FRIDAY 26TH NOVEMBER 2021 by THISDAY Newspapers Ltd

Yakubu: Human Element Responsible for BVAS Underperformance in Anambra Says INEC will start direct primary if Buhari signs bill Registers 4.297m fresh voters ‘Polls in Nigeria comparable to holding elections in entire West Africa’ Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor

Mahmood Yakubu, yesterday attributed challenges faced with the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in the recent

governorship election in Anambra State to human error rather than machine malfunction. Speaking when he met with media executives in Lagos,

Yakubu also said INEC would ensure the implementation of direct primary as passed by the National Assembly as soon as it was assented to by President

Muhammadu Buhari. Yakubu pointed out that many of the commission’s partners backed out of the Anambra election at the last minute,

because of security concerns. He noted that in June this year, INEC introduced the Continued on page 8

Oil Market Deﬁes US-led Coalition's Strategy to Lower Rising Prices...page 10 Friday 26 November, 2021 Vol 26. No 9727. Price: N250

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Senate Threatens Daewoo, Saipem with Arrest Deji Elumoye and Alex Enumah in Abuja

PROMOTING ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT... L-R: Beneficiary of theTertiary Institutions Entrepreneurship Scheme (TIES) from Ebonyi State, Ukpabi Chukwudi; beneficiary from Kogi State, Simeon Ojonugwa Ojogbane, Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Aishah Ahmad; Beneficiary from Kano State, Nura Muhammad Abdullahi; CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele; Beneficiary from Niger State, Zainab Mohammad; Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Edward Adamu; Beneficiary from Kogi State, Aisha Suleiman, and Deputy Operations, CBN, Adebisi Folashodun Shonubi, at the formal launch of TIES in Abuja...yesterday

The Senate has threatened to issue warrant of arrest against $10 billion Train 7 project promoters, Saipem and Daewoo, for shortchanging Federal Continued on page 8

In Matching Words with Action, Emeﬁele Inaugurates N500mYouth Entrepreneurs’ Scheme Seeks policy intervention to douse appetite for white-collar jobs Sets up body of experts to evaluate applications FG hails initiative, says it will boost economic growth, reduce graduate unemployment James Emejo in Abuja Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, yesterday launched the

apex bank's N500 million Tertiary Institutions Entrepreneurship Scheme (TIES). Continued on page 8

FG: Nembe Oil Spill Now INAUGURATION OF IBESHE HOUSING SCHEME... R-L: Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Governor Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and member, Federal House of Under Control... Page 5 Representatives, Hon. Jimi Benson, during the commissioning of the Ibeshe Housing Scheme in Ikorodu...yesterday

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NEWS

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

IN ISTANBUL FOR THE 89TH INTERPOL GENERAL ASSEMBLY... L-R: EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa; Minister of Police Aﬀairs, Alhaji Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi; Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba and Head of NCB, Abuja, Assistant Inspector General of Police, Garba Umar, at the 89th Interpol General Assembly, in Istanbul, Turkey...recently

FG: Nembe Oil Spill Now Under Control Proposes stiffer penalty for erring firms Aiteo mobilises massive equipment to halt leak Deji Elumoye, Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja and Nume Ekeghe in Lagos The federal government yesterday announced that the OML 29 oil spill in Nembe, Bayelsa State, had been brought under control, with necessary personnel and equipment deployed to begin recovery and remediation efforts. This came more than three weeks after the eruption that affected several communities in the state. Minister of Environment, Sharon Ikeazor, who made disclosed the control of the spill at the weekly ministerial press briefing organised at the State House, Abuja. The unfortunate incident was said to have been brought under control after the Aiteo Eastern Exploration Company (AEEPCO) succeeded in mobilising heavy equipment to the site of the Santa Barbara wellhead leak, in what it described as a “well kill” operation. Ikeazor likened the incident to the atomic bomb site in Hiroshima City in Japan, which was devastated when the Allied Forces dropped a bomb on it during the Second World War. She explained, “The situation has been brought under control. I got a brief from the Director General, National Oil Spillage Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), who was out on the field. So, now, work has to start on the proper clean up. “So, is this something we must tackle head-on? We are beyond talking and having workshop. On the issue of penalties, I mentioned earlier the review of NOSDRA bill. You know most of the Acts we have passed years ago. You will see that they will give maybe N100 fine, anyone can pay that and go back and re-pollute.” Speaking on Arise News Channel, the broadcast arm of THISDAY, yesterday, Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, who spoke about his visit to the host community for on the spot assessment of the impacted area, had assured that he would produce a report, after the inspection, which would be submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari for immediate action. Sylva, also disclosed that the federal government and Aiteo oil company had moved to contain

the massive oil spill. He thanked the host community for their peaceful conduct. Sylva stated, "The company, Aiteo, is making reasonable effort to contain the spill and ensure that the Christmas tree is repaired. "We will produce a report that will be submitted to Mr. President. We want to thank the community for being peaceful and not taking the laws into their hands." Aiteo, in a telephone chat yesterday night, confirmed the leak had been contained, stating that the company has already embarked on measures to control the spillage, shutdown and kill the well. THISDAY learnt yesterday that AEEPCO had as of last night fully mobilised to the site and had reinforced its efforts to put an end to the saga. Videos of the operation sighted by THISDAY indicated that while the, “well kill” operation was going on, several barges carrying cranes and other equipment were on their way to the location to begin recovery of the hydrocarbons. “These are pumping and stimulation equipment loaded with calcium fluoride for the well kill operation. To minimise down time, what we are doing is to arrange all key lines. We have begun work already. By the time this barges get there, the leak must have been arrested. “So, it’s just for us to hook up the lines and the hoses into the well. We have cranes and at least three barges and with these, the spill will be contained in no time,” a source said. In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission, Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, assured that "the matter would be resolved in a way that will not negatively impact the area." Ikeazor stressed the need to put an end to artisanal refineries, which she said had continued to cause pollution in the Niger Delta. She also disclosed plans to institute stiffer penalty for companies involved in oil spill in the country, adding that the operating company is blaming locals for the latest incident in OML29, Nembe. Ikeazor said the ministry was engaging other relevant government agencies to come up with stiffer punishments for

erring oil multinationals. She said, "I got briefings and what I saw in terms of the pollution either through oil refining or illegal oil refining and otherwise – the devastation of the Niger Delta is massive. As we are cleaning up, what we are cleaning up is minute compared to the devastation going on. “So, it is something that government needs to tackle head-on. I hope they would have put the picture on (slide show), it was like a Hiroshima site." The minister said a bill was being worked out to amend the law establishing NOSDRA to build its capacity and give it “the needed teeth to bite.” She said the operating company of the OML29 in

Nembe had blamed the most recent oil spillage in the country on sabotage by the locals. According to her, something must be done about the on-going gas flaring She said the country could not be committed to zero net emission and be flaring gas at the same time. Ikeazor said, “On the Santa Babara Aiteo oil spills, you remember the Ministry of Environment issued a statement stating what happened and the action being taken. It’s a collective action between the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Ministry of Environment, and the oil company involved. “It goes beyond the oil companies giving out palliatives, they must put measures in place to prevent such accidents from

happening. “They are also claiming that the spill was due to sabotage by the local communities. We are going to have a targeted approach to illegal bunkering, tampering with oil installation and artisanal mining in the Niger Delta to get alternative livelihood for the young people of the Niger Delta, so that they would desist from this because it is further polluting the environment. “We need to put stiffer penalties, build the capacity of NOSDRA, which is the regulatory agency in the oil sector, to be able to have the teeth to bite. Without enhancing their capacity and reaffirming the legal framework, getting it stronger, they cannot do much. These are areas we are looking in to, it has to stop.

“Government is working on alternative livelihood for the communities so that we can move them away from illegal activities and further polluting of the environment.” The minister also lamented the rate of deaths from smokeinduced illnesses, especially among women in the country, which is said to be the highest in the world. She said the federal government was hoping to reintroduce clean cookstove and the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cookstove initiative to ameliorate the problem and protect the nation’s biodiversity. On the Ogoni clean-up exercise, the minister noted that the work could not be completed in one or two years as she stressed the need to end artisanal refining of crude oil.

2022 Budget: Senate C’ttee Flays Poor Funding of Judiciary Deji Elumoye and Juliet Akoje in Abuja The Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, has flayed the annual insufficient allocation of funds to the judicial arm of government by the federal government. It, therefore, made a passionate plea for additional funding for the sector in the 2022 Appropriation Bill currently being considered by the legislative arm. Chairman of the Committee, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, presented the request before the Senate Committee on Appropriation yesterday at the National Assembly complex. THISDAY gathered that the Executive arm of government made a provision of N100 billion for the judiciary in the 2022 Budget. Speaking with newsmen after his presentation before the Senator Jibrin Barau-led Appropriation Committee, Bamidele, who disclosed that his Committee made a request for additional N30billion for the judiciary maintained that, the budget estimate was inadequate, considering the enormous responsibilities before the judiciary. He said apart from the challenge thrown up by terrorism, there is the need to deploy

technology in the dispensation of justice. "As we speak, there are people awaiting trial as a result of insecurity: call them gunmen, bandits, terrorists – whatever you call them – the truth is, there is so much additional burden on the judiciary. Of course, there must be fair hearing for suspects apprehended, and it is additional responsibility for the judiciary. So, they need more money. "The COVID has also made it imperative to deploy technology for virtual hearing. All of these demand money. We are talking of all levels of Court: from Magistrate to the Supreme Court, aside the special Court like Arbitration. So, both Committees in both chambers are asking for more money for the judiciary." Asked about the secrecy surrounding the budget of judiciary, the Senator dismissed it as a non-issue, saying it was not peculiar to the judiciary. His words: "It isn't our responsibility to monitor their expenditure but it is important that whatever is allocated under the National Judicial Commission is judiciously used. The secrecy you talked about isn't peculiar to the judiciary. No one is asking about the budget of the Department of State Service or National Intelligence Agency.

"Their ( judiciary) budget isn't up to one per cent of the entire budget. We may choose to sensationalise it, but public interest is better served if the budget of the judiciary is at least, one per cent of the entire budget. We need a well-funded judiciary so that its independence isn't compromised." Also, yesterday, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, Mines, Steel Development and Metallurgy, Senator Umaru Tanko AlMakura, has also identified poor funding and bureaucratic bottleneck as factors militating against the reactivation of the Ajaokuta Steel Company. He made the declaration while speaking with newsmen shortly after submitting the Budget of the agencies under his Committee to the Senate Committee on Appropriation. The former governor of Nasarawa State appealed to the Appropriation Committee to consider special funding for the Solid Minerals sector considering its relevance to the industrialisation drive. He said: "We found that the much desired growth in this sector may not be easily achievable without very special allocation to this ministry. The president considers solid minerals among the sectors that will drive the process of

diversification. But given the paltry allocation to the ministry, such desired expectation may not be easily met. "I appeal to the committee to consider ways and means of finding a special funding to this ministry otherwise those things the ministry is expected to achieve might not be realisable especially, when we look at the concern and the passion this country has for one of the sectors within the ministry that is Ajaokuta Steel Company.” Sharing similar thoughts, Senator Smart Adeyemi, noted that, "Solid mineral is very key to our socio-economic development. As a nation coping with large number of unemployed people, this sector is very important. It is key; it will help the nation in terms of job creation and employment opportunities." In his remarks, however, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Barau, called for involvement of stakeholders in government and private sector to achieve the resuscitation of the Ajaokuta Steel Company. "We know a lot of money has been spent to bring about Ajaokuta and now it is in a state of decay, not utilised, so it calls for the involvement of everybody to make sure we resuscitate that important complex," he said.

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NEWS

36TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF MAN... L-R: Chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Ogun State, Seleem Adegunwa; Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; Vice President, Western Zone, MAN, Kolawole Samuel and Director General, MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadiri, at the 36th Annual General Meeting of MAN, Ogun State, held in Abeokuta … yesterday

Okonjo-Iweala Tasks WTO Members on Reform, Improved Access to Vaccines Dike Onwuamaeze The Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, yesterday urged members of the global trade body who would be gathering next week in Geneva for Ministerial Conference 12 (MC 12) to put in progress a process for the reforming of the WTO. Okonjo-Iweala said this yesterday, during a virtual media briefing organised by the WTO, where she advised the ministers to improve the availability of COVID-19 vaccines to low income countries and address the lingering issues around fisheries subsidies and agriculture. She said: “The MC12 comes up in five days’ time. But I will like to say that the outcome is uncertain and the coming week will tell us a great deal about what will happen as far as the WTO and its future is concerned; what we need to do and the process we need to put in place to modernise and reform the WTO. “Nothing on the ministerial conference (agenda) is really more important than the response of the ministers on

the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a problem on global commerce and is one area which we need a multilateral approach. “We hope that ministers will come up with response to the pandemic including a middle ground that will help us to make impact on this area. We need a response that will ramp up more regionally diverse productions, which addresses the problem of inequity in vaccines. “A situation in which 66 per cent of the persons in developed countries are vaccinated versus the three per cent in low income countries (that have received the vaccines) is not really acceptable. It is not good for the world and for those countries. “This inequity of access is a sour point and I think we need to figure out how to deal with. We have been working with manufacturers to persuade them to diversify their investments to emerging markets and developing countries where there are opportunities. “We can get more people vaccinated either by swapping contracts or encouraging the donations to go to places

where they are really needed.” The WTO’s director general identified three elements that made up credible response to the pandemic to include monitoring of the supply chains; export restrictions and prohibitions; working with manufacturers by diversifying production and transparency of production and contracts and the last part is on technology transfer with regard to intellectual property. She said the, “point we are trying to make to the ministers right now is that an all, or nothing, attitude will not get us to where we will want to go. It means that potentially we will all walk away with nothing. We will want to see everyone coming to a good middle ground which we think is possible. But it is for the members to make the efforts.” Okonjo-Iweala also commented on the protracted negations on fisheries subsidies that has lasted for over 20 years and implored the ministers to achieve a closure on the matter. “We have seen some momentum on this in recent weeks. We have seen issues narrowed more than we have

ever seen them before. But we are definitely not out of the woods yet. We are hoping that we can get a closure about these fisheries subsidies after two decades. But there still outstanding areas with respect to special and differential treatments that ministers will have to close when they come. We are keeping our fingers crossed that they will come to some good agreements. “The text (on fisheries negotiation) has gone out to the ministers with requisite brackets and we hope that they will be able to close those brackets,” she said. She also pointed out that it would be important to have a multilateral decision on carbon pricing than the current fragmented approach that is a little problematic for businesses. “It will be a good thing if we could get a global carbon price. We have to task the IMF, World Band, the OECD and the WTO to work together to develop a methodology and an approach to this. The IMF, WTO and the OECD are collaborating on this and have put a team together to try and begin thinking through this,” the director general said.

production capacity across all its locations to 17million metric tonnes by 2023. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Chairman of BUA, Abdul Samad Rabiu, who signed on behalf of the cement producer said his company was committed to utilising cleaner, more efficient energy sources for its cement operations rather than relying on coal or heavy fuels. According to Rabiu, the 70MW gas powered plant ordered by BUA for its Obu Line 3 cement plant would ensure that the company remains very efficient in its energy utilisation in the

cement production process. “Currently, we have phased out the use of coal across our factories and are shifting to gas powered plants. As we ramp up our capacity, there is need to complement it with efficient power supply and Wartsila’s technology has been found to be durable and uniquely aligned with our vision for more efficient power generation at all our production locations.”, Rabiu added. BUA Cement Plc is Nigeria’s second largest cement company and the largest producer in its north-west, south-south,

is a difficult one that has been going. On the brighter side we have got the e-commerce negations that are going on with 86 members to decide on rules that will underpin digital trade,” Okonjo-Iweala said.

TETFund Allocates N12bn for Establishment of 12 Additional Centres of Excellence Kuni Tyessi in Abujaa

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has allocated the sum of N1 billion each for the establishment of 12 additional Centres of Excellence (COEs) in tertiary institutions. Under the 2020 intervention, 12 TETFund Centers of Excellence were established in universities. This year, 12 more centers would be established equally in six polytechnics and Colleges of Education respectively. The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Prof. Suleiman Bogoro, who disclosed this at the inauguration of the 12 maiden centres in Abuja, yesterday, said two were selected in each geo-political zone of the country and were to be funded for a period of 5 years. The centres are: Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa and Federal College of Education, Pankshin (North Central); and south-east regions. Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi BUA Cement operates and Federal College Education, strategically from Okpella, Yola (North-east); Federal Edo State and Kalambaina, Polytechnic, Kaduna and Sokoto State with its Federal College of Education, headquarters in Lagos, Zaria (North-west); Federal Nigeria. Currently the Polytechnic, Nekede and Alvan second most capitalised Federal College of Education, manufacturing company Owerri (South-east). on the Nigerian Exchange Others are the Federal Limited, (NGX), “BUA Polytechnic, Auchi, and Federal Cement is committed to College of Education (Technical), quality - a differentiating Omoku (south-south); Yaba attribute, driven by its College of Technology, people, innovation, and Lagos and Adeyemi College technology; and positioned to Education, Ondo (South-west). solving West Africa’s cement, Inaugurating the centres, housing, and infrastructure Bogoro charged them to hit the deficit while driving economic ground running by ensuring growth and development.” to strengthen the sustainability

BUA, Finland-based Wartsila OY Seal New Deal on 70MW Gas Power Plant The BUA Group has signed yet another agreement with Wartsila OY of Finland for the construction of a 70 megawatts (MW) dual-fuel power plant for its cement Obu Line 3 project in Edo State. According to a statement, the agreement was signed by both companies at a ceremony in Abuja presided over by the Deputy Minister for International Trade for Finland, Ms. Nina Vaskunlahti. The gas power plant would also be the third power plant to be commissioned by BUA from Wartsila as the company seeks to increase its total

She also said that the moratorium on electronic transmissions would be left to the ministerial conference to agree on whether they would continue with interim solutions or be able to come to an agreement. “Again, this

beyond the year 2026. "I'm delighted to welcome you all to this historic occasion, one that I hope will lay the foundation as well as define the trajectory for the transformation of our beleaguered Tertiary Education Institutions (TEIs) from mere 'citadels of learning'. where inputs and outputs have left much to be desired for far too long, to the springboard of Nigeria's leap into the knowledge economy paradigm, in keeping with the established tradition that Higher Education Institutions are the bastion of intellectualism and the breeding ground for creativity, original thinking and innovation that shape and define civilisations and also drive economies and development. "Having been painstakingly selected to host the second batch of TETFund Centres of Excellence (ICots), it is appropriate for each of you here to feel justifiably proud for being deemed worthy of selection from among dozens of eligible candidate institutions. "I hasten to draw your attention to the huge burden of expectation that comes with your choice as the pioneer Beneficiary Institutions of this initiative with immense national significance. "There is but one true path to socio-economic and technological advancement R&D- and the new 12 TCoEs (2 in each geopolitical zone of Nigeria, which we are to fund for 5 years with a grant of N1billion each, will be at the heart of the mechanism for the attainment of our national aspirations," he said.

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PAGE EIGHT YA K U B U : H U M A N E L E M E N T R E S P O N S I B L E F O R BVAS U N D E R P E R F O R M A N C E I N A N A M B R A BVAS, which performed the functions of the Smart Card Readers (SCR) and the Z-Pad, saying the Anambra election had been universally adjudged to be credible. Yakubu stated, “From our assessment so far, much of the glitches encountered on election day in Anambra state had little to do with the machines but more with the operators of the system. “The extraordinarily difficult circumstances under which the election was held meant that some of the better trained ad hoc staff withdrew at the eleventh hour. “Similarly, some critical service providers, such vehicle owners, also withdrew thereby severely affecting our plans for rapid response by our technicians.” However, Yakubu said in spite of the glitches, the BVAS justified INEC's determination to deepen the deployment of technology in the electoral process. It also strengthened the commission’s belief that even the minimal introduction of technology in voter accreditation was better than the best manual process. “This has also justified the hope of citizens across the country that the deployment of more appropriate technology is essential to electoral integrity in Nigeria,” he stressed. Noting that vital lessons had been learnt from the Anambra pilot, Yakubu assured that there would be remarkable improvement in the next major election, which is the end-oftenure Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) schedule to hold on February 12 next year. On direct primary, the INEC chairman said, “The commission will give expeditious consideration to the law, including the detailed regulations and

guidelines for its implementation where necessary.” He pointed out that Nigeria’s size and population made it one of the biggest democracies in the world and the second largest presidential democracy after the United States of America. According to Yakubu, “The size of our voter population and elective institutions make elections in Nigeria a huge undertaking. This fact is better appreciated within our regional context.

“There are 15 countries in West Africa today, including Nigeria. However, with the current voter population of over 84 million, Nigeria has about 11 million more registered voters than the other 14 countries put together which have 73.6 million registered voters. Conducting a general election in Nigeria is like holding election in West Africa and beyond,” he posited. He also revealed that presently, Nigeria’s voting population had hit 84,004,084, excluding

the ongoing continuous voter registration, with 176,846 polling units, 8,809 wards and 1,567 constituencies. Ahead of the 2023 general election, the INEC boss disclosed that as of November 22, 4,297,494 Nigerians had been added to the electoral register. The INEC chair also expressed delight that Nigerians had fully embraced and was taking full advantage of the services available on its new Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) portal,

explaining that the development had made the job less tedious for staff involved in the process. He stated, “The commission has also been updating Nigerians every week on new development since the CVR started. As of 22 November 2021, the CVR platform had recorded a total of 4,297,494 fresh registrants while 1,856,771 registrants have validated their application. On its effort to engender transparency in the electoral process, he said INEC had

unveiled the Result Viewing (IReV) portal to make available for public view copies of the polling unit election result sheet, known as Form EC8A on election day. Yakubu added that the commission recognised that some members of the society needed special attention to make it possible for them to participate actively in the electoral process, especially persons living with disability with a view to understanding their needs.

between 2011-2018, were alleged to have conspired to cheat and with intent to defraud, obtained credit by false pretence from the Rivers State Government being advance payment of the total contract sum of $130 Million USD, when they have not kept their obligation under the contract. The defendants in the suit scheduled for hearing slated for November 26, were also alleged to have obtained credit of $20,467,942.00 by false pretences or other fraud contrary to Section 419A and punishable under Section 419 (A) (1) (b). They were in addition accused of obtaining credit of N7 billion by false pretences or other fraud contrary to Section 419A and punishable under Section 419 (A) (1) (b). “Obtaining credit of N318,640,173.54 by false pretences or other fraud contrary to Section 419A and punishable under Section 419 (A) (1) (b). “Attempt to cheat $97 million contrary to Section 508 and punishable under Section 509. “Attempt to cheat $15 Million USD contrary to Section 508 and punishable under Section 509; Conspiracy to receive a credit of $97 Million by false pretence contrary to Section 518 (6) and punishable

under Section 518; Cheating $11 Million USD contrary to Section 421 and punishable under Section 421, among other charges. From the Proof of Evidence attached to the Charge and the Statement made by one Mr. Temple Azunda, Head, Power Generation/Mechanical of the Rivers State Ministry of Power, the facts constituting the case in hand are as follows: “Saipem SPA and Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited and other officers of the duo, are Italian companies which services have been retained by the Rivers State Government in several projects, prominent amongst which is the AFAM Phase II Power Plant Project. “By an initial tripartite agreement made on the January 20, 2010, the RSG under the auspices of the Rivers State Ministry of Power entered a contract with Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited, Saipem SPA for the construction of the OGCT power plant in Port Harcourt at a total cost of $119 million consequent upon which the Rivers State Government made advance payments, in instalments, to Saipem Contracting Nigeria Ltd and Saipem SPA amounting in total to a sum of $130 million in all which the defendants have acknowledged receipt of.

SENATE THREATENS DAEWOO,SAIPEM WITH ARREST government in the execution of the project. This is just as the Rivers State Government (RSG) has given a fiat to Chief Godwin Obla, to prosecute Saipem SPA, Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited, its Managing Director, Walter Peviani and four others over alleged conspiracy, fraud, obtaining credit by false pretences, and cheating in respect of $119 million contract for the construction of the OCGT Power Plant in Port Harcourt. Train 7 project was aimed at boosting Nigeria’s liquefied natural gas output by some 35 per cent. Speaking on the failure of the foreign companies to appear before Senate Committee on Local Content, Vice Chairman of the Committee, Senator Abdullahi Sabi, said the companies were invited following the petitions into breach of local content laws on the Train 7 project, but declined to appear before the panel. Kicking against the failure of the companies to appear before the Panel, Senator Sabi said the companies’ absence would not be acceptable and gave the foreign firms till next week December 2, to appear or use the power available to Parliament to make the companies appear. He said, " We invited the operator

of the Train 7 project (NLNG), the project promoters (Saipem and Daewoo), along with the regulators , Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to appear before us, following petitions of local contents laws on Train 7 project. They all found convenient reasons not to appear. We find this totally unacceptable. "As a Parliament, we would not fold our arms and watch our laws breached and trampled upon, particularly in the implementation of a project as important as Train 7, which is a $10bn project. "However, we would offer all four another opportunity to appear before next week Thursday (2/12/2021) and have their say evidence before the Committee suggests that only Milan (in Italy) and Korea, the home countries of Saipem and Daewoo are feeling the economic impact of the train 7 project, not Nigeria. "We would want to advise those invited not to dare the Senate by again failing to honor our invitation. “If they fail to appear, we shall escalate the matter into a public Investigative hearing. It is advisable they appear before us before the matter is escalated, following which we shall use powers available to us under the law, to compel their appearance.

"As part of any Investigative hearing, we shall look into the antecedent and future interest of all the companies and where found capable, stop them in the future work. While we are happy to encourage foreign Investment in Nigeria, it must comply with our local laws." Meanwhile, Rivers State Government has given a fiat to Obla SAN, to prosecute Saipem SPA, among others over alleged conspiracy, fraud, obtaining credit by false pretence and cheating in respect of $119 million contract for the construction of the OCGT Power Plant in Port Harcourt. The offences run contrary to sections 518 (6) and (7), 419 (A) (1) (b), section 421 of the Criminal Code Law of Rivers State, Cap 37 Vol. 2 Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999. Other defendants in the charge marked PHC/3106/CR/2021, include; Kelechi Chinakwe, Giandomenico Zingali, Vitto Testaguzza and David Anelli. Specifically, the defendants as contractors to Rivers State Government of Nigeria and officers of Saipem SPA and Saipem Contracting Nigeria Ltd, in respect of the contract for the construction of the OCGT power plant in Port Harcourt

IN MATCHING WORDS WITH ACTION, EMEFIELE INAUGURATES N500M YOUTH ENTREPRENEURS' SCHEME Speaking at the launch of the scheme in Abuja, Emefiele said the intervention would create an enabling business environment that supports innovation. It would also enable the youth to unleash their entrepreneurial potential, by redirecting their focus from seeking white-collar jobs to embracing a culture of entrepreneurship, he said. The initiative, which the CBN governor hinted at earlier this year, was expected to boost entrepreneurship in higher institutions of learning. Emefiele stressed the need for the environment to provide support in re-orientating, training, and providing a financing model apt to the peculiarities of the sector within which the businesses operate. He urged government at all levels to evolve policy measures to support entrepreneurial development among the youth in the country. The CBN governor said this was particularly crucial given that about 600,000 students graduate yearly from Nigerian tertiary institutions without commensurate employment opportunities in both the public and private sectors. Emefiele said the essence of the intervention was to create a paradigm shift from the obsession for white-collar jobs among graduates and promote entrepreneurship. He said the CBN was particularly concerned about the current level of unemployment among the youth population. He explained that the intervention consisted of three main components, including term loan, equity investment, and development grant. Emefiele said the scheme would make it easy for youths to access credit and create jobs for themselves and others. He warned that the finance to be provided was not a grant but a loan, which should be used for the intended purposes.

He said entrepreneurship remained an integral part of any economy, adding that entrepreneurs play a key role in driving growth and innovation, which in turn results in job creation. Emefiele said in line with its mandate of ensuring monetary and price stability, and its developmental mandate of ensuring inclusive growth in the economy, the central bank had introduced several programmes to create an ecosystem that allowed the flow of affordable credit to the real sector. He added that these interventions were industry-led and designed to support the resilience of targeted priority sectors and segments for growth and job creation. He explained, "With an estimated population of 213 million, out of which two-third are youth, aged under 35 years, the nation is faced with a historic opportunity, particularly as the demography continues to create clear evidence of their relevance to economic development, as accentuated by the global recognition of Nigerian tech start-ups and continued growth of businesses in the technology space owned by the youth. "In realisation of this, the CBN has introduced several innovative financing programmes designed to extend low-cost financing to youth entrepreneurs across the country. "These interventions have continued to receive resounding commendations, as they have proven effective in extending credit to youth entrepreneurs across the country." Essentially, he said TIES was conceived as part of measures to promote entrepreneurship development among the graduate and undergraduate youths of Nigerian polytechnics and universities, with the release of the implementation guidelines and the opening of a portal for

submission of applications in October 2021. The scheme aims at providing an innovative financing model that will support the development of innovative entrepreneurial ideas among graduates and undergraduates of tertiary institutions in the country, the CBN governor said. The ceremony also witnessed the inauguration of the Body of Experts (BoE) by the CBN governor. The body, chaired by the Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, among other professionals, seeks to evaluate and rank entrepreneurial presentations made by the tertiary institutions under the development (grant) component. Emefiele said members of the body were professionals of impeccable standing, drawn from the academia, professional bodies, and industry. He said part of their job was to recommend projects with high potential and transformational impact for grant awards. Other members of the BoE include Chief Financial Officer, First Bank Plc, Mr. Patrick Iyamabo; Mr. Adamu Lawani (Zenith Bank Plc); Ms. Ngover Ihyembe-Nwankwo (Rand Merchant Bank); Mr. Ashafa Ladan (National Universities Commission); Mr. Abbati D.K. Muhammad (National Board for Technical Education); Dr. Friday Okpara of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN); Mr. Tope Fasua (Global Analytics Consulting); Brigadier-General Folusho Oyinlola (National Defence College); and Ms. Bolanle Adekoya (PWC). Mrs. Temitope Akin-Fadeyi of the CBN is the body's secretary. Emefiele said the official launch of the TIES and subsequent inauguration of the BoE for the scheme’s development component was a testimony to the important

role the youth play in building new blocks for economic growth, particularly as national growth was highly dependent on strong and competitive businesses. He said bridging their financing gaps and enhancing access to low-cost credit to drive development of business was a task that could only be addressed by an innovative financing model that correlates with the complexity and dynamics of these small businesses. Emefiele said the scheme was designed to address three verticals of the segment namely, term loan component, which provides direct credit opportunities to graduates of Nigerian polytechnics and universities of not more than seven years post-graduation. He said an applicant, if successful, should be eligible for a maximum of N5 million for an individual, sole-proprietorship or small company; and a maximum of N25 million for a partnership or company. The tenure of the facility is a maximum of five years, with a one-year moratorium, and at an interest of five per cent per annum, which shall revert to nine per cent from March 2022. The pilot phase of the scheme is presently being implemented through the Bank of Industry (BOI) with the development of an application portal and processing of submitted applications. The equity investment component is designed to support start-ups, existing businesses requiring expansion, and ailing businesses seeking resuscitation, and shall be implemented under the bank’s AGSMEIS equity window. The investment limit shall be subject to the limit prescribed by the AGSMEIS guidelines and the investment period not more than 10 years. Emefiele also noted that the development grant component was aimed at raising awareness and visibility of entrepreneurship

among undergraduates of Nigerian tertiary institutions. He explained that here, polytechnics and universities in the country shall compete in a national biennial entrepreneurship competition where undergraduates are presented by the tertiary institutions to pitch innovative entrepreneurial or technological ideas with transformational potential. According to him, three top institutions at the regional levels shall proceed to the national level, where the top five shall be awarded grants ranging between N120 million and N250 million. He insisted that the grant awards should be used by the tertiary institutions solely for the development of the award-willing ideas. Further commenting on the genesis of the scheme, Emefiele said, "As you are all aware, at the occasion of the 51st convocation of the University of Lagos, in July 2021, I delivered the convocation lecture, titled, “National Development and Knowledge Economy in the Digital Age: Leapfrogging SMEs into the 21st Century.” "At that event, I promised that the central bank would seek fresh collaboration with the nation’s tertiary institutions to develop entrepreneurship programmes, and to support - through the provision of access to finance graduates and undergraduates who have bankable ideas, to bring the ideas to fruition. "Engagements have been ongoing between the central bank and the leadership of some of our tertiary institutions regarding the framework for an innovative financing model that will support entrepreneurship development among our graduates and undergraduates. "This launch of the Tertiary Institutions Entrepreneurship Scheme today, is a culmination of the engagements and fulfilment of that promise."

Highlights of the event included the presentation of commemorative cheques to five youth entrepreneurs whose proposals were found worthy of CBN's financing under the pilot scheme. Speaking during the launch of the initiative, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, hailed the efforts of the central bank to ensure that the economy remained afloat despite the disruptions occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic. Represented by the Director, Public Affairs and Bilateral Relations, Office of the SGF, Mr. Olakunle Fashina, Mustapha said, not only would the TIES boost economic growth and reduce graduate unemployment but it would also provide well-grounded incentives for the ever-growing graduate population. He urged the tertiary institutions to deploy merit in the selection of the proposed beneficiaries of the scheme as well as monitor key performance indicators as applications are submitted. Speaking at the occasion also, Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, described the intervention as a laudable effort by Emefiele to promote entrepreneurial skills in the ivory towers. He said the CBN was playing a significant role in laying a solid foundation for technological development in the tertiary institutions. The minister, who was represented by the ministry's Director, University Education, Mrs. Rakiya Iliyasu, he said no country could make appreciable growth in sound technological innovation and sustainable development without focusing on the base, which is the institutions responsible for training the students in the fields of agribusiness, information technology, creative industries among others.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2021 • T H I S D AY

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2021 • T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

DECORATED BY THE PRESIDENT... L-R: President Muhammadu Buhari decorating his newly promoted ADC, Colonel Y.M Dodo, assisted by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, at the State House, Abuja … yesterday

Oil Market Defies US-led Coalition's Strategy to Lower Rising Prices Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Despite the United States-led coalition’s strategy to cool oil prices, the market remained steady yesterday, with Brent, Nigeria’s benchmark oil, still above $80 per barrel. Precisely, Brent crude futures gained seven cents to $82.32 a barrel yesterday, while the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell marginally by 12 cents, or 0.2 per cent, to $78.27 a barrel, still a far cry from the coalition's expectations. Investors are waiting for how major producers respond to the emergency oil release designed to tone down prices, with the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Russia and allies, called OPEC+, expected to meet on December 1st and 2nd to set policy. But OPEC expects the United States’ release to swell a surplus in oil markets by 1.1 million barrels per day (bpd), a source from the group said, although for now the decision by the coalition has largely backfired. The United States and other high oil-consuming nations, including China, Britain, India, Japan and South Korea, had on Tuesday made good their threat to counter a slower-than-expected release of oil barrels by OPEC in a coordinated bid to reduce rising crude prices. OPEC+ producers have repeatedly ignored calls for more crude by the US President, Joe Biden, prompting the country to mobilise a handful of high oil consuming nations to release the commodity from their Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR). Crude oil prices recently touched seven-year highs and although they are still some way short of levels reached between 2011 and 2014, when they broke through $100 a barrel, many consumers are feeling the pain of a dramatic increase from a year ago. While the US announcement is for a release of 50 million barrels, the equivalent of about two and a half days of the country’s demand, India would release

5 million barrels, while Britain would allow the voluntary release of 1.5 million barrels of oil from privately held reserves, according to the agreement. OPEC has been struggling to meet existing targets under its agreement to gradually increase production by 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) each month - a pace Washington sees as too slow. Nigeria, an OPEC member has said that even if prices fall to between $50 to $60, it won’t be much of an issue, with the country’s oil benchmark for the 2021 budget being $40. The cartel’s situation has been further worsened by the inability of mostly African countries led by Nigeria to meet their allocation, due largely to waning investment,

ageing upstream infrastructure and disruptions by some local host communities. Three sources told Reuters yesterday that OPEC+ was not discussing pausing its oil output increases, despite the decision by the United States, Japan, India and others to release emergency oil stocks. OPEC members the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait said they were fully committed to the OPEC+ agreement and had no prior stance ahead of next week's meeting. Nigeria, a strong member of the organisation has always aligned with the decision of the majority. Iraq, also an OPEC member, said it backs continuing OPEC+'s existing plan of raising output

by 400,000 bpd a month, saying the outlook for the oil market was unclear due to turbulence in global markets. High oil prices have added to inflationary concerns, with the coordinated release expected to add around 70-80 million barrels of crude supply to markets, according to analysts at Goldman Sachs. The US Department of Energy had launched an auction to sell 32 million barrels of strategic petroleum reserves(SPR) for delivery between late December to April 2022. It plans to release another 18 million barrels soon. Some OPEC delegates warned this week that releasing strategic reserves may lead to the alliance holding back crude supply in

January, a development that will further starve the market of its much needed supply. In addition, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has accused Saudi Arabia, Russia and other major energy producers of creating “artificial tightness” in global oil and gas markets, urging OPEC+ to accelerate the return of supplies. Predictions on the response are mixed. Citigroup Inc. said OPEC+ is likely to stick to its planned increase of 400,000 barrels a day for January because reducing supply would erode the group’s claim of providing public good by stabilising oil markets, while others feel the alliance will suspend the hike to provide a buffer to demand

headwinds. However, the OPEC advisory body has predicted that the excess in markets would expand by 1.1 million barrels a day in January and February to 2.3 million and 3.7 million a day, respectively. That is, if 66 million barrels are injected by major consumers over the two-month period, according to a document leaked to the public. If Nigeria keeps to its assurances to ramp up production by the end of this year, according to the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the country would be producing as much as 1.8 million bpd by December ending.

FG Expresses Concern over Sudden Deaths, Incidents of Stroke among Civil Servants Olawale Ajimotokan, Abuja The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation has raised the alarm over rising cases of sudden deaths and stroke among civil servants. The Permanent Secretary in charge of Service Welfare Office, (SWO), in the Office of Head of Service, Dr. Ngozi Onwudiwe,

said this yesterday when she addressed participants at a two-day sensitisation programme on health issues. She said the increase in deaths and stroke among civil servant was concerning. Onwudiwe, who was represented by the Director, Occupational Health Safety and Environment, Mrs. Titilayo

Agbeyo, expressed grief over workers' negligence of critical health risk indicators. She said deaths occasioned by strokes could be prevented with the adoption of healthy lifestyles, including nutrition, adequate exercise and regular medical checks. She revealed that the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr.

Folasade Yemi-Esan had assured workers of government’s commitment to promoting healthy living of its workforce. She also advised workers to give attention to health issues by regularly subjecting themselves to medical examination and good dietary consideration throughout their years of service and even after retirement.

Onwudiwe stressed that to ensure sustainability of the sensitisation programme, the Office of the Head of Service, has initiated the process of setting up an Employee Wellness Centre within the Head of Service complex to host regular health promotion seminars for government workers.

Atiku to APC Govt: Emulate PDP States in Terms of Infrastructure Devt Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, advised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to emulate the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-controlled states in terms of infrastructure development as catalysts to surmount unemployment that is breeding social ills and insecurity bedeviling the country. Abubakar, who spoke during the official Commissioning of the 4.2 kilometer Gombe-Maiduguri Bypass constructed by the Governor Bala Abdulkadir

Mohammed administration and named after him, commended Mohammed for constructing the road and embarking on other projects with direct bearing on the lives of the citizenry, urging him to sustain the momentum and accelerate the pace of good governance in the state. Atiku, who said Infrastructure developments had become instruments of economic empowerment to create jobs, however, called on the federal government to learn from the PDP states, pointing out that states controlled by his

party were doing and that his verdict was evidenced by the commissioning of projects in those states compared to the APC states "Let me commend you for reducing the unemployment in the state and the country at large, because it is this unemployment wave that is creating all the social ills that we are facing in the country. I wish the federal government would copy what the PDP states are doing in this country, because in every PDP state you go, you will find infrastructural

development projects taking place and I cannot recall any APC state commissioning projects. "Therefore, your excellency, you are virtually laying the pathway to the return of PDP in the state and also the country at large. I want to commend your contributions in that regards. Let me also use this opportunity to commend the state House of Assembly, that in spite of the fact that the assembly is controlled by the opposition party, the development of the state is far more important to them than political beliefs.

"These programmes that you have implemented and continue to implement are the bedrock of development, be it educational, healthcare delivery or any other aspects of development. But most importantly, these development projects have become instruments of economic empowerment. "I wish the federal government will copy what the PDP governors and PDP states are doing in this country, because in every PDP state you go, you will find infrastructure development projects taking place," he boasted.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2021 • T H I S D AY

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2021 •T H I S D AY

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2021 • T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY •FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2021

COMMENT

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

IKEJA ELECTRIC’S UNRESTRAINED FLEECING OF CUSTOMERS Alexander community, Lagos’ plight illustrates how big power companies cheat customers, writes Bolaji Adebiyi

his is a familiar story. But it must be told anyway even if it would amount to emphasising the obvious in order to drive home a notorious point. It is the story of how a big power distribution company has been fleecing a small community in the hinterland of the ever bubbling and bustling Lagos. The big company? Ikeja Electric. The small community? Alexander tugged away in a former farm settlement area called Oko-Oba.

Oko-Oba used to be a farm settlement until urbanisation caught up with it. In literal Yoruba, it means the king’s farm. This was one of the areas of Lagos the old Western Region government carved out for farm produce, including cash crops and livestock. Complete with quarters for agriculture extension officers who taught modern farming technics, the settlement was a centre of agricultural activities up to the early 1980s before the encroachment of urbanisation forced the Lagos State government to begin to parcel it out to state officials for residential accommodation development. Today, Oko-Oba is host to a battery of estate schemes even though vestiges of its original purpose, including the abattoir, markets and livestock feeds stores abound. Perhaps thinking that the new inhabitants are still the uneducated farmers of yore, Ikeja Electric has embarked on its present path of corporate irresponsibility and fraud. At the onset of the first wave of COVID-19 last year, the transformer of the Alexander community packed up. With the government locking down the state at the rise of the hot season, staying at home without electricity was like being in the famed Hell. And for many members of the community, including the middle and the upper classes, alternative power sources were an expensive endavour. So, they approached officials of the power company to lay their complaints. After a couple of lackadaisical visits to the transformer, they were told what they already knew. The transformer had gone bad. By regulations laid down by Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, the distribution company was to either repair the transformer immediately or replace it with a brand new one. Ikeja Electric did neither of the two. Rather it proposed that the community should sign up for a premium supply agreement. The community replied that it preferred its subsisting arrangement and would want the company to restore power before other issues could be discussed. For three months, the community waited in vain for a positive response from the power company. Convinced that Ikeja Electricity was up to its habitual game of negligence, the community decided to raise money to replace the transformer. It took about six months to raise the required N7million to purchase a brand new 500KVA transformer and strengthen the weak wires in the community. To add insult to injury, the company insisted on payment of N300,000 testing fee before the transformer could be installed. With the installation of the new transformer the community was relieved and began to enjoy a regular power supply. Meanwhile, the period coincided with the time Ikeja Electricity began the implementation of its new tariff structure. That was in November last year. The people were to be rudely shocked when the company after it refused to invest in the power supply infrastructure of their community, migrated them from the 24.95kwh to the 51.22kwh premium band, an almost

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NOT MANY WOULD EXPRESS SURPRISE AT THIS STORY. IT IS THE FAMILIAR STORY OF HOW POWER COMPANIES DEFRAUD THEIR CUSTOMERS WITH THE REGULATORY AUTHORITIES LOOKING THE OTHER WAY… LET IKEJA ELECTRICITY AND ITS FELLOW THIEVING DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES BEWARE

100% increment. Such effrontery, such a brazen fleecing of customers by a company that has left no one in any doubt of its corporate irresponsibility. Asked by knowledgeable people within the community to protest this brazen fraud to the regulatory authorities, the majority of the people said it would be a waste of time as nothing would come out of such protestation. Did they not complain to the highest authority of the company when the transformer went bad due to overload? Did it do anything about it for more than 10 months? For one year, Ikeja Electricity reaped millions of naira from where it did not sow. Three weeks ago, barely one year after the transformer was installed, the community began to witness power outages. Despite the millions of revenues that are collected from the community monthly, the company did not show awareness of the outages until its technicians were pestered to come and do a check. It was found that the digital feeder pillar had not been maintained for one year and had packed up. The company said it did not have a replacement and installed a manual one. The digital equipment is more effective in preventing harm from coming to the transformer in case of a power surge. It had done that a couple of times. The manual feeder pillar installed by the company did not work for two days before it packed up. Again, Ikeja Electricity technicians were invited to do another check. They found that following the failure of the manual feeder pillar, another part called G & P had been damaged. A new one was brought in two days later. While the technicians were fixing the part, a loud noise was heard from the transformer. Further checks revealed that it had been damaged extensively while the company technicians were trying to fix it. Despite the fact that damage was caused by the negligence of its technicians, the company remained lackadaisical about fixing the transformer. When several complaints to its customer service yielded no positive response, as usual, the community leaders decided to write a petition to Folake Soetan, the company’s chief executive officer. “We demand an immediate repair or replacement of our transformer,” Akin Bashiru, chairman of the residents’ association, told Soetan in the letter that stated the sequence of events, pointing out that the company executive should note that the last three transformers were procured by the community without any compensation whatsoever by the power firm. It has been one week now since the protest letter was routed to the company’ CEO through its customer relations department. Again, there has been no response. If the ground staff are irresponsible, should the chief executive not be better? With the silence of the CEO, the community has taken its destiny into its own hands and has started collecting levies to repair the transformer. Not many would express surprise at this story. It is the familiar story of how power companies defraud their customers with the regulatory authorities looking the other way. The point must be made though that there is a limit to which the patience of suffering people could be tasked. Let Ikeja Electricity and its fellow thieving distribution companies beware. Adebiyi, managing editor of THISDAY, writes from bolaji. adebiyi@thisdaylive.com

RE: WHAT DOES DANJUMA GOJE WANT? Umaru Abubakar writes that Goje wants the peace, unity and progress of Gombe State

read the recent article written by one Ola Alao with the caption – What does Danjuma Goje want? Ordinarily, there would have been no need to dignify the writer who, from all indications, is a stranger not only to the state but also to the events on which he has chosen to write on. However, to the extent that he chose to muddle up things in his efforts to justify his remit, going as far as serving weird concoctions to satisfy his paymasters while dragging the image and the hard-earned reputation of our leader, Senator Muhammed Danjuma Goje in the mud in the process, this rejoinder has become highly compelling to dispel the blatant falsehoods and to put things into proper context. The background to the tendentious piece of course was the November 6 attack during which elements apparently sponsored by the state government sought to prevent the former governor from entering into the state capital. Of course, the various accounts of how Senator Goje’s convoy was attacked by suspected political thugs while on his way to attend a wedding in the state capital have been widely reported in the media – both in print and electronic. Suffice to say that the different accounts were similar in their reportage of how some suspected thugs not only blocked the Gombe-Bauchi highway near the International Conference Centre, but set bonfires on the road to prevent the convoy of Senator Goje from passing through. As a result of the tragic incident, one life was reportedly lost and many cars, including the

senator’s, were vandalised. Rather than address the issue, the writer sought to cast the tragic incident as a sort of turf war between the former governor and the incumbent Governor Inuwa Yahaya; or worse, present it as a case of the former’s ambition – as against the manifest display of intolerance on the part of Yahaya – hence the tendentious title given to the piece– What does Goje want? To begin with, had the writer not lacking the credentials to delve into the politics of Gombe State, he would have restrained from casting that rather audacious query on the revered Senator Goje. Had be bothered a little research on that name that he and his paymasters desperately sought to stain, he would have found that Senator Goje’s public life is inexorably linked with the history of Gombe State. Not only was the senator a constant star right from the time Gombe was a mere local government under Bauchi State, to current enviable status not only among its contemporaries in the Northeast but also the entire 19 northern states. What does Danjuma Goje want? As a two-term former governor, he is neither eligible nor interested in returning to the Gombe Government House! So much for the piper behind the tune; had these not been interesting times, that question ought to have been directed at the man handpicked by the same Senator Goje as Commissioner of Finance for seven years and later in 2019 stood firmly to make him governor of Gombe State.

But now that the question has come up, the simple, direct answer is that Goje wants the peace, unity and progress of the state and her sons and daughters within and beyond the boundaries of the state. He wants a Gombe State that stands tall among north-eastern states in terms of the multifarious indices of development – a state poised to sustain and surpass those remarkable feats achieved during his administration – those indelible legacies that are now the hallmarks of the modern Gombe. It is no boast to refer to the several strategic road networks constructed by Goje administration both in the urban and rural areas of the state; the schools and hospitals and other signature projects like the state-of-the art Gombe International Airport, Gombe International Hotel, Pantami Stadium and Gombe State University, Gombe Central Mosque and Christian Association Nigeria, CAN Centre. These are feats without which the state could not have been in its present glowing and fulsome status. And there are lots more. In the areas of human capital development and political mentorship, it is no secret that a good number of the present generation of politicians in the state were groomed and tutored by Senator Goje. To put it succinctly, even the current set of political leadership in Gombe are largely the products of Goje’s school of politics; and that includes Governor Inuwa Yahaya himself, almost all the members of the State Executive Council, members of the national and state house of assemblies and party officials. Need one adds to the list the

successful business men and women, indigenous contractors including the Inuwa Yahaya’s family construction firm, AYU Construction Limited and local farmers in the state, most of whom grew up through Goje’s patronage. The aforementioned are some of the things Senator Goje want; his desire is for the state to continue growing with sustainable legacies; in short, his utmost desire is to provide empowering leadership for the sons and daughters of the state, the like of which produced Inuwa Yahaya as governor. As for the unfortunate attack on the convoy of Senator Goje, the only thing that needs to be added at this point in time is for the police to continue with their investigations. Nigerians not only deserve to know the truth, they yearn to see the criminals that perpetrated the mayhem punished. Good enough, the police have not only confirmed the attack, they actually came to the rescue of the senator by escorting him to his house. While they are at it, they have just about enough exhibits to proceed on the damaged vehicles and other relics from the scene of the mindless attack. Those exhibits should trouble those who want to use media to hide their culpability in that shameful incident. In the meantime, those accusing Senator Goje of breaching peace of the state on that fateful Friday have just enough time to also come forward with their evidence as against the specious narratives designed to bend the truth. Abubakar wrote from Gombe

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2021

EDITORIAL THE NIGERIAN BASKETBALL CRISIS The authorities should put their house in order

he handwriting on the wall is ominous for basketball in Nigeria, except the authorities put their act together. Recent communications between the Federation of International Basketball Association (FIBA) and the Nigerian authority indicate that the former may be left with no option than to ban the country if the elections into the board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) are not scheduled before Tuesday, 30th November 2021. FIBA’s grouse is premised on what it considers the interference of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development in the affairs of the federation. Should FIBA wield the big hammer, the immediate fallout for the country will be the exclusion of the male national team from the Basketball World Cup scheduled to hold in Benguela, Angola. We therefore urge all the stakeholders including the Ministry of Sports to take the FIBA threat seriously and put their house in order. Any sanction on the Nigerian HOWEVER NOBLE THEIR federation will set INTENTIONS MAY BE, OFFICIALS MUST LEARN TO back the barometer of basketball developFIGURE OUT SOLUTIONS THAT WOULD NOT INFRINGE ment and it will take several years to ON INTERNATIONAL recover. STATUTES TO WHICH Meanwhile, the NIGERIA IS A SIGNATORY in-ﬁghting in the basketball federation is over ego and inﬂuence peddling which have nothing to do with the development of the sport. For about four years, the NBBF has been factionalised into two groups led by Amadu Kida and Tijani Umar over who should call the shots in the federation. To compound the challenge, the role of the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, is unhelpful. While Dare may mean well with his intervention, especially in the wake of the social media campaign against the NBBF caretaker committee over the handling of the female national team’s outstanding bonuses and other pecks, he has exhibited substantial

Letters to the Editor

lack of tact in managing the crisis. In fact, the way the ministry is handling the current mess appears to be the reason why FIBA is issuing the threats of severe sanction. In the letter from FIBA addressed to NBBF President, Musa Kida, “under Article 9.7 of the FIBA’s General Statutes, National Member Federations (NMF) must manage their affairs independently without the inﬂuence of third parties and ensure that their ofﬁcials are elected or appointed under a democratic process.”

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

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ZAGZAGA AND FATE OF RURAL COMMUNITIES

he snakes which bite Nigerians are no longer content with the injuries they inflict and the venom they pump. To cause maximum damage, to amplify their victims` shouts of agony and induce maximum distress, they also salt the wounds of their victims. Like lightening, bandits struck Zagzaga community in Munya local government area of Niger State on November 17, 2021.As the dust settled on their deadly attacks, 70 villagers were nowhere to be found. Lightening was to strike twice when the bandits returned on November 20, 2021 and abducted 10 more people. Reports have it that they were looking for particular persons, proof that they work with informants. During the first raid, the bandits were said to have broken into shops where they looted provisions and food items. What however stands out is what the bandits reportedly told some of the relations of the victims in the course of their negotiations for ransom. The bandits were alleged to have advised the villagers to sell their farm produce to raise ransom. The bandits were said to have further quipped that it was the reason they allowed the villagers to farm in the first place. It is now beyond argument that life in many of Nigeria`s

he minister has no locus to interfere in the NBBF internal matters by purporting the Final 8 basketball league to be organised in Abuja without the inputs of the NBBF caretaker committee nor is it in his place to cancel the NBBF elective congress scheduled for Benin on 30th October. There is also no justification for the speculation that the ministry is intending to host the men’s league to pick the country’s representative in continental basketball championships. What these actions amount to is brazen interference in the internal administration of the NBBF in stark contravention of its statutes ratified by the international body. Faced with the same scenario, the international football body, FIFA would wield the big stick against government interference for contravening its statutes if this were a matter concerning the Nigeria Football Federation. We therefore cannot blame FIBA for standing for what it deems right in the current circumstances by protecting the integrity of the international sporting association from the whims of external influencers. However noble their intentions may be, officials must learn to figure out solutions that would not infringe on international statutes to which Nigeria is a signatory. The lingering disputes in the NBBF can only be solved by its Congress and whatever may be the misgivings against the members, we hope the Minister of Sports and Youth Development will help to facilitate that outcome. A sleight of hand approach to a problem that could cost Nigeria its status in FIBA is not the right way to go.

rural areas has become a living death. What grinding poverty leaves behind, Boko Haram terrorists clean up; what Boko Haram terrorists leave out, Fulani herdsmen mop up and where Fulani herdsmen leave behind, bandits leave scorched earth. The bandits who attacked Zagzaga were said to have enjoyed a field day as security operatives were nowhere in sight. Villagers volunteering as security men were quickly hacked to death or left with varying degrees of grievous bodily harm. Why have many of Nigeria`s rural communities been left to their fate at the mercy of ruthless criminals whose modus operandi now include advice on how to go about raising ransom? Does Nigeria not recognize that it is only a matter of time before the storm building up from the rural areas crashes upon the country with forceful fury? In recent times, multiple news reports have indicated that bandits have taken over entire communities in Niger State. Multiple abductions have since lent credence to the reports. It was only some months ago that over a hundred students were abducted from Tegina in the state. They were held for 89 days and were only released after millions were paid as ransom by their terrified family members. Kene Obiezu, keneobiezu@gmail.com

NIGERIANS IN TURKEY

he Vice President, Nigerian Community in Turkey, Enifome Ubogu said recently in Abuja that Nigerians living in Turkey make about $20m remittance to Nigeria yearly. Ubogu who is the Chief Executive Officer of Vuslat and Fome Limited spoke during the two-day Nigerians in Diaspora Investment Summit. Describing the focus by the government on Diaspora Direct Investment over Foreign Direct Investment as a step in the right direction, Ubogu noted that the initiative would give more citizens abroad the confidence to invest in the country. “This NDIS platform if harnessed properly, would make investors more confident in bringing their money to the country knowing that they are safe”, he stated. He said Nigeria should do more to encourage investment, adding that the government should ensure uniformity of foreign exchange (forex), noting that multiple exchange rates hinder diaspora investment.

“Aside logistics’ challenges, exchange rate is a problem. Until we unify our exchange rate there will always be a problem. We need to get a universal rate where everyone would be treated equally. People go to the extent of establishing offshore companies to beat the system but we can still capture all those revenue by having a single exchange rate”, he said. While speaking about the population of Nigerians living in Turkey, he said no fewer than 600,000 Nigerians including students are currently residing in the transcontinental country. “About 70 percent of Nigerians living in Turkey are undocumented. Some have expired residency or visa. Nigerians create these problems themselves. The Nigerian government won’t come to Turkey to force the country to give us residency”, said Ubogu. Nigerians should do what is right wherever they find themselves. Ayo Ajayi, Abuja

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2021 •T H I S D AY

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2021 • T H I S D AY

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2021 •T H I S D AY

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2021 • T H I S D AY

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2021 •T H I S D AY

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2021 • T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2021

POLITICS

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

Is Olawepo-Hashim Among the Prophets? Oluwasegun Abifarin highlights some of the good political decisions made by former Presidential candidate and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim

aul was the first king of Israel who reigned between 1020 to 1000 BCE. According to the biblical account found mainly in the Book of First Samuel, he became king at a time the nation of Israel badly needed the unity of the 12 tribes to wade off the threat to their collective existence. His ascension to the throne was equally dramatic in the sense that after his anointing by Prophet Samuel, he became “another man” on an extra-ordinary mission, with an extra-ordinary vision. A band of prophets who later met him was shocked by the “new creature”, and asked: What has happened to the son of Kish; Is Saul among the prophet? Like the nation of Israel, Nigeria is presently at a crossroad when it needs the unity of all stakeholders to surmount the current challenges; and in times like this, leaders are defined mostly by their vision and mission statements. In terms of clarity of vision and mission, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, a former presidential candidate and a chieftain of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) appears to be the most vocal and engaging political leader in the political space, discussing critical issues of statehood, economic development and national unity and proffering solutions on how to advance the country and keep it safe. In the recent report released by Grand Plan, a Research and new media Communication outfit, Olawepo-Hashim is only behind incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari who is finishing his second term in office in 2023. The social media rating of political engagements on Facebook platform, which was released recently showed that President Muhammadu Buhari and Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim are leading as the most engaging political leaders in the country. The latest data according to Grand Plan’s Executive Director, Abdulrazaq Hamzat showed that, Mr. Olawepo-Hashim was ahead of all other political figures, including former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Chairman of Nigeria’s Governor’s Forum, Kayode Fayemi and Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello and others. “At a time when the country is in need of real leaders, Olawepo Hashim has stepped forward early enough, with clarity of thought and serious governance proposals, putting his ideas forward to the Nigerian people for scrutiny”. Hamzat said. For instance, since September, OlawepoHashim has muted the idea of a release for Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed IPOB before the issue came to the burner in Aso Rock last week. Olawepo-Hashim actually described the demand for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, as a good step towards consolidating national unity and reconciliation. Receiving a group under the aegis of Highly Respected Igbo Greats, led by First Republic parliamentarian and Minister of Aviation, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, at State House, Abuja, last Thursday, President Muhammadu Buhari said though “the demand for an unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, currently standing trial, is heavy and runs contrary to the doctrine of separation of powers,” but he “will consider it.” But Olawepo-Hashim explained that “the state has the power of Nolle prosequi through the office of the Attorney General to discontinue any prosecution in the national interest especially in this context in exchange for peaceful conduct.” Similarly, when he visited Kwara state early this month, he met Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and reiterated that that the gains that came with the liberation of Kwara State in the 2015 election must never be reversed despite the current schism by some political stakeholders in the State.

Olawepo-Hasim expressed confidence that the crisis will be resolved “as a family affair in a family way, and enjoined the feuding parties to sheath their swords in the larger interest of the people of the state. Almost one clear month after this prophesy, it appears Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, “National Leader” of the party is joining into the process when reportedly met with

Kwara stakeholders early this week in Abuja to cement the crack. The Value Added Tax also raised a huge dust recently, but Olawepo-Hashim had a position: He had two months ago, maintained that while the current controversy over who should collect VAT between states and Federal Government remains the latest mud thrown into Nigeria’s political water

Ozigbo and Zeal for Catholic Praise One of Nigeria’s leading non-proﬁt organisations, Valentine Chineto Ozigbo (VCO) Foundation, is one of the sponsors of the 2021 edition of Africa’s largest Catholic gospel event, Unusual Praise, in Onitsha on Friday, November 26, 2021.

n a statement issued on Wednesday by the Founder of the VCO Foundation, Mr Valentine Ozigbo, a respected business mogul, expressed joy and humility at “the opportunity of contributing to the advancement of the gospel of Jesus Christ on the continent of Africa”. Unusual Praise is an annual showpiece that brings all Christians together, particularly the Catholic faithful, for an evening of transformational gospel ministration, praise, and worship. It is inspired by the Holy Spirit and organised by the Catholic Church Of Divine Mercy Lekki. Unusual Praise 2021 is the first double edition of the event, which is scheduled to hold in Onitsha and Lagos. The Onitsha event is scheduled to hold at the Cathedral Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha. Announcing his foundation’s sponsorship of the event, Mr Ozigbo expressed thanks to God for the grace that has carried him through his journey especially in the last two years in which he ran for the governorship of Anambra State. “It is a joy and with humility that I offer my contribution to bring Unusual Praise to my home state of Anambra,” Ozigbo declared. “As a member of the Charismatic movement in Nigeria, Unusual Praise is one event dear to my heart and I am looking forward to a wonderful evening of thanksgiving, praise, and worship. “Unusual Praise is coming to Anambra at a perfect time, and I am proud that the VCO Foundation is a part of this historic project. “As the name goes, Unusual Praise is a break from the norm and could potentially serve as the turning point for my people. Recently, Anambra has experienced challenging times, and an evening of Unusual Praise will, in no small measure, help raise the spirit of my people.

“I am grateful for the leadership of the Catholic Church of Divine Mercy led by Monsignor Paschal Nwaezeapu, for catching this divine vision which started in 2011 and taking it to the next level. I thank him for the confidence he had in me when he appointed me the Chair of Unusual Praise in 2018. “I wish to specially thank Mr Francis Anyakwo for his generous financial contribution towards the sponsorship of Unusual Praise,” Ozigbo, who has been herald as the new face of leadership in the country following a phenomenal race for governor in which he came second in a keenly contested election this month. The Chairman of Unusual Praise 2021, Mr George Agu, said it was an easy partnership to strike because the VCO Foundation has built a reputation for championing initiatives that have uplifted Christians in Anambra. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

in an attempt to muddle the water more, he argued that what the country need presently is a VAT collection and distribution system that will benefit all. He added that those who have “managed the information about the VAT wars have created the impression that the present distribution benefits the Northern States more than the Southern States. They try to make it look like the VAT is part of the “hegemonic domination” of the North. Many commentators hardly look at the data before they hit their keyboards online. Many swallowed hook line and sinker very obvious lies.” And last week, according to report by The Cable, the total value-added tax (VAT) generated by the Kano state government in the first eight months of 2021 was higher than what was generated by the entire south-east region. The South-east region consists of five states namely: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo. Kano generated total VAT revenue of N24.4 billion while the entire South-east region generated N21.23 billion. Aside this, the former presidential candidate has a sketch of the type of president Nigerians should push for in 2023. According to him, there is need for “a true Nigeria President that will see all Nigeria as his constituency and will do justice to all regardless of ethnic or religious persuasion.” He insisted that what Nigeria truly needs now is a true Nigerian president; and that the next president of Nigeria must be ready to create the environment for jobs for our young people, who currently have 54% of them (between ages 15 and 25) unemployed. He also maintained that the “challenges confronting Nigeria are larger than any particular party in government or in opposition, they are bigger than any group’s interest or ambition, they require the goodwill of all patriots to resolve, and our best collective wisdom as a people.” According to him, “the nation is on fire and we must put it out right now! Nigeria’s political leaders across political lines in government and out of government must urgently arrive at a consensus to secure the country and return it to a path of peace and unity so as to give hope to the citizens who desperately need to be assured that their father land can still work for them.” He therefore listed a six point agenda as a pathway to security and peace in our land. These include: Establish a Defence Co-operation Agreement (DCA) with a friendly nation to halt the enemy’s advance. Those who are fighting Nigeria are from all over the world, the enemy is multinational in its composition. We must put our house in order by resolving internal wrangling through dialogue, fairness, and justice. We must have a broad-based cabinet that can inspire hope, efficiency, and national unity. We must immediately create the framework for States and Local Governments to have their own police. All states should have concurrent jurisdiction over mineral resources within their state and pay taxes to the Federal purse. We must decentralize electricity generation, transmission via local grid and distribution. This should be on the concurrent list. “Time is running out for orderly resolution of the issues giving leadership on a road-map for peace and security at this critical time is the least we owe our people who have suffered too much deprivation. Every leader must get up to be counted,” Olawepo Hashim said. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY NOVEMBER 26 2021

PERSPECTIVE

OAU-MBA Student’s Death: While Justice Sleeps The Coming of Trump, Biden, Kamala and 2024

Abuja-based lawyer, Dr. Kayode Ajulo raises searching questions on the suspected murder of Mr. Timothy Oludare in an Ile-Ife, Osun State hotel

Chido Nwangwu proﬁles the rising proﬁle of American Vice President Kamala Harris

.S President Joe Biden transferred power to Vice President Kamala Harris during a “brief” time on Friday November 19, 2021. He was under anesthesia for a Colonoscopy. It is a health check consistent with ensuring that the President is ok, according to the White House. It became the first time in history that an African-American, Asian-American or any “person of colour” has served, briefly, as the President of the United States. When we reported this as breaking news on usafricaonline.com, several folks wondered and asked if we knew what we were talking about? Hint? What about Barack Obama? The answer is very simple; Obama was elected president. Vice President Harris is also the first woman to be so elected and is serving as the Deputy Commander-inChief of the armed forces of the United States! The special brief transfer of power between Biden and Harris reminded the world, without any drama or announcement of the durability, impersonal integrity and the capacity of the American structures and system of governance. This is, a part of why the domestic violent assault and insurrection by the Trumpists and their xenophobic, fascistic collaborators damaged the temples of American democracy and more. Back to VP Harris. She has been under the microscope and a target of several negative features in the media. The latest attack called her “the increasingly vanishing Vice President of the United States.” Amidst exaggerated reports of high turnover of staff, allegations of pressuring of those who work with her, and a few other claims based on anonymous reporting, she has been performing her duties as VP well. The most important point to notice is that she has done no harm to the reputation, credibility and direction of the Biden presidency. Even with her, relatively, inadequate management of the migrant crisis at some of the borders of the U.S. Evidently, the battle of who should and who will succeed President Joe Biden (as a one time President or after two terms) have already started. Harris has the advantage of being the incumbent vice president. But already, a number of ambitious political juggernauts and PACs are coming for her jugular. It is the merciless fight for power! As Vice President she has a lot of leverage in terms of raising campaign funds. The other issue is former President Donald Trump. Yes; Trump was not only,

deservedly, impeached he also lost the election of November 2020. I thought the controversial flame thrower Trump should have taken some time off from partisan politics to offer some penance for his degrading of the dignity and vitality of the wheels of American democracy— especially on January 6, 2021. Rather than step beyond the stinking stigma and crudities of a desperate political hustler, the divisive billionaire has chosen to perpetuate reckless behavior, tawdriness and impunity that are unbecoming of a man, any man, or woman that Americans and the rest of the world have called Mr. President. Instead of learning the wisdom in introspection, honest self reflection towards seeking the path of purpose, dignity and statesmanship, Trump the man is, giddily, preparing to run again, in 2023 for the same position Americans chose and voted for Mr. Biden “by far”. Those two words are among his favorites. The truth and facts of the situation, of the political dynamics of these times tell me one thing: Democrats will have a tough challenge to tackle should Mr. Trump become a candidate. Why? I do know that Trump, despite all the problems he brought upon the United States, cannot be dismissed or reduced to not having the capacity to win an election. Let me state with clarity and emphasis that Trump and his nativist squad/followers can still win the next presidential election. Sure; I did say that! It’s not because Trump deserves another opportunity to the White House; No. It’s not because he should be rewarded for disgracing Americanism by unleashing his coordinated foot soldiers to terrorize and dislocate the symbols, the fountains and the engines of democracy and accountable governance. -Dr. Nwangwu serves as Founder & Publisher of the first African-owned, U.S-based newspaper on the internet, USAfricaonline. com

Amidst exaggerated reports of high turnover of staﬀ, allegations of pressuring of those who work with her, and a few other claims based on anonymous reporting, she has been performing her duties as VP well. The most important point to notice is that she has done no harm to the reputation, credibility and direction of the Biden presidency

he past few days have been trailed with series of episodes and reports with respect to the strange death of our client’s son; Mr. Timothy Adegoke Oludare from different quarters and not unusually, among rumour peddlers. Of more interest is the intriguing statement made by the Osun State Commissioner of Police, wherein Dr. Rahman Adedoyin’s son, Raheem Adedoyin was identified as the one who dumped the corpse of the Late Timothy Adegoke in the bush. While we welcome this development with keen interest, one would readily expect the Nigerian Police to immediately declare the said Raheem Adedoyin wanted for this ignominious, monstrous and gruesome acts, but what still befuddles the minds of those who care to know is that up till the time of this piece, the Nigerian Police, particularly the Osun State Police Command has failed to do so; for reasons best known to them. Considering the circumstances of the disingenuously orchestrated murder of Mr. Timothy Adegoke Oludare, the Law Enforcement Agency whose primary duty is to protect lives of citizens ought to exert the same energy invested in trailing and arresting suspected secessionists in arresting Mr. Raheem Adedoyin, who is allegedly at large! While one wonders whether the labelling of Raheem Adedoyin as a prime suspect is a game plan to unclamp Dr. Rahman Adedoyin, a panoptic appraisal of the whole saga will reveal nothing more than an attempt by some dark sections to allow glittering externalities to subvert the core of genuine probing and discreet investigations in the guise to pervert the cause of justice which we shall definitely refute. Now that the Police know so

much, it is time to start asking more questions: Why has Raheem Adedoyin not been declared wanted and an intelligence team churned out to arrest him? Why would the hoteliers break into the Late Timothy Adegoke’s room on the first night when he actually paid for two nights at the hotel? Why have not the suspects been charged before a Court of Competent record as prescribed by the Constitution? Without doubt, it must be clear to those who still have eyes to see and a conscience which is alive, that the credibility of the Nigerian Police Force at such a crucial time like this depends in large measure on their handling of this present case where some persons have declared themselves as the untouchables! For the enlightenment of those who either forget to remember or remember to forget, it must be noted that anyone, including legal representatives who attempt to hastily justify the cause of death of late Timothy Adegoke Oludare and exculpate the suspects are liable to be prosecuted as accessories after the facts. While we seek justice for the dead and respite for the deceased’s family, we take the liberty maintain that Osun State Government owes our client and it’s people some explanations, as we also ask the Osun State Government: what are the requisites of issuance of hospitality license to some business concerns in the first place; perhaps several mishaps and misfortunes would have been aborted! As event unfolds, we are resolute on ensuring that justice is done and anyone found wanting will face the wrath of the law within the limits permissible by the law! -Ajulo is the Principal at Ajulo & Co. Castle of Law, Nigeria

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2021 •T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2021

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

A T

REPO

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Email oriarehu.eromosele@thisdaylive.com

08056356325

N O V E M B E R

S & P INDEX

2 5 , 2 0 2 1

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OBB

9.00%

CALL

INDEX LEVEL

564.02%

1/4 TO DATE

5.82%

N413.03/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

10.75%

1-MONTH

1-DAY

–0.17%

YEAR TO DATE

– 15.85%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.19%

Report: Nigeria Corporate Organisations Lag Behind in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Dike Onwuamaeze The Hofstede Insights (Nigeria) report has stated that the level of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in the boards and management team of corporate organisations in Nigeria is still low and below international standards. The report, which is titled, “Nigeria DEI Report: An Assessment of the State of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion amongst the Leading Companies in Nigeria,” said that the realisation of DEI concept “is

still a major challenge in corporate Nigeria, with significant doubts whether meaningful changes will happen soon.” The Hofstede Insights (Nigeria) DEI’s research team, studied the state of DEI in the composition of management team and board of directors in 148 leading companies in Nigeria under four key DEI parameters: gender diversity, age diversity, ethnic diversity and educational backgrounds. The study, however, revealed that only 35 per cent of Nigeria’s leading

companies passed the diversity, equity and inclusion test while 65 per cent of the companies failed the test. The 10 top DEI compliant companies in Nigeria, according to the report, were Transcorp Hotels scored 76 points to emerge Nigeria’s best DEI compliant company while Africa Prudential and PZ Cussons came second and third with 75 points and 73 points respectively. The maximum point is 100 while scores below 50 points is failure. Others were Oando and Interswitch,

Transnational Corporation of Nigeria, Skyway Aviation Handling Company, Tran Nationwide Express, UACN and Portland Paints and Products Nigeria. The Editor of the report, Dr. Ohechukwu Okere, said that the survival of mankind would depend largely on the ability of people who think differently, to act together, adding that “we considered diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace and how organisational cultures support or hinder this. Culture

impacts DEI in organisations and vice-versa. Well-managed diverse teams outperform their homogenous counterparts.” On gender diversity, the reported stated categorically that men dominated the highest corporate positions in Nigeria. It stated that only 14 out of 148 companies had female CEOs or MDs while 39 companies did not have any women on their board; also 43 companies had no women on their executive management teams while 18 companies had no women on both

their boards and executive teams. It said: “Women made up around 12 per cent of executive teams and only eight per cent of boards in Nigeria’s largest companies. This development, of course, is quite far from the internationally recommended target of 40 per cent minimum female representation in leadership positions” The report also revealed that Nigerian companies had poor ethnic diversity in the composition of their Continued on page 27

Nigerian Airlines Decry Huge Financial Losses, High Cost of Maintaining Aircraft Engines Affected by Bird Strike Chinedu Eze Nigerian airlines are beginning to count their huge financial losses in the maintenance of aircraft engines that are adversely affected by bird strike during operations. They said they spend millions of dollars every year to repair or replace engines damaged by bird strike. They also said that on regular basis airlines suffer bird strike in their operation, which exposes passengers to safety threats,

causes operational hiccups and reschedule challenges. THISDAY gathered that most often when aircraft picked a bird or birds in its engine or engines, it aborts further use of the aircraft and depending on the level of damage, the aircraft might not be used for days until it goes through repair process or the engines completely replaced. When aircraft are grounded the airline loses about N3-N5 million daily until it is repaired and put back to service.

The Managing Director of Aero Contractors, Captain Abdullahi Mahmood, told THISDAY that although bird strike is a natural phenomenon, the airport management could control its effect, as it strikes aircraft most often during take off or landing, which means it happens in the airspace around the airports. He said airline operators have complained severally about the effect of bird strike on their operations, noting that airlines loses huge amount of money to

bird strike, specially now that it is extremely difficult to obtain foreign exchange to acquire aircraft spares from overseas. “Bird strike is a global phenomenon, but we can reduce its effect if we have the facilities to keep them away. There is a unit in the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) that is responsible in keeping the birds away from the airports. Certain airports are known to be prone to bird strike. The birds can be kept away, but maybe FAAN does

not have enough manpower to do so,” Mahmood said. He said that bird strike is a serious problem to the airlines because when the bird damages the aircraft engine it costs hugely to fix them and sometimes the engine could be completely lost. “Pilots have been trained to manage one engine if the other one is down, but it is still a challenge to the airline and to the aircraft. It depends on the level of damage, an aircraft can go for complete overhaul, where by you bring it

and fix it; but if the damage is not severe, we do what we call desktop. Some engines can cost about $2 million to $2.5 million for Boeing B737 Classic,” he said. Director of Engineering, Ibom Air, Lukeman Animaseun, told THISDAY that in bird strike, safety challenge is paramount, depending on the level of damage to the engine. “If the damage didn’t go into the engine, then the airline is lucky Continued on page 27

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT T H U R S D AY, N O V E M B E R 2 5 , 2 0 2 1 FGN BONDS DESCRIPTION 9.091 FGNSB 11-DEC-2021 13.402 FGNSB 12-DEC-2021 7.144 FGNSB 15-JAN-2022 13.125 FGNSB 16-JAN-2022 16.39 27-JAN2022

Price

Yield

BILLS Change (%)

MATURITY

OTC FX F U T U R E S

Discount Yield

Change (%)

100.19

4.71

1.35

NTB 13-Jan-22

3.69

3.71

0.00

100.40

4.68

1.31

NTB 27-Jan-22

3.85

3.87

0.00

100.47

3.69

-0.07

NTB 10-Feb-22

4.00

4.03

0.00

101.32

3.66

-0.11

NTB 24-Feb-22

2.45

2.47

-0.57

NTB 10-Mar-22

4.31

4.36

102.19

3.33

CONTRACT TENOR (MONTH) 1

Contract

Current Rate ($/₦)

NGUS DEC 29 2021 421.18

NGUS JAN 26 2022 422.61

NGUS FEB 23 2022 424.04

-1.73

NGUS MAR 30 2022 425.46

0.00

NGUS APR 27 2022 426.89

C Ps MATURITY

Discount Yield

NBRP CP XIV 25-NOV-21 PARP CP IA 26NOV-21 PARP CP IB 26NOV-21 DUFL CP IV 30NOV-21 MREP CP XXXIV 30-NOV-21

Change (%)

10.64

10.64 1.98

8.04

1.98

9.01

9.03

1.81

9.51

9.53

1.81

7.04

7.06

1.56

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2021

BUSINESSWORLD

AIR WATCH

IATA Urges Govt to Adopt Simple Measures to International Travel The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on governments to adopt simple, predictable and practical measures to safely and efficiently facilitate the ramping-up of international travel as borders re-open. Specifically, IATA urged governments to focus on three key areas, which include simple health protocols, digital solutions to process health credentials and COVID-19 measures proportionate to risks levels with continuous review process. IATA said that the industry’s vision to address the complexity is outlined in the newly released policy paper: From Restart

to Recovery: A Blueprint for Simplifying Travel. “As governments are establishing processes to reopen borders, in line with what they agreed in the Ministerial Declaration of the ICAO High Level Conference of COVID-19, the Blueprint will help them with good practices and practical considerations. Over the next months we need to move from individual border openings to the restoration of a global air transport network that can reconnect communities and facilitate economic recovery,” said IATA’s Deputy Director General, Conrad Clifford. The Blueprint aims to facilitate

the efficient ramping-up of global connectivity. “We must have processes in place to safely and efficiently manage the ramping-up of international travel as borders re-open. With over 18 months of pandemic operational experience and traveler feedback we know that a laser-focus on simplicity, predictability and practicality is essential. That is not the reality today. Over 100,000 COVID-19 related measures have been implemented by governments worldwide. This complexity is a barrier to global mobility that is exacerbated by the inconsistencies these measures have created among states,” Clifford said.

AfCFTA: Why Nigeria is not Competing Effectively in Agro Exports

NIGAV Awards 2021 to Focus on Passenger’s Satisfaction Chinedu Eze The airline that gives its customers the most satisfying experience will be the centre of attraction as the Nigerian Aviation (NIGAV) takes off in December this year. Statement from the promoters of the award said NIGAV Development Promotion committee has recognised and awarded individuals and organisations that have brought remarkable changes and improvements to the industry through works and acts that have added value to aviation development, air transport service delivery and safer air travel. It noted that over this period, the committee has conferred over 100 of these prestigious national awards on well-meaning individuals and organizations in various categories

of endeavours. “This year, the selection process and nominations is now in progress and NIGAV is calling for nomination from the aviation community. “The prestigious awards will be presented to the winners at the Nigeria Aviation Award and Ministerial Gala Dinner scheduled to hold 19th of December 2021 by 4pm at NGAV Expo Centre MMAI Ikeja Lagos,” the promoters said. The theme of this year’s award is ‘Response and Recovery’, which is designed to recognise various efforts, strategies, policies and actions, put in by individuals and organisations in managing the side effects of COVID-19 disruption and recovery initiatives for getting aviation industry back on track.

“This event also includes the crowning of the King and Queen of the Air. A contest among air hosts and hostesses on in-flight passengers’ experience management. The winning cash award is N1, 000,000. The event also includes charity donations to SOS Children Village. “The Minister for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika has been invited as the Chairman of the Occasion with Hon. Nnaji Nnolim, the Chairman House of Assembly Committee on Aviation and Secretary of the Federal Government, Boss Mustapha as special guest of honour with all the aviation industry leaders as guests. The event, as usual will include the industry performance appraisal presentation and outlook 2021,” the statement also said.

K-Impex Airlines Begins Operations Q1 2022 A new domestic carrier, K-Impex Airlines has announced its entrance to the industry as it prepares to commence scheduled passenger, cargo and charter operations across the country by first quarter (Q1) in 2022. The airline, according to the Managing Director, Dr. Abel Ozigi, would also operate local cargo, targeting perishable and non perishable goods. He noted that insecurity and decaying road infrastructure have made the transportation of goods and services by road very difficult and unfashionable. Ozigi, who disclosed that the airline was shopping for the model

of aircraft of between 15 to 20 tons capacity to develop the local cargo operations, said he was personally concerned about the huge losses being incurred by distributors of perishable goods, resulting from frequent accidents and attacks by bandits on highways and added that the airline’s planned freight services would eliminate such unforseen circumstances. “The initiative l believe will equally ensure that perishable items are delivered fresh to consumers. It will eradicate delays and multiple taxations incurred by distributors who usually pay rates from state to state as they truck their goods”. Ozigi, though not willing to

disclose the type of aircraft model the airline is procuring for the various operations it is planning said, “We are quite aware of the implications of using the right model of aircraft for domestic operations so we are ordering the most suitable airplanes for our local and regional operations”. The Managing Director further disclosed that K-Impex Airline would start operations locally but would eventually extend to regional routes within the first six months. The airline, according to him, is targeting to start with four airplanes for scheduled operations, two twelveseaters for charter and one freighter by the first quarter of 2022.

AVO TV Set to Disrupt Pay Television Space, Offers Free Channels Emma Okonji AVO TV, the recently launched free streaming app, is poised to disrupt the dominance of pay TV as the main source of premium live TV and video-on-demand for Nigerians. The free app will offer a bouquet of over 100 local and international channels, plus over 2,000 Nollywood movies available on-demand. AVO brings together the best of local TV channels, such as AIT, Silverbird, TVC, WAP and OnMax, alongside premium international channels, including Bloomberg, Al Jazeera, SportsGrid, IndieFlix, Unreel and Gusto TV, plus all the latest Nollywood blockbusters. AVO’s entire range of TV channels and on-demand content is available to

watch without subscription. Customers can download the app on Android mobile, iOS, Android TV, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, or stream via the AVO TV web player (watch.avo.tv). Describing its debut as bold and courageous, the the CEO of AVO TV, Mr. Awaes Jaswal, said: “We are delighted to announce AVO TV’s presence in Nigeria as our first major market in Africa. Our aim for AVO TV is to make premium content available to everyone, not just those who can afford expensive pay TV subscriptions. As data and internet costs reduce over the coming years, we hope that AVO TV will be the main source of TV for all Nigerians”. Despite launching only in June this year, AVO TV has amassed over 200,000 downloads, and viewers

have already streamed over 10 million minutes of content via the app. Downloads and watch times continue to grow rapidly, regularly putting AVO TV at the top of the Google Play Store charts in Nigeria. Speaking further, Jaswal noted that the company had already planned continuous improvement of its TV and VOD offerings. “We are delighted with the progress made towards our content strategy and have some fantastic content partners already on-board. However, we are determined to give our users a constantly improving product and have a number of new and exciting content deals to announce over the coming weeks. Our aim is to add new content on a regular basis,” Jaswal said.

Chinedu Eze Before COVID-19 and the closure of Nigerian borders with its West African neighbours, the Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Exports Promotion Council (NEPC), Segun Awolowo, said Nigeria’s informal sector recorded at least N41 billion annually across the West African states. But since the COVID-19 lockdown and thereafter, cargo freighting has taken a new trajectory and while there is high demand for perishable goods from Nigeria, bureaucratic hindrances, lack of sincerity and corruption imbedded in the agencies in charge of approving cargo for export, have ensured that Nigeria lagged behind other nations, especially in Africa. This explains why Nigeria may not take advantage of the African Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which eliminates tariffs on intraAfrica trade, making it easier for businesses to trade within Africa and benefit from their own growing market; introduce regulatory measures such as sanitary standards and eliminating non-tariff barriers to trade. The Managing Director and CEO of ABX World Limited, Captain John Okakpu who noted that AfCFTA has the potential to lift millions of people out of poverty and end food insecurity on the continent, said Nigeria has not been positioned as the ‘real’ stakeholder for agro-export under this agreement. He said that Nigeria’s participation and gain from AfCFTA in the agricultural value chain, depends on the effectiveness and implementation of government policies, especially in the agricultural sector. He said that AfCFTA would form a $3.4 trillion economic bloc, which Nigeria cannot afford to be out of. According to him, available reports show that trade between African nations in agricultural products as a percentage of Africa’s total agricultural trade remains below 20 per cent long, one of the lowest in any region. Total trade between African nations was only two per cent in the period 2015–2017, compared with 67 per cent in trade between European countries, 61 per cent in Asian countries, and 47 per cent in the Americas, according to United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). “Now, AfCFTA intends to change the narrative. It has created the world’s largest free trade area, representing the 1.2 billion consumer market, and mandates states to remove tariffs and non-tariffs in order to boost shipments and services between nations, and boost economic growth in doing so,” Okakpu said. He also observed: “If you look at the trend, Africa exports agricultural products such as

tomatoes, onions, vegetables, cocoa, coffee, cotton, yam tobacco and spices to the nations of the world to earn significant foreign exchange. But the continent imports important foods such as cereals, vegetable oils, dairy products and meat in large quantities. Now, our neighbouring countries have positioned themselves to benefit from AfCFTA by building robust logistics and cost-effective export systems. Okakpu chaired a 28-member Nigeria Agro Set-Up Committee inaugurated by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), with a mandate to reinvigorate broad national agricultural activities across the country. With that wealth of experience, he noted that capacity building for farmers, regulators and top government officials is another major factor that must be considered for the country to get her acts together. He said that the most basic of agro export requirements is the knowledge of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), which is completely missing in Nigeria. “In addition to other benefits, it teaches and equips farmers on standard Farming Bookkeeping which helps farmers know, track and compare total costs of farm inputs and inflows from sales and in so doing help to maximize their profitability. “As it is now we will continue exporting our products to the world market through another country and definitely will get worse under AfCFTA. For every N1 we are going to make, those countries our products are transiting will be making N10. There’s no shortcut here or lobbying, it’s grassroots, that grassroots are the farmers with Certifications/Traceability of their farms and products. “That notwithstanding, knowledge of GAP enables farmers to increase their yields per hectare by employing latest, world class and more efficient farming techniques. Similarly, farmers who have Global GAP certifications and training are automatically linked to off-takers who buy off their agricultural farm produce right from the farm gate at international market rates thus saving most farmers from losses derived from low sales and prices that ultimately lead to loan defaults,” he said. Okakpu remarked that the regulators and other government officials also need to be informed on why “cost should be reduced; on why farmers deserve cost-effective interest loans; why the logistics value chain must be rejigged if we are going to benefit from AfCFTA.” It has become evident that Nigerian perishables are being rejected and as reports indicate, the continued rejection of Nigeria’s food exports in foreign countries showed that Nigerian government workers are simply not doing their work.

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2021

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Turning Organisational Challenges into Opportunities In this interview, Professor Paul Griffith shares insights into why Strategic Leadership is needed to succeed in turbulent times. He also explains why executives should attend TEXEM UK’s forthcoming programme on Turning Organisational Challenges into Strategic Opportunities for Sustainable Success In Volatile Times also the engine room that drives innovation and organisational renewal.

To what extent can organisational challenges be turned into opportunities? very challenge provides the option to explore new approaches and create new solutions. This may help stimulate innovation and the development of a unique competitive advantage by creating different capabilities within the organisation or providing various types of solutions to customers. Essentially the challenge offers a fresh perspective and a driving force to re-examine what we take for granted. This forthcoming TEXEM programme on the 1st and 2nd of December at Wheatbaker, Ikoyi, Lagos would offer actionable insights that will equip you to turn challenges into opportunities.

What strategies are most relevant for organisational growth in tough times? There is a range of strategies that can be explored in tough times, however, research has demonstrated that in previous economic crashes and other challenging environmental circumstances, those organisations that continue to focus on a clear purpose and to allocate resources to innovation have been better able to navigate the tricky waters and demonstrate the strongest growth. Also, a core competence in effectively engaging stakeholders (e.g. employees, regulators, suppliers, competitors, customers etc.) for symbiotic progress could be a source of profitable growth in turbulent times.

What’s the relationship between strategic opportunities and sustainable success? Great strategic opportunities provide for the creation of significant value for an organisation and its stakeholders. To maximise the potential value creation, we strive to make our strategic initiatives scaleable and sustainable – that is, we ensure they continue to be difficult to replicate by our competitors and continually offer valuable utility to our diverse stakeholders. How can an organisation be successful in volatile times? Volatile times provide a continuous stream of new market opportunities. Therefore new strategic options will continually open up. Successful organisations can understand and respond effectively to these opportunities. Identification of new opportunities, speed of response and flexibility are all foundations for organisations to maximise their potential in volatile times. What is a competitive advantage, and how can an organisation leverage this in volatile markets? Essentially competitive advantage is being able to meet the needs of customers better than your competition. The ability to meet these needs in a way that is really difficult to copy means that this advantage becomes sustainable. In the public sector, competitive advantage entails enhanced public services, reducing waste and improving efficiency. Examples of competitive advantages that are difficult to copy are the culture and brand of an organisation. In the public sector, an organisation could achieve a competitive advantage by innovation, which means adapting to social change through improvements. Can leadership quotient be enhanced in uncertain Volatile times? Leadership is a multi-faceted capability. For an organisation, it covers not just ‘what’ it does but ‘how’ it does it. The combination of processes, values, culture, competencies, and skills in an organisation contributes

What processes can be put in place to avert the dangers of business volatility? Strategic processes such as ‘horizon scanning’, scenario planning and generating multiple options are all valuable tools in dealing with the volatile environment. Other specific insights would be shared during the forthcoming TEXEM programme.

Griffith to this leadership quotient. Responding strategically to the volatile and uncertain environment will force the organisation to examine and strengthen these aspects of its ‘leadership’. This forthcoming TEXEM programme, Turning Organizational Challenges Into Strategic Opportunities For Sustainable Success In Volatile Times, will equip executives with the requisite skillsets to enhance their strategic leadership in challenging times. What can organisations do differently to attain sustainable success? By being differentiated and makeing it challenging for others to imitate her, an organisation will help support sustainable success. Areas to explore are purpose, culture, relationship with stakeholders, brand, and the business model – or their ‘how’ - for the organisation. For example, distinctive business models and building long term value creation for the organisational stakeholders are hard to replicate. Is there a correlation between an integrative corporate culture and sustainable success in organisations? Distinctive and successful corporate culture – how do we do things around here - is difficult to copy and a key component of sustainable success. It is worth keeping in mind the popular phrase ‘culture eats strategy for breakfast’. Culture is

How essential are executive development programmes for organisations in challenging times? Organisations need to avoid being ‘blinkered’ – old solutions will not work in the future. Instead, executives need to learn to thrive in challenging times continually. Learning faster is key to survival. Development programs help executives see new possibilities, break out of outdated approaches, share new ideas, tools and concepts and are inspired to lead their organisation to sustained success. Why should leaders attend this programme? The operating context has never been as volatile and uncertain – we are all working in a fast-paced environment, and it will never be as slow as this again! Rather than survive, organisations with the right thinking and best practices create an excellent opportunity for thriving. Leave the competition behind; build strong, profitable growth and organisational core competence using the tools and techniques we will share on this programme. Importantly, TEXEM’s approach of using a range of learning tools comprising discussion, role play, presentations, actionable short videos, and games improve; interpersonal skills, stakeholder engagement credentials, decision-making capabilities, communication, leadership quotient and team spirit. In addition, TEXEM’s tested and proven methodology comprising of case studies will be deployed during

the programme to encourage participants to enhance their cognitive skills, improve their analytical rigour, evaluation skills, and assist them in managing ambiguity better. Indeed, you would steepen your learning curve, enhance your social capital via networking and enhance your professional trajectory for enduring success. Who is the programme for? This TEXEM programme Turning organisational challenges into strategic opportunities is for leaders in government, oil and gas, telecommunication, banking, insurance, pension, manufacturing, and the third sector. This programme is for any leader who is looking to find solutions to the many challenges that they face, such as: The negative consequences of the unprecedented worldwide pandemic occasioned by the novel coronavirus that has affected every country on earth. Likely fiscal and monetary policy change and the potential implications. The high level of insecurity and high level of inflation in the country. Some more include supply chain disruption, new cybersecurity threats, failing organisational models, and how to inspire a remote workforce effectively. The others are low national cohesion, dramatic forex fluctuations, negative GDP and, by extension, low customer demand, dwindling government and business revenue, higher costs, low morale of the citizen, diminishing productivity and high talent migration. t 5IF 5&9&. QSPHSBNNF PO 5VSOJOH Organisational Challenges into Strategic Opportunities for Sustainable Success In Volatile Times is scheduled to hold face-to-face between 1st-2nd December at Wheatbaker, Ikoyi, Lagos and online. Professor Paul Grifﬁth is one of UIF XPSME T mSTU .BOBHFNFOU 1SPGFTTPS UP MFBE a team that launched a rocket to space twenty years ago. As Professor of Practice at Ashridge &YFDVUJWF &EVDBUJPO BU )VMU *OUFSOBUJPOBM #VTJOFTT School, Paul works with hundreds of executives and organisations in strategy, innovation, digital transformation and customer-centricity. He has led a range of custom programmes for national and global organisations in the private (including aerospace, ﬁnancial services, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, retail, technology, telecoms, energy TFDUPST BOE QVCMJD TFDUPS #FGPSF KPJOJOH UIF Ashridge team, he held leadership roles in product management, marketing, business development and corporate strategy for global enterprises, start-up and turnaround businesses, including #5 'JSTU.BSL BOE XBT $.0 BU %BUBQPJOU In addition, Paul has extensive international experience leading cross-cultural teams and global programmes serving the enterprise and 4.& NBSLFUT

NIGERIAN AIRLINES DECRY HUGE FINANCIAL LOSSES, HIGH COST OF MAINTAINING AIRCRAFT ENGINES AFFECTED BY BIRD STRIKE but if it damage is in the core of the engine, the impact might be much and it might affect the safety of the passengers and it also depends on the size of the bird,” he said. On the cost of bird strike to the airline, Animaseun said airlines spend so much money to fix damaged engine, noting that if an airline suffers regular bird strike, it would spend most of its resources fixing aircraft engines. “Bird strike is what an airline should not wish for, especially now that it is difficult to get forex. As an airline you can make provision for few strikes in a year and prepare for the maintenance support plan in that direction. It is not a good experience to generate money and expend it on avoidable maintenance. He said that aircraft is supposed to be in the air so anything it is

on ground the airline loses money. To calculate how much money an airline loses, Animaseun said it depends on the scheduling of the aircraft in a day. If the aircraft is to operate six schedules (sectors) in a day, each operation earns about N3 million multiplied by the number of schedules and how many days the aircraft is on ground. The airline operators also pointed out that whenever there is bird strike, passengers tend to exaggerate the incident and not realising that airlines do not have control over the movement of birds around the airport; that it is the responsibility of FAAN to reduce the menace of bird in the airspace. Reacting to a recent bird strike on Air Peace Flight P47159 from Owerri to Lagos, which happened few minutes after take off from

the Sam MbakweInternational Cargo Airport, the spokesman of the airline, Stanley Olise said, “I think passengers tend to exaggerate and blow issues out of proportion. Sometimes they do this out of ignorance, sometimes thy do it out of mischief, to frighten other travellers and discourage them from flying a particular airline. “Few days ago we had bird strike while our flight was taking off from Owerri airport, the Pilot decided to land in Port Harcourt and every passenger was safely evacuated and another aircraft was provided for them. But if you go online and read what people were writing about the incident you will be shocked. I think our flying public needs more education, more sensitisation so that they will learn more about these things,” he said.

REPORT: NIGERIA CORPORATE ORGANISATIONS LAG BEHIND IN DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION boards and executive management of companies. It stated that 54 per cent of individuals on executive positions in the country came from the South-west geopolitical region while persons from the South-east and South-south, accounted for 24 per cent and 18 per cent respectively. The other three regions, namely North-west, North-central and North-east accounted for only four per cent of corporate leadership. “These re-echo the fact that ethnic diversity is still a significant challenge in the country,” the report said. The report put the average age

of corporate leaders in Nigeria at 54 years, with the youngest being 25 and the most senior, 95. It said: “The greater percentage of individuals included in our analysis were between 45 and 60 years old, representing 64 per cent. Of the 148 companies included in the analysis, 44 had at least one executive member aged less than 40. Only 22 companies had a board member in that age range. Again, our study showed that medium and large companies outperformed small companies in terms of age distribution. The top three companies with the best age

diversity scores are Conoil Plc, Oando and Skyway Aviation Handling Company.” Educational background, according to the report, had the highest level of diversity under this parameter as 21 companies obtained perfect scores. “It appears that educational qualification is a priority for the leadership of Nigerian companies. The greater percentage of executive and board members had more than one degree. Furthermore, multinational companies had more DEI score

than Nigerian-owned companies. Our study found that, on average, boards are comparatively more diverse than executive management teams Only three sectors achieved a passing grade of 50 points and above on average. These sectors were the chemicals and plastics industry, the transport and logistics and the oil and gas sectors that scored 55, 54 and 52 points respectively. The report recommended that Nigeria, which is one of the most diverse countries in the world,

should have businesses that reflected this diversity in their workforce and C-suite. It said: “While Nigeria’s leading companies excelled in producing educational diversity, they struggled with age distribution, ethnic mix, and gender balance. Gender parity seems to be the apparent concern for most organisations. However, providing opportunities to the less economically powerful ethnic groups in Nigeria is also a problematic issue, which organisations should tackle headlong.

“We agree that regulatory bodies could help improve DEI through various rewards and sanctions. The Nigerian Exchange, for instance, could regularly celebrate and showcase the high performing organisations as examples for others. The government could introduce a fine for corporate bodies that do not meet a certain minimum DEI score as identified in this report. They could use the proceeds from that surcharge to fund a programme to prepare persons from less powerful groups for corporate leadership positions,” the report said.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

INVESTMENT

Aduda’s Shuttle to Draw Investment in Gas Sector Emmanuel Addeh writes that the recent official visit by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tanimu Aduda, to Qatar has the potential to attract investment into the country’s gas sector

t the just-concluded 15th Oil Trading and Logistics (OTL) Africa Downstream Week in Lagos, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, projected that the nation’s demand for gas will continue rise astronomically in the coming years. To be able to meet the skyrocketing demand, the NNPC’s helmsman stated that the country could need as much as between $1.6 billion $2.7 billion to improve the supply and distribution of petroleum products, revamp Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) infrastructure, and build Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) plants in the country. A huge part of the expected demand growth, he said, would be driven by the increase in the wheeling capacity of existing national power grid, major fertiliser projects, especially the Dangote and Brass facilities, and industrial demand for natural gas in the northern axis of the country. Indeed, the federal government is currently deepening natural gas utilisation to enable it boost investment in power and gas-based industries. It has committed huge resources to ensuring that domestic gas infrastructure reach every corner of the country to deepen natural gas utilisation. Nigeria has over 206 trillion standard cubic feet of proven gas reserves, which the government is monetising with the introduction of numerous policies and industry interventions culminating in the declaration of 2020 as the year of gas and progressing into the decade of gas from 2021. Some of the strategic projects that have been implemented to boost the gas sector are the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System Phase 2, commissioning of the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben Lot 2, the NPDC Oredo Gas Handling Facility, and the SEEPCO Gas Processing Plant. There is also the ongoing strategic backbone gas infrastructure projects such as the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano pipeline, the OB3 final hook-up, the Nigeria-Morocco pipeline and several other gas-based industries initiatives. All these are expected to herald the era of gas revolution in Nigeria in the next 10 years. In 2020, which unarguably remains the most devastating period in the history of the industry, gas gave Nigeria the lifeline when the revenue from crude oil, which the country has always depended on, failed to make any impact. Largely dependent on revenues from crude oil export for its survival, the country’s economy contracted by 3.62 per cent in the third quarter of 2020, after having already slumped by 6 per cent in the previous quarter, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), arising from falling oil prices. Nigeria’s revenues dipped by as much as 60 per cent while the International Monetary Fund (IMF) stated that it expected Nigeria’s GDP to decline by 5.4 per cent in that turbulent year. That was attributable to the volatility of oil prices in the international market, while gas prices are relatively stable. But while experts continue to debate the waning relevance of crude oil in the global marketplace, the growing place of gas as a transition fuel in Nigeria has taken the centre stage. While the push for renewal sources of energy and other emerging clean fuels cannot be jettisoned, the place of gas in

Aduda the respect cannot be pushed aside and indeed is fast emerging as a replacement for dirty fuels. With significant gas reserves, Nigeria has over $3 to $4 billion projects currently ongoing in the sector , some of which have reached advanced stages, in the country’s effort to rev up production for domestic use and for export. To underscore the new importance Nigeria now attaches to gas production, last year, while President Muhammadu Buhari was launching the $2.6billion Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project, he said that the project facilitate the revival of moribund industries in the West African country. Buhari said the project will create direct and indirect employment while fostering the development, technology transfer and promotion of local manufacturing. “We promised the nation that we will expand the key critical gas infrastructure in the country to promote the use of gas in the domestic market. “These include the Escravos to Lagos Pipeline System - 2 (ELPS-2), Obiafu – Obrikom - Oben (OB3) pipeline and the AKK. I therefore directed NNPC to ensure that these critical projects are completed on time, within budget and specification,” he added. The Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) pipeline, a 614-kilometer (381.5-miles) pipeline, the president said, was specifically developed by NNPC to

“In 2020, which unarguably remains the most devastating period in the history of the industry, gas gave Nigeria the lifeline when the revenue from crude oil, which the country has always depended on, failed to make any impact.”

transport natural gas from southern Nigeria to central Nigeria. But this project and other gas investments in the country cost money, a lot of money. Indeed, it is now very obvious that local investors cannot fund these projects alone. It was perhaps, in realisation of this fact that the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Taminu Aduda, recently embarked on a shuttle to the State of Qatar to seek cooperation between Nigeria and the country in the area of gas development. Making the call when he met with the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi, in Doha, the permanent secretary noted that the choice of Qatar as a good place to seek the inflow of foreign investment was because of the strides the country had made in the area of gas development. Speaking at the meeting, Aduda underscored the imperative of investment in gas exploration and infrastructure; technology exchange, skills acquisition and knowledge sharing. For him, because the development of gas has the potential to massively transform the country, Qatar as a country must take a special interest in the sector in Nigeria and collaborate to ramp up the funding of major gas projects in Nigeria. In addition, he stated that there was the need for collaboration in the area of manpower development in safety and environment; gas shipping and marine transportation, as well as advocacy and collaboration in campaigning for gas as fuel of choice in the midst of climate change and global energy transition. Other areas he touched was the relaxation of visa restrictions on Nigerians who intend to visit Qatar and relaxation of work place visa restrictions on Nigerian professionals. The permanent secretary stated further during the meeting that one vital area the ministry of foreign affairs in Nigeria

had resolved to focus and improve upon was the training and re-training of staff. He said the training programme of Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar ranks among the best in the world and cuts across all categories of staff. Aduda also discussed support and cooperation in capacity building for knowledge, skills and competencies for foreign service officers in line with the Qatari Competency Framework. He further called for training of foreign service officers; collaboration between Nigerian Foreign Service Institute, the National Institute for International Affairs (NIIA) and Qatari Diplomatic Institute; provision of scholarship opportunities to Nigerians in the Qatari Diplomatic Institute; possibility of collaborative online studies between the two countries. But of particular importance was the sector, which the ambassador said was very critical to Nigeria and therefore needed to be invested in. The Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi, in his response recalled the excellent relations between Nigeria and Qatar. He also welcomed the call for investment and collaboration in gas exploration and development between the two countries, stressing that it would be a major milestone in the relationship between the two countries. In addition, he welcomed the proposal for cooperation between the diplomatic institute of the ministry of foreign affairs of Qatar and the Foreign Service Academy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria. He assured the Permanent Secretary that Qatar is ready to provide training for Nigerian diplomats. To achieve this, he said the head of the diplomatic institute will meet with the Nigerian side and agree on the terms and develop a framework to actualize set objectives. According to him, the programme will involve the training of Nigerian diplomats in the Qatari Diplomatic Institute in Doha and the provision of manpower and other needed assistance to the Nigerian Foreign Service Academy. The permanent secretary was accompanied to the meeting by the Nigerian Ambassador to the State of Qatar, His Excellency, Yakubu Abdullahi Ahmed and the Head of Chancery, Mr. Kimiebi Ebienfa. In January this year, President Buhari conferred Aduda, with the title of ambassador in-situ, a diplomatic official of the highest rank sent by one country as its long-term representative to another, in recognition of his selfless service to nation-building. Aduda is a graduate of the University of Jos where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Geography and Planning. He also holds a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Ibadan and a Post Graduate Certificate in Corruption Studies from the University of Hong Kong. Before his resumption at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he served as a Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (Political & Economic Affairs Office) He has over 22 years experience in the public and private sectors, where he anchored and implemented key initiatives within the civil and public service, including the restructuring of the Federal Civil Service and the reclassification of sports from recreation to business, thereby opening doors for greater private sector investments in the industry. In addition, he has undertaken consultancy and project management works with various international organisations, including the World Bank, European Union, and others in the areas of advocacy for social action, public financial management, democracy and good governance.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Adalikwu: Maritime Bank Will Kick Off in 2022 In his maiden interview with journalists, the newly elected Secretary General, Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa, Dr. Paul Adalikwu, disclosed that the Regional Maritime Development Bank of the organisation will be inaugurated in Abuja next year. Adalikwu also gave a thrust of his administration’s short, medium and long-term programmes for the 46 year old body, Eromosele Abiodun presents the excerpts Congratulations on your victory as SG of MOWCA. How did it come to you; how do you feel emerging the victor, the ﬁrst time a Nigerian is contesting for the ofﬁce? hank you very much for this question. I must say, on a personal note, I am very delighted to have been given this privilege and honour, and as the first Nigerian to be elected to this exalted office, I’m quite happy. Let me also start by saying that I’m grateful to the President Muhammadu Buhari, for approving my candidacy through the nomination of His the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi who wrote to the President and sought his approval of my candidacy to vie for this office. Let me also acknowledge the wonderful work that the Minister of State, Distinguished Senator Gbemisola Saraki did in ensuing victory for Nigeria in this office. She led a campaign team of experts, including members of the Senate, House of Rep, Permanent Secretary and Stakeholders in the maritime and private sectors. We went to several African countries like Cameroun, Gambia, Togo, Benin Republic and Niger, among others, to seek their endorsement of Nigeria’s candidacy, and in the end, all of these efforts paid off. I am grateful to all of these individuals for having collectively worked to ensure our victory, and I’m thankful to Nigeria for finding me worthy to take this position on its behalf. I assure that I will not fail in this task ahead. The victory did not come easy; it did not come on a platter of gold. The closing date for nomination of candidates was about two years ago, and elections were to hold in the first quarter of 2020. It did not happen. It has been a rigorous process to arrive at this destination. A lot of efforts went into this, and there were obstacles on the way, especially internationally, which is to be expected of international politics. When we went to Congo for the elections about three months ago, everyone read in the media what played out; we had overaged candidates and countries that were owing in arrears of their membership dues to the organization. Yet, despite the fact that Nigeria had the only qualified candidate, the process in the DR Congo was inconclusive and ended in a debacle. We came back to Nigeria, re-strategized and pushed ahead, and with Ghana having been elected as the Chairman of the organization, an extraordinary session was called, we went there campaigned vigorously until the last minute to ensure that Nigeria achieved victory. So, the process wasn’t easy, but we kept our eyes on the ball and in the end, we achieved success. I feel happy about it and would like to say It is a victory for all MOWCA member countries.

I would have asked you what Nigeria would benefit from your regime, but it’s obvious you are responsible to 25 countries now. So, what should these 25 member states of MOWCA be expecting in the short, medium and long terms of these four years ahead? Expectations under my new leadership as the Secretary-General will be summarized this way; one, we all know that this organization has been ran down to the ground. As a matter of fact, the outgoing SG did not show up at the 16th Extraordinary Session; his Minister of State Transportation had to play the role of handing over to me. The Honourable Minister of State Transport of Angola handed over to me on behalf of Angola where the erstwhile SG hails from. So, the organization has a lot of challenges. In the last

Adalikwu ten years or thereabout that the former SG was in office, no substantive initiative was taken to reposition the organization. So, my first task is to rebuild from the ground up; I need to engage in the short term in order to achieve some low hanging fruits. I need to engage with all key stakeholders, both in the public and private sectors, especially the Council of Ministers in the 25 member nations; they’re all my bosses. I need to consult and engage closely with them, and craft a vision that is in line with the founding fathers’ mandate for the organization. Thereafter, I intend to engage with the private sector, stakeholders, organizations and see where they want this organization to go. Through collaborative effort and team spirit, we shall achieve; in the short term, a repositioning of MOWCA in line with what it’s supposed to achieve in terms of maritime security, cleaner marine environment, stopping illegal and unregulated fishing in the West and Central African sub-regions and engage with AfCFTA. AfCFTA is an agreement that Nigeria has signed, and we will encourage a number of MOWCA members to key into in the medium term, and see the benefits of the agreement to MOWCA as an organization and what it can bring to the

member states. Let me also not forget what we’ve been pursuing establishing a financial framework that member states can use to draw resources at very low interest rates to develop their maritime sector. Here, I’m referring to the Regional Maritime Development Bank. It has been in the incubator for almost a decade, but under the leadership of our Minister of Transportation in Nigeria, Rotimi Amaechi, that bank is finally seeing the light of day. In line with the requirements for the establishment of the bank, we’ve obtained the needed quota of eight member states who have signed onto the charter and are ready to roll. In the coming days, a number of other states, particularly under the Chairmanship of the Honourable Minister of Transport of Ghana, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, who has also pledged to work to see the establishment of this bank, we believe that by the first quarter of 2022, Right Honourable Rotimi Amaechi, alongside his colleagues will launch this bank, with headquarters in Abuja, to the benefit of all member states. In a nutshell, these are a number of areas that I think I will tap into immediately so that member states can begin to have confidence in the new leadership of the organization and come back on

board, for those who have been sitting on the fence for the last decade or so. Another area that I think is very critical for the member states of the organization, from my interactions with them at several meetings including the ones in Kinshasa and Accra, is the issue of capacity building. A number of Ministers have approached me that the leadership of agencies in their ministries are not properly equipped to deliver on their mandates . They are lacking in the area of capacity building and development. Take the case of Sierra Leone, for example; they have experienced Ebola, COVID and other catastrophes, including civil war such that their capacity in all areas of endeavour is currently very low. Their Minister has personally requested that we do what we can to assist him in building up the capacity in the Transport and Maritime sectors, which I pledged to do. As we all know, the World Maritime University in Malmö is a world-class university that can provide both training for students and faculty that we will tap into to improve on the existing institutions that we have. There’s also the Regional Maritime University in Accra, Ghana; the regional Maritime University in Cote D’Ivoire, and of course our own Maritime Academy of Nigeria in Oron, which, though not under MOWCA, we will work to ensure that it is brought into the fold for the maximum benefits that we can attract from the World Maritime University in terms of advanced training to the faculty and students to improve their knowledge and skills in the maritime sector. I will also work to bring about increased credibility in the certification of seafarers and cadets that graduate from these institutions. There are other stakeholders that we can approach, from Singapore, Japan, Canada, USAID, amongst others. There are also a number of donor agencies out there that specialize in providing technical assistance. We shall engage with them. I will work for increase in our capacity building efforts in Nigeria and the member states of MOWCA, to ensure that our cadets are properly trained and placed onboard vessels to acquire the mandatory sea time experience that they need to be gainfully employed in the global maritime industry. These, I shall pursue very vigorously In a nutshell, these are a number of areas that I think I will work on immediately so that member states can begin to have confidence in the new leadership of the organization and come back on board, for those who have been sitting on the fence in the last decade. We are approaching the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) elections coming up very soon. Do you have a vision to see a MOWCA member state as council member, because there is none on the council as we speak? The issue of membership in the IMO, especially for countries under MOWCA, is being driven largely by Nigeria, who has indicated interest in vying for membership in Category C. Mr. President has approved the country’s contest. So, with the technical committee in place, MOWCA will key into Nigeria’s technical committee in driving its efforts to be a member of IMO Council in Category C. Since there is no membership of any West and Central African country presently, MOWCA will take upon itself the responsibility of keying in and bringing onboard the support of its member states in favour of Nigeria’s bid in the December elections. We need the voice of a MOWCA member country in that organization., and Nigeria is well positioned to be that voice for West and Central Africa . Thank you.

Bill to Address Bureaucratic Bottlenecks, Insecurity Jumia Nigeria’s Black Friday: Customers in Maritime Space Passes Second Reading Enjoy Up To 80% Discount On Products

Gilbert Ekugbe

A bill that would effectively cut-down bureaucratic bottlenecks that trails the current practice of transferring all matters to the Ministry of Justice has passed the second reading at the green chamber. Besides, the bill would also bring Nigeria a step closer to having a secure and safe maritime environment. According to Rt Hon Lynda Chuba Ikpeazu, the bill when passed will redefine the functions of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); to enhance its operational viability and provide for better ways to protect Nigerian’s marine transportation interests. She said the Bill when passed, seeks to enhance the technical expertise of the NIMASA’s Board in

order to improve its steering capacity, stressing that as a revenue generating Agency for the Federal Government, there are some unexploited opportunities for revenue creation which have eluded Nigeria, even as the country is recovering from the watershed of the global pandemic. She added that the negative impacts of existing bureaucratic bottle necks have for a long time prevented maritime stakeholders from accessing a healthy maritime business environment. “Therefore, it is in the interest of Nigeria and of key players in the sector that this Bill addresses these challenges,” she added. She noted that the objective of the bill is to improve the maritime labour output by promoting the health and safety, and quality training for

seafarers; ensure the utilisation of the Agency’s funds towards promoting security in the country’s maritime space, through the suppression of piracy at sea; improve the composition of the Agency’s Board by including more experienced professionals, for better direction of the Agency and promote a healthy marine environment devoid of pollution from hazardous materials and unsafe practices. The Clause 17(3) of the Bill when passed will introduce a new provision that addresses monies in the Maritime Fund, as the new provision states that 5 per cent of NIMASA fund should be allocated to furthering the purpose of anti-piracy as established under the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act.

Kayode Tokede Customers across the country are enjoying up to 80 per cent discount on products in the ongoing Jumia Nigeria’s black Friday. Many customers have enjoyed discounts on various products ranging from clothing, fashion accessories, home appliances, to tech gadgets and more. Jumia, leading Pan-African eCommerce platform, announced its annual Black Friday sales promo in Nigeria earlier in the month and it is recording a boost midway into the promo which is scheduled to run till Tuesday, November 30, 2021. An excited Stephanie Gara, a caterer based in Abuja and one of the winners from the deals on

the e-commerce site narrated her experience during the sales. She was one of the treasure hunt winners and was able to purchase the recently released iPhone 13 for only N6,850. ‘Before the Black Friday sales started, I had prepared to win and I told myself I will do everything within my power to win something this year because I tried last year and I wasn’t able to win anything. “My children and I stayed awake to search for the phone. I was shocked when I found the iPhone 13 and I was able to add it to the cart. I didn’t believe it at first until I received a call from Jumia. I am going to use the phone to take clean pictures of the food I sell,’ she shared. Another beneficiary of the many

deals from the Jumia Black Friday, Damilola Olawale, also shared his story. Olawale is the most recent winner of a N200,000 voucher and one-year free Jumia Prime subscription. This means he can get free delivery to any location in Nigeria and enjoy discounts. Like Stephanie, Damilola had tried to get a deal during last year’s Black Friday sales, to no avail. To ensure he wins this year, he set an alarm to wake up at 12:00 a.m as he had his sights on winning a Playstation 5, but unfortunately, he missed adding it to his cart by just a few seconds. But his determination to win paid off when he found the voucher that was sold for only N2,000. He described his experience as “unbelievable”.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

AVIATION

Air Trafﬁc Controllers: Stemming the Death Toll Protesting Air Traffic Controllers on Tuesday disrupted flight operations and insisted on improved welfare and better working tools. Chinedu Eze writes that air safety may be imperiled without dedicated controllers

ir traffic controllers were stung with pain and grief after they lost one of their own, the late Mr. Aniekan Effiong Inuk who slumped while on duty in the early morning of Monday, November 22, 2021 at the Abuja Approach Radar Control (TRACON). In quick reaction, the controllers under the aegis of Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (NATCA) held a meeting that same Monday and on Tuesday issued a statement and decided to take action by disrupting flight operations with what they referred to as Flow Control, which is gradual delay of flight start-up. That was before the intervention by the management of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), which urged the controllers to suspend the flow control and the planned strike. In a press statement signed by the NATCA President, Abayomi Agoro and the General Secretary, Agbonla Felix, the controllers observed that within the last two years, Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association had lost nine of her members in active service, “due to stress related health complications which seem associated with poor working conditions and inadequate staffing.” The controllers said they had made several appeals to management and other stakeholders in the industry and inactions by appropriate managers on communiqués from the association’s past Annual General Meetings, had failed to address the issues. “The death of Inuk, while on duty at the Abuja airport whose sad event is not unconnected with unavailability of operational vehicle to move him to a hospital in record time amongst others, is one too many. Hence, Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) are embarking on a three hours flow control for two days, 23 and 24 November, 2021 from 0600UTC to 0900UTC to register our displeasure and call the attention of relevant authorities and the public to quickly address our concerns without further delay,” the statement said.

DEMANDS

NATCA demanded, “as a matter of urgency”, the NAMA management and relevant authorities to immediately implement all listed requests, which include that fully dedicated operational vehicles be provided to Air Traffic Control for the four major airports in Nigeria (Abuja Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano) and to any other airport where ATC operational vehicle is critically needed. The body also requested that that ATC Operational rooms are provided with adequate and quality ATC operational chairs and headsets and that at least 500 controllers be recruited to address the critical dearth in ATC manpower within the next two years, starting with 70 recruits within the next three months. The controllers also demanded the approval and implementation of 500 per cent upward review of the annual ATC medical allowance to enable the controllers carry out comprehensive medical assessment among others. They also requested that all controllers be enrolled in an enhanced comprehensive health and life insurance schemes that would meet their health needs. That standard medical emergency kits be provided at all ATC units and a yearly Health Safety Environment (HSE) training programs for ATCOs be conducted and that all ATC communication facilities and equipment, most especially, the VHF radios and SATCOM (satellite communication) links be holistically rectified in other to address the perennial communication problems encountered in Nigerian airspace. Other demands include that the staff deployed to ATC from other departments who have been stagnated on the same grade level for over seven years be placed on their appropriate grade levels having fulfilled all requirements to be Air Traffic Controllers and that all appropriate managements should immediately approve and implement an upward review of the remunerations of contract ATCOs to make for them to earn Aerodrome and Approach rating allowances. “That the appropriate management should immediately liaise with the Federal Ministry of Aviation and other relevant government bodies to correct the anomalies observed in the recently approved ATC Scheme of

Service to allow for implementation in a bid to eliminate the stagnation of Air Traffic Controllers. “That the appropriate management should immediately liaise with the Federal Ministry of Aviation and relevant government bodies to ensure ATCOs retire with their full monthly salary as pension, ”the controllers said.

SUSPENSION OF SERVICES

The controllers have threatened that if their demands were not met they could embark on strike action. According to them, “Consequent on the above submissions, the association gives an ultimatum of two weeks commencing from the date of this press release for the above demands to be addressed otherwise we cannot guarantee industrial harmony. We want to advise all our members to remain calm as no stone would be left unturned until our demands are fully addressed.” However the NAMA management has intervened. In a statement issued by NAMA and signed by the Managing Director, Captain Fola Akinkuotu, the agency said, “The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency hereby wishes to inform the general public that following the intervention of NAMA management, normalcy has been restored, as the Flow Control, earlier embarked upon by members of the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association today, the 23rd of November, 2021 has been suspended. The above suspension is to pave way for a follow-up meeting between NAMA management, Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the association, scheduled to hold later today.”

IMPROVING CONTROLLERS’ WELFARE

Air Traffic Controllers have over the years demanded that their working condition be improved and because of the stress of the job they do, its critical nature, due attention should be paid to their welfare. They also at various fora complained about the inability of NAMA management to upgrade or replace depreciating working tools in other to enhance their job. THISDAY findings also revealed that there is inter department rivalry in NAMA, which tended to breed animosity that any time the controllers demanded for improved welfare, it triggers agitation among other departments. There is also on-going imbroglio in aviation agencies about the dichotomy between technical personnel whose duties are crucial to air operation and administrators who insist that every training given to the technical personnel must also be extended to them. In fact, this has remained a butt of controversy; that at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority there was documented protest by the technical personnel, especially the inspectors who demanded that they should have different training and retraining progamme from the administrative personnel with the attendant remuneration. THISDAY spoke to the former Managing Director of NAMA who was also former CEO of Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi. Reviewing issues concerning Air Traffic Controllers, Sanusi said that the controllers’ welfare demand must be addressed because their job is very vital in the safety of air transport in the country. Sanusi also said that the welfare of the controllers is paramount, noting that they need absolute concentration while doing their jobs and the industry cannot afford any mistake from them because such mistake could be tragic.

ICAO REGULATION

Sanusi also said that the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulation has a guideline on the working environment of controllers, which ought to be domesticated and possibly improved on to make the controllers bring out their best. “When I was there I encouraged exchange programme for the controllers. Their work is intensive and stress inducing so they should be given needed incentives. Even

Heathrow airport that has fully automated system, the controllers’ work for one hour or at most two hours and some airspace management divide their work system into sectors in order to have more controllers. “The challenge is that ATC in Nigeria are not many. When I was there we tried to move them from the normal civil service structure so that we can place them on better remuneration and welfare but such must pass through National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission. “There are good a number of controllers that have done their medicals but cannot work because of age. I think we should be able to still keep those ones in service and also engage new ones. It is extremely important to have good working environment and regular medical check-ups. I hope there would be full investigation to the death of the controller,” he said. On training, Sanusi remarked that training for the controllers should be continuous and constant. “I believe they should be removed from the service structure. The challenge I had then was that if you approve ATC for training, others will say they want to go too. But their training is mandatory for safety. Their working tools have to be improved. Hopefully they are working to modernise TRACON. They should also do so with the control towers. They must be equipped in order to mitigate stress in their jobs,” Sanusi said.

CONTROLLERS’ WELL-BEING

Former NATCA President, Victor Eyaru, who is now instructor at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, told THISDAY that during the peak period, which is morning and afternoon, a controller ought to work for one hour before he is relieved but

because of shortage of manpower, a controller could work for two hours or more, which contribute to their health challenge. He said that the industry needs at least 800 controllers, taking cognizance that some working now would be due for retirement and agreed with Captain Sanusi that the controllers should be taken out of the civil service structure. “Even when Sanusi was our Managing Director he towed that line, but I know that it will not be easy to implement but we have to start by pushing it through the establishment by making the proposition that controllers should have their own structure,” he said. Eyaru also stressed the need to review the template with which NCAA conducts medical examination to know the health status of Air Traffic Controllers. He wondered why some of the controllers are certified in terms of health; yet, they suffer sudden death while on duty. “If there is proper template; when I am sick doctor should tell me my problem. This is NCAA area. Controllers should sit down with doctors and be comprehensively examined. Currently there is no special health insurance cover for the controllers, but there is need to have special health insurance cover; not the National Health Insurance Scheme, which the controllers are joining,” he said. A former top official of NAMA described what happened on Tuesday as dangerous and noted that if NAMA management was “up to its game” it should not have happened. He noted that the agency needed to be more efficient and prioritise the welfare of those personnel who make invaluable contribution to the sustenance of safety in the airspace. He also observed that there is high turnover of top officials, noting that the Director of Operation in NAMA, Lawrence Pwajok, would be retiring early next year.

THIS WEEKEND WEEKLY MAGAZINE

NEWS METRO THISLIFE ART WEEKEND ENTERTAINMENT Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com 07010510430

Chief Comfort Oluranti Adepoju: Trailblazing in Stewardship

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COVER

Chief Comfort Oluranti Adepoju:Trailblazing in Stewardship When it comes to leadership, Chief (Mrs) Comfort Oluranti Adepoju, theYeye-Oge-Arobake of Igannaland, Oyo State andYeye-Alayo-Ajisoge of Oguduland, Lagos State, is a testimony that women are as capable as their male counterparts. After 10 years as secretary of the Busy Bee Society of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Lagos, she was inaugurated as the fourth president of the society. Remarkably, she pulled off the feat while coordinating the society from Warri, Delta State where she was holding down her job as Head of Public Affairs in NGC, an organ of the NNPC. In this interview with MARY NNAH, the Mother Lydia of the Ebenezer Baptist Church of Lagos, gives an account of her stewardship of the society while enumerating qualities that make women effective leaders What are the leadership lessons from your experience of leading the Busy Bee Society? rom my experience, leadership in a workplace is a different ball game from leadership in the church; when your staff err in the workplace, you can query him or her or serve him punitive measures. But anyone in the church can insult you for free without anybody punishing him or her. They will just console you with “we all came to worship the same God, you have to forgive and forget”.” No matter the severity of the offence. Church is a leveller in almost all ramifications. Remember the Scripture in Matt 5:39: “But I say unto you that ye resist not evil, but whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”

Abeokuta and many good-spirited individuals supported and donated towards his initiative.

So was it easy for the society? Members of the society were sceptical about the project which they viewed as capital intensive. Even though funding became the greatest headache of the project for the Society, I was full of hope. We decided on a project launch of N40m, scheduled for December 4, 2011 to which we invited very important personalities within the church and notable philanthropists in Nigeria. It was a flamboyant project launch, but the fund we realised was very little. At this point, the Society advised that the proposed project should be jettisoned. I stood my ground that it should go on. “How can you make so much noise about a venture and pull out at the same time?”

There are arguments that the society will be better off with more women in leadership positions. Do you think women need more participation in the religious space? Yes, although not all women have the guts to lead. You must be highly competent, knowledgeable, and strong, sometimes with native intelligence, to be a good woman leader. Some women are natural trailblazers and will always achieve in any portfolio and under any condition. If you give a woman a yard she will go the extra mile just to prove a point. Women possess “I can do spirit.” Naturally, women are multitasking, combining household duties with their various jobs. And because many of us are mothers, we tend to apply the touch of empathy and mentoring where we find ourselves. We don’t give up easily until we achieve being mindful of the watchful eyes of our chauvinistic male counterparts.

How did you scale the hurdle? We later set the ball rolling by taxing ourselves to add up to the amount realised at the project launch. With enough funds, we organised the turning of the sod on May 29, 2012, which was spearheaded by the then pastor of the church, late Rev. Adebowale Adegunwa. The science laboratory was included because of my wonderful experience as a student of a catholic school, Our lady’s High School, where I benefited from quality education and qualitative science laboratory making me what I am today. We have a Father Bee, Mother Bee, Queen Bee, Patrons and Advisers. We solicited their assistance which they offered within the limit of their resources. What was most challenging to you as president of the society? Every stage of the project was challenging due to insufficient funds - from the foundation to the German floor, to decking, to roofing, tiling, borehole, etc. The most challenging was the finishing stage. Many wanted us to hand over the uncompleted building and all to the church to continue. When others realised I wouldn’t budge, a few joined me at the finishing and furnishing of the science lab and library. While the project was ongoing, some members withdrew their membership. The membership later reduced to nine, but God was our strength and we never relented until the project was completed.

Many observers have raised concern about women’s growing influence on religion in the modern age? Yes, women are already major participants in the religious space. In any religion, be it Christian, Islam, or paganism. Women dominate the space. Religion is actually of the mind, but almost all the women in Nigeria practise one religion or the other judiciously for the sake of the family and the children. I don’t support fanaticism in any form anyway. How did you feel at the beginning when you became the President of Busy Bees Society of the Ebenezer Baptist Church? It came as a big surprise to me as I was at that time a “distant” member, being a management staff of NGC, a subsidiary of NNPC, in faraway Warri, Delta State. Nonetheless, I was delighted for the honour, which I think was a result of my strides as secretary of the society for 10 years. What were your concerns or fears? My main worry was how to coordinate from Warri a society made up of 15 powerful women; coupled with the daunting demands of my job, which amongst others include ensuring zero vandalism of gas pipelines and other facilities of NNPC by the then restless youths of Niger Delta. What informed the choice of projects undertaken by the society? At my maiden meeting with the society as a president, I tendered a five-point agenda to the society, but I laid emphasis on Agenda 2 which was to collaborate with the church executives towards a constant development and growth of the church. At the time, so many projects were ongoing

Adepoju within the church and others outside the church, but I picked the science laboratory and library for the Ebenezer Baptist Academy Oshorun, Ibeshe, Lagos.

President Olusegun Obasanjo, also a Baptist and a bonafide member of our church, inspired my choice of project. It was at that period that he launched Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in

Some women are natural trailblazers and will always achieve in any portfolio and under any condition. If you give a woman a yard she will go the extra mile just to prove a point

What was the reaction of your immediate community? Our immediate community came out en masse during the dedication and handover to our immediate past pastor, the late Rev. Adebowale Adegunwa. The late pastor encouraged the society with his unflinching support and prayers before his death, hence the reason for naming the library after him. Our community was stunned by the achievement of women who are less than ten in number. They unequivocally expressed their gratitude and appreciation for the outstanding feat which no male society has ever achieved in the church. The Busy Bees Society, in recognition of my invaluable contribution to the success of the project presented to me an award of excellence and a pleasantly wordy congratulatory card for a fantastic job done. What is your educational background like? I have a Bachelor ’s degree in Modern European Languages from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Afe, and a Postgraduate degree in Human Resources Development from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom.

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Anasami Celebrates 20th Anniversary, Rewards Staff Stories by Mary Nnah Anasami Construction Nigeria Limited recently celebrated its 20th anniversary with awards to some staff that have been part of Anasami’s success. The awards were aimed to recognise their hard work and dedication. Speaking during the 20th anniversary and awards ceremony, President/CEO of the company, HRH (Dr. ) Appolus Chu, said he started business as a young man in his teens while still in secondary school, adding that by the age of 18 in 1988, he registered his first company,AppolusAkeju & Co. “Appolus Akeju was into civil jobs and supplies with the Rivers State government and wherever else we had opportunity to render services. My business started with building relationships and maintaining relationships with people. We were in business for about 13 years before we metamorphosed into Anasami Construction Nigeria Limited in November 2001. “Since thenAnasami has been growing in leaps and bounds, handling projects in different areas of pipeline construction, maintenance, fabrication and installation. In all the years of our operations we have never had an unsatisfied client or any complaint about the quality of

our jobs. It can only be God”, HRH Chu recalled. King Appolus Chu who is the Oneh-Eh Nchia X and Egbere Emere Okori of Eleme Kingdom, Rivers State, further noted that “As a company, we are grateful to God for how far He has brought us. It is His mercy and grace that have kept us. Many companies were registered the same day with Anasami but they are not in existence today.” According to him, people connected to Anasami have been blessed in so many ways, adding that a good number of the staff who joined Anasami as tenants are now homeowners, singles are now married with kids, students have graduated through the scholarships the company awarded, adding that Anasami employs and has taken so many Nigerians out of the labour market, regardless of their tribe and religious inclinations. His company, he revealed further, has also supported the growth of Nigerian content in the oil and gas sector, by encouraging many indigenous subcontractors. “On a personal note, I cannot thank God enough for how far he has brought us. I was not yet 20 years old when I began pursuing this vision of running a world class company. At that

“President, Anasami Construction Nigeria Limited, HRH Appolus Chu, 3rd from left, ﬂanked by some of the staﬀ while cutting the anniversary cake time, very few people believed in what I was building, but God sustained me and kept leading me from one stage to the next, and bringing the right people and wonderful staff my way. “Today, by His grace and mercy, that vision is still alive and speaking. God has given our company global relevance and influence. I am so grateful for what God is doing. I do not hesitate to return all the praise

and glory to Him.” On the 20th anniversary/ awards, HRH Chu said, “It is worth noting that I have been actively involved in business for 33 years but nobody can be successful in business or any other venture, without the support and encouragement of other people. That is why we have used this 20th anniversary to present awards to some of our staff, beginning from the driv-

ers, security, engineers, to those in management, who have been a part of Anasami’s success.” He assured those who did not get any awards that they are still appreciated by the company. He urged them to continue to work hard and in due time, they will be recognised. “We value and appreciate every single staff member, whether you receive an award today or not. You are all part

of the Anasami winning team. “By the grace of God and the support aof my wonderful team, I look forward to our Golden Jubilee and many more years of greater impact, relevance and influence in global business; learning, adapting and improving in line with dynamics of business, while contributing our quota to the overall development of our great country, Nigeria.”

Africa Fashion Week Nigeria Returns for a Spectacular Show As the world continues to unlock its social doors after a year’s hiatus owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, organisers of the annual Africa Fashion Week Nigeria (AFWN) will be collaborating with the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) to return this year with a most spectacular event.

Focused on promoting indigenous emerging and established brands to international buyers, the AFWN is also reputed for bringing together the most promising, talented, and recognised fashion designers and brands from across Nigeria and Africa to showcase the latest trends and products to a large and

diverse audience of consumers, industry enthusiasts, and the press. This year’s event is billed to hold on Saturday the 4th and Sunday the 5th of December at the Ojaja Hall, Ife Grand Resort, Ile Ife, Nigeria, will have the Chairman of the Adire Oodua Textile Hub, His Imperial Majesty OoniAdeyeye

Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II Ooni of Ife, launch first of its kind Adire Mobile Boutique - Adire on wheels. The event will also be featuring exciting runway shows, fashion talks, adire oodua workshop and exhibitions. The theme for this year; “The Impact of Indigenous Fabrics and Tourism to the Nigerian

Economy”, Ademiluyi explained, is pivotal to the essence of the brand, in its continuous effort to reviving the decline of local textile industries in Nigeria, hence the collaboration this year with NTDC Tour Nigeria. Founded by Princess Ronke Ademiluyi, with the aim of promoting home grown

brands, while preserving African culture, AFWN over the years has become not only a top-rated platform for fashion design, ready-to-wear, accessories, styling, and other new designs in the country, but also a world renowned platform for promoting brands, displaying originality and broadcasting fashion trends.

Creditville Group Wins Two Humanitarian Organisations Innovation Awards Honour Nigerians in Turkey Creditville, one of Nigeria’s most renowned fintech groups, garnered top awards at The Most Innovative Fintech Awards, organised by Africa Brands Media and West Africa Innovation Awards 2021 as “Africa’s Most Innovative Lending Service Brand of the Year” and “Most Admired Consumer Finance & Investment Company of the Year”, respectively. With its stated goal of providing innovative and affordable financial services to improve the quality of life, Creditville has strived over time to become the one-stop shop of choice for all financial needs, which mostly encompass investment, lending, and leasing. Speaking with the press, Richard Rotoye, the Managing

Director of Creditville Group, expressed his excitement at the awards and also highlighted the importance of innovative financial inclusion methods in Nigeria, particularly in the post-covid era. “We are delighted about these two awards. Over the years, Creditville has continually strived to be Africa’s most reliable financial service provider, and we are honored to see our hard work recognized. Financial inclusion for all is one of our core values, and we are dedicated to achieving it through innovative and sustainable business practices. Recently, we launched a new app called C Money, which provides our customers with an integrated and streamlined financial

experience. Ultimately, these acknowledgements serve as motivation for us to continue on this great path of making sure economic growth is sustainable.” Rotoye said. Also commenting on the wins, Head of Marketing and Communication, Creditville Group, Senami Atika reiterated that “Our recognition in these categories is truly an honor, and it’s exciting to see that our efforts are paying off. In an effort to make sure everyone is served; we have embarked and are still embarking on several financial inclusion initiatives and we at Creditville will continue to implement our influence and shape the financial sector on the continent.

Excellence ONE UK, Advocacy for Global Peace Forum International, Global Peace Network International in partnership with some Rotary Clubs International worldwide, during an event which was hybrid brought together people from around the world to celebrate and honour people who have promoted Peace and Humanitarian servicesIstanbul in Turkey. It was a deserving award to few people from around the world in recognition of their past efforts, and also ongoing projects and campaigns in building a culture of peace and humanitarian services. The awards celebrate individuals who consistently promoted Peace, humanitarian services and contributions

in peace building, human development, gender equality, youth empowerment, sustainable economic development, healthcare in their communities and regions around the world. Senator Istifanus Gyang who was represented by Amb Ozuem Esiri thanked the organisers for recognising him for the prestigious award while also promising to continue to promote peace, unity and humanitarian services. He also called on other World leaders to do the same in building a culture of peace where people irrespective of their colours and traditions will live together in peace and harmony. Other awardees include,

Barry Raisin Former RI President from Bahamas, MP Helen Grant, former Minister for Women & Justice from the UK, Amb. Dr. Josepine Ojiembo; UN Representative and Former Secretary General Commonwealth From Kenya, Mrs Suri Namrata; Founder Peace Foundation from India, John Hewko; Chief Executive Director RI Foundation from USA, Amb. Arthur Matti; Swiss Ambassador from Switzerland, Reem Ghunaim; Israel and Palestine Peace Mediator from the USA, Ann Frich; End Nuclear Weapon Activist USA, Tamara Lorincz Peace Activist From Canada; Stephen Killelea, Founder Institute for Economic Peace from Australia and Dr. Rodolfo Rivera from Italy.

Organisers Focus on Mindset for Success as ELOY Conference Holds Today Founder of the ELOY Awards Foundation, Exquisite Magazine, EMAC Foundation for cervical cancer prevention, Author and Mindset Stylist, Tewa Onasanya along with her team, will today, November 26th hold the ELOY annual conference from 9am. This time, Onasanya will be hosting the event and will be

focusing on the Mindset for Success. As a woman who runs several businesses, she believes that for our businesses or personal lives to thrive, the foundation has to be right; the mindset has to be right. Therefore, she will be talking about `How to Build

the Mindset for Success` at the ELOY Conference. `To win in life, we must first win in the mind. How well you are doing in life is determined by your mindset and how you approach life. This will be an interesting one`, she noted further. Onasanya who appealed

to those that haven’t registered yet to do so immediately as they also invite others to join, added that other topics at the conference this year includes Networking for Introverts, Wellness and the Workplace, Leveraging Contacts for Collaboration, Creating Support Systems and Making them accessible to women.

`There will also be a panel discussion on the Art of Negotiation and how we can effectively collaborate to sustain women empowerment`, she added. The organisers revealed further that free Registration has begun for the power-packed event on https://www.eventbrite.com/e/195002817677

ELOY Awards Foundation founer,Tewa Onasanya

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E-TRENDS

MUSIC SHOWBIZ

…Your weekly entertainment delight

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A Creative Union Set in the Arts Vanessa Obioha writes that the Access Bank Art X Prize continues to help emerging artists soar in their creative journeys while challenging the expectations of global audiences.

ot all unions stand the test of time but the partnership between Art X Lagos and Access Bank continues to wax stronger with each edition. The collaboration which started with the first edition in 2016 continues to deepen Nigeria’s connection to the contemporary art scene in Africa and the rest of the world, including hosting West Africa’s premier international art fair that pooled visitors from all over Africa. As of 2020, over 344 artists have exhibited their works, 41,000 people have attended the fair and 3.6 billion people have been reached. One of the notable projects from the union is the Access Bank Art X Prize. In the absence of infrastructure that exists in other international centres for contemporary art, the prize was launched to contribute to the burgeoning contemporary art sector in Nigeria. Every year, hundreds of artists turn in their applications to enter the competition, and after rigorous screening by a jury of credible judges and live presentations of their works, one winner emerges for the grand prize. So far, the prize has had four winners, 2,000 applications, and 13 artists who have exhibited since Inception. In 2019, the prize was officially renamed the Access Bank Art X Prize. It provides funding, tailored mentoring support, and a residency opportunity at Gasworks, London to exceptional emerging artists, enabling them to complete ambitious projects that challenge the expectations of local and global audiences.

Art X Lagos

The impact of this prize is one that Art X Founder Tokini Peterside takes deep pride in, especially in boosting the growth of Nigeria’s art ecosystem. “Championing merging artists is incredibly important toArt X, and I am so proud of the impact we are having on Nigeria’s art ecosystem through platforms such as the Access Bank Art X Prize,” Peterside had declared via her social media page. Through this prize, Access bank and the Art X Collective work towards the goal of ensuring that creative works from Africa can sit side by side with their foreign contemporaries. Winners

are empowered with funding and mentorship and continue to soar in their chosen creative journeys. The first winner of the Prize was Patrick Akpojotor, a visual artist working across printmaking, painting and installation art. Following his win, he participated in several group exhibitions with the most recent being “IN-TER-ACTIONS” at Rele Art Gallery (2018), as well as, Art X Lagos art fair (2017), and Bruce Onobrakpeya and the Harmattan Workshop Exhibition (2016). His works are part of King Mohammed VI of Morocco’s collection. He is currently a full-time

studio artist and continues to set new auction records. Habeeb Andu clinched the prize in 2017 but by 2018, the prize evolved to focus on emerging artists who are known to actively pursue their careers as professional visual artists. Bolatito Aderemi-Ibitola, a multi-disciplinary artist, emerged as the winner after the jury of five renowned artists and industry stakeholders - Professor Bruce Onobrakpeya, Yinka Shonibare CBE, Sokari Douglas Camp CBE, Wura-Natasha Ogunji, and Oliver Enwonwu reviewed her work. Further changes were made to the

prize in 2019. It was renamed the Access Bank Art X Prize and the selftaught documentary photographer Yvonne Etinosa won that edition. Etinosa uses visual storytelling to create awareness and drive conversation around causes that she is passionate about. One of her images was featured in TIME’s 100 images of 2020. Also, her multimedia project, ‘It’s All in my Head’ was also shown at the UN RefugeeAgency(UNHCR) ‘Voices of the Wind’ virtual installation of film, audio and photography. “The quality of Yvonne Etinosa’s work is a testament to the potential of emerging artists in Nigeria, aided by a platform like the Access Bank Art X Prize,” commented Group Head, Communications and Internal Affairs, Amaechi Okobi. Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Etinosa’s solo exhibition as 2019 Access Bank Art X Prize winner was paused in 2020. Nonetheless, for its 2020 edition, Art X Lagos invited audiences to virtually interact with 200 works from leading galleries across Africa and the Diaspora, and partake in 13 events. Etinosa would eventually present her solo exhibition in the 2021 edition of the fair which saw multi-dimensional visual artist, Chigozie Obi emerge as the winner of the Access Bank Art X Prize. Obi was selected by the jury comprising Ruby Onyinyechi Amanze, Alessio Antoniolli, Marie-Ann Yemsi, Ugoma Adegoke, Dexter Wimberly and Ndidi Dike. She received N1.8 million grant towards a solo presentation at ART X Lagos, a three-month residency at Gasworks, London, and mentorship and support.

Ibom Christmas Promises Stability for SMEs in Creative Sector

AYKO Talents Impress with First Outing

Vanessa Obioha

Ayoola Bakare and Koya Onagoruwa of AYKO Agency

Iyke Bede Five months after it scouted five talents from various entertainment fields for the maiden edition of its talent and modelling competition, AYKO Agency, recently showcased all the winners to a private audience. The social event was held at Sao Cafe in Lekki, Lagos. An evening marked by sensual jazz music from an in-house live band. The well-attended event was graced by industry experts, socialites, and Nigerian singer Ric Hassani. Neon lights, reverberating high hats with a sitting arrangement to accommodate about double score persons, Omoboriola Adunni emerged on stage in knee-length braids and pink flared jumpsuit to give her rendition of Asa’s ‘Jailer’ exploring genres such as R‘n’B, reggae, and trap music. With moves to match, she proceeded to perform ‘No

One’ (Alicia Keys), ‘Perfect’ (Ed Sheeran), and ‘Bibanke’ (Asa). Following swiftly in her footsteps with a dose of braggadocio was Sure Boy (Similoluwa Afolabi). For his performance, he delivered freestyle rap lines in real-time. With the crowd Impressed by her initial performance, Adunni gave an encore performance teaming up with model Adedokun Abisola and dancer Inimfo Iniama. But while their collective debut performances reveal professionalism, they owe their current level of expertise to the AYKO agency that leveraged a series of workshops and masterclasses to groom them for the Nigerian entertainment industry. In a brief session with Adunni, she acknowledged that her confidence level as a performer has improved. Her remarks echoed Co-founder, Koya Onagoruwa’s belief that their dreams two years ago are eventually a reality.

Femi Odugbemi.

Odugbemi Among Judges for Netflix and UNESCO Project Vanessa Obioha Prolific filmmaker Femi Odugbemi has been announced as one of the judges of the Netflix and UNESCO ‘African Folktales, Reimagined’ competition which has been extended to November 28 for applications. Also on the list are leaders in the African film industry, including South Africa’s Bongiwe Selane, Leila Afua Djansi from Ghana, David Tosh Gitonga from Kenya, and Jean Luc Herbulot from Congo. The judges will be bringing their expertise in mentoring and judging the entries.

The mentors and jurors will form part of the independent judging panel, under the guidance of UNESCO and Netflix, which will choose the six winners. Each of the six winners, who will receive $25,000 and a production grant of US$75,000 (through a local production company) to develop, shoot and postproduce their films will do so under the guidance of these industry mentors selected by UNESCO and Netflix to ensure everyone involved in the production is compensated. Their films will also premiere on Netflix in 2022 as an ‘Anthology of African folktales.’

Like it did last year, the Akwa Ibom State government will once again open its doors to Nigerians from across the nation and diaspora, as well as foreign tourists, to experience the Ibom Christmas, a yearly yuletide event that leverages entertainment, outdoor catering, arts, and merch sales to capture the essence of the season. Planned to run for 32 days, the festive event will run from Wednesday, December 1, 2021, to Saturday, January 1, 2022. The hub of its activities will be at the Christmas Village, a secluded area housing numerous stalls spread across 11 hectares of land situated in Uyo, the state’s capital. Conceived in 2019 by the state governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, the goal of the project was to help expand the streams of income for creative entrepreneurs as well as increase revenue generation for the state government. In its last edition, amid COVID-19 restrictions, it generated over N2.5 billion. So far, it has given voice to thousands of creatives, directly and indirectly, helping them monetize their creative outputs. The 2020 edition empowered young people with over 1,500 direct employment. According to the state’s Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Orman Esin, the move to hold the 2020 edition

Orman Esin of Ibom Festival

amid COVID-19 restriction reaffirmed the state’s commitment to encourage and support small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in the creative sector. Its return this year will mark an even better outing being that the global economy has gained some level of normalcy. “It was important for us to stimulate the economy,” Esin said. “The Ibom Christmas, especially the Christmas Village, is all about putting together SMEs in a location, and ensuring that they get the opportunity to boost their businesses, ensuring they stand strong in the coming year. Wooing tourists, Esin revealed that plans have been made to provide logistic and accommodation support employing a well-planned itinerary to help tourists explore the length and breadth of the city.

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ART WEEKEND

…For pure art enthusiasts

NAFEST 2021: Celebrating Unity Amidst Cultural Diversity In Ekiti, festival buffs soaked in the air of conviviality in the seven-day National Festival of Arts and Culture featuring drama, archery, traditional board games, essay writing, workshop, merchandising and more- climaxing with the host state being declared as the overall winner. Yinka Olatunbosun reports

Caption: L-R: Member Organising Committee, The Oratory Movie Premier, Yeye Modupe Oyeduntan; UNICEF, Child Protection Specialist, Denis Onoise; Executive Producer, The Oratory, Rev. Father, Cyril Odia; Chairman, Organising Committee, The Oratory Movie Premier, Gbenga Adebija and Deligate Superior for Salesian in Nigeria, Anthony Uche at the media brieﬁng on the Oratory movie in Lagos…. recently SUNDAY ADIGUN

For Street Children, Oratory Movie Premieres in Abuja Yinka Olatunbosun

DG, NCAC, Otunba Segun Runsewe and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi at the opening ceremony of NAFEST 2021

kiti, the host state for NAFEST 2021 is a typical ‘Ilu Oke’ meaning ‘the land of rugged hills.’ Situated at over 250m above sea level, it was besieged by participants at this year’s edition of NAFEST. This 34th edition served Ekiti some shock therapy. All reputable hotels in Ado-Ekiti were fully booked. Street trading surfaced at the entrance to the newly built Civic Centre, near Adekunle Fajuyi junction, Ado-Ekiti where no fewer than 22 states and the Federal Capital Territory converged for most of the events. However, the opening ceremony- modelled after FESTAC ’77 or the Olympics Parade- was held at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion. The audience was minimal but opening choreography was world-class, with live broadcast on two leading national television and several social media platforms. With the theme, “Celebrating National Unity in Diversity,’’ NAFEST 2021 amplified unity, personal and national development through its rich and varied content. In his keynote address, the Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture, and President, World Crafts Council (African Region), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe noted that the festival is necessary to promote patriotism in the face of separatist agitations in different parts of Nigeria. “NAFEST does not only provide a platform for Nigerians from different ethnic backgrounds to showcase their unique cultural manifestations, it also brings to the fore, the role of culture in national peace and harmony as well as the vast opportunity in the culture sector for job creation and economic empowerment,’’ he remarked. While declaring the festival open, the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi remarked that the critical state of the nation requires harnessing the diverse culture as tools for social and political change. “It is imperative to build our unique cultural economy to attract global attention,’’ he said. He added that culture is one of the main pillars of development. For him, apart from sports, NAFEST is an opportunity for all the 36 states to meet and celebrate national unity. Since 1970 when NAFEST was instituted, it had served as a platform for talent hunt, skills development and marketing Nigeria’s cultural content. With entrepreneurial workshop as well as free medical testing and counselling, the festival proved to a holistic experience. The Civic Centre Arts Theatre was filled

Imo dancers in traditional costume

to capacity. A brisk walk through the backstage showed co-ordination and discipline. The opening night featured the Command Performance of the play, ‘Free Readers Association’ which was an excerpt from a prose written by the writer, women’s rights activist and wife of the state governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi. The play is a social commentary on the Nigerian state raising subject matters of corruption, insecurity and poor economy. With an opening glee from the Ekiti-based comedy clan, ‘Arakende,’ the night also saw a dance performance titled “The Battle of the Sexes’’ rooted in Yoruba proverbs. The energy in the hall was fired up with ‘Osombo’ a trumpet and drum ensemble. At the colourful closing ceremony, Ekiti state was declared as the overall winner. The state surprisingly beat Rivers, Bayelsa/Benue, Delta/Nasarawa, Ogun/Lagos/FCT to the second, third, fourth and fifth positions respectively in the keenly contested series of events. In the Best Costume Category, Rivers, Imo had a tie. Rivers and Bayelsa won a joint prize for largest contingents while the Best Behaved and Discipline State award went to Yobe, Taraba and Sokoto. Jigawa and Gombe were jointly awarded the prize for the most improved state while the most creative in packaging and design award went to Ondo, Nasarawa, Kano. Niger and Zamfara were joint recipients of the Best Entrepreneurial state award. Just when it was thought that Lagos was to miss out on the prizes, it was awarded alongside Rivers,

FCT, Ogun for the Best Synergy and Team Work. Abia, Bauchi and Plateau won the Best Digital Marketing for Arts while the most consistent state in NAFEST went to Borno, Kano, Katsina and Benue. InArchery competition, Nasarawa came first pushing Ekiti, Borno and Kaduna/ Rivers to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th positions respectively. Ekiti and Rivers came first in the Children Essay Writing Competition while Rivers came first in the Traditional Cuisine Competition. Ekiti also won the first in Children’s Arts and Crafts, Nigerian Fabric as well as Puppetry/Tales by Moonlight Competition. The defending champion, Bayelsa which had won first overall at NAFEST in 2013, 2016, 2017, 2020 grabbed a 1st position in Traditional Board game and a 2nd position in Nigerian Fabric, Indigenous Fashion Competition, Puppetry and 5th position in Children’s drama. The Ace choreographer and The Founder, Crown Troupe of Africa, Segun Adefila in his assessment of the festival at the closing ceremony commended the participating states and stressed the need for better preparation on the part of the host state in future. “This is something to be encouraged if we believe that the unity of this country is important and we hold festivals like these, we need to think about the things that the parties are complaining about. There can’t be peace where there is injustice,” he said. NAFEST 2022 is coming to Lagos, a state that had hosted the festival twice in history- 1970 and 1988.

The Oratory, a movie which seeks to raise awareness amongst key stakeholder publics on the plight of homeless and street children in Nigeria is set for the second premiere in Nigeria. This will hold tomorrow Saturday, November 27 2021 at the Genesis Deluxe Cinema, Ceddi Plaza Abuja. The movie which features both Nigerian and international movie stars was filmed at locations in Rome, Atlanta, Lagos and Turin. Produced and directed by Obi Emelonye, the internationally acclaimed movie had been screened in Dublin, London, Turin and Venice to rave reviews. Lagos experienced its first Nigerian premiere last Saturday at the Film House Cinemas in Surulere. At a press briefing held in Lagos, the Chairman, Premiere Organizing Committee, Gbenga Adebija, said the movie is an integral aspect of a multi-dimensional initiative of the Salesians of Don Bosco; to remind the public of their civic responsibilities to street and homeless children and to create “an inclusionary framework for the upliftment of homeless, delinquent and juvenile youths who are at risk of negative societal issues such as violence, sexual abuse, trafficking and crime.” The Executive Producer of the Movie, Dr. Cyril Odia, who is a Nigerian Salesian priest said the number of out of school children in Nigeria are in millions. “The attempt of this movie is to call for action. As Salesians, we believe in faith in action. It f we don’t multiply that effect and get more partners to come on board, we can foresee that there is going to be disaster. The more young people are increasing on the street, the more the threat of insecurity,’’ he said. Some of the street children watched the first premiere in Surulere. In his submission, Denise Onoise, a Child Protection Specialist, at United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said this movie project aligns with the objectives of the international organization. “At UNICEF, we do partnerships like these even with ministries agencies of government. This is particularly interesting for us due to the work we had done in the past six years. Three years ago, the state governments in the North had been worried about the Almajiris and wanted them to be returned to their states.’’ The movie plot revolves around Rev. Fr, Michael Simmons, an American Catholic priest who is sent from Turin, Italy to Ikoyi, Lagos. Upon his arrival, he becomes concerned about the plight of street children in Makoko. He must do all he can to confront Shuga, the dangerous Makoko Kingpin who has the street boys locked in criminal servitude.

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Savouring History, Culture in Ife Chiemelie Ezeobi reports that beyond the recent symposium on tackling Afro-phobia held in Ife, Osun State, by the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation, it also provided ample opportunity to savour culture and history at its best at the cradle of civilisation

The Ooni of Ife and CBAAC DG ﬂanked by CBAAC team and participants

The Ooni of Ife and CBAAC DG, Hon Oluwabunmi Amao

Panelists with the Ooni and DG

An elated CBAAC DG with the Ooni and guests

fe, popularly known as Ile Ife is a city in Osun State where the Yoruba believe their civilisation began as well as the location where the gods descended to earth. Loosely translated to mean ‘place of dispersion’, Ife is often referred to as ‘Cradle of Civilisation’ Though an ancient town, it has received considerable attention due to its numerous attractions, especially those connected to the roots, culture and traditions. Recently, the ancient town played host to the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) as they held a symposium to address the segregation between Black and African peoples. Tagged Black And African Peoples, Resurgent Racism and the Challenges of Development in the 21st Century: Afro-phobia and the Dynamics of Race Relations, the symposium was held at the Ife Grand Resort and Leisure. According to CBAAC Director General, Hon. Oluwabunmi Ayobami Amao, CBAAC, as a foremost Pan African Agency for cultural advocacy, organised the symposium

to provide a platform where issues that affect Black and African peoples and their challenges to development, with particular reference to the contentious issues of Afro-Phobia. Amao further stressed that until black injustice against fellow blacks is also addressed, the fight against racial abuse by Africans and peoples of African descent will not yield any results. A Lesson in History When CBAAC was established, it was on the premise that it would preserve, promote and propagate African heritage and culture. Therefore, for CBAAC, it was pertinent to discuss issues of xenophobia, tribalism, nepotism and more recently clan against clan given that attention has been solely focused on racism (white on black discrimination). And where better to discuss this than at the root and cradle of civilisation? Also, who better to teach on these than the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye

Babatunde Ogunwusi, who shared his rich repertoire of knowledge of history, culture and tradition with those present. Stressing that Africans are generally very strong, the Ooni wondered what has gone wrong with the black man and the African continent generally. He said, “Here we are still within the traumatic after effects of slave trade. When those responsible for the plantations in the industrial nations discovered that Asians or European were too weak physically to work in the plantations, they looked towards Africa. “Now, all other continents have since recovered and have moved on, but Africa still recounts her losses and yet refuses to move on. I am proud to be an African, a black man. It is the best colour in the world. “Look around you, all the strong sports at the Olympics, for instance, it is Africans that dominate. But we have to do more to move out of perpetual poverty and economic stagnation.” Reiterating how thrilled he was with

the symposium and the topic, the Ooni described the quality of the programme as out of the world as it gets him emotional. Relentless Drive Commending the CBAAC DG for her relentless drive in sensitising the public on the social and cultural issues that affect the black race, the Ooni said she should be applauded. He said: “The DG is doing well. I had to cancel my other programmes for this one. This is a compact, quality gathering and the topic of discussion is relevant in our modern times. We Africans seem to be the guinea pig of the world. However, programme of this nature can help to put a stop to such a situation.” Adding more flavour to the event, Filudara, the talking drummer and the Island Theatre Villa, engaged the guests. Also, between the panel discussions and goodwill messages, the guests were also entertained by the Master of Ceremony Spirit of SACO, while the Segun Johnson band thrilled them with melodious tunes.

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POLSCOPE

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The Tasks Before the All Progressives Congress

Canticles….

Lai Mohammed Versus the EndSARS Report

Finally, the Information minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has responded to the damning report by the judicial panel that probed the #EndSARS protests of last year. As expected, he has faulted the report, dismissing it as Tales by Moonlight.. What did you expect? If you understand the operational pattern of the Information minister, you’d have known that he would come out smoking with refutal and rubbishing of the report. Don’t forget, the report practically, but inadvertently described the minister as a liar on this matter. But the minister has a point. The judicial panel claimed that nine persons were killed during the protest. Why were the names and pictures and possibly the residential addresses of the said victims not released also, just to prove beyond reasonable doubt, that indeed, there was a massacre? Have you read the 309-page report submitted by the Justice Doris Okuwobi-led panel? How can you sit here and start running commentary on what you have neither seen nor read? Are you telling me that the report has the pictures of the killed protesters?

Gov Mai Mala Buni

fter what looked like eternity, President Muhammady Buhari , last Monday, finally approved that the convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) should hold in February next year, three months ahead. This is coming after the acting chairman, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni had served for seventeen months, having been appointed acting Chairman since June last year. By February therefore, he would have served for 20 months as acting National Chairman of the party. Many had thought that at the ouster of the former Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, Buni’s acting status would be brief and geared towards stablising the party in case the removal of Oshiomhole causes some upheaval in the party. As it happened, Oshiomhole’s initial plan to challenge his removal lost steam and he accepted the decision of Mr President. Three months ago, some APC members had called for the resignation of the acting chairman, arguing that he could not be acting chairman and an executive governor at the same time. Again, that call was both ignored and dismissed. The response of President Buhari on the matter may not be unrelated to the pressure party members have been putting on him on the need to have a clear and legalised leadership structure in the party, especially as the 2023 presidential election draws nearer. So for twenty months, by February next year, Gov Buni’s effort will be measured by the success of the convention that is expected to produce a more legitimate National Chairman of the party. Even then, there are fears that the pockets of crises in the party, across board may impeded the successful organization of the convention. But two issues arise from the approval: the length of time that the Caretaker chairman had served. Would the argument that he had stayed longer than necessary and had become illegal hold water? The other concern is whether or not the party, will at that convention approve the Direct or Indirect Primary for the election of flag bearers of the party at the state and federal elections. The governors elected under the platform of the party have been at daggers drawn with the federal lawmakers over the support of the latter for the Direct Primary option. The governors argue that the Direct primary option robs

them of influence and control of the levers of power within the party, which is exactly the reason the lawmakers have adopted it, as it appropriates too much pwers to the governors, sometimes to the deteriment of the political interest of the lawmakers themselves. But more than the above, the greater concern of the party would be how to win back the pre-2015 confidence of Nigerians for the All Progressives Congress, as it would relate to the 2023 general election. The ringing question will be whether or not the APC will be able to retain power at the centre come 2023. What is the impression of Nigerians on the administration of the Buhari administration, more than six years down the line? Are Nigerians happier or sadder than they were in 2015? Put differently, are they willing to yet again trust the party with their affairs and concerns for another four or eight years? Trusting a political party is like an investment. What is the dividend of the investment thus far? Was the Buhari administration simply unlucky with events and occurrences? Or was it a case of poor management of local and global ill wind? Is there a way, for instance, that the Nigerian economy could have been better managed in a way that the harsh effects of inflation would not be so terribly felt? With the unprecedented high inflation hitting every cardinal points of the country, the crushing pang of hardship and Hunger has been dutifully distributed across board. Even the rich are crying. So you can only imagine the groaning and wailing of the poor.and this has nothing to do with political party affiliation. Hunger knows no party boundry. The nation’s GDP is dropping, understandably. Housewives are wondering when all the troibles in the market would end. Would it ever end? Everyday, things seem to be getting worse. Make a budget today, and by the day after tomorrow, the prices have gone up further. Everybody is groaning. Indications are even emerging that the worst is yet to come. With the planned removal of petroleum subsidy by June or so next year, the pump price of petrol could hit N350 per litre. Already, Diesel is at about that same amount, just as cooking gas is about N10,000 for a 12.5 kg cylinder. To cushion the arising pain, government is planning to give the poorest of the poor (about forty million Nigerians)

N5000 via digital transfer. Hmmmm, not only would this be a mockery of the situation, it will be like a drop in an ocean, even as it is bound to suffer abuse and miscarriage. Even if you have so much money to cope with the spiralling inflation, what about the prolonged state of insecurity? Again, we are all casualties. Both the rich and the poor have been victims. Some people have been kidnapped or killed for the sake of even N100,000 ransom. Others have been kidnapped for ransom as high as N100 million or thereabout. Yes, we are all casualties! The attacks have continued in many parts of the country, regardless of the huge effort the federal government is making to combat terrorism and banditry. So much money has been voted and released to tackle insecurity but Nigerians are practically still under the siege of insecurity. After the attack on the Abuja-Kadua rail service few weeks ago, more people had resorted to the Abuja-kaduna highway. And the danger thereof was manifestly demonstrated last Sunday when travellers including a former APC gubernatorial aspirant in Zamfara State, Alhaji Sagir Hamidu were killed or kidnapped. Sagir was killed on the spot. The malaise of insecurity has spread like cancer all over the country, and it seems that the authorities are overwhelmed. Less than a forthnight ago, an army General along with a few other soldiers, were killed in Borno State. All of these are coming after many of the Boko Haram fighters have either been killed or captured or even wilfully surrendered. Recent report said many of the repentant Boko Haram fighters who were quartered in correctional camps bolted away because they were little cared for by the authorities. Could it be that the upsurge in the attacks is as a result of this? So, if all else is discounted, the APC and its awaited leadership would have a lot of convincing to do to re-assure Nigerians that the party has the capacity to redeem the country. The alternatives before Nigerians are few. Very few. The opposition party, the peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hardly comes across like a beautiful bride. Not many Nigerians have forgotten how decrepit the nation became in the sixteen years of PDP rule. So by 20-23, would the choice before Nigerians be between a lesser evil?

Go and read the report first. You cannot whimsically rubbish the report of one year sitting, prepared by a retired and courageous Judge. What reasonable point did Lai Mohammed make to prove that what the panel said is untrue, aside running his anti-people establishment lines? Nigerians would need more than mere clerical report on what actually happened at the Lekki tollgate last year. We need clinical evidences to support the assertion that there were killings. There should be no room for merely playing to the gallery by any body. Do not forget that the panel had a virile civil society activist, whose major pre-occupation is to discredit the state (government) Are you suggesting that the one civil society activist in the panel was so inﬂuential as to cause the entire 9-man panel to write a report that exclusively suits the whims of activists? Is that why the minister described the report as Tales by Moonlight? Is that not highly hasty and disrespectful, especially by a lawyer? What does Lai Mohammed mean by describing the report as fake News? What is the authentic news he has? Look, the Information minister has breached all forms of procedurala protocol. His principal and Boss, Mr President had wisely and rightly told the visiting American Secretaery of State, Antony Blinken that he would rather wait for rhe release of the white paper on the submitted report before commenting on it. But our garrulous Information minister goes ahead to not only rubbish the report he said he doubts its authenticity, but also refuses to wait for the white paper that would emanate from the said report. If Mohammed is so cynical about the source and content of the judicial panel, because it did not say what he wants to hear, the federal government should have set up its own panel, after all, it is federal government. It thus amounts to utmost bad fate to having failed to carry out your own investigation, to now pour tar on the effort of a sub-national like Lagos State. Why was Lai Mohammed in such an ungodly haste to comment on the report? You do not understand. The for-

Lai Mohammed

eign media, like CNN, BBC and all such neo-liberal entities do not see anything good in Nigeria. They are always excited when there is an ill report about us . and too often, they add pepper and salt to every ill story on Nigeria so we can look despicable in the eye of the world. If you understand this, you will understand why they are insisting there was a massacre. Imagine the choice of that word even! You have failed to answer the basic questions. Was it true that on the night of October 20, last year, that soldiers were invited to disperse the protesters? Was it true that live bullets were fired at the protesters? Hey, do soldiers fire dud bullets? Was it true that the management of the LCCI, the operators of the Lekki tollgate actually brought in their cleaners at midnight to wash off and scrub the blood stains on the ground? If yes, whose blood were on the ground? I think we should answer these basic questions before we go ahead to typecast the foreign media. I agree these are basic questions. Did the report answer these concerns? It merely regurgitated the nuggets of offensive stories that had been pushed out by wicked and ill-trained social media merchants. You should be concerned that the report was somewhat silent on the 57 civilians, 37 policemen and six soldiers who were killed by the protesters across the country; this is not to talk about the number of police stations and other public buildings that were burnt and destroyed. Did you say the report was silent on the other killings? Again, I ask you if you have really read the report. In any case, if you so trenchantly dismiss media reports on the protests, how come you got the figures of these killing of policemen, soldiers et al? is it not the same media you say are publishing fake news? Look, don’t forget the so-called #EndSARS protest was not exclusively a Lagos affair. It was nationwide. So, let us not dissipate undue energy only on the report from the Lagos panel. Let us await the report from other judicial panels in other states. A collage of all the reports across the many states will give a truer picture of what really happened. So you admit that Mr Lai Mohammed was unduly hasty in passing a subjective judgement on the report, simply because it did not say what he had always claimed: that nobody was killed at the Lekki tollgate on that night of October 20, last year. Better tactics next time, right?

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ NOVEMBER 26, 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

NMRC Backs Adoption of Green Buildings, Promises to Give Mortgages to Developers Ugo Aliogo The Managing Director, Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC), Kehinde Ogundimu, has expressed support for the adoption of green buildings in Nigeria, stating that it is the new direction in housing development because of the low maintenance cost, better retail value, and ecofriendly nature. He also stated the readiness of the company to give mortgages to house developers, noting that for the few residential green buildings that have been completed, people paid out rightly for them adding, “the developers didn’t take a mortgage because they were not sure that if they build, they will get a mortgage.”

Ogundimu, who disclosed this yesterday in Lagos yesterday during a cocktail party to celebrate Edge Pioneers in Nigeria organised by International Finance Corporation (IFC), and West Africa Property Investment Summit, said presently the company has not been able to take the few green buildings to the capital market because the developers are not creating mortgages on the buildings, “so they are like offices, school hostels, and others. But we are beginning to go into residential buildings.” He hinted that in raising bonds from the capital market, they require green assets, while urging developers to build more green buildings because they are still few in the country.

The NMRC boss expressed optimism that the company is working to create the enabling environment where as soon as the developers are building, they are taking the assets to the capital market and getting liquidity from the market to build new ones. “Green building is the way to go housing development in Nigeria, though it is new in Nigeria, but however it holds so much promises for us. The few people who did it, were those who understood the benefits and importance of green buildings. The focus for us is that people should know that we are not talking about it because it is fashionable, but that it is affordable on the longrun, but it is good for the environment, our health and finance,” he noted.

N’Assembly to Commence NDIC Act Amendment Nume Ekeghe The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Insurance and Actuarial Matters, Darlington Nwokocha, has stated that the committee’s is ready with the amendment to the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) Bill in order to maintain a sustainable banking sector and enhance deposit insurance system in Nigeria. Nwokocha, made the pledge during the 2021 NDIC retreat for the house committee where they deliberate on, “Strengthening Nigeria’s Financial Safety-Net: The Role of Deposit Insurance,” in Lagos yesterday. Nwokocha noted that the NDIC bill, which is almost getting

to the third reading would highly synergies with what NDIC is doing to drive the economy to a great height. He said: “The theme, strengthening Nigeria’s financial safety net: the role of deposit insurance is very key at this moment because when we are talking about strengthening, there are too many elements, indices and factors that must come together to guarantee such strengthening. And one of the machinery to drive that process would come from the legislature and that is why we are calling and saying that NDIC act which we have presently, we are ready to strengthen the NDIC more by amending that act.” On his part, the Managing Director, NDIC, Mr. Bello Hassan

said: “With the ever-changing landscape of the financial environment impacted by new developments and policies, emerging technologies, payment systems and financial services, the Corporation must continue to address the gaps and inherent challenges that threatens the effective implementation of its Mandate. “Therefore, we remain resolutely committed to strengthening the deposit insurance framework; providing timely support to insured institutions as and when required; implementing faster and orderly resolutions of problem insured institutions and assisting the monetary authority in its efforts at promoting stability in the nation’s banking system.”

LASAA Launches 2022 Mobile Advert Stickers for BrandedVehicles Lagos State Signage and Advertisment Agency (LASAA), the agency responsible for the control and regulation of advertisement displays in Lagos State, has announced the launch of its 2022 mobile advert stickers. Managing Director of LASAA, Adedamola Docemo, in a statement said the agency would not use the traditional ceremony for this year’s launch, noting that with the launch, “The 2022 mobile advert sticker will be in force effective January 2022, hence the 2021 sticker will become invalid from the 1st of January 2022 as all mobile advert stickers expires on the 31st of December 2021.” He explained that the launch is, “To review and redefine the mobile advert sticker product

and use the opportunity to holistically assess the process for better performance.” Prince Docemo disclosed that the 2022 sticker has been upgraded with a QR code scanner application, which is readable with a simple smartphone. “The sticker has been enhanced with internal control mechanism, which comes with a hologram-finish and specialised bar codes with serial numbers.” He said the improved security features of the sticker have anti-counterfeit properties, which run on a robust and secure database platform, an authentication system against fraud. Docemo explained that this layer of security measure is to ease confirmation and quicken

the process of compliance for clients. He added that all branded vehicles statewide will be easily captured on mobile advert, thereby making the agency’s ability to monitor the compliance and enforcement work much easier. He said the incidence of fraud will be reduced to the barest minimum, if not totally eradicated, adding that non-compliant vehicles will be effectively grounded. He said LASAA is aware that some unscrupulous individuals are working to frustrate the agency’s efforts. He, however, assured that the agency is ahead in its strategy to ensure that all branded vehicles are properly registered in Lagos State and will apprehend non-compliant ones.

Hollandia Drives Preference With“Value for Money”Pack Sizes At a time when the economy is facing challenges, many consumers are embracing brands that truly connect and offer value for money. They are becoming more conscious of their spending habits based on limited purchasing power, and as such, are now keen on value adding products to meet their everyday needs. Given today’s life demands, the need for a nourishing breakfast with Hollandia Evaporated Milk cannot be overemphasized. Hollandia Evaporated Milk is loaded with all the essential nutrients for healthy living and getting these nutrients first thing

in the morning gives you and your family a head start for a successful day. While many consumers are embracing the addition of milk to their breakfast, many more are getting ahead by making smarter choices with certain factors like product quality, nourishment benefits and value for money packaging for preference. Leading evaporated milk brand, Hollandia Evap Milk, ticks all the boxes and offers consumers a smart choice with its 120g value pack to serve as a delicious, appetizing and nourishing complement to your breakfast meals to get you ready

for the day ahead. Hollandia Evap Milk 120g pack comes in a convenient portion size and offers sufficient quantity to complement your breakfast cup of tea or coffee, or a bowl pap or custard, oats, cornflakes and any other cereals. This pack size offers more value for money in terms of quality, quantity and strong whitening power. Its 190g value pack also offers ideal quantity to bring out a great taste when added to your favourite tapioca meal or milkshake, and provides added nutrition and taste when used in mixes for cakes, chin-chin, puff-puff and small chops batter.

L-R Mr Olajide Ayodele (Regional Head, Abuja region), Fatima Jarma (Beneﬁts Administration), Adetolani Aruna (Head, Beneﬁts Administration and Steven Adedoyin (Relationship Manager) and some potential retirees. During the Tangerine Pensions Limited Retiree Forum meeting in Abuja recently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7

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

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ Ͱʹ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Stock Market Decline by N71bn on Proﬁt-taking in Seplat, NB, Others Kayode Tokede Investors’ profit-taking in Seplat Energy Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc, MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), among others down the stock market of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) by N71billion yesterday. The stock price of Seplat Energy yesterday dropped by 3.6 per cent while Nigerian Breweries Plc and ETI depreciated

by 5.1 per cent and 8.57 per cent respectively. Rhe overall market capitalisation value lost N71 billion to close at N22.494 trillion yesterday from N22.565trillion the stock market opened for trading. Consequently, the market NGX All Share-Index yesterday fell further by 0.32 per cent to close at 43,108.77 basis points from 43,245.02 basis points amid sustained profit taking activity. On sectors, the Insurance

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R

DEALS

index appreciated by 0.6, to record the sole gain, while the Oil and Gas depreciated by 1.6, Banking also down by 1.2 per cent, and Consumer Goods declined by 1.1 per cent. As measured by market breadth, market sentiment was negative as 24 stocks lost relative to 14 gainers. Honeywell Flour Mills recorded the highest price gain of 9.76 per cent to close at N4.05, while AIICO Insurance followed with a gain of 8.47 per

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

cent to close at 64 kobo, per share. Regency Alliance Insurance up by 8.33 per cent to close at 39 kobo, while Ikeja Hotel and University Press appreciated by eight per cent each to close at N1.35 and N2.70 respectively, per share. On the other hand, MRS Oil Nigeria led the losers’ chart by 9.87 per cent to close at N13.70, per share. Chams followed with a decline of 8.70 per cent to close at 21 kobo, while ETI lost 8.57

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

per cent to close at N8.00, per share. Consolidated Hallmark Insurance declined 8.06 per cent to close at 57 kobo, while Unity Bank shed 7.27 per cent to close at 51 kobo, per share. The total volume traded increased by 9.4 per cent to 266.115 million units, valued at N4.216 billion, and exchanged in 3,905 deals. Transactions in the shares of Honeywell Flour Mills topped the

O F

activity chart with 52.467 million shares valued at N209.572 million. Guaranty Trust Bank Holding Company (GTCO) followed with 22.958 million shares worth N578.562 million, while Zenith Bank traded 22.886 million shares valued at N559.038 million. Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp) traded 18.465 million shares valued at N17.728 million, while Access Bank transacted 13.938 million shares worth N127.370 million.

2 5 / 1 1 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2021

Friday, November 26, 2021 Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index fell fellby 36bps 14bps The dŚŝƐĚĂǇ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞǆ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďǇ ϭϰďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index declined 36bps to close at

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

at 1,674.89 points due to sell-pressure on ZENITH ϭ͕ϴϰϲ͘ϲϮ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůů ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ ŽŶ GTCO (-1.6%), (-0.6%), ACWAPCO CESS (-0.5%), (-1.3%), andand NIGERIAN UBA (-0.7%). BREWERIES These stocks (-5.1%). cumulaThese

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

ƟǀĞůǇ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϯ͘Ϯй͘ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůǇ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϭ͘ϱй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞǆ͘

ASI upHold Bears 11bps Sway... as DANGCEM ASI down Gains 0.3%3.3%

zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂǇ͕ zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂǇ͕ ƚŚĞ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ ďŽƵƌƐĞ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĞĚ ŝƚƐ ůŽƐŝŶŐ ƐƚƌĞĂŬ ƉƌŝĐĞ ƵƉƟĐŬ ŝŶ ,KEz&>KhZ (+9.8%), as sell-pressure E' D on GTCO ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͕ (-1.6%), ĂŶĚ ETI & E, (-8.6%),(+0.7%) and SEPLAT bol(-3.6%) stered ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽŶ dragged the benchmark the local index bourse by as0.3% the Allto ϰϯ͕ϭϬϴ͘ϳϳ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůǇ͕ Share index the YTD rosereturn moderatby

Ticker

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

1,846.62

-0.36%

915.00

0.0%

32.4%

74.50

0.0%

10.4%

-3.7%

25.00

-1.6%

6.9%

-22.7%

1 Airtel Africa PLC 2 BUA Cement Plc 3 Guaranty Trust Holding Co PLC 4 Zenith Bank PLC 5 Dangote Cement PLC 6 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC 7 Nestle Nigeria PLC

ed 11bps to 7.0% to 39,550.36 while ŵĂƌŬĞƚ points. ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůǇ͕ ƐŚĞĚ zd േϳϭ͘ϭďŶ ůŽƐƐ ŝŵͲ to

8 Lafarge Africa PLC 9 Access Bank PLC

േϮϮ͘ϱƚŶ͘ proved to Trading -1.8%ĂĐƟǀŝƚǇ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂŶĚ ǀĂůͲ while ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƌŽƐĞ ďǇ

10 United Bank for Africa PLC 11 FBN Holdings Plc

ƵĞ േϮϯ͘ϰďŶ ƚŽ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ േϮϬ͘ϲƚŶ͘ ƌŽƐĞ ϵ͘ϰй dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚǇ ǁĂƐ ŵŝǆĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂŶĚ ϭϮ͘ϱй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůǇ to Ϯϲϲ͘ϭŵ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ units and ďǇ േϰ͘ϮďŶ͘ Ϯϭ͘ϲй ƚŽ HONYFLOUR ϭϭϬ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ;ϱϮ͘ϱŵ ǁŚŝůĞ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ value GTCO ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ;Ϯϯ͘Ϭŵ ƌŽƐĞ ďǇ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ϴϴ͘ϱй ĂŶĚ ƚŽ േϯ͘ϭďŶ͘ ZENITHThe ;ϮϮ͘ϵŵ most ƵŶŝƚƐͿ tradedůĞĚ stocks ƚŚĞ volume by volume chart were while dZ E^ KZW SEPLAT ;േϭ͘ϮďŶͿ͕ ;ϭϭ͘ϵŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ GTCO& E, ;േϱϳϴ͘ϲŵͿ͕ (11.1m and ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ZENITH ĂŶĚ K E K ;േϱϱϵ͘ϬŵͿ ůĞĚ ďǇ ǀĂůƵĞ͘ ;ϳ͘ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ E ^d> ;േϮ͘ϮďŶͿ͕ E' D ;േϭϰϱ͘ϬŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;േϭϯϰ͘ϴŵͿ ůĞĚ ďǇ ǀĂůƵĞ͘ Mixed Sector Performance WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ Bearish SectorĂĐƌŽƐƐ Performance ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ŽƵƌ coverage was ŵŝǆĞĚ ďƵƚ ŶĞŐĂƟǀĞůǇ ĂƐ performance 3 indices lost, Across sectors under ourƐŬĞǁĞĚ coverage, was 1 indexas gained, the AFR-ICT and Industrial bearish 4 indices while lost, 1 index gained ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ &Z-/ d Goods indices ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ The Oil & Gas indexƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵͲ led the lagŝŶĚĞǆ ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŽƉƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ ĂƌĞ ŐĂƌĚƐ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ϭ͘ϲй ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĚĞƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ ^ W> d ;er 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ Insurance indices, down 4.6% and ϯ͘ϲйͿ ĂŶĚ DZ^ (-9.9%). Similarly, the ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůǇ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĮƚ-ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ E ^d> (and Consumer Goods (-3.5%), ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĚŝƉƉĞĚ ϭ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϭ͘ϭй ƌĞͲ 9.1%), hE/> s Z >/E< ^^hZ (-6.4%), ƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůǇ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůů-ŽīƐ ŝŶ 'd K ;-ϭ͘ϲйͿ ĂŶĚ /Ed Z t (and D E^ Z (-Ϯ͘ϮйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůǇ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬͲ ϭ͘ϵйͿ͘ ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůǇ͕ ƚŚĞ Insurance index gained 0.6% foling indices fell by Ϭ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϮďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůǇ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůlowing buying (-0.8%), interest E/d, ŝŶ // K ;нϴ͘ϱйͿ ĂŶĚ Z ' >/E^ ŽīƐ ŝŶ K E K (-Ϭ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;-Ϭ͘ϮйͿ͘ (+8.3%). ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůǇ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞǆ ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ŐĂŝŶͲ er,

1.8%

driven

price

apprecia-

ƟŽŶ in E' D Investor ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ tĂŶĞƐ (+3.3%).

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ Ϭ͘ϲǆ ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘Ϯǆ ĂƐ 14 ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ďǇ Ϯϰ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ stocksďƌĞĂĚƚŚ de/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ clined. HONYFLOUR (+9.8%), AIICO (+8.5%), andĂƚREGA;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ͕ ƐĞƩůŝŶŐ 1.6x LINS (+8.3%) led gainers while MRS (-9.9%), CHAMS (ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϯǆ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ Ϯϰ stocks 8.7%), and while ETI (-8.6%) led ĚĞĐůŝŶĞƌƐ͘ tĞ ĞǆƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ advanced 15 stocks declined. MRS (+9.9%), MAY-

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

25.8%

84.7%

15.0%

3.5%

7.4%

14.7%

5.2%

0.8x

5.2%

-3.7%

19.1%

11.2%

35.8x

6.7x

-22.7%

24.8%

3.9%

3.8x

0.9x

11.8%

26.4% 30.2%

2.8%

-1.4%

20.9%

2.8%

3.3x

0.6x

12.3%

14.3%

40.4%

16.7%

13.9x

5.4x

6.0%

7.2%

190.00

0.0%

5.2%

11.8%

179.2%

14.1%

13.7x

20.8x

5.6%

7.3%

1,395.00

0.0%

3.5%

-7.3%

106.8%

15.6%

27.1x

31.8x

4.3%

3.7%

25.00

0.0%

3.8%

18.8%

11.6%

8.4%

9.3x

1.0x

4.0%

10.7%

9.10

-0.5%

2.9%

7.7%

17.0%

1.4%

2.6x

0.4x

9.3%

39.2%

8.15

0.0%

2.4%

-5.8%

2.0x

0.4x

6.7%

48.8%

12.00

0.0%

3.9%

67.8%

3.7%

17.9%

10.6%

1.0%

5.6x

0.6x

48.00

-5.1%

1.7%

-14.3%

5.3%

1.9%

44.2x

2.3x

2.3%

38.00

0.7%

1.9%

0.6%

15.4%

2.0%

8.7x

1.4x

10.8%

11.4%

-10.3%

-3.9%

5.15

-1.9%

1.3%

-13.4%

30.00

0.0%

1.2%

15.4%

695.00

-3.6%

1.7%

72.8%

3.4%

1.0x

-11.1%

4.6x

0.7x

5.6%

21.6%

1.9%

16.0x

0.6x

6.0%

6.2%

0.0%

26 Presco PLC 27 Unilever Nigeria PLC 28 PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC 29 United Capital PLC 30 Guinness Nigeria PLC 31 Custodian and Allied Insurance 32 AIICO Insurance PLC 33 TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeri 34 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC 35 Wema Bank PLC 36 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC 37 Oando PLC

142.00

0.0%

1.2%

56.0%

38.8%

25.2%

9.7x

3.4x

5.2%

10.3%

2.56

0.4%

0.7%

1.6%

12.0%

1.1%

2.3x

0.3x

8.6%

44.2%

8.00

-8.6%

0.9%

33.3%

1.5%

0.1%

26.5x

0.3x

16.45

0.0%

0.5%

-6.5%

3.05

-1.0%

0.5%

-8.4%

1.48

-0.7%

0.3%

-27.5%

10.1%

0.9%

14.15

0.0%

0.4%

-2.4%

21.3%

6.9%

0.96

-2.0%

0.4%

6.7%

88.90

0.0%

0.3%

25.3%

13.85

-0.4%

0.2%

-0.4%

6.10

0.0%

0.2%

15.1%

3.8%

1.6x

9.1%

3.2x

0.3x

3.4%

31.1%

13.3x

2.7x

2.8%

7.5%

#N/A N/A

1.0%

2.1x

1.1%

4.9%

-1.3%

-0.8%

1.2x

-1.1% 4.1%

9.80

1.6%

0.4%

108.1%

2.2x

7.1%

36.50

0.0%

0.4%

92.1%

8.1%

3.8%

13.0x

1.0x

1.3%

7.7%

7.75

0.0%

0.2%

32.5%

24.7%

7.5%

3.8x

0.9x

7.1%

26.2%

7.2%

1.1%

355.6x

0.7x 1.9%

20.3%

0.64

8.5%

0.2%

32.2%

33.3%

216.80

0.0%

0.3%

66.8%

24.80

0.0%

0.2%

40.7%

18.3%

2.4%

4.3x

0.8x

1.6%

23.1%

0.80

0.0%

0.1%

15.9%

13.7%

0.8%

3.8x

0.5x

5.0%

26.5%

-4.0%

0.0%

7.1%

0.8%

5.4x

0.5x

5.3%

-0.2%

0.2%

37.6%

14.5%

2.6%

2.2x

0.3x

4.7x

0.6x

5.09

38 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd 39 Beta Glass PLC 40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

37.6%

0.3%

4.9x

62.50

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

-38.7%

-9.5%

52.95

0.0%

0.1%

-4.4%

14.8%

10.1%

5.38

0.0%

49.4%

2.1x

-20.1% 2.0%

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

4.05

9.8%

H ON YF LOUR

52.5

9.8%

8.5%

GT C O

23.0

-1.6%

0.64

T ic k er

0.39

8.3%

Z EN IT H B A N K

22.9

0.0%

UP L

2.70

8.0%

T R A N SC OR P

18.5

-2.0%

IKEJ A H OT EL

1.35

8.0%

A C C ESS

13.9

-0.5%

R OYA LEX

0.50

6.4%

FB NH

13.8

0.0%

F T N C OC OA

0.42

2.4%

8.6

-5.1%

UP D C

1.38

2.2%

WEM A B A N K

8.2

0.0%

J A IZ B A N K

0.65

1.6%

UP L

7.5

8.0%

UC A P

9.80

1.6%

UB A

7.3

0.0%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

T o p 10 L o s e r s T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

-9.9%

SEP LA T

1183.9

-3.6%

-8.7%

GT C O

578.6

-1.6%

-8.6%

Z EN IT H B A N K

559.0

0.0%

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

13.70 0.21

ET I

8.00

C H IP LC

0.57

-8.1%

411.2

-5.1%

UN IT YB N K

0.51

-7.3%

H ON YF LOUR

209.6

9.8%

C UT IX

2.85

-6.6%

N EST LE

197.0

0.0%

-5.1%

FB NH

165.5

0.0%

127.4

-0.5%

21.4%

0.9x

R EGA LIN S

CHA M S

18.7% 45.6%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

T o p 10 G a i n e r s

M RS

15.8%

2.0%

6.6%

23 Sterling Bank PLC 24 NASCON Allied Industries PLC 25 Transnational Corp of Nigeria

STOCK (-4.8%) led losers. Yesterday, we expect the market

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

5.4x

P/BV

6.4%

21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC 22 FCMB Group Plc

T ic k er

winds up.

P/E

0.0%

19 Fidelity Bank PLC 20 Ecobank Transnational Inc

H ON YF LOUR

ROA

0.0%

17 11 PLC 18 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

T ic k er

ROE

24.45

15 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC 16 SEPLAT Energy PLC

to post a(+9.8%), mild gain ƚŚĞ ĮŶĂů ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ session invesBAKER andŝŶ HONYFLOUR (+9.8%) ledasgainers tors take advantage(-8.3%), of downbeat prices. while ABCTRANS LASACO (-6.7%), and LIVE-

ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ŵŝǆĞĚ͕ ĂƐ earnings season gradually

Price Change Index to Date

280.00

12 Nigerian Brew eries PLC 13 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC 14 International Brew eries PLC

A IIC O

Investor ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďǇ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ

Price Previous Current Change Price YTD Weighting Change

Current Price

48.00

SOVR EN IN S

0.22

-4.3%

A C C ESS

UA C N

10.00

-4.3%

N GXGR OUP

94.7

0.0%

UB N

4.75

-4.0%

T OT A L

83.9

0.0%

Brokerage

Asset Management

Investment Research

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com Taiwo Ogundipe | togundipe@afrinvest.com

Christopher Omoh | comoh@afrinvest.com

Damilare Asimiyu| dasimiyu@afrinvest.com

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2021• T H I S DAY

MARKET NEWS A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return. An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust): is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 24Nov-2021, unless otherwise stated.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors. Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return. NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS

MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS

AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 165.37 166.81 2.16% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 9.04% Nigeria International Debt Fund 318.36 318.36 -16.54% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 101.20 102.25 -8.44% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 10.49% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.32 3.38 -3.68% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 8.72% Anchoria Equity Fund 139.63 141.39 4.98% info@anchoriaam.com Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.14 1.14 -14.30% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 20.58 21.20 13.46% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 455.40 469.13 13.74% ARM Ethical Fund 39.75 40.95 17.92% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.07 1.08 -1.96% ARM Fixed Income Fund 0.99 0.99 -5.68% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.58% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 107.46 107.46 5.65% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,056.00 1,056.00 5.60% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.03 2.03 -3.88% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.23 2.27 3.11% mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com ; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.03 1.03 4.93% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 9.02% Paramount Equity Fund 17.36 17.68 8.55% Women's Investment Fund 141.24 142.84 6.12% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.73% Cordros Milestone Fund 132.93 133.77 13.26% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 109.89 109.89 5.40% CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.04% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.26 1.28 5.05% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.42 1.42 -10.23% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 7.53% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 8.35% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,165.70 1,189.18 1.45% assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-assetmanagement-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.72% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.04 1.04 3.27% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.11 Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 104.17 FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price FBN Bond Fund 1,376.26 FBN Balanced Fund 174.36 FBN Halal Fund 114.62 FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 FBN Dollar Fund (Retail) FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Legacy Money Market Fund Legacy Debt Fund Legacy Equity Fund Legacy USD Bond Fund

121.89 149.63 Bid Price 1.00 3.99 1.74 1.20

1.11 10.44% 104.17 4.12% invest@fbnquest.com Offer Price 1,376.26 175.64 114.62 100.00

Yield / T-Rtn 11.44% 4.54% 9.24% 8.94%

121.89 4.00% 151.65 13.16% fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Offer Price 1.00 3.99 1.77 1.20

Yield / T-Rtn 7.12% 3.15% 14.00% 5.72%

FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.79% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.89 2.96 1.32% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 155.25 155.53 -0.16% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.27 1.31 1.04% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.06 1.06 3.87% 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 1.50 1.52 9.72% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,150.92 1,150.92 7.87% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 11.82 11.90 13.01% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 10.03% NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 101.11 101.12 7.49% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 8.91% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.59 1.62 13.06% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.07 11.09 -8.91% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 7.48% PACAM Equity Fund 1.47 1.48 -7.12% PACAM EuroBond Fund 111.86 114.07 2.00% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 133.66 135.96 11.99% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.07 1.07 10.05% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,395.45 3,423.84 5.60% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 234.81 234.81 4.43% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.27 1.29 8.47% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 311.11 311.11 5.58% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 240.01 243.65 9.99% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.73% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 11,125.89 11,287.43 6.04% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.29 1.29 4.84% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 116.49 116.49 4.87% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 105.52 105.52 UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.35 1.37 5.05% United Capital Bond Fund 1.94 1.94 6.11% United Capital Equity Fund 0.93 0.95 16.31% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.01% United Capital Eurobond Fund 121.60 121.60 6.21% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.09 1.10 6.55% United capital Sukuk Fund 1.07 1.07 6.95% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund 13.09 13.21 10.33% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 14.59 14.74 19.52% Zenith Income Fund 24.74 24.74 3.09% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.64%

REITS

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

124.98 54.20

10.62% 7.24%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

14.30 130.85 104.90 17.69 21.63

14.40 134.10 107.20 17.79 21.73

8.18% 8.82% 5.73% -2.25% 17.14%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

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

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.91 5.56 18.05 1.00 21.84 157.50

4.01 5.66 18.25 1.00 22.04 159.50

4.41% -2.18% 11.36% 6.61% 6.41% -15.15%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.28

13.11%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2021 •T H I S D AY

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2021 • T H I S D AY

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2021 •T H I S D AY

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

FOREIGN DESK

COMPILED BY BAYO AKINLOYE

Australia Sends Troops to Solomon Islands Amid Unrest

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has authorized sending a group of about 100 police, military and diplomatic personnel to the Solomon Islands as anti-government protesters there defied a lockdown order and demonstrated for a second day Thursday. Morrison said Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare asked for the help, and that Australia’s role is to “provide stability and security.” “It is not the Australian government’s intention in any way to intervene in the internal affairs of the Solomon Islands. That is for them to resolve,” Morrison told reporters. Sogavare declared a lockdown in the capital, Honiara, from late Wednesday through late Friday after about 1,000 protesters gathered to call for his resignation due to a range of domestic issues. Protesters set a number of fires in Honiara’s Chinatown district and attempted to storm parliament. Ethiopia Warns US against Spreading Fake News on War

Ethiopia’s government has asked the United States to stop spreading what it considers falsehoods against the country, the state minister of communication Kebede Dessisa said Thursday after the State Department issued an alert about potential “terrorist attacks.” Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government and rebellious forces from the Tigray region in the north have been fighting for more than a year in a conflict that has killed thousands and displaced millions in Africa’s second-most populous nation. This week, the Irish government said Ethiopia had expelled four of six Irish diplomats from the country because of Ireland’s stance on the conflict. Spokespeople for the Ethiopian government have also warned against unnamed external threats and repeatedly criticized Western governments for their inaccurate coverage of the war. Kebede, the state minister of communication, was quoted by state broadcaster EBC as telling a news conference the US government should refrain from disseminating “shameful fake news and defamation regarding Ethiopia.” He referred to a statement Wednesday on Twitter by the US Embassy in Addis Ababa that urged its citizens to maintain a high level of vigilance due to “the ongoing possibility of terrorist attacks in Ethiopia.” Egypt Sentences 22 Militants to Death

An Egyptian court sentenced to death by hanging 22 militants Thursday for 54 attacks, including the attempted assassination of a former interior minister, a judicial source told AFP. The men were found guilty of committing 54 “terrorist operations” across Egypt, including the murder of a senior police officer, as well as trying to kill former interior minister Mohamed Ibrahim. Executions in Egypt for civilians are

carried out by hanging. Those sentenced to death include a former police officer, and the verdicts cannot be appealed. The 22 convicted were found guilty of being members of the Ansar Beit al-Maqdis group, which pledged its allegiance to the Islamic State group in 2014. The Court of Cassation, Egypt’s highest appeals court, also upheld prison sentences of 118 others in the same case, ranging from terms of several years to life imprisonment. Egypt has for years been fighting an insurgency in North Sinai that escalated after the army’s 2013 ouster of Mohamed Morsi, Egypt’s first democratically elected president. Russian Mining Accident Kills 11, Rescue Team Missing

At least 11 miners died Thursday in a coal mining accident in Russia’s Siberia, and an operation to rescue 35 more people stuck underground was suspended due to the risk of an explosion, the region’s governor said. In a further grim twist, the Emergencies Ministry said a team of rescuers was later declared missing after they failed to report in with other rescue units who were ordered to return to the surface. The ministry did not say how many rescuers were missing. The accident happened when coal dust caught fire in a ventilation shaft in the Listvyazhnaya mine in the snowbound Kemerovo region early Thursday, filling the mine with smoke, the TASS news agency cited local emergency services as saying. “The chance of an explosion is very high. We’ve decided to suspend the search and rescue operation until the concentration of gas reduces,” Regional Governor Sergei Tsivilev said. Methane levels were dangerously high, he said. Dozens were being treated in hospital, at least some of them with smoke poisoning. Four were in critical condition. The coal-producing region of Kemerovo, roughly 3,500 kilometres (2,175 miles) east of Moscow, has been hit by fatal mining accidents for years. The mine is part of SDS-Holding, owned by the privately held Siberian Business Union. The union had no

immediate comment. Pope Promises to Help Lebanon

Pope Francis, meeting the prime minister of Lebanon Thursday, compared the country to a dying person and promised to do everything in his power to help it “rise again.” Francis and Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who took office in September after a year-long government vacuum, met privately for about 20 minutes and discussed the country’s devastating economic and social crisis, the Vatican said in a statement. The fallout from Lebanon’s financial collapse in 2019 has left swathes of the nation in poverty, and foreign donors are demanding an audit of the central bank and financial reforms before they release funds. UN agencies have warned of social catastrophes. One report says that more than half of families in Lebanon had at least one child who skipped a meal amid a dramatic deterioration of living conditions. “Lebanon is a country, a message and even a promise worth fighting for,” Francis told the extended Lebanese delegation after the private meeting.

forensic sculptor and the inventor of iris recognition all verified her identity, National Geographic said at the time. In 2016, Pakistan arrested Gula for forging a national identity card to live in the country. EU Approves First COVID Shot for 5-11-Year-Olds

Green-Eyed ‘Afghan Girl’ Allowed to Live in Italy

The European Union drug regulator Thursday approved the use of PfizerBioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of five and 11, opening the way for them to be given a first shot as the region battles surging infections. The vaccine, which is called Comirnaty, will be given in two doses of 10 micrograms three weeks apart as an injection in the upper arm, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended. Adult doses contain 30 micrograms. “The benefits of Comirnaty in children aged five to 11 outweigh the risks, particularly in those with conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19,” the EMA said. The companies have said their vaccine showed 90.7 per cent efficacy against the coronavirus in a clinical trial of children aged five to 11.

Italy has given a safe haven to Sharbat Gula, the green-eyed “Afghan Girl” whose 1985 photo in National Geographic became a symbol of her country’s wars, Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s office said Thursday. The government intervened after Gula asked for help to leave Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover of the country in August, a statement said, adding that her arrival was part of a broader program to evacuate and integrate Afghan citizens. US photographer Steve McCurry took the picture of Gula when she was a youngster, living in a refugee camp on the Pakistan-Afghan border. Her startling green eyes, peering out from a headscarf with a mixture of ferocity and pain, made her known internationally, but her identity was only discovered in 2002 when McCurry returned to the region and tracked her down. An FBI analyst,

New Interpol Chief Accused of Torture A general from the United Arab Emirates who has been accused of complicity in torture has been elected as president of the global police agency Interpol. Ahmed Nasser al-Raisi, inspector general of the UAE’s interior ministry, will serve a four-year term in the part-time and unpaid role. Human rights groups had lobbied against his candidacy, accusing him of failing to investigate credible complaints of torture against UAE security forces. Gen Raisi rejects the allegations. The UAE’s foreign ministry said he “strongly believes that the abuse or mistreatment by police is abhorrent and intolerable.” Gen Raisi was elected Interpol’s president after three rounds of voting by member states at the agency’s general assembly in Istanbul, Turkey.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2021 •T H I S D AY

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2021 • T H I S D AY

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2021 • T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

SEEKING COLLABORATION WITH BRITAIN ON DEVELOPMENT, SECURITY... Cross River State Governor Sir Ben Ayade (L) with the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria Ms Gill Atkinson, during a courtesy call on the Governor on Wednesday

Lawmakers Lament Bandits’ Killings, Security Threats on Kaduna-Abuja Highway Udora Orizu in Abuja The Kaduna State Caucus of the House of Representatives has lamented the killings and kidnapping of motorists by bandits along the KadunaAbuja highway, calling for measures to resolve the

problem. The lawmakers while briefing journalists yesterday, pointed out that in the last five days, the development has reached its deplorable and lamentable peak as a spate of attacks, killings, abductions, kidnappings

and robberies had engulfed the Abuja-Kaduna Highway and resulted in a crisis of frightening and calamitous proportions. Speaking on behalf of the caucus, Hon. Garba Datti Mohammed noted that the Abuja-Kaduna highway was

a key outlet for transportation of persons, goods and services across Nigeria, stressing that it was imperative that the security of the state of the Abuja-Kaduna Highway must be restored at once. He expressed concern the nation had lost a lot

Fuel Pump Increase: PDP Will Not Add to Sufferings of Nigerians Says APC govt has further pushed more 30 million Nigerians to extreme poverty Chuks Okocha in Abuja The National Chairman designate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, yesterday kicked against the planned hike in the pump price of petroleum products, saying the party was not ready to add more sufferings to Nigerians. He also said the party would review some of the activities of the outgoing National Working Committee (NWC) to ensure accountability in all issues in the past. Addressing a media briefing where he presented the communique at the end of a two-day retreat of the newly elected members of the NWC, he said Nigerians had suffered enough. He explained: "The PDP does not believe in visiting more hardship on the Nigerian people. The party has not discussed the issue of increase in petroleum prices, but our general position is that the people of Nigeria are already hard pressed, there is so much hardship. "If you are poor, you are not going to benefit from what is called petroleum subsidy. I want to assure Nigerians that when we come back to power as a party, everything will be done to make sure that the massive sufferings that Nigerians are going through comes to an end. “If you increase the price

of petroleum products today, with the kind of suffering that Nigerians are going through, it means that there will be enormous difficult in transportation. "Food prices will escalate, you will find that crime rate will increase. Every single vice which has escalated under the APC will double. So the APC government is trying to take us into the highest level of suffering and ultimately, taking Nigerians to a position of non-existence." Commenting on what the former National Chairman of the party, Okwesilieze Nwodo said on accountability and recovery of stolen party fund, Ayu said, "By the time we come to office, accountability will remain our watchword and I want to assure all of you that we will run the PDP administration as transparently as possible. "The outgoing NWC has set up different committees to look into different areas, we shall take up all the reports, review them, look at the facts and then attend to each issue according to the facts available to us. "I want to assure you that we shall try to clean our house no matter who is going to be affected, we shall try to clean our house following due process and that due process also include exhausting all internal conflict resolving mechanism before we bring in any external intervention when we cannot resolve the

issue," Ayu declared According to the communique of the PDP retreat, the security situation in the country threatens Nigeria’s corporate existence, stating that the collapse of national security had made Nigeria to begin sharing sovereignty with terrorist gangs and rogue elements. Also, the communique alleged that the lack of vision, capacity, ability and competence on the part of the ruling APC had driven Nigeria towards a failed state. It argued that through the federal government’s incessant borrowings, the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration had returned Nigeria to the status of "a beggar and debtornation." "The collapsed economy, infrastructure and a comatose manufacturing sector under the APC regime have pushed over 30million people into unemployment and underemployment between June 2015 and now. "From the largest economy in Africa as at May 2015, Nigeria, under APC, has suffered two recessions and become the "Poverty Capital of the world. "The unprecedented nepotism and divisiveness of the APC-federal government is fueling separatist tendencies in the country. Nigeria cannot survive another four years of APC misrule,” the communique stated. The communique tasked

the incoming Ayu-led NWC to hold periodic retreats and roundtable dialogues to clarify its position on issues affecting the country, adding that the NWC should commence sustained dialogue with the Nigerian electorate before the next round of elections. He said the PDP should engage different segments of the voting population especially to encourage youths and women demographics in the rescue It also urged the new leadership of the party to in line with its slogan, return the PDP to the people by entrenching the culture of internal democracy as envisaged by the party’s founding fathers. Also, the communique added: "Members at all levels should rally round the new leadership so that it effectively reforms, repositions, re-energises, retools and redirects the party towards regaining her lost glory and rescuing the country. "The new NWC should, as matter of urgency, revive and retool the Peoples Democratic Institute (PDI) as the brain box, the research and Policy arm of the PDP," the communique stated. Also, the communique further urged the incoming leadership of the party to explore alternative sources of funding for the party via registration fees/annual dues, statutory contributions, sales of mementoes etc.

in human lives, financial resources, human dignity and citizen confidence, saying Nigerians were at risk of losing substantially more. He called on the relevant security agencies to without further delay collaborate to put an end to the nefarious and despicable activities of the criminals and secure the Abuja-Kaduna Highway and all such other highways by deploying the personnel and material resources as well as intelligence necessary to accomplish the same. He also solicited for the support of the National Assembly and every agency of government towards ensuring the restoration of peace along the AbujaKaduna Highway. The lawmaker said, "The state of insecurity in Nigeria has been a matter of grave concern to all well-meaning patriots for several years now and that this has come in the form of militancy, insurgency and banditry, amongst others. “This state of insecurity has severely affected travel on Nigerian roads as Nigerians have either opted to remain where they are or opt for means of transportation that are outside their means or convenience. “Not so long ago, there were concerning incessant incidents of banditry along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway and measures were taken that appeared to have minimised the threat on that stretch of road. It was hoped that that would be the beginning of the end of the challenge of insecurity on our roads as it affected the entire country. “Sadly, this has not been the case. Instead the phenomenon of banditry has steadily and increasingly found its way back to the Abuja-Kaduna highway. "On Sunday 21st November, 2021, in the most publicised but certainly not the only one of such daring attacks over

the last few days, a retired Director of Protocol of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and governorship aspirant in Zamfara State, Hamidu Sagir was brutally killed while four yet to be ascertained number of commuters were abducted in terrifying circumstances. “This seemingly underestimated onslaught on our individual, collective and national security has continued unabated in spite of its seeming predictability. It is obvious that this should not be the case. There is no gainsaying the fact that security is one of the paramount policies of the current administration for which it has left no stone unturned towards neutralising the scourge.” He added: “In addition, the Abuja-Kaduna highway is the critical gateway between the North and the South of Nigeria and the major link road to the North West and North East as well as to many neighbouring countries. "Let us add that the perpetuation of this state of insecurity on the AbujaKaduna Highway as well as the many other highways in this country challenges the Nigerian State in terms of its obligations to Nigerians to guarantee the security and welfare of the people as the primary purpose of government pursuant to section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). “Also, the killings and maiming on our highways severely infringe upon the right to life of Nigerians as guaranteed under section 33(1) of the Constitution. “We must caution that the situation on the highways, particularly the Abuja-Kaduna Highway, if not immediately rectified, spells doom for the economy and the social life of Nigerians contrary to section 15(1) of the Constitution.”

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2021 • T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

AKUNYILI LAID TO REST… Children of the late Dr Chike and Prof. Dora Akunyili at Madonna Catholic Church, Agulu, Anaocha LGA of Anambra State, during a burial mass held in honour of Dr Chike Akunyili, husband of former Minister of Information and Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

Obi, Umeh, Others Pay Tribute as Akunyili is Laid to Rest David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka The husband of late Prof. Dora Akunyili, a former Minister of Information and Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr Chike Akunyili has been laid to rest at his home town, Agulu, Anaocha LGA of Anambra State. There was weeping and wailing as his body was moved from St Charles Boromeo Hospital morgue in Onitsha to his community yesterday for the final rites before he was finally committed to mother earth. Several dignitaries attended the funeral mass held in his honour at Madonna Catholic Church, Agulu to pay tribute to the medical practitioner. Akunyili was killed on September 28, at Nkpor, near Onitsha by unknown gunmen, while being chauffeur-driven from Onitsha, on his way to his base in Enugu. On the day he was murdered, he had received a posthumous award bestowed on his late wife by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka Alumni Association. He was killed alongside his

driver and security aide, just as several other persons were said to have been killed on the same day. Dignitaries were at Madonna

Catholic Church, Agulu to witness the burial of the late Chike praised his humility and exemplary life, while urging all to emulate his simplicity.

The dignitaries included: former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi and his wife; Margaret, former national chairman of the All Progressives

Grand Alliance (APGA), Senator Victor Umeh and his wife; Prisca, Anambra deputy governor-elect, Dr Onyekachi Ibezim and others. Children of the late Akunyili,

Buhari Orders Police to Take Charge of Internal Security Ahead of Festive Season Gives security chiefs new instructions over banditry, insurgency Says success of Anambra poll pointer that 2023's not threatened Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, at the National Security Council meeting, order the police to take effective charge of internal security ahead of the festive season, which is weeks away. The president, who was also irked by the rising insecurity in many parts of the country, alsogave fresh mandate to the security chiefs to ensure that banditry and insurgency become a thing of the past.

At the same time, Buhari, has commended the successful outcome of the Anambra State governorship election, saying it was a pointer to the fact that the 2023 general election was not threatened. Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who briefed newsmen at the end of the NSC meeting at the State House, Abuja, said the resurgence of criminal activities along Abuja-Kaduna highways was a major item at the meeting and a precursor to

the order handed the police to take charge of internal security. “Oh, yes. The police and other security agencies had been mobilised to intensify surveillance, patrol in pursuit of the criminals. And it's not only about Abuja, Kaduna. Yes, Abuja-Kaduna belt was discussed specifically, but we appreciated the fact that we are in the season of festivity. “So all agencies committed to providing security for Nigeria and the maintenance of law and order, have been ordered to improve

on their activities, intensify surveillance and minimize, if not eliminate totally, any threat to law and order anywhere in Nigeria.” However, when asked if the military or the police would be taking the lead in the maintenance of security during the yuletide period, the minister explained: “Police, as I said, is the lead agency on internal security. So, whatever I've said about maintenance of Law and Order will start with the police and then extend to all the

Watchlist: Obiano Out of Nigeria, Didn't Travel Disguised, Anambra Govt Tells EFCC Says gov ready to account for his years in office David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka Anambra State government has told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that Governor Willie Obiano, was ready to answer questions about his tenure in office, and that the governor who is currently in the United States, did not leave the country in disguise to warrant putting him on the watchlist. The clarification was a reaction to the news that the EFCC had placed a watch on the governor, who would conclude his tenure on March 17, and suspected that he might leave the country after then. A press statement by the Anambra State government,

most of whom are based overseas were also on ground to bury their dad, and also showered him with encomiums for being an exemplary father.

signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C. Don Adinuba, said there was no doubt that the governor would leave the country after his tenure as he has always announced so, but insisted that the governor was ready to account for his years in office. The release described the news of the governor being put on the commission's watchlist as sponsored, stating that currently, the governor was outside the country, and legitimately travelled without disguising or sneaking out. "Nigerians were dismayed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) went a new low on Wednesday,

November 24, 2021, when it sponsored media reports, claiming that it has placed Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State on its watchlist. "The EFCC provided no details of how Governor Obiano has been placed on its watch list, but made a reference to a letter it purportedly wrote on November 15, 2021, to the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), asking it to inform the anti-graft agency anytime the governor is travelling out of the country. "Everything that can be wrong with politically motivated statements like this one is obviously wrong with this statement. The EFCC knows full

well that it is acting inelegantly in this instance, and so has tried as much as possible not to make an official public statement on the alleged placing of Chief Obiano on the watchlist. It furtively gave a section of the media the news report it wrote based, ostensibly, on its letter to the NIS on November 15. "Governor Obiano is out of the country currently, and he travelled through one of the country’s international airports. He did not disguise himself, but rather left the country with his identity fully disclosed at the necessary immigration point. "The EFCC sounded more inelegant, when it claimed in the sponsored press report that it received intelligence reports

that the governor plans to ‘flee’ from Nigeria once he hands over power next March 17 to the newly elected Anambra State governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo. "Chief Obiano has never left any persons in doubt that he will relocate to his base in the United States once he finishes his tenure. As early as Wednesday, March 4, 2020, he announced his decision to a meeting of the Anambra State Council of Elders. "The EFCC went too far to announce in November that it is observing him. We are not aware of any state governor, who had up to four months to be in office and the EFCC went on to sponsor media reports that he was being investigated.

other security agencies, certainly.” On the rising insecurity orchestrated by banditry and insurgency, Aregbesola, said the President has asked the heads of military and other security agencies not to rest on their oars until all the security challenges were solved and Nigerians could sleep with their two eyes closed. He said the president, after receiving adequate briefs from all security chiefs, the security agencies and intelligence organisations for security nationwide, appreciated the successes and gains recorded by all of them. His words: “He (President Buhari) is of the belief that more must and should still be done. But he commended all of them for the progress we are recording on all fronts.” He reiterated that Buhari ordered them not to rest on their oars, notwithstanding the progress and efforts being made to eliminate insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and all the other criminalities. “The President said we are not yet where we should be. That Nigerians deserve to live in peace. And that until we achieved that, we will not rest. Specific orders have been given to all our security agencies. And we'll see an improved response to all those challenging the sovereignty of Nigeria in whatever form and creating insecurity in whatever form anywhere. “The council, today took firm decision on what to be done and I can assure Nigerians that with the charge from the President and the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces today, there will be an improved response to all forms of criminality in any part of Nigeria.”

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2021 •T H I S D AY

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Danish Naval Forces Kill Four Suspected Pirates Off Nigeria’s Waters Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja A Danish naval patrol has killed four pirates in an exchange of fire in the Gulf of Guinea, off the coast of Nigeria, Denmark’s armed forces said yesterday. The incident occurred on Wednesday when the Frigate Esbern Snare, which has been patrolling the area since early November, attempted to board the pirate boat, AFP reported. “No Danish soldiers were injured, but five pirates were shot. Four of the pirates died. One was injured,” the military said. The authorities in Denmark stressed that the Danish forces fired warning shots, and the pirates immediately fired back. “The Danish soldiers acted in self-defence and returned fire,” the statement said. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told a news conference that the soldiers’ intervention had “probably prevented concrete pirate attacks against vessels in the region.” Frederiksen, who had been scheduled to visit the Danish ship later yesterday during a visit to Ghana, said the Esbern Snare had “made an important and significant contribution to

security in the Gulf of Guinea”. The Head of the Federation of Danish shipowners, Anne Steffensen, praised the intervention, saying: “The presence of Danish soldiers is absolutely necessary and, even if this appears harsh, piracy has a price.” After the shooting, the pirate ship sank and the eight pirates were brought aboard the frigate, where a seriously injured one of their number was treated, the statement added. The Esbern Snare, Danish armed forces , were deployed last month to the Gulf of Guinea amid heightened security risks from pirates, said they had spotted a fast-moving vessel carrying eight suspected pirates near a number of commercial ships. The incident took place in international waters, 25 to 30 nautical miles south of Nigeria’s territorial boundary, a spokesman noted, saying that the motorboat, spotted by a helicopter deployed by the frigate, was carrying equipment associated with piracy, including ladders. It was the first time the frigate had opened fire during its current mission to the Gulf of Guinea, the spokesman said. A piracy hotspot stretching

5,700 kilometres (3,540 miles) from Senegal to Angola, the Gulf of Guinea saw 195 attacks in 2020. The same year, 130 of 135 hostage takings at sea occurred in the region, according to the International Maritime Office.

The Danish helicopter-equipped frigate and its 175 sailors “are fulfilling an important task by protecting Danish and other commercial vessels in the region,” Defence Minister Trine Bramsen told news agency Ritzau.

Copenhagen in March announced it was sending the vessel to patrol the zone, where some 40 Danish ships operate daily. The Danish Prime Minister, Frederiksen is currently in neighbouring Ghana and due

to visit the Esbern Snare. The Gulf of Guinea has been a piracy hot spot for years, but incidents have decreased since national authorities stepped up security efforts aided by foreign naval ships.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR AWARD…

L-R: Chief Technology Officer, inq.Digital, Olumide Idowu; Head, Human Capital Ameze Osague-Iduh; Head, Products and Services, Funke Atanda, and Senior Manager, Business Development Group, Akinbiyi Akinribido at the 2021 Nigeria Tech Innovation and Telecom Awards ceremony in Lagos... recently ABAYOMI AKINYELE

Amotekun Arrests Suspected Fulani Man Family Demands Justice over Killing of for Kidnapping in Ondo Controversial Buhari Supporter in Anambra

Men of the Ondo State Security Network Agency also known as Amotekun, have arrested a man identified as Zidi Amodu for allegedly kidnapping two Fulani men at Supare-Akoko, in Akoko South West Local Goverment Area of the state. Parading the suspect alongside 12 others at the headquarters of the command in Akure, yesterday , the state Commander of Amotekun, Mr. Adetunji Adeleye, said: “This is a very special one because it has been the case of herdsmen and people from a particular tribe of the country. “We have a different scenario of herdsmen being kidnapped by fellow Fulani men and the victims are Amidu Ibrahim, and Musa Ibrahim. They are siblings and were kidnapped in Supare-Akoko and valuables were taken from them after they were kidnapped.

They were tied and about to be slaughtered by fellow Fulani men before our men rescued them. According to Adeleye, “we penetrated the forest where they were and we were able to apprehend one of the kidnappers. He confessed to the crime and said it is a group of seven and that they migrated to the state. They told us that the last kidnap they did involved eight people and when the Amotekun came, they all scattered. “We were able to rehabilitate two of the victims and are here with us. The affected Kidnapper which is Zidi Amodu is also here with us. He claimed that he came in for the purpose of this kidnapping from Okene and that they hired cows as cover and perpetrate this act in the bad portion of Ajowa, Supare, Akunu, in Akoko area of Ondo State.”

Alleged N6.3bn Fraud: Court Declines EFCC Application to Reassign Jang’s Case Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

A Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos yesterday refused to grant an application by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) seeking to return the case file of a former Governor of the state, Senator Jonah Jang to the state Chief Judge for reassignment to a new judge. Trial judge, Justice Christie Dabup, who took over the case after the retirement of Justice Daniel Longji in December 2020, declined the application by the EFCC Counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN). Jang is standing trial alongside Yusuf Pam, an former cashier in the office of the Secretary to

the state government on alleged N6.3 billion fraud charges brought before the court by the EFCC. The anti-graft agency first arraigned the duo before Justice Longji on 17 counts bordering on criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of public money in March 2018. However, after Justice Longji retired in December 2019 after hearing the matter for 34 times, the state Chief Judge, Justice Yakubu Dakwak reassigned the case to a Justice Christie Dabup who started hearing on the matter afresh. But since the re-arraignment, the court had not made any meaningful progress due to stalled proceedings resulting from repeated absence of the prosecution counsel.

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka The family of human rights activist and supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr. Kenechukwu Okeke, has demanded justice over the killing of the activist by his former tenant in Nkpor, Anambra State. Okeke was said to have been macheted by his attackers numbering seven in his compound and a keg of fuel

poured on him before he was lit up and left to burn to death. The incident happened in October. The controversial activist, who had dragged many celebrities and media outfits, including the CNN to court for defaming President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration was killed in Nkpor, near Onitsha, Anambra State, in the presence of his wife, Mrs. Blessing Odinakachi Okeke and his little daughter.

Okeke’s wife, who disclosed this to THISDAY said: “Kenechukwu Okeke was killed by his tenant. The tenant, Chiadiobi was living in our house, but when he packed out without our knowledge and asked that to be given two months of his rent that he left, we told him he should have notified us that he was packing out. “My husband was not around the day he came, but I told him he packed out of the house

without our knowledge and should not be given back any money. He threatened to deal with us, saying he will teach my husband a lesson. I called my husband and told him what the boy said and that he should not come to confront him, since they say he is a bad boy. My husband later reported the matter to the DSS and to the police, and he was made to write an undertaking, but he was

Witness Tells Court How Chidinma Sold Late Ataga’s Apple Laptop for N495,000 Wale Igbintade A prosecution witness, Mr. Ifeoluwa Oluwo, yesterday told a Lagos High Court, sitting at Tafa Balewa Square, how Chidinma Ojukwu, the alleged murder suspect of Super TV Chief Executive Officer, Usifo Ataga, sold an Apple MacBook Laptop, of the deceased to him. Oluwo said he bought the Laptop from the Chidinma (first defendant)on June 18, 2021, for the sum of N495,000, after negotiations, just two

days after the body of Ataga was found at the short service apartment in Lekki. Oluwo stated this while testifying in the ongoing trial of Chidinma Ojukwu, a 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, and one Adedapo Quadri. The witness told the court that it was after he bought the Laptop that he saw Chidinma on social media, regarding a murder case connected to her.

The witness who said he deals in the sales of phones, laptops, and accessories at Computer Village, and has been in the business for five years, Oluwo, who is the third prosecution witness (PW3), was led in evidence in chief by the Lagos State prosecuting counsel, Mr. Yusuf Sule. The witness, who testified before Justice Yetunde Adesanya, also identified the Chidinma as a customer. He told the court that Chidinma

made a purchase of a phone on April 30, 2021, and sold a laptop to him on June 18, 2021. The witness told the court that as at the time the first defendant walked into his office, he was not around but that he was called in later for the final inspection of the Laptop. Oluwo said: “I asked her (first defendant) to unlock the Laptop and she did, so I conducted my internal observation which included speed performance, the circle count of the battery, and general functionality.

House to Investigate Uncompleted N200bn Lokoja-Benin Road Project Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives at the plenary yesterday ordered investigation into the rehabilitation and expansion of the road linking Lokoja in Kogi State to Benin-city, Edo State, which has gulped N200billion. The order followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Johnson Oghuma, just as the House also asked the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, to put formidable security apparatus

and strategy to stop the incessant bank robberies in Osun State. Moving the motion titled: ‘Need to Investigate the Utilisation of over N200 billion on Construction of Lokoja to Benin Road’, Oghuma noted that the dualisation of the Lokoja–Benin federal highway from Obajana junction to Benin-city, was awarded to a consortium of contractors in 1999 with a completion date of December 2021. He said: “Over N200billion has been budgeted from 1999 to

2021 in addition to the various loans and interventions projects such as SUKUK, among others. The road is a major highway connecting routes from the North to East, South–south and western parts of Nigeria. The House is dismayed that the Lokoja–Benin section is now a death trap, as people can no longer travel safely, and what was a three-hour trip has now become a day journey, and sometimes impassable. “The House is concerned that if no urgent intervention to construct the Lokoja-Benin

oad is taken, lives and goods worth billions of naira will be destroyed. The House is desirous of the need to unearth the latent and obvious reasons behind the total abandonment of the road projected for completion in December 2021.” The House also urged the IG and other relevant authorities to relocate the 39th Mopol Unit to Ikirun, Ifelodun Local Government Area headquarters, where the unit was to be located to curtail the escalating crime rate in the area.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS XTRA

31-year-old Man to Die for Kidnapping in A’Ibom Okon Bassey in Uyo An Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Ikot Ekpene, has sentenced a 31-year-old man to death for kidnapping a four -year-old infant boy, yet to be recovered till the judgement. The convict, Ekerete Michael Ukpong, a native of Udok Atai in Ikono Local Government Area was sentenced yesterday to death by Justice Augustine Odokwo. In a one-hour judgement, Justice Odokwo found the convict guilty of kidnapping, punishable by death, under section one of the Akwa Ibom State Internal Security and Enforcement Law, 2009. Justice Odokwo held that the prosecuting counsel had notified the court that the victim, four -year-old Success Amos Kalu, a native of Ohafia in Abia State was kidnapped 25th September, 2015, at Ibiakpan Akananwan, Ikot Ekpene. The Judge said the prosecutor had further informed the court that the little boy was yet to be found by the time of passing the judgement.

Justice Odokwo while issuing the ruling noted that kidnapping was prevalent in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria at large, hence, all hands must be on deck to rid the society of the menace,

The Nigerian Depositors Insurance Corporation (NDIC) yesterday said it has paid a total of N11.76 billion as insured sum to 535,815 depositors, while N101.666 billion was also paid as uninsured sum from 1989 to June ,2021. The Managing Director/, Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bello Hassan, disclosed this in Benin City, Edo State at the ongoing Edo International Trade Fair. Represented by the Corporation Senior Manager, Benin Zone, Mr. Udofor Ukpom, Hassan said since the establishment of NDIC in 1989 as a statutory agency of government with four broad mandates, it has been protecting depositors by providing an orderly means of

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS MGBO COLETTE ISU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS.MGBO COLETTE EZUMAH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as NWONUNKU JOSEPHINE CHIAMAKA now wish to be known and addressed as NWAFOR JOSEPHINE CHIAMAKA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note. I, formerly known and addressed as BUKUNMI CHIAGOZIEM ADERETI, now wish to be known and addressed as BUKUNMI CHIAGOZIEM ADERETI-RICHARD. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. I, formerly known and addressed as MISS SHAWON JULIANA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS JULIANA KPAMOR. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

1 (2) of Akwa Ibom State Internal Security and Enforcement Law 2009, the section that provides for punishment for the offense of kidnapping. “That section of the

law provides for only one punishment. I will in this circumstance, follow the law and the law only. The sentence of this Court against the convict is death.” Justice Odokwo pronounced.

Enugu State Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Mr. Chidi Aroh, (5th right); Director of Marketing Communications, Andre Beyers (6th left), Regional Sales Manager, Enugu, Globacom, Mr. Mike Ehumadu (4th right); Assistant Director and Zonal Coordinator of National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Mr. Oliver Madukwe (4th left); and Managing Director , Enugu State Signage and Advertisement Agency, Mr. Ikenna Ezeugwu (2nd right); with winners of Joy Unlimited Extravaganza promo at a prize presentation event held in Enugu…yesterday

resolution and reimbursement in the event of bank failures. He listed the four mandates of NDIC as deposit Guarantee, bank supervision, distress resolution and bank liquidation, with the primary public policy objectives of contributing to financial system stability. He said:”From inception till date, NDIC has been living up to its mandate and public policy objectives of contributing to financial system stability and has paid cumulative amount of N11.76 billion as insured sums to 535, 815 depositors of closed banks while a total of N101.666 billion had been paid as uninsured sum as at 30 June, 2021. In addition, a total of N6.159 billion had been paid as liquidation dividend to 1,955 creditors and shareholders of closed banks.”

CHANGE OF NAME CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as ANGELA CHIAMAGO IFEDIGBO, now wish to be known and addressed as ANGELA CHIAMAGO UGWUOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

are now at large.” Justice Odokwo said: “The judgement should send a clear signal to all and sundry that the full weight of the law will descend on kidnappers.” “I have gone through Section

GLO PROMO WINNERS…

NDIC Pays N11.76bn to 535, 815 Depositors of Closed Banks

Adibe Emenyonu I Benin City

which he said has, “assumed a hydra-headed dimension.” The court held that “the convict is taking the punishment alone although records show that he acted in consent with others, who

I formerly known and addressed as MISS JULIET OBIAGELI NWOSU now wish to be known and addressed as MRS JULIET OBIAGELI OKOLO. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note. I, formerly known and addressed as MRS GBADAMOSI, MARIAM YUSUF, now wish to be known and addressed as MISS AGUSE, MARYAM YUSUF. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as IZUAGIE EMMANUEL, now wish to be known and addressed as IZUAGIE EMMANUEL IMMOAGENE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS WANIKO DORCAS now wish to be known and addressed as MRS JIGAH DORCAS SOKOLAYAM. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note. I formerly known and addressed as MISS UJILE VICTORIA RAWLINGS now wish to be known and addressed as MRS VICTORIA MONDAY INUA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Imo Pitches for NDDC Headship Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The Imo State government is currently pitching for the headship of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), which it claims it’s its right in the spirit of equity, justice and fairness. The NDDC has been embroiled in crisis following the failure to inaugurate the board of the commission, the list of which was submitted to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari. The situation was further aggravated by the insistence of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Goodwill Akpabio, to conduct a forensic audit of the agency’s financial dealings. Akpabio has since submitted the audit report but the situation remains the same. THISDAY gathered that out of the 9-member-states of the commission, only four states have produced and dominated the position of managing director. They are Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa. Other member states include Imo, Abia, Edo, Ondo and Cross River States. However, the dominance of the

headship of the commission by the said states violates the provisions of the commission, which states that the position of managing director should rotate amongst member-states, starting with state with the highest quantum of oil and shall rotate among member states in order of production. A document sighted by THISDAY, however, listed the former heads of the agency to includeMr. Godwin Omene, Delta State (2000); Mr Emmanuel Aguorivwodo, Delta State; Timi Alaibe, Bayelsa State (2007) and Mr Chibuzor Ugwuoha, Rivers State. Others were Chris Oboh, Rivers State (2011 to 2013); Mrs. Ibim Semenetari, Rivers State (2013); Mr Nsima Ekere, Akwa Ibom State 2016; Prof Nelson Broimbaifa Bayelsa State (2019) and Mrs. Jol Nunieh, Rivers State (2019 - 2020); Prof Pondel Bayelsa State (2020) and Barr. Effiong Akwa, Akwa Ibom State (2020 to present). “From the list of past managing directors of the commission, it is obvious that only four states: Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta States, have monopolised the position since the inception of the commission. “This is in conflict with the

express provisions of Section 12(1) of the NDDC Act 2000,which provides, ‘That there shall be for the Commission a Managing Director and two Executive Directors, who shall be indigenes of oil producing areas starting with the members states of the commission with the highest production quantum of oil and shall rotate among member states in order of production,” it said. Section 2(1) of the NDDC Act 2000 states that, “There is hereby established for the Commission a governing board (in this Act referred to as ‘the Board’) which shall consist of, (a) Chairman, that is one person, who shall be an indigene of an oil producing area to represent each of the following States. (i) Abia State (ii) Akwa Ibom State (iii) Bayelsa State (iv) Cross River State (v) Delta State (vi} Edo State (vii) Imo State (viii) Ondo State, and (x) Rivers State.” It further stated that (c) Three persons to represent non-oil mineral producing States (d), one representative of oil producing companies in the Niger Delta nominated by the Oil producing companies (e), one person to represent the Federal Ministry of Finance (f), one person to

represent the Federal Ministry of Environment (g), the Managing Director of the Commission; and (h) two Executive Directors. “Section 12(1) of the NDDC Act provides that there shall be for the commission, a Managing Director, and two Executive Directors, who shall be indigenes of the areas starting with the members states of the Commission with the highest production quantum of of and shall rotate among member states in order of production.” The documents further showed that Imo State was ranked the 4th highest oil producing state of the NDDC states, but has never headed the commission. “At present, Imo State is ranked the 4th highest in production quantum of oil and has never been represented in the executive management of the commission. As a nation founded on law and justice, it is important to implement the provisions of the NDDC Act by rotating the position of managing director as provided by its enabling legislation and to give the Imo people a sense of belonging. There can be no better time to appoint the managing director of the commission from Imo State than now,” it said.

DHQ: 996 Terrorists, Families Surrender to Troops

Kingsley Nwezeh inAbuja

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said yesterday that a total of 996 Boko Haram terrorists and their families comprising 203 adult males, 302 adult females and 491 children surrendered to troops at different locations in Borno State. It said the insurgents and their families surrendered to troops in the past two weeks following sustained offensive on their

locations even as troops decimated 90 insurgents within two weeks. At a media briefing in Abuja, Acting Director, Directorate of Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Brig. Gen. Benard Onyeuko, said 90 insurgents were killed while 21 others were arrested. “No fewer than 90 terrorists were neutralised and 21 of others arrested” by troops of Operation Hadin Kai in the North-east.

“Also, 98 assorted weapons, including AK-47 rifles and 2,589 rounds of ammunition were recovered within the perio while seven kidnapped civilians were rescued”, he said. He said troops in search of terrorists in Baga town arrested a notorious terrorist named, Mr. Haladu Saleh, who has been on security forces’ wanted list since 2018. Similarly, along Bukarti –

Yusufari road and Maima Hari Checkpoint along Biu – Damboa road, troops intercepted and impounded BHT logistics supplies. Onyeuko said that following credible intelligence on terrorists’ activities in Karawar village, troops raided their enclave and recovered arms and ammunition as well as assorted drugs and arrested two drug peddlers named; Mr Ezekiel Karson and Galadima Bako with large quantities of cannabis sativa.

Gas Leak: Bayelsa Community Protests Negligence by FG, Conoil Olusegun SamuelinYenagoa The oil rich coastal community of Sagana, Brass Local Government of Bayelsa State, yesterday protested over what they described as negligence and insensitivity from the federal government and Conoil, weeks after gas from an oil rig facility spewed unspecified quantity of gas into the environment. The community leaders, who protested to the facility through

their boats, called on relevant authorities to compel Conoil, the owner of the rig to come to their aid as the coastal community is about to lose its main source of livelihood, which is fishing. At the peaceful protest to the deep blue sea where the rig is located, a few kilometers off the shores of Sangana, the locals threatened to shut down the operations of Conoil until further notice.

While calling on the federal government and the international community to take action, they said the gas leakage from the oil and gas exploration activity of Conoil, has damaged aquatic life in the fishing community. The livelihood of the people of Sagana and the neigbouring communities is largely dependent on fishing. Like most communities in the Niger Delta, Sangana

has abundance of natural gas and crude oil, but this is not commensurate with infrastructural development and other basic amenities. The Adriatic One Rig owned by Conoil, operators of Oil Mining Lease 59 which is located in the community had spewed an unspecified quantity of gas into the environment for almost three weeks before the leakage was brought under control.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2021 • THISDAY

BACKPAGE CONTINUATION REFLECTIONS ON THE BLINKEN’S VISIT the ascedance of Buhari to the Nigerian presidency. Working to the answer, Secretary of State John Kerry practically assumed the role of announcing the results of the Nigerian presidential election of 2015 even before all the results came in. As I noted elsewhere, ‘the perception of President Donald Trump which borders on admiration and identification, among a critical segment of the Nigerian intelligentsia, is puzzling. Rather than judge him on his merits as president, the admiration they have for the American President, springs from a deep disappointment with his predecessor, Barack Obama-specifically for the role he played in facilitating the election of incumbent Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari’. To further endear himself to Nigeria was the visceral dislike Trump telegraphed to Buhari on the latter’s ingratiating visit to America shortly after he assumed office as American president. His perception of Buhari, as reported by the Wall Street journal was “lifelessness” and he gave a directive he would not be disposed to receiving the Nigerian President in the near future. As a matter of fact were it not for the obligation America owed Nigeria for the purchase of the Tucano fighter helicopters, he probably would not have found any reason to grant audience to Buhari in the first place. At the behest of the Nigerian Christian lobby and in recognition of Buhari’s bias in the near genocidal Fulani militia violence against the Christian communities of the Middle Belt region, he wasted no time in designating Nigeria a violator of religious freedom. Given its newly acquired reputation from bungling America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, the reason for delisting Nigeria from the ranks of religious liberty violators may be no more than the simplistic reason of disowning Trump especially against the backdrop of the exorbitant mindless adoption of Trump’s America’s withdrawal-fromAfghanistan calendar. Yet another perspective is the counterpoint of a strategic diplomatic bargaining in which a process is initiated with a view to softening the ground for consequential engagement on other significant matters of common interest. The tragedy of contemporary Nigeria is that the country has, once again, lapsed into the default position of escalating political crisis in which the government is the major agent provocateur. In the tradition of the Abacha precedence, Nigeria is confronted with a fraught scenario of how best to manage the exit of another bull in the China shop. The Yoruba captures it in the saying that ‘ka pe were ni baba, ki o le je ka ri ona koja’ which means cajoling the madman with pretentious respect so he may grant us a leeway out of the corner we are boxed into. This rationale is, of course, assuming the best case scenario of (a good faith motivated) American concern for the wellbeing of Nigeria. Such scenario could

Blinken

Given its newly acquired reputation from bungling America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, the reason for delisting Nigeria from the ranks of religious liberty violators may be no more than the simplistic reason of disowning Trump especially against the backdrop of the exorbitant mindless adoption of Trump’s America’s withdrawal-from-Afghanistan calendar be the need to anticipate and preclude the unintended consequence of stimulating and radicalising irascible passions along the religious divide to which northern Nigeria is prone. If this were the case the question then arises - should this anticapatory deescalation be undertaken at the expense

of the Christian underdog? The attribution of idealistic motivation to Blinken is highly improbable and exposes me to the charge of incredible naivety. But then didn’t the Americans forbid the use of the Tucano fighter helicopters from being used by the Nigerian government for any

purpose other than fighting terrorism in the North-east? Reacting to a question on whether the Tucano fighter planes might be deployed against secessionists in the South-east, the American government official inserted the preclusion in this diplomatese “We are pleased to deepen our security cooperation with the Nigerian government. I think we made it very clear our expectations about this platform where it would be used and in the right way and we are always raising concerns when we have them and that it’s true with all our security partners around the world”. Back to reality, the question was put to Dele Farotimi the other day by the South African broadcasting corporation, SABC, to second guess the ulterior motive of the Blinken outreach or if in fact there is one. It is indeed naive to assume that America would act in any respect other than the dictates of what it deems its own self-interest yet you do not need to be a friend of Nigeria to come to terms with the fact that the Nigerian status quo is not sustainable-with a compelling potential for the situation to unravel and spiral out of control. For the international community especially the unwilling potential hosts of resultant tens of thousands of Nigerian refugees such a prospect is a nightmare scenario. And the kind of refugees I have in mind are not your run of the mill desperadoes but those with enough valid documentation to emigrate with the near certainty of remaining in situ in the American haven. Not to talk of our British next door neighbour who should realistically expect a minimum of one million legal Nigerian settlers. Noted the former American ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell, “Nigeria’s security challenges are already destabilising the West African region in the face of resurgent jihadism, making the battles of the Sahel that much more difficult to contain. And spillover from Nigeria’s failures ultimately affect the security of Europe and the United States”. In the unlikely event that Mr Blinken has not read the report provided by Campbell for the American Council on foreign relations here are other indicative excerpts: “Nigeria has long teetered on the precipice of failure. But now, unable to keep its citizens safe and secure, Nigeria has become a fully failed state of critical geopolitical concern. Its failure matters because the peace and prosperity of Africa and preventing the spread of disorder and militancy around the globe depend on a stronger Nigeria. Indeed, thoughtful Nigerians over the past decade have debated, often fervently, whether their state has failed. Increasingly, their consensus is that it has..Nigeria now confronts six or more internal insurrections and the inability of the Nigerian state to provide peace and stability to its people has tipped a hitherto very weak state into failure.”

2023 ELECTIONS: HITTING ROCK BOTTOM, FINDING A WAY UP 2010 and those polls also confirm increased voter apathy. We hit ROCK BOTTOM (so far) in the Anambra Governorship elections of November 2021, where total number of valid votes cast was marginally below 10% of registered voters. Indeed, Professor Charles Soludo won that election by securing only 112,229 votes out of 2,466,638 registered voters i.e. 4.5% of the registered electorate only. Do not misinterpret this to mean that I am unhappy for him. I heartily congratulate him on his important victory, but I am simply stating the facts as regards the very low voter turnout. All over the country, it has almost become fashionable for the educated young voter (18+ and above) to brag that he or she has no intention of registering to vote or voting or both. This was my definition of ROCK BOTTOM at the Ignite Conference. The most popular reasons which educated youths give for opting out are: 1) the votes will not count anyway; and 2) the candidates are uninspiring. I would like to remind these youths that, over 2,000 years ago, Socrates famously said: “One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors”. Three very important and significant things happened this month: 1) The Federal Executive Council approved the National Development Plan 2021-25, in respect of which I was the Private Sector Co-Chair of the National Steering Committee for the Plan (alongside the Finance Minister who was the Public Sector Co-Chair); 2) Anambra Governorship Election results confirmed a new low in terms of voter apathy (actual turnout of registered voters was only 10%

approx); and 3) The Judicial Panel for the EndSARS Protests/Lekki Tollgate Shooting completed its report and some of its key findings became public knowledge. On the face of it, 1), 2) and 3) above are totally unconnected, but in reality they are interwoven. I pointed out during an Arise TV interview last week that the findings of the Judicial Panel and the ensuing WHITE PAPER are important because they tell the world whether we are building a society on JUSTICE and the TRUTH or whether we have chosen a path of INJUSTICE and LIES. I also pointed out on an NTA TV Panel last week that the National Development Plan 2021-25 will only succeed if there is a dose of political activism that will hold the “feet of politicians to the fire” and “force” them to implement the right policies plus uphold truth and justice. If we do not do this, the projected N348 trillion private sector financing (86% of the projected financing need for the Plan) may not materialise. Private capital will seek a home where it feels more comfortable or where the risk/reward equation is more interesting. The 3 tiers of Government between them are expected to contribute less than 15% of the projected financing for the Plan - achieving that might sound like a stretch because total Nigerian Government revenue as a share of GDP is currently only 7% approx (among the lowest in the world). In truth that 7% figure can rise to 15%, but only if we significantly eliminate wastage and revenue leakages as well as force many Government agencies to limit their costs/overheads to no more than 50% of the revenue that they receive or raise, as recommended by the Plan. The

political will to do all this might only be found, in part, through the injection of a right dose of political activism. Meanwhile, the Anambra election result tells us that, instead of increased political activism, we have entered a new era of heightened voter apathy and mass disillusionment amongst educated youths. To find a way back up, after hitting rock bottom, we must reinvigorate our educated youths. We must bring back a large volume of discerning young educated voters into the political equation because it is their active presence and participation that will inject the required dose of political activism that will force politicians to get serious and also bring out a new type of politician that can win an election on the back of harnessing the votes of educated youths. The structure of the Nigerian economy is changing. By far the fastest growing sector of our economy in 2020 was the ICT sector which grew at 12.6%. Nigeria is also fast becoming a global “soft power” on account of the successes of our Creatives who excel in Music, Film, Art, Fashion etc. These are all newer activities that grew immensely in the 21st Century and they are sectors that are not well understood by old fuddy duddies. For these new sectors to thrive (and they are driven largely by the youth) it will be a big mistake for the youths to leave the economic management and political space to ancient mariners who still think that the economy is only about agriculture, manufacturing and fossil fuels. For those who continue to argue that the 2023 elections are not the priority, because you favour a new Constitution and/or

restructuring or indeed you favour a separatist agenda, my advice is that, whilst agitating for those things, you should also go ahead and elect, in 2023, persons who share your agenda to represent you in your Local Government, State House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate etc. I still do not understand how surrendering all of those positions, plus Governor and President, to your opponents constitutes your best option. How does empowering your “enemy” to represent you improve your position? Is that mindset not akin to deliberately scoring an own goal against yourself in a soccer match, whilst still hoping to beat your opponent? Anap Foundation is now working hard with selected influencers from across the country and the diaspora to try and bring back or bring in many more young voters. This is the raison d’etre for our decision to launch the #GoNigeria Initiative last week which aims to encourage youths aged 18+ to register en-masse now and collect their voters cards well BEFORE the 30 June, 2022 deadline for registration so that even the angry youths can properly channel their anger towards the 2023 elections. Our challenge to the youths who have already registered is that they should undertake to convince a minimum of 4 other youths to do the same because 1 + 4 = 5. If our youths respond positively and engage politically instead of withdrawing, we can very quickly turn this ship around and create the Nigeria that they desire and deserve. •Atedo N.A. Peterside CON is the President & Founder of Anap Foundation and the Founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC

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FRIDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Super Eagles' Path to World Cup Finals to Be Decided Today In Cairo NDIDI FROM ZERO TO HERO... Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi made up for conceding penalty by heading in from six yards out following James Maddison's sumptuous corner against Polish side Legia Warsaw at the Kings Power Stadium last night. The two other goals in the 3-1 victory for Brendan Rodgers men were scored by Harvey Barnes (11th minute and J. Maddison 21st minute). The victory lifts Leicester from the bottom of Group C to the top on eight points with just one game remaining. Femi Solaja

Super Eagles and the nine other qualified countries for the final playoffs of the 2022 World Cup will focus their attentions on the Egyptian capital city of Cairo today to know the format this stage of the competition will follow. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is holding its 13th Extraordinary General Assembly in Cairo, Egypt today and one of the items on the agenda is the date of the draw as well as format of the playoffs for the final African round for the Mundial

in Qatar. Originally, the playoffs by the 10 group leaders was scheduled for the international match calendar of March 2022. But following FIFA’s amendments of the playoff involving intercontinental teams of Europe and South America to be a single match in one venue due to congestions in the fixtures on the calendars of both continents and the long trips involved, speculations were rife that CAF might follow suit and fix the playoff as a single match day in Qatar next year. It is expected that teams from

53rd Asoju Oba Molade Okoya-Thomas Cup to Serve off December 1 Africa’s oldest table tennis tournament, the annual Asoju Oba Molade Okoya-Thomas Cup will kick off on December 1 at the indoor hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos. The tournament which has continually churned out talents for the country will have players competing in nine events this year with Bose Odusanya aiming to exceed her record in the Women’s Singles. Speaking at the press briefing to herald the commencement of the tournament, Deji OkoyaThomas said the valuable contribution of the tournament cannot be underestimated. “If there was any doubt in the value this championship has brought to the game of table tennis in Nigeria, we just must take a look at the story of Olajide Omotayo, the winner of the 45th edition of the Men's singles, who carted away a brand-new car. “He is today a member of the Nigeria Men's Table Tennis team and 2019 African Games

Champion. He started by competing in the Cadet category of the Championship, went on to the Junior category and all the way to the Senior category. He presently plays professionally in France. He is one of many who have used this competition as a platform to a successful career,” Okoya-Thomas recalled. For this year, he said: “We are grateful to God that as a family we have been enabled by God through his blessings to continue with the sponsorship. We are still in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic so we will have a reduced number of titles to compete for.” In view of this, nine titles will be competed for this year and they, singles (men and women), doubles (men and women), mixed doubles, para singles standing (men and women), para singles sitting (men and women). The 53rd edition of the championship this year will be held from December 1st to 7th.

2 0 2 2 W O R L D C U P P L AYO F F S West and Central Africa will not accept the proposal as it will be favourable to just the four North African countries.

Being Arabs, they will be more at home playing against non-Arab teams, a situation that may ensure that four of the five

African teams will emerge from North Africa. Only Egypt face the probability of meeting a North African team, being out of the top seeded five teams. Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria are already seeded, just

Rangnick Agrees Six-month Deal with Man Utd as Interim Manager Manchester United and Ralf Rangnick, 63, have agreed terms for him to be appointed as interim manager of the Red Devils on a six-month contract. The 63-year-old German is poised to join United but will not be in charge this weekend against Chelsea while he waits for his work permit. United have agreed terms with Rangnick, but not with Lokomotiv Moscow, where he is the head of sports and development. It comes after United sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Sunday following a trophyless three-year spell as boss. Rangnick won the German Cup with Schalke in 2011 and took RB Leipzig to the final in 2019. During the 2010-11 season he guided Schalke to the semi-finals of the Champions League, where they lost 6-1 on aggregate to United, who were then beaten by Barcelona in the final. United are eighth in the Premier League and Solskjaer, who scored the winning goal in the 1999 Champions League final for the club, was dismissed following an embarrassing 4-1 loss at Watford on Saturday. Michael Carrick, Solskjaer's assistant, was placed in temporary charge, with United saying he would be in place while they looked to appoint an interim manager to the end of the season. Carrick took charge of United on Tuesday for the 2-0 win at Villarreal, a result that ensured they would finish top of their Champions League group.

like Senegal and Nigeria. The FIFA international match calendar for the first quarter of 2022 runs from 21 to 29 March an eight-day window in which two-legged fixtures could be executed.

RESULTS Brondby 1-3 Lyon Rangers 2-0 Spa’Prague Leicester 3-1 Legia Olympiakos 1-0 Fenerbahce Galatasaray 4-2 Marseille Lokomotiv 0-3 Lazio Midtjylland 3-2 Braga Zvezda 1-0 Ludogorets Leverkusen 3-2 Celtic Betis 2-0 Ferencvaros Di’Zagreb 1-1 Genk Rapid Wien 0-2 West Ham

Europa Conference Ralf Rangnick...agrees terms to switch to Old Traﬀord as interim manager

Roma 4-0 Zorya M’Haifa 0-1 U’Berlin Mura 2-1 Tottenham

Rangnick: His Philosophy and Tactics Ralf Rangnick is known as a ‘professor of football’ and has been credited for influencing modern German coaches Jurgen Klopp, Thomas Tuchel, Ralph Hasenhuttl and Julian Nagelsmann. The experienced coach played a key role in establishing the gegenpresstactic where a team immediately fights to win the ball back after losing possession rather than dropping deep. He is also known as one of the pioneers for zonal marking

from set-pieces with his sides well known for a high-pressing game as well as a tendency to play on the front foot. “If you want to increase the speed of your game, you have to develop quicker minds rather than quicker feet,” he said. “At RB Leipzig, we work on increasing the memory space and the processing pace. We put players into the Soccerbot, for example – a machine that simulates previous games and allows players to relive key

moments of matches. “It’s PlayStation football, but with your feet. The players enjoy it so much we have a hard time getting some of them to stop. “Tactics, fitness and rules are all hugely important, but they’re only a means to an end. My job – the job – is to improve players. Players follow you as a manager if they feel that you make them better. That’s the greatest, most sincere motivation there is.”

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SPORTS

Tottenham Embarrassed by Mura’s Last-gasp Winner A much-changed Tottenham side endured a horror evening in Slovenia last night as they were embarrassed by NS Mura 2-1 to leave their hopes of making the Europa Conference League last 16 hanging by a thread. Amadej Marosa's injury-time goal sealed the result after Harry Kane looked to have salvaged a point for 10-man Spurs. Kane chipped in after Tommy Horvat opened the scoring and Ryan Sessegnon's red card reduced woeful Spurs' numbers. It means second place in Group G is the best Spurs can hope to achieve now with their last game. Elsewhere, Taiwo Awoniyi played 74 minutes as Union Berlin defeated Maccabi Haifa 1-0 to boost their chances of finishing second in their Europa

EUROPA LEAGUE Conference League Group E. The German Bundesliga side are just a point behind second placed Slavia Prague on seven points. Feyenoord are the runaway leaders on 11 points. In the Dinamo Zagreb clash with Genk, Super Eagles forward, Paul Onuachu was an unused substitute as Nigeria-Canadian, Ike Ugbo leveled scores 1-1 for the Belgian team. Ugbo is a Canadian national team player. He was born in England but grew up in Canada and played youth soccer there before returning to England, where he played with the youth team of Chelsea

Eunisell Boot Award Sponsor, Ikenga, to Receive Doctorate Degree Chika Ikenna, the Group Managing Director of Eunisell Group, shirt sponsors of Nigeria's leading football club, Rivers United, is to be conferred with a honorary Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa) by the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Umuahia, in Abia State tomorrow. Since 2015, the brand has revolutionised the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) through sponsorship of the Port Harcourt based club as well as introduce the prestigious Eunisell Boot Award for footballers. A premium value of N200,000 per goal is paid by Eunisell to the player with the highest score in the Nigerian topflight every season as a way to revitalise goal scoring by strikers in the NPFL. Ikenga is founder of the Eunisell Group, West Africa’s largest independent chemical as well as oil and gas engineering solutions company.

The doctorate degree award is in recognition of Ikenga's monumental achievements as a renowned industrialist, who has ensured the growth of Eunisell into an indigenous conglomerate as well as elevating the quality of life of Nigerians. Eunisell’s impressive growth, market reputation, regulatory compliance, visionary leadership, operational efficiency and corporate governance adherence earned it the prestigious Nigeria Investor Value Award (NIVA), under Ikenga's guidance. Apart from its contributions in the upstream and downstream sector of the oil industry, Eunisell has boosted Nigeria's domestic league, the Nigeria Professional Football League, as part of its commitment to the development of the society. The Doctorate Degree will be presented at the 10th Convocation Ceremony of the institution, slated for November 27, 2021, in Umudike, Umuahia.

Eto'o Cleared to Stand for Cameroon FA Top Post Former Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o has been cleared to stand in elections to be the next president of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT). A total of six candidates, including incumbent Seidou Mbombo Njoya, have been approved by FECAFOOT’s electoral committee to stand in the polls on 11 December. Another former international Jules Denis Onana is also eligible for the elections, however his 1990 World Cup team-mate Emmanuel Maboang Kessack was ruled out as he owes FECAFOOT $7,600. The other three names on the list of eligible candidates for president include; Crepin Soter Nyamsi, Justin Tagouh and Zacharie Wandja. One other person, Manuel Boyomo, has also been prevented from taking part in the polls because he failed to provide the required number of endorsement letters. When Eto'o, 40, first announced his intentions in September it was amid controversy in Cameroon after candidates with dual nationality had been told they

could not stand in the elections. Eto'o, who also had spells with Inter Milan and Chelsea, was granted dual Spanish nationality during his time at Barcelona.

Harry Kane was shell shocked by the last-gasp winner by Mura in Slovenia...last night

Support for Charity Highlights FirstBank Lagos Open 60th Anniversary Golf The buildup to the just concluded FirstBank Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship was as interesting as the tournament itself. The idea to give back to the needy was something Nigerians, especially golfers, cherish. Tagged “Corporate Golf Challenge for Charity; a part of the FirstBank’s SPARK (Start Performing Acts of Random Kindness) initiative, the plan was to reach out to those in need through the tournament. Truly, the tournament yielded the expected results. Pacelli School for the Blinds was supported with the sum of N5.1m through the initiative while the Down Syndrome Foundation Nigeria

was not left out. The foundation was lifted with the sum of N5.1m also under the SPARK idea. That was not all. Knowing that golf, like any other sport is also prone to injury, the sponsor donated an ambulance to Ikoyi Club 1938 to deal with emergencies at the foremost social club in Lagos. These supports for the needy and the ambulance were perfect ways to celebrate a tournament that has run consistently for 60-year while the sponsor’s commitment and unwavering assistance has kept the tournament going this long. Since its debut in 1961, the

GOLF GIVING BACK TO CHARITY.... L-R: Beatrice Gotua; Principal, Pacelli School for the Blind; Jane Onyeneri; Mrs A. Obetta; Group Executive, Technology & Services, FirstBank, Callistus Obetta, at the presentation of FirstBank’s 60th Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship ﬁnals donation to the school ...recently

Lagos Open has successfully groomed and harnessed talents. And as has been severally proved, Lagos Open is a lift of some sort as some golfers have transitioned from amateur ranks to professional golfing through this yearly tournament. Expectedly, 60th anniversary edition winner Aminu Kadir, just like Kenyan Sam Njoroge who was the champion in 2019, is already eyeing a move to the professional cadre. Speaking shortly after been declared winner, Aminu who said he waited this long for the victory, declared his intention to join the elite professional class. “Next year, I will enroll into the Qualifying School and turn professional golfer. This has always been my dream,” he began before adding that “winning the Lagos Open has boasted my confidence and belief that I will make it”. If Aminu succeeds, he will be joining the likes of Willy Gift, Oche Odoh, Monday Eze, Ibrahim Ocheje, Austin Akpodiette, Abiola Moruf, Olusegun Daniel and a host of others who are making waves as professional golfers. A gross score of 14-over par was all the Ilorin Golf Club-based category-one golfer needed to move to the next level. While Aminu held sway in the amateur category, former winners who are now professionals also gave golf fans something to cheer as seen during the playoffs between Willy Gift from Python Golf Club in Port Harcourt and the visiting Kenyan, Njoroge who had to go on extra four-hole playoff for the decider.

The Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank of Nigeria Limited, Adesola Adeduntan however restated the Bank’s commitment to promoting sports in the country. “FirstBank’s support for the development of sport stems from the understanding that it is a major unifying force for individuals and communities, defying language, culture, religion, beliefs and social strata”. He also describes sports as a veritable platform for promoting a healthy nation, as well as a major vehicle for social and economic development”. These beliefs, Adeduntan, who was represented by Callistus Obetta said have been the Bank’s greatest motivation for partnering relevant institutions for sports development, through the sponsorship of major tournaments, one of which is this annual golf tournament. In all, it is a general belief in Nigerian sports circles that FirstBank’s contribution to sports development is close to 200 years of combined support across all sports sector. The Georgian Cup of the Kaduna Polo Club sponsored by the bank has been running for 102 years; Dala Hard Court Lawn Tennis Championship is 32 years old while the Lagos Amateur Open Golf Tournament is 60 years. In addition to the Elephant Girls Basketball Club and a male FirstBank Football Club, these are platforms created by FirstBank to deepen its support for the sector and have achieved the purpose for which they were created.

Friday November 26, 2021

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& RE A SO

Price: N250

MISSILE Gov Wike to Crude Oil Thieves

“You know this bunkering cannot stop because everybody is involved. The military is involved, the police are involved, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps is involved. If not, there is no way illegal bunkering can continue. I don’t know, whether we should take the issue of bunkering to be more serious than treason” – River State Governor, Nyesom Wike, blaming the Armed Forces also, for the nation’s oil theft.

ATEDOPETERSIDE GUEST COLUMNIST

2023 Elections: Hitting Rock Bottom, Finding a Way Up

he subject of this article was imposed on me by TASCK Creative Company Limited, who were the organisers of the Ignite Conference 2021 which took place in Lagos on 17 November, 2021. Led by MI Abaga, the musician/rapper/entertainer, TASCK has, over the past few years, actively tried to mobilise influential voices in the Creative Sector to drive activities to promote civic engagement, including campaigns and music tours to encourage the youth to vote and actively use their voices and platforms for change. According to TASCK, they took the learnings from previous conferences, other interactions and the EndSars Protests in October, 2020 and deployed all these to create the IGNITE platform. I do not know what informed TASCK to invite me to be the Keynote Speaker at their 2021 IGNITE Conference. However, I accepted the invitation because I admired what they were trying to do, which was to be a “force for good”. In any case, it dovetailed nicely with the work of Anap Foundation, which I founded in 2003, and which has only one declared objective/ mission as shown on our website (www. anapfoundation.com); TO PROMOTE GOOD GOVERNANCE. I am an economist and an investment banker by training and an entrepreneur

Buhari by choice and so I understand that it is impossible to separate economics from politics. Indeed, in most countries where the economy is under-performing substantially (including Nigeria), nothing might change significantly for as long as politics continues

to be allowed to trump economics. To move the needle significantly in Nigeria, you need more knowledgeable leaders as well as a more discerning electorate. An ignorant and hungry electorate can give politicians a licence to do whatever they want with the economy, provided they pay each voter a little amount of money to secure their votes once in four years. Such an arrangement can go on in perpetuity, if the more educated voters get disillusioned and opt out of the electoral process. Demography is important and in Nigeria’s case, 53.9% of our population are aged 19 and below, whilst 95.2% of the population are aged 59 and below. A corollary of this proposition is that 4.8% of the population are aged 60 and above. When youths complain that old politicians continue to dominate top political appointments, I remind them that it is for the 95.2% to rise up, organise themselves and kick out the oppressive 4.8%. The good news is that there are even some converts within the 4.8%, who will gladly work with the 95.2% to kick out the old “failed” politicians. Nobody is going to come from Mars, Jupiter, Australia, the UK, USA or France to improve Nigeria. That said, I sympathise with our citizens who are seeking greener pastures in Canada and a few other rich countries that will take in a smattering of

Nigerians on selective criteria; usually to accelerate the brain drain from Nigeria. The fact however is that, with a population of 200 million (of which at least 100 million are below the poverty line), Nigerians are far too many to be absorbed by the rest of the world. Whether we like it or not, it will remain the responsibility of knowledgeable, skilled and patriotic Nigerians (at home and abroad) to improve the country and the plight of our impoverished citizenry. Shirking that responsibility does not come so easily to some of us who have had Nigeria embedded in our DNA from childhood. I have personally not found that country that I would like to emigrate to - and I have travelled through all of the 5 major continents as well as Australia. A very worrying trend in Nigeria is the falling voter turnout which invariably is a measure of voter apathy. Voter turnout as a percentage of total registered voters, climbed from 52.26% in 1999 to 69.08% in 2003, but then it has been dropping ever since; 57.49% in 2007, 53.68% in 2011, 43.65% in 2015 and 34.75% in 2019. Even if we accept that some of the earlier percentages were heavily inflated, the downward trend is real. Anap Foundation has commissioned opinion polls several times across the country since Continued on page 53

AKINOSUNTOKUN DIALOGUE WITH NIGERIA

akin.osuntokun@thisdaylive.com

Reflections on the Blinken’s Visit “In recent years, many thousands of civilians have been killed in attacks led by Islamist Boko Haram and Fulani militias in northern and central-belt states. The underlying drivers of conflict are complex, yet targeted violence and the perpetration of atrocities against predominantly Christian communities suggest that religion and ideology play a key part” – The British House of Lords

here are several perspectives from which we can look at the position of the American government on the management and mismanagement of religious conflict in Nigeria as expressed by the American Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, on his recent trip to Nigeria. One is sheer incompetence. This perspective emanates from the implausible disastrous mismanagement of America’s exit from Afghanistan some months ago. Beyond the responsibility of the buck stopping at the table of the president, the professional responsibility was that of same Antony Blinken in his capacity as the Secretary

of State. The following is a collage of typical assessments of the withdrawal by American senators “The withdrawal was a dismal failure,” an “ineptitude” that has cost the United States international credibility. “There’s not enough lipstick in the world to put on this pig to make it look any different than what it actually is. The execution of the US withdrawal was clearly and fatally flawed”. Another perspective is the comparative African foreign policy of the Democrats and Republicans. I have always struggled to rationalise the relative detachment of the presidency of President Barack Obama from Africa and the sum of his African foreign policy. The kernel of my sympathetic understanding however is that Obama’s utility for Africa transcended the quantification of the material impact of his presidency on the continent and assumes the proportions of the vicarious honour and validation his incumbency confered on Africans by the unique attainment of being elected the first African-American President of the United States; and acquiting himself with distinction and dignity in

his eight years in office. Whereas the argument for President George W Bush would easily find traction in concrete African foreign policy achievements. The typical assessment is that “Bush has high approval ratings on the continent on account of a number of significant initiatives including his focus on alleviating major heath challenges facing the African people. In 2003, he launched the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which was then the largest single effort by any nation targeting a specific disease. Bush equally led the push for the G-8 nations to demand the multi-lateral debt relief initiative (MDRI), which encouraged the IMF, World Bank and the US to reduce the debt burden of highly indebted poor countries. Bush also successfully passed reforms that converted poor country debt into grants”. Conversely President Bill Clinton almost destroyed his legacy with the near fatal error of granting a waiver to the life president aspirations of General Sani Abacha (Nigeria’s most notorious military dictator). He made the most infamous gaffe on a visit to South Africa in 1998 where he said “If he (Abacha)

stands for election, we hope he will stand as a civilian. There are many military leaders who have taken over chaotic situations in African countries but have moved toward democracy. That can happen in Nigeria ... sooner rather than later I hope. It is human to be wise after the event but we recall that 17 years later, the Obama administration was at the forefront of rooting for the election of Major General Muhammadu Buhari as president in 2015. To this end Obama famously and pointedly snubbed Nigeria on his visit to Africa in 2013 and politically undermined the effort of President Goodluck Jonathan at making a significant headway in fighting Boko Haram terrorism by obstructing the sale of American military hardware to Nigeria. To coordinate the propaganda warfare against Jonathan was none other than David Axlerod, Obama’s chief political handyman. If President Donald Trump improbably enjoys a significant support base in Nigeria today, it all boils down to the backlash of perceived Obama’s (and the Democrats) role in facilitating Continued on page 53

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