ƉƌŽĮƚ E' D ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͕ DdEE ;ͲϬ͘ϱйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ & E, h ;нϬ͘ϳйͿ ;Ͳϯ͘ϬйͿ͕ ďŽůͲ ĂŶĚ d/ ;Ͳϭ͘ϳйͿ ĚƌĂŐŐĞĚ ƚŚĞ E'y ůůͲ^ŚĂƌĞ /ŶĚĞdž ůŽǁĞƌ ďLJ Ϭ͘ϭй ƐƚĞƌĞĚ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ďŽƵƌƐĞ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůůͲ ƚŽ ^ŚĂƌĞ ϰϯ͕ϮϯϬ͘ϯϰ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ ŝŶĚĞdž ĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐůLJ͕ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƌŽƐĞ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ďLJ ĨĞůů ϭϭďƉƐ േϭϭ͘ϴďŶ ƚŽ ϯϵ͕ϱϱϬ͘ϯϲ ƚŽ േϮϮ͘ϲƚŶ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ ǁŚŝůĞ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ zd ůŽƐƐ ŝŵͲ ƚŽ ϳ͘ϯй͘ DĂƌŬĞƚ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ĨĂůƚĞƌĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ Ͳϭ͘ϴй ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ ĚŝƉƉĞĚ േϮϯ͘ϰďŶ ƚŽ േϮϬ͘ϲƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ϲ͘ϴй ĂŶĚ ϳ͘ϴй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ƚŽ Ϯϵϯ͘ϰŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ േϰ͘ϯďŶ͘ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ & E, ďLJ ;ϭϬϭ͘Ϯŵ Ϯϭ͘ϲй ƚŽ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ϭϭϬ͘ϴŵ ^^ ƵŶŝƚƐ ;ϰϰ͘Ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ǁŚŝůĞ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĂŶĚ & D ƌŽƐĞ ;ϯϰ͘ϴŵ ďLJ ϴϴ͘ϱй ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ƚŽ േϯ͘ϭďŶ͘ ƚŽƉƉĞĚ ƚŚĞ dŚĞ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĐŚĂƌƚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ǁŚŝůĞ & E, ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁĞƌĞ dZ E^ KZW ;ϭϭ͘ϵŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ & E, ;ϭϭ͘ϭŵ ;േϭ͘ϮďŶͿ͕ DdEE ;േϳϰϬ͘ϯŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;േϱϬϳ͘ϰŵͿ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘ ĂŶĚ K E K ;ϳ͘ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ E ^d> ;േϮ͘ϮďŶͿ͕ E' D ;േϭϰϱ͘ϬŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;േϭϯϰ͘ϴŵͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘

DŝdžĞĚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĞĂƌŝƐŚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ϯ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ŽƵƌ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ͕ Ϯ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ ǁŚŝůĞ ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ

Ticker

Current Price

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

1,844.57

0.04%

1

Airtel Africa PLC

871.70

0.0%

30.9%

2

BUA Cement Plc

74.50

0.0%

10.4%

3

Guaranty Trust Holding Co PLC

27.50

0.2%

7.6%

ŝŶŐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĨĞůů ďLJ Ϭ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϮďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůͲ ϭ͘ϳйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ DdEE ;ͲϬ͘ϱйͿ ƉƵůůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ &ZͲ ŽīƐ ŝŶ K E K ;ͲϬ͘ϴйͿ͕ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͘ / d ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽǁĞƌ ďLJ Ϭ͘ϰй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ŐĂŝŶͲ Ğƌ͕ ƵƉ ϭ͘ϴй ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂͲ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ

ƟŽŶ ŝŶ E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͘ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ ϭ͘ϰdž ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϭdž ĂƐ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ ϮϬ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ

ϭϰ

ƐƚŽĐŬƐ

ĚĞͲ

ĐůŝŶĞĚ͘ hd/y ;нϵ͘ϵйͿ͕ ĂƐ >/s ^dK < ĂŶĚ D E Ͳ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ;нϵ͘ϱйͿ͕ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ

K ;Ͳϲ͘ϴйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ZKz > y ;Ͳϱ͘ϳйͿ ůĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞƌƐ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϯdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ Ϯϰ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ

5.4x

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

25.7%

84.5%

15.0%

3.5%

2.3%

2.3%

14.7%

5.2%

0.8x

5.1%

Not Applicable

2.1%

15.3%

-3.7%

-3.7%

19.1%

11.2%

35.8x

6.7x

-15.0%

-15.0%

24.8%

3.9%

4.2x

1.0x

10.9%

24.0% 30.7%

2.8%

24.05

0.2%

6.3%

-3.0%

-3.0%

20.9%

2.8%

3.3x

0.6x

12.5%

280.00

0.0%

6.6%

14.3%

14.3%

40.4%

16.7%

13.9x

5.4x

5.9%

7.2%

6

MTN Nigeria Communications PLC

190.00

-0.5%

5.2%

11.8%

11.8%

179.2%

14.1%

13.7x

20.8x

5.5%

7.3%

7

Nestle Nigeria PLC

1,400.00

0.0%

3.5%

-7.0%

-7.0%

106.8%

15.6%

27.2x

32.0x

4.3%

3.7%

8

Lafarge Africa PLC

25.50

0.0%

3.9%

21.1%

21.1%

11.6%

8.4%

9.5x

1.1x

3.9%

10.5%

17.0%

1.4%

2.6x

0.4x

9.0%

37.9%

2.1x

0.4x

6.6%

48.5%

0.6x

3.7%

17.4%

9 Access Bank PLC 10 United Bank for Africa PLC 11 FBN Holdings Plc 12 Nigerian Breweries PLC 13 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC 14 International Breweries PLC 15 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC 16 SEPLAT Energy PLC 17 11 PLC 18 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

9.40

0.5%

3.0%

11.2%

11.2%

8.20

-3.0%

2.5%

-5.2%

-5.2%

12.30

2.5%

4.0%

72.0%

72.0%

52.50

0.0%

1.9%

-6.3%

39.00

0.0%

2.0%

3.3%

19 Fidelity Bank PLC 20 Ecobank Transnational Inc 21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC 22 FCMB Group Plc 23 Sterling Bank PLC 24 NASCON Allied Industries PLC 25 Transnational Corp of Nigeria 26 Presco PLC 27 Unilever Nigeria PLC

32 AIICO Insurance PLC 33 TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeri 34 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC 35 Wema Bank PLC 36 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC 37 Oando PLC 38 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd 39 Beta Glass PLC 40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

10.6%

1.0%

5.7x

-6.3%

5.3%

1.9%

48.4x

2.5x

2.1%

2.1%

3.3%

15.4%

2.0%

9.0x

1.4x

10.5%

11.2%

-10.3%

-3.9%

5.55

0.0%

1.4%

-6.7%

-6.7%

30.20

2.0%

1.2%

16.2%

16.2%

731.50

0.0%

1.8%

81.8%

81.8%

0.0%

3.4%

1.9%

1.0x

-10.3%

4.7x

0.7x

5.5%

21.5%

16.9x

0.6x

5.7%

5.9%

-100.0%

142.00

0.0%

1.2%

56.0%

56.0%

38.8%

25.2%

9.7x

3.4x

5.1%

10.3%

2.66

0.0%

0.7%

5.6%

5.6%

12.7%

1.2%

2.3x

0.3x

8.3%

43.3%

15.2%

8.45

-1.7%

0.9%

40.8%

40.8%

1.5%

0.1%

28.0x

0.4x

17.00

-0.6%

0.5%

-3.4%

-3.4%

25.6%

12.1%

6.6x

1.6x

8.8%

3.05

-1.3%

0.5%

-8.4%

-8.4%

1.50

0.0%

0.3%

-26.5%

-26.5%

10.1%

0.9%

3.3x

0.3x

3.3%

14.15

0.0%

0.4%

-2.4%

-2.4%

20.7%

5.9%

13.3x

2.9x

2.8%

7.5%

1.01

1.0%

0.4%

12.2%

12.2%

-1.3%

-0.3%

0.6x

1.0%

-2.1%

88.90

-0.1%

0.3%

25.3%

25.3%

2.1x

1.1%

14.60

0.0%

0.2%

5.0%

5.0%

-1.3%

-0.8%

1.3x

6.10

0.0%

0.2%

15.1%

15.1%

3.6%

4.9% 30.7%

-1.0% 4.1%

9.75

1.0%

0.4%

107.0%

107.0%

2.2x

7.2%

37.50

0.0%

0.4%

97.4%

97.4%

8.1%

3.8%

13.4x

1.0x

1.2%

7.5%

7.65

0.0%

0.2%

30.8%

30.8%

24.7%

7.5%

3.8x

0.9x

7.0%

26.6%

1.25

-1.6%

0.2%

10.6%

10.6%

12.2%

1.8%

12.5x

0.5x

240.80

0.0%

0.3%

85.2%

85.2%

1.8%

18.3%

8.0%

5.5x

24.80

0.0%

0.2%

40.7%

40.7%

18.3%

2.4%

4.3x

0.8x

1.6%

23.1%

0.83

-1.2%

0.2%

20.3%

20.3%

13.7%

0.8%

3.9x

0.5x

4.8%

25.5%

1.0%

0.0%

5.0%

4.87

0.4%

0.2%

-100.0%

7.1%

0.8%

5.7x

0.6x

31.6%

14.5%

2.6%

2.1x

0.3x

31.6%

62.50

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

-38.7%

-9.5%

52.95

0.0%

0.1%

-4.4%

-4.4%

14.8%

10.1%

5.38

0.0%

0.0%

49.4%

49.4%

2.1x 4.7x

17.6% 47.7% -20.1%

0.6x

2.0%

21.4%

0.9x

Top 10 Trades by Volume

Top 10 Gainers Ticker

Price

Price Chg %

Ticker

Volum e

Price Chg %

CUTIX

3.00

9.9%

FBNH

101.2

2.5%

LIVESTOCK

2.19

9.5%

ACCESS

44.2

0.5%

MBENEFIT

0.29

7.4%

FCMB

34.8

-1.3%

JAPAULGOLD

0.44

4.8%

GTCO

18.5

0.2%

PRESTIGE

0.45

4.7%

ZENITHBANK

16.2

0.2% -3.0%

LASACO FBNH

&/d ;нϳ͘ϰйͿ ůĞĚ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ ǁŚŝůĞ s Z/d ^< W ;Ͳϴ͘ϳйͿ͕ &dE KͲ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ͕ ƐĞƩůŝŶŐ Ăƚ ϭ͘ϲdž

P/BV

Zenith Bank PLC

30 Guinness Nigeria PLC 31 Custodian and Allied Insurance

ĂŶĚ D E^ Z ;ͲϮ͘ϮйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬͲ ŝŶ &>KhZD/> ;нϮ͘ϬйͿ͘ ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůLJ͕ h ;Ͳϯ͘ϬйͿ͕ d/ ;Ͳ

P/E

Dangote Cement PLC

ŝŶĚĞdž ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŽƉƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵͲ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ϴďƉƐ ĂŶĚ ϲďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐͲ

ϵ͘ϭйͿ͕ hE/> s Z ;Ͳϯ͘ϱйͿ͕ >/E< ^^hZ 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ƌŽƐĞ ϱďƉƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ďĂƌŐĂŝŶ ;Ͳϲ͘ϰйͿ͕ ŚƵŶƟŶŐ

ROA

4

28 PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC 29 United Capital PLC

ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĮƚͲƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ E ^d> ;Ͳ D E &/d ;нϳ͘ϰйͿ͘ dƌĂŝůŝŶŐ͕ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ

ROE

5

ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ĂƐ ϰ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ͕ ϭ ŝŶĚĞdž ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ &ZͲ/ d /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŚĞ Kŝů Θ

Ğƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ;нϬ͘ϰйͿ ϰ͘ϲй ĂŶĚ ƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ K E K

Price Price Previous Current Change Change Price YTD Weighting Index to Change Date

AFRIPRUD FLOURMILL UCAP

1.13

2.7%

UBA

10.2

12.30

2.5%

UPL

8.3

0.9%

6.50

2.4%

TRANSCORP

4.4

1.0%

30.20

2.0%

CHAMS

4.0

-4.2%

9.75

1.0%

FTNCOCOA

3.9

-6.8%

ŶĞdžƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƚŽ ĞdžƚĞŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ϭϱ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ͘ DZ^ ;нϵ͘ϵйͿ͕ D zͲ Top 10 Trades by Value

Top 10 Losers

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Price

Price Chg %

Ticker

Value

VERITASKAP

0.21

-8.7%

FBNH

1242.1

2.5%

FTNCOCOA

0.41

-6.8%

MTNN

740.3

-0.5%

ROYALEX

0.50

-5.7%

GTCO

507.4

0.2% 0.5%

Ticker

REGALINS

0.38

-5.0%

ACCESS

417.0

CHAMS

0.23

-4.2%

ZENITHBANK

388.0

0.2%

UBA

8.20

-3.0%

NESTLE

313.3

0.0%

COURTVILLE

0.40

-2.4%

FCMB

108.0

-1.3%

-1.7%

WAPCO

86.7

0.0%

84.7

-3.0%

52.2

0.0%

ETI

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

Price Chg %

8.45

AIICO

1.25

-1.6%

UBA

FCMB

3.05

-1.3%

AIRTELAFRI

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NEWS

WELCOMING HIS EMINENCE TO IBADAN...

L-R: Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar, Representative of Oyo State Governor and Deputy Chief of Staff, Hon Mojeed Mogbojubola and the Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof Kayode Adebowale, welcoming the Sultan at Ibadan Airport, during his visit to Oyo State. PHOTO: Oyo State Government.

Buhari Seeks Stringent Punishment for Lawyers Clogging Wheels of Justice Maintains efficient judiciary essential to entrenchment of rule of law Financial autonomy: Give us what is due to us, CJN Tells governors Deji Elumoye and Alex Enumah in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has called on the judiciary to devise and deploy stringent measures against lawyers, who in the cause of servicing their clients employ all kinds of delay tactics thereby hindering the speedy dispensation of justice in the country.

President Buhari predicated the call on the need to make the justice sector more efficient and

effective as to preserve the nation’s democracy as well as attract foreign investment.

He said this yesterday, while declaring open the 2021 All Nigeria Judges’ Conference of the Superior Courts.

Buhari, who was represented by the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo at the event, expressed concern over the impact of delays in the administration of the justice system as well as the image of the judiciary and by extension

the country.

“As my lords are aware, delay in the dispensation of justice, coupled with the increase of cases in our courts have remained subjects of great concern. As someone said, our problem is not access to justice, it is exiting the justice system.

“And I know that delays are not necessarily the fault of judges, lawyers are also responsible. Should we not then as have been suggested by some, evolve a cost award system that recognizes the court

as a finite and expensive public resource and as such delays and other dielectric tactics are visited with deterrent cost”, he suggested.

According to him, Nigeria remains part of the global market place for investment and legal services, and the extent to which the country can attract business depends in part on investors perception of the quality of the justice delivery system.

He said: “if we are seen as inefficient and ineffective, we

IN DAMNING REPORT, LAGOS #ENDSARS PANEL SAYS 11 KILLED AT LEKKI TOLLGATE Bar Association (NBA) , counsel to the various groups of ENDSARS protesters, counsel to Lagos State Government, and counsel to the Nigeria Police Force.

It listed its greatest limitation as time, as it had to undertake its investigation into the Lekki tollgate incident alongside other petitions in respect of police brutality related matters.

The panel also recommended that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Maroko police station along with policemen deployed from Maroko should be prosecuted for arbitrary and indiscriminate shooting and killing of protesters.

Sanwo-Olu Sets up implementation committee, submits report to NEC,

Following the report, the governor has vowed that his government would implement the recommendations of the panel.

Speaking when he received the report of the panel, SanwoOlu immediately constituted a four-member committee led by Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo to raise a white paper on the report within

two weeks.

According to him, the committee was expected to produce the document to be considered by the Lagos State executive council, pledging that the reports and recommendations would be made public and submitted to the National Economic Council (NEC) for discussion.

The committee has the Commissioner for Youths and Social Development, Mr. Segun Dawodu; Special Adviser, Works and Infrastructure, Mrs. Aramide Adeyoye and Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office, Mrs. Tolani Oshodi as members.

“The four of them will very quickly, look through and bring forward a white paper within the next two weeks that will be considered at the Lagos State Executive Council and would be gazetted as a white paper coming from the panel of enquiry,” he stated.

The governor assured that all the recommendations in the submitted reports would be treated, even as he expressed optimism that the government's decision on the reports would bring healing, reconciliation and restitution.

"We will ensure that the recommendations that are coming out that will be turned into a white

paper will be made available to the public. We will do it appropriately, so that history will judge us well.

“We will have a document that will stand the test of time, that's what the tribunal law says, so that it will be properly documented and gazetted in government's records" he said.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Panel, Okuwobi ,expressed appreciation to the state government and all the stakeholders who appeared before the panel and the team for uncommon resolve and good team work.

Okuwobi, who disclosed that the panel awarded a total of N410 million to 70 victims of police brutality, said 235 petitions were received with only 14 being on the alleged Lekki shooting incident.

"As much as the panel desired to have taken all petitions, the ones that were not taken by the panel were those that did not comply with our rules. So, in this report, we made recommendations for a body to take over human rights abuse cases in Lagos State" she said.

Monetary Cost of the Year Long Investigation, N800 million

Sources within Alausa yes-

terday hinted to THISDAY the cost implication of the year's long investigation. It cost the state government a whopping N800 million to ensure the panel did not experience any funding issues that might have hindered the conclusion of its enquiry.

A competent source within Alausa told THISDAY last night that, Sanwo-Olu had immediately matched his promise with action by flying to Abuja after receiving the report to submit it to the National Economic Council (NEC).

"So two things the governor promised, he is already doing; one to set up a panel to review the report and come up with a white paper that will give teeth to government action and two, he promised to submit the report to NEC, which he did yesterday, after receiving the panel's report. He flew to Abuja to submit it to NEC. So, action is already being taken. As you can see there was complete independence of the panel," the source added.

Sanwo-Olu had on October 19, 2020, inaugurated the panel to investigate alleged cases of brutality and human rights violations.

would loss out to more efficient systems”.

Osinbajo however, warned that judges must endeavour to show the highest level of integrity, responsibility, professionalism for the singular fact that they make decisions over the lives and livelihood of men and women in the society, adding that they must not allow a few to undermine the respect and trust that the judiciary have built up in over a century of its existence.

While stating that the current administration is not unaware of the number of challenges slowing the pace of transformation in the administration of the justice system, he disclosed that the administration has been working towards the resolution of these challenges by putting in place some measures such as the development of strategic infrastructure that will provide ease in case management; enhancement of welfare packages of judicial officers, amongst others.

While stating that the judiciary remains the last hope of the common man he said that “a trusted, well resourced, well-functioning judiciary is therefore essential to the entrenchment of rule of law” adding that for the judiciary to function optimally and retain greater public confidence it “must be independent from all forms of interference”.

He assured that the administration will continue to partner with the judiciary in ensuring that it is financially independent.

He appreciated the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Ibrahim Muhammad for the proactive measures taken in tackling the menace of conflicting court orders by courts of coordinate jurisdiction and efforts at revolutionizing the process of selection and appoint-

ment of judges The CJN in his remarks continued to lament the lack of financial independence of the judiciary noting that, "it may be difficult for the judiciary to be impartial and objective in a democracy where it remains financially tied to the Executive”.

According to him, the issue of judiciary funding has continued to pose serious challenge to the institution.

"I hereby report on a sad note that very few states have implemented the Agreement entered into in June.

"While the Constitution specifically mandates that all monies due to the judiciary should be given to the Heads of Courts, such provisions are complied with more in breach than obedience.

"Majority of the Heads of Courts still go caps in hands to the Governors to beg for what is constitutionally due to them, he stated.

“As such, I urge the State Governors to emulate the Federal Government by ensuring that Section 121 (3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) is fully adhered to and implemented.

Muhammad, who scored the judiciary very high in the discharge of its function argued that but for the intervention of the judiciary Nigeria's democracy would have been truncated.

"I make bold to state further that, but for the timely intervention of the Nigerian Judiciary, our present democratic status would have probably collapsed and fallen like a pack of ill-arranged cards", the CJN stated.

He however admonished judges to desist from all negative conducts including indiscriminate granting of ex-parte orders that have portrayed the judiciary in bad light.

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NEWS XTRA

Jega: Present Crops of Northern Leaders Lack Intellectual Capacity Francis Sardauna in Katsina A former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof.

Attahiru Jega, has attributed the security and economic challenges besetting the country, particularly, the northern region,

to bad leadership, adding the present crop of leaders in the region lacked the intellectual capacity to be so called.

He added that Nigeria has greedy leaders, who have narrow vision in terms of how to usher in developmental projects that could develop the country,

Insecurity: Bauchi CAN Chairman Laments Hopelessness of Nigerians Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi Considering the spate of insecurity in Nigeria and the dwindling economic situation which have made life hard for Nigerians, the country has been described as a people without hope for a better tomorrow.

The assertion was made by the Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bauchi State chapter, Rev Abraham Damina Dimeus, while speaking last Sunday at a summit on security organised by the state chapter of the Youth Wing of Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN).

According to him, “As it is now, we are in a time of chaos, hunger, poverty, banditry, armed robbery, kidnapping,

corruption and many other vices that have retarded the development of every facet of human existence.”

He further lamented that “the Church has failed by not doing much to check the involvement of the youths in all the vices happening across the country. Christian youths are deeply involved in the mess.

Where then lieth the hope for a better Nigeria?”

Speaking on the theme: ‘In times like this, what is the role of Christian youths in fighting insecurity’, Dimeus drew his text from Exodus 9:14 and Isaiah 2:1-5, saying: “Christian youths have significant roles to play in times like these. We don’t have to aggravate the already worsened situation as youths.”

not to talk about the region, where they come from.

Jega, who disclosed this Monday in Katsina during the Maitama Sule Leadership Lecture Series, organised by the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), said Nigerian leaders lackedthe intellectual capacity to be classified as leaders.

The lecture, with the theme ‘The Political and Socioeconomic Consequences of Border Porosity in Northern Nigeria’, which was organised by the coalition in honour of late

Sule, held at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University, Katsina.

Jega, who was the chairman of the event, said poverty, youth unemployment, insecurity, maternal mortality, out-of-school children, early marriage, as well as challenges of reproductive health, emanated from the Northern region of the country.

“The major indices of these crises manifested themselves from the Northern part of this country, whether it is poverty, youth unemployment, security challenges, maternal mortality,

out-of-school children, lack of girl-child education and early marriage as well as the challenge of reproduction of our females.

“Anything you can think of, the terrible statistics come from the Northern part of this country. And why is it so? That is the key question. Today, we remember the Maitama Sule, the Amadu Bellos, Isa Katais and many others.

“These were people, who led and protected the North and ensured that the North developed in accordance with

its ability and their own abilities as leaders. While we cherish the memories of what had happened in the past, what kind of leadership have we got from the Northern part of this country?

“We have so-called leaders, who are selfish, who are not selfless, greedy, who have a narrow vision in terms of how this country can develop not to talk about the region where they come from. They really lack intellectual capacity to be classified as leaders,” he said.

PUTTRU Calls for Decision on Energy Transition in Africa Chinedu Eze As the world intensifies the race towards net-zero emissions targets, Africa’s foremost energy business facilitation platform, PUTTRU has called for a decision on energy transition in Africa.

The body has started a campaign for cleaner environment in the continent ravaged by pollution, endless gas flaring, aggressive use of fossil fuel and degeneration of flora, but calls for restraint and gradual transition from fossil fuel, as the region has huge reserves yet unexplored.

It noted that while the Western world wants end of fossil fuel now, Africa has not reached that hiatus with the rest of the world,

so PUTTRU is calling for gradual transition so that the continent would reap the benefits therein.

The body is stimulating robust discourse that would proffer feasible solutions to the issue of energy transition in Africa, considering the constraints and realities in the global energy system.

The organisation’s position was contained in discussion paper, titled, “Africa’s Sustainable Energy Transition: Assessing the True Costs,” targeted at the just

concluded COP26 Summit in Glasgow with the objective that Africa would come out with a position on energy transition and environmental protection independent of the global standards that do not put the continent into consideration.

Reviewing PUTTRU’s discussion paper, the former Managing Director of Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Godswill Ihetu, said: “The discussion paper is comprehensive and well-

written. It captures elements of the tangible and intangible costs to Africa in joining the net zero emissions targets proposed mainly by the G20 and other wealthy countries.

“To be sure, those who have been responsible for pollution must clean up, especially given the fact that the developed world has burned vast amounts of fossils fuels since the last 100 years as it powered the industrial revolution that has led to its socioeconomic development.

My Resignation was Due to Personal Reasons, Says Ex-Ogun Attorney General Goddy Egene

The former Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice, Ogun State, Mr. Akingbolahan Adeniran, yesterday explained that his decision to resign from the Ogun State Government was personal. While Adeniran formally notified Governor Dapo Abiodun of his decision to resign on November 8, 2021, there have been allegations that he quit due to ‘massive corruption’ in the administration.

However, the former commissioner said in a statement said: “My reasons for resigning are purely personal.”

According to him, he is not

aware of any “massive corruption” in the administration, stressing that he was indeed very proud of what “we have been able to achieve in the administration of justice over the past two years.”

These include: “Improved accessibility of justice for the average citizen through the Ogun Public Interest Law Partnership which matches indigent clients with pro bono lawyers; protection of the rights of suspects in detention through regular inspections by duty solicitors engaged under the Police duty solicitor scheme; use of technology to monitor the plight of pre-trial detainees with the Corrections Information Management System and Justice

Clock; gradual introduction of forensics into policing; introduction of the case management and scheduling system in conjunction with the Ogun State Judiciary; and many other reform initiatives in the justice sector,” he said.

Adeniran assured the governor and all his (former) colleagues in the executive council of the state of his continued support.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed working with such an amazing group of administrators, technocrats and experts in various fields of endeavour. I have learnt a lot from you all and pray that God will continue to use you to improve on the lives of the good people of Ogun State,” he declared.

2023: Igbo Youths Want PDP, APC to Zone Presidency to S’East Chuks Okocha in Abuja The youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), has urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to consider a Nigerian president of the Southeast extraction in 2023 as part of efforts to build a new Nigeria.

National President of the Council, Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, stated this in a statement in Abuja.

Igboayaka bemoaned the political fragility of Nigeria, which he regretted was at its

peak of breaking and lamented the scars that have been inflicted on the nation.

He maintained that denying a Southeastern aspirant the presidential ticket could arguably deteriorate the condition of the country into a more piteous sight.

“The only remedy is to collectively install Southeastern person as the next president of Nigeria. There are bruises and wounds all over Nigeria, the only balm to heal the wounds is by APC and PDP giving their presidential ticket in 2023 to any aspirant of Southeast extraction.

Any mistake will turn the wounds of Nigeria into cancer that will lay Nigeria to rest at the end of the year 2023.”

Igboayaka stated that the ultimate price of peace and unity every “reasonable Nigerian would pay is to embrace in its totality, the Nigeria president of Southeast extraction in 2023.”

Igboayaka said Nigeria had been struck with a dangerous pandemic and renowned moral political scientists had discovered the political vaccine, which was “Nigeria President of Southeast extraction Vaccine.

Senate Approves Establishment of Port Harcourt Law School Campus Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Senate has acknowledged the establishment of the Nabo Graham Douglas Campus of the Nigerian Law School as approved by the Council of Legal Education.

According to the statement

by Special Assistant on Media to the Rivers State Governor, the Chairman, the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and

Legal Matters, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, said they will visit the Port Harcourt campus of the Nigerian Law School to assess ongoing construction work.

Bamidele stated yesterday , in his opening remark at a public hearing on Legal Education (Consolidation, Etc) Act L.10, LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill 2021 (SB 820) at the Senate.

He said the purpose of the bill is to enhance the justice sector to be in time with trends and

practice as obtainable in other jurisdictions.

“It is instructive to note that during debate on the general principles of the bill at various sittings of the Senate, divergent views were canvassed by distinguished senators, thereafter myriad of reaction was stimulated from relevant stakeholders and member of the public on the rationale of enacting the bills as act of the National Assembly.

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NEWS XTRA

FG Demands Full Investigation into Death of a Nigerian in Cote D’ivoire Michael Olugbode in Abuja The federal government has demanded full autopsy on Itunu Babakola, a Nigerian sentenced to 20 years imprisonment in Côte Divoire for alleged human trafficking but suddenly and mysteriously died in prison.

This demand for the autopsy was contained in a statement signed by the Chairman Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa yesterday.

Dabiri-Erewa, while stating that the attention of NIDCOM was drawn to Itunnu’s case about five months ago, described her death as a tragic blow, at a time the Nigerian mission in Côte Divoire, had paid and engaged the services of a lawyer to handle Itunnu’s appeal case.

She said: “Unfortunately, Itunnu died abruptly while all hands were on deck to seek both legal and diplomatic intervention for her by Nigeria.”

Itunnu was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for an offence she did not apparently commit.

She had accused an Ivorian of robbery at her residence and insisted on filing a case against him.

She had alleged that the accused, who was related to

an Ivorian police man, asked her to drop the case, but she refused.

She went ahead to file charges against him and allegedly used a different name (not her real

name) to file the case and somehow a case of robbery, which she filed mysteriously turned to a case of human trafficking against her.

She was subsequently sentenced to 20 years imprisonment while the Nigerian mission in Cote Divoire supported by the Nigerian community, got her a lawyer,

paid part payment of legal fees for the lawyer, to appeal the judgment, while at the same time seeking diplomatic intervention from the Nigeria Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE…

L-R: Director of Research, Transparency Africa, Mr. Joseph Konon; Group Managing Director, Strategic Outsourcing Limited, Dr. Olufemi Ogunlowo, and the Executive Secretary, Transparency Africa, Mr. Afi Kounto during a presentation of the Transparency Africa award to Ogunlowo in Lagos… recently

Ondo Community Sends Gumi: Bandits Ready to Drop Arms if SOS to Akeredolu over Provided With Basic Amenities Poor State of Road John Shiklam in Kaduna

The Idanre Community in Ondo State, has appealed to the State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to help in rehabilitating the deplorable Akure-Idanre road.

The call came just as the community was preparing for the 45th Coronation Anniversary of the Owa of Idanre Kingdom in ,Oba Frederick Adegunle Aroloye, Arubiefin IV. The Chairman of the Coronation Anniversary, Dr. Anthony Omolola made the appeal, lamenting that the road, which linked the state capital with the town with high volume of cocoa production, has not been touched in the last six years.

Omolola, who addressed journalists on preparations for the grand event, noted that apart from the Akure-Idanre

Road, all the roads to the various villages and towns in the area have become death trap.

According to him, while his committee is appealing to the state government to help in rehabilitating the Akure-Idanre Road for the celebration, the rehabilitation of the Owena Alade Road, which is equally in a dilapidated state, should be considered in the 2022 budget “Most of the invited guests, including governors, eminent Obas from the South-west and traditional rulers from other parts of the country, business leaders among others, who are coming will pass through Akure to Idanre for the event and we don’t want a situation where that road would define their perception about the good work the governor is doing in Ondo State,” he said.

Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has said that bandits terrorising the country are ready to drop their arms if education opportunities and other basic amenities are provided for Fulani herdsmen at the grassroots.

Gumi stated this while inspecting a school he built

at Kagarko Grazing Reserves, Kaduna State through funding from Mosque Foundation Limited.

Gumi, who has been campaigning for amnesty for the bandits said, if the centre which is designed to educate the herdsmen is replicated everywhere in the country, Nigerians will live in peace.

He said instead of spending

billions on military hardware to fight the bandits, Nigeria should spend such money on schools and teachers.

Gumi said he spoken with the bandits and they expressed willingness to drop their arms and embrace peace, if their children can be given education and other social amenities.

He said the school project

was initiated “to solve the insecurity problem we have from the root because every crime has its perpetrators and every perpetrators are drawn from a pool so we want to go there and dry the pool and we found out that education is the best cure.”

He added that: “If they are educated, they will not be doing what they are doing.

NIMC Restates Commitment to Provide Seamless Identification Services Emma Okonji

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has restated its commitment to offer identification services to members of the public in accordance to the NIMC Act No 23 of 2007.

The commission, in a statement yesterday signed by its Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Kayode

Adegoke, said it would continue to enroll all Nigerians and legal residents for issuance of the National Identification Number (NIN), while providing authentication platform for the verification, validation and confirmation of the unique identity credentials issued.

According to the statement, “As part of ensuring excellent service provision and mitigating some challenges, the Minister of Communications and Digital

Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami recently secured the approval of the President, Muhammad Buhari, to upgrade the NIMS infrastructure and strengthen the capacity of the commission to deliver on its mandate.

“In the past one year, NIMC launched improved NIN slip with QR Code and MobileID app to ensure that alternative channels for identity verification are provided.

“These new channels put personal identity back in the hands of the ID holder and allows for easier and quick verification by simply scanning the barcode.

“All existing and prospective verification agents (all agencies of the Government and the private sector) are expected to utilize these available channels including the mobile web service (MWS) to verify the identities of their customers.”

Vedic Lifecare Hospital Report: Nigerians Top List of African Students in US Resumes Operations Bayo Akinloye

Sunday Okobi Leading multidisciplinary medical facility in Lagos State, Vedic Lifecare Hospital, has announced the resumption of operations after the Health Monitoring and AccreditationAgency (HEFAMAA) gave its approval.

The hospital was sealed recently by the HEFAMAA due to the fact that three of their expatriate medical personnel were unable to produce their certificate of registration with the Medical and Dental Council (MDCN).

This came after the hospital successfully completed registration and secured the delayed practicing licences of three of its expatriate personnel from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).

The hospital management stated that these highly skilled personnel have over 20 to 30 years of experience internationally

and unparalleled expertise of the hospital across surgery, gynecology, and internal medicine.

Commenting on the resumption of operations at the hospital yesterday, the Head of Operations, Vedic Lifecare Hospital, Dr. Tosan Omaghomi, in a statement said: “We would like to convey our deepest apologies to our esteemed patients who were turned away over the past few days due to the abrupt closure.

“We would like to reiterate our commitment to excellent service delivery and the strict observance of the highest professional standards, and we are assuring members of the public that as healthcare providers, we are steadfast in observing the cardinal values of our profession and the well-being of every patient that walks through our doors is and will always be our topmost priority.”

Nigerians are top on the list of African students in United States’ colleges and universities, according to the Open Doors 2021 Report on International Educational Exchange.

The report was released yesterday.

The Open Doors 2021 report, released by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Institute of International Education (IIE), had been an important benchmark for

international educational exchange to the US for over 70 years.

In the 2020/21 academic year, the Open Doors report included international students enrolled at US higher education institutions in the United States and online from abroad and those on Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Nigeria was top on the list, followed by Ghana, Kenya and Ethiopia.

In 2019/2020, there were 13,762 Nigerians enrolled in American colleges and universities. In the

2020/2021 session, the number of Nigerians dropped to 12,860, likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, was the 10th largest source of students for US colleges and universities globally.

The Open Doors 2021 report further revealed that about 13,000 Nigerians were enrolled in at least 1,000 schools in the US. In addition, it explained that students using the EducationUSA Nigeria services had $28 million in scholarships and financial aid

in the 2020/2021 session.

According to a statement released by OpenData, the US remained open to international students during the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 710,000 international students enrolled at the undergraduate, graduate, and nondegree levels from more than 200 places of origin. In addition, more than 200,000 international students pursued OPT, a welcome opportunity for students to gain practical work experiences in the US after academic study.

1,500 Benefit from NYSC Medical Outreach in Sokoto Onuminya Innocent In Sokoto No fewer than 1,500 persons yesterday benefited from National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Medical Outreach in Kware Local Government of Sokoto State.

Speaking at the event at Sarkin Yarma Primary School Kware

the NYSC State Coordinator Alhaji Muhammad Nakamba said the gesture was through NYSC Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers(HIRD) According to Nakamba, the programme is aimed at mobilising corps members to provide health intervention to the general public especially those in the rural areas.

“In Sokoto this is the second phase of the medical outreach this year, the first one took place at Wamakko local government some months ago he stated.

He maintained that NYSC had impacted positively on the people of the state through community development service (CDS) particularly in education, health

and environmental sanitation.

He commended the corps members for their dedication to service while describing them as qualified to offer the medical services.

Nakamba thanked the people for their impressive turn out and their cooperation towards the success of the outreach.

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FOREIGN DESK

COMPILED BY BAYO AKINLOYE

China Coal Demand Surges but Xi Govt Ignores Australia Supply China’s coal output increased to its highest level since at least March 2015 after authorities permitted mine expansions to boost supply and ease record prices. Chinese coal imports from Russia surged in September, but one of its traditional suppliers — Australia — remains frozen out of the lucrative trade because of diplomatic tensions.

China — the world’s leading consumer of coal — has an energy shortage triggered by strong demand from its manufacturers, industry and households.

The government in Beijing is determined to avoid more power cuts.

According to the National Development and Reform Commission, China has approved expansions at more than 150 coal mines since July.

Figures from China’s National Bureau of Statistics showed domestic coal production exceeded 357 million tons in October, up from 334 million tons the previous month.

Official customs data has also shown that China imported about 3.7 million tons of thermal coal from Russia — the main fuel for electricity generation — in September, up more than a quarter from August.

Boris Johnson: Climate Deal ‘Death Knell for Coal Power’ British Prime Minister Boris Johnson praised an agreement by nearly 200 countries to boost efforts to combat climate change while expressing disappointment the result of a UN climate conference was not stronger.

“We can lobby, we can cajole, we can encourage, but we cannot force sovereign nations to do what they do not wish to do,” Johnson said at a Sunday news conference. “It’s ultimately their decision to make, and they must stand by it.”

Johnson told reporters the agreement reached after the two-week summit in Glasgow was “truly historic” and represented the “death knell for coal power” with pledges to phase down the use of coal.

He said that even with disagreement about the extent and speed of actions to try to limit global warming in the coming decades, “the world is undeniably heading in the right direction.”

Cuba Cracks Down on Protest Organisers Ahead of Planned March Cuban authorities are cracking down on activists who have called for a “Civic March for Change” Monday.

The Cuban government has warned the opposition that it will not tolerate “counterrevolutionary” and “terrorist” acts and said it believes the planned demonstration is part of a US interventionist plan.

Ahead of the planned march Monday, The Washington Post reported that swarms of police in plain clothes encircled the homes of activists and independent journalists to prevent them from leaving.

Journalists said the government was trying to stop the protest by preventing the demonstration leaders and members of the press from going outside.

On Sunday, Cuban officials surrounded the home of Yunior Garcia Aguilera, a leader of Archipielago, the group that planned Monday’s march.

Garcia was set to do a solo walk Sunday afternoon with a single white rose supporting people unable to participate Monday. But he was not able to execute his plan because government agents surrounded his residence.

Britain Raises Terror Alert after Taxi Explosion Britain Monday raised its terror threat level from substantial to severe following an explosion Sunday in a taxi outside a hospital in the city of Liverpool, Interior Minister Priti Patel announced.

A severe level means a terror attack is “highly likely.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson also chaired an emergency meeting in response to the incident.

Authorities told reporters that the passenger in the taxi was carrying an improvised explosive device and asked to be taken to the Liverpool Women’s Hospital, but that a motive or what caused the device to explode was not clear.

The passenger died in the blast, and police said Monday they believe they know his identity.

Since the explosion, police have arrested four other men in connection with the investigation.

The explosion injured the taxi driver, who received medical treatment but was released.

Myanmar Frees US Journalist Detained Since May After 176 days in a Myanmar prison, American journalist Danny Fenster is finally on his way home.

Fenster, 37, was freed on Monday, days after a Yangon court sentenced him to 11 years in prison on charges filed by the junta.

After widespread reports of a possible release, Myanmar military spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun confirmed to VOA Burmese that Fenster was allowed to go home.

The release comes after negotiations between the Myanmar military government and top US officials, including former congressman and ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson.

Fenster’s release was secured after Richardson had face-to-face talks with junta chief General Min Aung Hlaing in Myanmar, according to a statement from The Richardson Center, a non-profit corporation that provides logistical support to Richardson.

Roadside Bomb in Kabul Wounds 2 On Monday, a roadside bomb blew up on a busy avenue in the Afghan capital Kabul, wounding two people, police said.

The bomb detonated as a taxi was passing by in the Kota-e Sangi district of western Kabul. The Taliban spokesman for Kabul police, who goes by a single name Mobin, said two people were wounded. Witnesses said one was a woman in the taxi and the other a man passing by.

The blast came two days after a bomb exploded in a mini-bus in another part of western Kabul, killing at least one person and wounding five others. Colleagues identified the slain man as Hamid Sighyani, a journalist with Ariana TV. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosions. The Islamic State group has been waging a campaign of violence in Afghanistan, targeting Taliban fighters and civilians, especially members of the mainly Shiite Hazara ethnic group.

UN Announces $40m to Support Ethiopia Humanitarian Aid UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths allocated $40 million on Monday to support life-saving aid and civilian protection efforts in Ethiopia amidst ongoing conflict and drought.

According to an announcement from the UN, $25 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund will be allocated and $15 million from the Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund.

The funds will be used to step up emergency operations in the country’s northern regions, where pro-government forces and Tigrayan rebels have been fighting for a year. Around 2.2 million Ethiopians have been displaced in Tigray, according to Reuters.

The funding will also be used to support early response efforts regarding drought in southern Ethiopia.

Kenya, Ethiopia Discuss Tigray Crisis Ahead

of Blinken Visit

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken departs for Kenya on Monday, the first stop on a three-nation tour of Africa. Blinken will meet with Kenya’s president, who just returned from Ethiopia, to discuss that country’s internal war.

Some experts fear Ethiopia’s political leadership

will not agree to end the yearlong conflict.

This week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken kicks off his visit to Africa by stopping in Kenya before heading to Nigeria and Senegal.

Blinken will meet Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta to discuss East Africa’s regional political and security situation.

Professor Chacha Nyaigotti Chacha, a specialist in diplomacy and international relations at the University of Nairobi, says Blinken’s visit shows the urgency needed for stability in the region.

Pakistan Begins Immunising Millions against Measles, Rubella Pakistan rolled out a massive two-week drive Monday to immunise more than 90 million children, which officials hailed as one of the world’s biggest vaccination campaigns against measles and rubella.

An official announcement said children aged between 9 months and 15 years across the country would be inoculated against contagious viral infections.

The Pakistani government has mobilised more than 600,000 health professionals, vaccinators and social mobilizers for the campaign with the support of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the United Nations Children’s Fund, and the World Health Organisation.

“Measles and rubella are contagious diseases and can have severe complications for children even death,” said Dr. Faisal Sultan, special assistant to the Pakistani prime minister on health. Officials said Pakistan had experienced an alarming rise in measles cases in recent years, affecting thousands of children and claiming many young lives.

UK Expands COVID-19 Booster Availability to Ages 40-49 The British government Monday announced Monday an expansion of the nation’s COVID-19 booster shot program to people ages 40 and up to fight off a potential winter surge of the deadly disease.

Until now, only British residents ages 50 and up, those clinically vulnerable because of underlying conditions, and frontline health workers were eligible for booster shots. But at a news briefing in London, the chairman of Britain’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, Wei Shen Lin, announced the extension to those ages 40 and up who have been fully vaccinated for at least six months.

He said, as with the original booster program, either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines can be used as the booster dose, regardless of the type of vaccine originally received.

TUESDAY, ͹;˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

46

TUESDAYSPORTS

Returnee Super Eagles forward, Odion Ighalo, is expected to be in action against Cape Verde this afternoon

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

L-R: Kelechi Iheanacho, Ola Aina, Victor Osimhen, Joe Aribo and Chidozie Awaziem all battle ready for Blue Sharks of Cape Verde this afternoon in Lagos

No Pressure on Eagles, Cape Verde Will Fall, Says Rohr Duro Ikhazuagbe Super Eagles Head Coach, Gernot Rohr, yesterday expressed confidence that the three-time African champions will collect all three points against Cape Verde’s Blue Sharks when both countries file out this evening for their last Group C 2022 World Cup qualifying game at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

Speaking during a media session yesterday ahead of the crunchy tie where Eagles only need a draw to progress to the final playoffs of the African series, Rohr insisted Nigeria will walk away with all three points just as they did

when both teams met at the Estadio Municipal Adérito Sena on the island of Mindelo on 7th September.

“We have a job on our hands and that is to win on Tuesday.

It is important to win so as to be sure of where you will be at the end of the day. We are top of the table (on 12 points) now and a win keeps us there and sends us to the final knockout round.

“I really don’t think we are under any pressure. We have 12 points, two more than the opponents. They are the ones with the big pressure to come out and look for a win.

Our approach for tomorrow (Tuesday) will be to win. The

Rivers Utd to Play in Aba after CAF Bans Adokiye Stadium CONFEDERATION CUP Rivers United will now have to play their CAF Confederation playoff match against Al Masry of Egypt at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba after their own home ground was banned for being sub-standard.

Rivers United are to do battle with Al Masry on November 28 in Aba for a place in the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup after they dropped out of the

more lucrative CAF Champions League.

Their home ground, the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt last month hosted a Champions League clash against Al Hilal of Sudan.

However, the stadium has now not been approved for the match against Al Masry to force Rivers United to choose to play in Aba.

players are looking forward to doing that,” observed the German gaffer who will be in charge of his 54th game as Nigeria’s Coach.

Similarly, Captain Ahmed Musa assured Nigerians that the Super Eagles are matured, professional and ambitious enough to deal with any pressure when taking on the Blue Sharks this evening.

“The FIFA World Cup is the biggest stage for every professional football player.

They all want to be there;

you don’t need any more motivation than that. We said after the match with Liberia in Tangier on Saturday that we will not be going for a draw against Cape Verde. Nothing has changed,” stressed the forward with Turkish Fatih Karagumruk.

Although he waved off any pressure on the team due to the promise by the visitors to similarly inflict a painful defeat on the Eagles just the same way the Central African Republic did here recently, Musa insisted that

there will always be pressure on professional footballers.

“There will always be all kinds of pressure when you are out there on the football field, as a professional sportsman or woman. You just must have strong fibre to cope with the pressure from everywhere, focus on getting the result and get the job done.

“Pressure is never an excuse not to put out your best; sometimes, it helps you to get beyond your level best,” Al Shabab of Saudi Arabia

forward, Odion Ighalo who missed last Thursday game with Liberia’s Lone Stars is likely to start from the bench today as he’s looking forward to increasing his goal in his first game since coming out of retirement.

Nigeria on 12 points need just a draw result to progress to the playoffs scheduled for March next year. The Blue Sharks need an outright victory to upset Nigeria just like Angola did in Kano in 2005 for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Keffi Polo Immortalises Captain Hosa with a Trophy Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The virtues of billionaire business mogul and philanthropist, late Capt Idahosa Wells Okunbo came alive at the weekend as the organisers of the annual Keffi Polo Ranch Tournament immortalised his legacy by dedicating a trophy in his honour.

The late commercial pilot and humanist was until his demise a patron of Keffi Polo Ranch in Nasarawa State and a strong pillar for the development of polo game in the state.

The late business mogul passed on to glory on August 8 , 2021 at a private hospital

in London.

The week-long event which attracted top dignitaries and lovers of polo game across the country witnessed a special tournament played by professionals in honour of their patron, the late Captain Hosa and presentation of trophies made to winners.

Some of the notable personalities at the tourney include; Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo; former Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai (retired); Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero; Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare; former Governor of Nasarawa State,

Senator Abdullahi Adamu and Hon Ahmed Wadada.

The son of Capt Hosa who is an executive director, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, Osahon Okunbo, who represented the Okunbo's family expressed gratitude to Hon Ahmed Wadada and organisers for finding his late father worthy of immortalisation.

While reacting to the honour, Osahon said the Okunbo's family were indeed honoured by the gesture.

He said his late father built bridges that cut across ethnic, religion, tribe and creed.

"On behalf of myself and the entire Okunbo's Family, I want to say we are indeed

grateful. We are grateful to Hon Ahmed Wadada whom we all consider as a family member.

Our late father lived a good life worthy of emulation. His love for humanity knows no bounds, so we are not surprised that this is happening. We are indeed grateful," Osahon said.

Other notable dignitaries that graced the occasion were Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, who was represented by his deputy Emmanuel Akabe, Seyi Tinubu, former Governor of Adamawa State, Jubril Bindow, Emir of Zazzau, Emir of Keffi, Emir of Nasarawa and other first class emirs from the northern parts of the country.

47

TUESDAY, ͹;˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

SPORTS

Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire in Crunchy Battle of Survival Tunisia, E’Guinea, Zambia also in duel for Group B sole ticket to playoffs WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS Two of Africa’s heavyweights in football, Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire will be at war this evening in the battle for qualification to the final playoffs of the African round of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Both countries won their respective fixtures on Saturday for Group D to go down to the wire.

Côte d’Ivoire defeated Mozambique 3-0 to step up to 13 points, one point ahead of the Indomitable Lions, who brushed aside 10-man Malawi 4-0 earlier in the afternoon.

The Cameroonians who are hosting the Elephants in Douala today need to beat their west African rivals, while a draw will see the Ivorians top Group D. Both countries failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and one will see their hopes of reaching next year's tournament ended prematurely again this evening.

Elsewhere, Group B is wide open after leaders Tunisia suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat in Equatorial Guinea.

Tunisia, Equatorial Guinea and

Zambia all head into the final round of Group B fixtures with a chance to progress after Saturday's results.

Equatorial Guinea moved level with Tunisia on 10 points as Pablo Ganet stunned the Eagles of Carthage with his 84th-minute strike which he fired in from the centre of the box.

And Zambia are three points behind the pair after Rangers forward Fashion Sakala scored a hat-trick in their 4-0 win over Mauritania.

Tunisia, who lead the group on goal difference, host Zambia in the final round of matches and Equatorial Guinea travel to Mauritania - with several permutations possible.

Tunisia must win to clinch top spot but Equatorial Guinea will go through instead if they better the north Africans' result.

Zambia need the Equatoguineans to lose, and to then beat Tunisia by a three-goal margin. Egypt, Mali, Morocco, DR Congo, Ghana and Senegal have already secured their places in the play-offs next March, when Africa's five representatives in Qatar will be decided.

THE STANDINGS

Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions who missed out of the last World Cup in Russia are going into this evening’s crunch clash with Côte d’Ivoire with focus on qualifying for the final playoffs

'Robbed' South Africa Seek Replay of Clash with Ghana "Robbed" South Africa are set to make a "formal complaint" about "questionable decisions" made by the match officials in Sunday's 1-0 defeat by Ghana, SAFA officials said yesterday.

Bafana Bafana needed a draw to reach the third and final round of African qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, but Ghana won with a controversial penalty.

"The match officials have decided the game, which is not what is supposed to happen," claimed South Africa Football Association's (SAFA) chief executive Tebogo Mothlante.

"We will be writing to both CAF (the Confederation of African Football) and (world governing body) FIFA - firstly to investigate how the game was handled and secondly to challenge some of these decisions.

"We have already registered with the match commissioner that we will be making a formal complaint."

The Black Stars' narrow win

enabled Ghana to reach the African final playoffs of the 2022 World Cup by the narrowest of margins, ousting South Africa at the top of the group on goals scored.

The penalty was awarded after Ghana's Leicester City midfielder Daniel Amartey went down following what appeared minimal contact from defender Rushine de Reuck, who was booked for his challenge.

Mothlante explained that SAFA has concerns over the legitimacy of both the decision and the display of the officiating team from Senegal,

headed up by referee Maguette Ndiaye.

"We are very disheartened by their actions and we can't let it destroy the players - when we have the chance to challenge, we will challenge," he added.

"We feel very much robbed because it is not an isolated incident of a penalty. There are just a lot of questionable decisions by match officials and we will get an expert to dissect other incidents, so we can make a strong case."

South Africa is well aware that the capacity for matches to be replayed

TODAY Africa Algeria v B’ Faso Mauritania v E’Guinea Tunisia v Zambia Liberia v CAR Nigeria v Cape Verde Mo’bique v Malawi Cameroon v Côte D’Ivoire Egypt v Gabon Libya v Angola Morocco v Guinea

England Qualify for Qatar 2022 England hit double figures for the first time since 1964 as they secured qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with embarrassing 10-0 victory in San Marino.

Harry Kane also racked up the records by scoring four in the first half to go level with Gary Lineker on 48 England goals, additionally setting a new high of 13 for his country in a calendar year as he followed up his hat-trick in the 5-0 win against Albania.

Only Sir Bobby Charlton and Wayne Rooney are ahead of Kane in the England goalscorers list.

He now stands just five behind record-holder Rooney's tally of 53.

Kane also became only the fourth player to score a hat-trick in consecutive England games after Vivian Woodward, Dixie Dean and Tommy Taylor, and the first to score four since Ian Wright, also against San Marino in 1993.

does exist.

They were forced to replay a 2018 World Cup qualifier against Senegal after the referee was found guilty of match manipulation.

The South Africans had originally beaten Senegal 2-1, with FIFA later concluding that Ghanaian referee Joseph Lamptey - 'with the sole purpose of facilitating a minimum number of goals to make certain bets successful - clearly took two wrong decisions.

Europe

Captain of Ghana’s Black Stars, Andre Ayew (left) in contest with South African defender Rushine de Reuk during Sunday’s World Cup qualifying clash. Now, the Bafana Bafana are asking FIFA to order a replay due to the controversial penalty awarded to the Black Stars.

Netherlands v Norway Mo’negro v Turkey Wales v Belgium Czech v Estonia Finland v France Bosnia & H v Ukraine

“33” Export Lager Backs S’Eagles to Beat Cape Verde The official beer of the Super Eagles, “33” Export Lager beer, has expressed absolute confidence in the team ahead of the make or mar clash with the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde on Tuesday in Lagos.

Super Eagles maintained their two-point advantage going into the final group game of the World Cup qualifiers after beating the Lone Star of Liberia 2-0 in Tangier, Morocco on Saturday.

The three-time African Champions must now avoid defeat in their final group game in order to make it to the playoffs.

Having defeated Cape Verde in their own backyard earlier in the qualifiers, “33” Export Lager is tipping Eagles to complete a double over the Blue Sharks just like they did against Liberia's Lone Stars.

Head Media, Digital, PR & Sponsorship Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr Wasiu Ola Abiola, assured the support for the Eagles is unshaken as demonstrated even when the result did not go the way of Gernot Rohr's men.

“The brand’s standard is total victory, even though a draw is enough to see us through. We have to win to further push

Nigeria higher on the FIFA rankings ahead of next month's playoff draw,” he said.

While offering maximum support for the Eagles, 33 Export Lager and Amstel Malta Ultra have continued to build a solid fan base and connect Nigerians and passionate football fans with each other.

“33” Export's Lets Go Naija slogan now rents the air every other match day as fans continue to play their crucial role of motivating the players and team as a whole.

The Super Eagles are hoping for a seventh appearance at the World Cup in Qatar next year.

Team.

Algeria.

B’ Faso Niger.

Djibouti

P. 5 5.

6.

6.

W. 4.

3.

2.

0.

Group A D. L. 1.

0.

2.

0.

1.

3.

6.

4.

F. 23.

10.

13.

2.

A. GD. 2. 21.

2.

8.

17. -4.

29. -25.

PTS 13 11 7 0

Team.

Tunisia E’Guinea Zambia.

Mauritania

P. 5.

5 5.

5.

W. 3.

3.

2.

0.

Group B D. L. F. 1.

1.

8.

1 1 5 1.

2.

7.

1.

4.

1.

A. GD. 1.

7.

4 1.

6.

1.

10. -9.

PTS 10 10 7 1

Team.

Nigeria C’ Verde CAR. Liberia.

P. 5.

5.

5.

5.

W. 4.

3.

1.

1.

Group C D. L. 0.

1.

1 1 1.

3.

0.

4.

F. 8.

7.

3.

2.

A. GD. 2.

6.

5.

2.

6. -3.

7. -5.

PTS 12 10 4 3

Team.

Côte d’Ivoire .

Cameroon Malawi. .

Mo’bique.

P. 5.

5.

5.

5.

W. 4.

4.

1.

0.

Group D D. L. 1.

0.

0.

1.

0.

4.

1.

4.

F. 10.

11.

2.

1.

A. GD. 2.

8.

3.

8.

11. -9.

8. -7.

PTS 13.

12.

3 1.

Team.

Mali. .

Uganda Kenya.

Rwanda

P. 6.

6.

6.

6.

W. 5.

2.

1.

0.

Group E D. L. F. 1.

0. 11.

3.

1.

3.

3.

2.

4.

1.

5.

2.

A. GD. 0. 11.

2.

1.

9. -5.

9. -7.

PTS 16 9.

6.

1.

P. 5.

5.

5.

5.

W. 3.

2.

2.

1.

Group F D. L. 2.

0.

1.

2.

0.

3.

1.

3.

F. 8.

6.

3.

5.

A. GD. 3.

5.

6.

0.

6. -3.

7. -2.

PTS 11.

7 6 4.

Team.

Ghana.

S’Africa.

Ethiopia Zimbabwe

P. 6.

6.

6.

6.

Group G W. D. L. 4.

1.

1.

4.

1.

1.

1.

2.

3.

0.

2.

4.

F. 7.

6.

4.

2.

A. GD. 3.

4.

2.

4.

7.

-3 7. -5.

PTS 13 13.

5.

2.

Team.

Senegal Togo.

Namibia Congo

P. 6.

6.

6.

6.

W. 5.

2.

1.

0.

Group H D. L. 1.

0.

2.

2.

2.

3.

3.

3.

F. 15.

5.

5.

5.

A. GD. 4. 11.

6. -1.

10. -5.

10. -5.

PTS 16 8.

5.

3.

Team.

Morocco G’Bissau.

Guinea.

Sudan.

P. 5.

6.

5.

6.

W. 5.

1.

0.

0.

Group I D. L. F. 0.

0. 17.

3.

2.

5.

4.

1.

5.

3.

3.

5.

A. GD. 1. 16.

11. -6.

8. -3.

12. -7.

PTS 15 6.

4.

3.

Team.

DR Congo.

Benin.

Tanzania .

M’gascar

P. 6.

6.

6.

6.

W. 3.

3.

2.

1.

Group J D. L. 2.

1.

1.

2.

2.

2.

1.

4.

A. GD. 3.

6.

4.

1.

8. -2.

9. -5.

PTS 11 10.

8.

4.

Team.

Egypt.

Gabon .

Libya.

Angola

F. 9.

5.

6.

4.

Tuesday November 16, 2021

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Price: N250

MISSILE Railway Workers to FG “The salary of a Railway worker is not more than N30,000, N42,000, to N43,000.

The locomotive engine with the coaches cost N1 billion. They will hand over this train to someone receiving N30,000. How can he work with peace of mind?

And a train carries over 800 passengers. The safety of the passengers is in his hands ...How can someone work comfortably?” –– Leader of the Railway workers, Innocent Luka, relaying the workers’ plight, and their resolve to embark on strike.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI abati1990@gmail.com

Ikoyi Building Collapse: Matters Arising

I

was at a reception for our brother and colleague, Dele Momodu, a life-long reporter, author, publisher, media-preneur, community chief, politician, public intellectual, Chairman/CEO of Ovation Magazine, Ovation Carol and Boss Magazine on Sunday, November 14, 2021 at the Reds Chinese Restaurant of Eko Hotels in Lagos.

It was meant to be a drink up, eat, celebrate our brother kind of event put together by a committee of friends led by Aremo Olusegun Oniru, a Prince of Lagos, an entrepreneur, and a former Commissioner in charge of the Waterfront of Lagos. Bob Dee as we call him, invited me in my capacity, I guess, as one of his very loyal brothers. I ended up being drafted by Aremo Oniru as the person to present the citation of Aare Dele Momodu.

The notice was short. But I was ready. Momodu is one of those characters who are just in your life, because they are perpetually looking out for you.

As a certified busy-body myself, in this our line of business, I don’t need to be prompted to talk about some people who have shared the same field of experience with me. Dele Momodu is one of such persons. I didn’t need a script. Or any long notice.

Tee-A, the Master of Ceremonies announced that I would speak but just then Prince Damola Aderemi, also a dear brother, one of those quiet ones, seized the microphone, and implored the gathering to stand up and observe a minute silence in honour of two friends, who died in the Ikoyi Building Collapse incident on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi. He mentioned Femi Osibona, the developer, and Wale Bobs-Oseni, a friend of the developer who was on his way back to the United States, but was called back to come and see the 21-storey building being put up by his friend.

Oseni turned back and headed towards Ikoyi. It turned out to be the call of destiny.

Aremo Oniru is a good host. He made everything available and the managers of Eko Hotel and Suites ensured that we got excellent reception. The event was star-studded. Should I point out that this was Dele Momodu being celebrated? What do you expect? It is no big deal for a master of celebrity journalism to light up the space, and in some of his recent events, I have observed an attempt by him to downplay his reach and influence in the Miliki space while cultivating the serious end of the social and political space. There was more than enough to eat and drink. I would have stayed longer if I was not reminded that it was Sunday evening and I would have to appear on early Morning TV. Good food, good drinks have a way of tying down even the most prudent of all men. Sir Shina Peters, life-long friend of the honoree had taken the microphone, crooning: “Ore mi o, Ore mi o, Dele Momodu, Oko Bolaji, aya Momodu, oni te mi o, Ore mi o, Ore mi o ooo h”. There was no shortage of anything. Segun Oniru was clearly up to the task. But I had to leave.

And as I did, in my head was the one-minute silence in remembrance of the men that died at the 21-storey building at Gerrard, Ikoyi. If Femi Osibona and Wale Bobs-Oseni had not died, they probably would have been at the Dele Momodu reception, organized in appreciation/celebration of the recent conferment on him of the title of Aare of Iwo and Yeye Aare of Iwo land on his wife, by His Majesty, the Oluwo of Iwoland, Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, Telu II. Both men or their friends would have been at that cosy, Reds Restaurant at Eko hotel clinking glasses along with us. In life, shit happens, pardon my language, and it did happen at the Fourscore Homes site on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi Lagos. Every time I drive past this site of destruction, I pause a bit to reflect on the unpredictability of life, the very emptiness of it, the supremacy of the unknown, and the smallness of man in the presence of the immensity of the Cosmos.

On November 1, a 21-storey building, under construction, collapsed like the Tower of Babel.

The state government may have been able to rescue

The collapsed 21-storey building in Ikoyi

some of the survivors, 15 survived, 44 died, but hopes were lost. Memories were destroyed. Lives disappeared. It is possible to imagine that more than a week later, the tragedy is complete. It is sad. So sad. Our commiserations with the affected families.

What happened in Ikoyi was a classic case of human tragedy, a truly elemental case of the failure of the human story. Can you imagine persons going to work, all the way from different parts of Lagos only to be buried beneath a building that crashed like a pack of cards? Can you imagine the story of a man who was already on his way to the international airport, called back by a friend to come and have a look at a project, only to die in the process? A certain young woman whose wedding had been scheduled for December and who had only spent a week with the company also died. There was also the story of the National Youth Corps member who travelled many miles down South to work at a construction site but ended up dying. Or the many young men and women who work at construction sites every day for companies that have no structure, no manifest, no safety protocols, no evidence of professional compliance, and yet when things go wrong as they may, they die, they disappear without trace. The Ikoyi building tragedy was a comment on the construction industry in Nigeria. The failure of standards. My driver, Egunje, has been lamenting about how two persons from his neighbourhood managed to survive as the building crashed. And how others were not so lucky. They travelled from over 100 kilometres away to work in Ikoyi. I see them every day at round-abouts in the neighbourhood.

They work on the island, many miles away from their homes, to be able to feed others and remain relevant.

The building that collapsed is now a graveyard of dreams. The fact that both the poor and the rich perished in one instant moment is a poignant fact about the collective anguish that we all share in the face of omissions. Death knows no billionaires. It does not differentiate along class lines. It is why everyone must do the right thing.

The Lagos State Government has done what it can to show empathy. Both the Governor and his Deputy and other state officials have been at the site. It is curious how Governor Babajide Sanwoolu’s tenure, his first term, that is, may well be remembered eventually for the management of tragedies: gas explosion, COVID-19, EndSARS protests and killings, buildings collapse, kidnappings,

and other bad stories. The superstitious residents on the streets of Lagos are beginning to wonder if the incumbent Governor picked the calabash of pepper at his celestial moment of emergence. I speak in parables in that regard. My comment is not necessarily an endorsement. What we know is that in reality, the state government has suspended Gbolahan Oki, the head of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA). However, I have seen stories indicating that any offence with regard to approvals, building supervision and control of standards may have been committed without him and beyond him, long before he assumed office. Excuses. Don’t be surprised if the Lagos State Government reinstates him tomorrow.

I won’t be surprised either. He is not the problem.

It is the system that is the problem. The 21-storey building in Gerrard was not the first of its type. Many collapsed before it. One other building collapsed in fact, a day after, in the Osapa, London-Lekki area of Lagos. Nobody has talked about that because nobody died. Other buildings will collapse tomorrow.

And of course, all the relevant questions were writ large in the Femi Osibona project in Ikoyi. Since the tragedy occurred, nobody has stepped forward to represent the company. This was obviously a one-man project. How on earth can anyone in Lagos build a 21-storey, three structures project with direct labour!

In the heart of Ikoyi, a high-brow neigbourhood!

Who gave the approvals? Nobody has shown up to represent the company oh! The apartments in the development project were also said to have been fully sold. Nobody has shown up to claim losses.

Real estate is big business in Nigeria. People invest in many of these construction projects. They pay up to a million dollar. But it is money that they dare not identify with in public. When the investment goes up in smoke as in the 21-storey Gerrard case, they scratch their heads and padlock their mouths, and pray that nobody will investigate anything. I sympathize with those silent losers, many of whom may end up dying silently.

One more thing: Nobody has talked about insurance. In the face of the tragedy that we have seen, who is going to step forward to make insurance claims? Was the project insured in the first place?

The developer was said to have been an ardent priest of a spirit-filled, Pentecostal church. In the 21st Century, God and angels are the only insurance agents behind million-dollar projects in many parts of Africa. When tragedy occurs, the people take it

in good faith and move on. I suspect that this is what may have happened in the Gerrard Street, Ikoyi tragedy.

The state government has set up a five-man independent panel of inquiry, a panel of experts and lawyers. When government in Nigeria does not want to do anything about anything, it sets up a panel, announces terms of reference, but it is all for the purpose being seen to be doing something.

Who are the “gods” involved in the Ikoyi building collapse whose egos needed to be massaged with all that high-profile government eye-service? I imagine that the tribunal of inquiry as it is called, will make all the right noises: statements about approvals – who approved what, a few comments about negligence, structural engineering and a bit of gobbledygook. But who can compensate the affected families for their loss? The one-man business owner died with his business. Those who invest in real estate in Nigeria have many lessons to learn from this.

There are life lessons as well beyond investment.

There are stories out there about how family members have been fighting over Femi Osibona’s estate. He reportedly had a nuclear family of a wife and four children. Within two days of his remains being rescued from the rubble, his family members reportedly went after his properties, resulting in all kinds of struggles over his cars, his homes, cheque books, and whatever anyone could grab. His wife and children who are based abroad, reportedly relocated to Nigeria to keep the family at the gates. Femi Osibona’s brothers, one report indicates, brought Mobile Policemen. The wife and children also rented their own Police! I have not seen a rebuttal of this story out there. But it is the most painful part of events like this. You live, work hard and struggle to make people around you happy, then tragedy happens, no man can live forever, but nobody even spares a thought for you. They don’t even wait for you to be buried. While you are still in the mortuary, the same scavengers you spent your entire life trying to help, helping them to pay bills and have hope, descend on your home and children. They fight over your belongings. They behave like a South African crowd on rampage all over your properties, looting this, carrying that, threatening your biological children and their mother to dare them if they could. Why are people like this? I have heard people say that if you don’t want such home trouble then do not die interstate. Write a will. I am sorry. The extended family system in Africa is so bad, a written Will is not always a guarantee. In the same manner in which our people have a sense of entitlement to the proverbial national cake and their claim to a part of it, a rich man or woman within the family is also seen as a source of oxygen. It is a sin to be rich or privileged in Africa, within the family and the larger society. If you drop dead, you are not safe.

They will come after your remains like vultures and fight your wife and children while doing so. Why are we like this? There may be exceptions but the crisis of poverty in Africa defines everything else.

The trucks have begun to leave the site of the tragedy at Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos. I can see that. The road is now free on both sides. Visiting VIPs have had their photo-ops and mouthed their sweet-nothings and moved on. The public made all the necessary noises. And stopped. It will rain heavily tomorrow and the day after, and everything will die down. In due course, eventual winners of the family squabble among the Osibonas will take over the property, sell it to another developer, everyone else will look the other way, and life will continue as if nothing ever happened. So why do we all bother so much, knowing that life, no matter how beautiful, always ends up as an irony? May the souls of all the departed beloved who died at this construction site, victims of a country where death is cheap, and life is expensive, rest in peace… Na so we see am.

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