THURSDAY 19TH NOVEMBER 2020

CBN Lists Conditions to Relax Third Party Forex Purchase Policy Obinna Chima The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has given conditions to allow the opening of Forms ‘M’ by companies whose forex payments are routed through a buying company, agent, or other third parties.

The CBN outlined the terms in a circular titled: “Re: Destination Payment for All Forms M, Letters Of Credit and Other Forms of Payment,” signed by its Director, Trade and Exchange Department, Dr. Ozoemena Nnaji, obtained by THISDAY yesterday.

According to the CBN, since the release of its August 24, 2020, circular on the subject, there have been different interpretations of the term ‘ultimate supplier of products,’ which it stated also required interpretation.

The central bank, in the

earlier circular, had moved to arrest the age-long practice of over-invoicing and had directed banks and other authorised dealers to desist from opening Forms ‘M’ whose payment were being routed through a buying company, agent, or other

third parties.

It had said the move was part of its continued efforts to ensure prudent use of scarce foreign exchange resources and eliminate incidences of over-invoicing, transfer pricing, double handling charges and avoidable costs

that are ultimately passed to the consumers.

However, in the latest circular, it stated that “where it is unavoidable that an importer chooses to use a buying company (other than Continued on page 8

FG Approves Draft Finance Bill 2020, Rules out New Taxes... Page 5 Thursday 19 November, 2020 Vol 25. No 9355. Price: N250

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TODAY'S WEATHER

ABUJA 25°C-33°C

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Umahi, Wike Trade Tackles over Defection, 2023 Presidential Race Ebonyi gov: I refuse to take issue with Wike because he is my friend but Wike must know that he is a dictator Rivers helmsman: Your defection will not have any effect on us Eromosele Abiodun, Emma Okonji and Nosa Alekhuogie Governors Dave Umahi (Ebonyi State) and Nyesom Wike (Rivers State) yesterday came out smoking over the defection of the Ebonyi State helmsman from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

While Umahi insisted that he deserted the PDP in the interest of the South-east, Wike contended that the action was in the selfish interest and ambition of the Ebonyi State governor to run for the presidency in 2023 on the platform of the APC. Both gladiators spoke on the Continued on page 8

...PDP Fights Back, Lists South-east's Rewards for Supporting Party Buhari hails defection Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday launched a counter-attack to rebut an allegation made by Ebonyi State Governor, Mr. Dave

Umahi, that it has been unfair to the South-east, one of its strongholds.

Umahi, who defected on Tuesday to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), had cited alleged injustice being meted out to the zone Continued on page 8

REPORTING PROGRESS...

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema; President, Mr. Abimbola Ogunbanjo, and Council Secretary, Ms. Mojisola Adeola, during the 59th Annual General Meeting of NSE in Lagos…yesterday

Presidency Expresses Regrets over Botched Meeting with South-south Leaders... Page 6

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

Govs: COVID-19 Almost Ruined Governance, Development in Nigeria

Chuks Okocha in Abuja Governors of the 36 states of the federation yesterday highlighted challenges foisted on them by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to them the pandemic almost ruined governance and the economies of the states.

The Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi, while hosting the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mrs. Amina Mohammed, yesterday

in Abuja, added that the states were severely affected as many could not meet their obligations to workers and others.

Mohammed visited the forum as part of her tour of some West African countries, including Ghana, Sierra Leone, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.

Fayemi said although the virus hit Nigeria in March 2020, later than other countries, the country now has over 64,090 confirmed cases and 1,154 deaths.

Other impacts, he said, included the fall in oil prices, contracting tax base, loss

FG Approves Draft Finance Bill 2020, Rules out New Taxes

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved the Finance Bill 2020 conceived to enhance incremental changes in the nation’s tax laws but assured Nigerians that there would be no fresh levy.

Briefing reporters at the end of the FEC meeting in the State House, Abuja, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, explained that the bill was not conceived to increase taxes as tax rates and the 7.2 per cent value added tax (VAT) remain the same.

According to her, the objectives of the bill include improving extant tax laws as well as reducing other forms of taxation, especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

She added that the bill will tow the pattern of previous finance bills, which reduced taxes, particularly for small and medium enterprises.

She said its passage would also ensure the removal of two per cent education tax being paid by smallest businesses despite zero payment of company income tax.

"Let me remind you that in the 2019 bill, we actually reduced taxes from 30 per cent to 20 per cent for medium enterprises and from 30 per cent to zero per cent for very small or macro enterprises. These reductions in taxes are being reinforced in the 2020 Finance Bill by further removing the education tax of two per cent that the smallest businesses still have to pay despite their zero payment of company income tax," she said.

Ahmed explained that the bill seeks to make incremental changes to tax laws in relation to customs and excise and other extant fiscal laws to support the implementation of the Appropriation Act. She added that when President Muhammadu Buhari presented the 2021 budget to the National Assembly, he promised to send the 2020 Finance Bill that will support the budget proposals to the lawmakers.

She stated that incremental changes imply gradual changes in the tax system, which she said might be an upward or downward review, noting, however, that incremental change, as provided in the bill, aims at reducing the tax burden in view of the current economic challenges caused by COVID-19.

She added that the federal government is currently working

on implementing fiscal reforms in accordance with what she described as the multi-year Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

She also expressed optimism that the finance bill will herald certain reforms on an incremental basis.

She said: "So, this finance bill for 2020 was developed as a result of a very large multi-stakeholder effort under Fiscal Policy Reform Committee that has several ministries, departments and agencies as members but also the private sector, experienced tax practitioners and academics.

"During the process, we received a lot of suggestions from different stakeholders but we had to limit what we could take because we are bound by three principles - to adopt appropriate counter fiscal measures to manage the economic slowdown; incrementally reforming the fiscal incentive policies of the government and ensuring closer coordination between the monetary trade as well as fiscal authorities.

"A few of the provisions of the 2020 Finance Bill, the broad principle, is to consider how we will have adequate macroeconomic strategies to attract investments, to be able to grow the economy on a sustainable basis but also to create jobs as the immediate fiscal strategies to put in place accelerated domestic revenue mobilisation in response to COVID-19 pandemic and the recent decline in the economy.

"In producing this bill, what we were inadvertently doing was amending provisions in 13 different taxes, which include the Capital Gains Tax Act, Companies Income Tax Act (CITA), Industrial Development (Income Tax Relief) Act (IIDITRA), Personal Income Tax Act (PITA), Tertiary Education Trust Fund Act, Customs and Excise Tariff (Consolidation) Act, Value Added Tax Act (VATA), Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, the Fiscal Responsibility Act and the Public Procurement Act. "Some highlights of these provisions include amendments that we have had to provide incremental changes to tax laws. These amendments include providing fiscal relief for corporate taxpayers, for instance by reducing the applicable minimum tax rate for two consecutive years. So, from 0.5 per cent to 0.25 per cent.

of sources of livelihood, unemployment, youth restiveness (#EndSARS protest), increasing the inflation rate, worsening exchange rate and decline in productivity due to necessary lockdown measures initiated globally and nationally.

Explaining how the various states handled the pandemic, Fayemi stated that as a responsive group, "we worked collaboratively, co-opting ideas and welcoming support from critical stakeholders, including partners and the private sector. “At the wake of the pandemic, we worked with the federal government to ensure the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian

Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development got all the support they required in delivering swift containment measures�.

Also, at the National Economic Council (NEC) level, "we developed a COVID-19 response plan encompassing health, economic and socio-economic, immediate to medium term measures needed to combat the virus and its impact," he added.

Explaining that this is a period to turn adversity into opportunity, Fayemi said: “At the subnational level, we set up intervention funds, social investment programmes, distributed palliatives, launched tax incentive programmes to protect and support livelihoods as well as businesses.

"This is reflected in our 2020 amended state budgets

of which 10 per cent was earmarked for COVID-19 response expenditures and the recent partner interventions undertaken by states, including the World Bank $750 million States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) additional financing, $750 million COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (CARES) programme for results and the $100 million Regional Disease Surveillance Systems Enhancement (REDISSE)."

According to him, the pandemic compelled governors to see the “need for retooling ourselves on how best to become accountable to the electorate.�

Two governors, Mr. Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State and Senator Hope Uzodinma, his Imo State counterpart attended the meeting with the UN deputy

secretary-general in person while more than 20 others joined by zoom from their respective states.

Most of the other governors who contributed in the conversation with Mohammed echoed the same things that the Fayemi had said earlier.

Responding to their pleas for assistance from the UN, Mohammed said the UN does not give financial aids but creates an enabling environment for those that do.

She commended the governors for the mature manner with which they handled the EndSARS demonstrations, even though she regretted that some ugly influences eventually contaminated the protests.

She urged the nation’s leadership to see young people as an asset or else they would not have a peaceful retirement.

MATTERS OF STATE...

Minister of Police Aairs, Mr. Muhammed Dingyadi (left), and Chief of Sta to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, at the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja...yesterday godwin omoigui

Supreme Court Affirms Diri as Bayelsa Gov Alex Enumah in Abuja The Supreme Court yesterday upheld the election of Senator Douye Diri as Governor of Bayelsa State.

The court, in a unanimous judgment, upheld the decision of the Court of Appeal, Abuja which had earlier upturned the judgement of the election tribunal that sacked the governor and his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.

The Supreme Court gave the verdict shortly after it dismissed six appeals seeking the nullification of the election of Diri and Ewhrudjakpo, following the withdrawal of the appeals by lawyers to the appellants.

Those that withdrew their appeals were the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP), Alliance for Democracy (AD), its governorship candidate, Owei Woniwei, Liberation Movement(LM), its candidate, Vijah Opuama, as well as the Accord Party (AP).

Following the withdrawal of the appeals, the seven-member panel of the Supreme Court, led

by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, dismissed the appeals and affirmed the election of Diri.

The Court of Appeal, in a

judgement on October 2, had upturned the judgement of the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal that nullified Diri’s election.

The appellate court had in its decision by a five-man panel of justices, voided the majority judgement the tribunal delivered on August 17, which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election in the state within 90 days.

The tribunal had based its decision on the ground that INEC unlawfully excluded one of the registered political parties, ANDP, from the governorship election that held in the state on November 16, 2019.

While two members of the tribunal, Justices Sikiru Owodunni and Yunusa Musa, upheld ANDP’s petition, Chairman of the panel, Justice Ibrahim Sirajo, gave a dissenting judgement that upheld Diri’s election.

Dismissing the petition for being statute-barred, Justice Sirajo said there was evidence that the ANDP was disqualified from the election for fielding an ineligible candidate.

He noted that the party nominated an underaged deputy governorship candidate, who

admitted that he was 34 years old, instead of the 35 years age bracket the constitution stipulated.

Dissatisfied with the majority judgement of the tribunal, Diri, his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and INEC, separately lodged appeals to set it aside.

In its judgment, the appellate court panel, led by Justice Adzira Mshella, held that the majority verdict of the tribunal that invalidated Diri’s election, was perverse and “contemptuous of the law."

Justice Obande Festus Ogbuinya who read the lead judgment of the appellate court held that the tribunal wrongfully evaluated the petition of the ANDP and thus reached an unjust conclusion in the Bayelsa governorship dispute.

The appellate court said there was enough evidence before the tribunal to prove that ANDP nominated underaged candidates for the election, in breach of sections 177, 182 and 187 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

Besides, it held that the petition was not only statute-barred but equally a pre-election matter that was outside the jurisdiction of the tribunal.

According to the appellate

court, INEC, had in two separate letters dated September 13 and September 27, notified the ANDP that it made invalid nominations.

It held that the case of ANDP had become stale as at February 26 when it filed the petition at the tribunal.

The Appeal Court ruled that the issue of disqualification of candidates, being a pre-election matter could only be ventilated before a regular court and not a tribunal.

Likewise, in four other separate judgments, the appellate court, dismissed appeals that were lodged by candidate of AD, Woniwei, that of LM, Opuama, and candidate of Accord Party, Ebezimo Diriyau.

The appeals were dismissed for being statute-barred and for containing pre-election matters that were beyond the scope of an election tribunal.

The appellants had among other things, sought Diri’s disqualification on the premise that his Ewhrudjakpo submitted forged documents to INEC. The appellants had challenged the authenticity of Ewhrudjakpo’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exemption certificate allegedly issued in 1998.

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Presidency Expresses Regrets over Botched Meeting with South-south Leaders Attributes absence of delegation to emergency security meeting Deji Elumoye and Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The presidency yesterday expressed regrets over the failure of a presidential delegation to honour a scheduled meeting with governors and leaders of the South-south slated for Port Harcourt on Tuesday. The meeting was at the instance of the presidency.

It attributed the absence of the delegation, which necessitated a last-minute cancellation of the meeting and drew the anger of the South-south leaders, to the timing conflicting with an emergency National Security Council meeting, which held in the State House on Tuesday.

The Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, who was supposed to be on the delegation to the Port Harcourt meeting, participated in the Security Council meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

The South-south Governors' Forum, chaired

by Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, irked by the non-appearance of the presidential delegation, had demanded an unreserved apology from the presidency, for what they considered as the shabby treatment of the South-south leaders.

Leaders of the zone, who had gathered at the venue of the meeting in Port Harcourt, had to depart after waiting, to no avail, for the presidential delegation.

However, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) rejected the explanation from the presidency and insisted that the government should apologise to the zone.

But the presidency, in a statement by a presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, moved to calm frayed nerves as it assured the zonal leaders that the absence of the presidential delegation was not intentional.

It said the presidential team, to be led by Gambari, was already prepared to leave for Port Harcourt, when they were instructed to suspend their departure and attend the Security Council meeting.

It stated that information conveying the presidency's regrets for inconveniences caused by the development had already been transmitted to the hosts of the meeting.

It added that the team's absence was caused by the gravity of the security situation in the country as well as events that accompanied the #EndSARS' protests.

It assured the Southsouth leaders of Buhari's commitment to hearing from leaders of various regions of the country, adding that a new date for the meeting will be communicated to them.

The statement read:

"The presidency wishes to explain that the absence of the federal government delegation at the planned meeting with governors and stakeholders of the South-south region was necessitated by an emergency security meeting summoned by the president, certainly not out of disrespect.

"The delegation to the meeting, under the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof.

Ibrahim Gambari, ministers and heads of security and intelligence agencies, were in full readiness to proceed to Port Harcourt until they were directed to stay back for the emergency security meeting. ''This information and regret for the inconveniences caused were conveyed to the hosts of the meeting through what we believed were the right channels. “As may have been gleaned from the statement read by the Minister of Police Affairs, Mr. Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, the extraordinary National Security Council meeting, under the president, was called in view of the gravity of the security situation affecting all parts of the country, including the South-south in the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests, and the need to rise to protect our national security and territorial integrity.

"The president is strongly and resolutely committed to hearing from leaders, stakeholders and our youth on burning issues affecting all parts of the federation, and to this effect, a new date for the meeting with the South-south will be agreed after due consultations with the parties concerned."

PANDEF Carpets FG However, notwithstanding the presidency's conciliatory response, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has described the failure of the federal government delegation to show up for the meeting as one insult too many.

PANDEF, in a statement by its National Chairman, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (rtd.), said the absence of the government team was a demonstration of contempt and disregard for the zone.

It said: "The reason offered for the deplorable action is completely untenable and unacceptable. This is one insult too many. How else can anyone explain what happened? If not an act of disrespect, disregard, and contempt to the entire South-south zone.

They went to the North, South-west and Southeast, met with the people, no emergency security meeting was summoned to stop them from attending

those meetings. But when it was for the South-south zone, an emergency arose to scuttle the meeting.

"We have cross-checked and are yet to ascertain that there was any national

security threatening situation to warrant their staying away.

"What they have told us, in essence, is that we do not matter but the truth is that we do matter. It is

awful and preposterous for anyone to delude that we do not matter. That they can treat the region that has sustained the country for decades, in this way and manner, only speaks to the

kind "upside-down" thinking that has kept the country in its unworthy state".

The group echoed the demand of the South-south that the presidency should apologise to the zone.

AGENDA ON POLICING...

Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (left), and President, Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Olumide Akpata, at the maiden 9th House Legislative Agenda Public Policy Dialogue Series on Policing and Human Rights in Nigeria in Abuja‌yesterday

AMCON Takes over Jimoh Ibrahim’s Assets over Alleged N69.4bn Debt We have over £ 220m with Union Bank, says embattled businessman Obinna Chima The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) yesterday announced that it has taken possession of 12 prime assets belonging to the chief promoter of Global Fleet Oil & Gas Limited and NICON Investment Limited, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim, over an alleged indebtedness of N69.4 billion.

The corporation, in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Jude Nwauzor, explained that the takeover of the assets, located in Lagos and Abuja followed the order of Justice R.M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Lagos Division.

According to AMCON, in compliance with the enforcement order of the court, it yesterday took "effective possession of all 12 properties through its Debt Recovery Agent – Pinheiro Legal Partners, which include the following: the building of NICON Investment Limited at Plot 242, Muhammadu Buhari Way, Central Business District, Abuja; NICON Hotels Limited building at Plot 557, Port Harcourt Crescent, off Gimbiya Street, Abuja and the building of NICON Lekki Limited also at No. 5 Customs Street,

Lagos.

"The rest include the building of Abuja International Hotels Limited located at No. 3, Hospital Road, Lagos; another property at Plot 242, Muhammadu Buhari Way, Abuja; the former Allied Bank Building on Mile 2, Oshodi Express Way, Apapa Road, Lagos; Energy House located on No. 94, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos; NICON Building at No. 40, Madeira Street, Maitama, Abuja; a residential apartment at Road 2, House A14, Victoria Garden City, Lagos; NICON Hotels Building at Plot 3, Road 3, Victoria Garden City, Lagos as well as the NICON Luxury Hotel’s Building, Garki I, FCT, Abuja.

"In addition to the takeover of the listed properties, the court also ordered the freezing of all accounts belonging to Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim and his companies, including Global Fleet Oil & Gas Limited and NICON Investment Limited all of who are defendants in the Suit No. FHL/L/ CL/776/2016 presided over by Justice Aikawa on Wednesday, November 4, 2020.

"The court also granted AMCON possession overall shares belonging

to the embattled Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim and his two companies that are domiciled in Nigerian Re-Insurance Company Plc, NICON Insurance Company Plc, Nigeria Stockbrokers Limited (NSL) and NICON Trustees Limited."

AMCON said it took over all the assets listed by the court with the help of court bailiffs and the police as mandated by the court, adding that no incident was recorded during the enforcement of the court order.

According to AMCON, the matter between Ibrahim and the corporation has been interminable since the loan was purchased by the government debt recovery agency during the first phase of Eligible Bank Assets (EBA) purchases from Union Bank in the early days of AMCON. It stated since the purchase of the EBA from Union Bank, AMCON has offered the obligor incredible exit opportunities to no avail.

"And as is tradition, AMCON has for years explored all avenues to resolve the debt amicably, but Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim and his companies – Global Fleet Oil & Gas Limited and NICON Investment Limited– have remained recalcitrant

and unenthusiastic to repay the huge debt, which has left AMCON with no other choice than to activate the full force of its amended Act, signed into law last year

by President Muhammadu Buhari.

"The amended AMCON Act provides the corporation with additional powers to deal decisively with its pile of ‘monstrous obligors’ that have remained untouchable for years and hiding under some legal technicalities to avoid repayment of their loans," it stated.

Union Bank Owes Us N150bn, Says Businessman Ibrahim, however, faulted the takeover of the assets

by AMCON. Ibrahim, in a statement yesterday, said the Union Bank owes his organisation ÂŁ220 million, being deposit kept in the bank.

"The order is discharged already as Union Bank is owing to us ÂŁ220m, that is over N150 billion; four times over what AMCON is claiming. So, AMCON is pursuing nothing.

"An Interim order lasts 14 days and tomorrow is 14 days. It is of no effect," he said.

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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PAGE EIGHT UMAHI, WIKE TRADE TACKLES OVER DEFECTION, 2023 PRESIDENTIAL RACE raging controversy on ARISE NEWS Channel, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers Umahi, who defected on Tuesday, had cited alleged injustice meted out to his zone for dumping the party under which he was state chairman, deputy governor for eight years and elected twice as governor.

But Wike faulted Umahi's allegations, saying the PDP has been fair to the South-east, which, among others had produced Senate presidents, deputy president of the Senate, deputy speaker, and chairmen of the party, and in the last presidential election, the running mate of the party's presidential candidate.

Umahi repudiated the allegation that his defection to the APC was driven by selfish interests, saying that he is offering himself as a sacrificial lamb to force the PDP to redress its shabby treatment of the South-east.

The governor dismissed claims that he joined the APC to pursue a presidential ambition, adding that he nurses no expectation from the party and the party did not give him any assurance to zone its presidential ticket to the South-east.

Umahi told ARISE TV: “My problem is with the PDP; there is a saying in my place that where you work is where you chop. You cannot wash your body in Sokoto and starts going to Enugu to collect your dress.

My position is that this PDP

we are talking about, I don’t know about the APC. “APC in 2023 would have stayed about eight years. It is very obvious that we have not supported APC in the South-east. But I am talking about a place, the home that we supported. We are part of the founding members of the party; in fact, our elder statesman, the late Alex Ekwueme, was the major breakthrough for the birth of this PDP. “And I am saying what is wrong? Don’t we have anybody that since 1998 going to 2023 we cannot be asked to fly the ticket?

"It is an insult on the collective sense of the Igbos. It is very insulting and nobody talking to me to stay back has been able to convince me. What is wrong in convening a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to say, ‘Yes we are talking of justice, let us give the South-east the opportunity?’ Whether we win or not, other people have been given opportunities and they did not win; but it will be on record and I am sure that you will love to compete with your peers. More so, the affairs of the PDP in the South-east are being conducted elsewhere.�

When asked how certain he is that the APC will treat the South-east better or zone the presidency to it, he said: “How will you know about a house you have not entered? I am still outside the house. When I enter the house, I will know but I want you to know that my moving to APC is not because

they will give their ticket to the South-east or they will give it to me. I don’t ever fight for myself. I am a pencil in the hand of God. It doesn’t matter what anybody says, I stay within the limit of my calling. So, I am protesting against the injustice by a political party and that is where it ends.�

On what likely impact he will make in APC being a new member rather than the PDP where he had more influence, he stated: “You do not stay at your comfort zone when your people are being marginalised and maltreated and you have to understand that protest is constitutional and people do not protest because they are not comfortable in that place.

They protest because some of the people around them and within them are not comfortable.

I protest because the South-east people are being maltreated.

It is all about protest and if it doesn’t yield results today, it will yield results tomorrow.�

The governor also said he will not be disappointed if the APC fails to zone the presidency to the South-east, adding that his reason for defecting to the APC is not because of zoning the presidential ticket to the South-east.

According to him, “It depends on what you are thinking. If I am going to the APC because they must zone the presidency to the South-east and they fail to do that that is when it will become a blow. When you protest, you do so because of

the injustice done to others. “And so, I am not protesting because APC must do this or do that. I am telling PDP, ‘look you must put your house in order, you must be fair to all,� that is just the message. “If the South-east stays 23 years in APC and they fail to zone the presidency to them, that is when you have a grouse to also protest and to agitate.

But now, you don’t really have the mouth to insist that they must zone it. But if you look at the mood of the nation, I believe strongly that the APC may consider it‌and I want you to check the running of the APC as a party and that of the PDP. “In APC, even though the president is the leader of the party, he does not remote control the party. But one or two persons are remote controlling (sic) PDP. I cannot belong to such a party.â€?

When asked if he will support a northern candidate by the APC in 2023, he said: “When we get to the bridge we shall cross it. This country is in the hand of God, no man dictates what happens. When we sleep, we are at war with death. It is only the good Lord that wakes up the winner. So no man can rightly say what happens tomorrow.

Nobody knows who will be alive in 2023, but I have made a mark and it is that I offer my life as a sacrifice; if I perish, I perish. You must take a risk in life. If you win, you reign, if you lose you learn. In 2023 after the

election, if God permits, I will like to resign from politics and continue with my business.�

Reacting to comments credited to Wike that he defected to pursue his presidential ambition; he described Wike as a dictator.

He warned that if Wike does not desist from teleguiding the PDP, many governors will defect from the party, adding that many governors are not happy with Wike’s alleged dictatorial tendencies. “I refuse to take issue with Wike because he is my friend, but Wike must know that he is a dictator. Wike must know that one person cannot be called a crowd and Wike must know that a lot of governors in PDP are very sad with him. He remote-controls (sic) the party and he said that I made my brother the vice-chairman of PDP South-east. I found the South-east PDP from A to Z and he has forgotten that he singlehandedly made Uche Secondus the PDP chairman. “He has forgotten that he also wanted to impose one of his own as the minority leader in the House of Representatives.

He must know that there is nothing that happens in PDP without his authorisation; he must know that he said the PDP NWC members are bribetakers and armed robbers; he has called them all kinds of unprintable names and I have told him he should not let us take on ourselves because it will be very dangerous. This is

by no means personal because the party does not belong to him,� he stated.

According to Umahi, while he will not like to bandy words with Wike, he should be mindful how he addresses his colleagues.

The governor also attributed his problem in PDP to his refusal to castigate President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said: "PDP wants me to be castigating the president.

That's not in my character. The president remains my father and boss. I am happy doing what I am doing. Everything is not politics. My respect for Mr. President will never change. Mr. President is a man of character and he has been very fair to all the governors irrespective of political differences."

He added that his joining the APC was not at the behest of Buhari.

It noted that the name of the, “ultimate supplier of products,� should be the same as the beneficiary on the Form “M�, invoice, bill of exchange, letter of credit instrument and any other relevant document to the transaction. “Authorised dealers should ensure that payments are made only to the beneficiary whose

name appears on the documents stated above,� it said.

A Form M is a mandatory statutory document to be completed by all importers for the importation of goods into Nigeria. It is mandatory for all importers to complete and register Form ‘M’ with authorised dealers at the time of placing orders.

ultimatums and conditionalities in a bid to secure zoning.

sing-song though Buhari has lost every election in the governor’s polling unit, ward and local government. Now that he is in APC, we are going to win elections in these otherwise weak areas. “With the governor now in our party, Ebonyi will be counted as an APC-controlled state and no longer in opposition.’’ He also told reporters that there was no leadership vacuum in Ebonyi APC and that Umahi’s claim that he will take over the leadership of the party in the state and reposition it is a farce.

Umahi Told Me He Wants to Run for Presidency, Says Wike Wike yesterday insisted that Umahi’s ambition to be president of Nigeria in 2023 was the reason behind his defection to APC. Wike stated this last night on ARISE NEWS Channel in response to Umahi’s allegations against him in an interview with the same TV station.

Continued on page 44

CBN LISTS CONDITIONS TO RELAX THIRD PARTY FOREX PURCHASE POLICY the primary manufacturer), the importer shall make available detailed Know-Your-Customer (KYC) and profile of the buying company; three-year audited financial statement of the buying company; letter of reference from the buying company’s banker stating relationship and capacity; among other documents for

its approval before opening Form M.�

Other requirements included that the company must have transfer pricing policy and arrangements in the home country; registration with its home country’s Chamber of Commerce; evidence of tax payments in the home country; and evidence of authorisation

to act as agents and/or distributor to the original equipment manufacturer. “All authorised dealers are to ensure that the list of eligible third parties that meet the requirements above are submitted to the bank for authentication before onboarding. Please note and ensure strict compliance,� it

added.

According to the CBN, the provision of ‘ultimate supplier of products’ in the previous circular shall be construed to mean “the direct party selling the goods to the importer irrespective of whether the party involved is the manufacturer or internationally recognised buying company/ supplier/agent".

...PDP FIGHTS BACK, LISTS SOUTH-EAST'S REWARDS FOR SUPPORTING PARTY for dumping the party under which he was state chairman, deputy governor for eight years and elected twice as governor.

But the PDP faulted Umahi's allegations, saying it has been fair to the South-east, which, among others had produced Senate presidents, deputy president of the Senate, deputy speaker, and chairmen of the party, and in the last presidential election, the running mate of the party's presidential candidate.

Defending itself, the PDP released a document detailing top political posts held by the Igbo under the party's successive administrations from 1999 to 2015 when it was the ruling party.

In the document compiled by the publicity department of the party and released in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP listed the various offices that the Igbo had occupied since 1999.

The list showed that the South-east produced five Senate presidents (Senators Evans Enwerem, Chuba Okadigbo, Anyim Pius Anyim, Adolphus Wabara and Kenechukwu Nnamani); one deputy president of the Senate (Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who held the position for 12 years); deputy speaker of the House of Representatives (Hon. Emeka Ihedioha) and party chairmen (Chief Vincent Ogbulafor and Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo).

It said: "Under the PDP, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika was Chief of Army Staff. Under the PDP, Dr. Charles Soludo was CBN Governor. Under the PDP, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was Minister of Finance.

"Under the PDP, Prof.

Maurice Iwu was the INEC chairman. Under the PDP, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim was Secretary to the Government of Federation (SGF). “Under the PDP, Governor Dave Umahi was acting state chairman, state chairman, deputy governor and now governor for two terms.

"Under the PDP, Governor Dave Umahi’s younger brother, Chief Austin Umahi was national vice-chairman, South-east. “Under the PDP, Mr. Peter Obi, the former governor of Anambra State, was made the PDP vice presidential candidate in 2019 general election."

It asked: "What has the APC done for the people of the South-east?"

urge our citizens to pay less emphasis on identity politics if we want our democracy to make a positive impact on our country," he stated.

The president added: "With men like Umahi, I foresee a brighter future for our democracy because the voters will be more motivated by performance records of parties and their candidates.

"Let me once again commend the boldness of Governor Umahi for taking this courageous decision in a country where principles are in short supply among many.

"I know people might call him names, but that is the price men of principles have to pay for acting according to their conscience and convictions."

Buhari Hails Defection

We Won't Defect, Say Ebonyi Federal Legislators

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday welcomed Umahi's defection to APC, describing it "as a bold move driven purely by principle rather than opportunistic motives."

The president, in a statement by one of his spokesmen, Malam Garba Shehu, said he was proud of Umahi for personally taking the decision without any external influence.

"I am proud of Governor David Umahi for taking this bold decision in accordance with his conscience and principles rather than any external influence or coercion.

"Good governance is very important to us in the APC, and I’m glad that the governor has cited this as a major factor in his decision to join us. I

The eight PDP legislators from Ebonyi State in the National Assembly have faulted Umahi's defection to the ruling APC, saying he was wrong to have moved to another party when there is no crisis in the PDP. The lawmakers led by a former Governor of Ebonyi State, Senator Sam Egwu, told reporters in Abuja that they remain in PDP. They also cited an earlier Supreme Court decision that candidates are products of political parties.

"What it means is that political officeholders are not at liberty to migrate from one political platform to another, particularly when there is no division in their party," they stated.

Other lawmakers at the briefing were Senator Obinna Ogba, Senator Mike Ama Nnachi, Hon. Sylvester Ogbaga, Igariwey Enwo, Chukwuma Nwazunku, Edwin Anayo and Livinus Makwe.

They wondered why Umahi who has been the most favoured by the PDP in Ebonyi State will now jump ship.

"Indeed, if there is any Ebonyi person who should remain eternally grateful to the PDP, that individual ought to be Governor David Umahi; a man who was appointed the Ebonyi State chairman of the PDP and was made the deputy governor of a PDP administration as well as was elected for two terms under the banner of the PDP. “As governor, his two younger brothers were elected to principal offices of the PDP, one (Mr. Austin Umahi) as the national vice-chairman (Southeast) and another (Mr. Maxwell Umahi) as the deputy state chairman of the PDP," they said.

The legislators explained that they remain, members of the PDP on which platform they were elected in 2019, adding: "We wish to state that not a single, member of the Ebonyi State PDP caucus of the National Assembly is defecting to the APC as the three senators and five House of Representatives members remain proud card-carrying members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the platform on which we contested and won elections in 2019."

They said as much as they support Umahi's position that it is the turn of the South-east to produce the president in 2023, they consider it impolitic, indecent and unwise to give

PDP Names Caretakers for Ebonyi Chapter In another statement yesterday, the PDP unveiled members of a caretaker committee to run the affairs of the party in the state in the interim.

The committee is headed

by Hon. Fred Udeogu as chairman while Mr. Luke Nkwegu is secretary. Members of the committee include Dr. Gideon Osi (publicity secretary), Hon. James Alaka (organising secretary), Mrs. Amaka Igboke (women leader), Mr. Mudi Irenede (legal adviser), Mr. James Onah (assistant secretary) and Mr. Monday Chukwu (treasurer).

It explained that the decision of the NWC to set up the caretaker committee was pursuant to the powers conferred on it by the provisions of the PDP Constitution (2017 as amended).

Meanwhile, a former Commissioner for Information and State Orientation in Ebonyi State, Chief Egwu Chima, has said Umahi’s defection from the PDP to APC will not add value to his new party.

According to him, the defection will undermine the integrity of the party rather than enhance its fortunes.

Chima, a chieftain of the APC and one-time chairman of Afikpo South Local Government Area, said, however, that Umahi’s mission in the APC was known only to him.

He said: “While in the PDP, Umahi’s love for President Muhammadu Buhari was a

TOP GAINERS LINKASSURE STERLBANK LAFARGE HONEYWELL ABCTRANS TOP LOSERS CORNERSTONE REGENCY MBENEFITS

NGN NGN 0.05 0.55 0.19 2.09 2.10 24.10 0.10 1.16 0.03 0.35 NGN 0.05 0.53 0.02 0.22 0.02 0.26 UNIONDAC 0.02 0.26 UNITYBANK 0.06 0.80 HPE Nestle Nig Plc â‚Ś1,400.00 Volume: 661.132 million shares Value: N8.298 billion Deals: 7,324 As at yesterday 18/11/2020 See details on Page 37

% 10 10 9.5 9.4 9.3 % 8.6 8.3 7.1 7.1 6.9

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COMMENT

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

ENDING OPEN DEFECATION IN NIGERIA

Etim Etim writes that eradicating OD would drastically eliminate some of the diseases that aict our communities

Y

ou can pretty much gauge the extent of our underdevelopment by some of our habits and conducts.

Street hawking, throwing trash out of the car window and dumping refuse at road junctions are some of the bad routines of a growing nation, but none defines our wretchedness and speaks to our basic instincts in evolution as open defecation. Virtually every African country indulges in it, and India, hitherto the poverty capital of the world, has just freed itself from the practice. Open defecation or OD, to give it a more elegant toga, pollutes water sources in our communities and therefore impacts negatively on the health and wellbeing of the people. It’s the major reason water-borne ailments are rampant; so eradicating OD would drastically eliminate some of the diseases that afflict our communities, reduce medical bills and bring down deaths in adults; and child and infant mortality in which we have been recording alarming statistics. Open defecation is a challenge that can afflict every member of the community but women are often at more risk of experiencing violence and multiple health vulnerabilities.

Women with poor sanitation facilities are more susceptible to hookworm infestation resulting in maternal anaemia, which in turn is directly associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Some researchers have also noted that OD could expose women to physical, verbal and sexual attacks. In communities without household toileting facilities, women walk long distances from home to find convenient places to relieve themselves. This predisposes them to different forms of assault and abuse. Of all the 774 LGAs in our country, only 33 are open defecation-free (OPF), meaning every resident has toilet facilities at home and in public places. The number could grow to 50 when current validation of others is completed by year-end. In all, over 46 million Nigerians practice open defecation, down from 47 in 2018, and this is the largest population practicing OD in Africa, expectedly because we are the most populous in the continent. Other African countries are also tackling the problem at their own pace because curtailing OD is target 6.2 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations to which all countries have subscribed. The UN recognizes that sanitation is directly related to individual Human Rights, therefore diseases arising from poor sanitation and open defecation are tantamount to human right violations.

The Nigerian government has set 2025, five years from now, as the deadline by which the nation would be free from open defecation in line with the revised global targets set by the United Nations. Nigeria is inspired by India which took 600 million people off OD in five years between 2014 and 2019 during which 90 million toilets were built. But taking off 46 million from OD could be tall order for us going by our records in meeting previous deadlines and targets. But this time, the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu who is driving the federal government’s agenda to eliminate the practice, says it is achievable. ‘’We are making steady progress’’, he told this writer recently, pointing out that working with partners like UNICEF, Nollywood and even Nigerians in Diaspora and other partners, the country is deploying aggressive sensitization and

IN THE RURAL AREAS, LGAS SHOULD PROVIDE PUBLIC TOILETS AT SPECIFIC LOCATIONS WHILE COMMUNITY LEADERS AND TRADITIONAL RULERS SHOULD ENCOURAGE EACH HOUSEHOLD TO PROVIDE ONE FOR THEMSELVES

mobilization to encourage communities to build toilet facilities.

Corporate Nigeria is also asked to make elimination of OD part of their CSR activities. The stakes are high. The country loses N455 billion (about N1.2 billion) to poor sanitation and requires N959 billion to eliminate OD. Of the N959 billion, N725 billion is the estimated cost of toilets to be borne by households, while N234 billion will be borne by government in the ratio 40:60 for federal and state.

Support are also expected from development partners and private sector through their CSR. With India off the list, Nigeria has the largest number of people who indulges in this habit. It is a badge of shame the federal government is not willing to stick with. Last year November, President Muhammadu Buhari signed Executive 009 which empowers the Federal Ministry of Water Resources (FMWR) to work with state governments to stop the practice.

But the results from the states have been a mixed bag. While others have been enthusiastic about the campaign, many of them are generally lukewarm in throwing their weight behind it. I salute Jigawa, Ekiti, Kaduna, Benue, Osun, Ondo, Gombe and Cross River which are leading the way in the campaign.

In fact, Obanliku LGA in Cross River was the first of the 774 in the country to be OD free. In all, only 33 LGAs in Bauchi, Jigawa, Cross River, Benue, Akwa Ibom, Katsina, Kano, Kaduna and Osun States are OD-free, of the 774 LGAs we have in the country. To boost the campaign, the FMWR is working with National Orientation Agency to ramp up community sensitization. But despite these efforts, it is a shame that some states have not even flagged off the ODF campaign.

Part of the nation’s strategies is essentially the implementation of the community-led Total Sanitation as one of the approaches to tackle sanitation issues. More successes would be recorded if our state governors, who prefer to erect fancy buildings and monuments as evidence of achievements, approach the ODF campaign with more energy and gusto. In previous health campaigns like the fight against polio and HIV/AIDS, state chief executives were important partners with the federal government. In the case of polio which we eradicated only last year, traditional institutions were very invaluable in their advocacy and mobilization. We can use them again in this case.

While India’s approach was to ask the people to build themselves toilets and get reimbursed by the state, Nigeria, working with various partners and initiatives, is motivating communities to build these toilets themselves through advocacy and mobilization. I suggest that our various governments should also bring in some level of compulsion through legislation.

Every petrol station, market, shop, place of worship, etc., should keep clean toilet facilities. In the rural areas, LGAs should provide public toilets at specific locations while community leaders and traditional rulers should encourage each household to provide one for themselves. There is provision for state governments to appoint Sanitary Inspectors who should visit households in rural areas to confirm the availability of toileting facilities. Unfortunately, many states are not implementing this vigorously.

DSS AND LESSONS OF ENDSARS The DSS is alive to its responsibility, argues Anselm Luke

T

he most overwhelming outcomes of the ENDSARS protests must be the stunning reality of “orchestrations by subversive and unscrupulous elements to cause a breakdown of law and order in the country through inciting statements in the guise of political mobilization and supposed pursuit of group interests� which the Department of State Services (DSS) has been alerting the nation to since July, and how a protest ostensibly against police brutality escalated to such levels of anarchy that the dire need for return of law enforcement agents to affected areas became a desperate SOS clamour that is still re-echoing two weeks later.

Faced with the terrifying toll of at least 22 police personnel and 51 civilians’ dead, 205 police stations razed, 71 public warehouses and 248 private stores looted in 13 states and the FCT, the chilling features of regime change are unmistakable and one shudders to contemplate just how close we were to disintegration. The barely concealed role of ENDSARS protesters in paving the way for the disturbances by inexplicably ignoring the swift scrapping of SARS as they demanded, remains an unavoidable hint of premeditation, which prompted desperate realization of the indispensability of invincible national defense and security forces for a potent guarantee of sovereignty of the country.

There was also introspective recall of the proactive zeal of the DSS just over a year ago when it questioned Omoyele Sowore as he staged street protests in Abuja and Lagos against “bad governance and corruption�, restlessly agitating for a� revolution�. The ensuing process of DSS questioning and court arraignment squelched Sowore’s scheme by successfully securing restraining bail conditions that barred him from political mass gatherings. The agency came under a barrage of criticism from the CSO

associates of Sowore harping on human rights, deliberately downplaying the agency’s expressed concerns for potential escalation into mayhem.

Today however, the fear of mob anarchy is palpable as frantic appeals mount for the return of policemen who retreated from duty to avoid lynching, to the merciless delight of robbers who have been having a field day in ENDSARS protest zones, especially in Lagos, Benin and Calabar. In its report to the Lagos inquiry, the Lagos military confirmed total breakdown of law and order by the time Governor Sanwo-olu sought its intervention, emphasizing that the police had been completely overpowered. Under these compelling circumstances, experience of the horrors of anarchy leave no room for doubt or cynicism about the vital necessity of national security and defense forces especially when human liberty is subordinated by insecurity of life.

The strategic importance of institutionalized vigilance, intelligence gathering, proactive deterrence and public sensitization within the national security infrastructure was therefore subtly but deftly upheld by the DSS with particular reference to its tactical containment of overt attempts and subterranean schemes to destabilize the country, sequel to the routine inter-agency exchange of communication for necessary action, in keeping to its statutory functions.

The remarkable thing is that in the context of desirable reforms, the DSS in the last two years or so has reportedly been internalizing administrative and operational fine-tuning to smoothen rough edges and enhance efficiency, compared to the observed drift towards uncharacteristic overzealousness that met with avoidable outrage in the past.

Notwithstanding the weighty implications of alleged involvement in threats to national security, some prominent personalities who kept dates with the DSS in recent times for alleged inciting utterances gave favourable

accounts of the encounters.

Dr Obadiah Mailafiya who was questioned several times declared “I am very pleased that I was treated very professionally.

There was no harassment or intimidation.�

Also addressing reporters after questioning at the DSS headquarters in Abuja in August former speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, said he was invited to clarify a few remarks adding that the interrogation was successful, as he had no problems at the DSS and he was satisfied with the outcome of the questioning.

Media reports in the last two years also reveal the DSS actively involved in constructive engagements with various important stakeholders in the maintenance of harmony and stability in the socio-economic sector.

The National President of Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Alhaji Yusuf Othman, acknowledged that the Director General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Magaji Bichi intervened to forestall the tanker owners warning strike in September, adding “we also demanded that the DSS Director should help us instill on the hearing of the appropriate authorities that harassments of our members by operatives of the security agencies must stop. These were brought to the notice of the DSS Director and he has assured us of a quick intervention�.

In a similarly significant initiative, the DSS is discreetly backing the success of Nigeria’s economic diversification from oil dependence to agriculture through an innovative antismuggling operation in conjunction with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Isaac Okoroafor, CBN Director, Corporate Communications, in a statement explained that DSS investigations uncovered a major loophole in anti-smuggling strategy whereby smugglers circumvent conventional warehousing of smuggled goods by hiring private houses to store them and that “the DSS operatives

raided some houses in remote areas being used by smugglers and made recoveries including 1,207 bags of foreign rice, 10 jerry cans of groundnut oil, 58 bottles of energy drinks and 83 bags of sugar.�

Capturing the broad spectrum of state security challenges as part of its recent operational enhancement and fine-tuning initiatives with such impressive results was driven by a range of upgrades and innovations in administration, personnel and operations being implemented by the DG Yusuf Bichi in the last two years. The upgrade and refocusing of the National Institute of Security Studies(NISS) to be at par with the National Defense College (NDC) and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), renewed attention to improved work incentives, local and overseas training, staff housing and health facilities and enhanced relationship and liaison with sister agencies are among the notable developments.

The ENDSARS episode has served as catalyst of long overdue government diligence in prompt redress and continuous reform of identified operational flaws and performance constraints of the Nigeria Police in particular as well as the underrated riotous extremism waiting to explode among neglected majority population of idle and irate youth. The DSS however remains a vigilant whistleblower on the reality of relentless “orchestrations by subversive and unscrupulous elements to cause a breakdown of law and order in the country� and, hopefully, a constant reminder to Nigerians of the indispensability of national security, defense and law enforcement agencies as the guarantors of peace, stability and sovereignty. It has also shown that a public institution can and should always strive to review, reform and renew its performance parameters. r-VLF XSPUF GSPN $BMBCBS

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EDITORIAL

THE RETURN OF YELLOW FEVER

The renewed spike is a wake-up call for the government to do more to combat the disease

T

he recent outbreak of Yellow fever in some parts of the country is a disturbing development. It is bad enough that no fewer than 72 deaths have been recorded, most of them in Enugu and Delta States. When the current outbreak was detected in both states, it lingered for over one month with the affected communities describing it as a ‘strange disease’. The communities in these two states had raised the alarm of an undiagnosed ailment, with those infected coughing blood and becoming feverish.

Eventually, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) came in to test samples before the confirmation that it is Yellow fever.

By then, so many THERE IS AN URGENT lives had been lost.

NEED TO COMMENCE A MASSIVE REINTRODUCTION The renewed spike is a OF THE VACCINATION wake-up call PROGRAMMES, ESPECIALLY for the federal government to AT CHILDBIRTH be more proactive in dealing with the disease. Following the fatalities recorded during the 2017 outbreak which were in dozens, more than three million people were vaccinated in an initial emergency campaign, with the aim of quickly containing it. However, the virus continues to spread in parts of the country where people remain largely unprotected and that is why all the relevant stakeholders must join hands with the government this time around.

Fortunately, the disease is a completely vaccine-preventable one. A single shot provides immunity for a lifetime. It is important that all Nigerians get vaccinated. An added advantage is that the vaccine is freely available in all primary health care centres in Nigeria. It is also curable with vaccines known as 17D. Since we live in the tropics, and cannot completely eliminate mosquitoes,

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prevention remains the most potent weapon against the disease.

It is a crying shame that Yellow fever still kills dozens of Nigerians every year. In the first half of 2019 alone, no fewer than 506 local government areas in 36 states including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) recorded over 2000 cases of the disease, according to NCDC. Another bout of the outbreak commenced in August 2019, which also swept across several states and lingered until the beginning of 2020. According to WHO, no human should die from preventable diseases, and Yellow fever is one of such. What appears to be the broad cause of the spike in cases of the disease is the country’s new focus on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. But we cannot afford to neglect yellow fever, or indeed, any other diseases for that matter.

The interruption of regular mass vaccination campaigns in Nigeria have contributed mainly to the current resurgence of yellow fever. On the continent, the resurgence started in equatorial Africa, followed by Cameroon where no fewer than 173 fatalities, mostly children under the age of 10, were recorded in 1990. The disease then moved to West Africa and since 1995 this has been the region most affected by Yellow fever. To control the spread, there is an urgent need to commence a massive reintroduction of the vaccination programmes, especially at childbirth. This should be done through enlightenment campaigns throughout the 774 local governments of the federation. All international travellers into Nigeria should also be advised to undergo vaccination before entering the country.

An epidemiologist with the NCDC, Adesola Yinka-Ogunyele, had expressed concerns that the more children are unvaccinated, the more likely there will be outbreaks. When it comes to health, a country is only as strong as its weakest link. If all efforts are targeted at fighting COVID-19, and other preventable diseases are killing Nigerians, then we are only chasing shadows.

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

REMEMBERING ALEX EKWUEME

M

ost Nigerians remember the late Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, Nigeria’s former vice president with nostalgia. Some say he was the most colourful and powerful vice president the country ever produced.

He is also remembered for many reasons, key among which was his role as the intellectual backbone of the Shagari/ Ekwueme government between 1979 and 1983. In the third republic, he played the role of father of Nigeria’s modern democracy, having led the political class to oppose further military rule in Nigeria.

To cap it all, Dr. Alex Ekwueme innovated the concept of the six geo-political zones which has become the template for allocation of national resources and other common patrimonies of the country.

Regrettably it was on November 20, 2017 that Nigerians woke up to the news of the demise of Dr. Ekwueme at the age of 85 years. Many Nigerians mourned uncontrollably as they remembered his altruistic contributions to the country. He was indeed one of the finest intellectuallyendowed politicians the country ever had, and this was manifestly obvious in his razor-sharp memory of events, dates and personalities.

Another remarkable attribute of the late vice president was his integrity in public office. During his trial after the 1983 military coup, the panel that tried his alleged case of corruption did not only exonerate him of any wrongdoing, but asserted that to ask anything more from Dr. Ekwueme will amount to setting standard which even saints cannot attain.

It is common knowledge that during the era of General Sani Abacha’s junta, it was practically impossible to raise a finger of protest against the military regime, yet Alex Ekwueme was courageous enough to organize the G-18 and then G-34, a group of Nigeria’s political leaders which later metamorphosed into the present-day Peoples Democratic Party.

They held the reins of power in Nigeria for 16 unbroken years. This group saw to the exit of military from power and midwifed our present-day democracy.

Recently the federal government accorded him yet another recognition with the naming of a railway Operation Control Centre in Lagos after him. This is a welcome development, though the renaming of a bigger national monument like the International Conference Centre would have been better considering the pivotal role he played in the country’s political evolution.

The reason for this advocacy is not far-fetched considering that Dr. Ekwueme had devoted his life to the service of Nigeria and its peoples. His patriotism, sense of justice and devotion to national causes was unprecedented. He never ceased to advocate for tolerance among Nigerians, and he built bridges across the country, even as he advocated for equity and justice for all Nigerians.

As Nigerians relish the benefits of constitutional democracy it is important to always remember the individuals that played major roles in the realization of our collective aspirations, and in this epoch Dr. Ekwueme would take the lead as someone who showed direction and was courageous to lead the political class to oppose military dictatorship.

His effervescent presence in the political arena helped to inspire the political class to believe in a democratic Nigeria and refused to be intimidated by the military into submission.

As we mark the third anniversary of his departure to eternal glory it is also fitting to commend the wisdom of President Muhammadu Buhari in immortalizing the late former Vice President as such personages ought never to be forgotten. r$IVLXVEJ &OFLXFDIJ +1 "CVKB

WALKING A FINE LINE

T

here has been much discussion about how COVID will still affect our lives once it’s gone. The most obvious being the number of people who will now work from home more often and those that have discovered Zoom or some similar video software.

Talking via a screen is now seen as normal and socially acceptable and sometimes more convenient than travelling to meet.

One of the quirky annoyances that I now face is the number of people who no longer know how to walk properly in shops. During lockdown we could only go out for short shopping visits and alone. The shops were almost deserted, and you wandered as you wished. Now that they are full people are still doing the same and mostly in front of me. I am sure they are not being intentionally rude, but the usual proper manners are gone. It is only a trivial change but there will be others.

How will we, eventually, get back to our old way of life and should we? This pandemic could be around for another six months to a year before a working vaccine is available and by then our new habits might be ingrained.

I want a time that was like before this hit us, and I didn’t have to worry about injuring people by walking through them when they stop suddenly.

It’s trivial really but life has changed. r%FOOJT 'JU[HFSBME .FMCPVSOF "VTUSBMJB

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POLITICS

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

‘They Are Trying to Turn the Arson, Looting that Followed #EndSARS to a Tribal Issue’

Yoruba leader, Aare Gani Adams recently fielded questions from a group of journalists including, Segun James, on the tragedy that followed the EndSARS campaigns and how it could have been avoided spoke

O

ne week before the military went to Lekki, you gave an advice that it will be wrong for the military to go there and attack protesters. Thereafter from what we eventually learnt the military went there.

How do you feel after the Lekki encounter?

Well, I am not a politician but I have the experience of how we got this democracy. I am part of the system and I played some roles for us to achieve this democracy. And I understand how protest starts and how it ends in Nigeria.

And that was one of the reasons I wrote the letter to President Muhammadu Buhari that he should not use the military to stop or disperse the protesters. Because the military are not trained to monitor protest or protesters or to even disperse protesters. The military are trained to defend the country’s territorial integrity or external aggression. So, I wrote that letter and I warned, unfortunately our people do not know the content of democracy. Democracy is a government of the people, by the people and for the wellbeing of the people. Every living soul in the country as a citizen is very important to add input to the progress of democracy. And a good leader should be prepared to listen to his followers. I am not talking like personality like me, holding this kind of position. I have an antecedent of leading an organisation with a population of six million and having another organisation in diaspora. So it is rather unfortunate that they allowed this ugly incident to happen. This issue has gained traction such that the international community has tagged Nigeria as a country living under dictatorial leadership. And this issue has drawn us back to the time of military coup that the government in power is not different from the military government. what happened when the promising progressive youths, and the youths will be proud of in the history of Nigeria, having their peaceful protest and being maimed on the 20th of October 2020. I was so saddened, highly barbaric, it is uncalled for and it is something that any living soul should condemn globally. It is something that we didn’t expect that we would witness something like that anymore in our nascent democracy. It is something that we don’t even expect that will happen again in our history. Some of our people have shed their blood , they have paid the supreme price for us to get this democracy in 1999. It is unfortunate that some of our people that were part and parcel in the trenches in that struggle still behave like the military. Even as a governor of a state and former governor. Because what happened in Lekki goes beyond commander in chief as a president. It is between the federal government and the state government where they hold in their own jurisdiction. Because you cannot exonerate somebody as a state governor, when an army will move and attack protesters without your knowledge. Although we don’t have the facts and we can’t substantiate the order but it will be very difficult to clear any person with sane mind that the government of Lagos State did not know that the army is going to that place.

Notwithstanding, you can see the aftermath of that attack. You can see result, you can see how many lives and public and private properties that have been lost. I monitored the social media and people were calling those who are louting criminals, right? They are criminals and I condemn what they have done totally. But I start asking myself, Nigeria does not know that wars that happened in different countries happened with one single mistake from the authorities. The Arab spring, was as a result of a loaf of bread, that caused the chaos in Tunisia.

And it spread to about seven countries in the Arab nations and it consumed about four or five heads of state that have been in power for a long time. I remembered that it consumed Mubarak in Egypt. It consumed the Yemen president and it affected the president of Tunisia too. And even Gaddafi of Libya. It took just someone burning himself because of frustration over a loaf of bread in Tunisia. Not to talk of sending the army to

Adams kill peaceful protesters. We don’t know the figure yet now. The information at our disposal is that the army picked the lifeless bodies of those people into their vehicle and took them away. Now a lot of propaganda has been put out on that issue, they are trying to turn it to tribal issue, saying it was the Igbos that were attacking Lagos. And I said no, that, that will be counter productive, that is another crisis entirely. If you now allege that it is the Igbo and you lie against them and the Yorubas start attacking the Igbos, that is another civil war, for God sake. If not because we came out and clear the air that it is not a tribal issue. Those who protested did not even have an ethnic or regional agenda. They were calling for sanity in the country. And the content of the people that were involved in the protest reflected in every tribe in the south. And even some middle belt and some northerners, because there was a protest in Gombe, and Kano. So what happened in #endsars was a national issue, it should not be tribalised. They should not bring an ethnic issue to it and cause another problem. And our politicians are very funny, when they know there is a problem, to dodge that problem they are ready to cause a disaster. If not because we rose and a lot of people issued statements to douse that tension, unfortunately we have a propaganda machine product in the person of Dr Adeyinka’s grandson in UK, coming out to say some unwarranted statements. Somebody who did not believe in self determination of the Yoruba land, now rolled out the presumed national anthem of Oodua republic. He ran it out in his video, after that he now said all the Yoruba youths should order the Igbos to leave Yoruba land. And I said who gave him the authority to say that? is he residing in Yoruba land? I am afraid this man has never touched the soil of Nigeria for the past 10 or 15 years in the process of getting his asylum in UK. It is unfortunate we have a product like that. Without even

taking cognisance of the group at home, without even engaging or interacting with them by asking them what is their opinion about this issue.

You published a video on a major tribe in Nigeria that has a lot of business in south west to leave our vicinity. And do you think they will leave in peace like that and leave what they have laboured for, for the past 40 years? So I think when there is a crisis we should know how to manage the crisis. Crisis is not politics, it is not a situation where you want to organise a governorship that you like, it is something you manage when it occurs. When there is a mistake and the ability to weather the storm that is the mark of a very good leader. But we thank God that everything is coming down and we have witnessed a lot of different scenario. We witnessed the people who went to take their palliative that was stocked, that the politicians refused to share to the common people. And when they went to take that palliative, the politicians were ordering them to return it back within 72 hours. And they in turn issued a statement again in social media that the politicians should return their own loots since 1999 for the past 21years to the central bank. So a lot of scenarios have happened, it’s rather unfortunate for those who lost their lives. But I think what happened is a way of learning or having a very good lesson about what we will do to move Nigeria forward. And that was one of the reasons we were saying that if there is a crisis on ground, you will not talk alone on how to solve that crisis or how to play down that crisis, how to bring peace when there is a crisis. You will be talking about having a solution such that the crisis will not happen again. Which is the demand of these young promising youths of Nigeria. Their demand is that they should reform Nigerian police, they should reform our educational system, they should reform our health sector, they should listen to ASSU based on their demand. The major one is the change of constitution, and the change of constitution revolve on restructuring.

They may not know how to say it in details. And what is the impediment to the growth of Nigeria? What is the impediment to the peace we supposed to have in Nigeria? What is the impediment to the progress of this country? It is the 1999 constitution. Not only the 1999 constitution, it is when the military truncated our federalism in 1966. If you monitor what has been happening in our nation since the military took power in January 15, 1966, Nigeria has never witnessed peace. We have defaulted the agreement of the founding fathers of Nigeria. We have defaulted the agreement of our political leaders who agreed together in 1960, in 1960 they came together, and said let us form a united Nigeria.

And how will we form a united Nigeria? We can be together on the basis of federalism. And what kind of federalism? On the parliamentary

Nigerian does not know that wars that happened in different countries happened with one single mistake from the authorities. The Arab spring, was as a result of a loaf of bread, that caused the chaos in Tunisia. And it spread to about seven countries in the Arab nations and it consumed about 4 or 5 head of states that have been in power for a long time. I remembered that it consumed Mubarak in Egypt. It consumed the Yemen president and it affected the president of Tunisia too. And even Mumar Gadafi of Libya. It took just someone burning himself because of frustration of a loaf of bread in Tunisia. Not to talk of sending the army to kill peaceful protesters. We don’t know the figure yet now. The information at our disposal is that the army picked the lifeless bodies of those people unto their vehicle and took them away. Now a lot of propaganda has been put out on that issue, they are trying to turning it to tribal issue, saying it was the Igbos that was attacking Lagos

system of government and every region will develop at their own pace. Each regional will contribute 25% of what they generated from their own region to the federal. And the federal will have a limited responsibility. But the military came on 15th January 1966 and truncated the federalism to a unitary system of government, that was the beginning of our problem. When Gowon led government came in July 1966, we saw it as an opportunity to have power and have a centralist minded government. They made sure they reduced the influence of the region, after some time they abolished regionalism and started creating states. And that was the beginning of losing focus, the beginning of corruption, that was the beginning of creating an emperor in every state. That was the beginning of retrogression on the issue of Nigeria. That was the beginning of having a nation where we live in mutual suspicion. Because after the civil war, in 1967 to 1970, every tribe started suspecting themselves. The Hausa do not trust the Igbos, the Igbo do not trust the Yoruba. The Igbo said the Yorubas were the one that allowed them to loss the war, the Igbo said the Hausa was the one that killed their people. And the Yoruba said you did not even consult us before you went into the civil war. So we are living on the basis of mutual suspicion. We are lving in a cracked house and we are patching it every four, four years and we want to build unity. If you want to build unity, you don’t build unity when you have a mud house and you want to build 36 storey building on a mud house without a very good foundation. And that was the basis of our problem because what these youths demand is something that can move Nigeria forward.

And instead of us to listen to the message, we are fighting the messenger. Now they want to turn a peaceful protest into a violent protest.

There was a lot of propaganda in the social media and I saw those who are pushing that propaganda. I don’t know their gain, I don’t know what they want but these people od not think about their future and the future of their children. If we can have some courageous youths coming out to have a peaceful protest, we should support them tactically if you are not going to be involved and we should discourage anything about violence that give bad image to the protest.

Now the protest has reduced, but most of the Nigerian abroad are doing the protest now. it is a continuous process and the international community will listen to the people in diaspora than we people living in the homeland. We thought we can suppress the truth in the homeland in Nigeria. But what of the people in the international community, the Nigerians, how much will you give them to stop fighting for their future?

They know the environment they are living in abroad. They know what the government in a civilised country is giving them. If you don’t have job, they will give you like $500 or even £800 to sustain your living. If you don’t have house, they will give you house, they will you a council flat to be living until you get a job. And when you are there, if you have a health issue that you can spend like two million naira on your health issue in Nigeria they will do it for you free of charge. They have very good infrastructure and they have 24 hours uninterrupted power supply. And their security is highly guaranteed. You move in the night more than in the morning in most of the civilised countries.

And most of the business is being done in the night. We travel to these countries and we don’t learn from them and we don’t care to learn. This is a country that does not believe in free and fair elections. In some countries, one of the problems that led them to civil war is because there is no free and fair election. Rigging in an election and what is happening in Nigeria goes beyond rigging. We have more than enough problems to solve and the only way we can solve it is to make sure we restructure this country.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2020

POLITICS

The Nigerian Constitution Makes Governors Ceremonial Chief Security Officers ‘

Former Scribe of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State, Mr. Femi Saheed, the party’s candidate in the December 5 by-election for Kosofe 2 constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly justifies his nomination in this conversation with Nseobong Okon-Ekong

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ou were in the secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a Lagos State in a leadership position. And leading to the 2019 election, there was so much acrimony in the Legos APC. There were parallel congresses. What actually happened?

Let me begin with 2015. We had a smooth transition. That when I came on board, as the acting State Secretary of the party. We had a smooth congresses that produced various officers. It was seamless exercise, because the party was the party people wanted to be part of. It was the party to beat. It is still the party to beat in Lagos. It was a party of like minds, yearning to effect positive change in the political arena of Lagos state. All the nominees were mostly voted in. Chief Henry Ajomale was the State Chairman. The current Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly Lagos state was part of the exco. I was voted in as acting State Secretary. That was the exco of the party that produced Ambode, as governor. Fashola was about going. That was when we had the primary and all over the world, people were happy because of its transparency. It was witnessed by the whole Nigeria that this is the way a democratic primary for an incoming gubernatorial candidate should be. It formed the basis of our political development.

So, what happened in 2019?

It is a normal occurrence. By the time you start a business and it is successful, you will start having different interests. With the way the party is structured, there is no way you will not get different individual interests. On our own side, we followed the party guidelines.

Saheed Moreso, I don’t even need to go into that. The case is still in court. I don’t have the right to talk on that because I am now a candidate. I am no more in the party secretariat. I can talk freely about my own campaign concerning my aspiration to become a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Kosofe 2. That is what really concerns me. I’m a man who is waiting to take another opportunity, another journey in life.

How prepared are you to function as a legislator? What do you know about the legislature?

As a man who has professional qualifications in different fields of life; as an economist, I have a BSc in Economics. I have a Master’s in

Environmental Science. an MBA from another university. I worked in a bank, right from an executive officer to the position of the Chief Operating Officer of a bank. Apart from that, I have not been totally away from my people practising politics, right from its local level, up to the state level. That is to tell you that I have a kind of connection with my people, I have understanding of what the needs of the people are. You see me as an economist, you can see that the Nigerian, economy now is not in the best interest of the people. You can see that our fortune in the oil and agriculture sectors are dwindling, because there is competition all over the world. The population of Nigeria is growing in an astronomical proportion. These are some of the needs where you need experience and people who are trained professionally to match the population with the opportunity you have. If you do a SWOT analysis, you can see that the greater proportion of our population which are youths are not gainfullyengaged.

What do we do as a responsible legislature?

What do we do as a concerned government to give employment to reduce the kind of violence we witnessed in the EndSARS campaigns?

All over the world, youth restiveness cannot solved. But what can we do to ameliorate it? What and what measures can we put in place through good policies that will afford these youths the needed opportunity to serve their motherland in different areas of life? We want them to be economically active, support and contribute to the GDP of Nigeria.

Nigeria is changing. Nigeria’s population is changing, and it’s changing with the reality of ou modernization. The government and the people must move in tandem with these

things. Look at the security lapses that we had in the EndSARS daya. What is the population of Nigerian police force? Just about 300,000, compared to almost 200 million population?

Do you want to tell me that the personnel we have in Nigerian police force are enough to mind the security challenges that may occur?

The answer is no. When digress, you may ask, when did we have the last police reform? The way they operate is simply outdated. Look at their welfare package, it is nothing to write home about. These are some of the policy that given the opportunity to become one of the people who make good laws for this country, I will put them on the front burner of our discourse to make life more meaningful for people.

But your party is in control, both at the centre and in Lagos State?

At the end of the day, it is not the issue of hittng my party, because government is a continuum. What did the previous government do for Nigeria, since the beginning of this democratic dispensation?I’m seeking to be elected into a long a guy that is that that is seeking to be elected in Lagos state legislature, not to become federal representative. That is why my party, particularly in the South-west has been talkimg about restructuring . We must consider autonomy for the states in certain areas. The states must have power over some of these things. That is when I can tell you that a state lawmaker can make full impact.

I cannot act beyond the capacity of the office.

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‘I Have Rejected Three Ministerial Appointments’ A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Delta State and former Minister of State For Education, Chief Kenneth Gbagi discusses his 2023 governorship ambition with Deji Elumoye

A

s one of those who supported Senator Ifeanyi Okowa to become Delta Governor in 2015, would you say he has lived up to expectation?

You are very right that I supported Senator Okowa, therefore, I want to believe that this is not in doubt that my position is made easier with regards to support for the governor who refers to me and calls me his brother.

I want to believe that the evidence are there for everybody to see with regards to his performance. I have severally said that I believe that the Governor has demonstrated resilience and ability to show that he means well for the state. As to whether or not he has satisfied Deltans, there is nobody who can satisfy everybody, but I want to believe that given his ability and competence, he has done well. I believe very strongly that Dr. Okowa will be remembered for who he is, and who he was with regards to all that he has done for the state. I will not like to delve into specific performances as regards to what he has done during his time so far in office.

Do you see the PDP as the platform to actualize your governorship ambition in 2023?

I believe from 1999 to date, governors have always known who they want to hand over to, but we have seen in our lifetime it doesn’t always go the way they want it to go. When we started the PDP in Delta State, I was the first among the three contestants from Central zone. If you saw that arrangement we followed through, after Ibori finished his tenure of eight years, it went to Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, and now it is the turn of the North, so it is coming back to Central.

I am the oldest founder, I cannot do it alone if the issue is to choose the narrative

Everyone knows that Delta has such fantastic opportunity in Africa because God naturally endowed the state, but understanding and identifying opportunities to know what to do is a different ball game entirely. Today, the Governor has told the whole world that I am the highest private investor in the state. I am talking about visible investments that were driven without any bank loan, or without EFCC going after me. As Minister, I was one of those that was never invited by any anti-graft agency for any discussion. It is all this wealth of experience that people have seen, as nothing is hidden. I will contest the governorship election in 2023 by the grace of God, except I see somebody better than me.

Gbagi of Delta. However, I think I am best for the job. I went out to contact notable people in Delta state and they observed that if I can do the things I’ve done with my businesses, then I can bring a whole lot to the table for Deltans. I will not meddle with state funds, rather I’ll bring in my experience to further develop the state.

My hardwork and transparency has gone ahead of me. Let all who want to run come forth and tell Deltans what they can offer.

Deltans are wise, you must be able to help yourself before you can manage a complex state like Delta. Let us tell them what we have to offer.

One of the greatest problems we face in this part of our world is that we lie to ourselves. I have managed my life in such a way that I have no blemish. Go and search me, except you don’t want the good of the state. Nobody wants people with no pedigree to lead Delta. Deltans have identified that we can do the job, and we will key in at the national level.

Why the decision to contest the governorship seat rather than focusing on your businesses? Won’t they suffer? How do you intend to marry the two?

I have rejected three ministerial appointments. If Delta has gotten its fair share of where it ought to be, then there would be no need for me to run for office. At the moment, Delta still has a lot of development opportunities to explore. There are over 6000 youths trading within my system everyday for their livelihood, therefore, you won’t be wrong to say I have what it takes to translate and transform the state along the lines of improving employment figures.

What are the areas you intend to focus on and how will you relate with other politicians vying for the same position?

I have no reason at all to see a Deltan unemployed, as there is a whole lot to do.

I have a strategy to cater for the youths and bring industries back to the state. We have a government in place now, so we do not need to say too much about what we hope to achieve. However, we will ensure the

transformation of riverine areas to business hubs. I will ensure that we do not go about governance as though we are in a dictatorship. In fact, every local government has what it takes to stand alone without reliance on monies we are getting today as allocation from the federal government.

Like I said, my friend and brother is the Governor, and I respect him, and you’ll recall that since 1999 till date, given my position in the PDP, I have never associated and worked with any governor as I have done with Governor Okowa. I have worked with him on the basis that he has the fear of God. When I was moving from my Warri home to Oginibu, he was the one who came to commission my chapel. I have worked with him earnestly on the basis that he has the fear of God. If you’re a father who has 10 children, among them you know the one that is the best. They are not all equal. So, let the entire people from Delta Central who are in government and want to retire do so. Deltans will sieve them, as they are wiser today.

Any person that cannot do something for himself, and is being asked to come and do something for a group of people, is bound to fail at the end of the day. If you know a man cannot do something for himself, and you say he should come and help a State, then you’re a failure. I am very positive that the Governor is wiser than that and will not plunge the state into another startup.

He won’t do that, and I believe him to the extent that despite being a politician, he is upright. While I have my reservations about people when it comes to character, I can say with certainty that Okowa means well for Delta.

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FEATURES

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

Partnership for Community Development Nume Ekeghe tracks the trajectory of three youth corps members who executed notable community development projects in line with the Sustainable Development Goals through sponsorship from Sigma Pensions Limited and in partnership with Junior Achievement Nigeria

Samuel Egbedeyi when he received funding

Samuel Egbedeyi presenting his borehole project to the beneďŹ ciaries of the community

Egbedeyi's borehole project

Obasi Onyinyechi inspecting her project before she commenced

Obasi’s sickbay project

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n December 2019, NYSC members were required to submit a community development project plan in line with the 17 Strategic Development Goals (SDG) and winners stood a chance to win cash prizes to fund the projects and gain mentoring opportunities from Sigma Pensions. Over 180 entries were received, and four Corp members emerged winners in the respective zones.

Career Program Sigma Pensions limited, in partnership with Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN) organised the JAN Career Program themed “Ready.Set. Boss 2.0�, a second phase of the organisation’s yearly program for corp members.

The project was executed as a three-day Career Success seminar which included an intensive Career Success Session, F.I.R.E (Financial Independence Retire Early) Session and the Be Entrepreneurial (BE) session where NYSC Members were trained on complete BE Program modules, design thinking and entrepreneurship skills in order to be properly equipped to pass on the financial literacy knowledge to secondary school students.

The BE Entrepreneurial program saw NYSC members assigned to schools to teach the JAN BE Entrepreneurial program as a CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility). They also participated in career fairs with major companies for internships/jobs in Lagos, Ibadan, Enugu and Abuja.

Participants received a certificate of participation at the event; and finally, competed for the project plan competition in line with the 17 SDG goals. .

The project directly impacted over 200 corps members, 32 secondary schools and 1397 secondary school students.

Competition The NYSC members across different geographic locations were required to submit community development projects in line with any of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. These submissions were made online. Over 200 entries were received and screened, from which 14 corp members emerged for the final leg of the competition.

The shortlisted corp members sent in additional details about their projects and went through a final interview process. The interview focused on the project idea, confidence, passion, executability, budget, timeline and potential barriers. At the end of the exercise, four (4) corp members were finally selected as winners.

Winners The winners were identified as Lateefat Arogundade, who won N500,000 to provide Education Materials For 200 Students at St. Andrew’s Basic School Araoje Via Baare, Oluyole Ibadan; Gloria Oluchukwu Okeke, also won N500, to carry out a campaign on Health Awareness about Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) in Abuja; Deborah Obasi,

won N500, 000 to renovate the sick bay at Eva Adelaja Junior Girls Grammar School, Bariga, Lagos State; and Egbedeyi Samuel, won the N500,000 prize to rehabilitate the Water System Through Rain Water Harvesting in Awha Imezi, Enugu State.

In its execution, each corp member was assigned to Sigma Project Managers in each region to execute their selected projects. The staff supervised them for quality control and timely project delivery.

Sickbay Upgrade For the winner representing Lagos, Deborah Onyinyechi Obasi, she implemented the renovation of a sick bay at Eva Adelaja Junior Girls Grammar School, Bariga.

According to her, her choice of project was necessitated because of lack of medical facilities in most secondary schools which are often in bad shape due to lack of maintenance and repair.

In addition, she said increasing enrollment has aggravated the shortage of medical facilities, which has forced many schools to refer students who are in need of urgent medical attention to health care facilities outside the school environment..

Under the supervision of her Sigma Pensions Project Manager, she successfully completed the project in September 2020 In her work plan, she commenced by approaching the school for approval, received same and did a market survey cost of materials needed.

In proceeding, she filled the floor, painted the walls, replaced window louvres, partitioned the sick bay, bought the beds, first aids and waiting chairs, carried out plumbing and electrical works, as well as welding.

With completion, the health facilities in the school became more conducive and healthier due to the newly renovated sick bay. The relevance of the project cannot be overstated. According to Obasi, “on the national level, Lagos State is known as one of the overpopulated states in Nigeria. “With overpopulation comes increase in health demands making it more and more difficult for schools in the state to provide health care to staff and students. Therefore, the demand for renovation of the sick bay was very high. “The project was also relevant to goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals: ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, for which the Nigeria Government including the Lagos State Government have pledged to achieve. In summary, the project was considered highly relevant.�

Upon completion, both the principal, Mrs Onagbeso O. O, and the head girl, Gbadamosi Tinuola, commended Obasi and Sigma Pensions for the level of work that was done in ensuring their health needs were met.

Providing Potable Water Another winner, Samuel Egbedeyi, also car-

ried out the project of constructing a modern rainwater harvesting system project at Akama, Amorji Community of Enugu State. He commenced his project on May 2020, completed and commissioned on July 2020 for the about 2,500 community members.

Egbedeyi emerged winner in the East representing Enugu State. The Bachelor of Science degree holder in Chemistry with First class honors, who is a native of Ibadan in Oyo State is currently serving in Enugu State at Coal City University as a Graduate Teaching Assistant where he co-lecture courses on Organic and Structural Chemistry.

On why he chose Amorji for his pilot project he said, “Amorji community like most parts of Enugu state is faced with a severe inadequate supply of potable water and depends mainly on a few wells and water from Nike Lake which is about two kilometers away. “Several efforts have been made by NGOs and the government to address this issue by drilling boreholes but most of such projects failed due to the low underground water and large coal deposit in Enugu State.�

As a result, he thought of addressing the problem in a different, sustainable, and relatively cheaper way which is through a Modern Rainwater harvesting system in line with the United Nations SDG number 6, which is to ensure availability of clean water for all.

The project is a Modern Rainwater harvesting System with a fully tiled 20,000-liter underground reservoir, a 1000 gallon over head tank and four tap water outlets. A water collector was mounted on the roof of the Community Town Hall which is used to harvest the water and sent through a filtration unit before sending it into the underground reservoir.

With its completion, the project has provided members of the community access to clean water hence reducing the time spent in water search, thus promoting good health and reducing the spread of water-borne diseases.

Egbedeyi aims to devote himself to learning and research to provide lasting solutions to existing and even future human health challenges.

He said: “I seek to contribute to my profession and the society by cultivating an interest in Chemistry and solution based research in new generation students in Nigeria, rendering selfless service to the community and most importantly giving my all to research to unlock more of the great potentials of Chemistry in making human lives healthier.�

Campaign against Cervical Cancer In her campaign against Cervical Cancer, youth corps member, Miss Oluchukwu Okeke led the vaccination campaign for young girls in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Okeke, through her foundation, Okeke Gloria Oluchukwu Initiative, with support from Sigma

Managing Director Sigma Pensions, Mr. Dave Uduanu

Pensions and Medicaid, provided free vaccination for 11 school children at the Piwoyi Primary Health Care Centre, along Airport Road, in the FCT at the cost of N13, 000 per dose in the first of at least two laps of vaccination against the disease.

The 26 years old graduate of Accounting from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State who is currently serving at the headquarters of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Abuja, said her passion for public health, girl child education and development were the motivation for the gesture.

Addressing scores of participants at the venue, Okeke called on the federal government to integrate vaccination against cervical cancer into national immunisation campaign and increase access to screening for cancers in the country.

She said: “The girls that are supposed to be given vaccine are not given vaccine because it has not been included in the national immunisation routine, making it unavailable to the girls and the youth. The essence of this advocacy is to call on the federal government, the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency to include the Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into the national immunisation routine to make it available and accessible for the girls at the grassroots.

In his remarks, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, gave assurance at the event that government would continue to do its best to guarantee the wellbeing of people in the country, especially in protecting women and girls against cervical cancer.

Represented by Assistant Director, Cancer Control Programme, Department of Hospital Services in the ministry, Dr Chinwendu Onuselogu, the minister said “ The Government was working with other stakeholders to procure human papilloma vaccine “because the most important things are the grassroots children.

If we are able to go to the grassroots through immunisation, I think it will go a long way to prevent our young girls from getting infected with cervical cancer�.

Sigma’s Vision Shedding light of the vision behind this career project which translates into physical work for the Corp members, the Managing Director of Sigma Pensions, Mr. Dave Uduanu reiterated the Organisations’ commitment towards creating exceptional value for stakeholders. “Our partnership with Junior Achievement Nigeria is targeted towards improving Financial Literacy amongst young people most especially Corps members.

Our aim is to work with our teeming young population to think creatively about adding value to their environment. We are not just working to improve the retirement life of our customers but we shall continue to seek ways to add value to our society at large.�.

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍˇËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

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#THISISNIGERIA –Olunloyo Ayobami

“FOR THE LOVE OF COUNTRY...�

From the blog: ‘My Nigerian Dream

I

often say (to myself) that the best songs in the world have already been sung. This is my own personal way of appreciating truly iconic and classic songs and elevating them to a status of “untouchable� when compared with more recent songs. I do however acknowledge that this is a matter of preference and taste, and that great music will always evolve greatly. You might wonder about the relevance of these opening statements to a blog entitled ‘My Nigerian Dream’. It’s simple, just like one of my recent blog pieces, this one has also been inspired by a song. In this case, it is a song by an artiste who left us a rather clear message; one that is deeply relevant to societal events in Nigeria today.

Whitney Elizabeth Houston (1963 – 2012) certainly came, saw and left, but not before she conquered the R&B, pop, soul, gospel and dance music scenes. One of her most iconic songs is “Greatest Love of Allâ€?, the lyrics of which I saw in a totally new light on a fateful October evening. As I drove back home late at night with my wife after an all-day outing, the song came on and for some reason, this time, unlike the usual subtle blend of musical instruments and voice, the lyrics seemed to jump out at me more than the melody. It wasn’t the usual characteristic sound one would associate with an A-rated artiste like Whitney; except it actually was, and it was my ears that were just playing tricks on me, or better put, they were decoding a hidden message that was there all along. I can only suppose that this was one of those moments when one’s mind was acutely focused on one’s most recent thoughts‌and indeed that day, up to that very moment, Nigeria had been heavy on my mind.

And so, my analysis of the lyrics and subsequent drawing of parallels with Nigeria’s situation began. Permit me to modify the lyrics ever so slightly to make my point. Original lyrics have been kept in and struck through while additions are underlined in bold CAPS. Other emboldened text are sections I would like to emphasise. I shall focus on three key stanzas of the song, and leave you to enjoy the rest of it via the music video. Here we go‌ I believe the [children] YOUTH are our future Teach them well and let them lead the way Show them all the beauty they possess inside Give them a sense of pride to make it easier Let [the children's] THEIR laughter remind us how we used to be First of all, you’ll notice that I replaced the word ‘children’ with ‘youth’. Clearly, I’m steering clear of a social media onslaught. Having swiftly jumped over that messy puddle, let turn our attention fully to the above stanza. It is a clear validation of the desires of Nigeria’s youth population today. They are indeed the future, and we all as a nation must not only believe it, we must accept it. More precisely, the government must accept it. It is a responsibility for seasoned leaders, NOT to try to maintain ‘power-for-life’, but rather to develop following generations at the appropriate time. To do otherwise is not only irresponsible, it is also a dangerous dereliction of duty that upsets a delicate balance and creates a needless gap. Today’s youth ought to be encouraged, galvanised, empowered, and ultimately unleashed. They are not lazy, should not be looked down upon as having nothing to contribute, and they certainly ought not to be underestimated. Despite the absence of a common enabling environment, they have shown, repeatedly, that they have all it takes to flourish in the most trying of circumstances. This is as true for the young vocational worker learning a trade as it is for the entrepreneurial founders of Paystack. It is true for the young commodities

hawker as it is for the passionate, intelligent and well-intentioned organisers of the recent #EndSARS protests‌the ‘official’ protests, not the mayhem and chaos that followed. Rather than our leaders to show the youth ‘the beauty they possess inside’, Whitney’s words have been overturned to the extent that it is the youth who have so far had to scream to get themselves even noticed. That shouldn’t be; their journey should be made easier by all of society singing in unison about the greatness of our youth, willing them on, and thereby instilling a sense of self-belief and patriotism in them. Then when our youth have come into full bloom, the ‘elders’ can sit back, enjoy the view, and watch the nation progress into its next era and an assured future in trained, tested and trusted hands. This is how it should be.

Everybody's searching for a hero People need someone to look up to I never found anyone who fulfil my needs A lonely place to be And so I learned to depend on me This next stanza could easily be a letter from today’s 207 million Nigerians directly to every level of our government. This is not a youth-only message; if you think about it, it’s “our� story.

We’re searching for th/at(ose) heroic leader(s) for whom ‘we the people’ will be the priority.

Leaders of integrity, who are great role models, who exhibit deep empathy and who stand up and relish the opportunity to serve, not to be served. Instead, Nigerians have been subjected to a cycle of disappointment as we continue in search of the elusive front runners who we desire to follow. What a lonely place for such a huge population to be; and while the coming of Nigeria’s ‘messiahs’ remains delayed, Nigerians are simply left to do what we do best – to survive – against incredible odds.

As a people, Nigerians have an exceptionally resilient spirit, which I believe to be both a strength and a weakness; the former because it’ll get us out of any jam, the latter because it causes us to accept what I call ‘injustice by bad governance’, rather than confront it. We

excuse it, we adapt, we settle, we compromise, but we also neither fix the problem nor start the process. However, the tide is shifting, and it isn’t so much a ‘generation’ as what I would rather call a ‘wave’ of Nigerians of all ages, faiths, genders and ethnicities, that are coming full steam ahead, no longer willing to sit by and accept the status quo.

I decided long ago Never to walk in anyone's shadows If I fail, if I succeed At least I'll live as I believe No matter what they take from me They can't take away my dignity Rather than depend on themselves for provisions and services that ought to be provided by the state, they will build structures, design systems, and define processes that will help shape an innovative #newNIGERIA. These Nigerians will not walk in the shadow of (many of) our leaders past, but they will acknowledge and appreciate the labour of our true heroes past and present. They are willing to try, even if those that ought to guide them neglect to do so. At least they would be held in honour for lending their hands to the plough when their nation really needed them. They are the sort who would tell anyone who expects that they can be intimidated, harassed or bought out of their convictions, to perish the thought, for this is a ‘wave’ of Nigerians who will not sacrifice their dignity, integrity or vision.

So, what do we take away from all this? First of all, that Whitney Houston sang a phenomenal song – make sure you catch it (again). More relevant though, is that it is time for youth all over Nigeria to take responsibility for the change that we want to see as a nation. I believe that elections are really contested and won on porches and at front doors. The hard work of pulling off a great win is performed door to door, hut to hut, and shack to shack. If we are to change Nigeria, the vehicle of choice is and must be our politics and particularly at the grass roots. Moreover, there are many ‘movements’, whose combined efforts will be key to getting

there. These include non-partisan civil society organisations such as “Enough is Enough� and the “#FixPolitics� initiative, which was publicly launched earlier today. Why support such?

Because when we amalgamate the impact of all those ‘movements’, the result will be that ‘wave’ that will defy precedent.

A constitutional amendment has lowered the age of candidacy, meaning that individuals as young as 25 years old can run for office. Please read Nigeria’s 1999 amended constitution to find out more. In Nigeria’s public sector, official retirement is at age 60 or after 35 years of service.

It has been 37 years since the termination of the 2nd Republic; by that logic, for example, anyone who has been involved in our politics since then, perhaps ought to have ‘retired’ from active service by now. Maybe this could be a practical guide for how we decide on candidates and for whom we choose to vote.

So, to conclude, and repeating the title of this piece, ‘for the love of country‌’, to all leaders of yesterday, please heed these words and allow the natural circle of life to propagate itself, so Nigeria can benefit from fresh minds, opinions and perspectives. There comes a time when all “goodâ€? things must end, and it is ideal that power is relinquished and passed on to the next generation. There are those who would say that my appeal is pointless and perhaps even naive because it will fall on deaf ears; perhaps so. However, on the odd chance that someone is actually listening, and also especially because as Whitney sang, “the greatest love of all is easy to achieveâ€?, is it not worth trying? For the love of country‌because right about now, we all as a nation, could do with the greatest love of all happening inside of us! t"ZPCBNJ "LJOZPEF 0-6/-0:0 JT B QBTTJPOBUF /JHFSJBO QPMJUJDBM FOUIVTJBTU BOE BO BDDPNQMJTIFE BOE QFSGPSNBODF ESJWFO QSPGFTTJPOBM XJUI ZFBST FYQFSJFODF JO CVTJOFTT PQFSBUJPOT QMBOOJOH BOE NBOBHFNFOU 5XJUUFS !BZPCBNJPMVOMPZP *OTUBHSBN !BZPCBNJ PMVOMPZP

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THURSDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2020 •T H I S D AY

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Quick Takes MTN Hosts Employability Workshop

Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁ Ă’Ă™Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă“ĂžĂ? Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă™Ă? Ă‘ĂœĂ‹ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă–Ă‹ĂœĂ? ÞÙ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?Ă—ĂšĂ–Ă™ĂŁĂ‹ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă“ĂžĂŁ ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ•Ă?ÒÙÚ˛ Ă’Ă? ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ•Ă?ÒÙÚ Ă’Ă‹ĂŽ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă“Ă–Ă“ĂžĂ‹ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ? Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ÙÙÑÖĂ?Ëœ ĂœĂ‹Ă?Ă–Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă™ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ Ă™ĂŒĂŒĂ?ĂœĂ—Ă‹Ă˜ ĂœĂ?ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă Ă?Ëœ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? Ă”Ă™Ă™Ă˜Ă&#x;Ë› Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă–Ă‹ĂœĂ? ĂĄĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă?âÚÙĂ?Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă˜ ÒÙå ÞÙ Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? ÎËÞË Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă–ĂŁĂžĂ“Ă?Ă? ÞÙ Ă“Ă—ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă? ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ëœ ÞÒĂ? ĂŒĂ‹Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ?ĂšĂœĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă’Ă“Ăš Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ĂŁĂŒĂ?ĂœĚ‹Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁËœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂšĂ? Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂŽĂ?ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ó×ÚËĂ?ĂžĂ?Ă&#x;Ă– ËÚÚÖÓĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂœĂ‹Ă?Ă–Ă? Ë› Ă&#x;ĂœĂžĂ’Ă?ĂœĂ—Ă™ĂœĂ?Ëœ Ă?Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă–Ă‹ĂœĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă Ă?ĂŽ ÞÓÚĂ? Ă™Ă˜ ÒÙå ÞÙ Ă?Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ă’ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă”Ă™ĂŒĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?ÞÓà Ă?Ă–ĂŁË› ÙÙÑÖĂ? Ă?Ă?ĂœĂžĂ“Ă?Ă“Ă?ĂŽ ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂœËœ Ă?Ă˜Ă˜Ă?ÞÒ ĂĄĂ™Ă—Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă–Ă? Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă‹Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă–ĂŁĂžĂ“Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă’Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ă–Ă“Ă‘Ă’ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă›Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? ÞÒËÞ ĂĄĂ™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ Ă‹Ă“ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽË? ËŤ Ă˜ Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă–ĂŁĂžĂ“Ă?Ă?Ëœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă–Ă–Ă™ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă›Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă’Ă?ÖÚ˞ ĂĄĂ’Ă‹Ăž Ă“Ă? Ă—ĂŁ Ă™ĂŒĂ”Ă?Ă?ÞÓà Ă?ËŁ Ă’Ă‹Ăž Ă›Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? ĂŽĂ™ Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă‹ĂŽĂŽĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?ËŁ Ă’Ă?ĂœĂ? ĂŽĂ™ Ă‘Ă?Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂĄĂ’Ă‹Ăž ĂŽĂ™ ĂŽĂ™ åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‘Ă?Þˣˏ Ă? Ă?ÞËÞĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒËÞ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ?Ă?Ăž ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁĂ? ÞÙ ĂŽĂœĂ“Ă Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă‹ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă? ĂŒĂŁ Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÎËÞË ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă Ă?ĂŽ Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă–ĂŁĂžĂ“Ă?Ă? ÞÙ Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă?ĂŁ Ă Ă‹Ă–Ă&#x;Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?ÞÙ×Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă“Ă˜ĂŽ Ă˜Ă?ĂĄ ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁĂ? ÞÙ ĂœĂ?ĂžĂ‹Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă‹Ă–ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂŽĂŁ Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ ĂŒĂ?Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă“Ă™ĂœĂ‹Ă– ÚËÞÞĂ?ĂœĂ˜Ë› Ă&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă? Ă”Ă?Ù×Ë Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă™Ëœ Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ÙÞÒĂ?Ăœ Ă’Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽËœ Ă?ÚÙÕĂ? Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă—ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă Ă‹Ă–Ă&#x;Ă? Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ?ĂšĂœĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?ÒÓÚ˛ Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂžĂ’Ă?Ăœ Ă?Ă˘ĂšĂ–Ă‹Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂŽ ÒÙå Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ?ĂšĂœĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?Ă?Ăž ĂšĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă“Ă?Ëœ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ‹ĂŒĂ–Ă?Ëœ Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă?Ă Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă?Ëœ Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă“Ă?ÞÓĂ?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ă—Ă?Ě‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽ Ě™ Ěš ÑÙËÖĂ? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă˜ Ă?ĂŁĂŒĂ?ĂœĚ‹Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁËœ ËÞÓ ËÞ×Ă?Ăœ Ă‹ĂšĂ?Ă– Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă™ Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽËœ ËŤ ĂŁĂŒĂ?ĂœĚ‹Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁ Ă“Ă? Ă Ă?ĂœĂŁ Ă“Ă—ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ‹Ă˜Ăž ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? ĂĄĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ–ĂŽ Ă™Ă? ÎÓÑÓÞËÖÓĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ë› ÖÙÞ Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă“Ă? Ă?âĂ?Ă’Ă‹Ă˜Ă‘Ă?ĂŽ Ă™Ă˜Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă? Ă’Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă“Ăž Ă“Ă? Ă“Ă—ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ‹Ă˜Ăž ÞÙ Ă•Ă˜Ă™ĂĄ ÒÙå Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? ÚÖËÞĂ?Ă™ĂœĂ— Ă“Ă?˛ˏ

E-GOVERNMENT SUMMIT

L-R: Executive Chairman, DigiServe Network Services Limited, Mr. Lanre Ajayi; Deputy Governor, Lagos State, Dr. Femi Hamzat; Coordinating Director, Federal Inland Revenue Service(FIRS), Mr. Femi Oluwaniyi, and Assistant Director/Head, Initiatives and Interventions, FIRS, Dr. Zainab Gobir, during the Nigeria e-Government Summit 2020, held in Lagos...recently PHOTO: ABIODUN AJALA

Broadband Access, Driver of Economic Growth, Says NCC Stories by Emma Okonji The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has restated the need for ubiquitous broadband access for all Nigerians by the year 2025, while explaining that access to high speed broadband connectivity is not just a necessity, but a fundamental driver of economic growth.

The Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, restated NCC’s commitment to broadband access for all Nigerians, when he led a team of NCC’s management staff on a courtesy visit to the corporate headquarters of THISDAY Newspapers in Lagos, recently.

Speaking about the new normal brought about by COVID-19, where government,

TELECOM organisations and individual activities have moved online, Adinde said the situation called for increased broadband access, which he further said, had already been captured in the 2020-2025 National Broadband Plan, which projected 70 per cent broadband penetration by 2025.

According to Adinde, “The NCC model on national broadband implementation is based on Open Access Model and that means we will be creating platforms that enable the delivery of broadband across the six geopolitical zones of the country. For the purpose of broadband development, NCC mapped the country into

seven zones, with Lagos as a zone of its own, in addition to the existing six geopolitical zones in the country. “So NCC, under the current leadership of Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, is committed at increasing broadband penetration across the country. In the last five years of Danbatta’s administration, Nigerians have witnessed how broadband penetration grew from a paltry six per cent penetration level in 2015 to over 43. 33 per cent as at August 2020, which is unprecedented. “NCC is assuring Nigerians of more improved broadband penetration in the coming years, and 90 per cent of Nigerian population is expected to enjoy ubiquitous broadband access by 2025, going by the 70 per cent

broadband penetration projection of the National Broadband Plan by 2025.�

Supporting the recent call for financing to boost telecoms’ infrastructure and broadband penetration across the country, Adinde said: “The conversation to introduce telecoms financing has been ongoing, and we at the NCC will continue to pursue it because we need to support telecoms infrastructure deployment in the telecoms sector. The conversation has been around the cost of capital in terms of raising money to finance telecoms infrastructure and the discussion is ongoing.

But NCC on its own has licensed Infrastructure Companies (InContinued on page 24

‘Early Technology Adoption Will Promote Economic Growth, e-Govt’ Participants at the Nigeria eGovernment Summit 2020 have stressed the need for early adoption of technology and increased ICT infrastructure across the country to promote economic growth and e-Government.

The summit, which was held in Lagos recently and organised

by DigiServe, had the theme : COVID-19: Impetus for Accelerated e-Government Adoption.

The Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Muhammad Nami, who was represented by the Coordinating Director, FIRS, Mr. Femi Oluwaniyi, said the COVID-19 pandemic, even though it took the world by surprise, brought about the importance and need for technology adoption that would keep

TELECOM citizens in tune with the new normal, where meetings and conferences are now held online and government activities are more accessible online.

According to Nami, “There is need for early adoption of emerging technologies to improve governance and also improve the lives of Nigerians.

Small businesses like Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), need to be empowered and government must begin to provide ICT infrastructure that could be leveraged by SMEs to further grow the Nigerian economy digitally.�

He said FIRS was already at the forefront of technology adoption in providing seamless

services for tax payers, through the e-Tax and other initiatives of the FIRS. The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in his keynote address, discussed the importance of technology in developing the Nigerian economy and e-Government across different states of the federation.

The governor who was represented by his deputy, Dr, Obafemi Hamzat, explained how the state is deploying 3,000km Lagos Metro Fibre cables in order to address the shortfall of broadband infrastructure in the state, designed to boost high speed broadband connectivity across the state. “Lagos State will continue to provide leadership for the adoption of relevant

technologies that will enhance e-Government and Information Technology (IT) infrastructure spread across the state,� SanwoOlu said.

The Executive Chairman, DigiServe Network Services, and convener of the e-Government summit, Mr. Lanre Ajayi, said: “Technology evolution has made it easy for government service delivery and no government can survive effectively without technology application. Nigerians therefore need technology to leverage e-Government services.�

The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Pro. Umar Garba Danbatta, said NCC would continue to deepen Continued on page 24

Airtel Wins Awards

Ă“ĂœĂžĂ?Ă– Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă˜ Ă’Ă™Ă˜Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?ĂŽ åÓÞÒ ÞåÙ Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽĂ? ĂŒĂŁ ĂžĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù×Ă? Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁ Ă?ÞËÕĂ?ÒÙÖÎĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂžĂ’ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă?Ă?Ă’ Ă˜Ă˜Ă™Ă Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù× ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽĂ? Ě™ Ͱ͎Ͱ͎̚˛ Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽĂ? Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă—Ă™Ă˜ĂŁËœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă’Ă?Ă–ĂŽ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁ Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă”Ă‹Ëœ Ă“ĂœĂžĂ?Ă– Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? ĂĄĂ™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ËŠ Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă&#x;Ă?ÞÙ×Ă?Ăœ âÚĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă?ËŞ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă–Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă˜ĂŁËŞĂ? Ă’Ă“Ă?Ă? âĂ?Ă?Ă&#x;ÞÓà Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă?Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœËœ Ă?Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă˜ Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁĂ‹Ëœ ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă˜Ă‹Ă—Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? ËŠ Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù×

Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁ Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă–Ă“ĂžĂŁ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‹ĂœË›ËŞ Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă™ĂœĂ‘Ă‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ?Ëœ ÞÒĂ? Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’Ăž ÞÙ Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă?ĂŒĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ? ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂžĂœĂ“ĂŽĂ?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă“ĂœĂžĂ?Ă– Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă“ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă&#x;Ă? Ă™Ă˜ Ă“Ă—ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?ÞÙ×Ă?Ăœ Ă?âÚĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ“ĂŒĂ&#x;ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁĂ‹ ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ËŞĂ? ĂžĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù×̋ Ă—Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁ Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă˜ĂŁËŞĂ? ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂŽĂ‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă—Ă™ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă? ĂŒĂœĂ™Ă‹ĂŽĂŒĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽËœ Ă“Ă˜Ă˜Ă™Ă Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă Ă? Ă Ă‹Ă–Ă&#x;Ă? Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ĂŽĂ Ă™Ă?Ă‹Ă?ĂŁ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă™ĂœĂšĂ™ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ? ĂšĂ’Ă“Ă–Ă‹Ă˜ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ™ĂšĂŁ ĂĄĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ Ă?Ă“ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă’Ă™Ă˜Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĚ‹ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂžĂ’ĂŁË› Ă?Ă•Ă˜Ă™ĂĄĂ–Ă?ĂŽĂ‘Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă™Ă‘Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁĂ‹Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă™ ĂĄĂ‹Ă? ĂœĂ?ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ Ă“ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœËœ Ă?Ă‘Ă‹Ă–Ëš Ă?Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ™ĂœĂŁ Ă?Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă˜ĂŁ Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁËœ Ă“ĂœĂžĂ?Ă– Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ëœ ĂœË› ÒÙÖË ĂŽĂ?ĂŁĂ?Ă—Ă“Ëœ Ă?Ă˘ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹ĂšĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă™ĂœĂ‘Ă‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ Ă?ĂœĂ?ĂŽĂ“ĂŒĂ–Ă? ÚÖËÞĂ?Ă™ĂœĂ— ÞÙ Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă?ĂŒĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂ•Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ“ĂŒĂ&#x;ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ĂžĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù×Ă? Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁË› ĂšĂ?Ă‹Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă“Ă‘Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽËœ Ă“Ă—Ă—Ă?ĂŽĂ“Ă‹ĂžĂ? ÚËĂ?Ăž ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù××Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ě™ ĚšËœ Ă–Ă&#x;Ă?ÙÖË Ă?Ă˜Ă“Ă™Ă–Ă‹Ëœ Ă?Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂ‘Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ‹Ă– Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ÞËÞĂ? ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ? ÞÙ ÚËã Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ? ËÞÞĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™Ăœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă–Ă? Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂšĂ“Ă˜Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂœĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂžĂ? ĂŒĂŁ Ă?ÞËÕĂ?ÒÙÖÎĂ?ĂœĂ? ÞÙ ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ— ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă™Ă—ĂŁ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ™ Ă‹ ÎÓÑÓÞËÖ Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ë› Ă’Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ?Ăœ Ă™Ă? Ù××Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÓÑÓÞËÖ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă™Ă—ĂŁËœ ĂœË› Ă?Ă‹ Ă–Ă“ ĂŒĂœĂ‹Ă’Ă“Ă— Ă‹Ă˜ĂžĂ‹Ă—Ă“ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? âĂ?Ă?Ă&#x;ÞÓà Ă? Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă“ĂœĂ—Ă‹Ă˜Ëœ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ Ù××Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ù××ÓĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ě™ ĚšËœ ĂœĂ™Ă?Ë› Ă—Ă‹Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŒĂ‹ĂžĂžĂ‹Ëœ ĂĄĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă—Ă™Ă˜Ă‘ Ă˜Ă™ĂžĂ‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁ Ă?ÞËÕĂ?ÒÙÖÎĂ?ĂœĂ? ĂĄĂ’Ă™ ĂĄĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă™Ă‘Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ë› Ă’Ă? Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽ ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă™ĂœĂ‘Ă‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ åÓÞÒ Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă?Ăž Ă‹Ă Ă? Ë›

WD Introduces New Gaming Products

Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ˜ ÓÑÓÞËÖ Ě™ Ěš Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ?Ă? Ă˜Ă?ĂĄ ĂšĂœĂ™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ?Ë› Ă’Ă? ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ?Ă? ĂšĂœĂ™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ? ÞÒĂ? Ě° ÍŻÍŽ Ă‹Ă—Ă? ĂœĂ“Ă Ă?Ëœ Ě° ͳ͎ Ă‹Ă—Ă? ĂœĂ“Ă Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜Ă˜Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ě° ͜ͳ͎ Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă? Ă?Ă˜Í˛ ĂžĂ?Ă?Ă’Ă˜Ă™Ă–Ă™Ă‘ĂŁË› Ă?Ă˜Ă“Ă™Ăœ Ă“Ă?Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă? Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;Ă—Ă?Ăœ ÙÖĂ&#x;ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă‹Ăž Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ˜ Ă“Ă‘Ă“ĂžĂ‹Ă–Ëœ Ă“Ă— Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă’Ëœ Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽË? ËŤ Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă?âĂ?Ă“ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒËÞ ÞÒÓĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă–Ă–Ă‹ĂŒĂ™ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ åÓÞÒ Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă™Ă? Ă&#x;Þã Ă‘Ă“Ă Ă?Ă? Ă&#x;Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă™ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂŁ ÞÙ ĂŒĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ?Ă?Ă? Ă–Ă“Ă—Ă“ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă?ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‘Ă˜Ă?ĂŽ ĂŽĂœĂ“Ă Ă?Ă? ÞÙ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ ÚËĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ë› ËŤ Ă? Ă•Ă˜Ă™ĂĄ Ă‘Ă‹Ă—Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă?âĂ?Ă?ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? ĂĄĂ’Ă?Ă˜ Ă“Ăž Ă?Ù×Ă?Ă? ÞÙ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă‘Ă‹Ă—Ă?ĂšĂ–Ă‹ĂŁËœ Ă?Ă™ ĂĄĂ? Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÙÚÞÓ×ÓĂ?Ă?ĂŽ Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ‹Ă‘Ă? Ă?ÙÖĂ&#x;ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? ÞÒËÞ Ă?Ă˜Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? ÞÒĂ?Ă— ÞÙ Ă•Ă?Ă?Ăš Ă&#x;Ăš åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă—Ă—Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă“Ă Ă? Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă™Ă? Ă&#x;Þã Ă?âÚĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă?˛ˏ Ă–Ă?Ă™Ëœ Ă–Ă™ĂŒĂ‹Ă– Ă“ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ™Ăœ Ă™Ă? ĂœĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ĂœĂžĂ˜Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă’Ă“ĂšĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă‘ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹ĂœĂ•Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ăž Ă?ÞÓà ÓĂ?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ăœ Ă“Ă?Ă•Ă?Ă–Ă–Ëœ Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽË? ËŤ Ă? ĂĄĂ?ËŞĂœĂ? ĂŽĂ?Ă–Ă“Ă Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă?âÞ Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă–Ă‹Ă?Ă• ĂšĂ? ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă‘Ă‹Ă—Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ù××Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂŁËœ ĂĄĂ?ËŞĂœĂ? Ă?Ù××ÓÞÞĂ?ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă‹ĂŒĂ?ÙÖĂ&#x;ĂžĂ? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ăž Ă‘Ă‹Ă—Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?âÚĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ë› ËŤ Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ˜ ÓÑÓÞËÖ˪Ă? Ě° ĂŒĂœĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ă? Ă—Ă‹ĂŽĂ? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă‘Ă‹Ă—Ă?ĂœĂ?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÙÑĂ?ÞÒĂ?Ăœ ĂĄĂ? ĂŒĂ?Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă Ă? Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ă? ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– ĂŒĂ? Ă‹Ă? ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ“Ă–Ă–Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă? ĂĄĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž ÞÒĂ?Ă?Ă? ĂŽĂœĂ“Ă Ă?Ă?˛ˏ

“With the 3,000km Metro Fibre cable being deployed in Lagos, in order to address the shortfall of broadband infrastructure, Lagos State will continue to provide leadership for the adoption of relevant technologies that will enhance e-Government and Information Technology (IT) infrastructure spread across the state�

Lagos State Governor,

Babajide Sanwo-Olu

T H I S D AY Ëž NOVEMBER 19, 2020

24

BUSINESSWORLD BROADBAND ACCESS, DRIVER OF ECONOMIC GROWTH, SAYS NCC fraCos) with the mandate to provide telecoms infrastructure in the sector.�

Adinde further said broadband access would improve service quality across networks and that NCC would continue to ensure that subscribers get the best of telecoms service.

Adinde, however said: “NCC’s regulation is built on two parameters: Quality of Service and Quality of Consumer Experience. In the area of quality of service, our call set up rate has been very high, showing large volume of successful calls made across networks on a daily basis. In the area of quality of experience of the subscribers, NCC reported in the last three months, how it has resolved consumers complaints across networks.

In a sector like telecoms, we cannot run away from consumer complaints and we have done so much to address consumers’ complaints to their satisfaction. “During the lockdown, we were able to compile the number of complaints emanating from telecoms subscribers and we did a comprehensive report of the number of complaints that came over a period of 16 months and we were able to resolve 93.8 per cent of the total complaints compiled.�

‘EARLY TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION WILL PROMOTE ECONOMIC GROWTH, E-GOVT’ broadband penetration across the country to enhance high speed broadband connectivity.

According to him, as at September this year, NCC increased broadband penetration to 45.43 per cent, up from a paltry six per cent broadband penetration in 2015. “Telecoms subscription has reached 205 million and internet subscription has reached 150 million, with over 80 million Nigerians having access to high speed internet access. But in all of these, effective security must be put in place to guard against associated risks, which can affect e-governance, if not checked. NCC is therefore working hard to address cyber insecurity through the establishment of the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT), in collaboration with other agencies, to deal with cyberattacks,� Danbatta said.

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

Ă‹Ă’Ă?Ă?Ă— Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ĂŒĂ™Ă–Ă&#x; (Advertising) Correspondents

Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂŽĂ&#x; äĂ? (Aviation) ĂœĂ™Ă—Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă? ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜ (Maritime) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafo (Energy) Ă—Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă?Ă– ĂŽĂŽĂ?Ă’ (Energy) Reporters

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

NEWS

Stakeholders Urge CBN, NCC to Conduct Talent Needs Survey Stories by Emma Okonji Fintech specialists and other stakeholders have urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Nigeria Security Commission, to conduct a talent needs survey to help address skills deficit in the country.

According to the professionals, the survey would help the regulators to understand the type of manpower challenges the industry is facing and to assist the education and training institutes to develop relevant curricular.

The keynote speaker and President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu, said the specific competencies identified by the survey would be a starting point for Fintech professionals, HR, educators and policy makers to understand what skills are needed in the industry.

The Fintech and Human Resources (HR) experts spoke during the Fintech Talent Summit - a co-located but focused event - within the annual Lagos Fintech Week 2020, which held virtually recently.

Unanimous in their submissions, the specialists expressed the views that such a talent survey would empower the education and training centres to develop relevant programmes that will enable students to gain access to the

Fintech and HR industry with maximum preparedness. “The Nigeria Fintech ecosystem has become a leading network in Africa’s financial service industry through innovative solutions in lendtech, insurtech and wealthtech among others. “The industry is regarded as a dominant force in Africa.

However, despite the huge potential of Fintech, access to and retention of best-in-class talents is a growing concern within the industry�, the FinTech experts said.

According to a PwC report in 2017, 77 per cent of the Chief Executive Officers surveyed view skills shortages as business threats.

In his presentation, MbaUzoukwu explained that the skill shortages in the industry cut across hard and soft skills. “Not only technical skills, but also specific communication and response behaviour that are highly valued in the Fintech industry,� he emphasised.

The PwC report highlighted the hard skills that are in shortfall to include communica-

tion, creativity, high emotional quotient (EQ), block chain, programming languages such as Python, C++, C#, GoLang, SQL, JavaScript and Java ML, AI, Deep Learning and cyber security.

Speaking on the Communityas-a-Service (CaaS): Connecting with the right Talent for Current and Future Opportunities, Head of Department, Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Professor Abiodun Aibinu, identified 10 skills that are relevant to the future of work.

He listed EQ, critical thinking, active learning with growth mindset and judgment as well as decision making.

Others include interpersonal communication, leadership, diversity and cultural intelligence, technological and embracing skills.

Also, the Executive Director at Innovectives Group, Ayo Oladimeji said: “For us as Fintech experts, our talent pool is our greatest asset.

And this goes a long way to determine growth and success of the venture.�

COURTESY VISIT

L-R: Director, ARISE TV, Mr. Emmanuel Efeni; Director, Public Aairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde and Head, Online Media and Special Publications, Mrs. Grace Ojougboh, during a courtesy visit by NCC to THISDAY Newspapers’ head oďŹƒce in Lagos...recently

Team Nigeria Emerges Winner in Huawei Global Competition Team Nigeria, comprising of some Nigerian students from the University of Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and University of Port Harcourt, have won the grand first place position out of over 150,000 students that participated in the Cloud and Network examination at the 2020 Huawei ICT Competition.

The students were honored for their achievement at an online awards ceremony hosted from the Huawei Headquarters in China.

The closing award ceremony event, which held recently in Abuja, was attended by the Special Assistant on Youth and Students Affairs, Mr. Nasir Sa’idu Adhama, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari.

Also in attendance, were the Managing Director/CEO, NIGCOMSAT, Dr. Abimbola Alale, representing the Minister of Communications and Digital

Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami; the Deputy Executive Secretary of the National University Commission (NUC), Mr. Chris Maiyaki, representing of the Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed; some university Vice Chancellors; Huawei management staff; the award-winning students; instructors; parents and the media.

Speaking on behalf the President Buhari, Adhama, said “I congratulate the Nigerian students for coming this far in this Global ICT Competition.

I also thank Huawei for supporting our Nigerian students and hope Huawei will continue to partner with the country in developing our ICT capabilities.�

Alale also expressed gratitude to Huawei for the opportunity given to the Nigerian students to showcase their expertise at the global level and congratulated

the students for making Nigeria proud. “I commend Huawei for organising this ICT competition as part of your Corporate Social Responsibility efforts. We look forward to more collaboration between Huawei and the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy,� Alale said on behalf of the minister.

While speaking on behalf of the Executive Secretary of NUC, Maiyaki said: “The National University Commission will like to rejoice with Huawei and the triumphant Nigerian students on this occasion – the Huawei Global ICT competition – which is now highly regarded as the annual knowledge festival.

The NUC is honoured to be associated to this success story.

This proves that with the right environment and ecosystem, Nigeria can take on global counterparts on any intellectual

platform.�

The Huawei ICT competition which was established to foster ICT learning in Africa and bridge the gap between theoretical study and practical industry experience, typically comprises of a national preliminary contest, regional semi-final and a global final. The global victory by the Nigerian students was preceded by a successful campaign at both the national finals, which held on December 10th 2019 and had over 23,000 Nigerian students in the contest and the sub-Saharan Africa Region ICT Competition finals which held on September 10th and 11th, 2020, featuring 123 student-talents from 13 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, grouped into 41 teams, to determine those who will be selected to participate the Huawei Global ICT Competition finals.

Deputy Managing Director/ CEO of Huawei Technologies

Company Nigeria Limited, Mr. Kelvin Yang, said: “In over two decades of operating in Nigeria, Huawei has remained committed to training Nigerians in digital skills and cultivating ICT talents to build a fully digital economy. We launched the ICT Talents Eco-system development program so that local ICT talents can be nurtured and developed to the point of global recognition.�

Speaking at the ceremony, the students’ representative, Hamza Atabor said “I will like to show my gratitude to Huawei, my Vice Chancellor, my instructors, team mates and my family for this great opportunity. This journey with Huawei came with benefits such as professional certification in the field of interest. I am now HCIP certified in the field of Routing and Switching and in a few months I will attain an extra level certification.�

ATCON New Executives Tasked on Effective Leadership The immediate past President of the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Olusola Teniola has tasked the newly elected executives of the association to be resilient in leadership in order to successfully direct the affairs of ATCON in the next two years.

Teniola, who gave the advice, while narrating his experience as President of ATCON, told THISDAY Newspapers in a telephone interview that the

leadership style that would be deployed by the new exco, must come with tenacity and purposeful intent.

According to Teniola, “Looking back over the years I would consider the greatest challenge for ATCON under my leadership, as the recession that was faced by the executive and the impact it had on ATCON members and membership. With every challenge we immediately set out to change the image of the association by immediately

focusing spending on increased advocacy, information dissemination and global partnerships.

We were more visible in the Middle East and represented Nigeria in Morocco in 2017 at a pan African event. “Alongside, this we also signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with A4AI, a Web foundation organisation co-founded by the inventor of the web. All these were done within the first six months of our first tenure and it brought in the much needed

momentum to our cause and attracted more attention to what ATCON was addressing. We turned this challenge to an advantage and ATCON is now placed to address all issues concerning the country’s digital transformation journey.�

Speaking further, Teniola said: “As immediate past President, I am also part of the newly elected executives in an advisory capacity. I believe the foundation in place should be built upon and continued dialogue with

all stakeholders us absolutely necessary. “The current president of ATCON, Mr. Ikechukwu Nnamani announced in his acceptance speech after the election, which held recently in Lagos that FOREX, funding and strengthening of the ATCON’s Secretariat were areas of immediate focus. These are all specific issues that are germane to our industry and the new executives have a lot of work to do to address them.�

T H I S D AY ˾ NOVEMBER 19, 2020

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BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Adegboye: Crisis Offers Opportunities for Critical Business Decision Managing Director/Chief Executive, Arravo, Mr. Ayo Adegboye, speaks on the impact of the company’s new identity and the need to take critical business decisions in times of crisis, among other issues. Emma Okonji brings the excerpts:

Y

technologies in the coming weeks. Our focus will nor primarily be on large enterprise, because we will be focusing on small scale business across the country.

our company recently switched to a new brand identity. Why the change and of what impact will it bring to the company and its customers?

Yes, we have switched brand identity from BCX Nigeria to Arravo. The impact of the new brand identity on our customers and the company is going to be huge. It simply means that we are now Glocal, which explains that we are a local entity with global outlook, and this will allow us to actually do much more for our esteemed customers in terms of local content. For us, now in a dawn of new era and it is time for us to come out and say how proud we are as Nigerians.

How did you arrive at the name Arravo and why is the website bearing a foreign domain name?

The name Arravo originated from a combination of Latin and Italian languages, which means tenacity, dedication and being able to penetrate against all odds. So Arravo is bringing that zeal and tenacity to business for the benefit of our customers. To answer your question on the domain name and our choice of nomenclature for our website, I will reiterate that we are Glocal, which means we are local company with global perspective. We are proud to be a Nigerian business that is headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, and we are not unmindful of our Nigerian domain name that has to do with .ng, but because we have future plan to go global, we need a domain name that reflects our global perspective that will make us truly global, hence the choice of www.arravo.co as the domain name for our website. So we need a website with nomenclature that will be accepted in other countries of the world where we are expanding to. By the time we expand to other countries, we cannot be using .ng domain name in those foreign countries. So the earlier we begin to plan toward our global vision, the better for us and for our global customers. One thing is clear, which is whether we choose a foreign domain name or not, the truth remains that we are proud to have our business origin from Nigeria our beloved country.

You are rebranding when most companies are folding up as a result of the effect of COVID-19. What is the success story and how are you coping with the harsh effect of the COVID-19 pandemic?

From my experience, the best time for businesses to take critical decision that will blossom the company, is during the period of hardships and crisis. No doubt, the COVID-19 pandemic brought a lot of hardships and crisis, but as a business with future focus, we see opportunities in crisis, hence we took the bold step to rebrand at a time when the business environment looks harsh. If you recall, it was during the 2008 global economic meltdown, that most of the global and big Information Technology (IT) companies in our time today, were given birth to, such as AB&E, Uber, among others. So in business, the higher the risk, the higher the gain, and at a time like this when the COVID-19 is posing serious challenges to businesses, serious minded companies like us see it as a time to take critical business decision that will help achieve sustainability and expansion plans. Whether we like it or not, the COVID-19 pandemic will surely go one day and businesses will return to normal and people will also return to their normal lifestyles.

One thing that is certain during the period of crisis, is that whoever prepares adequately to overcome the crisis, will take advantage of the crisis period to blossom when the crisis is over. So we cannot shy away from business because of crisis, instead we will device a new means of surviving the crisis, while the crisis lasts. One thing people must know is that during crisis it is not the strongest or smartest business that survives, but the business that is more adaptive to the situation.

Adegboye

Does your new identity portends new beginning for the newly rebranded company, and what is the focus of the rebranded company?

I will not want to call it a new beginning because for me, it is a time to build upon exiting structure. We are not resting on our oars but we will continue to strive in order to improve customer experience. We have been operating under BCX South Africa for over 12 years and we have learnt some of the best practices from them by learning through the curves. So the rebranding will help us leverage some of the best practices, improve on those best practices and see how we can take advantage of such global best practices to even do more for our customers. So we are not really new in the business, even though we now have a new brand identity. What our rebranding means to us is that we are rebranding for improved business orientation and improved customer service offerings.

The rebranding comes with a slogan: to engage, disrupt and deliver. Could you expatiate on those three key slogans of your new brand identity?

If you look at today’s technology landscape, you will discover that there has been so mush technology disruption going on. Today the world is looking at Robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Internet of Things (IoTs) and people are afraid that it might lead to job loss, when robots will be doing the jobs that were hitherto handled by humans. But I said to them that it is only those who are not technology compliant that will loose their jobs. The new disruptive technology is actually charting new jobs for those that are technology savvy. So people must upgrade their skills to adapt to the new wave of technology disruption that is already taking place in our world. So robots will not take the job of a teacher who is computer literate.

When a teacher or a worker is computer literate, robots will engage his or her job and make him or her more efficient and productive than before. We need people who are computer literate and tech savvy who will control the robot. Again, we need people who will build applications that will make robots work, so it means more digital jobs will be created, and this is the digital disruption we are talking about. We have seen what FinTechs are doing by disrupting the landscape of financial transactions in the banking industry. Those are the kind of solutions we are looking at and our solution offerings with our new brand identity, are meant to digitally engage with customers, introduce disruptive technology solutions in their businesses and deliver such services at their beck and call.

In your speech during the launch of the new brand identity in Lagos, you said Arravo would be moving to becoming the industry giant in technology delivery

services. Why did you say so?

I said so because we want to take the lead in Internet of Things (IoTs) Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other disruptive technologies. Being disruptive is not only in technology, but also in business processes. If you take a look at the disruptive industry, you will discover that not only with technology have they climbed to the peak, but a combination of several other things that made up the entire value chain for business growth. By the time we have a good understanding of the different value chain of the industry, we will begin to see where we can potentially add value to business. We will be using IoT technology to enhance different industry to enable them achieve more with less efforts.

What is your current customer base and how will the rebranding help in managing further expansion growth plan?

Today, Arravo have the likes of MTN, Globacom, 9mobile as customers from the telecoms sector. Then from the public sector, we have PENCOM, Galaxy BackBone, NNPC, among others. In the area of manufacturing we have Unilever, Cadbury, PZ, Flour Mills of Nigeria. In the financial services institution, we have customers such as Stanbic IBTC, GTBank, among others. In retail business, we have customers like Shoprite, Mr. Prize, and Games. So we have good customer base across most of the sectors where we operate.

In terms of expansion, the good thing is that we have concluded on our recent geographical expansion plan and we are expanding to Ghana, Cote d Ivoire, Liberia, and Kenya to cover the East Africa region market.

Technology is key to business survivability. How will your rebranded company leverage technology to enhance customers’ experience and maintain business growth?

Arravo is a technology company that is already leveraging emerging technologies to enhance customer experience and to maintain business growth. We have made conscious efforts to up-skill our business and ourselves.

We are currently using emerging technologies like IoT and Artificial Intelligence to service our customers and we are in partnership with technology companies that are big Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) brands who produce applications for our Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Business Analytics service offerings. We try to do our best using technology that we can scale down because people do not need to be a large enterprise before they can approach a typical business intelligence application. So every business needs intelligent feedback, business analytics in order to successfully form business decision that will keep the business growing. So we have made considerable investments in emerging technologies, and we will be launching some of our initiates that are driven by emerging

This is the second time BCX is changing ownership structure in less than five years.

What could be the reason for this and how are you managing the brand perspective?

Yes, BCX has changed ownership position twice in the last five years, but this current ownership change is different from the former because this is about 100 per cent acquisition of BCX Nigeria, which led to a new brand identity from BCX Nigeria, to Arravo. So what happened was that when BCX South Africa decided to sell off its stakes in BCX Nigeria, some young talented Nigerians, including my very self, pulled funds together and acquired the company. So this is a case of total acquisition.

But for me, it is not about change of ownership, because what matters is the structure that has been in place for over 12 years, which we as the new owners will build upon to serve our customers better. So the management, technical capabilities of the former BCX Nigeria, remain the same. The only thing that is changing is the brand identity from BCX Nigeria to Arravo.

Cloud computing is an emerging technology that is redefining organisational growth and resilience. How are you managing cloud computing to improve customers’ business?

We have made conscious efforts to invest in cloud computing technology six years ago and since then we have been at the forefront of offering customers enhanced services that are driven by cloud technology. We are not resting on our oars in delivering cloud serves to customers because our cloud infrastructure is still in place and expanding by the day.

With cloud computing, we are able to bring about economics of scale to businesses and we will continue to do so for all our customers.

How do you intend to address downtime in organisational processes and manage speed of production in a given business environment?

Part of the approach to addressing downtime in business is to let customers know that we want to be the single point of contact for customers. In as much as I do not want to reveal most of our business strategies, I must say that we enter into Service Level Agreement (SLA) with our customers to guarantee certain uptime between 99.5 per cent to 99.99 per cent and we are in the process of telling customers that we need not place too much emphasis on particular Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) on a particular product offering, but to rather focus on service delivery, irrespective of the OEM and the particular product that the customer is buying. The emphasis should rather be on the solution and the service we are offering. We are in an era where we sign SLA with customers for efficient service delivery.

Every SLA comes with a minimum acceptable downtime, which will be well spelt out in the SLA document.

Who are your technical partners and how trusted are they in developing tailoredmade solutions that will drive effective business processes?

We have high quality relationship with our customers, for instance, Cisco is one of our technical partners and we maintain Gold Partnership with Cisco in the last ten years and we Platinum and Gold Partnerships with Dell EMC, HP, Huawei, Check Point, Microsoft, Oracle, among others. Arravo has the finest set of engineers in our industry today and they are all working hard to deliver the best of solutions to our customers.

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

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T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍˇËœ 2020

Ovakporie: Nigeria Still Lagging Behind in Digital Competitiveness The Founder, STEAM African Initiative, Tiro Ovakporie, in this interview speaks about the need for Nigeria to measure up in digital competitiveness, the teaching of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics, and other issues. Ugo Aliogo provides the excerpts:

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an you give an insight into the activities of STEAM Africa?

STEAM Africa Initiative is a non-profit organisation that is passionate about transforming the Nigerian child and youth into a maker.

Who is a maker? To most people, the word maker conjures up images of people working with their hands—designing, building, and crafting. Seen in this light, maker is an identity, a noun, perhaps even a profession.

A maker might be someone who bakes bread or someone who quenches steel; it might be someone who builds chairs or someone who paints portraits. They are also, DIYers with expertise in robotics, technology, and electronics, working with innovative tools and technologies such as 3D printers, micro-controllers, computer numerical controller (CNC) tools, and open-source platforms. The outcomes and programmes of the movement are commonly billed as being about entrepreneurship, innovation, and participating in a newly defined democratic, producer-based manufacturing system. We are a team of young, vibrant, passionate, creative and innovative people.

Our education programme opens new doors to learning, creativity, problem solving, and invention through science, new technology, and vocational skills for all ages. We believe it is critical that children and youths in our community are exposed to careers in science, engineering, new technology, arts and humanities because they are pathways of economic growth and development. Our vision is to be the largest community of makers through the MAKER Movement with STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) as the pedagogy for learning, guiding student’s inquiry, dialogue, critical thinking and creativity.

What gaps did you notice in the society before setting up STEAM Africa?

Nigerian is a consumer-based economy.

We import more than we produce to even the smallest things such as toothpick and tomatoes paste. Even though we produce enough of some of the products we need, because of the poor supply chain, a lot gets bad hence we still must import to meet our local demand. As much as we have organisations such as Zinox companies that are indigenous computer manufacturers, we still import most of our computers even the one I am typing this article with. We have similar situations with our phones, televisions, cars and others. When it comes to innovation and technology we depend largely on our foreign counterparts. This issue goes as far as our upbringing and mindset that is why we are working with children from age 5-35 to provide the right foundation and mindset for children and youth, guiding them all to the way through their careers and businesses. I am unapologetically a Christian. When you read about the creation story and what was created by God in six days compared to where we are today, there is a huge shift, how did we get here? What is our role as a country and as a people? Agreed there are a lot of youth doing really amazing things, but the percentage is so low compared to a country with over 200 million citizens.

We may be a long way from where are coming from as a country, but the world is about to experience the fourth industrial revolution and we haven’t experienced the first and haven’t scratched the surface in terms of technology with inventions like Tesla, Alexa. At the rate with which technology is advancing, some jobs will soon become obsolete. Now is the best time to start learning new skills, it doesn’t have to be coding even coding is super cool. It could be as simple as making bags and accessories from recycles or even woodwork.

new jobs and start new businesses for people hardest hit by job losses, including those with lower incomes, women, and underrepresented minorities in Nigeria.

The One Million Nigerians Initiative aims to provide economic intervention in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic by equipping One Million Nigerian Youths with worldwide, in-demand digital, vocational and entrepreneurial skills to help them compete globally, sustain developmental goals and extend the job creation chain of the economy.

In your opinion, have we gotten it right in vocational skills, especially in trying to tackle unemployment in Nigeria?

We are still far from achieving this as a country. I also do not think I can say that the initiative has achieved this because it is a new phase of our business that we are starting because of the Maker movement which we are driving passionately, but it will keep involving as we go along over the next 18 months and beyond. Adopting the Maker culture is extremely important for a developing economy as entrepreneurship opens doors for employment and economic development. It is beyond vocational skills for youth, STEAM (Science Technology, Engineeering and Mathematics) subject should be taught in schools as compulsory subjects.

Ovakporie

In the technology space in Nigeria, we have huge skill gap and you have the One Million Initiatives trying to bridge the gap. How sustainable is this project and what is the targeted number of youths you aim to reach?

There is an emerging new renaissance in the world of information technology, and we believe strongly that Nigeria stands to benefit greatly, but only if adequate steps are taken early enough. We are determined to favourably position Nigerian youth to fully take advantage of the opportunities this emerging world has to offer. Technology has deeply transformed humankind’s culture and values. In just a few decades, various technologies managed to permeate our society and thoroughly change our lives. In providing these skills, the One Million Nigerians initiative aims to reduce unemployment among the youth and create an enabling environment for the actualisation of sustainable development in Nigeria. Through the support of our esteemed partners like Microsoft and CISCO and the participation of interested members of the public, the One Million Nigerians Initiative is set to bring a paradigm shift in Nigeria’s digital space by equipping One Million Nigerians with skills to thrive and upskill in these uncertain times and in

our fast paced technology driven world.

You talked about sponsorship from international technology companies such as Cisco and Microsoft, are you also looking at partnership from state and federal governments.

Yes, we are looking forward to a partnership with various federal and state governments as well as religious organisations, schools and private organisations to achieve our vision. Also, partnership with other strategic partners like the telecommunication companies for affordable internet for learners, media partners to help us in spreading the word so more youths can take these free courses.

Tell us more about the One Million Nigerians Initiative?

Globally, 2020 has been one of the most challenging year. Over the last few months, the world has been impacted by multiple challenges, especially a pandemic that has spurted a global economic crisis.

As societies reopen, it is evident that the economy in November will not be what it was in January. Increasingly, one of the key steps needed to foster a safe and successful economic recovery is expanded access to the digital skills needed to fill

Nigerian is a consumer-based economy.

We import more than we produce to even the smallest things such as toothpick and tomatoes paste. Even though we produce enough of some of the products we need, because of the poor supply chain, a lot gets bad hence we still must import to meet our local demand

What is your assessment of Nigeria’s technology space especially in terms of accelerating growth and digital competitiveness?

The rapid spread of digital technologies is transforming many economic and social activities. However, widening digital divides threaten to leave developing countries, and especially least developed countries, even further behind. A smart embrace of new technologies, enhanced partnerships and greater intellectual leadership are needed to redefine digital development strategies and the future contours of globalization.

However, Nigeria is uniquely positioned to reap the benefits of the digital economy.

Nigeria accounts for 47% of West Africa’s population, and half of the country’s 200 million people are under the age of 30.

Nigeria has the largest mobile market in Sub-Saharan Africa, supported by strong mobile broadband infrastructure and improved international connectivity; yet minimal fixed broadband infrastructure and connectivity in rural areas is leaving a significant number of the most marginalized segments of the population without Internet access.

In terms of digital competitiveness we are seriously lagging behind, the evolving digital economy is closely associated with several technologies frontiers and fueled by data such as Blockchain, data analytics, Artificial intelligence, 3D printing, Internet of Things, Automation and Robotics, and cloud computing.

The geography of the digital economy is mostly concentrated around two countries, the United States and China having 75% of all patents related to blockchain technologies, 50% of global spending on IO, and %% of the cloud computing market, 90% of the market capitalization value of the world’s 70 largest digital platforms are owned by these two countries, while the rest of the world own just 10% with Africa at 1.3%, Europe 3.6% while Latin America is 0.2%.

I would say as a country we are still the baby learning how to seat down without support, while we may have companies like Flutterwave and Paystack doing a good job in fintech, there is still so much work to be done and it starts from knowledge, they say knowledge is power, but the application of knowledge that is Life changing.

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍˇËœ 2020

27

Strategic Leadership for Success in Age of Disruption

Parker

T

he TEXEM is inviting chief executives, directors and senior managers to an impactful, relevant and insightful upcoming virtual executive development programme dubbed “Strategic Leadership for Success in an Age of Disruption,� scheduled for 2nd to 3rd December 2020.

A statement from the company explained that the programme is for business leaders and senior level managers who are having a lot of anguish and anxiety on how to lead their organisations successfully through the current health, social and economic crisis that’s ravaging organisations. “Without a doubt, many organisations, including yours, have spent many months this year managing the impact of COVID 19. Indeed, it’s a dynamic, turbulent and unprecedented period with mind-blowing challenges.

At the very least, the pandemic and the recent social anarchy has crippled many organisations, and sadly, others have had to shut down their operations entirely. “Most executives know that leading through a disastrous pandemic and disruptive social unrest requires Strategic Leadership to succeed in these increasingly disruptive times.

However, the trillion-dollar question on their minds in the night and day is which strategy should they adopt?

Why? “The simple answer is that the winning strategies that have worked in the past will not work now. But that’s not all. The fast-paced digital realities of this era are compounded by the challenge that there is no known effective antidote for COVID 19 yet, and the social tensions in the nation is still palpable,� the company explained in a statement.

It further added: “We are, therefore, justified to say the health, social and economic pandemic is here to stay for now! What does this mean for organisations? “The answer is simple yet complex at the same time! As a leader, you must refocus your map and develop new strategies to thrive during these turbulent times. It is not sufficient to act as usual when surviving during the pandemic requires unusual

Mol

strategic leadership quotient. “To help you get the requisite insights required to navigate through the pandemic safely, TEXEM, UK has lined up excellent world-renowned Professors and an inspiring practitioner to equip you with the very vital skillsets you need to excel during this time. “You will get an opportunity to hear about practical methodologies that will enable you to build your leadership skills on how to achieve success even during these turbulent times.�

Confirmed world leading faculties for the programme include: General Nick Parker Rtd.(UK’s former Commander in Chief of Land Forces); Prof. Michael Mol, Professor at Copenhagen Business School and formerly at London Business School and Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania; and Prof. Roger Delves (Professor of Leadership Practice & Associate Dean of Faculty, Ashridge Executive Education, at Hult International Business School).

It described the programme facilitators as, “great minds who have helped hundreds of organisations to win during crises, and you do not want to miss the opportunity to engage with them to glean valuable insights on how to inspire success during a pandemic.� “So, save the date, register and get a chance to acquire critical skills that will help you and your team innovate and even thrive amidst these increasingly competitive and complex operating landscape. “This programme on Strategic Leadership for Success in an age of disruption will be of great benefit to you and most importantly, to your organisation. You will learn the art of turning challenges into opportunities, get tips from insightful case studies and strengthen your strategic leadership quotient. By participating in this programme, you will glean practical insights on how you can lead your organisation strategically for success in the current disruptive and highly competitive environment. “You will also learn how you can enhance performance and achieve profitable growth. Remember that at this time, you not only need to survive, but you should also

Delves

find ways of gaining competitive advantage, growing and creating value. That’s what TEXEM UK’s forthcoming programme aims to help you realise as you lead your organisation.�

It urged interested persons to visit the organisation’s website, adding that only few slots are remaining presently.

“Take a life-changing step now and book a space for yourself and other executives. Do not allow your organisation to become a case study of those that “Failed during the pandemic�. Yes, it’s affecting all businesses worldwide, but you can succeed. Strategic leadership is the secret! So, get the requisite skills now!�

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BUSINESSWORLD

T H I S D AY ˾ NOVEMBER 19, 2020

NEWS

‘Seplat/NNPC Gas Project to Transform Energy Landscape’

COURTESY VISIT

L-R: Head of Finance, Seplat Petroleum Company, Emeka Onwuka; Chairman, Dr. ABC Ojiakor; Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma; Seplat CEO, Rodger Brown, and General Manager, External Affairs & Communications, Chioma Nwachuku, during a courtesy call on the Governor at Government House, Owerri…recently

Peter Uzoho

S

eplat Petroleum Development Company and the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), have listed the benefits of the $700 million gas project which is under construction at Imo State, when the plant becomes operational next year.

Seplat Chairman, Dr. ABC Orjiako disclosed this during a recent courtesy call on Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, who they later took on a tour to the multi-million-dollar gas plant facility.

The ANOH gas plant facility is sited at Asaa, Ohaji/Egbema in Imo state. ANOH Gas Processing Company (AGPC) is building the plant. AGPC is an incorporated joint venture owned 50:50 by Seplat Petroleum Development Company and the NGC. The Seplat Chairman reiterated that the gas project aimed at producing around 300 MMscfd reinforced the oil company’s commitment towards its leading position in the energy transition to a cleaner source of energy while providing sustainable development of its host communities.

The Seplat team was made up of Orjiako; Chief Executive Officer, Roger Brown and other executives.

Brown, in his speech, elaborated the numerous benefits of the ANOH gas plant to the immediate communities, the state and the country.

He affirmed that the ANOH gas plant when completed would be a significant source of development providing gas to support the provision of the much-needed supply of power to millions of homes and businesses across Nigeria to facilitate better standard of living and drive economic growth.

He reassured the Governor that the existence of the gas plant in the state would in addition to the provision of power, generate different levels of employment; drive the development and engagement of local contractors; facilitate skills transfer and development especially for the youth population; amongst other benefits.

The Seplat Chairman said the ANOH gas project would, amongst other things, drive the growth of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as an alternative to unclean fuels like firewood, charcoal, kerosene. He confirmed that the company is targeting the fourth quarter of 2021 for ANOH’s first gas and assured the government and people of Imo State of its timely completion and commission.

The Imo State Governor, in his remarks, welcomed the Seplat team and commended the company and its partner, the NNPC for the significant investment made in the state with the ANOH gas plant.

He pledged the state’s continual support of the company in its quest to drive development in Imo State. He also commended the Orjiako for his leadership role and passion

for growing the Seplat business and its host communities.

According to the Governor, the activities of SEPLAT and its subsidiary AGPC are impressively geared towards developing the economy of Imo State and positively impacting its people. He charged other organisations to emulate the company in their dealings with the state. He also urged Seplat to continue to boost its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives to enhance further the people’s welfare and development of the community and its peoples.

The governor added: “Seplat enjoys tremendous goodwill and respect of the people, and the State is duty-bound to reciprocate. Seplat is a global entity, and its coming to Imo State is a blessing to us. Under my watch, Seplat will receive all the support needed for a win-win relationship that will benefit the economy of the State and the Imo people for a more constructive partnership, cordial and responsible relationship between Seplat and the state,” At the ANOH gas plant site, leaders of its host communities of Assa, Ohaji, Egbema and others, were also in attendance to receive the Governor with fanfare.

Aside from Orjiako and Roger Brown, other Seplat officials that were present included: Emeka Onwuka, Chief Financial Officer; Dr. Chioma Nwachuku, General Manager, External Affairs and Communications; Ayodele Olatunde, General Manager, Eastern Assets; Yetunde Taiwo, Managing Director, ANOH Gas Processing Company Limited and Okechukwu Mba, General Manager, Gas, amongst others.

The visit to Imo was in line with the Seplat CEO’s strategic plan since his resumption in office on August 2020, to pay courtesy to the company’s strategic stakeholders.

Brown, on behalf of the company, thanked the Governor for the support accorded to facilitate the operations of AGPC and other Seplat operations in the state.

He affirmed that this collaboration would boost delivery of the ANOH gas plant, a critical gas supply hub in Nigeria’s burgeoning gas infrastructure network.

ANOH is designed to supply the Eastern, Western and Northern gas pipeline systems.

“SEPLAT supports the federal government’s diversification agenda with its contribution to the growth of the nation’s power generation capacity.

Delivery of the ANOH project will be a significant contributor to the Nigerian government’s aspiration for increased power generation and diverse industrial and economic growth.

“The ANOH gas plant project is premier amongst the seven Critical Gas Development Projects initiative led by the Ministry of Petroleum and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to drive the next phase of growth for the gas business,” he added.

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍˇËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

IMAGES

L:R Chief Customer OďŹƒcer, MultiChoice Nigeria, Martin Mabutho, Executive Head, Customer Value Management, MultiChoice Nigeria, Omoyeme EďŹƒong, BBNaija Season 5 Winner, Laycon, Executive Head, Content, MultiChoice Nigeria, Busola Tejumola, and Executive Head, Sales, MultiChoice Nigeria, Akinola Salu at the media launch of MultiChoice Festive Moments in Lagos..recently

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

Secretary to Delta State Government (SSG), Mr. Chiedu Ebie (left), receiving a souvenir from the Commander, 63 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Ibrahim Jallo during the ag o of operation Crocodile smile 6 in Asaba...recently

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun presenting letter of appointment to Ms Bukola Onabanjo as Chairman of the state local government service commission in Abeokuta, after the commission’s inauguration...recently

L-R: Special Adviser on humanitarian aairs, Ministry of Humanitarian Aairs, Musa Bungudu; Chief of Mission, International Organization for Migration(IOM), Franz Celestin; Minister of Humanitarian Aairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Faruq; Director of Operations and Emergency,UN Migration Agancy, Jerey Labovitz and Chief of sta to the minister, Sale ShinkaďŹ , during the meeting between the minister and the IOM team in Abuja...recently ENOCK REUBEN

L-R; Telesales/Customer Support, VTD Communications, Patience Olufemi; Field Sales, VDT Communications, Henry Iniobong Orok; Deputy Governor, Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Executive Chairman, DigiServe Network Services Limited, Mr. Lanre Ajayi and Telesales/Support Executive, Oluwatoyin Ajayi at the VDT Communications stand during the Nigeria eGovernment Summit 2020 in Lagos...recently abiodun ajala

Speaker, House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila (right) and Head of delegation/MD Chevron Nigeria, Mike Sangster during a courtesy visit to the Speaker by a delegation from the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) at the National Assembly, Abuja...recently

L-R; Medical OďŹƒcer of Health, Ikeja LGA, Dr. Adenike Oluwo; Vice Chairman, Ikeja LGA - Hon. Yomi Musibau Mayungbe; General Manager, Corporate Services & Admin, Global Accelerex Ltd - Mrs. Kehinde Adisa; and Chairman, Ikeja LGA, Mr. Mojeed Alabi Balogun during the donation of COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment to Ikeja Local Government by Global Accelerex and Nexgo in Lagos...recently

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THURSDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2020 •T H I S D AY

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ , NOVEMBER 19, 2020

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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

Global Campaign to Eliminate Cervical Cancer As the world marked a new dawn in the campaign against the scourge of Cervical Cancer with emphasis on concerted effort to eliminate the virus, Nigeria is faced with the onerous challenge of saving her female folk from the avoidable disease that claimed over 14,000 lives in 2018, writes Onyebuchi Ezigbo

C

ervical Cancer affects women especially from ages of 15 and above. It directly attacks the woman’s womb and the name of the virus that causes this is known as Human Papiloma virus-HPV. The focal agency in charge of that, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) said the country is stepping up campaign to join the global community to eliminate Cervical cancer latest by the year 2030.

According to the Director at the NPHCDA, Dr. Onu, Cervical cancer has claimed the lives of over 500,000 women worldwide between 2018 and 2019, while 14,000 died of the disease in Nigeria within the same period. The official who featured in an FM radio programme on Tuesday in Abuja, said the agency is embarking on sensitisation to draw attention on the deadly disease and to encourage parents to allow their daughters undergo vaccination at the right time.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) also said that Cervical cancer is a preventable disease. It said that it is curable if detected early and adequately treated. According to the world health body, it is the fourth most common cancer among women globally. WHO said without taking additional action, the annual number of new cases of cervical cancer is expected to increase from 570 000 to 700 000 between 2018 and 2030, while the annual number of deaths is projected to rise from 311 000 to 400 000. WHO’s Assistant Director-General Dr. Princess Nothemba (Nono) Simelela said: “In low- and middle-income countries, its incidence is nearly twice as high and its death rates three times as high as those in high-income countries.

The huge burden of mortality related to cervical cancer is a consequence of decades of neglect by the global health community. “However, the script can be rewritten. Critical developments include the availability of prophylactic vaccines; low-cost approaches to screening and treating cervical cancer precursors; and novel approaches to surgical training. Through a shared global commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and leaving no-one behind, the countries of the world are forging a new path to ending cervical cancer”.

Beyond the issue of awareness about preventive vaccination and possible cure, Nigeria is facing the challenge securing enough vaccines for the populace and even facilities for accelerated testing. Another challenge limiting our capacity to deal with the health situation is the poor state of facilities at most of hospitals, especially in the rural areas. For instance, most of the hospitals lacked the testing capabilities to attend to many who needed to know their status. Equally a major constraint is paucity of funds to acquire the vaccines as well the politics that has come be associated with such

Executive Director National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Faisal Shuaib speaking at Cervical Cancer Elimination Programme in Abuja

vaccines that are in high demand.

The Director of Disease Control and Immunisation, Dr, Bassey Okposu, who was also a guest at the radio programme said there are some challenges affecting efforts to eliminate Cervical cancer in the country. He said: “The problem we are having is the fact that the global bodies that are producing the vaccines have denied the country of having vaccines that is enough to serve her needs since 2017”.

For now, Okposu said that Cervical cancer remains a very deadly disease with no cure yet except use of preventive vaccine. Again, Okposu explained that the federal government has approved that vaccine against Cervical cancer be included in the routine immunization programme since 2017.

This is not the first time the country will be facing the challenge of vaccinating her citizens against infectious diseases. The country had successfully withered the challenge of vaccinating millions of children against polio with a success rate that has now led to the declaration of Nigeria as poliofree by WHO.” Okposu said Nigeria is working with the international community to ensure that adequate vaccines are made available for use in 2021 to immunise our girl child.

“We love our girls and don’t want them to die of Cervical cancer. The commonest cause of Cervical cancer is the Human Papiloma virus-HPV. It is contacted through infection during sexual intercourse. This grows in the woman’s body and matures into cancer at later part of the person’s life.

Okposu said it takes about 15 -20 years before the virus begins to manifest as cancer.”This is why we advise female, especially young girls to stay away from having sex with men before becoming adult. Parents are also advised to guide their children to refrain from having sex very early in life. Once contacted at an early age, it grows and later matures into cancer of the cervix and becomes a serious threat to life. It is good to keep our girls safe from contacting this infection, that is the only way of preventing it from happening”.

In keeping with its solidarity with countries of the world to eradicate Cervical cancer and other infectious diseases, the WHO is set to implement programmes aimed at fast tracking medical intervention against Cervical cancer. In a first-ever global commitment to eradicate Cervical cancer, WHO on Tuesday launched global strategy to accelerate the elimination of Cervical cancer, launched today, outlines three key steps: vaccination, screening and treatment. The world body said that successful implementation of all three could reduce more than 40 per cent of new cases of the disease and five million related deaths by 2050.

In a statement issued to mark the commencement of the campaign, WHO said:”Today’s development represents a historic milestone because it marks the first time that 194 countries commit to eliminating cancer - following adoption of a resolution at this year’s World Health Assembly.

Meeting the following targets by 2030 will place all countries on the path toward elimination of

Cervical cancer”.

The targets include, 90 per cent of girls fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by 15 years of age, 70 per cent of women to screened using a high-performance test by age 35 and again by 45 and 90 per cent of women identified with cervical disease to receive treatment (90 per cent of women with pre-cancer treated and 90 per cent of women with invasive cancer managed).

The WHO said that the strategy involves investing in the interventions to meet these targets which can generate substantial economic and societal returns. To this end, it said that an estimated US$ 3.20 will be returned to the economy for every dollar invested through 2050 and beyond, owing to increases in women’s workforce participation.

Accordingly the figure is expected to rise to US$ 26.00 when the benefits of women’s improved health on families, communities and societies are considered.

“Eliminating any cancer would have once seemed an impossible dream, but we now have the cost-effective, evidence-based tools to make that dream a reality,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “But we can only eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem if we match the power of the tools we have with unrelenting determination to scale up their use globally.”WHO said The WHO strategy is being launched at a critical time, when COVID-19 pandemic has posed challenges to preventing deaths due to cancer, including the interruption of vaccination, screening and treatment services; border closures that reduced the availability of supplies and that prevent the transit of skilled biomedical engineers to maintain equipment.

WHO said that pandemic has created other new barriers preventing women in rural areas from traveling to referral centres for treatment; and school closures that interrupt school vaccine programmes. “To the extent possible, however, WHO urges all countries to ensure that vaccination, screening and treatment can continue safely, with all necessary precautions. The fight against cervical cancer is also a fight for women’s rights: the unnecessary suffering caused by this preventable disease reflects the injustices that uniquely affect women’s health around the world,” said Dr, Princess Nothemba Simelela.

Last Tuesday’s launch was celebrated with a day of action across the globe, as ministries of health, partners, and cancer advocates engage in activities to improve access to cancer prevention and treatment for girls and women. It is an opportunity for countries like Nigeria desirous of surmounting the challenges posed by Cervical cancer to adopt recommended measures and pursue the targets set by the global health body.

UNFPA Mobilises $8 Billion to Campaign against Maternal Deaths, GBV Onyebuchi Ezigbo ÓØ ÌßÔË United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has said that it has been able rally financial pledges to the tune of $8 billion in support of the global effort aimed at achieving zero preventable maternal deaths, zero unmet need for family planning, zero gender-based violence and harmful practices by 2030.

More than 8,000 delegates comprising governments, civil society, the private sector, academia, and others from 170 countries made 1,250 financial and other made commitments in support of sexual and reproductive health and rights at the last meeting held in Nairobi, Kenya last year. This was disclosed by the UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Natalia Kanem during the event

to mark the one year anniversary of Nairobi Action Plan on ending preventable maternal death, the unmet need for contraception, and gender-based violence and harmful practices like child marriage and female genital mutilation, by 2030.

Natalia Kanem said that despite global COVID-19 crisis, governments still upheld support for women’s and girls’ health and rights, one year after historic Summit. The director said UNFPA is commited to ICPD25 Commitment and Plan of Action.

“As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to take a heavy toll on the health and economies of countries around the world, governments, non-governmental organizations, international financial institutions and the private sector are stepping up

political, financial and in-kind support for programmes that protect the health and rights of women and girls in developing countries”.

According to UNFPA statement, at the landmark Nairobi Summit on ICPD25 last year, the world came together to commit to ending preventable maternal death, the unmet need for contraception, and gender-based violence and harmful practices like child marriage and female genital mutilation, by 2030.

It said more than 8,000 delegates from 170 countries made 1,250 financial and other commitments in support of sexual and reproductive health and rights.

“Today, UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, reports that major

donor governments are already substantially delivering on the amounts they pledged in Nairobi.

And some are even surpassing what they promised, demonstrating their steadfast commitment to the rights of women and girls at the time it is most needed.

“The commitments made in Nairobi are more critical now than ever before. Far from dampening our ambition, COVID-19 has only sharpened our focus and resolve,” Natalia Kanem said: “I am heartened to see so many government, private sector and civil society partners take bold steps to sustain our collective efforts and deliver on our promises to women and girls.

As long as we stand together, we will prevail.”

“Civil society, the private sector, academia, and others

rallied behind the cause on an unprecedented scale, pledging over $8 billion towards achieving zero preventable maternal deaths, zero unmet need for family planning, and zero gender-based violence and harmful practices by 2030.

“Governments also announced major financial commitments and in September 2020, UNFPA established a High-Level commission to ensure all the commitments made at the Summit stay on track, even during the COVID-19 pandemic”.

UNFPA said the commission chaired by Jakaya Kikwete, former President of the United Republic of Tanzania, and Michaëlle Jean, former Governor General of Canada, is expected to make recommendations that will

further raise the momentum created in Nairobi continues towards a world of rights and choices for all.

“We will never lose sight of the world we are fighting for -- one of sexual and reproductive health and rights for all.”

In Nigeria, UNFPA said it will be ensuring accelerated action towards the ICPD25 commitments and plan of action (PoA) through its technical assistance to the federal government, ministries, agencies and other partners.

The UN agency said the global health crisis has increased the urgency and importance of attaining the Nairobi commitments in Nigeria and globally before 2030, adding that UNFPA has responded by rethinking and reprogramming to ensure that no woman or girls are left behind.

T H I S D AY Ëž , NOVEMBER 19, 2020

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NEWS

FERTILITY

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

CBN’s OB Donates Food Items, Installs Hand-wash Stations inAbuja Communities Managing Emotions In Infertility (Part 2) Sunday Ehigiator 5IF $ISJTUJBO #SPBEDBTUJOH /FUXPSL $#/ UISPVHI JUT humanitarian arm Operation #MFTTJOH 0# IBT EPOBUFE GPPE JUFNT UP GBNJMJFT JO UIF %BQF community of Abuja.

It likewise installed handwashing stations in nine public locations within the city, courtesy PG $MVC BSN The events which occurred recently were aimed at supporting families to cushion the effect of UIF $07*% QBOEFNJD JO UIF suburbs of the capital cities. %BQF JT POF PG UIF VOEFSTFSWFE communities in Abuja Municipal "SFB $PVODJM NBEF VQ PG QFPQMF living below the poverty line.

Most of the dwellers in the community are petty traders and artisans. Unfortunately, due to $07*% KPCT IBWF CFFO difficult to come by, thereby throwing families into desperate need for food. The opportunity was also used to give a health-talk to the beneficiaries on the need to stay safe during the pandemic by observing social and physical distancing and maintaining best hygiene practices always.

4QFBLJOH XJUI 5)*4%": B CFOFĂ DJBSZ .T &[F 7JWJBO XIP heard about the distribution through a friend of hers said she decided to come because “my children and I have not been feeding well because we do not have food. Another beneficiary who was empowered with an

Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) through its humanitarian arm Operation Blessing (OB) Team while distributing food and other relief materials to residents of Dape community recently in Abuja undisclosed amount, Mrs. Esther Peters narrated that, “since my husband died about 13 years ago, I have barely been remembered by anyone. My children and I have been living on the money I NBLF GSPN NZ CFBO DBLF "LBSB

business. “We started spending the money to survive during the lockdown since there was no movement. With this support, I can buy my ingredients to resume my business and save for my children’s school fees. I am grateful to Operation Blessing.�

Similarly, in line with the preventive measures recomNFOEFE CZ UIF 8PSME )FBMUI 0SHBOJTBUJPO 8)0 BOE PUIFS health institutions, the organisation installed a hand-washing machine station to Jabi, Wuye, +BIJ (XBSJNQB "QP -JGF $BNQ and Wuse Zone 5 communities, for the benefit of the dwellers.

In addition to the installation of these stations, face masks were also distributed to Nigerians

within these areas.

While on the mission, Rev. Kalma ceased the opportunity to SFJUFSBUF UIF HPBM PG UIF $ISJTUJBO #SPBEDBTUJOH /FUXPSL )F TBJE JU was to “continue to complement the efforts of the government by making sure Nigerians continue to stay safe and healthy during the pandemic. “As a faith based nongovernmental organisation, $#/ BMTP QSPWJEFT IVNBOJUBSJBO intervention in the area of health through medical missions and surgeries for children with cleft lip or palate deformities, water wells, women and youth empowerment and education for vulnerable children whose parents died BT B SFTVMU PG )*7 "*%4 BOE disaster relief in war-torn regions. “We believe catering to the needs of the underserved and underprivileged in the community brings the much needed succor to them. The hand-washing stations are part of many contributions PG $#/ UP /JHFSJB u

Iluyomade Calls for Urgent Improvement of Health Delivery amongst Women The founder, Arise Women $POGFSFODF B GBJUI CBTFE Non-Governmental Organisation for women empowerment and )BOENBJEFOT 8PNFO JO -FBEFSship Series, Siju Iluyomade has called for an urgent improvement of health delivery in Nigeria, especially amongst women.

In a statement made available UP 5)*4%": TIF TBJE UIFSF XBT an urgent need to “improve healthcare delivery, education, infrastructural developments, unemployment, gender inequality to spur economic growth, most especially amongst women. “In life, there is interconnectivJUZ (PPE )FBMUI BOE 8FMMCFJOH are intertwined with economic prosperity; so also does education impact on every sphere of life.

Poor education has been linked to a lot of social malaise. “It widens the gap of inequality. Arise strongly advocates that all children, no matter who they are, must have the right to quality education. 20 per cent of the worlds out of school children can be found in Nigeria. This figure is staggering 10.5 million Nigerian children between ages five to14 are out of school. “Also, when we look at the health sector, thousands, millions die yearly of non-communicable, treatable conditions including cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, lack of immunisation, malaria, cancer, diabetes. “Nigerian’s healthcare system needs to be upgraded. We boast PG UIF CSJHIUFTU NJOET JO )FBMUI $BSF CVU XIFSF BSF UIF GBDJMJUJFT Why was the world not invited to understudy our management PG $07*% UP CPPTU PVS IFBMUI

L

ast week, we started the discussion on how infertility can affect your emotions, highlighting the symptoms of emotional disturbances and ways to manage them. This week we will continue the discussions on psychological management of emotions in infertility.

STEPS IN MANAGING EMOTIONS IN INFERTILITY 4. ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU AND YOUR PARTNER ARE A TEAM. As a team, you must help each other through the challenges of infertility emotionally or in any other way. This doesn’t mean you need to feel the same thing at the same time or expect to have the same emotional experience but it does mean paying attention to what your partner’s going through. Always approach the issues as a team, working together and finding ways to share responsibility regarding treatment. “If you’re taking care of each other emotionally, you can unite to fight the problem and not yourselves.

5. DISTRACT YOURSELF WITH EXCITING ACTIVITIES. Being treated for infertility can feel like a full- or at least part-time job, so it is important to keep up with some of the activities or hobbies that you enjoy. Take vacation trips, go on dates, hang out with friends. Look for ways to put nurturing energies in the relationship, making your partner a priority

Siju Iluyomade care sector? i5IF 6OJUFE /BUJPO 6/ IBT advocated a minimum of one EPDUPS QFS QFPQMF )PX close are we in Nigeria as a nation to this? Presently we have 10,000 people to 3.8 doctors or better still 0.38 doctors to 1,000 persons. It is time to articulate the vision for our Nation. “We applaud our doctors, nurses, technicians; all health workers and front liners, you wore sheer courage, and you shone. “I salute and applaud the people who stood in the place of prayer day and night, pleading our cause before the almighty god whose we all are, and who TVTUBJOT VT CZ )JT TQPLFO XPSE “Today, we say ‘thank you’ to all those who fought that

PUIFST NBZ TUBZ BMJWF $07*% taught us and should teach our Nation Nigeria everyday courage; moral courage, intellectual courage, disciplined courage and empathetic courage. “Using these tools, we would develop courage in our convictions to develop our Nation Nigeria and our world at large. “Simply put, courage was the singularly most important virtue of keeping us deeply rooted. To confront dar0t the forefront of delivering on the 4VTUBJOBCMF %FWFMPQNFOU (PBMT 4%( 5IFTF HPBMT BSF a wakeup call – a call to action. “It involves a global partnership with many sectors. The quest to end poverty and other deprivations demands strategic planning and impact from various other sectors,� she said.

6. BUILD UP THE SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP. Infertility often puts strain on a couple’s sexual relationship and what was once fun has now become a tedious job. Your sex life may be the very first victim of trying to conceive stress. Research has found an increase in sexual dysfunction for both for men and women when timed intercourse is used to get pregnant. Remember the ways you enjoyed sex early in your relationship and find ways to recreate it. Understand that sexual intimacy does not have to mean intercourse and use your imagination to plan recreational sex 7. ALLOW YOUR PARTNER TO FEEL DIFFERENTLY Not everyone wears their emotions on their sleeves. At the same time, what looks like an overreaction to you may be perfectly normal for them. Everyone copes differently. You can’t judge how much your partner cares about an experience by looking at them or even by their actions. Offering each other support without preconditions or comparisons is the path to peace.

PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENT FOR INFERTILITY. 1. See a professional: Mental health professionals who have experience with infertility treatment can be very helpful. Their primary goal is to help individuals and couples learn how to cope with the physical and emotional changes associated with infertility, as well as with

medical treatments. Some professionals might choose to focus primarily on how to deal with a partner’s response. Others might spend time discussing how to choose the right medical treatment or how to explore and evaluate other family building options. Some couples might need help controlling stress, anxiety, or depression. Mental health professionals can help individuals work through grief, fear, and other negative emotions related to infertility.

Make every effort to find a mental health professional who is familiar with the emotional experience of infertility. The professional should have a clinical training in the psychological aspects of infertility and experiences in the medical and psychological aspects of reproductive medicine.

A professional will be useful in: r $SFBUJOH QPTJUJWF JNBHFT PG ZPVS GFSUJMJUZ r 3FLJOEMF QBTTJPO BOE SPNBODF XJUI ZPVS partner. r $POOFDU XJUI ZPVS TZNCPM PG IPQF r %FTJHO B DPOUBJOFS GPS EPVCUT BOE OFHBUJWF thoughts. r &TUBCMJTI B DJSDMF PG IFBMJOH BOE TVQQPSU r )FMQ ZPVS CPEZ GFFM NPSF GFSUJMF A good therapist has the ability to help others sort out their feelings, strengthen existing coping skills and develop new ones, and communicate with others more effectively. Many have found that their crisis of infertility became an opportunity for life-enhancing personal growth.

2. Listen to soothing music Get focused and relaxed with the soothing subtle and classical music. Music supports you in experiencing your own imagery, making it all the more powerful because it comes from within.

It will help you release stress and tension, feel calm, let go of worries and fears, find peace and contentment, create balance 3. Eat healthy and exercise: )PX ZPV USFBU ZPVS CPEZ DBO SFBMMZ BGGFDU ZPVS mindset. When you’re feeling healthy in body, it helps your mind to feel healthy too and vice versa. You may already be following a specific fertility diet or just looking for more ways to be healthy. Being active and eating fresh, unprocessed foods is a great way to boost your mood and help you feel more positive.

CONCLUSION One of the most challenging aspects of the infertility experience is dealing with the emotional ups and downs relating to medical treatment, the uncertainty about outcomes, and the challenge of having to make important decisions such as when ‘enough is enough.’ It is important to learn how to take care of yourself, make sure you that get the support you need, and to manage your emotions so that your self-esteem and outlook on life remains as positive as possible. Finally, 5SVTU JO (PE UIF (JWFS PG $IJMESFO 4VSFMZ ZPV will be on the pathway to successful parenthood.

References :asrm.org,www.lifelinkfertility. com,myfuturebaby.org.

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T H I S D AY ˾ , NOVEMBER 19, 2020

NEWS

Why Nigeria Needs to Start HPV Vaccinations in 2021 Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu At the end of August, the World Health Organisation (WHO) published its Global Strategy towards the Elimination of Cervical Cancer as a Public Health Problem, and adopted by member countries and partners from around the world.

That strategy sets a 2030 target for the elimination of the disease in all the countries of the world. As part of that strategy, the WHO calls for 90 percent of girls to be fully vaccinated against HPV by the age of 15, for 70 percent of eligible girls to be screened, and for 90 percent of diagnosed women to receive treatment and care.

Cancer of the Cervix, or Cervical Cancer, caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the second most common cancer that occurs in women in Nigeria. It is one disease that acutely reflects the disturbing reality of global inequality – 85 percent of victims and 90 percent of deaths are to be found in low- and middleincome countries. Nigeria has a population of 50.33 million women ages 15 years and older who are at risk of developing cervical cancer. Current estimates indicate that every year 14,943 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 10,403 die from the disease. And we are seeing the numbers increase by the day.

Yet it is a preventable form of cancer – the HPV vaccine, administered to young girls prior

to the onset of sexual activity, demonstrably confers protection against 90 percent of the strains of HPV that cause cervical Cancer. It is hard to believe that this vaccine has existed since 2006, and that since 2007 HPV vaccination has been part of the routine immunization program in most high-income countries around the world. More than 100 million young girls have received the HPV vaccine since then, 95 percent of them in highincome countries.

Unfortunately, Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, is yet to make the HPV vaccine a part of its routine immunization strategy, unlike a dozen other African countries.

This state of affairs needs to be remedied with ambition and urgency. And there is no better time than now, on the back of the remarkable milestone of wild polio eradication in Nigeria (and by extension Africa), in August 2020.

Indeed, like smallpox several decades ago, and polio, just now, experts believe that cervical cancer can be eradicated someday, through a consistent and far-reaching vaccination program. But we need to start it as soon as possible. There are an estimated fifteen million Nigerian girls between the ages of 9 and 14, all of whom need to be reached.

The Nigerian Government has set out January 2021 for the commencement of a HPV vaccination campaign, starting in three pilot

States, and is mobilizing the funding and support required for this. However, there are a number of things that need to be in place to guarantee the success of the rollout.

Local and International Partnerships are one. They helped us defeat the Wild Polio Virus, kept the campaign going even in the face of numerous setbacks and slowdowns. The WHO global strategy emphasizes this, calling for coordinated action among a wide range of partners: member countries, GAVI, the Global Fund, UNITAID, UICC, the World Bank, and private manufacturers of vaccines and drugs, among others.

Funding is another key element, the most critical in fact. Nigerian governments at all levels must take very seriously the pledge to make funding available for the implementation of a national HPV vaccination program. Fortunately, the cost of the vaccine has dropped considerably, from a high of around $100 per dose, to as low as $4.50 per dose today, thanks to the efforts of GAVI. GAVI recently announced that five vaccine manufacturers are committing to prioritizing and increasing production and supply of the HPV vaccine to eligible countries over the next few years. If these commitments

are adhered to, up to 84 million girls would potentially be able to get the life-saving vaccine.

This is where the situation gets problematic for a country like Nigeria – we are no longer classified as a GAVI eligible country.

GAVI determines eligibility on the basis of per capital gross national income (GNI) – only countries with a per capita income of less than $1,580 are eligible to benefit from GAVI support.

Nigeria, with a per capita GNI of 433.449 USD bn in Dec 2019, is therefore not eligible, on account of a theoretical metric that does not account for the fact that we have one of the largest populations of poor and vulnerable people in the world.

We are, by virtue of this classification, part of a group of countries aptly described as a “missing middle” – unable to afford negotiated vaccine prices yet ineligible for funding support.

Even at $4.50 per dose, the HPV vaccine remains unaffordable and unsustainable for us, without international funding support.

The existing scenario of stretched health budgets has been further complicated by the emergence of Covid-19.

In Kenya, 400,000 girls missed their vaccinations due to school closures and Covid-19 precaution-

ary measures.

It is therefore imperative for global partners to commit to assisting countries like Nigeria, which are no longer eligible for subsidies, to access even lower vaccine prices, and strategic funding arrangements that can help minimize the cost burdens.

Without these, the chances of attaining the 2030 goals of the WHO strategy will remain very slim.

More tragically, tens of thousands of young girls will be condemned to a future darkened by the prospects of a preventable cancer, in countries where the fragility of health systems often turns a diagnosis into a death sentence.

Success is clearly possible. We can see that from the case of Rwanda, a low-income country now in the ninth year of its own program, and on course to becoming the first country in the world to eliminate cervical cancer. This success has been made possible on the back of extremely low pricing for HPV vaccines, negotiated at a time when companies were keen to demonstrate to GAVI that it was feasible to roll-out HPV vaccination in the developing world.

African leaders must step up

and borrow a page from the Pan American Health Organisation, which created a Fund that allows GAVI-ineligible Latin American and Caribbean countries access HPV vaccines, and also helps guarantee inexpensive pricing through strategies such as pooled procurement.

Organisations like the African Development Bank must also join in this urgent and important fight against Cervical Cancer, and expand their support for the health of women and girls alongside their public infrastructure programs.

As things stand, Nigeria must not miss its January 2021 commencement target. In Nigeria total female population reported at 49.33 % in 2019 with girls aged between 9 - 14 forming the larger proportion. As with polio, there will be little chance of stamping out Cervical Cancer in Africa without stamping it out in Nigeria. The countdown has started. rDr. Zainab ShinkafiBagudu is the First Lady of Kebbi State in North-western Nigeria, the founder and CEO of Medicaid Cancer Foundation, and a Board Member of the Union for International Cancer Control.

U.S. Donates 3.6 Million Insecticide-treated Bed Nets to Control Malaria in Benue State On November 13, 2020, the U.S. government, through the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), donated 3.6 million bed nets to Nigeria’s Benue State as part of a national campaign to provide enough nets for every Nigerian to be protected from the deadly disease every night.

The donation comes less than a week after USAID notified Nigeria’s Ministry of Budget and Planning of an additional $48.5 million in additional malaria funding to support the Development Objective Agreement (DOAG) between the American and Nigerian governments, bringing the total amount under the seven-year agreement to $1.99 billion.

The PMI program in Nigeria is jointly implemented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in coordination with the Government of Nigeria. The life-saving nets will go to every local government area in Benue State. The bed net distribution is a critical component of the ongoing effort to end malaria in Nigeria, which results in more than 90,000 deaths per year.

In addition to the nets, PMI also provided funding for logistics, including transportation and community mobilization carried out in partnership with the Benue State government,

which led the planning, coordination, and distribution effort. The total value of the U.S. contribution is near $8.4 million ( 3.1billion).

“Malaria infection still poses a great threat to the social and economic well being of the population of Benue State,” Governor Samuel Ortom, said at the ceremony. “We must therefore do everything possible to safeguard our people, particularly the vulnerable group of women and children with the help of stakeholders [including] the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative.”

This activity will benefit more than five million residents of Benue, providing, at a minimum, one net for every two people within each household.

Sleeping under the nets puts a vital barrier between people and malarial mosquitoes, most importantly from dusk to dawn, and is one of the best ways to prevent malaria, Governor Ortom said.

Since 2011, PMI has procured more than 60 million insecticidetreated nets as part of a $635 million overall contribution to malaria control in Nigeria.

PMI also supports advocacy and mobilization to encourage members of the community to sleep under the bed nets every night, and trains health workers to test for malaria before treatment.

Members of Nigeria Association of the Blind having an awareness walk in Epe area of Lagos State

Association of Blind Urges Public to Make Way for Visually Impaired People Rebecca Ejifoma In celebration of the International White Cane and Safety Day 2020, the Nigeria Association of the Blind (NAB) Lagos Chapter has urged the public to always make way for persons with visual impairment in Lagos State and Nigeria.

The association made this call during its empowerment and White Cane Awareness rally in Epe area of Lagos State with an aim to create more awareness.

The Executive Director of Joy to the World Special Needs Initiative, Grace Ilori, whose NGO partnered the association, hinted that the White Cane and Safety Day is set aside to create awareness about the use of white cane.

“Today, we are creating awareness, letting everyone – motorists, traders, the public – know that when they see persons with visual

impairment using the cane they should make way for them because with the cane they are able to navigate and find their way.

“So if you obstruct their way then there is going to be a problem. You can imagine if the walkways are not free you have traders, motorists plying the walkway and they are supposed to go that way,” she emphasised.

Urging the public to make way when they see people with visual impairment, Grace bemoaned that to a large extent they have not been given fair access.

“When you are talking about persons with visual impairment you want to see accessibility in the real sense of it, making sure that there is that accessibility to enable them to move independently.

Joy to the World Special Needs Initiative provided t-shirts, talks, posters and 20 white canes for members of

NAB who don’t have white canes, while NAB gave out four computers to its members as empowerment tools.

“Everything we provided is to the tune of N220,000”, she added that, “there is the much we are able to do for now and we hope to do much more”.

While everyone was affected during the seven months lockdown, the Chairman of NAB Lagos chapter, Mr. Babatunde Mohammed decried the challenges of their members at that trying time.

“The challenges of not having opportunity to make money. A lot of our members are not employed. Let me say some of our members are not fully employed so they depended on some public individuals and corporate bodies to survive,” he highlighted.

According to Mohammed, during the lockdown, “They could not move. Of course

churches, and mosques were locked down so they could not really get means of livelihood as a result of that lockdown, so that’s the main problem.

One of its members, Michael Fadeyi, a Chief Producer in Voice of Nigeria (VON) said people with visual impairment in Lagos State are not given special treatment.

“No, there is nothing. If you look at our Lagos state, we have all the laws in Nigeria.

Our problem is implementation. Like I said, we might not have a perfect law on disability in Lagos state but even the one we have to what extent have we implemented it?,” he questioned.

He further hinted, “Even the government too came up with the law themselves are they implementing it? The agency set up to coordinate the implementation of the law, how equipped and trained are they to even discharge such services?”

35

T H I S D AY ˾ , NOVEMBER 19, 2020

INTERVIEW

Daniel Ikechukwu: We are Committed to Serving the People Forever Living Products Nigeria, the health and wellness Products Company, is 20 years in Nigeria.

Though the celebration of the milestone was dampened by COVID-19 pandemic which ravaged the world since February this year, the Country Sales Manager, Mr. Daniel Ikechukwu, reiterated their commitment to serve in this interview with MARY NNAH

C

dependent on decisions that are taken in the United States. This year, it was decided that because of COVID-19, we could not go on a ship cruise that we were supposed to go to in the Bahamas, we could not go. And we had to cancel our trip to Australia that was actually for last May. These two trips were cancelled for obvious reasons. Everybody in the world understood what happened, so it is not that we did not want to meet, but the conditions were not conducive for us to meet as one global Forever family.

However, what we have done is to look at better measures to motivate our people.

We are looking at other ways of ensuring that, yes, our people get the best out of business, of our compensation plan and out of what they know and believe in Forever products. And of course, when the time is right, we will make these announcements, and we will all ensure that our people are properly motivated.

OVID-19 dampened your 20th anniversary celebrations this year.

How do you reconcile this?

The pandemic and what the world is experiencing now do actually have a down-turn on all the businesses globally. However, we are in the health and wellness industry, so, COVID-19, did not really impact negatively on our business, because the services we provide for people are food supplements and some of these food supplements were actually needed during the pandemic. Some of these products are immune boosters, so people were actually looking for them to boost their immune system. We also offer personal care products, the hand soap, hand sanitizers that people were looking for, all over the world, and these helped them to curb COVID-19. Though we regret what COVID-19 has done to the world generally, we sympathise with businesses and people who had lost their loved ones due to the pandemic. However, for us, as a business, COVID-19 actually helped people to know more about our products, because with COVID-19, we were able to reach out to many more people. It did not really affect our business.

You had hand sanitizers before the pandemic. People hoped you could have had other supplements that could check the disease?

We have a range of supplements that a lot of Nigerians presently use to boost their immune system. For us, they are not drugs.

We don’t position them as drugs, they are food supplements that can help people and we have varieties of them. It all depends on what the people want. And one of them, the Ascobic Acid, was really helpful. The challenge we had was meeting up with the demand. Our products are known by people and those who came for these products and others who are coming for available ones actually benefited from these products. We did not really bring in anything new. What we just did was to boost our supply chain and try as much as possible to provide the products for Nigerians. We did not increase our prices, we did not change anything, and because we saw it as something we could do to help to fight this global pandemic.

For this disease, you decided to stream your products and celebrate your Success Day online. How did it go?

The Success Day is an integral part of our business; It is the one singular event in a country that will help us showcase and celebrate our Forever Business Owners (FBOs) who had achieved either during the quarter or during the past months, who had achieved successes in this business. So, the Success Day is integral. The advent of COVID-19 made it difficult for people to meet physically, everybody in the world is aware of the fact, that people couldn’t meet physically.

However, our Success Day demands that we meet physically and celebrate. But since this is an integral part of what we do in Forever, we had to look for a way of celebrating our people. We had to find a way to see our people motivated individually, not really coming together.

And this we had on October 10, this year.

This was our very first virtual Success Showcase. And I tell you, till now, we are still receiving commendations. Our people really appreciated this. Everything that we needed to do was done; the only thing was that people couldn’t meet physically.

We used all our social media channels to broadcast it live, and our people really enjoyed it. They were motivated, they were celebrated and the core objective of our success story, keeping our people celebrated, giving an impression to people who do not know Forever, was truly achieved.

Newly decorated Diamond Sapphire Manager, Mrs. Ify Isiakpona, her daughter and Country Sales Manager, Mr. Daniel Ikechukwu

Prof. John Ekperigin and the event hosts on stage

And the social media platforms provided a bigger reach for us, because once you are on FaceBook, Twitter, Whatsapp, it was there live. It was a very successful outing for us.

The world is waiting for a COVID-19 vaccine. How ready are you on that?

When we talk about vaccines, then we are talking about pharmaceutical companies. This relates to the pharmaceutical and medical industries. We are not in the race for the vaccines, because that is not our core competence. I strongly believe that the medical community and the medical world are doing their best, doing everything possible to give us a vaccine and what is key to everybody will be the potency of the vaccine when it comes out and how we can use it to curb the virus.

And until we get that, we still advise that people should use all the necessary measures: Wear your masks regularly, observe social distancing and use hand sanitizers. These are remedies that are presently available to us. These we can use to fight off the virus until vaccine

comes out.

The pandemic has affected many companies, with some shedding weight by sacking workers. How did this affect your people?

We are committed to Nigeria and we are committed to her people. We are committed to our staff. Like I said, the only thing we did during that period was that we equipped all our staff, and enabled them to work from home. We did not reduce our staff strength.

We did not cut salaries. What was key for us was our ability to bring in products, so that Nigerians could have products to boost their immune systems. So, COVID-19 did not affect our structure, it did not affect our numerical strength. We are still the same as we were before COVID-19, and we thank God for that.

What happened to your rallies, your Global Rally, since the pandemic was global?

Forever Nigeria does not exist in isolation.

We are a sub-set of Forever International and everything we do in Forever Nigeria is strictly

Many expected new products development from Forever, this year. It’s like COVID-19 also had a hand in that?

Product development is not a challenge to us. Introduction of new products and product developments, have always been part of Forever. In the next few weeks, we are going to have Forever Super Screen that was launched some few months ago in the U.S. We are going to have it in Nigeria.

We are going to have Forever Focus, we are going to have Forever Eye Vision.

Product development is a part of Forever Living and all those are not affected at all by COVID-19. Our factories and our advisory board, everybody is working to ensure that new products are developed.

All these developments are based on science and based on what is happening globally.

Soon, this pandemic will be over. Are you still in touch with your people across the country?

Yes, for us in Nigeria, the only concern that we have is what is happening at TinCan Island Ports, Apapa, where shipment is delayed for weeks, beyond what one could imagine. Aside this, all our plans are intact. We have not changed our plans on our business up-North. However, because of obvious reasons, all those areas are now red flags. You can’t travel to those areas. Not just because you don’t want to travel, not that you don’t want to develop territories, or develop the market, or our own teams in the North-Eastern part of the country, however, for obvious reasons, you can’t go, ether because of restrictions, or because, I wouldn’t want to say Boko Haram, but our mentality is always that even where there is a war, people must always eat, and people will always look for supplements. People will always look for personal care products and that is who we are and that is what we do. So, our responsibility is to make these products available. Rather, we have to make them available through a team. We cannot go as an office to say we want to do this.

We have to ensure that we motivate one or two persons who are ready to build a team in those areas and we can now go with them.

That is how our business is structured. We can’t change it. So, it is our responsibility to motivate, its our responsibility to galvanise and still take Forever products Nigeria to the apex. We still want to make a name globally. Our challenge is not with anybody here, our challenge is within the Forever family, and we want to do the best. That has always been our focus. Again, all our leaders are still here. The managers now have new measures, new goals because without these things you can’t succeed. One thing or the other will weigh you down. This is why I am doing this. So, all our leaders are here and they are all doing well.

36

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍˇËœ 2020

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Manufacturing PMI Stages Recovery in November Obinna Chima The Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) stood at 50.2 index points in November, indicating recovery from contraction in the manufacturing sector recorded since May 2020.

According to the report for November posted on the CBN’s website yesterday, of the 14 subsectors surveyed, eight sub-sectors reported expansion (above 50% threshold) in the review month in the following order: transportation equipment, non-metallic mineral products, furniture and related products, cement, textile, apparel, leather and footwear, plastics and rubber products, food, beverage & tobacco products and printing and related support activities.

On the other hand, it revealed that the remaining six subsectors reported contractions in the following order: Electrical equipment, petroleum and coal products, chemical and pharmaceutical products, primary metal, paper products and fabricated metal products.

Also, the report showed that the November 2020 production level index for the manufacturing sector stood at 51.7 points, indicating recovery from the contraction recorded since May 2020.

Furthermore, it noted that of the 14 sub-sectors surveyed, seven sub-sectors recorded expanding production levels, three sub-sectors reported stationary levels of production, while four sub-sectors still recording contraction in production level

In addition, the new orders index marginally expanded for the second time in the month of November.

The index stood at 50.5 points in November 2020 with seven sub-sectors reporting expansion in new orders. “Three sub-sectors remained stationary while the remaining four sub-sectors recorded contraction in the review month. “The manufacturing supplier delivery time index stood at 52.2 points in November 2020, indicating a faster delivery time for the seventh month. Four of the 14 sub-sectors recorded improved suppliers’ delivery time, three sub-sectors remained stationary, while seven sub-sectors recorded slower delivery time,� it stated.

Union Bank Posts N119bn Earnings, N16bn Profit in Nine Months Goddy Egene Union Bank of Nigeria Plc has recorded gross earnings of N118.8 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, indicating a six per cent growth from N111.9 billion posted in the corresponding period of 2019.

Net interest income before impairment grew by 15 per cent N41.7 billion from N36.4 billion in 2019 driven by increase in earnings assets and lower interest expense.

Non-interest income rose 23 per cent to N33.4 billion from N27.1 billion supported by increased trading income and asset revaluation gains. Profit before tax rose two per cent from N15.5 billion to N15.9 billion in 2019.

Gross loans rose 14 per cent

to N678 billion, compared with N595.3 billion in 2019, while customer deposits grew faster by 28 per cent to N1.1 trillion, up from N886.3 billion reflecting gains on the bank’s investments in customer-led products and digital channels.

Commenting on the results, Chief Executive Officer of Union Bank, Emeka Emuwa, said: “Notwithstanding the realities of a tougher operating environment arising from the ripple effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the bank delivered a six per cent growth in gross earnings from N111.9 billion in nine months to N118.8 billion in nine months 2020. “We reached a major milestone as our customer deposits crossed the N1 trillion mark this quarter, growing by 28 per cent to N1.1 trillion compared

to N886.3 billion at the end of 2019. This reflects increasing customer loyalty and our intense retail drive. Our customer acquisition strategy has been reinforced by the versatility of our digital platforms and channels which continue to drive customer satisfaction.�

Also speaking on the numbers, Chief Financial Officer, Union Bank, Joe Mbulu said: “Union Bank’s nine-month results reflect the strength and resilience of the business. Our PBT grew by two per cent to N15.9 billion, from N15.5 billion in the previous period. Our operating expenses were relatively flat year-on-year at N53.4 billion, compared to N53.2 billion in 9M 2019 despite inflationary pressures on cost and higher regulatory costs.

This reflects continuing focus on cost management.

AirSmat Joins Initiative to Support Startups AirSmat has announced that it has joined NVIDIA Inception, a program designed to nurture startups that are revolutionising industries with advancements in AI and data sciences.

According to a statement, AirSmat is focused on helping businesses harness power of drone and satellite data. “Our approach in capturing data, ingesting data to our platform and processing same in an intelligent way and its ability to digest large amounts of data and draw precise conclusions will help businesses gain insight into creative, beneficial strategies for the future.

“We are starting out with data intelligence in farming. AirSmat is on a journey to ensure food security in Nigeria and the African continent by helping farmers and farm owners have access to useful intelligence that helps them to take proactive steps solving problems on their farms before harvest season. “With this, we are sure of maximum yield for farmers, increased profitability and cascaded effect of food security for Nigerian and everyone on the continent. We are starting out in Nigeria, but our market is Africa,� the statement explained.

It further explained that the

NVIDIA Inception would allow AirSmat its needed tailwind and would boost Artificial Intelligence capabilities. “AirSmat will not only network with fellow startups, venture capitalists, and industry leaders at exclusive Inception event but have access to industry-leading technical guidance on which GPU-accelerated platforms, tools, and hardware in addition to co-marketing support from NVIDIA marketing channel. “The program will also offer AirSmat the opportunity to collaborate with industry-leading experts and other AI-driven organizations.

Firm to Launch ‘Fragrance Experience Studio’in Lagos Sunday Ehigiator The Founder, Seinde’s Signature, Olufemi Olusola has revealed that the firm is set to launch its ‘Fragrance Experience Studio.’ The ceremony will take place in Lagos state next week Sunday.

He made this known during a press briefing organised by the brand at Oriental Hotel, in which the studio is also located.

According to him, the studio which is first of its kind in Nigeria and Africa, is best likened to a tourist attraction for perfume lov-

ers, best described as ‘Frag-heads’, and perfume collectors all over the world, “who wish to expand their perfume collection but need guidance on what to buy. “The studio is also welcome to perfumers who wish to get inspired and expand their palate by sampling various creations, and perfume lovers just for the fragrance experience. “It will afford fragrance lovers the opportunity to sample over 1000 unique perfumes from different brands and perfumers before making that decision to purchase.

“With our fragrance studio, blind buying is now a thing of the past. We would offer fragrance lovers an opportunity to interact with a selection of the rarest and most sophisticated perfumes in our world of fragrance.�

Speaking on the need for the experience studio, Olusola, who has been collecting perfumes for over 40 years, and has over 1000 carefully selected fragrances from the best brands and perfumers around the world, said, “most perfume retailers sell by general reviews or personal experiences.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JULY 2020 Money Supply (M3)

36,822,751.47

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

3,476,121.25

Money Supply (M2)

33,346,630.22

-- Quasi Money

120,764,479.02

-- Narrow Money (M1)

12,582,151.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,002,026.89

---- Demand Deposits

10,580,124.31

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,637,137.23

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

29,185,614.24

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

39,711,115.95

---- Credit to Government (Net)

19,521,851.08

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-130,189,264.87

--Other Assets Net

3,472,017.70

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,421,827.07

--Currency in Circulation

2,395,917.03

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

11,025,910.04 317,234.17

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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

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OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE Ëœ ÍŻÍľ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $42.76 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $42.93 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), ZaďŹ ro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

37

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍˇËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

Demutualisation: Members Approve Listing of NSE’s Shares Goddy Egene Members of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday approved the listing of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGXG) on the exchange once the demutualisation process is completed.

The approval was given at the 59th annual general meeting (AGM) and under the resolution passed subject to the receipt of requisite approvals of

relevant regulatory authorities, following the conversion and reregistration of NGXG, the group is authorized to undertake a listing by introduction of its shares on stock exchange.

Consequently, the NSE will no longer be wholly owned by its dealing and non-dealing members.

The approval by members has cleared the way for the listing of NGXG and for a new structure that will enable the

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R

DEALS

exchange to realize its vision of becoming Africa’s leading exchange hub. .

Commenting, President of the National Council of the NSE, Mr. Abimbola Ogunbanjo, said: “The National Council welcomes the strong endorsement by the members of the exchange for our listing plans. On behalf of the Council we wish to thank the exchange’s management for their outstanding work in the previous year, when they have

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MARKET PRICE

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faced unprecedented challenges such as the Coronavirus pandemic. It is a tribute to their efforts that The Exchange has continued to work effectively and at the same time has made significant progress in pursuing its strategic development through listing and other steps.�

Also commenting, the Chief Executive Officer of the NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, said: “We would like to thank the mem-

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

bership of the exchange for their overwhelming support of the listing plans. This marks the beginning of the exchange’s transformation into a listed company with flexibility to raise additional equity and/ or debt capital. It is our aim that under this new structure, the Nigerian capital markets will be able to play a role that is commensurate with Nigeria’s status as Africa’s biggest economy. We believe

O F

we can become a financial hub for Africa and with the backing of our stakeholders and their continued use of our services this objective can become a reality.�

Members had last March unanimously approved the NSE’s demutualisation at its court ordered meeting. The demutualization of the exchange is subject to the approval of the Securities and Exchange (SEC) of Nigeria.

1 8 / 1 1 / 2 0 2 0 DEALS

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38

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

GRI Board Appoints NSE’S Adeeko, Three Others Goddy Egene

Initiative (GRI), provider standards, has appointed the Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Speaking on the of the world’s most widely Divisional Head, Shared Bola Adeeko and three others appointment, Adeeko said:“I am honoured to be appointed The Global Reporting used sustainability reporting Services at the Nigerian effective January 2021.

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an ETF are bought by investors.

Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. investment vehicle that allows both small and Bid Price: The price at which Investors Investors with similar objectives buy units of the large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total that willl generate their desired return. investments. The assets are divided into shares that return an investor would have earned on An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. his investment. Money Market Funds report of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, Yield while others report Year- to-date Total bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, GUIDE TO DATA: Return. etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 17- NAV: Is value per share of the real estate shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the Nov-2020, unless otherwise stated. assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

to the board of the GRI which remains the ‘gold standard’ in sustainability reporting.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Dollar Fund N/A N/A N/A ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 1.05 1.06 16.49% ACAP Income Funds 0.85 0.85 11.26% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.39% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.72 3.85 52.19% 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 N/A N/A N/A Anchoria Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Anchoria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 18.37 18.92 19.91% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 404.31 416.50 17.04% ARM Ethical Fund 33.64 34.65 15.66% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.18 1.19 18.74% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.13 1.13 13.10% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.00% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 125.86 126.75 31.00% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.88% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.31 2.31 22.72% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.28 2.32 55.15% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Paramount Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Women's Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.69% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 127.23 127.86 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 153.22 154.77 Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 107.19 107.19 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.68% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.12 1.13 20.45% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.75 1.75 31.64% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 1.25% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 1.45% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,190.46 1,207.25 7.47% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,481.84 1,483.42 24.76% FBN Balanced Fund 182.19 183.86 24.09% FBN Halal Fund 110.65 110.68 10.65% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.65% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 119.02 119.39 5.52% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 119.00 119.38 4.98% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 151.17 153.53 16.17% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.27% Legacy Debt Fund 3.85 3.85 5.42% Legacy Equity Fund 1.46 1.49 29.32% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.13 1.13 4.43% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 3,585.84 3,627.03 17.70% Coral Income Fund 3,224.27 3,224.27 5.05% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 3.31% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 2.20% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 127.22 127.75 18.19%

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.94% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.82 2.88 28.96% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 7.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 155.86 156.79 8.79% 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 1.34 1.44 22.38% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,143.49 1,143.49 9.94% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.63 1.66 31.82% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.06 12.15 7.05% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 2.30% PACAM Equity Fund 1.57 1.58 PACAM EuroBond Fund 109.10 111.46 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 141.01 144.36 10.64% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.01 1.01 8.38% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,521.35 2,532.80 29.37% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 6.07% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 28.33% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 7.22% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 31.15% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.66% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 24.72% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.22 1.22 4.96% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 110.49 110.49 6.03% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.41 1.43 17.85% United Capital Bond Fund 1.87 1.87 8.34% United Capital Equity Fund 0.87 0.90 23.69% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.92% United Capital Eurobond Fund 116.00 116.00 6.13% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.07 1.08 1.98% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 12.23 12.38 18.99% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.61 13.75 17.15% Zenith Income Fund 24.84 24.84 9.33% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.04%

REITS NAV Per Share

Fund Name SFS Skye Shelter Fund

Yield / T-Rtn

119.62

6.57%

53.51

2.80%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

11.46 118.91 88.20

11.56 118.91 89.85

36.03% 24.54% 17.42%

Union Homes REIT

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

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

4.31

4.35

25.27%

Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund

5.66

5.74

-4.25%

Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Money Market Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund

15.89 1.00 15.67

15.99 1.00 15.87

32.02% 2.17% 50.31%

230.69

232.69

22.55%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.71

13.11%

Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund

Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

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.

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

39

NEWS

Alleged N2bn Fraud: Court Revokes Maina’s Bail, Orders His Arrest Alex Enumah in Abuja Justice Okon Abang of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court yesterday revoked the bail granted the former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reformed Task Team (PRTT), Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, over his continued failure to appear in court in his alleged N2 billion money laundering trial.

Justice Abang accordingly ordered security agencies to arrest him wherever he may be found.

The revocation of Maina’s bail was pursuant to an application by the prosecution counsel, Mr. Mohamed Abubakar.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Maina, his son, Faisal; and firm, Common Input

Property and Investment Limited on a 12-count criminal charge bordering on alleged money laundering to the tune of N2 billion.

Maina who was arraigned before Justice Abang, on October 25, 2019, pleaded not guilty to all the charges and was admitted to bail in the sum of N500 million with a surety in like sum.

It took Maina nine months before he could perfect his bail

owing to the stringent conditions attached; that the surety must be a serving Senator, who must attend court at every sitting.

However, the prosecution is accusing Maina of jumping bail having failed to appear in court since September this year.

Abubakar had in three separate applications urged the court to revoke Maina’s bail, order for his arrest and also compel his surety, Senator

Ali Ndume to produce Maina in court to continue his trial or forfeit the bail bond of N500 million.

Ruling in the applications yesterday, Justice Abang revoked Maina’s bail and ordered for his arrest.

However, the judge in the third application adjourned till November 23, to allow Ndume explain why he should not forfeit the bail bond he signed in respect

of Maina’s bail.

Ndume had told the court that all efforts to know the whereabouts of Maina failed, adding that he sent people to far away Niger Republic and also met Maina’s mother and other relatives but none seems to know his whereabouts.

Ndume then prayed the court to allow him get a lawyer to handle the case on his behalf.

Bandits Kill Three Operatives of Kaduna Vigilance Service John Shiklam in Kaduna Three personnel of the Kaduna State Vigilance Service (KADVIS) have been killed while two others were injured following an ambush by bandits.

The bandits also opened fire on motorists close to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) access road, in Igabi Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday and were repelled by the troops.

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday in Kaduna.

Aruwan said the vigilance service personnel were attacked in an ambush on Tuesday night at Dande village, on their way from Damba-Kasaya in the Buruku, Chikun Local Government Area of the state.

Those killed in the incident, according to the statement, include, Alison Musa, Dauda Audu and Ishaya Sarki, while Ayuba Tanko and Doza Adamu sustained injuries.

No fewer than 17 people, including a traditional ruler and his son have been killed in the past three days by bandits in Zangon Kataf, Giwa, Igabi and along the Kaduna-Abuja road.

Aruwan said Governor Nasir El-Rufai had sent condolences to the families of the deceased personnel and prayed for the repose of their souls, while

wishing those that sustained injuries speedy recovery.

The statement said the governor also commended troops of the Operation Thunder Strike, for successfully dislodging bandits terrorising people along the Kaduna -Abuja road.

Many people, including nine students of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, were abducted along that road on Sunday afternoon.

“The governor has also commended land and air troops of Operation Thunder Strike for a successful operation around Kuku area, at the Kagarko local government axis of KadunaAbuja Road.

“The governor said he received with gratitude, information that the first air strikes hit some of the target structures and neutralised some of the bandits, while the second wave of attacks was executed by a Nigerian Air Force helicopter gunships which provided close air support to the troops on the ground as they advanced from Kagarko via Kuku into the bandits’ enclave”, the statement said.

Aruwan said citizens of the state will continue to be informed of the security situation and appealed for vigilance and prompt reporting of suspicious movements and activities to the security agencies.

SIGNED AND SEALED…

L-R: Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly (KWHA), Hon. Yakubu Salihu Danlandi; state Governor, Mr. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Majority Leader, KWHA, Hon. Mogaji Abubakar; and Clerk, KWHA, Mrs. Alimat Jummai kperogi; during the signing of Kwara Investment Promotion Agency Bill, at Government House, Ilorin…yesterday

NDLEA Intercepts over N15m Drugs in Lagos The Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a 5,371kg of cannabis worth over N15 million.

The state Commander of the agency, Ralph Igwenagu, yesterday said the seizure was made after officers raided a notorious syndicate in Ayobo, Lagos State.

Igwenagu, who noted that other members of the syndicate were on the run, said the seizure was one of the biggest in five years.

He said, “Based on information, our officers raided a notorious syndicate somewhere in Ayobo, Lagos State, and made this very monumental seizure. We have

been doing a lot to trace these syndicates because they are notorious for bringing drugs from Osun State, Ondo State to Lagos, and we were able to make the seizure and arrested one of the members of the syndicate.

“Others are still on the run.

We are hopeful that in no distant time, they too will be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.

He added, “This is the biggest single seizure that we have done in the last five years. The total quantity of drugs involved is over five tones at one particular time, at exactly 5, 371kg at one single seizure.

“We have made very big seizures in the past but not in this mode at one particular

time and that shows the level of drugs that can come into Lagos State and we are particularly happy that we can remove this out of circulation and it will save a lot of Nigerians.”

47-year-old Achienu Promise apprehended by the command said he was co-opted into moving the drugs from Osun State to Lagos In his confession, he said, “They called me to carry load from Ikire, Osun State. When I got there, I discovered that it was cannabis they wanted me to carry. I had no option not to do it because I had no money to buy diesel to go back.

I begged them to give money to buy diesel, they refused and said I must carry the cannabis.”

He added, “I called the owner

of the vehicle that diesel had finished and needed money to go back but he refused to send money to me.

He said it was his first time engaging in the ferrying of cannabis.

“The house in Ayobo that NDLEA raided to seize cannabis is not my house. It is the place I was directed to offload the drugs. They promised to pay me N50, 000 but they just paid me N15,000 to buy diesel.

They promised to give me the balance.”

Igwenagu, who estimated the value of the prohibited drugs to be worth over N15 million, said the “NDLEA will apprehend every criminal element who wants to use this period to perpetrate crimes”.

in Nigeria grew by 54.2 million in the last five years.

NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Umar Danbatta, disclosed this when he led the commission’s board of commissioners on a visit

Danbatta pointed out that in the last five years, the NCC management had built on earlier successes recorded, noting that broadband penetration moved from six per cent to over 45.43 per cent.

spokesperson, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde.

The NCC boss stated that the sector’s Gross Domestic Product contribution rose from 8.5 per cent to 14.30 per cent, while active phone subscribers

also increased from 90 million to 151.5 million, teledensity now stands at 107.53 per cent, while investment in the sector has increased from $38bn to over $70bn currently,” he stated.

No Court Order Restraining APC Phone Subscribers Increased By 54.2m in Five Years from Conducting Membership NCC: The National Communications to the Emir of Bichi, Nasir He disclosed this in a grew from 151 million to over Commission (NCC) yesterday Ado-Bayero, in Kano as part statement issued in Abuja 205.2 million.

Registration, Says Party said active phone subscribers of NCC 2020 Board Retreat. by the commission’s “Basic internet subscriptions Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Yekini Nabena, has said that there was no court order restraining the ruling party from conducting membership registration.

The ruling party stated categorically that the purported court order was erroneously reported and urged the general public to disregard it.

Nabena in a statement issued yesterday said in respect of the suit: Kalu Kalu Agu Vs. APC & ORS, FHC/ABJ/CS/736/2020, a legal officer was sent to court on November 17, 2020 by the party to investigate the purported court order restraining the party, but found out that such order was not

given by the court.

He stated: “Upon our findings, we discovered that such court order was never granted by the court, as no application was made to the court to warrant the granting of such order.

“The evidence from the records of proceedings of Monday, November 16, 2020 shows that no order restraining the party from conducting the membership registration was granted in respect of the above suit or any suit relating to the APC.” The party therefore called on teeming supporters, members and leaders to ignore the fake news and go about with their good work of repositioning the party

Insecurity Responsible for Food Inflation, Say Northern Elders Northern elders have attributed the high cost of foodstuffs to the worsening insecurity in the country, which makes it difficult for farmers and transporters to convey farm produce from one region to the other.

The elders noted that the security situation in the north had reached a level where incidents of deaths, kidnapping, armed banditry and other violent crimes against the people,

occur on daily basis, with many of such going unreported.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), had on Monday reported that food inflation rose to17.38 per cent in October, from 16.66 per cent in September, even as it put the current inflation rate at an astronomical 14 per cent.

National Coordinator of Coalition of Northern Elders for Peace and Development (CNEPD), Mr. Zana Goni, in

a statement, issued yesterday called for a rejig of the nation’s security architecture for better performance.

The elders regretted that the high echelon of the military had concentrated on quelling the now rested #EndSARS protesters at the detriment of security of lives and property in the north-east.

The statement said: “We wish to state here that the Sunday

incident, which caught attention in high places, was just little of what we witness daily in other parts of the region. There are many killings and cases of abduction going on in the North, especially the above-mentioned zones that are unreported.

“The victims are sometimes killed or placed on permanent hard labour just as the female ones are forcefully raped and impregnated by their abductors.

40

THURSDAYNOVEMBER 19, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Gbajabiamila: Police Mechanisms Too Weak to Identify, Prosecute Rogue Officers IG: Public distrust our major challenge Udora Orizu in Abuja The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila yesterday said the Nigeria Police cannot be effective when the

mechanisms for accountability and discipline are too weak to identify, remove and prosecute rogue officers, insisting that the House will carry out a comprehensive reform of the Nigeria Police

Alleged Constitutional Violation: Court Joins N’ Assembly in SMBLF’s Suit against Buhari Alex Enumah in Abuja Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday joined the National Assembly as a defendant in the suit filed by the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBF) against the alleged lopsided appointments by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

Justice Abang joined the National Assembly as the fifth defendant, while ruling in an application to that effect brought yesterday by the plaintiffs through their lawyer, Mrs. Nella Andem-Rabana (SAN).

In the joinder application earlier filed on October 2, 2020,

the plaintiff had said the National Assembly was a necessary party to the suit because its “rights and responsibilities are affected by the questions raised for determination” by the plaintiffs.

The plaintiffs who claimed to have filed the suit “in the interest of justice” maintained that the National Assembly “will be affected by the eventual decision of the court”, hence the need to include them in the suit.

When the application was taken, 1st to fourth respondents; the President, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Clerk of the National Assembly, and the Federal Character Commission respectively did not oppose.

from recruitment to training and welfare of officers.

This is coming as the Inspector General of Police (IG) Mohammed Adamu, has lamented that the major problem of the police is the lack of confidence between policemen and members of the public The speaker stated this while addressing stakeholders at the 9th House Legislative

Agenda Public Policy Dialogue Series with the theme: “Policing and Human Rights in Nigeria”.

The event came on heels of a new police reform Bill, which was unveiled before the stakeholders and will be laid before the House soon.

In the synopsis of the new Bill, Sections 6(1)(I) and 7(c) gave Nigerians power to make complaints against

erring police officers.

Gbajabiamila said that the country does not have an effective system of policing, adding that the relationships between communities and the police are defined by fear and mistrust.

He opined that effective policing is only possible when the policing institutions are grounded in the rule of law.

The Speaker while calling on all well-meaning Nigerians to make their inputs toward the enactment of the Police Service Commission (Reform) Bill, 2020, said the present administration must be commended as they inherited a flawed policing system, and is now taking giant steps to reform the system through the recently enacted Police Reform Act.

ALL EYES ON HIGHER RETURNS…

L-R: Managing Director, Gateway Mortgage Bank Limited (GMB), Mr. Olawale Osisanya; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; and GMB’s Chairman, Mr Samuel Durojaiye, at the Annual General Meeting of the bank held at Mitros Hotel, Abeokuta …yesterday

Spy Policeman Runs PANDEF Carpets FG over Botched South-South Meeting Amok in Lagos, Threatens DejiElumoyeinAbuja clergy, elders, leaders, women and one insult too many. How else can any national security threatening youths of the six South-South anyone explain what happened - if situation to warrant their staying The Pan Niger Delta Forum States had gathered in Port not an act of disrespect, disregard, away.

Residents with Knife “What they have told us, in (PANDEF) has described the Harcourt, and waited for hours. and contempt to the entire South-

Chiemelie Ezeobi

A Supernumerary Policeman (SPY Police), yesterday ran amok at Alausa area in Lagos State and threatened to stab residents of the community with knives.

Although it was not clear what triggered his actions, the policeman, who was fully kitted, suddenly undressed in public glare and ran amok.

This is coming as commercial motorcyclists yesterday chased police officers attached to the Lagos State Task Force, at Ikeja Along, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

The Spy policeman furiously paced back and forth in front of a mini shop as he intermittently

stabbed the metal walls of the shop.

The shop owners and residents were forced to move to safety as attempts by some bold youths to disarm him proved abortive.

Some eyewitnesses told THISDAY that the policeman was known to take Marijuana known as Igbo in local parlance.

According to them, he had taken the illicit drugs in excess, which led to his maniac display to the dismay of all those around.

As at press time, he has since been whisked away and attempts to know whether he was taken to the hospital for psychiatric evaluation proved abortive.

Ebonyi PDP Rejects Dissolution of State Exco Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki Embattled Chairman of the Ebonyi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Onyekachi Nwebonyi, has described the dissolution of wards, local government and state executive of the party as illegal, null and void and unworkable.

Briefing journalists in Abakaliki, the state capital, Nwebonyi added that it was laughable for the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to dissolve a state executive committee because the state Governor, David Umahi, or a few individuals want to leave the party.

He stressed that they are still

in charge of the party in the state for the next four years having been duly elected for a four-year term recently.

Nwebonyi, therefore, reminded the party hierarchy that the tenure of his executives would elapse in 2024, and that nobody has the power to dissolve the state executives.

According to the state party chairman, “My attention has been drawn to a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP that the NWC of the PDP has dissolved the ward, local government and the State Executive Committees of the party in the state because the state governor’s planned defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

failure of a federal government’s delegation to show up for a meeting, planned at its instance, with key stakeholders of the South-South geo-political zone, as one insult too many.

The meeting, which was scheduled to hold last Tuesday, to discuss critical national issues was botched at the last minute, after traditional rulers, the governors,

PANDEF in a statement issued yesterday by its National Chairman, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (rtd), said the absence of government’s team was a clear demonstration of contempt and disregard for the entire South-South zone.

It said: “The reason offered for the deplorable action is completely untenable and unacceptable. This is

South Zone. They went to the North, South-west and South East, met with the people, no emergency security meeting was summoned to stop them from attending those meetings. But when it was for the South-south zone, an emergency arose to scuttle the meeting.

“We have cross-checked and are yet to ascertain that there was

essence, is that we do not matter but the truth is that we do matter.

It is awful and preposterous for anyone to delude that we do not matter. That they can treat the region that has sustained the country for decades, in this way and manner, only speaks to the kind “upside-down” thinking that has kept the country in its unworthy state”.

INEC Arraigns Two Professors, Sacks Three Workers over Conduct of 2019 Elections Okon Bassey in Uyo Three permanent staff members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Akwa Ibom State have been sacked, while four others are under investigation for electoral malpractices in the 2019 general election.

The state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Mike Igini, revealed this yesterday

while speaking with journalists in Uyo, the state capital, adding that two university professors have been dragged to court.

Igini said both the permanent and ad-hoc staff of the commission found culpable during the 2019 elections would be prosecuted.

He explained that two professors, who acted as collation/returning officers during the elections, and subverted the

outcome of elections results have been arraigned.The INEC commissioner alleged that Prof.

Peter Ogban, who served as Returning Officer (RO) in Akwa Ibom North West senatorial district changed the outcome of the election by reducing the score of a leading candidate by 5,000 votes, and increasing that of the losing candidate with the same votes.

He stated that Ogban,

however, failed to alter the overall total valid votes cast, and was exposed by the information tracking system of the Electoral Operation Support Centre (EOSC).

According to him, another Professor, Ignatius Uduk, declared election results he did not collate, but collated by undisclosed individuals who only handed the results to him to announce.

Anambra Govt Denies Raising N25bn Bond David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka Anambra State Government has denied allegation that it secretly raised a N25billion bond from the federal government through the Debt Management Office (DMO).

A statement signed by the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. C. Don Adinuba, and made available to THISDAY denied that the allegation which emanated from the senator representing

Anambra South zone, Ifeanyi Ubah, was true.

In the statement, Adinuba said he was not aware of anywhere in the world where a bond can be raised with such secrecy, such that no one would know of it.

According to him, “It has come to the knowledge of the Anambra State Government that Senator Ifeanyi Ubah claims in a voice note which he has gleefully been distributing to all manner of persons and individuals that

the state government furtively raised a N25 billion bond from the Debt Management Office/ Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning for failed federal roads.

“For effect, Ubah emphasises that the bond was approved without the knowledge of the National Assembly. This claim is, with due respect to the senator, bizarre.

“We are not aware of anywhere in the world where a bond

can be issued secretly. Before a bond can be issued for a state government in Nigeria, the state House of Assembly, the Debt Management Office (DMO), the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) must be involved.

“Every bit of the transaction must not only be transparent, but also be a public knowledge.

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FG, ASUU to Resume Talks on Friday …Strike not about IPPIS alone, union insists

The federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will resume talks on Friday, according to the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

The spokesman of the ministry, Mr. Charles Akpan, confirmed last night that the talks with the ASUU leaders would hold at the minister’s conference hall.

This is coming as ASUU has said it would not call off its eight-month strike even if the federal government withdraws the Integrated Payroll and Information System (IPPIS) as a means of paying them.

The Benin Zone of the union also yesterday expressed doubt over the capability and commitment of Minister of Labour and Employment,

Pfizer: COVID-19 Vaccine Has No Safety Concerns Davidson Iriekpen with agency report

Pharmaceutical giant, Pfizer, yesterday revealed that the final analysis of the Phase 3 trial of its COVID-19 vacine in conjunction with BioNTech shows that it is 95 per cent effective in preventing infections.

It added that the analysis of vaccine also revealed that it is effective on people of all ages, races and ethnicities and caused no serious safety concerns.

The companies said they would now apply for authorisation for emergency use of the jab in the United States.The findings are based on two doses given to more

Senator Chris Ngige, to midwife any peaceful resolution of the issues that led to the ongoing strike in the country’s public universities.

The Coordinator, ASUU Owerri zone, Mr. Uzo Onyibinama stated the union’s position on IPPIS in a press briefing held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State.

He said federal government was feeding the public with lies about the strike, stating that the main reason for the strike

was the government’s inability to keep previous agreements and not about IPPIS as being propagated by the government.

He said the union would not call off the strike until all its demands were met by the federal government.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the issues in contention remain revitalisation fund for public universities, arrears of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), visitation to universities, proliferation of state universities and issues of governance in

them, and conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 FGNASUU Agreement.

“The later issue of IPPIS was a new introduction and a diversion as no university in the world runs such a system.

“Instead of apologising to the Nigerians and hiding their heads in shame on the serial failures of Governments particularly the present Government which came on the mantra of ‘change’, the duo of Ministers Chris Ngige and Emeka Nwajiuba have been feeding Nigerians with lies and

half-truth.

“Ministers Ngige and Nwajiuba have on many occasions on various media organisations said that agreement have been reached on virtually all the issues that necessitated the seven months old strike “They should please tell Nigerians, who are their masters, those agreements that have been reached and implemented. As far as our Union is concerned, no agreement has been reached on any of the demands.

than 41,000 people around the world.

Last week, Pfizer and BioNTech published preliminary data showing the vaccine offered 90 per cent protection against Covid-19 and there were no safety concerns. This was followed by impressive data on another vaccine, made by US company Moderna, suggesting nearly 95 per cent protection.

Yesterday’s data from the companies suggested that the vaccine is 95 per cent effective, based on 170 cases of Covid-19 developing in volunteers – just eight were in the group given the vaccine, suggesting it offers good protection.

Masari Proposes N282bn Budget FAMILIARISATION VISIT...

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Mr. Babangida Hussaini (left), and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, during the for 2021 to State Assembly permanent secretary’s familiarisation visit to Naval Headquarters, Abuja …yesterday.

Francis Sardauna in Katsina

The Katsina State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, yesterday presented N282.78 billion budget estimate for the 2021 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly for scrutiny and consideration.

The 2021 budget is N101.1 billion higher than the 2020 revised budget of N179 billion.

While presenting the N282.78 budget which he christened ‘Budget of Recovery and Consolidation’, Masari said the budget is designed to complete

ongoing projects across the 34 local government areas of the state.

The governor said N196.1 billion, representing 79 per cent of the budget, is for capital expenditure, while 30 percent of the budget, which is N86.4 billion, is for recurrent expenditure.

He reiterated that 48 per cent of capital expenditure or N135.9 billion would go to the economic sector, while the social and administrative sectors would take the sum of N104.1 billion and N38 billion respectively.

2023: Turn Your Tweets to Votes, Dabiri-Erewa Urges Youths The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has advised youths to get involved in politics ahead of the 2023 general election.

She urged the youths to turn their tweets to votes in the coming general elections.

Dabiri-Erewa stated this yesterday at the 14th LEX Annual Lecture (Virtual Edition) tagged ‘Illiteracy, Migration and Insecurity: Nigeria’s Population Time Bomb’.

She stressed that Nigeria’s over 200 million people, half of which is made up of young people, is an asset to drive economic prosperity and political change.

“For the youths, please join politics, be on the table. Now is the time for the youths. Get involved now, make a difference.

Be at the House of Assembly, be at the House of Representatives, Be at the Senate. Don’t wait. That is the solution to #EndSARS,” the former lawmaker said.

The NIDCOM boss noted that many young people leave the country out of ignorance, adding that they can also realise their dreams in the country.

“Most young people going out there are not illiterate; they are

actually educated but they are lured that there is a better world outside, they paint them a picture of buying houses for their mothers, fathers, which turns out to be fake.

It is not about illiteracy but it is about more awareness out there.

But there are some people that no matter what you tell them, they have to go,” she stated.

The ex-lawmaker also said intracountry or rural-urban migration was limiting all parts of the country from developing at the same rate.

She said over 3,000 people migrate from other states to Lagos State daily, urging non-Lagos residents to stay in their states and develop them to the status of the country’s economic capital.

Dabiri-Erewa said, “We all don’t have to be in Lagos. Look at what is happening in Lagos because everybody is coming to Lagos. Everybody develop your state. When we go to America, the UK, every state is developed. Lagos receives over 3,000 people every day and they don’t leave. Let every state develop so that everybody can stay in their states. Build industries, go into manufacturing, develop agriculture, develop the enormous human resources that we have in this country.

Lagos Vows to Clamp down on Violators of Traffic Laws Ejiofor Alike The Lagos State Government yesterday vowed to continue to enforce its traffic laws to maintain sanity on roads and save lives.

The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso said in a statement yesterday that the State Environment and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit (Taskforce) will keep enhancing the enforcement of the Lagos

Traffic Law 2018 with which it has been checking the excesses of commercial motorcyclists and others who drive against oncoming traffic and ply restricted routes.

According to him, the action is to halt the resurgence of impunity and violation of traffic regulations.

“Amid the enforcement, which began on Tuesday, commercial motorcyclists have taken laws into their hands and attacked the Task Force

team, injuring officers carrying out their lawful duties. The perpetrators of this violence will be identified and made to face the law.

“However, the officers were undeterred by the criminal activities of the motorcyclists; 131 motorcycles were seized; 15 riders arrested and prosecuted; and 150 vehicles impounded in various areas of the State.

“The Task Force subsequently arraigned and prosecuted 35 drivers of impounded vehicles,

who had to forfeit their cars to the State for driving against oncoming traffic; 62 drivers who plied the BRT Corridor were fined N70,000 each; and 28 tricycle owners were also arraigned in court.

“The Task Force was again attacked in Ikeja, on Wednesday. It retreated to avoid an escalation of the crisis.

The team, however, mobilised more personnel to quell the riots started by the riders,” the statement explained.

House Quizzes Insurance Firm for Insuring Grounded Aircraft Udora Orizu in Abuja

The House of Representatives’ Committee on Public Accounts, (PAC) yesterday quizzed the management of an Insurance Company, Northlink Insurance Brokers Plc for insuring two grounded aircraft of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).

The grounded 14-seater Dornier 228-101-5N-AUZ(FER)

and 228-101-5N-AUW (FER) aircraft were insured at the sum of N198.500 million with a renewal premium of N13,409,800 paid, within the 2015/2016 Insurance Period.

The members of the Committee were angry when the Head, Technical Department of the Insurance Company, Mr. Nse Uyo Nya said that his company only carried out physical inspection on the

two aircraft without technical inspection to determine their airworthiness as required by the nation’s aviation regulations.

When the committee demanded for the certificates of the airworthiness of the aircraft, Nya said that the pilot of the aircrafts who was an employee of the NIS, who was present during the physical inspection only confirmed the airworthiness to him verbally.

He said, ‘’To enable us effect the cover, we visited Dana Airways Premises, old Kaduna Airport, Kaduna State where the aircraft were parked. We carried out a physical inspection with the help of the Pilot, Kiena who took us round the aircraft and confirmed to us that the aircrafts are airworthy and that he just came back from a border patrol with one of the aircraft.”

Appeal Court Dismisses Assembly Suit against Three Ondo Lawmakers James Sowole in Akure

The Court of Appeal in Akure, Ondo State, yesterday dismissed the stay of execution suit filed by the state House of Assembly against the judgment of the high court reinstating suspended members of the Assembly.

Justice Folayemi Omoleye, who delivered the judgment, flayed the appellants for

bringing what was described as a frivolous suit.

The Judge consequently directed the House of Assembly, which was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice and Solicitor-General of Ondo State, Mr. Cyril Akinrinsola, to immediately allow the suspended members to resume their legislative functions

without any hindrance.

The stay of execution appeal was against the high court judgment that reinstated Hon Iroju Ogundeji of Odigbo constituency I, Hon Wale Williams of Ondo West II, and Hon Favour Tomomewo of Ilaje constituency II. The three Assembly members were suspended for alleged gross misconduct during the

move by the Assembly to impeach the Deputy Governor of the state, Agboola Ajayi.

Not satisfied with their suspension, the three lawmakers approached the state high court, which upturned their suspension.

The court ordered that the lawmakers should be reinstated and also imposed N5 million fine against the Assembly.

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#EndSARS Killings: Lagos Asks Residents to Identify Bodies at LASUTH Morgue Davidson Iriekpen Following the furore over the alleged killing of #EndSARS protesters in Lagos State by troops of the Nigerian Army on October 20, 2020, the state Chief Coroner, Justice Mojisola Ayoka Dada, has advised Lagos residents looking for their loved ones that are missing to contact the Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

This was contained in an advertorial published yesterday.

Justice Dada, who also

doubles as a judge of the High Court of Lagos State, gave the directive pursuant to Section 15 of the Coroner’s System Law of Lagos State 2015.

Although the announcement is statutory and normal, it is coming at a time when there is furore over the killing of protesters in the state during the #EndSARS protests when security officers allegedly killed several protesters.

Besides, the announcement stated a timeframe, October 19-27, 2020, which coincided with the time of the shooting of protesters at Lekki Toll Plaza,

New Caretaker Committee Takes over Niger PDP Laleye Dipo in Minna A new Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last Tuesday evening took over the affairs of the Niger State Chapter of the party.

The nine-member committee is headed by former Special Adviser to both late President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua, and Dr. GoodLuck Ebele Jonathan, Alhaji Akilu Ndabawa.

The assumption of office of the nine-man Ndabawa-led caretaker committee followed

the expiration of the mandate of that which was headed by Garba Umoru Ciza, for six months.

However, the brief ceremony was not attended by principal figures in the chairmanship crisis that has engulfed the party-Alhaji Tanko Beji and Alhaji Mukhtar Ahmed.

Ndabawa told party faithful at the event that the caretaker committee “is here to consolidate unity. We are not here to support any interest, we want to bring harmony where there is disharmony.

and the mayhem that took place across Lagos afterwards.

The full public announcement signed by Justice Dada herself, read: “This is to notify the General Public that the Chief Coroner of Lagos State, Justice M. A. Dada pursuant to Section 15, Coroner’s System Law of Lagos State, 2015 the Pathology Team would want all those who have lost loved ones between October 19-27, 2020 (that is, next-of-kin of the victims) to provide relevant

information that would assist the identification exercise.

“The next-of kin should kindly contact the Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Oba Akinjobi Way, Ikeja for the identification exercise of the deceased.

“The next-of-kin will be required to provide means of identification of themselves and their loved ones. Nationally recognised

means of identification such as International passport, driver’s licence, National ID card or LASSRA ID Card shall be accepted.

“Only the parents, siblings or children, in that decreasing order of preference are expected to come to LASUTH. The hours of visit shall be from 10a.m. to 2p.m. for the next two weeks starting from the date of this announcement.

“Please note that these next-of-kin shall be required to

come with the following: clear photographs of the missing person; their own upper body photographs; and also provide samples for Reference DNA Profile, where necessary.

“This profile will be compared with those already collected at autopsy from the deceased. It is only after a definitive scientific identification that the bodies of the deceased shall be released by the Office of the Chief Coroner to the next-of-kin for burial.”

Auto Crash Claims 11 Lives in Kwara, Kano Hammed Shittu in Ilorin and Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano No fewer than 11 persons have died while several others sustained various injuries in series of road accidents in Kwara and Kano States.

The Kano State accident, which claimed seven lives, occurred at early hours of yesterday at Mundubawa junction on Hadejia Road in Kano metropolitan.

Hadejia Road is one of the busiest roads in the metropolis, as the road links Kano city with some communities around Yankaba, Gunduwawa, Tishama among others.

The accident occurred when

a trailer with the registration number: XC954GWL, and a truck without a registration number, rammed against each other.

Spokesman of the state fire service, Mr. Saidu Muhammad, confirmed to THISDAY in Kano yesterday, saying the victims were evacuated to the hospital.

Muhammad explained that the doctor on duty at Sir Muhammad Sunusi General Hospital Kano confirmed seven people dead.

The fire service spokesman also said the remaining victims are receiving treatment at the hospital.

Similarly, a fatal auto crash has also claimed four lives in Offa, the headquarters of

Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The auto crash, which happened around 10:27a.m. yesterday on Offa-Ojoku Road, involved one Toyota Camry car and a tricycle.

It was gathered that the Toyota Camry car driven by an auto-mechanic rammed into the tricycle killing three of the occupants and a roadside female trader.

Eyewitness account revealed that some students of the Federal Polytechnic Offa, who were also on the tricycle sustained injuries in the accident.

It was also gathered that irate mob in the area burnt the Toyota Camry car.

Confirming the incident, the state Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Jonathan Owoade, said the deceased had been deposited at the General Hospital in Offa.

He added that the accident occurred around Awrab Hotel junction, saying the accident involved eight persons.

Owoade said the other four injured persons were also receiving treatment at the same hospital.

The FRSC boss said: “The Toyota Camry car was burnt by the mob (students), however, the situation is under control.

Security agencies and our officers were on ground to restore normalcy.”

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October Allocation Drops as FG, States, LGs Share N604bn Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) yesterday shared a total of N604.004 billion to the federal, states and local governments for the month of October.

This is about N35 billion less than the N639.9billion distributed in the month of September.

The Permanent Secretary,

Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Alhaji Aliyu Ahmed, who presided over the meeting in Abuja, disclosed that the three tiers of government shared a total sum of N604.004 billion as federation allocation for the month of October 2020.

A statement issued by the Director of Information in the ministry, Mr. Hassan Dodo, said from the amount, which

includes the cost of collection to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and the Department of Petroleum Resources, the federal government received N220.751 billion, while the states received N161.825 billion.

According to him, the local government councils got N120.588 billion while the oil producing states received N31.902 billion as 13 per cent derivation.

The statement disclosed that the cost of collection/transfer and refunds accounted for N48.939 billion.

A communique issued by the FAAC at the end of the meeting, indicated that the gross revenue available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) for October, 2020 was N126.463 billion as against N141.858 billion distributed in the preceding month of September, 2020, resulting in

a decrease of N15.395 billion.

From this, the federal government got N17.642 billion, states received N58.805 billion, local government councils got N41.167 billion, while cost of collection/transfer and refund got N5.059 billion.

Allocation to North East Development Commission (NEDC) project received N3.794 billion.

The distributed Statutory

Revenue of N378.148 billion received for the month was higher than the N341.501 billion received for the previous month by N36.647 billion, from which the Federal government received N166.195 billon, States got N84.296 billion, LGCs got N64.989 billion, Derivation (13 per cent mineral revenue) got N21.581 billion and cost of collection/transfer and refund got N40.086 billion.

Supreme Court Judgment: Diri Seeks Opponents’ Collaboration

Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Onungwe Obe in Yenagoa

Basking in the euphoria of his victory at the Supreme Court yesterday, the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has called on all those who contested against him or filed election petitions against his election held on the November 16, 2019 to join him in developing Bayelsa State.

This is coming as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday congratulated the governor over the Supreme Court’s judgment, which affirmed his mandate as the governor of Bayelsa State.

Governor Diri in his reaction to the Supreme Court judgment, which dismissed the last batch of

cases against him and his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, said the litigants were neither his enemies nor enemies of Bayelsa.

He said they only exercised their rights by going to court and that he did not consider the litigations as personal regardless of the fact that they were a distraction.

In a statement issued in Yenagoa by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, the governor said the dismissal of the petitions of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Liberation Movement (LM) and Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP) against the deputy governor and that of the Accord Party (AP) against Diri was the fifth time he and his deputy had won at the Supreme Court.

Five Fighter Jets Bomb Bandits Along KadunaAbuja Expressway Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Five military fighter jets yesterday neutralised several armed bandits in a joint offensive operation to clear identified bandits’ camp around Kuku area of Kagarko Local Government Area along the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway axis of Kaduna State.

The operation is coming as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command said it deployed a detachment of personnel and equipment to rescue five persons kidnapped early yesterday in a village along Pegi axis.

A military update said the

operation was executed on the heels of credible human intelligence reports indicating that a cluster of huts and other structures at the location served as hideout for a notorious bandits’ leader, named “Major”, along with his fighters.

The first wave of the air strikes, which involved six fighter aircraft undertaking five missions in a total of 13 sorties, commenced at dawn and targeted the cluster of huts housing “Major”.

The attack aircraft hit some of the target structures and neutralised some of the bandits.

Julius Berger Wins Building, Construction Services’ Award Nigeria’s foremost construction company, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc has emerged “the most valuable brand in the building and construction services category as well as the highest gainer at the 2020 edition of #IAMBRANDNIGERIA’s Top 50 Brands Nigeria.”

The development makes it a record fifth consecutive time the company is winning the award at the highly coveted top brands in Nigeria, tagged this year as Top 60 Brands in Nigeria 2020 in commemoration of Nigeria’s Diamond Independence anniversary as announced by the organisers earlier in the beginning of the year.

The Chief Executive Officer of Top Brands Nigeria, Mr. Taiwo

Oluboyede in his opening remarks at the landmark event, which in due compliance to Covid-19 social distancing protocols, held virtually via the Zoom platform, congratulated Julius Berger Nigeria and other sectoral winners declaring that, “today, these are the best top brands in Nigeria.”

According to Oluboyede, to objectively arrive at the Top 50 Brands awardees, the organisers of the event had to “evaluate, rate and celebrate top corporate brands that have consistently maintained leadership positions in their categories. The top brands this year are those that have been able to conceptualise consumer’s decision pattern and present well ‘justifiable’ propositions that meet these needs.”

SUSTAINING WAR AGAINST PANDEMIC…

L-R: Group Chief Human Resources Officer, Dangote Industries Limited, Ngla Niat; guest speaker and COVID-19 survivor, Ife Durosinmi-Etti; General Manager, Sustainability, Dangote Industries Limited, Eunice Sampson; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Aliko Dangote Foundation, Zouera Youssoufou; Event Manager, Dangote Industries Limited, Yetunde Ogunnowo; and Group Talent Management Lead, Human Resources, Dangote Industries Limited, Bukola Thomas, during the celebration of Dangote’s Sustainability Week in Lagos…yesterday

Edo Police Arrest 48 Fleeing Prisoners, Suspected Armed Robbers, Cultists

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The police in Edo State yesterday paraded 18 persons who escaped from the two correctional centres in Benin City, 14 suspected armed robbers and 16 suspected cultists who have been involved in the killings across Benin City, the state capital.

Addressing journalists at the state police headquarters, the state Commissioner of Police, Johnson Kokumo said most

of the escapee prisoners were re-arrested while committing other crimes.

It was also was gathered that two of them were re-arrested in Ondo State and another in Lagos State.

On the robbery suspects, Kokumo disclosed that some of the suspected robbers were among the robbery gangs that have been terrorising residents in Benin City.

He said despite the outcome of the #EndSARS protests that led to the destruction of several

police stations and carting away of arms and ammunition, the police did not fold its arms to watch the hoodlums have field day.

“We are not folding our arms and watch the hoodlums have a field day. Our main concern now is geared towards re-arresting the escapees and recovering the looted and other illicit arms and ammunition in circulation.

Kokumo said the exhibits recovered were two AK-47 rifles, four locally made guns,

one Toyota Yaris Saloon car with Registration No. UBJ-447SZ, one Toyota Highlander SUV Registration No. DGE-524-AH and 21 live cartridges He assured of adequate security during the Christmas period saying “as we approach the yuletide season, the Police will not rest on its oars until all the arms and ammunition carted away by the hoodlums are recovered and escapees are equally rearrested. The criminal elements themselves will not know peace.”

Fayemi: Proposed Membership Registration will Clean up APC Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has defended the controversial All Progressives Congress (APC) membership registration exercise, saying the process will clean up the register of the party and increase its membership base.

Some APC members had kicked against the exercise being proposed by Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Committee, describing it as unnecessary at this point.

Fayemi stated this yesterday in Abuja during the conferment of the Award of ‘Dependable Ally of the North’ to honour him by the state Publicity

Secretaries in the 19 Northern states.

Addressing the party’s image makers, Fayemi thanked them for the honour done him.

He said: “This award is greatly appreciated because it is coming from you, ‘the eyes and mouth of the party’.

I would have loved to stay longer so that we can interface

and exchange ideas on how to move our great party forward, but I’ve to join other leaders of the party in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, right now where we would be receiving the state governor into our party.

The reception in Ebonyi State is only a tip of the iceberg of those moving into our party.

PDP Urges Fashola to Speak out on Alleged N4.6bn Fraud in Power Ministry Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday called on the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, to immediately come clean on reports in the public space that N4.6 billion public funds was allegedly funneled into private accounts during his tenure as Minister of Power, Works and Housing.

The party also charged the

Muhammadu Buhari presidency to speak out on the report which it said has further exposed the rot and humongous corruption going on in ministries, department and agencies (MDAs) under its watch, despite the much orchestrated anti-corruption stance and “holier than thou” attitude of its officials.

The PDP in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said Nigerians were shocked by the revelations that between

September and December 2019 alone, “the sum of N4.6 billion was allegedly stolen through fraudulent payments in 654 tranches, without any explanatory details to 21 private accounts belonging to some faceless individuals and certain directors in the then Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, under Fashola.”

PDP further stated that it is indeed appalling and of course revealing that such huge fraud,

which is in direct contravention of Sections 7, 701 and 713 of the country’s financial regulations reportedly occurred under Fashola’s watch.

According to the PDP, section 713 of the 1999 constitution (as amended) clearly provides that no “public money shall be paid into a private bank account” and that “any official who pays public money into a private account is deemed to have done so with fraudulent intentions.”

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Live Bullets Fired at Lekki #EndSARS Protesters, Says CNN Report Military: No comment because matter before judicial panel Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The military fired live bullets at #EndSARS protests at Lekki Tollgate, Lagos, contrary to its denial, a report by Cable News Network (CNN) said yesterday.

The CNN, in the report watched by THISDAY, detailed the events before and after the shooting and countered claims by the Nigerian Army that its troops did not shoot at the protesters.

The report also established that many protesters were still missing while bodies of slain protesters were yet to be accounted for.

The report titled: “They Pointed Their Guns at Us and Started Shooting,” showed analysis of videos obtained and geo-located by the news

organisation depicting bodies, including that of one Victor Sunday Ibanga, drenched in a pool of his blood and wrapped in the Nigerian flag.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), however, decline to speak on the issue, saying the matter is already before the judicial panel set up by the Lagos State Government, to probe the incident.

A senior officer, who spoke anonymously told THISDAY, said: “The military is already at the Lagos panel. We do not have two positions.”

Military officers from the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army that appeared before the panel have insisted that soldiers only shot in the air and not at the protesters, adding that they fire blank, and not live bullets.

But the CNN, in the report, said it obtained and geolocated a photograph and videos of bodies, including that of Victor Sunday Ibanga, lying in a pool of his blood and wrapped in the Nigerian flag, one of the same flags gripped by fellow protesters earlier in the evening as they sang the country’s national anthem.

A member of Ibanga’s family confirmed the photograph was that of his brother.

The CNN report also showed the body of the deceased in a pool of blood wrapped in the Nigerian flag.

The report said: “The Ibangas

are one of several families yet to locate the bodies of their missing loved ones, protesters at the toll gate, who dozens of eyewitnesses say were shot at, first by members of the Nigerian army and then hours later by the police.

“Eyewitnesses told CNN they saw the army remove a number of bodies from the scene.

What happened on October 20, and into the early hours of October 21, at the eight-lane Lekki toll gate, a key piece of Lagos’ road network, has stunned the country.”

It stated that the protesters who were present told CNN

that “it was a ‘massacre’ with multiple people killed and dozens wounded. But local authorities have downplayed that account.”

CNN said calls to the Nigerian Army were not returned.

But on November 14, during a judicial inquiry into the shooting, army representative, Brigadier Ahmed Taiwo, said: “There’s no way officers and men will kill their brothers and sisters. I repeat no way.

We have those who constantly seek to drive a wedge between us and between the citizens of Nigeria...”

The army also said at the hearing that it was Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who called soldiers to intervene because the police were overrun.

The governor has denied this, saying he does not have the authority to call in the army.

But the CNN report into the disputed events cast doubt on authorities’ shifting and changing statements.

“Evidence of bullet casings from the scene match those used by the Nigerian Army when shooting live rounds, according to current and former Nigerian military officials.

APC Dissolves Ebonyi State Executive Committee Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dissolved the Ebonyi State Working Committee of the party.

The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Yekini Nabena, in a statement issued yesterday said the dissolution of the state executive was due to the refusal of factions to withdraw court cases as directed by the 8th resumed meeting of the APC National Executive Committee (NEC) and submit to internal party resolution mechanisms initiated by the caretaker committee.

However, the dissolution of the party’s executive in the state may not be unconnected with the recent defection of the state Governor, David Umahi to the ruling party from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Nabena said, “A 15-member caretaker committee has

subsequently been appointed by the APC caretaker committee to manage the party’s affairs and carry out the planned membership registration, update, and revalidation exercise in Ebonyi State.”

Members of the Ebonyi APC Caretaker Commitee are: Mr. Stanley Okoro as Chairman, Mr. John Nwankata as Vice Chairman (North), Mr. Peter Nworie Ndubuisi, as Vice Chairman (Central), Mr. Ozoemena Njoku, as Vice Chairman (South), Mr. Charles Ofoke, as Secretary, Mr. Ogbonnaya Igbok, as Organising Secretary.

Others are: Mr. Chidi Ogbuatu, as Publicity Secretary, Mr. Ikaa Ukeni, as Legal Adviser, Mr. Paulinus Ali, as Treasurer, Mr. Joseph Ozibo, as Financial Secretary; Mr. Ogochukwu Elem, as Youth Leader; Ms. Odo Juliet, as Women Leader; Mr. Ogbonna David Nshii, as Auditor; Adum Uchenna Basil, as Leader, Physically Challenged, and Mr. Francis Nweze, as Welfare Secretary.

Army Officers Testify as El-Zakzaky’s Trial Resumes John Shiklam in Kaduna The trial of Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), and his wife, Zeenat, resumed yesterday at the Kaduna State High Court.

Zakzaky, who has been in detention since December 2015 following clashes between his members and the Nigerian Army, is standing trial for alleged culpable homicide among others.

Two witnesses from the Nigerian army-a MajorGeneral and a Colonel-testified at the resumed hearing before Justice Gideon Kurada, the presiding Judge.

Journalists were not allowed in the court, however, while speaking in an interview with journalists shortly after the proceedings,

Femi Falana (SAN), counsel to Zakzaky, said two senior military officers testified in court.

He said the army officers were among the witnesses assembled by the prosecution counsel to testify against his clients.

“Two witnesses were taken and the trial will continue tomorrow. The prosecution is not likely to close the case tomorrow.

“The officers were put under cross-examination, and they gave evidence of the operation that lasted between December 12 and 14, 2015, and the role of the military in the operation,” Falana said. The IMN leader had on September 29 pleaded not guilty to the eight-count charge bothering on culpable homicide among others.

WE WON’T DEFECT...

L-R: Member of National Assembly representing Ebonyi South senatorial district, Senator Michael Nnachi; Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe; and Senator representing Ebonyi North, Sam Egwu, during a press briefing by Ebonyi National Assembly caucus on the defection of the governor of the state, in Abuja...yesterday

Report: Digitalising Agric Can Boost Nigeria’s Economy Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja A report by the Financial Derivatives Company (FDC) has said that unless Nigeria deploys digital platforms to improve efficiencies in production, transactions, stakeholder relations and investment opportunities, the country will not be able to drive economic development or attract investment in the agricultural sector.

The monthly FDC publication released yesterday noted that if

well handled, the sector could facilitate economic growth through inter-sectoral linkages and provide sustenance for households.

It added that in the last two decades, agriculture contributed at least 20 per cent to real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Nigeria.

It, however, stated that the sector has not been able to adequately drive economic growth due to Nigeria’s oilfocused economic structure

and internal sectoral problems.

According to the report, if the government focuses its efforts on encouraging the growth of the digital platforms, it can lower the cost of information dissemination to farmers from investors and the government.

It noted that it could reduce the production costs by providing an avenue for easier access to agriculture tools, equipment and machinery as well as aid the investment process by connecting farmers with credit facilities and

interested investors.

The FDC report noted that paying attention to the digitalisation of agriculture will reduce the time it takes to transfer funds and provide a smoother transaction process between farmers and stakeholders.

It said: “If the government wants to promote the use of digital agriculture platforms in Nigeria, it must assist in tackling some obstacles these platforms face.

UMAHI, WIKE TRADE TACKLES OVER DEFECTION, 2023 PRESIDENTIAL RACE The Rivers State governor said Umahi told him in confidence that he wants to be president of Nigeria in 2023.

“He told me he wanted to run for president, and I told him it was not a matter of personal interest and personal decision of one man to become the presidential flag bearer of the party, but a collective decision of all the party members,” he said.

According to Wike, “When he told me about it, I said listen, PDP as a party has to sit down and talk, the presidency of Nigeria is not by you saying I will be president. It has to do with everybody in the party sitting down and looking at the pros and cons and say okay yes we think that the South-east should have it. That is the way it is done; it is not because you are interested and, therefore, it must be done your way.

“If you look at his interview, he said he will retire from politics in 2023. So, when is he going to fight against the

injustice against the people of South-east? You heard what members of the PDP in the National Assembly have said.

We all want the South-east to have a shot but you cannot achieve that by giving the PDP conditions that if they don’t zone it then you leave. The party you are going to, have they zoned it to the South-east? If that was the case then you would have been able to convince people that because the APC has zoned it to the South-east I am leaving to fight for the injustice done to the people of South-east.”

He said Umahi’s defection will not affect the fortunes of the PDP in Ebonyi State adding: “The mistake people often make is that if a party do not have a governor in a state they cannot win an election in that state.

Umahi’s defection will not have any effect on us. Why are we even talking about it? Like I have said, the constitution guarantees him freedom of association.”

He accused Umahi of trying

to blackmail the PDP and jeopardise its chance of winning in 2023 stating that Umahi has been romancing with the APC for over three years.

Speaking on Umahi’s claim that he singlehandedly made Uche Secondus the PDP national chairman, Wike said it is an indictment on Umahi as a sitting governor to say he was forced to vote for Secondus as PDP chairman.

He said when the PDP chairmanship was zoned to the south; he personally went round to see all PDP governors explain why Secondus should be the National Chairman.

“If you look at the way he spoke you will know that all is not well with him at this time.

He said I imposed Secondus; that is an indictment on him.

Secondus is from my state and he wanted to run for an election, I went to him and said please support Secondus; I went round to all the governors and beg for support.

“All of the governors agreed including Umahi who told me that when Secondus was National Organising Secretary of the PDP, Secondus helped him, stood by him and, therefore, he is going to support Secondus. How can Umahi being a governor go to the party convention and said, ‘Wike said I should vote for Secondus,’ and he went and supported him. You can imagine the kind of governor you are talking about.

“Umahi has shown the kind of character he is made of. He said that I said that the members of the NWC of the PDP are armed robbers. I never said anything like that. I am not one person to say one thing today and come tomorrow to say another thing. What I said was that some members of the NWC are tax collectors. That was what I said and I will not run away from it. That is the stuff some of us are made of.

Umahi cannot threaten me; he knows me very well.”

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THURSDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

AFCON 2022 QUALIFIERS

Dare Questions Rohr’s Competence, Apologises over Draws with S’Leone Duro Ikhazuagbe

After leading Super Eagles to pick two points from the available six at stake in the twoleg encounter with Sierra Leone, Nigeria’s senior national football team Head Coach, Gernot Rohr, has come under fire from the highest sports authority in the country.

On Tuesday evening in Freetown, the Super Eagles who are ranked 32nd by FIFA

Coach Gernot Rohr...competence questioned

struggled to pick a point in the goalless draw with the Leone Stars who had four days earlier in Benin City came back from four goals down to equalize 4-4 in the Match-day three and four of the AFCON 2022 qualifiers.

But Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, who drummed it into the ears of the gaffer and his wards that anything short of outright victory in the reverse fixture in Freetown will be unacceptable, has now come out to doubt the competence of the German coach.

Speaking on his twitter handle yesterday, Dare said: “The performance of the Super Eagles from their last two matches calls to question the suitability and competences of Technical Adviser, (Gernot) Rohr. Nigerian football deserves better. The needful will be done.

Apologies to all football lovers.”

The minister’s outrage must have been fueled by the realisation that Sierra Leone are ranked 118 by FIFA- clear 86 spots below the Super Eagles.

In this Covid-19 pandemic

year, Super Eagles failed to win any match, the worst record in several decades. Nigeria played two international friendlies against African champions Algeria and Tunisia in Austria and the two back-to-back AFCON 2022 qualifying clashes with Sierra Leone. Eagles lost to Algeria and drew the three games.

However, Rohr who earns $55,000 (about N25.9m) monthly on the Nigerian

job, appears unfazed with the performance of Eagles under his watch since 2016 when he took charge.

In his review of the double header with the Leone Stars, Rohr said yesterday: ““We remain top of the table and now have to play two more games, against Benin and Lesotho. We are very close to qualifying for the AFCON,” observed the gaffer whose contract was renewed till December 2022

last June.

He saluted the resilience of his team in the bumpy pitch of the Siaka Stevens Stadium in Freetown.

“It’s a long time we had a clean sheet (in competitive match). We wanted the defence to be solid especially after what happened in the second half in Benin City,” Rohr remarked after the draw in Sierra Leone.

Despite the outrage in

football circle in the country over the lack of direction for Eagles under Rohr’s watch, sacking the German gaffer appears not an alternative as the NFF is not likely to be able to raise the $1.4million needed to pay him off.

Eagles remain on top of Group L on eight points, Benin Republic are second on seven points with Sierra Leone third on three points.

Lesotho are last on two points.

Eagles Back Home from Freetown Super Eagles players and officials returned to Abuja in the early hours of Wednesday from Freetown Sierra Leone after the barren result with the Leone Stars on Tuesday evening.

The team’s Media Officer, Babafemi Raji, confirmed Eagles arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at about 2am Wednesday morning.

Super Eagles are leading Group L on eight points after four games played so far with Benin Republic on seven points second in the standing. Sierra Leone are third on three points while Lesotho fourth on two points.

Up next for the Eagles is an away tie against Benin Republic on 22 March 2021 and they will

round off the qualifiers with an home game against Lesotho on 30 March.

Meanwhile, Sparta Rotterdam have congratulated Maduka Okoye after he kept a clean sheet in the Super Eagles’s 0-0 draw away to Sierra Leone.

Okoye justified the faith of the Eagles’ coaching crew by keeping his first clean sheet after conceding four goals in the 4-4 draw last Friday.

It was his first clean in in four games for the Eagles after initially conceding against Algeria and Tunisia in last month’s international friendly games.

“A clean sheet for Okoye in Nigeria,” the club wrote on their verified Twitter handle.

Sports Ministry to Partner US-based AJ TennisAcademy In furtherance of its role of nurturing young tennis players from the grassroots, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development (FMY&SD) is to partner United States- based AJ Tennis Academy to establish a world- class tennis academy in Abuja.

Speaking during a visit to the Sports Minister, Mr. Sunday Dare in his office, Director of A J Tennis Academy International based in Minneapolis, Tolu Olaleye, said he was excited by the prospect of partnering the FMY&SD to develop the next generation of tennis players as well as good citizens.

“Our plan is to develop the tennis academy as a business in partnership with domestic and foreign investors to ensure long- term survival and serve as a model for other sports.

“We are here to explore ways of

gaining support for this initiative from the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development,” observed Olaleye.

In his response, the Sports Minister Dare said: “Thanks for your faith in Nigeria. The timing of this initiative is very good and in consonance with our new sports industry policy which classifies sports as business.

“It also falls within the purview of our ‘Adopt-a-Sport initiative’.

I fully support this initiative and will give whatever support needed to make it succeed,” stressed the minister.

Dare further advised the initiator to consider replicating the Academy in Ibadan, Lagos and Abeokuta to derive maximum benefits.

The pilot project is to be sited in Abuja for which an expanse of land has been allocated by the Federal Capital Development Authority.

Super Eagles players were held to a goalless draw in Freetown to delay Nigeria’s qualification for 2022 AFCON till the last two matches next year

Wike, Iyaye Applaud Pre-season Football Tournament The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, and the state’s Commissioner for Sports, Boma Iyaye, have heaped praises on the organisers of the recently concluded Governor Wike PreSeason Football Championship in Port Harcourt.

Speaking at the final, the governor, who was represented by the Chairman of Rivers State PDP, Desmond Akawor, said the standard of play at the tournament was great while expressing happiness that the state’s team, Rivers United FC

won the title.

He said: “For a team to get to the final and actually played till level of penalties to determine the winner, that’s to show that the standard here is very high.

“It is not just about the win, but to measure the standard of play which we have achieved.

One thing that is convincing is that the investment in sports especially football in the state is actually a worthwhile investments.

“For us, if we are just starting

the Real Madrid Academy, you can imagine what will happen in the next five years when we start to have graduates from the school playing either away or for the state team, I am highly impressed with the competition.”

Also, Iyaye praised the standard of the championship while revealing that Rivers United is still far away from a finished team.

He added that this year’s edition was better than last year’s as there were several

innovations in the 2020 edition.

He added: “It has been a great improvement from the first edition, despite the issue of Covid-19 and all that, we still have a successful tournament, if not for the pandemic, the stadium wouldn’t have contained fans that will come to the stand, but we had to restrict them.”

Rivers United defeated Nigeria National League side, Bayelsa United, 5-4 on penalties after the regulation time ended 1-1.

Boxers, Fans Rejoice as GOtv Boxing Night Returns Nigerian boxers have expressed delight at the return of GOtv Boxing Night. The 21st edition of the event scheduled to hold on 27 November at the Rowe Park Sports Centre, Lagos.

Speaking during an interview yesterday, Rilwan “Babyface” Babatunde, the West African Boxing Union (WABU) welterweight champion, said he is thrilled to return to action after a seven-month break.

Babatunde, who is billed to fight Jubril Olalekan in a challenge duel, said: “I can’t wait to fight again. I never stopped training even for one day, so I am fully prepared for the fight,” he said.

Former African Boxing Union (ABU) light welterweight champion, Olaide ‘Fijaborn’

Fijabi, who is making a ring return after two years also said he is excited at the chance to fight again. Fijabi, who will fight Dennis Mbat, said he expects to make a triumphant ring return.

“I’m happy to be back.

Covid-19 disrupted my programme, but I am grateful to God that the ban on sporting activities has been lifted. Mbat will fall in three rounds,” Fijabi promised his fans.

WABU lightweight champion, Rilwan “Real One” Oladosu, who has his eyes on the African title, said GOtv Boxing Night 21 has given him the opportunity to restart his bid for the continental title. He commended the sponsors for their faith in Nigerian boxers.

“I’m happy that the sponsors have not abandoned Nigerian boxers. It has been a difficult year, but they have put a smile on our faces by bringing back GOtv Boxing Night,” said Real One. Many boxing fans are similarly delighted and expectant to see their favourite boxers back in action A fan of Baby Face, who identified himself as Wale said: “I’m happy that GOtv Boxing Night is back. I am particularly excited that Baby Face will be in action, as it has been a long time since I last saw him fight.”

Another fan, Chinedu Duru, said he is disappointed that fans will not be allowed into the venue because of Covid-19.

He is however happy at the

chance to watch boxing again and will be by his television set on the day of the event.

The event will be headlined by a national bantamweight title bout between Habeeb Oladeji and Tunde ‘Turning Star’ Olojede.

Other bouts include a national light heavyweight challenge contest between Segun ‘Success’ Olanrewaju and Cosmos David and national super featherweight challenge between Sikiru ‘Omo Iya Eleja’ Shogbesan and Kazeem Oliwo.

The last edition of the show held in December 2019, while another was scheduled to hold in April this year but was postponed following Covid-19 outbreak and subsequent ban on large gatherings.

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ThursdaySPORTS N AT I O N S L E A G U E

Loew Facing Biggest Crisis After Germany’s Humiliation in Spain Germany coach Joachim Loew faces the biggest crisis of his 14year reign after his side crashed to a historic defeat to Spain, with former players and the media questioning yesterday whether he should lead the team into next year’s European championship finals.

The 6-0 drubbing in Seville on Tuesday was Germany’s heaviest defeat for 89 years as

Coach Joachim Loew...under fire for the humiliation

Spain completely dominated the Nations League match.

The Bilddaily was blunt, headlining its coverage: “Loew should offer to resign.”

“Just seven months before the Euro, the German FA has to answer the question whether Joachim Loew is still the right man for the tournament,” the paper said.

Ferran Torres scored a brilliant hat-trick as Spain attacked at will with Loew’s Germany side offering little resistance as they slumped to their heaviest defeat since losing 6-0 in Berlin against Austria in 1931.

Loew batted off questions about his future in the postmatch press conference.

“You have to ask others. I can’t answer that spontaneously,” he replied when asked if he was worried about his job.

Loew led Germany to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil but the credit from that triumph

was largely dissipated by the debacle at the 2018 finals in Russia when Germany crashed out in the group phase.

His contract with the German Football Association runs until the 2022 World Cup and Loew still appears to have the support of Germany team director Oliver Bierhoff.

“The confidence is completely there,” Bierhoff insisted in the wake of the drubbing, but promised a “hard analysis”.

Bierhoff pointed to a line-up on Tuesday containing veteran players Manuel Neuer, Ilkay Gundogan and Toni Kroos as proof that “lack of experience of the players is no excuse”.

Bierhoff though said he intended to be in his job next year, telling FAZ newspaper: “The path that the national coach has taken, I will follow

up to and including the European Championship.”

Bastian Schweinsteiger, who won the 2014 World Cup under Loew, was horrified by the performance.“It did not feel like a team - there were no commands” in the German ranks, said the 36-year-old former Bayern Munich and Manchester United midfielder, who is now a media pundit.

“You only heard the Spanish talking. You have to change something. The German national team can’t play like that. “There are certain values, which I didn’t see on the pitch.”

Munich-based newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung said the humiliation in Spain begs the questions “How much longer with Jogi Loew?”.

Magazine Sport Bild reported the German FA are

toying with the idea of Bayern coach Hansi Flick replacing Loew, but that is unlikely to happen before the Euro 2020 finals.

Schweinsteiger reignited the debate about whether three other veteran players who Loew has sidelined from the national team – Mats Hummels and Bayern’s Champions League-winning pair Jerome Boateng and Thomas Mueller – should be reinstated.

Loew told all three in 2019 that their Germany careers were over, yet the trio are all currently in great form for their clubs.

“This is the German team, it has to bring together the best players,” Schweinsteiger said, adding that Mueller and Boateng would be in his team for Euro 2020 if he were coach.

Arsenal’s German midfielder

Mesut Ozil – another player who has not featured since the 2018 World Cup slump – agreed, tweeting: “Time to take @JeromeBoateng back.”

However, ex-Germany and Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann warned that the louder the calls to recall the trio, the less likely Loew is to listen.

“I have the feeling, the more calls there are for them to return, the less he wants to do it,” Hamann told Sky Sports. “He seems to be very stubborn about it.”

Time is running out for Loew to prove he can turn things around before the Euro 2020 finals, postponed from last year, kick off in June with Germany in a tough group including reigning champions Portugal and World Cup holders France.

Enrique Heaps Plaudits on La Furia Roja Spain Coach Luis Enrique paid tribute to every player in his squad after Tuesday’s incredible 6-0 win over Germany to reach the final four of the UEFA Nations League, which he said was just what they deserved for their efforts over the campaign.

“This victory belongs to every player, even those who didn’t play,” Luis Enrique told reporters after his side finished top of League A4 above Germany.

“It would be unfair to single anyone out because to do what we did, to press a team like Germany all over the pitch, you need every player from defence to attack to work hard.”

Luck seemed to desert Spain in Saturday’s 1-1 draw in Switzerland as La Furia Rojamissed a slew of chances including two penalties by Sergio Ramos, while they were unfortunate to lose 1-0

to Ukraine last month.

Yet everything clicked in an astonishing display against the 2014 World Cup winners, as midfielders Fabian Ruiz, Koke and Rodri dictated play and forward Ferran Torres bagged a hat-trick.

“This was one of those nights that happen very rarely, when everything goes exactly as planned. The players went out all fired up and did everything right. This is what you get when you combine quality and attitude,” Luis Enrique added.

“We feel that we didn’t deserve to lose a single game in this campaign. We scored 13 goals and only conceded three, the numbers speak for themselves.

“We feel immensely happy, this is a real boost for the players and we’re going to enjoy this moment.”

Romania Awarded 3-0 Victory after Norway ClashCancelled Romania have been handed a 3-0 win over Norway by UEFA on Wednesday after their Nations League match was cancelled due to the Norwegian authorities banning the country’s national team from travelling to Bucharest following a Covid-19 case.

In a statement, UEFA said it considered Sunday’s match “as forfeited by the Norwegian Football Association...for being responsible for the match not taking place”.

On Saturday, Norway’s health minister ordered the squad not to travel to Romania after Galatasaray fullback Omar Elabdellaoui tested positive for coronavirus.

The minister insisted the Norwegian federation respect the country’s quarantine rules, which recommend isolation in case of contact with a positive test.

After the discovery of Elabdellaoui’s positive case, the Norwegian federation cancelled its departure.

However they will fulfil Wednesday’s fixture away to Austria after striking an agreement with the health authorities to send a team featuring 13 debutants.

Norway are second in League B, Group 1, three points behind leaders Austria ahead of their final match in Vienna.

Switzerland’s League A, Group 4 home match with Ukraine, which was set to be played on Tuesday, was also called off after six of the away side’s players tested positive for the virus.

UEFA decided that the match could not take place after Swiss health authorities made the decision “to quarantine the entire delegation of the national team of Ukraine.”

The ‘German Machine’ (in white jerseys) were dismantled in Seville

Salah Returns Second Positive Covid-19 Result Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has again returned a positive test for coronavirus while on international duty with Egypt.

The 28-year-old initially tested positive last week, despite not displaying any symptoms.

On Wednesday, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) confirmed that Salah had been tested again and that the result was positive. Mohamed Salah...tests positive for Covid-19 a second time in the Premier League Salah is likely to miss the to self-isolation rules.

Liverpool host Leicester on Sunday, 22 November Reds’ next two games due

and welcome Atalanta in a Champions League tie on Wednesday, 25 November.

Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny has also tested positive.

On Tuesday, Salah wrote on Twitter:external-link”I’d like to thank everyone for the supportive messages and well wishes. I’m confident I’ll be back on the field soon.”

Salah has started all eight of Liverpool’s Premier League games this season, scoring eight goals.

Barca’s Busquets Out of Trip to Atletico Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets has been ruled out of Saturday’s LaLiga clash away to Atletico Madrid due to a knee injury sustained on international duty with Spain.

Barca confirmed on Wednesday that Busquets had strained knee ligaments in last Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Switzerland but did not state how long he would

be out for.

Spanish media reports said Busquets would be sidelined for around two weeks, also missing the Champions League trip to Dynamo Kyiv and their home league game against Osasuna.

The Catalans are already without teenage sensation Ansu Fati for the trip to Atletico, who are third in

the standings and six points above eighth-placed Barca.

But Barca’s list of absentees pales in comparison to that of Diego Simeone’s side.

Luis Suarez, Atleti’s joint-top scorer with five league goals, is set to miss the reunion with his former side after testing positive for Covid-19 while away with Uruguay.

Holding midfielder Hector

Herrera has been ruled out until December with a hamstring strain, with defenders Stefan Savic and Mario Hermoso also doubts.

Forwards Yannick Carrasco, Diego Costa and Vitolo, meanwhile, are all fighting to be fit for the game, which will be the first true test of Atletico’s title credentials after a brilliant start to the campaign.

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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Thursday, November 19, 2020

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Price: N250

MISSILE Uche Ekwunife to Anambra PDP

“The main story now is zoning and I am also recognised by that because zoning favours me too. So many precedents here and there, but the most important thing is that you have somebody who is competent to govern well. I am not running because I am a woman. I am running because I have the capacity to be governor and deliver quality leadership” – Senator representing Anambra Central, on the argument of zoning the governorship to Anambra South where she hails from.

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

Public Trillions in Private Pockets I n July last year, the federal government established a task force comprised of the EFCC, ICPC, NFIU and the Federal Ministry of Justice to recover N5.7 trillion owed to the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON). The government also proposed an amendment to the AMCON Act with a view to strengthening its institutional capacity. Although conceived as a stabilizing tool for financial institutions, AMCON has become an enormous burden to the economy. More than N3 trillion of its debt was owed by just 20 debtors, according to AMCON Chairman, Muiz Banire. For the uninitiated, that is public money used to defray bank loans taken by private citizens who refuse to pay back. And the commission has at different times advertised the names of some of these fat cats.

Questions must be raised as to why it was so easy for these private citizens to corner for themselves humongous sums of money that belong to the public. More disturbing is that Nigerians hardly pay attention to this aspect of what ails us, believing that only those elected or appointed into public offices can be accused of fiddling with our common patrimony. That explains why, for instance, a man whose multibillion Naira debt led to the liquidation of a bank that sent hundreds of people out of jobs would be considered a more honest Nigerian than the low-level public official or civil servant who embezzled a million Naira and is being chased by operatives of the anti-graft agencies!

The corporate thief could receive national honours, bag chieftaincy titles, be bestowed with awards, including doctorate degrees from our universities, and can also contest and become a governor, senator or perhaps one day, President of Nigeria!

While I have no problem with the attention focused on public sector graft, neglecting private sector infractions has allowed bad behaviour to fester. And we are all victims.

In 2005, I gave the proceeds from my book, ‘The Last 100 Days of Abacha’ to my wife to manage. She invested the money, buying shares in a number of quoted companies that eventually collapsed. The promoters of one of those companies is now a politician, perennially contesting election to be governor of his state with the N6 million stolen from me! I know many families that were ruined by people who made good from the shares purchased in their companies that are now history.

In 2014, Dr. Hussaini Abdu, then Country Director for ActionAid (he currently holds a similar position in PLAN International), invited me to join a team of five members to conduct research on the relationship between poverty and corruption in Nigeria.

The team was chaired by Professor Etanibi Alemika, currently a member of the Prof Itse Sagay-led Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC). Other members of the ActionAid research team included Professor Dung Pan Sha of the Political Science Department, University of Jos; Ms. Ayo Obe, legal practitioner and a trustee of the Brussels-based International Crisis Group (ICC) as well as Mallam Yunusa Z. Ya’u, former Bayero University, Kano don and Executive Director, Center for Information and Development.

Former MD of NIDC, Ogunleye For eight weeks, we reviewed corruption indicators in Nigeria such as inflation/ diversion of budgetary allocations, demand and supply of bribes, unauthorized variation of contracts, payment for jobs either not done or poorly executed, overpayment of salaries and allowances to staff (including non-existent ones called ‘ghosts’), brazen diversion of government revenue, violation of procurement regulations, non-payment/under payment of tax by private sector operators etc. In the course of our interactions, my own argument was that private sector corruption fuels poverty considerably in Nigeria, especially when this sector, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, “accounts for well over 90 percent of our GDP”.

In his book, ‘The Private Sector as Culprit and Victim of Corruption in Africa’, Leonce Ndikumana, a Professor in the Department of Economics and Political Economy Research Institute (PERI), University of Massachusetts, Amherst, argues that corruption in the private sector is as invidious as that of the public sector because of its impact. And when extraordinary ill-gotten wealth is captured by the private sector in an environment such as we have in Nigeria today, according to Transparency International, “income inequality is increased and a state’s governing capacity is reduced, particularly when it comes to attending to the needs of the poor.”

For some inexplicable reason, not much material exists for understanding the private sector in Nigeria, especially from the perspective of insiders. Most of the books by operators reveal nothing. But on my arrival in Abuja on Monday from the United States, I received an autographed copy of the memoir by former Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Mr Ganiyu Ogunleye. Not only is the narrative refreshingly different, it has helped me to enjoy the mandatory one-week isolation period prescribed by the efficient Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu-led Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

In the 646-page book, ‘The Embattled Bank Regulator’, Ogunlewe reveals a lot about the private sector in our country and how

several operators have been enabled, even empowered, by those who were supposed to regulate their activities. And Ogunleye is in a position to know.

Fresh from the University of Ibadan as a graduate of Economics, Ogunleye joined the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in September 1974. After serving in different departments, he rose to the position of CBN Director of Banking Supervision in 1992. Seven years later, he was appointed the NDIC Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer. He served in that capacity for two terms of five years until he retired in 2009. He was also at some point Chairman, Committee of Bank Supervisors in West and Central Africa. So, what is reflected in Ogunleye’s memoir is a 35-year experience in the Nigerian financial sector regulatory environment.

One of the key chapters in the book is on WEMA Bank, titled ‘Affront on Regulatory Mandate’. It captures in detail the fight between NDIC and the board of the bank that was originally established in 1945 by the late Chief Matthew Agbonmagbe Okupe (father of Dr Doyin Okupe) as Agbonmagbe Bank before the military government of the old Western Nigeria took it over in 1969.

I am sure some of the prominent people whose (alleged) roles were highlighted will respond because Ogunleye didn’t pull his punches. Names were also mentioned in other key chapters, including ‘Merger Without Due Diligence’ (on Spring Bank); ‘A Mirage for Depositors’ (on Savannah Bank) and ‘Government Intrigues’ which highlights behind-the-scenes power-play involving principal characters in Aso Rock, CBN, Ministry of Finance etc. at different times.

Ogunleye particularly took on the 2004 banking consolidation exercise by then CBN Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo. He disagrees with President Olusegun Obasanjo’s rationale for Soludo’s appointment: “While the economy was going down and people were losing their jobs and livelihoods, banks were declaring obscene profits and were increasing in number. I was grossly disturbed and dissatisfied with the report I got about the banking industry. The Central Bank Governor, Joseph Sanusi saw my point of view but as a commercial banker, his sympathy was, by my reckoning, more for the banks and his former colleagues than for the economy. After Sanusi retired, I had to look for a candidate outside the banking industry.”

Ogunleye does not give Soludo much credit for the banking consolidation and in fact makes imputations about regulatory capture under the latter’s stewardship.

Discerning readers may, however, argue that Ogunleye is only justifing the apparent failure of Joseph Sanusi who incidentally wrote the foreword to the book. But what is clear from the narrative is the challenge of regulation in the Nigerian financial sector.

Ogunelye prescribes that “it is imperative that regulators pay attention to market conduct” while the existing laws “require, as a matter of urgency, a major review or a repeal and re-enactment. Similarly, there is need for a financial sector masterplan.”

With interesting anecdotes, including an account of the day he witnessed board members of a bank engaging one another in

physical combat, Ogunleye concluded that his encounter with various stakeholders in the financial sector reveals that a regulator must possess at least four attributes which he classified as 4Cs: Character, Competence, Courage and Commitment. Without these attributes, according to Ogunleye, it would be difficult for any regulator to effectively execute the assigned mandate.

At the end, what comes out clearly from Ogunleye’s memoir is that we need reform in the financial sector. But it goes beyond drafting another masterplan. A clear absence of rule of law encourages the impunity we witness. People who owe billions of Naira go about flaunting ill-gotten wealth without question. With reports that most of these ‘bad debts’ were collected and shared with bankers who then looked the other way, we need to reform the criminal justice system that is rigged in favour of the rich yet very harsh against the poor.

While Ogunleye’s rich memoir is on the financial sector, the lesson is the same for other areas of our national life if we are to deepen the private sector in Nigeria. Aside the CBN, other apex regulators include Nigeria Insurance (NAICOM), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), National Pension Commission (PENCOM), Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) etc. Their basic role is always to promote and protect public interest. But when they are ‘captured’, they become tools in the hands of private interests they are meant to oversee.

We witness a lot of that in Nigeria.

Interestingly, the capture of a regulator, according to Scott Hempling, adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center who teaches courses on public utility law and regulatory litigation, is characterized by the regulator’s attitude, not the regulated entity’s actions. “A regulator is ‘captured’ when he is in a constant state of ‘being persuaded’: persuaded based on a persuader’s identity rather than an argument’s merits.

Regulatory capture is reflected in a surplus of passivity and reactivity, and a deficit of curiosity and creativity. It is evidenced by a body of commission decisions or nondecisions—about resources, procedures, priorities, and policies, where what the regulated entity wants has more influence than what the public interest requires.”

These actions and inactions—which militate against the enthronement of a level-playing field for all operators—Hempling says, “feed a forest where private interest trees grow tall, while the public’s needs stay small.”

That, and the burgeoning absence of competence—where a regulator simply does not understand the basic tenets of the field being regulated and reduces the office to a mere administrative award of favours and contracts—is a challenge.

Across board in Nigeria today, people are found in positions that are way above their intellectual capacity. That is why many of our regulators fail to see how the import of a decision or non-decision can affect the state of industry five years down the line. It also explains AMCON’s N5.7 trillion debt, and the continuous decline of the nation’s collective wealth.

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