FRIDAY 10TH DECEMBER 2021 by THISDAY Newspapers Ltd

In Reciprocal Action, FG Reduces Emirates Flights to Once Weekly Chinedu Eze In a move signalling reciprocity of action, Nigeria’s government, yesterday reduced Emirates flight to the country, both Lagos and Abuja, from daily to once weekly which would be only on Thursdays. The action followed the

decision of the government of the United Arabs Emirates (UAE) to cut Nigeria’s Air Peace flight operations to Sharjah to once a week. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) announced the decision of the government in a letter titled: “Withdrawal of Ministerial Approval of Emirates

Airlines Winter Schedule, dated December 9, 2021 and addressed to the Country Manager, Emirates Airlines Nigeria.” The letter signed by the Director General of NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu read: “I wish to inform you of the withdrawal of the approval granted to Emirates Airlines winter schedule.

This approval was conveyed via a letter with reference number FMA/ATMD/501/C.104/ XV/536 dated 1st December 2021 at 2300Z. “Please, kindly note, henceforth Emirates Airlines is granted approval to operate only one weekly passenger frequency to Abuja on Thursdays. Please be

guided accordingly.” Emirates, last Sunday, operated flights to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to kick off its return to daily flights to the two Nigerian cities. On the other hand, a letter seen by THISDAY that was

addressed to Air Peace on the matter stated: “Greetings from Sharjah Airport. This has reference to your earlier request that we have received from your side to resume scheduled operations into Sharjah Airport for the winter Continued on page 47

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Buhari: Akande Was Victim of Obasanjo's Diabolical Political Double-cross Describes APC chieftain as man of inflexible integrity he can follow to the jungle Author, a selfless leader, says Tinubu Sanwo-Olu, Onu others extol his virtues

Segun James in Lagos and Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari

yesterday reminisced on the failed bid by former Governor Bisi Akande to seek re-election in Osun State in 2003, and laid the

blame squarely on the doorstep of the then president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. He also described Akande who

served as the pioneer National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as a man of inflexible integrity and

a perfect public officer that he can follow to the jungle. The president who spoke in Lagos, at the public presentation

of ‘‘My Participations,” the autobiography of Chief Bisi Continued on page 8

Akande: Buhari Promised to Pick Tinubu as Running Mate in 2015, Then Reneged Chronicles how Osinbajo eventually emerged Former gov attacks Adebanjo, Falae, others Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Former Governor of Osun state and ex-interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, yesterday narrated how Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, as he then was, the presidential candidate of the party at the time, promised to pick Bola Tinubu as his running mate in the 2015 election. Chronicling the events that led to the eventual selection of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Akande, in his autobiography, “My Participations”, published by Gaskia Media Limited, disclosed how Buhari who was then under pressure to drop the former Lagos governor, later reneged on the agreement. In the book which was launched in Lagos, the octogenarian also took a swipe at the trio of Ayo Adebanjo, Olu Falae and Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, coming short of accusing Continued on page 8

UNVEILING AKANDE'S PARTICIPATION... L-R: Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan; former Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; President Muhammadu Buhari; the celebrant and former interim National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande and APC National Leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during the public presentation of Chief Akande’s Autobiography titled: “My Participations”, at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos... yesterday

Omicron: LCCI, NACCIMA Charge Nigerians on Mass Vaccination... Page 5

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

MRS ADERINSOLA OSOBA IS THREESCORE PLUS 10... L-R: Ogun State First Lady, Bamidele Abiodun; her husband, Governor Dapo Abiodun; elder statesman and former governor of the State, Olusegun Osoba; his wife and celebrant, Aderinsola Osoba and Kwara State governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, during the 70th Birthday ceremony of Mrs Aderinsola Osoba at the family residence, Ikoyi, Lagos ... yesterday

Omicron: LCCI, NACCIMA Charge Nigerians on Mass Vaccination Faults red listing US COVID-19 vaccine donation to Nigeria reaches 13.5 million Don't reciprocate travel ban, NMA tells FG Urges caution against removal of fuel subsidy Michael Olugbode, Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja and Dike Onwuamaeze in Lagos The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) have urged Nigerians to embrace vaccination and other governments laid down protocols for the containment of the spread of COVID-19. Both members of the organised private sector (OPS), stated this in separate statements made available to THISDAY yesterday, just as they also condemned countries that had placed travel ban on Nigeria and some other African countries as actions that were not based on science. This is just as the United States yesterday put its COVID-19 vaccine donations to Nigeria at 13.5 million doses, as 2.5 million Pfizer vaccine arrive the country this week. Also, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has advised the federal government not to take reciprocal action by imposing travel restriction on incoming travellers from the United Kingdom. The President of the LCCI, Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole, said in the statement urged, “every Nigerian and other nationals within this country to increase compliance with COVID-19 safety protocols and continue to take precautions against the virus. “We must all work toward a safer Nigeria. Let us free our minds and stop being hesitant about taking the COVID-19 vaccine. The fear of dying after receiving the vaccine and other conspiracy theories should be perished. “If we fail to abide by these simple and life-saving rules, we would be endangering our lives and that of others, and this may eventually lead to another lockdown which we cannot afford as a country. “Any imposition of lockdown as a measure to contain and manage the spread of the virus should be avoided at all cost.”

Olawale-Cole said the government should provide the necessary support and enabling environment for the private sector to invest heavily in the manufacture of vaccines that can meet our domestic demand and for export. “We also appeal to the governments of the United Kingdom, Canada, Indonesia, Singapore and Hong Kong to remove Nigeria from the travel red list of countries banned by them,’” adding that “it would be unfair to ban Nigerians from travelling to your countries.” Similarly, the Director General of NACCIMA, Ambassador Ayo Olukanni, in a separate statement in the wake of the emergence of the Omicron said the association was in total support of strategic and proactive measures deployed by government and stakeholders to effectively prevent further spread of the new variant. Olukanni said this would prevent its impact on lives, livelihood and economic activities, thereby subjecting the country to another level of hardship. He said: “In this regard, NACCIMA, therefore urged Nigerians to adhere strictly to well-established COVID-19 guidelines and application of non-pharmaceutical protocol, including wearing of mask, and regular washing of hands. “Those who are yet to do so must also get vaccinated. Perhaps most importantly at the moment there is need for urgent action to ensure rapid and universal vaccination of our population. “NACCIMA is, therefore, strongly in support of the global call for vaccine equity to ensure universal vaccination. In addition, on the local front, NACCIMA joins the call for local production vaccination urgently as one of the key strategic steps to tackle the pandemic,” he said. He added that NACCINA, “wishes to state that it is strongly against the unwarranted travel ban placed on Nigerians by the UK, Canada and other countries due to the Omicron variant. We therefore call on these countries, and others that have joined the bandwagon of travel bans to rescind their decision on the

travel ban against Nigerians.”

US COVID-19 Donation to Nigeria Hits 13.5 Million Meanwhile, the United States has disclosed that its COVID-19 vaccines’ donations to Nigeria has risen to 13.5 million doses. Presently, the United States has donated more than 13.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine in partnership with COVAX, or bilaterally to Nigeria. A statement by the US Embassy in Nigeria welcomed the arrival of 2.5 million Pfizer vaccine doses in Abuja this week. Additionally, the United

States revealed that it has provided more than $119 million in COVID-19 related health assistance. This, it listed included a 40-bed mobile field hospital, ventilators and related training for 88 hospitals, personal protective equipment, technical assistance for vaccine readiness, risk communication and demand generation for vaccines, conducting an epidemiological COVID-19 detection and vaccine hesitancy survey, setting up electronic record systems, rapid response teams, training for over 200,000 military and civilian personnel on COVID-19 control measures, and technology for virtual training. In addition, the United States

stated that it leveraged the PEPFAR-supported National Integrated Specimen Referral Network (NiSRN) and laboratory investments to support expansion of the NCDC (153) molecular laboratory network nationwide. It added that the National Primary Health Care Development Agency received the vaccines, ensuring they were taken to cold storage to prepare for distribution to over 3,000 health facilities across all 36 states and FCT-Abuja, revealing that over the next several weeks, the vaccines would be available at major markets, shopping malls, event centers, motor parks, airports, places of employment, and religious institutions as part

of Nigeria’s mass vaccination campaign. The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had noted earlier this month that: “The COVID-19 pandemic won’t end for any country until it ends for all countries. Otherwise, the virus will keep replicating around the world, people will keep getting sick and dying, and we won’t be able to safely reopen our economies or travel around the world for business and tourism the way we used to. That’s why the United States is committed to helping end the pandemic in Nigeria and everywhere.” Continued on page 10

Afenifere: Oromoni's Death, Unwarranted Violence in Schools, Sign of Govt Failure Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, yesterday described the killing of Master Sylvester Oromoni and the rampage at a secondary school in Edo State, among other negative occurrences in recent time as signs of how governments in Nigeria had failed the people. This is just as the group in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, expressed condolence to the Oromonis and parents of students who were crushed to death in a recent vehicular accident in Lagos. Ajayi said the manner in which adolescents die in Nigeria and the increasing banditry among children in schools were clear indications that the country’s present had not only been jeopardised, but that its future had also been imperiled. Afenifere then laid the blame of this unsavoury verdict on the leadership, which it stated had demonstrated lack of focus in various aspects of governance. According to him, “In this respect, both the federal and the state governments are culpable. We have not mentioned the local governments because the state governments have

totally emasculated that tier of governance in flagrant violation of the Constitution and democratic ethos which those running governments at federal and states sworn to protect.” Oromoni, a Junior Secondary School student of Dowen College, Lekki in Lagos State, died at the end of November, as a result of the injuries he sustained when his colleagues in the same school allegedly bullied him for refusing to join their cult group. Last week Friday, students of Idogbo Secondary School in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo state went on rampage because they did not want to sit for the first term examination. They attacked the policemen who were called in by the school authority, beat teachers and set school properties on fire. On December 4, 2021, a Senior Secondary School student identified as Michael Ogbeise, was reported to have beaten his teacher, Ezeugo Joseph, to death in Abraka, Delta State for flogging his younger sister, Promise. He said cases such as students of Idogbo Secondary School in Ikpoba-Okha local government area of Edo State allegedly going on rampage because they did

not want to sit for the first term examination are now very rampart in the country, stating that these in addition to the banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and terrorism occurring in different parts on Nigeria had made the country one of the riskiest to live in across the globe. The Afenifere spokesman added that the collapse of discipline and orderliness in our schools is reflective of the collapse of these virtues in the larger society, noting that until very recently every adult in the society was respected by the young ones while teachers were revered very highly. "No student would think of ambushing a teacher not to talk of having the temerity to attack teachers in the school as happened in the Edo and Delta States cases. But they now do such with impunity having observed the adults behaving unruly in the open society. These incidents speak of how those governing the country have failed woefully and how our moral values have been debased. "Youngsters and students took to cultism and banditry after taking drugs that government agencies failed to prevent them

from having access to. These young ones also delve into this immoral acts having observed same in the adults.Gone were the days when those in position of leadership were epitome of good conduct and commitment to established procedures", he said. Ajayi stated that the incidents leading to the loss of lives of students and unruliness in schools should be an opportunity for more commitment by government and other stakeholders to sanitize our education system, bring back the inspection officials, allow more democratic practices in terms of greater involvement of communities in the running of schools and above all show personal discipline by following laid-down procedures and obeying the rule of law faithfully. He further maintained that state governments should remove their stranglehold on local governments so that the third tier can along with the communities they serve pay more attention to the educational institutions in their respective areas, stating that parents and guardians too should be more alive to their responsibility as their failure at home is reflecting on undisciplined behavior of their children.

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HANDOVER OF KANO–MAIDUGURI ROAD... L-R: Emir of Katagum, Dr. Umar Faruq Umar; Representative of President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Maryam Katagum; Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Baba Tela, and Commissioner for Works, Bauchi State, Abdulkadir Ibrahim, during the federal government's commissioning and handover of Kano-Maiduguri Road, Section III (Azare - Potiskum) in Bauchi and Yobe States at Azare ... recently

Upstream Regulatory Commission Confirms Sealing of Bayelsa Blowout Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) yesterday confirmed the successful stoppage of the Santa Barbara oil spill in the Nembe Creeks, Bayelsa State. A statement personally signed by the commission’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, said the NURPC remained proud of the efforts of all stakeholders which ensured that there was no associated fire or fatality during the period of the spill. “The well operated by Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company (AEEPCO) has been 'killed ' through the professional deployment of appropriate technology and effective collaboration with all stakeholders by the commission,” the organisation

added. Komolafe stated that in line with global best practice, the commission would continue to monitor the containment of the spill at the site while Clean Nigeria Associate (CNA) would remain active to conclude ongoing clean up efforts. As the upstream regulator, Komolafe stressed that the commission would provide necessary oversight in the response planning by Aiteo and carry out statutory Joint Investigation Visit(JIV) once well kill equipment had been demobilised from site. “In furtherance of the commission’s incident management plans, PostImpact Assessment (PIA) studies will commence under the strict supervision of the commission with an approved scope as soon as the clean-up is concluded, to ensure adequate restoration of the impacted

environment. “The commission wishes to appreciate the cooperation and understanding of the affected communities during the period of the spill,” NURPC stated. The Group Managing

Director of the indigenous oil company, Mr. Victor Okoronkwo, had indicated that the impaired facility had been brought under control, the flow stopped and the well secured.

The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunimbe Mamora has hinted that the federal government was in talks with relevant stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria was considered as a vaccine manufacturing hub. He also called international partners who donate vaccines to Nigeria to give ample notice before delivery to enable the government plan its deployment across the country in order to avoid wastage. He said these in an interview on, ‘The Morning Show,’ a breakfast programme on THISDAY’s sister broadcast arm, Arise News Channel, yesterday. He explained: “The most potent solution is for us

to have our own vaccine manufacturing pop. I mean, that is it. If we're manufacturing these things on our own, then we will not have this kind of challenge. That's the most potent in terms of solution. “The other solution is for us to have a predictable supply. What I mean by that is let us anticipate this thing months ahead so that we can also plan ahead in terms of receiving, of course deploying and putting the necessary logistics in place to ensure this. “And I can tell you that at the moment that what is happening is that the there is a plan to establish manufacturing hubs in Africa and already there are some countries that are being considered as candidates for such hubs. Efforts are in place

resulting in reduced effective working hours. The company had on Friday, November 5, 2021, reported a hydrocarbon wellhead leak on the facility to the Nigerian authorities.

Nigeria On Course to Achieve HIV Epidemic Control Target, Says FG US CDC pledges support for HIV programme in 18 states Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The federal government has said the country was on the verge of achieving the target of HIV epidemic control. The Minister of State, Senator Olorunmibe Mamora made the declaration at the formal launch of the National HIV Clinical

Mentorship Programme in Abuja yesterday. The initiative which was part of the activities to commemorate the 2021 World AIDS Day saw various stakeholders, including foreign partners, United States CDC, UNAIDS and Global Fund making commitments to help Nigeria achieve an end to HIV

We are in Talks to Ensure Nigeria Becomes Vaccine Manufacturing Hub, Says FG Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja and Nume Ekeghe in Lagos

He had explained that the outcome was achieved against the backdrop of very challenging circumstances exacerbated by the weather, the tidal cycle in the creek, and the silted slot of the well

to ensure that Nigeria is also one of such countries that will be vaccine manufacturing hub in Africa.” Speaking further on what lead to the federal government disposing of vaccines, he said: “It is not an issue of negligence in any way on the part of the Nigerian government. Well, if you have a friend or you have friends, wanting to assist you, because of certain challenge or challenges you have naturally you will welcome that assistance. “But in this particular instance, while we thank and welcome our partners, friends, who have decided to assist us, in respect of our vaccines need at the same time there are challenges that we grapple with some of which is the manner that these vaccines say come in.

“Don't forget that with the advent of COVID 19, there was no global scrambling for vaccines. But the low income countries and middle income countries, they are the worst hit and Nigeria happens to be one of the countries affected in terms of non-availability of the vaccines. “So, but what we saw or what we have seen is a situation where the supply of these vaccines from our friends from our partners, the arrival of these vaccines is such that, you know, it's not predictable and that naturally poses the challenge of planning. “In terms of logistics for deployment, in terms of the cold chain, in terms of readiness, in terms of you, distribution to the various states, and of course, getting to the last mile, so to speak.”

epidemic control in no distant time. Mamora said the Nigeria HIV control programme had grown significantly in the last five years, with the past two years becoming perhaps the most remarkable because of resilience shown by the programme despite the challenges of the COVID19 pandemic. "I am especially proud of the progress made in our national treatment programme, with over 1.6 million people now on anti-retroviral therapy. I happy to note that we are firmly on the march to achieving the target of 95-95-95. It is for this reason that I consider the establishment of the National Clinical Mentorship Programme as a landmark initiative for the AIDS response in Nigeria. "The time of achieving epidemic control of HIV is becoming a reality and a central part of the discourse, transitioning to chronic HIV care, after epidemic control is achieved will require people living with HIV to engage with the healthcare system in an ongoing chronic care relationship for the long-term," he said. The minister said clinical mentorship would be critical in ensuring that the target was achieved, adding that it entails building capacity and supporting HIV and care service providers in an integrated manner The Director General of

NACA, Dr. Gambo Aliyu described the launch of the clinical mentorship programme as the outcome of months of collaborative hard work between the United States government of NASCP putting experiences gained from Zambia and Namibia where such programmes have been tested. He said the situation in Nigeria had improved from having 800,000 persons living with HIV on treatment to about 1.6 million people placed on regular treatment nationwide presently. Aliyu, however, said it had become necessary at this point to do a kind of preventive and also professional mentoring so as to ensure standard treatment. He said the initiative would help end, "health worker related stigmatisation, ensure more patient confidentiality and reduction in non-adherence. Earlier, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth, said the initiative was aimed at achieving quality HIV programmes and continuous improvement in line with HIV guidelines in the country. It is designed to draw lessons from clinical mentoring approaches from place across Nigeria, while deepening government's leadership of the national HIV response. She said since the US began its partnership with Nigeria, achieving an end to the spread of virus has been the main goal.

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PAGE EIGHT B U H A R I : A K A N D E WAS V I CT I M O F O B ASA N J O ' S D I A B O L I C A L P O L I T I C A L D O U B L E - C R O S S Akande, reflected on the political history of the author, particularly his bid to seek a second term as Governor of Osun, saying, ''It is common knowledge that Akande was the victim – along with other Alliance for Democracy (AD) governors – of a diabolical double-cross which ended his gubernatorial career. Only the steadfast Asiwaju Bola Tinubu escaped the electoral massacre masterminded by President Obasanjo. ''Desperately disappointed though he was, and being a good Muslim, he accepted this setback as part of the trials of life. He looked to the future of service to the country.'' Buhari also narrated how Akande had risen to prominence from his participation in the Constituent Assembly established by the Military Government of General Olusegun Obasanjo. "He was always in the thick of things through the difficulties and political discontinuities of the 1980s and 90s. ‘‘He emerged as Governor of Osun State in 1999 when the military handed over to the civilians. ''Chief Akande had a horrendous baptism as Governor of Osun State with discord from his own party; his State Assembly (including an attempt to impeach him without any reason whatsoever); from the trade unions and from his own deputy Governor! ''On top of that, he inherited a deeply indebted treasury, huge arrears of salary, allowances, and pensions. Enough challenges to overwhelm many aspiring leaders,” the president said. Speaking further, Buhari said:

''Bisi Akande stood four square and faced all the challenges head-on and overcame most of them. His first action was to stop payment of ‘critical allowances’ a euphemism for government money customarily shared by the big boys in Osun State. 'This set the tone of his Administration.” Recounting the achievements of the former Governor of Osun State, Buhari noted that it was on record that within one year, Akande had paid off all the salary and other arrears, showing his mettle as a competent and serious administrator. ''By 2003 Chief Akande had virtually sanitised governance in Osun State having cleared some of the troublemakers from his government and, though reluctant to serve a second term, he was persuaded to run again." He further described Akande as a, "perfect public officer,” and the type of person he could go into the jungle with adding that the author has retained his ‘‘inflexible integrity,” in and out of public office, never accepting or offering bribes. President Buhari, who heaped praises on the former governor of Osun State, further described him as a decent, truthful, and friendly person as well as an administrator of the first order, whose leadership qualities made him the unanimous choice as the first Chairman of the APC. He used the occasion to narrate his first meeting with Akande, his passion for Nigeria, achievements, and disappointment as governor of Osun State as well as his many battles to wrest power from the then ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party.

According to him: ''My first personal contact with Chief Akande was, if I recall correctly, in 2006 when preliminary consultations were coming to fruition for a grand coalition to unseat the PDP Government. Those efforts eventually came to nothing. ''Neither he, nor I, nor many of our friends and associates gave up as, in Chief Akande’s words: “the country was going down and down under PDP” (p.396 of My Participations)". Reflecting on APC’s ascent to governance at the Federal level in 2015, President Buhari recalled that, ''Chief Akande was in the thick of further attempts in 2011 and 2014 to fuse together different groups and dislodge PDP from governance. ''The key to his thinking which coincides with mine is that Nigeria can only be successfully managed by alliances between major groups. ''Although we failed in 2011 but by persistence and knowledge that PDP was driving the country towards disaster, several major parties were able to finally coalesce into APC in 2014 . ''Chief Akande was unanimously chosen as the first Chairman of this great coalition. ''Throughout the difficult negotiations, I found Akande truthful, steady and always with an eye to the ultimate goal. ''In or out of office, he has retained his inflexible integrity. On p.400 of his book, he wrote: ‘I never gave to or demanded bribe from anyone all my life.’ A perfect gentleman. A perfect public officer, he said. Quoting a famous Hausa

saying, ''Labarin zucciya a tambayi fuska'' (loosely translated -if you want to know what is in a man’s heart watch his face), President Buhari affirmed that Akande has a permanent smile on his face, saying, “he is the type I will go into the jungle with.'' Earlier, the celebrant and author of the book, Akande, said he had no sympathy for President Buhari over the criticisms he receives from Nigerians on the challenges facing the people and the nation, saying, "you applied to be Nigeria’s President." "We (Nigerians) know you love the country, but we want Nigeria to be peaceful, to prosper. We abuse you for everything that is wrong in the country. We know we are fraudulent, cheaters and for all the wrongs we still blame you for it. I don't sympathise with you because you applied for the job,” he added. In his remark, Senator Bola Tinubu commended Akande, describing him as a hero, a selfless leader, self-disciplined who rose from grass to grace through dint of hard work and determination. According to Tinubu, the merger of coalition of parties into APC in 2013 could not have been successful without efforts of Akande. Tinubu stated that, "every now and then, we come across a person so exemplary and excellent that one word seems to fit them perfectly: Hero. "Chief Bisi Akande is such a person. Our lives are better because of the selfless public and private contributions he has made to this national family we call Nigeria. "Thankfully, he decided to

make a written record of the events, ideas and lessons of his profound life so they may serve to enlighten and educate both the present and the future,” he added. The APC leader added: "Being a key light in our political firmament, whatever Baba says about his life also doubles as an intimate account of the political story of Nigeria. Baba Akande represents what a public figure in Nigeria ought to be. He is what many should aspire to be. "From humble beginnings, Baba Akande rose through hard work, intellect, courage, perseverance, sacrifice, dedication and what he called ‘self-tuition’. "Baba did not walk the easy road. He earned things the hard and principled way. Nothing deterred him. Though easy-going in demeanor, he was always strong of character. Without seeing the four walls of a university, Chief Akande tutored himself so well that by age 22, he had become a qualified accountant. "Chief Akande's political career began with his election into the Constituent Assembly in 1977. Since then, he has not looked back. His skill and abilities catapulted him to becoming the Secretary to the State Government and Deputy Governor of old Oyo State. He then served as the second democratically-elected governor of Osun State.” According to the former Lagos Governor, people saw in Akande, the rare combination of the gifts of fairness, tolerance and vision. "The connection I share with Chief Akande is longstanding and broad. We have been fellow travellers in the struggle for

democracy and progressive governance. We also shared similar backgrounds in Accounting and Finance. We both honed our accounting skills in oil companies, Baba in British Petroleum, me in Mobil, before our forays into politics,” he added. Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in his speech, also described the author as, "a man of integrity and principle who has paid his dues in the poloitical and life struggles. His life and career is a veritable example for those of us coming behind." Also speaking at the occasion, Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun, described the book, as a compendium of reflections by a man whose philosophy about life is inspiring and trans-generational. He also described Chief Akande as a leader par excellence, “who is always ready to give his best while in charge and always ready to give counsel, guidance and direction in familiar terrains, not afraid that his predecessors will surpass him. Some personalities at the occasion included the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan; Senator Tokunbo Abiru; Senator, Senator Solomon Adeola, representing Lagos Senatorial West; Senator Opeyemi Bamidemi; Governor of Yobe State; Maila Buni, Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun; Senator Musuliu Obanikoro; Senator Ganiyu Olarewanju Solomon; Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi; Dr. Usman Bugaje; Prof Ayobami Kehinde, the book reviewer; Mr. Segun Ayobolu, and Speaker Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa.

AKANDE: BUHARI PROMISED TO PICK TINUBU AS RUNNING MATE IN 2015, THEN RENEGED them of selecting themselves to represent the Yoruba people during Goodluck Jonathan’s National Conference because of what he termed “generous allowances.” Akande stressed that despite the pledge to make Tinubu his vice presidential candidate, Buhari later faltered, saying that he only said that he wanted the former Lagos governor to “partner with him.” But the politician admitted that at the time Buhari was under enormous pressure, especially from some northern governors who insisted that a Muslim-Muslim ticket arrangement was a no-go area. He revealed that it would be the second time that Tinubu would be getting very close to becoming a vice presidential candidate, noting that the first time was in when Atiku Abubakar, who was then contesting as president later chose Ben Obi. Akande confirmed that Tinubu was instrumental to the emergence of Osinbajo as running mate to Buhari after he was formally dropped and asked to submit three names from the South-west from which Buhari would pick one. According to the book, Buhari at a point during the formation of the APC started to admire Tinubu for his business acumen and his ability to organise people, key features that got then candidate Buhari close to the APC national leader. “In April 2014, I was in Abuja when Buhari called me and asked me to persuade Bola to run with him. Governor Masari was the one who came to call me. When I followed him into Buhari's private lobby, Bola Tinubu was already seated there. “So, when Buhari tabled the matter, I cautioned them that this must not get out beyond the four of us. ‘How could he be talking of a running mate when he had not secured the ticket?" I mused. “I thought such information,

if leaked to the general public, might affect the conduct of the party's congress at the presidential primaries, if not its choice of candidate. I thanked Buhari for thinking so highly of our friend. “Bola later told me that Buhari's emissaries had been coming to him, but he tried to dodge the gesture and not to show interest. We agreed that we would reopen the matter when Buhari had secured the ticket,” he explained. However, he expressed surprise that thereafter, when Buhari became the party’s candidate, things changed, with former APC chair, Odigie Oyegun, who was supported by Tinubu to become chairman of the party, asking for names from the geopolitical zones from where Buhari will pick his running mate. “He said it was from this list that Buhari would choose a running mate. I objected. I turned to Buhari. ‘General, where are you choosing your running mate from?’ He answered, 'The South-west.' ‘Oh! I didn’t know,'Oyegun said. He apologised. “I didn’t know why Oyegun made that proposition and at whose behest. As the chairman of the party, maybe some people pushed him to do that,” he noted. Akande continued: “Then, I called Buhari aside. ‘Is our arrangement still standing?' I referred him to our discussion in April. He said yes! “ According to him some members of the party eventually agreed that a committee should be set up to search for Buhari’s running , a move himself and former Governor of Edo state, Adams Oshiohmhole, opposed. “Adams Oshiohmhole , then Governor of Edo State, stood up and said we were being dishonest. He said he was a serving governor and many of those in the Elders Committee had been governors. '’Did we set up a committee to

give us our running mates?’ He asked. 'It is not fair!' He further said what we were pushing was a dangerous act and that we should allow Buhari to choose his running mate. So, we left,” he narrated Akande stated that he later came to know that some people constituted themselves into a group, called the Northern Interest Group, and they prevailed on Buhari not to allow a Muslim-Muslim ticket. According to him, it was the following day after the Elders' Committee meeting which was deadlocked, that Buhari phoned Tinubu to give him three names from which he would pick a running mate. “We were all in Abuja and Tinubu rushed to me with this information. He wanted to know whether the understanding we reached with Buhari had changed. I called Buhari and he told me he now needed three names from us. I was angry with him. ‘‘General, this was not what we agreed upon,’ I said in annoyance. ‘You are changing our agreement?' He knew I was getting angry. He said he was under pressure from some governors from the north, including those who were Muslims. I told him the slot belonged to the South-West and among the Yoruba, religion is not a factor in leadership,” he said. Akande added: “Oshiomhole was surprised about the narration. ‘If indeed you promised to make Asiwaju your running mate, it would not be fair to renege,' he said. Buhari now said he never meant it that way. What he meant originally was that Tinubu should partner with him.” The former Osun governor explained that he didn't know what that meant because before they discussed the issue of Tinubu as the partner or vicepresident’s ticket, a merger had been accomplished and they had already partnered.

“We were registered in July 2013, and he called me to prevail on Tinubu to be his running mate in April 2014. Buhari knew I was upset but we tried to manage the situation. Perhaps he was overwhelmed by all those pressures. We decided to let him go,” Akande said. He insisted that once it became apparent that Buhari would be the presidential candidate, he was interested in making Tinubu his running mate. “In our years of interactions and engagements, he seemed to have come to know and admire Tinubu. “He constantly seemed to admire Tinubu's business acumen; his courage in politics, his large heart, his native intelligence, his readiness to forgive those who have betrayed him but who now show remorse, his empathy for the under-privileged, his capacity as a tactician, and a strategist of the highest hue, his loyalty to the ideas of Nigerian unity and good governance, and his steadfastness to his friends,” he added. According to him, without Tinubu, the “APC miracle” would have been more difficult if not impossible. “All these made Buhari to admire and respect him,” he said. He narrated that what prompted the push for a Tinubu as vice president for the first time under Atiku was that anytime they said they needed money, Atiku would say “Bola please help us”. “Bola (Tinubu) was the only one spending the money among us. The rest of us were poor. Tinubu also put all his energy and resources into the formation of the AC and we felt he deserved a spot on the ticket,” he wrote. He also wrote about Tinubu’s frustration with the entire rigmarole, eventually opting to leave Abuja for Lagos. "I don't want to be part of whatever you are discussing

now, 'he said. 'I don't trust Buhari anymore! Even if we give him names, he may decide to go outside the list. So, let him choose on his own. He was unhappy with Buhari. “I told him that was not the attitude to adopt. We were trying to toy with some names and I wanted him to participate in the discussion. After some time, Amosun, Aregbesola and I were considering some names. Then I decided to call Tinubu again. ‘We negotiated with Buhari in 2011 and gave him a name to choose instead of Pastor Bakare,' I spoke to Tinubu on phone. 'Who was that person?' l asked. ‘It was Yemi Osinbajo,' Tinubu declared. I asked Aregbesola to find out where Osinbajo was. He called him on the phone. ‘Yemi, where are you? ‘Don't you know your case is coming up tomorrow?' ‘l am in Abuja to argue your case.' Osinbajo answered at the other end. ‘Which hotel are you staying?" Osinbajo told him. “I got a blank sheet of paper and wrote Yemi Osinbajo on it. I instructed Amosun and Aregbesola to deliver that note to Buhari immediately. It was almost midnight. Then the two of them left.” He continued: “I was waiting for Buhari to call me after he must have received my message. He did not. It was Tinubu who came to me at the wee hours of the morning. He was not in a good mood and was worried that Buhari might visit our efforts with bad faith. “Let us go back to Lagos”, he said. Why? I asked. “Maybe Buhari has his own agenda,” he said. Even if we give him a name , he might not use the person. Maybe he just wants to use us for whatever his agenda might be.” “I reassured him that Buhari will not disappoint us and that he would agree with our choice as the vice presidential candidate of our party,” Akande said. Taking a swipe at the trio of Adebanjo, Ajayi and Falae,

Akande said it was surprising that the elders could not find any younger Yoruba to send to the conference to represent the interest of the ethnic group. “ They believed, even in their old age, that they were the only people who could have gone there. Sir Ajayi, who was close to 90 at the time of the conference, has since joined his ancestors. Chief Adebanjo celebrated his 90th birthday in 2018. Chief Falae is in his 80s. Note that Jonathan paid the conference delegates generous allowances. “Chief Olu Falae, a trained civil servant, who after retirement became decorated into leadership by his former military bosses, has since been trying to blindly straddle Nigeria's complicated politics,” he opined. He characterised Adebanjo as a blank politically-minded leader who recognises readily and always that he never has what it takes to aspire for high political positions. “He constantly harbours lumps of yellow hate-bile in his heart for any co-political leader with brighter chances for any major public office within or outside his political party,” he posited. Akande further noted in the autobiography that the APC did not have ‘restructuring’ in its manifesto for the 2015 elections but promised to support devolution of powers from the centre to the States. “It is therefore mischievous to place the responsibility for effecting restructuring on the APC or its presidency and not to appreciate that it would require deft negotiations among such members from different ethnic nationalities and constituencies or zonal and religious background before any political party or any ethnic nationality could successfully issue any fiat on the National Assembly to make laws on power devolution or on restructuring, whatever it might connote,” he argued.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 10, 2021 • T H I S D AY

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2021 • T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

I FEEL YOUR PAIN... L-R: Chairman, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, Dr. Wale Babalakin; his wife, Mrs. Gbolahan Babalakin and Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, during the governor's condolence visit to the Bi-Courtney Chairman on the death of his father ... yesterday

Only One Third of 30,000 Primary Healthcare Centre’s Functional, Says Mamora Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunibe Mamora, said an audit carried out by the Federal Ministry of Heath showed only one-third of about 30,000 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in the country were functional. Mamora said the health facilities, especially PHCs, were inadequately funded. The minister disclosed these yesterday in Abuja during a public hearing on five bills, organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Health Institutions. The bills were: A bill for an Act to establish Federal Medical Centre, Abakaliki; A bill for an Act to repeal Federal School of Medical Laboratory and Technology; A bill for an Act to establish Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Amagu, Ikwo, Ebonyi; A bill for an Act to Provide for establishment of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Science and a bill for an Act to establish Federal Medical Centre, Bonny, Rivers State. The minister pointed out that whenever an establishment bill was proposed, there should be a comprehensive way of funding such institutions. He added, "By virtue of my own background in the legislature, there are concerns that we cannot shy away from and which I’m also here to present on behalf the ministry. "First, I do know that hasn't changed, that every bill that is presented is supposed to be accompanied by a financial compendium." The minister explained that a financial compendium was to give an outlay of the cost implementation of the bill if it becomes a law or an Act of the National Assembly. Mamora stated, "We also need to emphasise that it is not just putting structures, the physical structure on ground, that is the problem or putting equipment or machinery on ground, because the hood does

not make the monk. You also need the human resource for health and that's probably the most critical." He added that in the recent past the federal government had problems with various health unions under Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) due to financing. Mamora explained, "The health institutions are groaning under the pains of inadequate funding. And even when you have equipment on ground, you need human beings appropriately qualified and in the right number to make these things work." The minister stressed that the various institutions, including the Federal Medical Centres, Teaching Hospitals, and even the primary health centres in the communities were being poorly funded. He added, "Trust you to know that at the last audit, the Ministry of Health carried out, out of about 30,000 Primary Health Centres in that audit report that we have, less than one-third are functional and even those ones are not fully functional. "Functionality is not just by building the physical structure. I just mentioned that you need the services; you need potable water, you need renewable energy, you need a means of transportation so that whatever case that cannot be handled at that level (primary) would be easily moved to higher centres." Mamora noted that at the medical school they were told that common things occured commonly, saying that is why malaria still remains the highest cause of mortality and morbidity in the country, killing more than HIV and COVID-19. He also said, "Unfortunately, most of the cases can be managed at the primary healthcare level. If only these Primary Health Centres are functional and able to offer the basic services. They have the appropriate drugs, basic services, immunisation,

antenatal care, health education, nutritional education, the wash programme, water sanitation, and hygiene. These are the services that are needed by the bulk of our people. "And we feel very strongly from the Ministry of Health that this is where we need to focus our attention. We know that the bulk of the people live in rural areas. And our first port of call is the existing

facility – the Primary Health Centre that they could easily approach." However, dissatisfied with the minister's views, one of the sponsors of the bills, Hon. Chinedu Ogar, said there were states that had three federal health agencies, saying they are only asking for one federal health institution in Ebonyi State. Ogar alleged that there was no general hospital in

Ebonyi State. He said the bill was necessary to tackle the health issues facing the people of the state. Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Pascal Chigozie, said the minister did not run down any of the bills. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives called on the Federal Ministry of Finance, Head of Service, Director General of Budget, and the

Ministry of Health to urgently grant financial cover, as well as a waiver on incidental costs of replacement of resigned and retrenched health workers at the Federal Medical Colleges, Federal Hospitals, as well as Teaching Hospitals and Centres. The resolution of the House was sequel to the adoption of a motion moved at the plenary on Thursday by Hon. Kingsley Unu.

PIA Will Enhance Nigeria’s Energy Growth, Sylva Reiterates Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, has restated that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) will enhance energy growth and sustainability in Nigeria. Speaking as a participant at a ministerial roundtable at the World Petroleum Congress (WPC) in Houston Texas, yesterday, Sylva said the passage of the law had created renewed interest in the Nigerian oil and gas business environment. According to Sylva, “The Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) has been passed into law (now PIA 2021). This strengthens the legal, regulatory, fiscal and governance framework of the petroleum sector. PIA has enhanced the Nigerian petroleum industry’s reputation, and it provides the pathway to new investments, and consolidates our ability to play a significant role in meeting the world’s growing demand for energy.” He noted further, “PIA will assist in increasing oil and gas production to provide clean and efficient energy; and it will supply world markets with a broad portfolio of energy options and support global endeavour to alleviate energy poverty in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 7. “PIA proposes a fiscal regime that encourages investment in order to monetise existing reserves in the short to medium term and generous incentives to enable development,

distribution, penetration and utilisation of gas.” The minister cited the declaration of the Decade of Gas, the Ajaokuta-KadunaKano (AKK) pipeline, Nigeria/ Morocco pipeline, Trans-Saharan pipeline, and the Nigerian Gas Transportation Network Code as other enablers and initiatives, which “support the realisation of the full potential of the gas sector.” Sylva noted that although Nigeria was committed to Netzero, the country would “still

require fossil fuels, especially gas, as its base-load energy source to address energy poverty and power supply. “We have declared gas as our transition fuel, our pathway to net-zero carbon emission. This presents investments opportunities given the oil and gas reserves, which can be commercialised.” Speaking on the financing of hydrocarbon projects in Africa, the minister said following huge divestments in oil and gas projects in the continent, it

was urgent for African leaders to unit to create an energy bank that will act as the platform to support future investments in the sector. He told the global audience that the Nigerian government would champion the creation of an African energy bank, adding that already, “Discussions have commenced with Afrexim Bank to create an energy bank, which will finance fossil fuel projects. This is necessitated by the international financial ecosystem’s stance on funding fossil projects.”

OMICRON: LCCI, NACCIMA CHARGES NIGERIANS ON MASS VACCINATION Don't Reciprocate UK's Prof. Innocent Ujah said red world. Because you recall that Travel Ban, NMA tells FG listing of Nigeria was not a previously, Turkey, India and In a related development, the NMA has advised the federal government not to undertake a reciprocal action by imposing travel restriction on incoming travellers from the United Kingdom. It described the policy of the British government as unfortunate. Amidst the controversy over plan by the federal government to remove fuel subsidy, the doctors also advised that proper assessment of its impact be made before approving it. It however advised the government to consider restricting travel from countries after undertaken critical assessment based on scientific evidence. Speaking to journalists in Abuja yesterday, NMA President,

proper thing to do considering the efforts the country was making to control the spread of the pandemic. "The issue of travel ban for Nigeria due to omicron variant by the UK, I must say is very unfortunate because I know that Nigeria is doing its best to control and contain the COVID19 pandemic," he said. Ujah, however said that though it was the right of countries to take measures to protect their citizens, such action should be taken after a critical assessment and should be science-based . He urged the federal government to ensure that adequate measures are taken to protect our citizens from the COVID19 virus ""We should also look at those coming from other parts of the

Brazil were restricted from coming to Nigeria based on the volume cases of COVID19 from there. "So obviously we should do our critical assessment and if we feel that any country will pose a threat to our people, then people from such countries should be prevented from coming to Nigeria. There is nothing wrong with that because we need to protect our citizens," he said. While briefing journalists on the decisions reached at the just concluded National Executive Council (NEC); meeting of NMA held in Sokoto, Ujah said it considered progress made on the implementation of the Memoradum of Understanding signed with government in August this year.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 10, 2021 • T H I S D AY

FRIDAY DECEMBER 10, 2021 •T H I S D AY

FRIDAY DECEMBER 10, 2021 • T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2021

COMMENT

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

EDITORS’ INTROSPECTIVE WEEKEND IN LAGOS

Last weekend US-sponsored workshop in Lagos provided editors with an opportunity for stocktaking, writes Bolaji Adebiyi

bviously just getting its groove back, the Nigerian Guild of Editors was in its fine elements last weekend when it gathered 50 editors from the South-west of the country to do an assessment of the impact of the media on democracy. With the theme, Agenda-setting for Sustainable Democratic Culture, the sub-themes brought the town to the profession that was doing an introspection. Among the Yoruba, it is said that no one is totally useless as even a bad child has its usefulness. This may well be true of Lai Mohammed, the nation’s garrulous minister of information and culture, whose onslaught on media freedom in recent times has reawakened not just the fighting spirit of journalism against the ever-present danger of official antagonism to free speech and press but also the need for some house cleaning. Since his earlier in the year extension of aggression from social to the mainstream media, with his proxy legislative attempt to criminalise journalism through amendments to the Nigerian Press Council Act and the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission Act, the pen has been on its guard to ward off the absolutely unnecessary push to gag the fourth estate of the realm. However, not a few wise ones in the media think that it is impossible for the gecko to get into the wall without a crack. For years now, stakeholders have complained about the falling standards of journalism practice particularly with regard to the accuracy of news and other ethical values of the profession. The complaints remained latent until social media activists went over the board with their reckless invasion of not just the privacy of private citizens but also audacious engagement in misinformation and disinformation that often times dance on the brink of national security breaches. Pretending to be rising in the defence of the public, Mohammed and his cohorts in the federal legislature attempted severally to circumscribe free speech and expression through restrictive social media bills but were rebuffed by the civil society whose voice was amply amplified by the mainstream media. Rethinking this tactical error, the minister obviously thought that it would be necessary to shackle the much more organised mainstream first before taking on the weaker and disparate pestle-wielding children of anger, apologies to Rueben Abati. Although forced into dormancy by the media’s counter-offensive, every discerning observer of the familiar cat-and-mouse game between the first and fourth estates know that it is a matter of time before the official aggression would be renewed. So, clearly aware of this implication of the tactical withdrawal of Mohammed and his legislative allies, media stakeholders urge a retreat to house cleaning of all unsightly cobwebs. This was part of what the guild did last weekend, holding a town hall meeting with stakeholders, and a workshop for its top members in the South-west of the country. As it is the ways of the umbrella body of editors these days, both the audience and the resource persons were top notch. Sponsored by the US government through its embassy in Nigeria, the town hall meeting focuses on the citizens’ assessment of media performance in the effort to consolidate democracy in Nigeria. Mary Leonard, the American ambassador, honoured the gathering

THE COMMON TREND AT THE MEETING WAS THE NEED FOR THE MEDIA TO REJUVENATE ITSELF AND PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF ETHICAL STANDARDS OF ACCURACY, FAIRNESS AND BALANCE

of over 100, including students, academics and civil society activists. She spoke about the receding march of democracy in Africa and the role the media has to play in rolling back the trend. Of concern to her also was the declining ethical standards of the media, cautioning that journalists who accept gratification for the performance of their duty were lowering the credibility of the profession. She got a short response from Femi Falana, a silk and consistent agitator for good governance, who pointed out that democratic recession was a worldwide malaise, explaining that the rise of Trumpism in America holds no basic difference with the crisis of democratic succession in Africa. But the learned silk agreed with the ambassador on the gaps in the standards of journalism, noting that inaccuracy of reportage of political and security issues had become worrisome. His brother silk, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, while admitting the immense contributions of the media to the development of democratic culture, urged the pen to pay more attention to the balance between public and proprietary interests. Sylvester Akhaine-Odion, a trained journalist, now professor of political science, highlighted the complementary role of the media in the civil society agitations for the ouster of military rule, a role also well established by Ray Ekpu, a doyen of journalism, who moderated the meeting. The common trend at the meeting was the need for the media to rejuvenate itself and pay more attention to the requirements of ethical standards of accuracy, fairness and balance. This, however, is a polite rebuke of the rising tendency of media descent into the arena so much so that it is being seen not as a tool for resolution but as a factor in the raging political and social crises in the country. This substantive issue was tackled by two journalism academics, Abigail Ogwezzy and Richard Ikiebe, both professors at the University of Lagos and Pan-Atlantic University respectively. Ogwezzy, whose remit was to examine the role of the editor in enforcing and promoting public accountability, located the descent in the economic struggles of the media and its journalists to survive. This, she pointed out, had made both become cosy with the very institutions they were constitutionally bound to hold accountable. “The need for media ethics rises as news reporting becomes driven more and more by the free market rather than the truth,” she said in an apparent response to the growing commercialisation of news. Ikiebe, a journalist who practised for some time before veering into academics, was more pungent in his critique of the media whose mingling with politics and social strife, he explained, was historical. “The country’s press, unfortunately, and inexplicably too, have pitched up their tents with this or that tribal war crier,” he said, quoting with concurrence a 1965 editorial of the Nigerian Tribune, adding: “[The] principle of national unity has been sacrificed on the altar of petty tribal gods.” This essential rebuke of the media set forth a rich debate on not only the necessity for a regulatory framework that would pull it out of the arena of political and social conflicts but also how that would come about. Should the media continue to self-regulate or does it need an external push or a combination of both? There is yet a consensus. Adebiyi, managing editor of THISDAY Newspapers, writes from bolaji.adebiyi@thisdayonline.com

AIR PEACE, FARES AND FLIGHT OPERATIONS Fred Chukwuelobe argues that the airline is operating within the laws

eading Nigerian airline, Air Peace, has come under intense scrutiny and what appears to be an orchestrated campaign of calumny from a cross section of its flying public regarding its operations. The bone of contention is centered on two fronts: fares and flight operations. The airline has been accused of frequent flight delays and in some instances outright cancellations as well as charging arbitrary fares between its South East and Northern routes. Some passengers accused the airline of using the excess fares from the South East to subsidize the lower fares paid by passengers on the Northern routes. Recently, some uninformed passengers took to social media and posted videos containing allegations of inefficiency on the part of the company, which were false or borne out of ignorance or outright mischief. Yet, some have genuinely been offended by such situations and have rightly expressed their frustrations too. Another set of passengers were seen on social media holding one of the flights, refusing to vacate the apron unless their flight operated. They accused the pilot of arrogance and poured broadsides unjustified invectives on the airline. Meanwhile, the pilot was forced to cancel the flight when an unruly passenger refused to leave the plane on the pilot’s instruction. Other passengers were alleged to have joined the affected passenger in protest, the kind of scenario you encounter on our roads with passengers often siding a reckless driver. In the case of the passenger who posted a video alleging all sorts, Air Peace airline departing Owerri, Imo State, had a bird strike and was forced, for safety reasons, to make an emergency landing in

Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Few days after that, another flight, one of the newest aircraft in its fleet, had another bird strike in Asaba, Delta State, effectively grounding the aircraft and affecting all the routes that aircraft was to operate that day. Just as the airline was making history landing its first commercial flight into the new Anambra State International Cargo and Passenger Airport, another aircraft was grounded in Akure, Ondo State, by yet another bird strike, further compounding the airline’s ability to meet its contractual agreement to its passengers. In the Asaba incident, passengers were alleged to have become unruly and beat up some Air Peace staff. Did they expect them to go to nearby Onitsha Main Market and hire or buy a replacement aircraft? Who is responsible for clearing the runway of birds? It is important to point out that delayed or cancelled flights affect scheduled appointments and cause untold hardships on the travelling public. It is also important to note that, safety is the first concern of all airline operators and that flights may be delayed or cancelled under certain conditions, one of which is the bird strike cited above. However, Air Peace airline, concerned about the allegations of fare disparity, recently denied that it charges more for flights originating or terminating in the South East geo-political zone while those up North are charged less. In explaining the so-called disparity, Air Peace stated that“we do not discriminate against South East. It is the same fare that is loaded for all the routes all over Nigeria. Our fares start from N23, 000. They progress from there to N60, 000 which is our highest economy class fare. For an aircraft that carries 136 passengers (12 business class and 124 economy) the fare is allocated as follows: N23,000, 10 seats;

N27,500 - 20 seats; N30,000, 25 seats; N33,000- 15 seats; N35,000, 15 seats; N42,000, 10 seats; N47,000, 5 seats; N50,000, 5 seats, N55,000, 5 seats and N60,000, 14 seats. “The above fares are loaded in the system for all the destinations - North, East, South and West. No discrimination. If the first 10 seats of N23, 000 fare are filled up, the system will automatically start showing the next fare which is N27, 500. If the allocated seats on this are exhausted, it will migrate to the next until it gets to the last 14 seats which is N60, 000. “So, what happens is that as it is getting fuller, the higher fares will be showing up. Now, the Eastern routes, because of high traffic, gets sold out faster than some places, thereby showing higher fares faster, but the other destinations, though slower, will also pay the same higher fares as they get fuller.” The airline further explained that the fare of N95, 000 pointed out by a passenger is not our economy fare but our business class fare. “It is very mischievous for anyone to deliberately bring out our highest business class fare for Owerri and juxtapose it against a Kano economy class fare selling at that time, thereby making the unsuspecting reader to think that the Owerri passenger is paying N95, 000 for the same class of ticket the Kano person was paying N33, 000 for. Our fares are the cheapest in Nigeria for our type of aircraft,” the airline concluded. Customers of the airline have the right to air their grievances. In expressing these, such passengers ought to note that, travelling by air or using air transport services confers certain rights on them. But it also comes with some responsibilities. Among these are: One, the right to the full value for your money. Two, the right to compensation for flight

cancellation, delays, damaged/loss baggage and denied boarding for reasons other than technical, weather conditions, air traffic control restrictions, security risks and industrial disputes that affect the operation of the flight. Three, the right to book and confirm tickets with an airline of your choice. Four, the right to the provision of a conducive airport environment before, during, and after flights. Five, the right to seek redress for all irregularities during your flight. Six, the right to timely feedback in respect of matters/complaints lodged with service providers. Seven, the right to be fully informed about flight status. Eight, the right to be treated with respect and dignity irrespective of race or physical condition. If the passengers who refused to leave the apron in protest with their unruly co-passenger knew what they were doing, they ought not to have done that public show of it and abused the airline. Yes, it is within their rights to protest delayed or cancelled flights, but holding the airline to ransom and refusing to leave the apron is criminal and they could be arrested and prosecuted. The regulators have provided avenues for seeking redress. Rather than hold down operations, passengers should seek redress through such avenues. It is criminal to disrupt services during pre-boarding or on-board the flight. The Nigerian civil aviation rules demand that all passengers cooperate with the crew by refraining from use of cell phone, other communication gadgets during flights, refraining from aggressive or abusive behaviours, be a responsible passenger and encourage others to behave responsibly too; obeying the rules, and avoiding all rude attitudes. Chukwuelobe is a media consultant and public affairs analyst

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2021

EDITORIAL THE CHALLENGE BEFORE NEW PDP EXCO The party should mend divisions within in order to perform as a virile opposition

he recently elected National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu assumes ofﬁce this week along with other members of the National Working Committee (NWC). Most of them emerged at the national convention held two months ago through a consensus arrangement. Notwithstanding, Ayu and his colleagues have their job cut out for them. In the last one year, three state governors and several prominent chieftains have decamped to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). So, Ayu and his team are inheriting a party full of challenges. The new PDP leadership will ﬁrst contend with two basic issues: reconciliation of aggrieved members and the unity of the party. It will be tough to rebuild the party and reconcile aggrieved members across the country who apparently had become disconnected with the leadership of the former administration. But with Ayu’s vast experience and pedigree, he should be able THERE IS NO BETTER to mend fences TIME THAN NOW FOR A already created RESILIENT OPPOSITION by the intrigues, THAT CAN HELP TO including by his GALVANISE AND MOBILISE own emergence. THE PEOPLE AROUND Meanwhile, there are expectations ALTERNATIVE VIEWS that the nation will have a credible opposition platform that can effectively proffer alternative views on the policies and programmes of the current All Progressives Congress (APC) administration at the centre and in majority of the 36 states. This is important because the ability of the opposition to challenge the ruling regime is integral to representative democracy. But it is also important for the PDP to learn lessons from its own experience. Just a few years ago, the party controlled more than 60 per cent of the National Assembly membership as well as 23 of the 36 states of the federation.

Letters to the Editor

Unfortunately, the PDP got enmeshed in a selfinﬂicted crisis arising from the virtual overthrow of its constitution by a cult of former and serving governors. That habitual impunity was also in full display at its recent national convention.

H T H I S D AY EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITORS 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

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

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

#ENDSARS, PANEL REPORT AND WHITE PAPER

owever, it is in the interest of our democracy that critical stakeholders who still command respect within the party resolve whatever the differences are so that the PDP can move ahead as a strong opposition platform. In the present circumstance, the PDP has a responsibility to ensure that President Muhammadu Buhari is answerable to the people by putting the spotlight on programmes and policies and making his officials more accountable. To do that effectively, the party must reinvent itself by learning from the mistakes of the past. That entails answering questions about how and why it lost power at the 2015 general elections. For us and many Nigerians, there is no better time than now for a resilient opposition that can help to galvanise and mobilise the people around alternative views. But the PDP leaders need deliberate and sustained efforts in image and perception management, to regain the confidence of the people, following their not-so-edifying record of 16 years in power. Sadly, aside from the usual empty slogans, there is nothing to differentiate between the two political parties and that explains why members take delight in crossing from one party to the other. But if the PDP is to ever regain power at the centre, it must begin to play the politics of ideas, platforms, and programmes. It must redefine itself as a counterpoise to all that the APC promised before the 2015 general election that brought it to power but cannot deliver. As imperfect as our democracy may be, Nigerians generally seem to agree that it remains the best option for the country as it empowers the electorate to hold the government accountable and ask questions where and when necessary. We wish the Ayu-led NWC of PDP all the best in their new assignment.

inally, both the panel report and the government white paper are out in the public domain. Firstly, the Lagos State government has kept faith with the people all the way. Promises have been kept and obviously no attempt at cover up or overriding government’s influence on the panel members as openly opined and officially acknowledged in the report by the panelists themselves. This is a clear departure from what we are used to at state and federal levels under similar circumstances in the past. The big question now ought to be what is next? To many critics, it’s summed up as follows: full implementation of the recommendations and prosecution for people who have been indicted. Few others are, however, concerned that a critical mandate of the commission was not fulfilled. And that is the question of “what really happened on the night of 20:10:2020? Unfortunately, this job is 100 per cent that of the panel. On this matter the panel obviously, for inexplicable reason, failed to provide answers to that pertinent question. This still angers many members of the public. However to put the blame on the government, state or federal is evidently a misplaced aggression. This is the simple truth. As for the recommendations, all 32 were accepted except just ONE, for which the state government proffered cogent and reasonable arguments for its decision. Six others were accepted but with modifications. This is not unusual and quite excusable because the implementation must take into account practicality and precedence which only the state can decide on the modus operandi. The other 14 recommendations that were passed to the federal government cannot be controverted as the state has constitutional limitations

as an entity within a federation. As for prosecution of indicted civilians obviously no matter how anxious the public is, due process must still be followed. However, a very thorny issue is that of semantics. An obvious propaganda has been sold to the people and it has become entrenched in the minds of many for over a year that there was a Massacre at Lekki Tollgate on the faithful night. But the panel report, which also used the word, albeit, in a mischievous manner, never justified its usage throughout the entire report. No facts, proven evidence nor witness testimony supported this misleading and obviously preconceived disinformation. For they themselves stated, although also wrongly, that nine people died. In a protest attended by several thousands, killing of nine unarmed protesters is dastardly and brutal, totally unacceptable in a democracy but cannot be labelled as a massacre by the ordinary meaning of the word. But for those, home and abroad, who have passionately held on to this deliberate falsification for one year, cannot connect this new reality with their sustained preconceived conjecture lacking any factual evidence. The final way out is to find peace, and seek ways to heal the seemingly fractured society. The sad and regrettable event has come and gone. All efforts must now be made to seek a closure and ensure it never happens in our society again. We must continue to encourage the government to pursue justice and compensate the aggrieved. But to close our hearts to peace and continued progress in the state is to demonise an initiative conceived for the good of society and convert selfless defenders of peoples’ rights and freedom to relentless animate tyrants and antagonists of peace and good order of society. Kunle Lawal, Lagos

UK’S BAN ON NIGERIAN TRAVELLERS

t is almost a moot denouement the fact that sovereign nations command international respect by asserting their political clouts in the arena of pivotal leadership, economic ascendancy and how much their citizens embrace and identify with their domestic and foreign policies. The jury is out on what Nigerians actually benefit from the country’s foreign policies. For instance, is any gain accruable to Nigerians in the last visit of the South African President and his contingent vis-à-vis the disappointing international optics with regard to the newly detected Covid variant of Omicron? The visit ought to have been cancelled and made virtual. This could have sent a clear message to the international community on Nigeria’s unalloyed commitment to international measures on Covid prevention. The mere fact that our borders and airspace are opened to South Africa despite the international apartheid on Omicron is enough diplomatic comradeship. Recall that Omicron’s genetic sequenced data was merely shared with the World Health Organization by South Africa as a benevolent way of alerting the world on further scientific inquests. Hosting a large contingent of visitors from the same nation at the behest of the federal government calls into question the perspicacity of our diplomatic, health and domestic policies. This must have informed the United Kingdom’s fatuous and illogic ban on Nigerian travellers when other nations more vulnerable to the Omicron are allowed unhindered access in and out of the U.K. Bukola Ajisola, bukymany@yahoo.com

FRIDAY DECEMBER 10, 2021 •T H I S D AY

FRIDAY DECEMBER 10, 2021 • T H I S D AY

FRIDAY DECEMBER 10, 2021 •T H I S D AY

FRIDAY DECEMBER 10, 2021 • T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY DECEMBER 10, 2021

POLITICS

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

Akpabio’s Flip-flop on NDDC Board is a Dance of Shame

Boma Ebiakpo laments the equivocation which has become a visible characteristic of Senator Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, as he continues to postpone the inauguration of the Senate-approved board for the Niger Delta Development Commission

he attention of Niger Delta Peoples’ Forum (NDPF) has been drawn again to a vexatious report, another embarrassing volte-face by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the fourth in less than two months, which appeared in a national newspaper, on December 8, 2021, under the headline “Akpabio denies asking protesters to approach Buhari.” Using another senior official of his Ministry, Dr. Babayo Ardo, Permanent Secretary, for this flip-flop, Senator Akpabio now claims that he “never advised protesting youths and women of the region to channel their grievances to President Buhari,” with regard to the inauguration of the board of the NDDC. The statement however added that “at the appropriate time, upon the recommendation of the Minister to the President,” the Board of NDDC will be inaugurated. With this new ambivalence, it is another denial of a December 4, 2021 story in another leading newspaper under the headline “NDDC Board: channel your grievances to Buhari, Akpabio tells women, youths,” which was the Minister’s reply to women of Niger Delta who accused him of delaying NDDC Board inauguration. The letter, dated November 30, 2021 was signed by his ministry’s Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Alfred A. Abah. The Minister’s unending ambivalence and denials are embarrassingly a sad commentary on governance and an uncalled-for bringing to disrepute the office of the President because with each statement of denial or ambivalence by Senator Akpabio, he is either blaming President Buhari for the delay in inaugurating the NDDC Board, or he is contradicting President Buhari’s position and what the President said on the inauguration of the NDDC Board. Recall that in a similar pattern, Senator Godswill Akpabio, as reported in the media on November 2, 2021, under the headline “It’s not Part of my Job to Constitute NDDC Board, says Akpabio,” also absolved himself from the delay in inaugurating the NDDC Board, thereby blaming President Buhari, only to later walk back in a November 12, 2021 story in THISDAY Newspaper entitled “Re: Formation of NDDC Board Not Part Of My Responsibility.” In this denial story personally signed by Akpabio on November 12, 2021, Akpabio stated that the report of forensic audit, which he submitted to President Buhari on September 2, 2021 “has just been submitted to Mr President, who is studying it to come up with a formula for a commission fit for purpose. That formula is what the board being put together will work with.” This again contradicts President Buhari’s promise and commitment to Nigerians on June 24, 2021 that “I want to assure you that as soon as the forensic audit report is submitted and accepted, the NDDC Board will be inaugurated.” With him now stating that “at the appropriate time, upon the recommendation of the Minister to the President,” the Board of NDDC will be inaugurated, he has again contradicted President Buhari’s firm promise on inaugurating NDDC Board on completion and submission of the forensic audit report. Recall that when the leadership of the panIjaw group, Ijaw National Congress (INC) visited President Buhari, on June 24, 2021, the President promised the nation that he will inaugurate the NDDC Board on receipt of the forensic audit report. The President said: ‘‘Based on the mismanagement that had previously bedeviled the NDDC, a forensic audit was set up and the result is expected by the end of July, 2021. I want to assure you that as soon as the forensic audit report is submitted and accepted, the NDDC Board will be inaugurated.” The re-

port of the forensic audit has since September 2, 2021 been submitted to President Buhari by Senator Godswill Akpabio.

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs is acutely aware of the fever pitch tension the inexplicable continued delay in inaugurating

Spotlight on the Exceptional Leader Called Tammy Danagogo Allison Abanum highlights the sterling qualities and rising proﬁle of Dr. Tammy Danagogo

ports, to some is just entertainment. To others, a channel to let out passion. One thing that athletes and indeed every sports person have in common is the desire to get the job done. Every victory feels different and better. A nexus can be drawn between the supreme athlete and an impactful leader. Both share a responsibility of satisfying the passion, wants and expectations of thier followers. Much has been spoken about the various leadership qualities and mindset a public servant should adopt, but sadly many fall short of this expectations leaving much to be desired from those at the helm of governance. Of course, a select few dare to stand out, boasting an impressive public service career and leaving in their wake a spate of notable achievments that only makes louder the clamour for more of the same. Dr. Tamunobaabo Wenike Danagogo, the current Secretary to State Goveenment (SSG) of Rivers State is surely one of such select few. Often times, much is heard about the show boating politicians, a rather empty noise and showmanship but perusing under the radar are these select few that diligently shoulder the responsibility of building the society and doing justice to whatever mandate is placed on them either by electoral process or merit appointment. “Under the radar” isn’t an expression that suits Danagogo, as he has paid his dues and contributed in no small measure to the development of Rivers state and the Nigeria, at large. That inate desire to get the job done has been visible in his relatively successful political journey thus far. He came into the political scene in 2004 as the Chairman of Akuku Toru Local Government Area, Rivers State. A couple of successful stints as Commissioner of Chieftaincy and Community Affairs ensued under former Governor Rotimi Amaechi and then as Commissioner for Urban Development. Danagogo’s most Impactful stint in the corridors of public service perhaps is his current position as SSG where he serves as a core member of the engine room that

the substantive board of NDDC is causing in the region after two years of the forensic audit exercise and after three months of President Buhari’s receipt of the forensic audit report, coupled with Mr. President’s earlier promise to inaugurate the Board on receipt of the audit report. Embattled Senator Akpabio, in addition to either blaming President Buhari for the delay in the inauguration of NDDC Board, or sharply contradicting his boss’ position, also now resorts to classic red herring, using his well-worn excuses which he describes as accomplishments. According to him, these include the ‘completion’ of NDDC head office, completion of the Students’ Hostel at Uyo, and the rural electrification project in Ondo State. Senator Akpabio continues to flaunt the ‘completion’ of NDDC Head office, which was already 80% complete before his assumption of duty in July 2019; the completion of a student hostel block in Uyo; and a rural electricity project in Ondo, as accomplishments by his NDDC in two years. This, we restate, is an embarrassment for a Commission whose combined two-year budget for 2019 and 2020, as approved by the National Assembly was N799 Billion! But most alarming is a newspaper report in on December 3, 2021, deflating Akpabio’s most touted accomplishment under the headline, “Workers, contractors, groan as all elevators in 13-floor NDDC building break down.” Nothing can be more embarrassing. -Ebiakpo is National Chairman, Niger Delta Peoples’ Forum NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

Ugochukwu-Uko: When Suspected Fulani Herdsmen Ruined My Farm

P has driven so much success in Rivers state. Perhaps such tag can also be placed on his time as a Minister of Sports and the Chairman of the National Sports Commission in 2014 during President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. Testimonies of his visionary leadership in the sports sector abound and the development experienced in that sector was nothing short of revolutionary. A seasoned lawyer by academic training, much remains to be tapped from this gem silently but very clearly and effectively greasing the wheels of the locomotive of transformation in Rivers State. His impact might be lost on the uninterested mind but very well registered in that of those currently aboard the ship of governance in the state. This fact should ring aloud the clamour to sort of unearth this rare gem and entrust him with a more viable platform to do what he knows how to do best, getting the job done. -Abanum is the Senior Special Assistant on Strategic Communication and Documentation to the Governor of Bayelsa State NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

resident of Igbo Youths Movement (IYM), Mr. Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko has recounted how suspected terror herdsmen invaded his poultry farm with their cows, ate up the vegetables in the farm before taking their leave from the scene. Uko said that the rampaging Fulani herdsmen breached his fence by breaking down the wall before moving in with their cows to wreck colossal damage in the farm. He further noted that the farm which was established in 2009 is located at Ugwuomu Nike, which is 15 minutes drive from Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu State. He, however, said that despite the attack, he will continue to stand on the truth no matter the circumstance Uko said, “Armed Fulani herdsmen deliberately breached my fence by breaking down the wall, led their cattle right into my poultry farm, violated my farm, and destroyed all they could. They had quite a field day. “Their cows defecated all over my farm, ate up the vegetable, marched over and ruined almost everything in their way, and marched. His worst fears were confirmed when the herders returned twice, to carry out further plunder. Registering greater devastation, each time. “A lot of people believe this could be a calculated enemy action,” he noted.

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY DECEMBER 10, 2021

PERSPECTIVE

Why the Identity of Journalists Must be Interrogated Afresh Why Funke Opeke Got $320 Million Acquisition Offer from U.S-based Equinix Chido Nwangwu celebrates the landmark achievement of a groundbreaking Nigerian woman, Funke Opeke and her company, MainOne

he most attractive sauce for the key businesses across the world, today, is intellectual capital. Second, the swift catalyst for most investors in the vast and expanding markets and economies of the world is intellectual capital. In which ever way you look at it, the reason why the United States is the most powerful economy in the world derives from the intellectual capital of such mega companies such as Apple, Microsoft, Google, Facebook/Meta, Tesla Amazon and many others. The reason why Mark Zuckerberg — as an individual — has more financial resources than most countries and continents rests on the intellectual capital of Facebook and related corporations. Similarly, a far-sighted, strategically-adroit Nigerian woman, Funke Opeke analyzed the trends and direction of the emerging markets and dominating economies of the world. She could, like other astute observers, see the unrelenting rise of the vital value of data and digital infrastructure. She attended Columbia University — for a Master’s degree. She’s an electrical engineer. I believe it prepared Funke for a historymaking week like this December — as the Chief Executive Officer of the data centre and digital infrastructure company called MainOne, headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. Equinix, one of the world’s leading digital infrastructure corporations, announced on December 7, 2021, its expansion into Africa through its intended acquisition of MainOne. MainOne also operates in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.

The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2022. The transaction has an enterprise value of US $320 million. She believes: “Equinix will accelerate our long-term vision to grow digital infrastructure investments across Africa. I thank our founding shareholders led by Mr. Fola Adeola, MainStreet Technologies, AFC, PAIDF, FBN, Polaris and AfDB …. With similar values and culture to what we have jointly built in 12 years, Equinix is the preferred partner for our growth journey.” On his part, Eugene Bergen, President, EMEA, Equinix said: “Expansion in Africa has long been a strategic priority for us. With MainOne, we have found a company that not only has highly complementary data centre and connectivity assets, but can further accelerate the expansion of our business model and growth…..” Equinix’s statement also points to the demographics advantage: “With more than 200 million people, Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy and, along with Ghana, has become an established data centre hub. Founded by Opeke in 2010, MainOne has enabled connectivity for the business community of Nigeria and now has digital infrastructure assets….” Overall, the two corporations strongly believe that this acquisition and expansion will enable and accelerate digital transformation throughout Africa. -Dr. Nwangwu serves as Founder and Publisher of the first African-owned, U.S-based newspaper on the internet, USAfricaonline. com

Moses Ekpo, Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State dwells on the need to rally a people for the right kind of information for joint-action in development

am glad to facilitate with the House of Representatives Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Value on this important occasion of this conference. Given the categories of persons listed in the conference brochure as eligible for participation, I regard the conference as an assemblage of journalists and other information and communication stakeholders who have come together to reassess their place and role in a Federation severely blighted by end-stage crisis of confidence and trust amongst its federating units with grave consequences on national development. This conference is important to me because the concerns captured in the theme of the conference: Information As A Tool For National Development, represent a national-level upgrade of what our colleagues in Akwa Ibom State have been grappling with in recent times through conferences, workshops and seminars where I have also had the privilege of participation. The enabling environment for selfactualization rooted in freedom and a sense of belonging is a major pre-condition for national development. It is the spirit of patriotism emanating from knowing that a country cares for and tracks the fortune of each of its citizens to the extent of generating the “critical mass” of nationally conscious, self-sustaining citizenry. The current situation where government is in a state of perpetual war against the citizenry, and seeks to forge nationhood through cohesion amounts to living in a fool’s paradise, in that it ignores the age-old wisdom that “a house divided against itself cannot stand.” While information may be distinct from the tangible elements of development – national or sub-national, it is a critical means to both the attainment of development and its sustenance. For, as we all know, it takes just the right kind of information to rally a people for joint-action in development. It also requires the appropriate dose of wrong information to disunite a people and render them incapable of basic subsistence, development and self-worth. The latter situation is unfortunately the fate of Nigeria at the moment where at the level of both government and the governed, there seems to be a competition as to who would outsmart whom in disuniting the people. By means of fake news, hate speeches and misinformation, national development is being daily compromised. And when government fails to speak up in order to counter such misinformation and hate-speeches, the body language of such inaction in high places becomes even louder in it incendiary decibel. The result of this is avoidable deaths which are daily recorded in all parts of the country. And the worst of all for national harmony, cohesion and development, are the incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers, unknown gunmen, so-called bandits as well as interethnic tension arising from the activities of these “faceless” groups. As stated earlier, by means of such themes as, ‘Managing Our Diversity: the Public Relations Perspective’; ‘Conflict Sensitivity Reportage’ and ‘Constructive Engagement with State Actors,’ etc, information managers and communication stakeholders in my state have recently weighed in on the quest for a solution to the misinformation-induced national development crisis. The view emanating from such engagements is that information managers should take ownership of the business of leadership, with criticism undertaken only as an act of public service. But certain clarifications need to be made at this point in order that we can have a proper estimation of the challenge at hand.

Peace, social harmony and inter-ethnic rapprochement are the pre-requisites for genuine national development. We do not have these pre-conditions at the moment in our country, which accounts for the current stalemate in national development and declining foreign investment inflow. I think, therefore, that the challenge is first and foremost on how to deploy the information tool for the deliberate purpose of building confidence, trust and consensus amongst our various peoples. In this connection, permit me to refer to the insights offered recently by Dapo Olurunyomi, the Publisher of Premium Times, at the 17th Annual Nigerian Guild of Editors Conference in Abuja. In his keynote paper, titled: ‘Media In Times of Crisis: Resolving Conflict, Achieving Consensus,’ Mr. Olurunyomi among other knotty issues zeroed in on the identity crisis of the information purveyor in the current age of digitalization and online deployment of information. Some of the points raised in that paper relate to the transition to a digital economy which introduced the most systemic change in the geometry of media business since the mid-nineties, affecting the way products and services would henceforth be produced, and leading to a sudden but total disruption of the received business model of news entrepreneurship. The paper also noted that decentralization of access created a major democratization of content and platforms that offer the practitioner no obligations of ethical demands, but allow everyone to now be called a ”Journalist.” Given the foregone, the question as to who is a journalist must be posed with a new kind of vehemence. This is so because in discussing the deployment of the information tool towards national development, we should be definite about the human agency of such deployment – would that also include the online blogger and the other assortments of social media information carriers over whom there is currently no control? In Akwa Ibom State, the state chapter of the NUJ has come up with an electronic register of duly certified journalists in the state. I recommend this in states where it is not yet done. Such register and the data it provides are a critical first step in the admittedly monumental workload ahead of us in separating the real from the fake journalists, and thereby narrowing down the focus of accountability regarding the effect of information on national development. Addressing that workload will involve greater collaboration amongst stakeholders within and outside of government. -Ekpo spoke at a national conference on information organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Value in Abuja NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

FRIDAY DECEMBER 10, 2021 •T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2021

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

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S & P INDEX

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STAKEHOLDERS’ SENSITIZATION…

L-R: Key Note Speaker, Prof. Rufus Akintoye, The Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Mr. Adefisayo Awogbade, Immediate Past-President CITN, Dame Olajumoke Simplice, , Immediate Past Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Muda Yusuf and Executive-Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)/Transparency International –Nigeria, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani at the stakeholders’ Sensitization and Consultation Forum on the Benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) held in Lagos… recently

Omicron: FG May Review BASA with United Kingdom over Inclusion of Nigeria on Red List Chinedu Eze There are indications that Nigeria may be prompted to review the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) with the United Kingdom if it continues to put the country on red list. Last Saturday the British High Commission, Abuja issued a statement where it confirmed that it had put Nigeria on red list due to Omicron variant of COVID-19, as some Nigerians who returned to the UK were identified to have the variant after undergoing tests. Being in the red list means that

only UK and Irish citizens and residents would be allowed to enter the UK, while others travelling from Nigeria would not be allowed, except on transit at the airside of the airport. THISDAY gathered that the UK might remove Nigeria from the red list after reviewing its decision on December 20, 2021, but if it retains Nigeria in the list, the federal government might be provoked to review the BASA agreement between the two countries. Currently no Nigerian owned airline operates to the United Kingdom, but British Airways and

Virgin Atlantic Airways from the UK operate to Nigeria. Speaking on the matter, the Former acting Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Benedict Adeyileka, told THISDAY that Nigeria should reciprocate in a way that it does not affect its citizens. Adeyileka said Nigeria does not have Nigerian airlines that currently operate to the UK, so if Nigeria stops UK carriers it means the airfares by other international airlines will become outrageous. “We can reciprocate in a way that it will not hurt Nigerian travellers. If

we stop British airlines from coming to Nigeria, airfares by other airlines will become too high. They will rip-off Nigerians. Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, Qatar, Emirates and others will increase their fares and Nigerians will pay. “This is why the Nigerian government should help our indigenous airlines to be allowed to operate to these international destinations. It is not just designating them but using diplomatic channels to ensure that they are allowed to operate to international destinations,” Adeyileka said. He also suggested that if Nigeria

wants to reciprocate it could ban travellers from the UK and Canada who do not have Nigerian citizenship by insisting that Nigerians with Nigerian passports, including expired ones should be allowed to enter the country. “We can stop British and Canadian citizens who come to Nigeria to do business but we cannot stop Nigerians with dual citizenship, otherwise your policy will hurt Nigerians. THISDAY learnt that the UK - Nigeria BASA was signed in 1988, and has been amended by Memoranda of Understanding (MoU)

that contain the following provisions: first, on the designation provision, the agreement allows each country to designate up to three airlines; on the UK side, currently there are BA, BMI and Virgin, while for the Nigeria side, the current designate includes Arik Air, Air Nigeria and KaboAirline (a designation exists for Bellview, but this airline has long ceased operations). Secondly, on traffic rights, the agreement allowed the UK airlines to operate scheduled services on the following routes: points Continued on page 26

Experts Harp on FIRS, CBN’s eNaira Alignment for Effective Tax Tracking Ugo Aliogo and Oluchi Chibuzor As Nigeria joined the growing number of countries that have introduced digital currency technology, taxation experts in the country have expressed the need for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to integrate and synchronize its operation on e-Naira for effective tax harmonization. This according to the stakeholders at a business luncheon organized by

the chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) in Lagos would close necessary taxation gaps that may arise in the course of the auditing process in the country. They maintained that transaction necessitates tax consequences and as such there is a need for a clear policy statement on the matter so that tax administrators can know what is ahead in the country to avoid retrospective policy. With the theme, ‘Digital Currency Technology and e-Naira: Nature

and Implications for taxation,’ the event was declared open by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, who highlighted the need for a well structured policy framework that captures the nations evolving economy that is migrating to a digitized world globally. Lawan, represented by his Senior Adviser on Economic matters, Professor Nasifi Abdullahi, emphasized the imperative alternative financing source of funding for the Nigerian economy.

He however, pointed out that the ICT sector is now the second largest sector of the economy driving growth in the non-oil sector. According to him, this trend poses as an opportunity for the nation to effectively harness. He maintained that it indicates that the nation’s population, which is 65 percent for 35 years below is digitally savvy and economic activities are progressively migrating from the normal trading economic activities into cyberspace.

“Now, this is an opportunity to expand the economy and then improve incomes, but is also a challenge; how do you improve tax collection on economic activities that are progressive becoming digital, what is the level of tax that you need to impose that is not be too punitive to the growth of that sector, what is the affordability component, what are the challenges associated with avoidance. “Our low tax-GDP-ratio is a challenge and also an opportunity,

challenge in the sense that it indicates low tax collection. The aggregate collection since September this year is only four percent, so maybe many companies are not paying tax. Now the challenge is, if that is a problem at the federal level, to effectively collect the company income tax and with the advance capacity of the FIRS you can imagine the extreme losses that are happening at the national levels, “he said. Continued on page 24

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT T H U R S D AY, D E C E M B E R 9 , 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 (%)

100.03

4.14

0.00

NTB 13-Jan-22

3.69

3.71

0.00

100.08

4.12

0.00

NTB 27-Jan-22

3.85

3.87

0.00

100.34

3.71

0.00

NTB 10-Feb-22

4.00

4.03

0.00

100.96

3.70

0.00

NTB 24-Feb-22

2.45

2.46

0.00

NTB 10-Mar-22

2.98

3.00

101.67

3.56

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

0.00

NGUS MAR 30 2022 425.46

0.00

NGUS APR 27 2022 426.89

C Ps MATURITY

Discount Yield

MREP CP XXXVII 14-DEC-21 MTNN CP IV 17DEC-21 FDHC CP I 17DEC-21 PARP CP II 30DEC-21 CMBL CP XVI 7-JAN-22

Change (%)

13.80

13.82 0.00

7.45

7.46

0.00

7.45

7.46

0.00

5.68

5.70

0.00

7.71

7.75

0.00

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2021

BUSINESSWORLD

AIR WATCH

Again, NIMET Warns of Flight Disruption Due to Harmmattan Chinedu Eze The Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has again warned that flight operations might be disrupted by Harmattan weather calling on airline operators to to pick up their flight folders and adhere to regulations, especially at aerodromes in the Northern parts of the country. NIMET also advised that road users are advised to drive slowly and carefully due to poor visibility during this period. “People with respiratory problems should take caution. Dust haze conditions are expected to intensify before the end of the day over the extreme north, horizontal visibility should further deteriorate from 0300 to 0600 local time as thick dust haze should engulf the northern cities keeping visibilities to 1000m and below; places like Maiduguri,

Nguru, Potiskum, Dutse, Gombe, Yola, Bauchi, Katsina, Sokoto,Kebbi, Kano, Kaduna and Zaria,” the agency said in a statement. It noted that presently moderate dust haze conditions are observed over some parts of the North and this has brought the horizontal visibility to (500 – 3000) m, adding that a fresh dust plumed has been raised at the dust source region (Faya Largeau in Chad Republic). The Director General of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Prof. Mansur Matazu told THISDAY , however,that it may not be as severe this year and promised to keep updating the public on weather changes. “You Know harmattan dust comes in cycles of four and six days,” he said. The former Director General of NIMET, Dr Anthony Anuforom gave details of how harmattan could

hamper flight operations and noted that no two seasons are the same because the volume of rains every year cannot be the same. “We are under the influence of harmattan because the North-Easterly wind from Niger and Chad carries dusty wind into Nigeria, which usually have higher impact in the northern region because of its proximity to the Sahel. It brings dust particles, which scatter light, obscure visibility. These particles are solid but suspended in the air. It blocks visibility and affects flight operation. “It will be difficult to tell the frequency of severe dust activities and climate variability. The amount of rainfall last year was not the same this year, so it varies from year to year. So there is annual variability and on the average there is dust which obstruct flight operations,” Dr Anuforomsaid.

Air Peace Partners Project Pink Blue on Cancer Management Nigeria’s leading airline, Air Peace has announced its partnership with Project Pink Blue for its 2021 Upgrade Oncology Programme, an initiative for strengthening the capacity of cancer treatment through training in oncology in Nigeria. The project, which was officially flagged off on Monday, December 6, 2021, is a US-Nigeria Science and Technology Exchange Programme. The Chief Operating Officer of Air Peace, Oluwatoyin Olajide, represented by the Deputy Marketing Manager, Neda Kheiri, commended the Executive Director of Pink Blue, Runcie Chidebe, and

the entire leadership of the body for conceiving this initiative and seeing it through to this point. She stated: “I understand that a lot of work went into bringing these American medical experts to Nigeria to provide cancer management training for 34 pharmacists across Nigeria. I’m not sure this has been done before by any public-spirited organisation. “We at Air Peace are very strategic in our CSR investments and the initiatives we identify with. We always invest in and partner for significantly impactful programmes, and this Pink Blue Oncology Training is one of such, as

it seeks to build capacity in the very critical area of cancer management. This will be of tremendous value to Nigerians battling cancer and boost its management”. In his opening remarks, the ED of Project Pink Blue, Runcie Chidebe, disclosed that the goal of the cancer body is to upgrade oncology treatment and care through the training of 150 doctors, 200 nurses and 34 oncology pharmacists in 24 universities of 14 states in Nigeria by end of 2021. He further expressed gratitude to the partners for throwing their weight behind the Upgrade Oncology Training.

Event Entrepreneurs Venture into Premium Market

Chinedu Eze

A industries and entrepreneurs seek ways to cushion the impact of the current economic hardship in the country, event entrepreneurs have said time is ripe to venture into the premium market. Participants at a recent one-day BusyBee Annual Event Business Summit explained that premium itself is excellence; excellent service delivery, excellent customer relationship and all round excellence in the entirety of one’s business ending in the client paying more money and receiving best value for his money. Going premium moves professionals from budget customers to customers that can afford excellent services; it also involves streamlining what the budget customer can afford to achieve a premium delivery. In her welcome address, Managing Director, BusyBee Group, BisiSotunde, said the Summit aims to synchronise business with solutions to provide event companies with a competitive advantage in the industry. Themed, ‘Repositioning your

brand for the Premium Market,’ she said the Nigeria event industry is huge and has come of age to premium. In her paper presentation tagged ‘Sell your premium services with style, Deep Bajwa, CEO, Opulence Events, London, pointed out that when you are offering premium you cannot cater for everyone, so there is need to understand the market, what is value and luxury. She added that to get to that market, professionals would need to be visible and the only way to achieve this is to get your face to the media. CEO, Lifetime Events By Jacqueline, New York, Jacqueline Vaquez in her presentation entitled ‘How to Move from Budget Clients to Luxury/High End Clients, stressed that partnerships are very essential because through these you see people that connect to your business and build on those strong relationships. She also stressed on the need for preparation, which entails gathering as much information as you can on an intending client and creating a

profile of the client and this would give an idea of the direction to go. Another vital factor, according to Vaquez is Value, which is a combination of quality and pricing. She said value is very important because that is what the client is expecting; “it’s a return on investment.” Thereafter panelists at the panel discussion brainstormed on the need for professionals in the industry to venture into the premium market. They averred that ascending to the premium level is very important right now because people’s spending power is not so much, so for every kobo they spend they want to get the best. Speaking at the panel, the Managing Director, Klala Photos and Films, Ayokunle Adebusoye, noted that the event industry is the fastest growing industry now and a money-making one as well. “The more you build well the better the values the better the income the better what you get. So the best is put in your best, build more, make more money and transform to the next level,” he said.

EXPERTS HARP ON FIRS, CBN’S ENAIRA ALIGNMENT FOR EFFECTIVE TAX TRACKING Chairman of Council, CITN, Adesina Adebayo said the session was instituted by the Institute to create an avenue to enable stakeholders deliberate, interact and discuss issues centered on taxation and other national issues in line with our statutory responsibilities as a professional Tax Institute chartered by law to promote the practice of taxation in the economic development of our dear nation, Nigeria. He intimated that the outcome of the deliberations would be articulated as a position paper to the government

and relevant stakeholders as input to policy formulation. The representative of the Executive Chairman, FIRS and State coordinator Lagos Mainland West, FIRS, Mrs. Akpomedaye Tolu, said going digital has actually boosted its revenue collection. She noted that with FIRS’s tax promax they are interested in how ICT will improve its operations and overall tax collection in the country. In his presentation, the Director, System Management Department, CBN, Musa Jimoh said the Apex

bank has been researching about digital currency since 2017. He noted that the difference between eNaira and crypto currency was that it is issued and backed by law, adding that CDC will not disrupt any financial entities in the country as the CBN is looking at integrating eNaira into various payments gateways He noted that the introduction would lead to reduction in cost of cash management, financial inclusion, improved monetary and financial stability policies, and poverty reduction.

UTH

& R E ASO

As Commercial Flight Operation Begins at Anambra Airport Chinedu Eze It was a historical moment last Tuesday when the first commercial flight landed at the Anamabra State International Cargo Airport, Umueri. The excitement and satisfaction evoked by the successful landing and take off of the Embraer ERJ 145 jet operated by Air Peace, was indescribable. To the Anambra state government, it was a dream that came true; the actualization of a dream that at a time bordered on dilemma and uncertainty, as the lofty project was mired in vindictive politics. But on that Tuesday every citizen from that state was proud of the airport because many Anambra people thought having such facility in the state was overdue as they remain arguably the most travelled people in Nigeria. Anambra International Cargo Airport, Umueri, THISDAY learnt was built in a record time of 15 months by the Willie Obiano-led AnambraState Government. The government said it did not borrow a kobo nor did it seek any form of financial aid to build the airport. The Anambara government said nine contractors and nine service providers built the airport. None of the contractors or service providers is owed a kobo. The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. James Eze, told THISDAY that a test flight was performed on April 30, 2021 and that the first plane that landed at the airport was a plane from the Air Peace fleet owned by Chief Allen Onyema, an indigene of the state. He said the airport is expected to create about 1000 direct and indirect jobs. “The Anambra International Cargo and Passenger airport is a legacy of the Willie Obiano led APGA administration. A promise that was fulfilled after three decades. The airport is a Category (CAT) 4F airport. This means that an Airbus A380 aircraft can land comfortably at the airport. The runway is the second-longest runway in Nigeria with: Length - 3.7km and a runway end safety area (RESA) of 1km at both ends of the runway; width - 60 m; strip - 440 metres on either side of the runway and thickness - 270mm,” Eze said. He also explained that the runway is equipped with Category 2 lighting system, which implies that a plane can be guided by the light to land safely even in adverse weather conditions. “The airport is equipped with a satellite landing system (SLS). This provides for satellite assisted landing of aircraft should the runway lights fail for any reason. The airport also has Instrument landing system (ILS)which ensures that aircraft are vertically and horizontally aligned with the runway while landing. The airport has two taxiways. The airport apron measures 300 metres by 200 metres. This means that it can accommodate eight Boeing 747 aircraft at the same time. It is built on a rigid

pavement of concrete with a thickness measuring 560mm and reinforced top and bottom with concrete measuring 16mm in thickness,” he said. Eze also explained that the apron is built to repel water. So even when it rains, water runs off the surface easily, adding that the control tower is at the height of 34.5 metres, saying that the control tower of the airport is the tallest in Nigeria. “It is built with concrete top to bottom, it is the height of an 11-storey building; the control tower has nine suspended floors, it is equipped with a lift and a staircase; both the lift and staircase are fireproof; it is also equipped with biometric security doors and every room in the control tower and indeed the entire airport is equipped with a water sprinkler. However, the control tower has a self-fire fighting system that triggers off when there’s a fire emergency. Eze also said the terminal building is designed to accommodate 400 passengers and it has other features that include one departure terminal and arrival lounge; there are 36 shops in the building; there are three lifts and three escalators and two Avio bridges, each equipped with dual boarding passages. This means that four aircraft can board passengers at the same time. The airport is CAT 9 airport. It has three fire tenders (fire engines) that can shoot water up to the height of the control tower. The tenders can be controlled by the driver alone and the airport is also equipped with 20 hydrants. The airport is also equipped with two industrial boreholes, which pump water into tank 1 that is 640 cubic metres, tank 2 that is 240 cubic metresand there is also a water treatment plant that takes water to overhead tanks, so the total volume of overhead tanks is 123 cubic metres. The airport has A 33 KVA line drawn from Ag Awka to the airport that guarantees an 18-hour power supply. There are two units of 500KVA generators that serve as a backup to provide power always. The car park is asphalted and properly marked. It is designed to accommodate about 750 vehicles. “The airport road has two access roads. The first and major airport road measures about 5.7km and connects the OnitshaEnugu expressway to the airport. It is a dual carriageway road fitted with a bridge on either side of the carriageway. It has drainages on both sides. The road is completed, clearly marked and fitted with streetlights. The second airport road measures about 4km and connects the airport to the Nteje-Umueri-Aguleri road. The driveways within the airport are all asphalted and marked,” Eze said. THISDAY learnt that currently the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) allows small body aircraft to operate to the airport, but bigger aircraft would be allowed when other operational standards are met.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

ECONOMY

AfCFTA: Need to Address Concerns of Nigerian Manufacturers Insights on how MSMEs can maximise the benefits of the AfCFTA, was the central focus of economic and tax experts at a one day stakeholders sensitisation and consultation forum, organised by CISLAC and OXFAM Nigeria in collaboration with CITN, writes Sunday Ehigiator

ine months after President Mohammadu Buhari signed the AFCFTA, it seem as though Nigeria is still foot dragging with the implementation of the agreement. While the AfCFTA has great potential to support economic development on the continent and Nigeria by extension, some enterprises may not be able to take advantage of the agreement or compete with an influx of new competitors from other countries within the free trade area because of internal inefficiencies within businesses or suboptimal business environments. These potential challenges for businesses sparked some opposition to the AfCFTA in Nigeria and led Nigeria to be one of the last countries to sign the agreement on July 9, 2019. Worried by this development, three concerned bodies, who are players in the business of accountability for growth, and development came together in a conference where they did a breakdown-to-pieces of the AfCFTA agreement and took it from the technicalities - that are ordinarily decodable only by the professionals - to the understanding ground level for clarity and usable material for the layman in business. It was so planned that no one will be left behind as the rest of 55 African countries move to finally save the continent from the embarrassing underdevelopment status of centuries to a final collaborative socio-economic growth and development in no distant time with implementation of the agreement. No doubt, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of many developed economies. They are important contributors to employment, output growth, and trade expansion and in Nigeria they remain critical constituents of the economy. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), SMEs in Nigeria accounts for about 96 per cent of registered Nigerian businesses, employ about 75 per cent of the national labour force and contribute 48 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The Nigerian government is currently at the third phase which is the implementation phase and on its part has made concerted efforts towards positioning SMEs to harness the numerous benefits of the AfCFTA on implementation through formalizations and engagements with public sector agencies to strengthen the capacity of SMEs to harness available opportunities. Despite sensitization and consultation campaigns in all the geo-political zones, there is a seeming lack of mass enlightenment on the AfCFTA with only 30 groups and 2317 natural persons sensitised and consulted on the AfCFTA. A 2020 survey of 1,804 MSMEs across Nigeria by the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA) showed that more than 50 per cent of those surveyed were most concerned about the threat posed by imported cheaper goods competing with local products due to the AfCFTA, while only 20 per cent were aware of the existence of the AfCFTA. Needless to say that the above statistics formed the background of discussions at the one day stakeholders’ sensitisation and consultation forum, themed, ‘Maximizing the Benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement’ held on Tuesday December 7th at Sheraton Hotel, lkeja-Lagos. The discourse jointly organised by Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC), OXFAM Nigeria in conjunction

with The Chartered Institute of Taxation Nigeria drew experts from the Civil Society Organisations, academic community, corporate organisations and the media. In his opening remarks, the Executive Direcror of CISLAC, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani said the impact of the AfCFTA cannot be determined by government policies alone but also by how much the private sector leverages the abundant opportunities available in the free trade area. “In Africa despite sensitization and consultation campaigns in all the geo-political zones, there is a seeming lack of mass enlightenment on the AfCFTA with only 30 groups and 2317 natural persons sensitised and consulted on the AfCFTA. “Without an active strategy to ensure that MSMEs are aware of the AfCFTA and put in a position to capitalise on the agreement, the AfCFTA’s positive impact on the Nigerian economy will remain minimal,”CISLAC boss said. Also speaking the CITN President, Adesina Adedayo, noted that the AfCFTA has the potential of contributing greatly to the movement of capital and natural persons, and facilitating investments across borders by laying the foundation for the establishment of a continental customs union at a later stage. According to him, “AfCFTA was established primarily with the objective of deepening African economic integration through a single market for goods and services and to promote industrial development through diversification and regional value chain development. “The advantages of this agreement are quite enormous. It has the potential of contributing greatly to the movement of capital and natural persons, facilitating investments across borders by laying the foundation for the establishment of a continental customs union at a later stage. “MSMEs remain critical constituents of the Nigerian economy as they represent 96 per cent of Nigerian businesses and contribute 75 per cent to national employment. MSMEs will benefit from access to new markets and the economic transformation that competition promotes.” Speaking on concerns about the effect the AfCFTA would have on the Nigerian economy, Adedayo said the concerns can be addressed positively by the government putting in place safeguards to ensure vulnerable industries are protected. According to him, these safeguards include, improving transport infrastructure and enforcing policies which would see a reduction in the cost of production with much consideration and easier access to credit facilities by the MSMEs. “This would in turn make goods export competitive and promote rapid growth in industrialization which in return boost our nation’s economy.” In his keynote address, on benefits of AfCFTA to MSMEs and Nigeria, the key speaker, Professorial Chairman, Babcock University and Tax Commissioner at the Tax Appeal Tribunal, Professor Ishola Akintoye said took a cursory look at the continent, the prevailing situation on the ground in Nigeria and called on government of the country to get serious with its implementation of it because, according to him, if it took the Africa’s most populous country that long to carefully check and study the AfCFTA before it

signed, it will not be in good place to find Nigeria wanting among 55 other countries at implementation. Prof. Akintoye, also a teacher, carried the task to fulfillment when he practically downloaded facts from nooks and crannies of intellectuality to enable the participants, selected from across the sectors including the transparency and accountability civil societies, taxation institutions and the media, who are expected to further engage in the implementation process through public sensitisation, takeaways to do so. Speaking on the reason behind it he said , “AfCFTA is simply an idea to have a single plan for all African countries to come together under an African integration developmental authority that will make all the member countries to grow together,” he said noting, however, that some members will lose because “when you open your doors, you will lose some fiscal benefits” but, he assured, the percentage of loss will be insignificant compared to what will be continentally benefited when the agreement becomes fully operational Enumerating the benefits, the scholar from Babcock University said the AfCFTA will allow African-owned companies to enter new markets, facilitate economic growth, encourage foreign direct investment, reduce input cost, and also increase efficiency and sales, minimise the threats and improve her competitive advantages under the AfCFTA, Akintoye thereby said there was need for critical evaluation and concerted, continuous measures in key areas. According to him, the government must “carry out an impact assessment to determine likely effects of AfCFTA implementation on government revenue, identify required changes to existing laws and regulations including local content rules, and areas of competitive and comparative advantages. “Build institutional capacity to lead the implementation of AfCFTA and identify key stakeholders and agencies with key responsibilities, expected outcomes and performance indicators. “Using the provisions of AfCFTA, systematically improve the capacity of the Nigeria Customs Service to secure and enforce Nigerian borders to prevent dumping, transshipment, smuggling and other detrimental cross border activities. “Systematically address infrastructural gaps and improve the general ease of doing business in Nigeria especially through a concerted focus on power and access to affordable finance. “Protect and strengthen business sectors and infant industries that could be endangered by AfCFTA in line with Article 24 (under Protocol on Trade in Goods). “Isolate, support and stimulate sectors and businesses with identified capabilities to increase export volume and create jobs locally through coordinated governmental efforts at all levels He added that, as a matter of urgency, the government must address regulatory and policy impediments and promote small scale industries in local

machine tool manufacturing, fishing and crop production, livestock, forestry, audio visual and financial services through extension of focused Venture Capital and skills enhancement under AfCFTA. “The FIRS and the JTB should leverage technology and the new TIN system to improve the quality and integrity of taxpayers’ data, enhance tax intelligence gathering and initiate reforms to ensure appropriate taxation of nonresident individuals and businesses with sufficient connections to Nigeria. “Ensure policy coordination and alignment between monetary, trade and fiscal policies. “Most importantly, conduct regular, extensive and robust scientific studies on different aspects of AfCFTA as it affects Nigeria both in terms of potential benefits and probable losses to inform policy decisions on future withdrawal, review and modifications of the AfCFTA treaty.” Corroborating Akintoye, former Director General Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Dr. Muda Yusuf noted that countries with strong productivity and competitiveness will benefit more. According to him,“ Benefits and costs would vary from country to country. Countries with a quality investment environment would emerge as key destinations for investment; countries with weak investment environments will be market destinations.” He however highlighted multiplicity of membership, slow ratification of protocols and reluctant implementation of agreed plans, lack of complementarities of African economies, socio-economic policy divergence, inadequate infrastructure, limited national and regional capacities, and lack of full private sector involvement at both planning and implementation stage, as part of challenges of the AfCFTA. As Nigeria finally rises to begin the implementation of Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) after taking much times to consider the pros and cons months ago, the discussants noted that there is need to wake up the consciousness of citizens, particularly those in Micro, Small and Media Enterprises (MSMEs), of their respective duties to, rights from the agreement, and how they can leverage on the inherent opportunities to maximize the benefits of it has necessitated. While the participants were also exposed to the inherent benefits of the AfCFTA for value addition and improved export trade revenue derivation. Above all, Nigeria must address issues raised by local manufacturers to show readiness.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

AVIATION

Nigeria’s Ire against UK over Omicron With the dawn of another variant of Coronavirus pandemic, known as Omicron, world’s advanced nations rally against Africa with travel ban, what is now known as apartheid against the continent, as Nigeria’s anger is stirred against UK for putting her in the red list. Chinedu Eze writes that politics, economic exploitation and racism might be behind the knee-jerk reaction and boycott of Africa over Omicron

hen South Africa announced the new strain of Coronavirus pandemic on November 25, the reaction was shocking, as many countries began to ban flights from South Africa and other nations of the southern sub-region. With that announcement countries banned flight operations to South Africa, Bostwana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe and later Canada included Nigeria, Egypt and Malawi, where air travellers are banned from coming to the North American country. Few days after the announcement, the countries that banned flights to these African nations include: Angola, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Egypt, Fiji, France, Germany, Greece, India and Indonesia. Others include Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Maldives, Malta, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, United Kingdom and the United States.

REJECTION

BBC reported that South Africa has complained it is being punished - instead of applauded - for discovering Omicron. South Africa’s Health Minister, Joe Phaahla said there was “absolutely no need to panic” over the new coronavirus variant Omicron, despite a surge in cases. “We have been here before,” he said, referring to the Beta variant detected in South Africa last December. South Africa also condemned the travel bans imposed on the country, saying they should be lifted immediately. However, World Health Organisation (WHO) said Omicron mutates heavily so it is likely to spread internationally and poses a very high risk of infection surges that could have “severe consequences” in some places. Although no Omicron-linked deaths had yet been reported then, but WHO said further research was needed to assess its potential to resist vaccines and immunity induced by previous infections. Anticipating increased case numbers as the variant, first reported last week, spreads, WHO urged its 194 member states to accelerate vaccination of high-priority groups. On the attitude of the world to South Africa, WHO condemned that travel ban and urged countries around the world not to impose flight ban on southern African nations due to concerns over the new Omicron COVID-19 variant. WHO’s regional director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, called on countries to follow science and international health regulations in order to avoid using travel restrictions. “Travel restrictions may play a role in slightly reducing the spread of COVID -19 but place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods,” Moetisaid in a statement. “If restrictions are implemented, they should not be unnecessarily invasive or intrusive, and should be scientifically based, according to the International Health Regulations, which is a legally binding instrument of international law recognised by over 190 nations.” Moeti praised South Africa for following international

health regulations and informing WHO as soon as its national laboratory identified the Omicron variant. “The speed and transparency of the South African and Botswana governments in informing the world of the new variant is to be commended,” said Moeti. “WHO stands with African countries which had the courage to boldly share life-saving public health information, helping protect the world against the spread of COVID-19.” While investigations continue into the Omicron variant, WHO recommended that all countries “take a risk-based and scientific approach and put in place measures which can limit its possible spread.”

TRAVEL BAN NOT SOLUTION

NPR has reported that studies suggest that travel ban alone do not do much in curtailing the spread of the virus or its variant. The medium noted that though scientists have little information about the new variant and aren’t certain where it originated from, several countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and the European Union announced almost immediate travel ban from South Africa and other southern African nations. As at November 30, these countries have detected Omicron according to CNN: Australia: 6 cases Austria: 1 case Belgium: 1 case Botswana: 19 cases Canada: 3 cases Czech Republic: 1 case Denmark: 2 cases France: 1 case (on Reunion Island) Germany: 4 cases Hong Kong: 3 cases Israel: 2 cases Italy: 4 cases Japan: 1 case Netherlands: 14 cases Portugal: 13 cases South Africa: 77 cases Spain: 1 case Sweden: 1 case United Kingdom: 14 cases. Nigeria on December 1, 2021 announced that cases Omicron variant had been confirmed in Nigeria. “The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said at first three Nigerians were identified with the Omicron variant, but as at December 6, 2021 more citizens have been identified with the variant.

PAVLOVIAN RESPONSE

In what it refers to as Pavlovian response, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) excoriated countries that slammed travel ban on South Africa and other countries in the sub-region. Like Pavlovian conditioning, which is a reflex or knee-jack approach, IATA accused these countries of travel ban and counseled that they should have adopted a more effective ways than to ban travel to the countries of the southern sub-region of the African continent. “After nearly two years of dealing with COVID-19, we should have progressed beyond these knee-jerk, uncoordinated, Pavlovian-like responses, to recognise that the virus is well on its way to being endemic. Public health officials tell us that we should expect variants to emerge. And by the time they are detected, the reality is that they are probably already present around the globe.

“That is what is happening now. We are already finding Omicron in parts of the world far from South Africa, where it was first identified. Travel restrictions are not going to stop the spread. And they will do real harm to people and economies,” IATA said. In order to reinforce its position against travel ban, IATA quoted medical experts who share the same view and warned against travel ban. “It’s really important that there are no knee jerk responses here, especially with relation to South Africa. South Africa is picking up interesting and important information for which we are doing the proper risk assessment and risk management. We have seen in the past that when there is any mention of a variant then everyone is closing borders and restricting travel. It is really important that we remain open and focused on characterising the problem, not punishing countries for doing outstanding scientific work and being open and transparent about what they are seeing and what they are finding,” said WHO Executive Director, Mike Ryan. The African Union Vaccine Delivery Alliance C-Chair, Dr AyoadeAlakija described the action of the countries banning travel to some African countries as politics, as those countries did not equally announce travel ban to some countries outside Africa, where the new COVID-19 variant was found. IATA also observed, “International travel all but stopped in April 2020; and the virus spread despite the assurances of our political leaders that banning travel would control it. To date, over 260 million people are known to have been infected. Many more cases are probably unreported. Meanwhile, the human and economic cost of de-connecting the world may never truly be calculated.” In fact, there are indications that before South Africa announced the discovery of the Omicron variant, it had been found in Netherlands and possibly other European countries. CBS News reported that the Omicron variant had been in Europe before South Africa announced and made it known to the world. “Dutch health authorities announced on Tuesday that they found the new Omicron variant of coronavirus in cases dating back as long as 11 days, indicating that it was already spreading in western Europe before the first cases were identified in southern Africa. The RIVM health institute said it found Omicron in samples dating from November 19 and 23,” CBS News reported.

UK PUTS NIGERIA ON RED LIST

Nigeria was shocked last Saturday when UK put Nigeria on red list, which calls for stringent COVID-19 measures that include temporary travel ban for non-UK and Irish citizens and residents. British High Commission, Abuja issued a statement that from Monday, November 6, 2021 only UK and Irish citizens and residents arriving from

Nigeria would be allowed into the country but they must isolate for 10 days and receive two negative PCR tests, “as further precautionary action is taken against the Omicron variant.” The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who addressed journalists in Abuja, described the decision of the UK government targeting Nigerian travellers as discriminatory, unfair, punitive, indefensible and unjust. The Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Antonio Guterres, also joined to strongly condemn what he termed “travel apartheid” being meted on some developing countries, mostly in Africa as part of their strategy to curtail the spread of Omicron variant. This is just as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the UK, Sarafa TunjiIsola, who was on a media round in UK, aligned with the position of the Guterres in describing the action by the UK government as “travel apartheid.” The Nigerian Senate has also called on the British authorities to consider removing Nigeria from their Coronavirus (COVID-19) red list. The Senate condemned what it called the United Kingdom’s inclusion of Nigeria in the COVID-19 red list without justification. Meanwhile, before the British government put Nigeria on the red list, Canada had already banned travellers from Nigeria, Lai Mohammed who was specially incensed against UK, argued that there were more cases of Omicron in the UK than in Nigeria and there are even more cases in many European countries but UK did not put those countries in the red list. In fact, there were suggestions that UK intended to make so much money from the Nigerian red list, as residents and citizens who travel to Nigeria on their return to UK would pay about 2, 285.00 pounds for 10 day quarantine at government approved hotel facility. The President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), Mrs. Susan Akporiaye condemned the decision of the UK to put Nigeria in the red list and said it was totally uncalled for. She disclosed to THISDAY that a lot of Nigerians with children resident in the UK who wanted to come to Nigeria have cancelled their travel plans along with others and regretted that the action taken by the UK would discourage vaccination because it means that vaccination is not important, as those who vaccinated and those that did not vaccinate are treated the same way. Meanwhile, according to The Indian Express, India on Monday added Ghana and Tanzania to the list of “at risk” countries, passengers from there have to follow additional Covid-19 testing and quarantine measures. The newspaper reported that the list now of flight comprises countries in Europe, including the UK, and South Africa, Brazil, Botswana, China, Ghana, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tanzania and Israel. It is hoped that as more revelations are made about the new COVID-19 variant, omicron, whether it is lethal or mild, these countries that placed African nation’s on flight ban would expectedly lift the bans, as there are indications that Omicron is not as dangerous as Delta.

OMICRON: FG MAY REVIEW BASA WITH UNITED KINGDOM OVER INCLUSION OF NIGERIA ON RED LIST in UK – (intermediate points) Abidjan, Accra – Kano, Lagos and Abuja – (points beyond) Abidjan, Accra, Douala, Harare, Lusaka and Libreville. Nigerian designated airlines have the following routes available to them: points in Nigeria – (intermediate points) Rome, Paris, Zurich, Frankfurt – London and Manchester – (points beyond) Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Moscow.

The Nigerian airlines in the agreement that ought to reciprocate the British carriers that operate to Nigeria do not have the capacity to do so and except Arik Air, which successfully operated the rout until it was stopped in 2017 by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) when the airline went under receivership, none of the other airlines operated to UK from Nigeria.

But Medview Airline operated Lagos-London for few months until it was stopped by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Major industry operator who wish to remain anonymous, told THISDAY that what Nigeria needs is to be more transparent in the enforcement of its COVID-19 protocol, to ensure that it strictly follows the rules and has proper

documentation of deaths from the virus, number of people vaccinated, investigate those alleged to be issuing fake certificates and deal ruthlessly with them. An operator who do not want his name in print said Nigeria should also ensure that there is efficient facility that meet international standard for the storage of COVID-19 vaccines and also ensure effective

distribution. On reviewing the BASA agreement, he said that it would not be wise to stop British carriers from coming to Nigeria because it would make travel difficult for Nigerians, noting also that for Nigerian airlines to seize the opportunity offered by the BASA agreement, it ought to meet British and European safety standards.

“What we need to do is to be honest with ourselves. We are aware that Nigerians are flouting the COVID-19 protocols, churches have started and other activities that bring people together are going on. We hope UK will lift Nigeria from the list on December 20, but we should also assure them that we are doing the right thing,” the source said.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

PERSPECTIVE

Need for More Shoprite Stores Across Nigeria John Uche

hoprite’s first store in Nigeria was opened in Lagos in 2005 and since then the company has grown to become a household name for many across Nigeria. However, despite having opened 25 stores across the country in the past 16 years, the company, which was headquartered in South Africa, seemed out of touch to Nigerians. In the summer of 2021, it was announced the Nigerian branch of the supermarket giant was acquired by Nigerian investment firm, Ketron. And for the first time in a decade and a half, Shoprite would be owned by Nigerians, staffed by Nigerians, and most importantly devoted to Nigerians. Shoprite serves as a cost-effective supermarket for all and, with 25 stores across the country, it is relatively easy for most to access one of Shoprite’s stores; yet the advantages of Shoprite stores still aren’t accessible to too many Nigerians. Shoprite’s new leadership is dedicated to providing, of course, affordable and quality foods and goods to Nigerians across the country, but the company also wants to contribute to building up stronger local economies across the country. Under the company’s new management, Shoprite has already begun acting on this commitment - with

a new store opening in Kaduna soon and in partnership with the Edo state government, they have successfully agreed to begin construction of a new ultra-modern mall. It was revealed in October that Shoprite has signed into agreement the construction of this new mall in Benin City. This mall will of course create hundreds if not thousands of

jobs, be they initially for the masons, engineers and workers that will be employed in the building’s construction or, on a longer-term basis, in the managers and employees that will occupy the mall once the construction is completed. In addition to the job opportunities at Shoprite, the finished mall will also encourage

other businesses to set up in the mall, creating further employment and drawing even more customers to the mall further bolstering the local economy and providing much needed opportunities for smaller businesses to recover from the devastation caused by COVID-19. The mall itself will implement state-of-the-art technologies and infrastructure to provide up to 1.5 million Nigerians across Edo State with easy and convenient access to thousands of excellent products. An important stipulation that Shoprite pushed for was that the mall would include a State Library, providing Edo State’s citizens with an opportunity and environment in which they can learn and educate themselves. This is but an example of the sorts of initiatives that are intrinsically linked with the development of further Shoprite stores. Shoprite’s revitalized and reinforced commitment to the welfare of Nigeria’s citizens demonstrates that the company’s overall goal is to boost Nigeria’s economy and provide exciting opportunities for the country’s people all while of course keeping them well fed. It is for these reasons that Nigeria needs more Shoprite stores in every state. t +PIO 6DIF JT B 'JOBODF "OBMZTU IF SFTFBSDIFT BOE BMTP PDDBTJPOBMMZ XSJUFT PO "GSJDBO CVTJOFTTFT

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2021

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Jani Ibrahim: Nigeria’s Impact at IATF Remarkable The 2nd Deputy National President of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and a board member of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Jani Ibrahim in this interview hailed the country’s participation at the recently concluded Intra African Trade Fair (IATF) in South Africa. Ugo Aligo present the excerpts Nigeria’s Participation at IATF am impressed with the massive showing at the fair. I think the IATF this year has been very successful and the impact on Nigerians or whichever the participation has been remarkable. Despite the challenges of visa issuance but we have one of the biggest delegations, the best pavilion. We are having very good responses but the area the government should focus on is to devolve to private sector from now on. They have put the whole structure in place for it to look more like the private sector. Nigeria, as a strong powerhouse of the continent, needed to be in that room where all decisions that affects the region are being taken. What we came here to experience in South Africa, the knowledge is never lost and we have seen the type of responses some of our exhibitors have been receiving, very encouraging responses. If we didn’t take part, most of these experiences would have been lost on our exhibitors. Africa is where we should try to show our strength and dominance because we have had a lot of rejections of our products going into Europe and other places. But Africa is not that complicated, with the specifications, we are good to go unlike the unnecessary bottlenecks that are in international, European, and American market. They’re not as difficult with Africa because we’re almost the same. So this should be the testing ground for us. The learning curve should be here, where we can make improvement both in our packaging and in our presentations. Africa is the testing ground for us and we must take advantage of it.”

Ibrahim want that. Fear of Nigeria Being a Dumping Ground Somehow products will continue to find their ways into our markets. We must be prepared for competition, competition is a must, it must come so we should get ourselves and prepared. There are some people because of the agitations of manufacturers, the agitations of the private sector, government has been very responsible.

NACCIMA’s Take On AFCTA We were at the forefront asking government to sign, to get on board quickly, of course the manufacturers had their fears and they had their own issues in regards to infrastructure and all of that but you see competition must be there, competition keeps you on your toes. We cannot be afraid to compete, we cannot afford to close shops and protect simply because we are afraid of what other people would do. We must take the battles to them and that’s the only way to fight in this harsh economic environment. It is a harsh environment so we must take the battles to them.

Governments Incentives to Private Sector Before we didn’t even have tax credits for people to go and build roads and infrastructure but it is part of the responsiveness of government and the interchange and exchanges between private sector and government that’s why some of these things are coming up. The President has signed an executive order now. Executive order 5 about using what is Made in Nigeria, giving Nigerians the opportunity, so there are so many opportunities but unless we are able to engage with government and confront them, Yes, Nigeria is the biggest market, it is the market everybody wants but it doesn’t now mean that we should now go and dominate other markets. Infact, I think the other African countries are even worried more about Nigeria they are afraid of Nigeria coming to take over their business. They’re afraid and here we are, we are also saying that too. We must take our grounds, take our battles elsewhere, from a red ocean, let’s make it blue ocean. You see what is happening to those in Kenya saying that Nigerians are the ones dominating their markets. So if we go and take positions in those markets, how will dumping take place? It’s not possible? I think it is parochial to just be thinking Nigerian now in the days of AfCFTA. We should be thinking Africa. So if people sit in Nigeria and think they only want to be producing in Ogun state and take it to Sokoto, they have missed the point. We have completely missed the point. We should be thinking that we are producing in Ogun state, Kwara state or somewhere and our target is somewhere in Sierra Leone or our target is in Malawi. That’s the way. The mindset has to change. So we need to change the mindset of our people and encourage more than any other thing else.

View on Protectionism? If we are expecting that government will protect, we are members of the WTO. We cannot begin to overprotect. Our manufacturers are rising to the occasion, this is what should happen and it should even put us on our feet because by the time we have “Protectionism” it is complacency. You’re introducing complacency and whether they like it or not, we must rise to the occasion and that we keep us to be guarding our markets also because we don’t want people to be dumping in our markets so we need to know all the rules, the rules of origin, we must be conversant with them. So it would be wrong to say you want to prevent competition, not in this world. The world is a global village. It is global. We don’t

Small Scale Businesses Our medium and small scale entrepreneurs are the people that can make it for us. As we can see from here, young people are all over the place doing business. Our creative industry is number one, while we are here today, the Egyptians came trying to take information on how we can bring our creative people together. That they think the Egyptians will love Nigerian culture. That they should please bring them to Egypt so these are the things. So it is in this kind of fora that we can be able to sell them to the world. And besides, we are being parochial; we should give the opportunity to the young people and see what they can do. We don’t need to define the rules for them. Just give them the field to go and play.

Readiness to Compete in AFCTA It is like everything in life, we can never be ready, the earlier we plunge ourselves into it and see how we can wangle our ways and see how we can be developing the necessary skill set infrastructure and capital. For instance, we failed to sign as at the time we ought to have signed and we lost quite a lot. For instance, we lost the headquarters of AfCFTA to Ghana, we lost even what we pioneered, we lost the impetus and the momentum to drive the trade agreement but we eventually signed. What did we learn, and what was different to have made us to sign. If we had committed that time, we could have worked out the issues. So my take is we must get into the race and the earlier we get into the race, unless we are on the table, we can’t take part in the AfCFTA meal.

THIS WEEKEND WEEKLY MAGAZINE

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

I Didn’t Make Any Money from My First Film James Omokwe:

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COVER

James Omokwe: I Didn’t Make Any Money from My First Film James Omokwe is a Nigerian film producer who is widely celebrated for his brilliance in the Africa Magic drama series- Ajoche and Riona. He started as an actor but transitioned from acting to film production over the years. In this interview with MARY NNAH he talks about the challenges of the Nigerian movie industry, why many actors refuse to be dynamic and are reluctant to adapt to new realities which they see as obstacles rather than opportunities. Omokwe, who recently concluded Production Meeting, a quarterly event for mentoring up-andcoming actors in Nigeria, spoke about his trajectory as a filmmaker and other critical issues in Nollywood self-discipline.

You were barely 14 years old when you fell in love with movies in 1998. What is the backstory of the things that sparked your interest in movies? have always been interested in TV, films and animation. In fact, back when I was younger, I always wanted to be an animator. I wanted to do cartoons. I felt like I could tell stories by doing cartoons. I used to watch a lot of anime, a lot of Disney cartoons and all that stuff but as I grew older, I became more interested in doing films. So, I think for me it was always innate. I remember always scribbling and drawing a lot of comic characters and wishing I could bring them to life. I always wanted to take those things that I was drawing and put them into real life. Animation at the time was almost impossible in Nigeria in our industry so I just switched towards film and it was more like an obsession, nothing else interested me more. I kept saying to myself, “I want to tell a story and I need to pick up a camera and start.” I started and got into filming. I think my first short film which is still on Facebook to this day was in 2008 or 2007. It was my first ever short film that I did with a couple of my friends and after that experience, I knew definitely this was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

You learn how to make yourself better because one of my mantras, especially when it comes to film-making, is that every project I do will always be better than the last. I have to keep that energy as I am going. Consistency helps you with a lot of discipline, mind-building and creativity. It helps you push yourself to the limit. So consistency and humility are my biggest takeaways from what I have learnt about art.

What was the reaction from your family and friends when you went into the movie industry? My family was very supportive. My Mum is an extremely kind and supportive person and will encourage you in any chosen field you want. There was no discouragement whatsoever. I studied Theatre Arts at the University, a move my entire family supported. There was no pressure to be an engineer, doctor or teacher. They were supportive all the way. What were some of the early start-up challenges that you encountered as an upcoming actor and ﬁlmmaker and how were you able to surmount them? I attended film school in Abuja. I used to work for a company called DelYork International and they run this DelYork Creative Academy. In 2010, they brought New York Film Academy to Abuja and I did a course in Filmmaking. When I finished and came back to Lagos, bursting with ideas and full of zeal, I got a couple of people together and said “Look we are doing this film; we are going to make it happen.” Unfortunately, I didn’t have much funding. Convincing people to fund a film project was difficult. I mean open heart surgery would be easier than trying to convince people to give you money. I was fresh out of film school, who wanted to take a chance on this young guy who says he can do a great movie but has no proven resume? Well, eventually, we did raise the money but we wanted to do a big-budget movie and I don’t know if I knew what a big budget was at that point in time. But we did raise some money eventually over a long period of time but the money came in trickles and these were mostly from family members and people who just thought to give me a chance. But even after getting the money to make the film, you still had to deal with publicity, distribution, and obviously, we didn’t have enough money to do our own publicity. We didn’t even know how distribution works. It was really a struggle. I didn’t make any money when the first film was released. Discouraged, I went into this phase of doing TV films which didn’t benefit me financially anyway. Again, nobody wanted to give a young filmmaker a chance. But I think the one thing that kept me sane was consistency; even though it was not benefitting me, I kept making films. I kept shooting movies and invariably building my resume and gaining more and more experience. For each failure in a project, you are actually gaining more experience, you get better. In that situation, that phase of my life and career, I asked myself some hard questions: Is there any way forward? Am I on the right path? Am I ever going to have a breakthrough? What else can I do within my career choice that wouldn’t frustrate me? By the end of 2014, a friend of mine, IK Osaduwa, was producing a show. He was the host of the

What advice would you share with aspiring ﬁlmmakers? Biggest thing I am going to tell aspiring filmmakers is that you have to learn how to stay hungry. And by staying hungry, I don’t mean hungry for food. I mean stay hungry to make a lasting impression through good movies; be hungry to make new ones ones; be hungry for new innovations in the movie industry. Don’t ever feel like you’ve arrived or that you’ve done enough. Don’t ever think you are the hottest thing; don’t rest on your oars. Always look out for the next challenge in movies. Always strive for better. Ask yourself, how do I go to the next level? How do I get better? How do I do this? How do I do that? That’s what I mean by staying hungry. This I always tell my partners: the minute you get to a point where you feel like you don’t want to get better, you don’t want to innovate, that’s the end of your career. Like Bob Hagin said in his book: “Innovate or die.” Even 50 Cent, the rapper said it. It is either you are innovating or you die. It is either you are changing or that is the end of your career. So, keep innovating, stay hungry, stay humble - that’s my piece of advice.

Omokwe show for Africa Magic. It was his show and he asked me to produce it for him. Now, I haven’t had experience working on TV or producing a show for television but I jumped at the offer because I felt that it would be stable in terms of finances and I guess it was another angle for me to learn - but six, seven years down the line, I am still producing content for Africa Magic. If I didn’t make that choice, I probably wouldn’t be here today. Apart from the fact that I was consistent, I had to look critically and I had to make some changes which eventually benefitted me along the way. What were some of the factors that fuelled your transitioning from working behind the desk and then into ﬁlm directing? I started as an actor but the major thing that made me change my mind was I felt that I wasn’t being in the stories that I wanted to tell. I felt like I wasn’t doing the kinds of things that I really wanted to do. I am very big on telling authentic African stories like epics, suspense thrillers, that’s my thing. I guess I was a bit impatient and didn’t want to play lover boy any longer. I wanted to tell very intriguing stories. I must, however, confess that at that point, I wasn’t thinking of authentic African stories. I just wanted to tell stories that were way beyond my time and henceforth I decided that I will direct my own movies. This was the reason I was working for Linus Idahosa who owns DelYork, that was what fuelled my transition. With your training at the New York Academy, how would you rate the

prospects of the Nigerian movie sector? The sector as regards training, as I said, I went to New York Film Academy, or rather, they came to Nigeria. This was way back in 2010 and the company which brought that collaboration was DelYork. Now, we have a DelYork Creative Academy. What that training does is to prepare you for the opportunity that is already available. Like someone once told me that there is no such thing as an opportunity comes but once; opportunities are always available. You have to be well equipped to get to that opportunity and so I feel like this training is doing just that, preparing us for the eventuality of these opportunities that will come and they are coming because now we have Amazon, we have Netflix, there is HBO coming, there is Disney coming and all these guys want to work with professionals, they want to work with people who understand and know the business. This training put you at the starting line. There are great prospects because when these people come, they will pick people who are professionals. As a ﬁlmmaker what vital lessons have you learned about art? One of the vital lessons that I have learnt is consistency. Some people don’t have consistency. A lot of people feel like if I shoot this one movie, that’s it. Stay consistent. I have been doing this since 2010, just making films, making mistakes, hating the films that I shoot and working on TV. I have done it all, about 12 years. Consistency is the key. It helps you. You learn a lot of

Biggest thing I am going to tell aspiring ﬁlmmakers is that you have to learn how to stay hungry. And by staying hungry, I don’t mean hungry for food. I mean stay hungry to make a lasting impression through good movies; be hungry to make new ones ones; be hungry for new innovations in the movie industry

As an actor-cum-director, what is your view on the widespread notion that sex-for-role is prevalent in the Nigerian movie industry? I have heard a lot about people, females who have been having advances. People are like, if you don’t sleep with me, you won’t get this role, it’s an absolute yes. I don’t want to attribute this to the film industry alone. It is something that happens everywhere but it’s just the idea that somebody feels like they have power over somebody and so they feel like in exchange for whatever it is that they want to do for you, and then you must sell your body. I feel that is very ridiculous, it is sickening because it is almost like slavery. I don’t know the word to use. It’s terrible. Basically, you are not making these people have a choice. Their talent doesn’t matter to you; all you want to do is enslave them. I feel like weak people do that, people who are crazy. I irrevocably don’t support it. If you are a film producer and maybe you are a single film producer and you see someone you like, try and have that conversation with the person outside of work. Like hey, “I like you, do you like me?” And if the person says, “No, I don’t like you, ” then move on. But having to force people to sleep with you because you want to give them a role is disgusting. And for the females, what I would say is immediately those things happen, walk away from the film. There are hundreds of producers who will hire you. That one person doesn’t have the right to have a hold on or power over your career. I have heard people say things like guys will say “if you don’t sleep with me, I will ruin your career in Nollywood,” it is total bullshit. There are thousands of producers who want to work with you and some of these people who are talking are probably not big. For the girls, don’t let people force you or coerce you into doing things you don’t want to do. I think it is absolutely ridiculous and I think it’s absolutely crazy and stupid for somebody to ask you for sex before they give you a role, it doesn’t make any sense and I don’t support it. Tell us about the workshop you just had? Surprisingly, it was well attended. I urged attendees to allow themselves to become more by growing within the ranks. If acting gigs don’t come, they should try their hands on other roles as crew, for instance, production, editing, directing etc, rather than hold on to their actor’s ego - “I am an actor and acting is all I do! ’It was more of a mentorship programme; growing filmmakers should allow themselves to be groomed and mentored.

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Nigerian Pax-Harry’s Book Breaks Record in America Stories by Mary Nnah An award winning book, “Prophetic Engagement: Issachar Mandate”, written by a Nigerian, Obii Pax-Harry, has been adopted as a recommended text for master’s degree programme in women leadership by two American universities, Wagner University, Pasadena and Shiloh University. Pax-Harry, a barrister and solicitor of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and of the UK now clergy, had been earlier invited by Wagner University as a visiting lecturer in April 2021 in recognition of the award winning book. This would not be a first time for Pax-Harry, who was a panelist in 2018 at the student-driven Harvard Kennedy School of Government African Development Conference alongside keynote speakers, notably presidents of Ghana, Mali and Nigeria’s Minister for Power, Babatunde Fashola. According to a statement issued by Nehemiah Resource Centre, Abuja on Tuesday, 7 December 2021, ‘Prophetic

Obii Pax-Harry Engagement: Issachar Mandate’ is the first book in the Christian genre to be adopted as a recommended text by the

academia in the United States. The statement said the book won the Fred Grossmith’s award six weeks out of press

in 2006. Nearly 16 years post publishing; the book is still making an impact. The statement reads: “The

book, which was originally published by Destiny Image Europe in 2005, has been translated into Spanish, Korean and Portuguese as well as three Nigerian languages, Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa. “In addition, the School of Government and Politics (SOGP), which is an arm of the Nehemiah Resource Centre set up by Apostle Pax-Harry, has entered into a strategic partnership with Wagner University and their partners, Shiloh University for scholarship opportunities for Nigerians who wish to pursue further studies in the USA.” Born to a respected educationist father, Mr Nathan Okeoma Ejiogu OON, and an entrepreneur mother, Madam Esther Ejiogu known for her genius mind, Pax-Harry is a chip off the old block who believes education is in her bloodline. She has served in the UK, Africa and the USAfor over two decades at various leadership levels, including the media, serving as an executive member on the Christian Broadcasting Council of Great Britain, and as a member, Editorial Advisory Board of Sundiata Post.

Her leadershipskillwasrecognised in the USAas early as year 2002 when she became the European lead of a Minnesota-based Christian network of licensed and ordained women ministers. She currently serves on the leadership team of the global network‘ACompanyOfWomen (ACW), catering to women leaders from the seven continents of the world. She is the founder of ‘Rebuilding Lives Project’, a non-profit recognised by the White House on its register of faith-based organisations. She was also recognised in 2020 as one of 100 must influential women in Nigeria. She leads Nehemiah, a leadership development organisation that has trained and deployed several Nigerians into key areas of society from the legislature, to entertainment,media,education, women development etc. Pax-Harry is recognised for youth development initiatives through a syndicated mentoring programme that cross pollinates diaspora youth and home based youth. A purpose designed youth training institute - Nehemiah Institute is set to launch early 2022.

Sanmi Adegoke Becomes First Black Recipient of UK Property Award A Nigerian, Sanmi Adegoke, Chief Executive Officer of Rehoboth Property International (RPI), has become the first black recipient of the PropertyAwards Entrepreneur of the Year award which he received at this year’s ceremony held at the Intercontinental the O2, London. According to a press release made available to THISDAY, Property Week is one of the biggest property publications in the UK and this award category is considered to be the highest in the property industry. Celebrating 25 plus years of the ceremony and Sanmi being one of the first black recipients of this award, speaks volumes of the milestones he has achieved over the years. Over the years, Sanmi has demonstrated to the business

and property world his unique entrepreneurial flair, vision, and innovation within the UK commercial property scene. Legacy is at the core of Sanmi’s ethos and he strongly believes in creating an ecosystem for black businesses. Speaking on his thoughts on receiving the award, he said, “as a business, we are familiar with the barriers minority ethnic groups face and the importance of representation, therefore this is something we advocate for in our dealings to ensure there’s a level playing field for everyone. If I can, you can. As a man thinketh in his heart so he, therefore, if you can think it, you can certainly be it.” The Hill Hub in the UK, constructed by Sanmi and his team, serves as a place for

Sanmi Adegoke entrepreneurs and creatives to thrive, collaborate and ultimately be successful.

Flavour of Africa Thrills Consumers at Live Concert There was an electrifying atmosphere at the prestigious Polo Mall, Shoprite, Enugu as Nigerian High-life superstar, Flavour of Africa and other music maestros delivered spectacular performances during a live concert organised to celebrate consumers of Nigeria’s leading beer brand, Life Continental Lager Beer. The concert was organised as part of Life Continental Lager Beer’s Turu Ugo Lota campaign to provide consumers with fun and entertainment. Life Continental Lager Beer recently started an exciting musical tour to bring undiluted entertainment to its consumers across major cities in Nigeria. Fans and lovers of High-life music had an unforgettable experience at the concert as Flavour Nabania with other artistes and celebrities such as Queen Theresa Onuorah, Larry Gaga, DJ Synergy, Chibest, Yul Edochie, Franky DJ P.O.P, Ugoccie, Twinz Parrot, and Senior maintain bonded with consumers. Also, some lucky consumers of the beer brand were handsomely rewarded with cash prizes. Speaking during the concert, the Senior Brand Manager, Life Continental Lager Beer, Aishat

Anaekwe, maintained that “Life Continental Lager Beer has grown to be a dominant beer brand in Nigeria while maintaining a unique cultural identity that resonates with its consumers. “The brand has always been very close to its roots and its people. With this Progress Tour Concert, we have taken steps to further deepen this connection. “We realise how much it means for the people of Enugu to be able to celebrate with friends and family and we wanted to be part of that experience for our loyal consumers”. The night ended with a deft performance of the Turu Ugo Lota anthem, titled Egedege by the trio of Flavour, Queen Theresa Onuorah and Larry Gaga. “Turu Ugo Lota” campaign is woven around the Igbo maxim that is meant to inspire Nigerians to ‘Bring Home the Glory’ in their respective human pursuit. Beyond being an adage, Turu Ugo Lota is a passion that weighs upon every young Igbo, to go forth into the world, despite its challenges and limitations, build new relationships, work hard and attain success.

The Hill Hub is an awardwinning private office and co-working space that was

converted from an old police station in Dartford. Completed during the pan-

Aity Dennis Releases New Video Multiple awards winner Gospel Artiste, Aity Dennis, has dropped another classy video, Iberedem Mmi (My Ebenezer). The video gives expression to Aity ‘s grand portraiture of God’s exceeding love, grace and mercies. The production, directed by Edibren and King Baseda, takes in colourful scenes from various locations in the artiste’s home state, Akwa Ibom. The vocals are complemented with pulsating acoustics, classy contemporary and cultural choreography and drama. The presentation of the video of Iberedem Mmi was the highlight of the 10th anniversary celebration of Aity’s annual concert, Unstoppable Praise Concert, held penultimate Sunday at The Megalife Centre of Sure Word Assembly, Okota, Lagos. The audio version of Iberedem Mmi , released in the US in July to mark Aity ‘s birthday, was presented to the Akwa Ibom and Nigerian audience in September, in time to generate praise to God for the creation of Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria’s Independence. Already, the song has enjoyed tremendous airplay in many stations across the country. In Akwa Ibom State, it outranked other songs as the listeners’ choice.

Aity Dennis More plaudits are expected during the live rendition of the music by Aity at the coming Akwa Ibom Christmas Carols. Meanwhile, Iberedem Mmi, the Akwa Ibom music ambassador said, is a special dedication to Akwa Ibomites at home and in the diaspora.

demic and despite a number of barriers throughout the process, Sanmi and the RPI team persisted by getting planning permission and also completed it. The Hill Hub is the fruition of the hard work, labour, and tenacity seen throughout Sanmi and the RPI team. 2020/2021 has been an incredible yet unprecedented year for Sanmi and the team at RPI. During the peak of the pandemic, they managed to complete an astounding development, secure deals all around the UK, and contribute towards the narrative of black ownership. Essentially, he is keen on showcasing his love for the rich culture of Africa and demonstrating this through his actions.

RCCG Empowers 74 in Lagos The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Rose of Sharon Parish, Ikeja, Lagos State, has empowered 74 persons in the bid to enhance their economic status. Speaking at the event recently, the pastor in charge of the parish, Pastor Emeka Obiagwu, said empowering people was part of the Christian Social Responsibility (CSR) of the church to the community it operates in. He added that giving is a direct command of God in the Bible. Eleven of the people received sewing machines and others, who were petty traders, soap makers, beauticians, caterers, and perfumers received cash support ranging from N50, 000 to N100, 000 each. In attendance at the colourful ceremony were Pastor Babatunde Fowler, former Executive Chairman, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), Revenue Service Federal Inland Service (FIRS) and Vice Chairman, UN Tax Committee; Mrs. Olabowale Ademola, former Head of Service, Lagos State; Mrs. Rosemary Fowler, Minister in charge of CSR RCCG Rose of Sharon; and Mr. Chukwuemeka Obi, Head of Department, CSR RCCG, Rose of Sharon.

’t e w. e nre m k l, s, e y n-

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E-TRENDS

MUSIC SHOWBIZ

…Your weekly entertainment delight

NOLLYWOOD

How Akon, D’banj Stole the Show at Arise Fashion Week Stories by Vanessa Obioha From the moment it was announced that D’banj and Akon would be performing at the glitzy Arise Fashion Week (AFW) show, the ambience at the venue, the majestic Armani Hotel, Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) became electrified. The elegant and distinguished guests did not hide their excitement or feigned indifference. It was obvious from their cheers that they were eager to witness the performances of the two music stars. Therefore, when it was time for D’banj to take the runway, not a few stretched their necks like a red-crowned crane, their phones ready to capture his grand entry on stage. Emerging from a side entrance to the scenic backdrop of the Burj Khalifa, D’banj dressed in a glittering jacket with matching glittering shoes got the well-heeled audience to their feet, dancing to his hit songs such as ‘Emergency’, ‘Fall in Love’ and ‘Oliver Twist’. D’banj, known for his stage craftsmanship, took the audience on a musical ecstasy, interacting with them in his usual jovial manner as well as randomly asking guests — mostly females — to dance with him on stage. When

D’banj on AFW runway

a Ukrainian lady joined him on stage during his performance of ‘Oliver Twist’, he joked that her dance moves could easily mislead

KUNLE OGUNFUYI

anyone that she was from Nigeria. Of course, Nigerians love to party hard and in Dubai, where AFW came to showcase the

best of Nigerian fashion and music, it was expected that the show would be like no other and with the performance of an entertainer like D’banj, the guests were certainly in for a musical treat. By the time Akon came on the runway, the audience was already in a feverish mood. The tall international act literally brought the house down with a medley of his songs. Not a few bopped their heads to his sounds such as the hit single ‘Chop My Money’ which the newly reunited twin sensation P-Square featured him in. Akon’s performance was mostly driven by the popularity of his songs as he didn’t really bring any magic on stage. The audience members were mostly happy to capture moments with him and join in the sing-along of his famous songs. Thus, when he performed his popular hit ‘Don’t Matter’, ladies could be seen swooning to the catchy melody of the song. Taking the tempo higher, hands swayed when he sang his 2006 hit single ‘Smack That’ that fetched him Grammy nominations. As he brought the show to a close, a few wished the show wouldn’t come to a delightful end. However, the smiles on their faces as they exited the venue was a good indication that Arise Fashion Week met more than their expectations.

Winifred Okpapi: Positioning The Temple Company as One-stop Shop for Everything Creative It’s been a busy year for Winifred Okpapi, the Head of Strategy Talents and Arts Affairs at The Temple Company. Since Ogidi Studios, one of the projects she curated for the company, began operations in March, it has been a beehive of activities. In the past few months, the company has worked with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) on their MSMEs beneficiary documentary, collaborated with YouTube for the Future Insiders Program for young creatives, a first in Sub-Saharan Africa, part of the production of Global Citizen Live in Lagos, launched a new social networking app Amaze that connects fans to their favourite celebrities, among many other deals. The studios, now a Mecca of some sorts for creatives, was borne out of the need for the company to provide a creative space for in-house talents. What they didn’t know at the time was the pool of opportunities that the project would provide. Due to the number of clients seeking collaborations with them, Okpapi revealed that a creative agency was set up to meet every need of clients. Now Temple, which started as a management and events company, has

Winifred Okpapi

metamorphosed into a 360 creative solutions company. In Okpapi’s eyes, Temple is the solution to all creative problems.

“There’s nothing creatively that you want that you won’t find when you work through that door,” she said confidently. The company now serves as a one-stop shop for everything creative and is not limited to musicians and actors. “We’re creating a platform where anybody can sign up as long as they are good at what they do, and their work can be presented to international companies and brands. We will always welcome them with open arms.” Okpapi joined The Temple Company as an arts manager in 2017, shortly after the company was launched. As the arts manager, she curated the annual art exhibition ‘It’s Not Furniture’ which usually features artists from different parts of Africa. “It’s our way of showcasing talents whose works are not too popular.” This year, Okpapi added executive producer to her expansive résumé. She played the role in the Temple production ‘My Village People (MVP)’ which made more than N100 million at the box office. “It was amazing, especially when we started with ‘ITK’ our first release, we were not expecting much. We just wanted something for the family that everybody could watch

Donnie McClurkin, Nathaniel Bassey, Sinach Deliver Memorable Performances at The Experience 2021 Iyke Bede The 16th edition of the yearly gospel concert, The Experience, which came to a wrap in the early hours of Saturday morning December 4, had those who attended or streamed the event leave with a renewed outlook to the current socio-economic situation in the country mostly conditioned by the COVID-19 pandemic. Opening the event, Founder of The House on the Rock Church, Pastor Paul Adefarasin delivered a short sermon titled ‘Do You Have the Mantle of Many Colours?’ where he preached

Adefarasin and Donnie McClurkin at The Experience

about overcoming adversities through God’s grace and mercy. HereferencedGenesis35:3-8,and Genesis 45:5-8 in his preaching.

“Though Joseph’s siblings tried to kill him, he didn’t stop dreaming,” Adefarasin said, highlighting the importance

of perseverance. “When God looks at you He sees the components of your life in one glance. God has never come to new knowledge, He just knows. He doesn’t choose anybody, He already knows you and will use you for His purpose. Love works by faith and faith works by love. You see a man who walks in love, that man will fulfil God’s purpose concerning his or her life.” Shortly afterwards, Adefarasin introduced international gospel artiste Donald ‘Don’ Moen to open the evening’s performances that would go on to last for over four hours. Famed for his enduring hits such as ‘God Will Make

GUS 12: Evicted Contestants Stand a Chance of Returning to the Show For Esitima, Tosin and Osas who have been evicted from the ongoing season 12 of Gulder Ultimate Search, they stand a chance of returning to the show since they all had the boomerangs, which allows them to be voted back into the

show. Viewers would be able to vote for one person that would return to Amorokin camp. This is the first time evicted contenders would get the opportunity to return to the jungle and participate in the

search for Akolo’s chest. The winner of this season’s Gulder Ultimate Search will win N50 million alongside other prizes. No doubt, this season has been full of twists and unpredictable turns, creating a

frenzy around the show. Apart from the introduction of boomerangs scattered around the jungle, the rise of Yankari who was once considered a weak link and now on the top 7 list is inspiring fans of the show to never give up on their dreams.

during the Christmas period. We are currently number 18 on the top Nollywood movies of all time. So when ‘MVP’ came, collaboration is the new competition. Three companies came together for ‘MVP’. It was challenging but there was a lot of creativity at work,” she explained. As experienced management professional with project and business maximization acumen, and over 10 years of experience in talent and client management, Okpapi is particular about the kind of collaborators the company works with. “It must share similar mindsets and vision.” The graduate of Information Engineering with a master degree in Arts and Culture Management hinted that shooting for the ‘ITK’ sequel has already begun as well as other TV and web series productions which will all be airing next year. 2022 will also see the company having an independent fiesta, Lagos Independence Festival of Excellence (LIFE) in collaboration with the Balmoral Group. ey dear, I couldn’t send any is the photos on their socials as they are all branded. Kindly use any of the two sent yesterday.

Jamika Entertainment Artists Win 6 Award Nominations atTNMA Sunday Okobi Foremost Nigerian entertainment company and music label, Jamika Entertainment, and its artists have been nominated for six award categories at the 2021 Top Naija Music Awards. The record label and its artists such as Sultan (Afroboy), Yung Bos, Church of Men and Koredianx, have been recognised for their song releases for the year and their philanthropy in supporting youths in the Nigerian entertainment industry. Sultan’s Afroboy album was nominated for Best Album of the year and also got nominated for Next Rated Revelation Act. Meanwhile, 15-year-old Yung Bos, who recently got signed on to the music label early this year, got nominated for Best Collaboration. Also, the label producer, Dave Dexterity Achina, had a nomination for Best Music Producer, while the head of operations for the entertain-

ment house, Mr. Stanley Ihensekhien, was nominated for Best Young Entertainment Entrepreneur, and the music company itself was nominated for Best Record Label. While reacting to the nominations, Ihensekhien expressed excitement for being nominated and oozed the confidence of them winning all the awards. According to him, “We are excited and overly pleased with the nominations; it just shows how much our work speaks for itself and the recognition we are getting is worth it. “This award is the necessary step we must take from looking to win bigger prizes like the Grammy, and we are confident that with our talent, we can achieve it.” The Top Naija MusicAwards, which recognises fast rising artists in the music industry, has been won by notable names like Korede Bello and Reekado Banks. Its eighth edition for 2021 looks to continue the trend of crowning the next music superstars.

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ART WEEKEND

…For pure art enthusiasts

Up-close with Paul Modjadji, Resident Judge at Kellogg’s Dance Africa Dance The South African celebrated dancer, choreographer and chair-spinning resident judge on the famed reality television series, Kellogg’s Dance Africa Dance, Paul Modjadji tells Yinka Olatunbosun the story behind the show that merges African and Bollywood cultures on screen

he internationally acclaimed dancer-choreographer, Paul Modjadji shares the judges’ bench with Former Miss India (Worldwide) Krsna-Priya Dasa as resident judges at the hit dance show. Occasionally, guest judges are featured-some of whom include Big Brother Naija’s former housemate and finalist, Omatshola Oburoh, Democratic Republic of Congo’s Model andActor Joe Kazadia and Zimbabwe’s media personality Chinyani amongst others. On the heels of a successful outing in Singapore, Zee World brought the show to Africa. 10 out of 52 African countries were selected to battle it out every week for the chance to be crowned Kellogg’s Dance Africa Dance Champions. Following its premiere on September 18 2021, the show proved to be both entertaining and educative. The positive vibe on the show is unparalleled- with judges cheering on even the underperforming dance teams. With the grand finale slated for this weekend, THISDAY sought out Paul Modjadji far away in New York using an electronic format. After missing each other calls on several occasions, the conversation that later ensued was very animated, crisscrossing dance and other socio-economic issues. After comparing notes, it was agreed that Africa is still a fertile ground for creatives. For Modjadji, it was more important for him to be a cheerleader and less of a judge on the show. This contemporary world is very judgmental with many billions of active social media users expressing strong opinions. For an accomplished dancer, Modjadji understands the role of youth development in global discourse. Being the first African dancer to win the Dance Star World Masters Champion title, in the jazz category (2011), he bears the burden of responsibility in grooming future leaders. In 2012, he received the South African Youth Award for Arts and Entertainment category (2012) and later the Global Young Leaders Award from the Global Youth Leadership Congress in Washington DC.

Modjadji

Paul also scored top adult dancer accolades at the 2013 Talent America Showcase, in the USA. Modjadji revealed that his first visit to Nigeria was for the Africa Movie Academy Awards nomination of Africa’s first made for cinema dance film, ‘Hear Me Move,’ for which he choreographed. His second visit was for the filming of the ‘Breaking Down Borders Africa Documentary series’ for which he visited Nigeria with a film crew to learn more about Nigerian youths and the rich culture. Modjadji sees Kellogg’s Dance Africa Dance as a kaleidoscope of Africa’s rich

dance and youth culture fusing African dance genres with elements of Bollywood spectacle. Bollywood films are famous for their rich choreography and costumes. For him, the whole point of the show is to celebrate diversity while embracing cultural parallels. “I had to consider what it would mean to champion a TV show that brings together Africa and India,’’ he began. It became an opportunity to think about how to continue to take ownership of the narrative we are shaping up on the global stage about Africa. The way in which Kellogg’s’ Dance Africa Dance was birthed was with the goal to do two

Between Fadugba and Her Algorithms

things, celebrate and elevate. From the judges to our brilliant resident coaches, it is about elevating dance crews to even bigger heights. Whilst constructive criticism is necessary one doesn’t have to berate to build anyone up, the opposite does that far more effectively.” The show is arguably the only show to broadcast to over 100 markets in real time with very high ratings. Many fans are already anticipating the second season of the show. This continent-wide television reality show is quite fierce but instead of brewing rivalry, it has bred love and understanding among dancers from different cultures. “There was a sense of camaraderie and support for each other. I guess at the end of the day platforms like Kellogg’s’ Dance Africa Dance are not just about competition but they are about sharing and celebrating our dance talents. Each dance crew that made the Kellogg’s Dance Africa Dance Season 1 top 10 brought unique flavor and strengths to the show, This I believe allowed the crews to have a certain level of appreciation for each other’s styles versus a competitive approach as they each brought such different elements to the table,’’ he observed. Aside being a resident judge, Modjadji is an amiable entrepreneur. He runs the dance company Imvula Pula Dance Entertainment where he directs, choreographs and produces content for films, television, theater, and other platforms. “I am also a founder of a Non-for-profit ‘Leaders Who Dare To Dream Foundation’ that runs multiple community engagement initiatives. I serve on multiple advisory boards. I’m currently serving my annual tenure as an Atlantic Fellow with the Global Brain Health Institute. So I am pretty busy, fortunately, most of my work ties to dance and social development and entrepreneurship. “ When asked what the five habits of a good dancer are, he responded saying “Discipline, passion, technique, commitment and their ability to tap into the moment and revel in it,’’ he replied, leaving this writer with the task of finding one word that captures the last point on the list.

Community Art Fair Arrives in Ikoyi Yinka Olatunbosun

Yinka Olatunbosun Modupe Fadugba had a share of the pandemic lockdown while away in Washington DC in 2020. While at the National Museum of African art as a 2020 Smithsonian Artist Research Fellow, she found herself locked inside the facility overnight. Walking through the rooms, she was overwhelmed by the paintings, sculptures and other artefacts tucked away to preserve histories. Eventually, she came to realise how little she knew about the African culture, prompting her to ask a self-examining question: Why do some nations win and others lose? That’s part of the narrative that informed her on-going virtual exhibition titled ‘The Artist’s Algorithm: Why Nations Win.’ The show which kicked off on November 2 at a physical venue- Alara, Victoria Island, Lagos is an inaugural show out of Fadugba’s Algorithm series. The series include essays, talks, games, performances, mentorship programmes, murals and short video screenings to highlight the challenges in education and governance through creative collaboration and art. One of the most intriguing pieces at the show is an interactive game

The game installation by Fadugba

installation called ‘The People’s Algorithm.’ The game invites the players to confront statistical realities faced by Nigerian students, teachers and policy makers. Fadugba’s technique of burned canvas and paper is an ingenious way of situating the works against the overarching socio-political milieu from which they are drawn. For instance, the burned canvas in ‘Nigerian Flag’ alludes to the decay in the nation’s structure. In addition, Fadugba infuses a journaling style in creating sketches as she explained in the artist’s statement.

“In ‘Synchronised Swimmers,’ the aesthetics of orientation and alignment-or lack thereof-reflect the musings of my mind. I think of Chinua Achebe’s “Falling apart’’ of structures. The tension between order and entropy, the past and future of a nation. A Nigeria ‘reclaims’ the postcolonial, post-war narrative, I wonder, do we revert to ancestral culture or do we borrow wisdom from other countries?’’ she asks. The works paraded in this online exhibition which runs till December 20 will be taken to Senegal in 2022 and Harlem in 2023.

The best and affordable art pieces have arrived at TWB in Ikoyi this weekend. From December 10 to 11, no fewer than 23 artists will showcase their works at the Community Art Fair, organized by the Affordable Art Online. They are Naomi Oyeniyi, Anthonia Ndukauba, Badru Temitayo, Idowu Emmanuel, Gbemileke Adekunle, Peter Kiladejo, Elizabeth Ekpetorson, David Olatunde, Ugonna Ibekwe, Eghosa Raymond, Joel Arueya, Oligbinde Rotimi, Babatunde Kesa, Freda Kesa, Emmanuel Isiuwe, Emmanuel Aderiye, Lawrence Leo, Olabode Oluwatomisin, Oni Stephen, Quazeem Animashaun, Akinlade Afeez, Ifeoluwa Olojede and Oyinda Adelumola. According to the Founder, Affordable Art Online, Oyinda Bankole, the fair is borne out of the need to give a voice to emerging artists and provide affordable artworks as gifts for the yuletide season. Affordable Art Online has organised a series of art fairs in Ibadan over the years leading to a stronger network of art community in the city. To continue this tradi-

One of the paintings at the fair

tion, the two-day art fair in Ikoyi will serve as a pathway for new collectors to emerge. “Just come and pick up a gift for Christmas. I am actually taking part in the fair as well. I do nature photography so I would be showcasing my works as well,’’ said Bankole at a breakfast meeting earlier this week.

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A Fitting Memorial for Late General Ireﬁn Late General Olu Irefin was a people’s general in character and learning until death struck. One year after his unfortunate demise, Sunday Ehigiator reports that to honour his service to the nation, a new extension of the military infantry headquarters was recently built in his memory

The infantry headquarters built in Late General Ireﬁn’s memory

t was indeed a sad day for the Nigerian Army, and Nigeria as a whole, following the sudden death of one of her finest generals, General Irefin, who died of COVID-19 complications on December 10, 2021. Ill Health that Led to DeathNarrating how he died, Army Spokesman Sagir Musa said Irefin was attending the annual Chief of Army Staff conference in Abuja before he suddenly took ill and died days later. According to him, “While at Giri, the general started complaining of discomfort. Despite the discomfort, he was at phase 2 in a life camp for the commissioning of a housing scheme for families of officers and soldiers killed in action from where he left the venue for his accommodation. “He was later taken to Defence Medical Centre the same day at about 9:25pm having complained of fever, headache and mild cough. “Medical history revealed that he was treated for malaria with parenteral arte-

mether a week ago at 6 Division Medical Services and Hospital Port Harcourt where he was the GOC. “He had a fever but oxygen saturation was normal at 99 per cent. Other vital signs were es-

Honourable Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (Rtd) and COAS, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, with Irefin’s widow, Mrs. Tosin Irefin, and brother, Olayemi Irefin, inaugurating the building

sentially stable on presentation. “A working diagnosis of drug resistant malaria to rule out lobar pneumonia and COVID-19 infection was made. He was also placed on ceftriaxone and COVID-19 test was requested. “Consequently, in the morning of December 8, 2020, the fever and cough have subsided and he was eating well. On the same day, he was discharged after his sample for COVID-19 test had been taken and was requested to self isolate pending the outcome of the test. “On December 9, 2020, the result of the COVID-19 test conducted on him was positive. “As a result, he was taken to 063 Nigerian Airforce Hospital Abuja where his SpO saturation was noted to be well reduced to between 55 to 60 per cent. “He was then immediately taken to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, Abuja by the Commander 063 NAF Hospital for further management. At the hospital, he was immediately admitted and placed on high flow oxygen. “An initial improvement of 80 to 82 per cent oxygen saturation was noticed. He was then commenced on Anti viral agent remdesivir based on the COVID-19 test result. “Other treatments included the usual COVID-19 treatment cocktail. Unfortunately, despite these efforts, at about 5:10am hours on Thursday December 10, 2020, the Commander 063 NAF Hospital Abuja was informed that the senior officer desaturated again and eventually died. “The cause of his death was reported as respiratory failure secondary to the complications of COVID-19 infection.” Prior to his death, the Kogi born General was the GOC of 6 Division, Port Harcourt.

The late general’s constituency- Infantry Corps, recently thought it wise to raise a memorial to celebrate the quintessential general. To do this, senior Infantry Ofﬁcers, with the kind support of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya donated funds, and built a new extension of the military infantry headquarters

An Outstanding Officer Speaking on his demise, Kogi State Governor, Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, described Irefin as an outstanding general, a chemistry of brilliance, bravery, courage and one with an inalienable loyalty to Nigeria. The governor, through a statement signed on December 10, 2020, by the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo said the state will commence an urgent movement to name the State College of Science after the late general. “The late Army General who was the GOC, 6 Div. recently gave her late mum a befitting last honour. For him to die a few weeks after burying his mother is heart rendering. “Like many outstanding generals, Kogi has produced; the Late Gen. Irefin was a chemistry of brilliance, bravery, courage and inalienable loyalty to the Nigerian nation. “For years, he defended Nigeria as a committed Army Officer and also the integrity of the Army. Nigeria has lost a green-heart-fighter who gave all to his nation and her people. The Late General Olubunmi Irefin was not just a brave soldier; but also an accomplished scholar of repute. “To this end, the Kogi State government shall be putting in place, modalities to rename the Government Science Secondary School, Okedayo as Olu Irefin Science Secondary School, Okedayo. This is to inspire a new generation of Kogi youth to embrace hard work and excellence,” it read. Memorial While much was not heard about the promise by the governor, the late general’s constituency- Infantry Corps, recently thought it wise to raise a memorial to celebrate the quintessential general. To do this, senior Infantry Officers, with the kind support of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya donated funds, and built a new extension of the military infantry headquarters, in Jaji, Zaria area of Kaduna State. The building was commissioned on November 11, 2021, by the Honourable Minister of Defence, Retired Major General Bashir Magashi, with Irefin’s widow, Mrs. Tosin Irefin, and brother, Olayemi Irefin, both in attendance. According to the minister, the Headquarters Infantry Corps Centre Office Extension “was constructed in memory of Major General Irefin, in recognition of his meritorious and professional service to the Nigerian Army.”

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METRO

…Your city life in print

Giving Succor to Alma-mater

Oluchi Chibuzor reports that the Old Students’ Association of Army Children’s High School, Ikeja, Cantonment has brought remarkable infrastructural development and entrepreneurial initiative to the school, which was once devastated by the 2012 bomb blast

n Sunday, January 27, 2012, an armoury at the Ikeja military cantonment in Lagos, Nigeria, containing “high calibre bombs” went up in flames at about 6.00 pm local time, resulting in series of explosions in and around the cantonment. The explosions caused damage to a number of buildings in and around the cantonment, resulting in displacement of persons and loss of properties including residential buildings, offices, business centres and schools. The explosions affected up to 50 kilometers away from the cantonment and one of such casualties was the Army Children’s High School. It was so bad that nine years after, the school is yet to recover from the aftermath of the deadly disaster, moreso for the set of students who witnessed the catastrophic collapse of the school. Active Role by Old Boys In a bid to leave indelible marks on their alma mater, Old Students of ‘Association of Army Children’s High School, Ikeja (ACHSOSA) having passed through the four walls of the school decided to come together as a group to play an active role as a critical stakeholder in the infrastructural development of the school that has produced a Lagos State one-day governor. Speaking at the 40th anniversary of the school, which was founded in the year 1981, the President ACHSOSA, Mr. Julius Ojo, a pioneer student of the school, said the school started with what was then called the Jakande block classroom. He said the school started with humble beginnings as the first high school in the cantonment, with borrowed blocks from the military on September 18, 1981. He also said the school was established by the Lagos State government to take care of the children of the soldiers within the cantonment and after a year the leadership of the late former governor of Lagos State. “Lateef Jakande built a block for us in the cantonment, until the Lagos State government came to our aid thereafter to build a befitting edifice for the school. But, with the unfortunate incident that happened in the year 2012, the bomb blast, it blasted the school and nearly silenced the school. “But to the glory of God the school still continued to be in existence even though it was operating from a neighbouring school like Wasimi, and some other temporary building. But after that, the Lagos State government brought this building for us here as our permanent site for the senior and junior high school,” he said. However, he expressed satisfaction on how the school has progressed over several years to produce the first one-day governor under the administration of then Governor Babatunde RajiFashola, which earned the college a prestigious price of hummer jeep. According to him, “this achievement saw the government come to our aid then, but we still have some of our sets that have been coming to do one or two things to assist the school in the area where the government cannot quickly intervene. “In 2017, we now found it imperative to organise a central body to bring all the sets from inception, which by the grace of God I happens to be among the first set of the school in 1981.” Ojo revealed that since then they have been able to do some few things in providing sports materials, jerseys, footballs, and learner’s furniture for both junior and senior schools. “We also bought executive chairs for the principals and some printers for the school to use and some other things. We have been able to renovate about 24 conveniences and put everything in place to ensure that pupils and teachers are well taken care of in terms of their sanitary needs within the school. “We also bought nine magnetic white boards for the junior school because they are lacking in that aspect and again the project is in stages, but then we still need the help of a corporate organisation because the state of our junior school is nothing to write home about. “When you go there now, you will see all the ceiling in the classroom they are gone, the students are learning under hardship; the floor, in fact the environment is not conducive at all and we want to renovate the old building, their science laboratory and home economics laboratory

The old boys of the school

to quickly come to the aid of the student. “We do not want to wait for the government, it is our school and so we want to make sure our children learn under a conducive environment and that is one of the reasons that brought us together today to give thanks to God for keeping the school,” he beckoned. Catching Young Entrepreneurs For him, the BOT Chairman of ACHSOSA, Jude Onohwusa, helping students develop vocational skill sets remain sacrosanct to a committee dedicated towards professionally training young students in the school. He posited that the committee was teaching youngsters how to produce pastries, soap making and other things because they want them to be engaged after school. He maintained that most of them grew up in the cantonment and “when we are about their age we used to help our parents to hawk and so on, but times have changed. “We want to give them a lifetime such that when they are out of college waiting to be admitted into university they have something they are doing and not loafer around depending on their parents and getting involved with vices. “As I speak to you now the training is ongoing and we will certify them as there will be a follow-up so that we see them really productive. “We are trying to see how we can begin to mentor them into being entrepreneurs, so that they can be independent to themselves and to their parents”. According to him, these are the reasons why the committee was put in place adding they are doing a great job, “and if you look by your side these are materials for the vocational

We do not want to wait for the government, it is our school and so we want to make sure our children learn under a conducive environment

training and some are inside the classroom. Basically we want to empower them and that is what we are doing. Improving Facilities On improving facilities in the school, the BOT Chairman also said: “We have answered several calls to see how we can better the school, improve the facilities of the school in terms of the classrooms both interiors and exteriors”. However, he noted that their project in the college was in two stages as they intend to do the ceiling, roofing and painting eventually. “The classrooms we have completed and both the plumbing and electrical for the toilets and as the boards have been removed and replaced with what is generally accepted. “We want the children to have the best, because we did not enjoy all of these, but things have changed and things are trending in the 21st century. We want the best for them.” Trust Fund for Scholarships With the majority of the students from middle class families, the BOT Chairman stressed the need for a trust fund where students can be given a scholarship based on their academic prowess. He explained that with the scholarship, ACHSOSA will be putting money together in a trust fund account to take care of the mentorship of these children. According to him, they want to see how they can motivate, prepare and see how on merit basis help those selected through their university studies. He further explained that some of the old school association members are employers of labour and are waiting to see some of them come out of school to be fixed into various sectors of the economy. “The trust fund will be done in such a way there will be competition in the school; all of that we do not see anymore because no engagement, determination, hard work and drive are no longer there. “We want to use this to get them back to studies, hard work, and of course when there is a trust fund that is going to give scholarship you will work hard. The scholarship is going to be strictly based on merit. Synergy On harmony between the school management and the old school association, he expressed satisfaction with the synergy that has yielded fruit with the various interventions.

“We visit the school from time to time as the school principals know us and each time we come we observe a hole to plug,” he revealed. Painting a clarion call picture, Chairman planning committee for the 40th anniversary, Segun Ajala, also a pioneer student reiterated the need for more urgent infrastructural intervention to raise funds to build a dignified learning environment. “Since 2016, we came together to close gaps in the school, because we also see what is happening in other schools when their alumni are doing great things for their alma mater. “We thought our own case should not be an exception by coming out to do something reasonably. Many of us have been making individual efforts but by coming together we have achieved more for the school. “This we begin by touring the school to ascertain exactly what the school needs, after this we sprang to action. In 2016, we saw that students were sitting on bare floors to learn and we said to ourselves was this not the school we attended? “After the 36th year anniversary, it was observed the school was not in the right state; that was why we initiated the various projects we have undertaken. “When you go up to the last floor of the junior high school, all the ceilings are all gone, so we are going to fix that but it is a gradual thing which we are going to do,” he decried. Right Sex Education Mrs. Morolayo Oladipo, who spoke on sex education and child molestation, told the students that one in four girls and one in 10 boys experiences sexual violence before the age of 18 in one way or the other. According to her the major causes includes, absentee parents, parents who do not observe, when the kids are not informed about sex education, what they watch and indecent dressing worn by young people and parents. She stressed that most students are caught through grooming, baits, emotional, financial, gift, familiarity and respect and child grooming and must shout, run, and report any body that touches their body indiscriminately. She adviced on the possible signs to show that a child may be abused to include, isolation, aggressiveness, constant anxiety and fear, difficulty in walking, a sudden drop in academic performance, poor social interaction, slightest provocation and so on. “It is very imperative that you teach your child the proper way of dressing as of course it will not stop molesters, but it will help curb the chances in its minimum opportunity. Teach them privacy. They must knock and seek permission before they enter your room. It is wrong to bathe them together irrespective of sex,” she noted.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͮ, ͰͮͰͯ

POLSCOPE

áÓÞÒ ÎÎã ÎÓàáÜÓ ÏÎÎã˛ÙÎÓàáÜÓ̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙ×˜ ͸΀͸ͽ ͻ͸; ΁ͻͽ;

Troubled Times for Lagos Schools

Pushing the Nigerian Project

t has been a tough season for Lagos State. The state has been limping from one trouble into another in recent times. The dust from the collapse of the 21-storey building in Ikoyi had barely settled, with many families grieving, when the report of the #EndSARS protest of last year got leaked out. The content of the report literally inflamed emotions of many Lagosians, nay Nigerians, as it relived the raw taste of police plus army brutality against peaceful protesters at the Lekki tollgate, on October 20, 2020. Matters were not helped with the release of the Government’s white Paper on the report. The said White Paper further set the state government against the people, as it denied many of the crucial points contained in the Judicial panel’s report. The state government has been struggling to contain the spin-off from that report . The Peace Walk proposed by the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, along with notable Lagos celebrities aimed at dousing the tension generated by the Judicial panel’s report, did not or has not taken place, as many of the celebrities have turned down the governor’s invitation. Just when the state government is trying to get a breather from that ugly development, then the Dowen College tragedy happens. A 12-year old boy, Sylvester Oromoni died from injuries allegedly sustained from the bullying and beating from some senior students of the college. And the boy died. It is one death that has thrown the whole country into deep mourning at a time the world is preparing for Christmas, the season of Joy. The fire of anger lit by that death has continued to spread. The presidency, two days ago, got interested in the matter.Parents of students of Dowen College led a candle-light procession during the week. Police say they are investigating the circumstances that led to the death of the young lad. Some of the accused boys plus the Housemasters of the hostel where the beating allegedly took place have been arrested. Nigerians are waiting for the outcome of the investigation. The state government, peeved by the tragedy has ordered the immediate closure of the school, owned by Dr Olumide Phillips, an engineer. The school had mismanaged the tragedy when it claimed that the boy died from injuries sustained from playing football. It was an offensive narrative.

Niyi Adebayo (Minister for Industry, Commerce and Investment)

am sure that some of you who think President Muhammadu Bzuhari is not doing enough to reposition Nigeria, must be having a rethink now.

What has changed? Is life better now or bitterer?

Gov Sanwo-Olu

All the students have been sent home, at a time they should be writing the end of term examination. The fire of that tragedy has hardly smouldered when yet another tragedy struck. Last Tuesday, a trailer ran into some dozen students of Ojodu Grammar school, in the Berger area of the state and crushed them all to death. The children were returning from school. The brakes of the said trailer was said to have failed. Again, the school has been shut down till next year. Before the killer trailer got to the scene of the accident at Berger, it must have passed through several check-points manned by Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) and even Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) whose duty it is to

confirm the road worthiness of vehicles plying the highway. But too often, they are more concerned with two papers— wads of paper money or/and papers issued as vehicle document, aka ‘particulars’; without checking the tyres or brakes or light etc. of the vehicles. The consequence , often is what happened at Berger, to the shame of these regulatory agencies. The number of families thrown into needless mourning at such a time only confirms that the times are indeed perilous. May God shield us all from tragedies and calamities, even as my heart goes out to the Oromoni family as well as the families of the Ojodu Grammar School students.

Comfort Onotakaroma Ogbomo (1937—2021)

omehow, I was deluded by her goodness to forget that she is a regular mortal who must suffer mortality at some point in life. Thus, at nearly 84, I yet assumed that she was still full of life and still had life stretched forth for her. But by 23rd August, 2021 when the final bell of life tolled for her in far away London, I was dazed and struck with shock. She had, until the final ailment that knocked her off our shores, Mrs Comfort Onotakaroma Ogbomo, nee Ifihwe, my very dear paternal aunt, had hardly shown visible sign of an ailment, save the knock-on effect of arthritis. She had been my main stay in London, each of the times I had visited. A few times, I would even miss my way from the airport, but she would direct me home. Over time, the Lewishan, South east London district had become pretty a familiar terrain, all thanks to Mummy. She had been in London for nearly sixty years. Save her eldest daughter, Alice, all the other four children were sired in London. Given her length of stay in the city, she practically knows the city inside out. In those days of my JJC in the city, my auntie it will be, who will guide me on my daily outings. She knows practically where all the numbered buses go to, including the bus stops where they stop and where they don’t. “If you take Bus 36”, she would say, for instance, “it would stop you at Debtford…. Cross over to the other side and take Bus 12 to Oxford street…..”, she would direct with clinical accuracy.

Canticles….

Ogbomo

You would think she had worked as a Conductress on London buses. A couple of times she had practically held my hand and led me to neighbourhood markets where one could buy beautiful and exotic items at cheaper prices. Content as ever, it was not for her the vice of covetousness. Simple but elegant, she was rooted in her culture. The over six decades of stay in London did not dilute her love for her people and culture. Little wonder she was a very active member of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), UK Branch, a body that similarly stood tall and strong for her at her death. Mummy, as we often called her, was a super gentle woman who never courted violence nor could stand it.

Her mien was completely that of a peace loving person. Slow in speech, she was ever so patient and had a peculiar way of making you feel very loved and welcome. She had her special way of laughing that gives you the ease of life. Too many times, one hears of how hostile “Londoners” can be when you overstay your welcome. But never this auntie. She would rather baby me, sometimes to a ridiculous point. Her depth of goodness and virtuous disposition is amazing. Years back, whenever she came visiting Nigeria, it would be like a season of bounteous harvest for us. She would buy at least something for everybody, yes, everybody--from the oldest to the youngest. The women usually celebrated the big “George” fabrics she loaded home. She had a hand in everybody’s wardrobe. As you read this, we shall all be gathered in Agbarha-Otor, near Ughelli, Delta State, to bid her farewell in her journey to eternity. I had, two weeks earlier, received her blessed body from British Airways, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos and ferried same to Delta State. That she will be sorely missed would surely be an understatement. Her generous soul supported by her selflessness and love for humanity and peace would be greatly missed. My dear aunty, coming to London henceforth will have to go through several layers of review. Farewell Albacore crescent, Farewell Lewishan, Farewell dear auntie. Good night!

Look, some of you will never see the good others are doing. How can you yet be asking if life is even bitterer (or more bitter)? Do you need a soothsayer to tell you there is light at the end of the tunnel? Exactly my point. I do not need a soothsayer. I live in the society. If it is better I will know, if it is bitter, I will also know. You seem to forget that for you to have gold, you must go through the fire experience. Look, Nigeria has been going through the fire, in order to produce gold. And we are almost there. With the awaited swathe of investors to the country, you can be sure that the dark days will soon be over, It will soon be dawn Did you say swathe of investors? Yes, swathe of investors. Or are you not aware of the international marketing services Mr President had embarked on in recent weeks? Do you think it is for nothing? Look, Mr President had gone to Paris, he went to Durban, South Africa and recently too, he went to the United Arab Emirate (UAE) He despatched the Transport minister, Rotimi Amaechi, and his team to Greece, the week before and in all these , do you think the President is joking? Can’t you see the determination to market the Nigerian product? Can’t you see the deep and deliberate effort to reposition Nigeria in the global market? Or did you not also notice that as soon as Mr President returned from UAE, the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo went back to the same UAE for a tourism Expo? Can’t you see that all these are all meant to attract the more profitable investment ventures to Nigeria? Did you not hear that many foreign investors expressed interest in coming to invest in Nigeria? So, you just wait, things will soon turn around. And some of you who have been abusing Mr President will now be forced to start praising him. I think, like Robert Browning’s My Last Duchess, you are too soon made glad. That the President and his Vice went to UAE in search of investors does not automatically translate to a swathe of investors. They may come. They may not come. In any case, even if they will come, I can assure you that the fruits of such efforts would not materialise before Mr President would leave office in 2023. Or do you think it is 100 meters

race? Why is the President doing the right thing at the wrong time? Nobody said it is a 100-meter race. Mr President is not so bothered about the arrival time of the expected investors.You know Mr President is not a typical politician. What is important is that the coming of the investors will grow the Nigerian economy. The Minister for Industry, Commerce and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, has been working tooth and nail to ensure that the investment opportunities and potentials in Nigeria are not only well marketed abroad, but are also fully followed up with a view to ensuring that Nigeria begins to see and reap the gains of the marketing shuttles of the Buhari administration. Do you think or assume that because Mr president went on an investment drive, that our problems are over? Do you know that the issues bothering us in this country are the final and actual determinant of whether investors will come or not? Issues like what? Need you ask? Even if you discount all other issues, you cannot ignore the twin problems of insecurity and epileptic power supply. These are red light to all investors But there is a huge market in Nigeria for investors. And that is a deoderised incentive to investors. My friend , don’t be too mercantile. Market is made for man, not man for market. Of what use is the market allure when life would be at such a risk? Always remember that no venture , no success. And as for unstable electricity supply, I am sure you heard of how peeved Mr President is with the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company leading to the sack of the management of the AEDC. The Presidency has denied that report, saying it does not interfere in the affairs of the Distribution companies. Whatever it is, what is important is that Government is making frantic efforts towards improving electricity supply across the country. Truly, you are somewhat gullible. Electricity supply trouble is part of our history as a people. It is an enigma. We shall continue to live with it. God forbid! If smaller and even bigger countries have solved their electricity supply problem, why should Nigeria continue to live with epileptic power supply? Or don’t you know it is one of the reasons many companies are folding up and relocating to other countries? Let us continue to pray for Nigeria!

FRIDAY DECEMBER 10, 2021 • T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ DECEMBER 10, 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

NACCIMA Urged to Provide Strategic Policy Roadmap for FG, Private Sector Ugo Aliogo Former Commissioner, for Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment, River State, Dr. Leloonu Nwibubasa, has urged the Nigerian Association of Chamber of Commerce Industry Mines And Agriculture, (NACCIMA) to wake-up to its responsibilities by providing strategic policy roadmap for federal government and private sector. Nwibubasa disclosed this in Lagos at the SCALE Dialogue Series, with the theme: ‘Private Sector Engagement – Promoting Strategic Partnership Opportunities for Shared Growth.’ He also noted that as the umbrella organisation for businesses especially those in the private sector, it is expected that NACCIMA should be able to give a strategic direction to the private sector due to the sector’s ability to actually stimulate growth.

“If there is no growth, values cannot be created and if values are not created, jobs cannot be created, therefore NACCIMA must go beyond its traditional practice of playing in-house politics to come up with strategic policy roadmap for government and private sector,” he said. Nwibubasa, who is also the President of Foundation for Sustainable Enterprise Development Initiative, revealed that the federal government should not present the national budget to the Senate without making appropriate consultation with NACCIMA. He further explained that the capacity of NACCIMA should be built so that they can provide direction for government in the areas of employment creation, and economic growth. Earlier in her remarks, the Deputy Chief of Party, Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement, (SCALE), Bose Eitokpah, stated that there is need

for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to collaborate with private sector to drive inclusion in their activities, expand their reach and get stakeholders’ involvement in their activities. She said: “Increased collaboration with the private sector would allow CSOs to tap into the resources are available within the private sector to help them meet their projects targets and expand the impact of their activities. It will also help them to promote sustainability of their various efforts and institutions. The resources from donors are drying up because there are a lot of competitions and this has necessitated the CSOs to lookout to other sources of income to be able to continue in what they do. The private provides a very viable option for driving resources for the CSOs. We are trying to create awareness for the CSOs of the enormous resources within the private sector.”

Librarian, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Yetunde Zaid (left) and Partner, Dispute Resolution Team, Odujinrin & Adefulu, Mr. Lucky Ayeki, during the donation of over 1000 law books and funds to UNILAG’s Faculty of Law Library as part of activities to celebrate Odujinrin & Adefulu’s 50th anniversary in Lagos...recently

MARKET INDICATORS

Lagos Graduates 372 Film Producers, Backs Them with N1bn Creative Fund Dike Onwuamaeze The Lagos State Government, in collaboration with the Ebony Life Creative Academy (ELCA), has trained and graduated 372 students in 2021 in cinematography and the art of film production. The students were fully sponsored by the Lagos State Government, which also set aside N1 billion that could be accessed by the grandaunts to producing their own films and establish themselves in the industry. Speaking during the recent graduation ceremony of the students, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Solomon Saanu Bonu, said that SanwoOlu is highly interested in this project because the fifth pillar of his administration’s agenda is entertainment. Bonu said: “The students graduating today from the Ebony Life Creative Academy were proudly sponsored by Lags State Creative Industry Initiative (LCII). This is a programme the governor of Lagos State is using to look into the future of the youths in Lagos State without discrimination on the basis of their state of origin just to make sure that their future is secured. “They decided to go into

film making and the governor graciously approved that. They have gotten a platform now and should use it judiciously. Moreover, the governor has set aside N1 billion for them to access to establish themselves in the film industry.” The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Lagos State, Ms. Adenike Adedoyin-Ajayi, said that the determination of the students to endure the rigours of the training has shown that they would break even in their chosen area of interest. She said: “Let me congratulate you and inform you that you are on the right part and in the right industry. The value chain in the industry is about 175, which is 175 opening for you in any area of your specialisation. “Lagos State is not just the hub of economic activities in this country; it is also its soul of entertainment activities. The partnership of the Lagos State Government with the Ebonylife is to give you the leverage to succeed in this field. “We are not stopping only at training you. We also have plans to support your dreams and help to nurture your creative ideas so that they can come to reality. The Governor in demonstration of his love for this industry

recently approved a (N1 billion) special fund for this industry. You grandaunt’s are qualified for these special fund.” The Head of the Ebonylife Academy, Mr. Theart Korsten, said that the students were trained in all processes of film making that would enable them to produce their own films. The students, according to Korsten, were trained in screen writing, narrating course, cinematography, film producing, directing, acting class, post-production audio class, post-production sound class. These are the eight courses that we have at the school. “Students that have projects can present them to Lagos State to access the N1 billion funding. It is really interesting, from industry point view, for Lagos State to get creativity booming in the state.” One of the Grandaunts, Ms. Taiwo Omotosho, told THISDAY that her class produced four films during their training. “The expectation is that we will be able to work on our own to produce more movies because the creative industry needs people like us who can bring new contents rather than recycling old ones. And I am very sure that this set is going to make the academy and Nigeria proud,” she said.

Cussons Baby Moments Competition, Unveils Judges Cussons Baby, one of the foremost brands in the baby toiletries category in Africa, has announced the kickoff of yet another season of its quintessential baby competition in Nigeria – Cussons Baby Moments. The leading brand, manufactured by PZ Cussons, announced the commencement of the 8th edition of the popular baby competition on November 23, 2021, and will run till February 26, 2022. The new season introduces a new theme and new set of judges; Nollywood actress, Linda Ejiofor; Music Artiste, Omawunmi Megbele; and Lifestyle photographer Kelechi Amadi, to headline the competition under the theme; Little Champs. The theme is aimed at showcasing the unique talents of children while also

fostering nurturing moments with parents and loved ones. Speaking on the plans for this season, brand manager Cussons Baby, Gbenga Akindele said, the brand is looking to consolidate on the established success of the competition “With each season of the Cussons Baby Moments Competition, we continue to find ways to refresh the campaign in a way that increases interest, excitement and opportunities for consumers while also providing a seamless and enjoyable experience throughout all stages of the competition, as you are aware we have introduced new and exciting personalities as judges and we have also shortened the stages of the competition, thereby making participation

a lot easier” he said. A major change in the mechanics of the competition sees the entry age increased as the Competition is now open to 0-36 months old babies. Participants will still be allowed to submit multiple entries for the entire entry period; however the winner will now be determined by a 4-stage process. The winner of the competition will be awarded at the grand finale and will receive a cash prize of N2, 000, 000. The second-runner up will win N1, 000, 000 and the third-runner up will win N500, 000. All three will also be awarded with periodic supply of Cussons Baby products. The 4th-10th entrants win 100,000 naira and 3 months’ supply of Cussons Baby products.

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 ˾ ˜ ͯͮ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

NG Clearing to Enhance Financial Market Trade in Africa, Boost Nigeria’s Economy Kayode Tokede Stakeholders have expressed optimism that the NG Clearing Central Counterparty (CCP) will enhance financial market trade in Africa, and boost Nigeria’s economy as it tends to project domestic derivatives and commodities to the global economy. Their optimism is hinged on the fact that the platform will improve the safety of the

Nigerian capital market by delivering best-in-class trade services that reduce system risks. Speaking virtually, the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed noted that the launching of NG Clearing is a historical event in Nigeria’s financial market. She noted that the launching of NG Clearing is coming at a time the nation’s economy is recovering from the COVID-19

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

pandemic-related challenges. According to her: “Certainly, the Nigerian capital market has a critical role to play in meeting the capital market infrastructure needs of the nation, including mobilizing and channelling mid-long investment financing which is crucial to Nigeria’s growth and development.” The Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo who

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

also spoke virtually said the launch of NG Clearing system is coming at a critical time when Africa needed financial market infrastructure that aspires to define financial transactions with endless products. On his part, the Chairman, House Committee on Capital Markets, Babangida Ibrahim said the NG Clearing would open opportunities for investors and manage counterparty credit risk in the capital market.

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

The Director-General, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Lamido Yuguda noted that CCP aimed at deepening the capital market, stressing that it also aimed to ease counterpart transactions in the African market. According to him: “As the Nigerian capital market grows in size, depth, liquidity, depth, sophistication, the regulatory role of SEC becomes even more relevant.”

O F

The Deputy governor, financial system stability, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mrs. Aisha Ahmad noted that the NG clearing platform launching is a significant projection of the nation’s capital market. She commended the collaborative effort of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc, Central Securities Clearing System Plc (CSCS) and the diverse investors for putting together NG clearing platform.

0 9 / 1 2 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2021

Friday, December 10, 2021 Thisday Afrinvest by 14bps Thisday Afrinvest40 40Index Indexfellrose 8bps The dŚŝƐĚĂǇ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞǆ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďǇ ϭϰďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index recorded 8bps gain to

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

at 1,674.89 points due to sell-pressure (-0.6%), ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ ϭ͕ϴϰϰ͘ϮϮ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ on ŽĨ ZENITH ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĞĚ ďƵǇͲ WAPCO (-1.3%), and UBA (-0.7%).ZENITH These stocks cumulaing interest in GTCO (+4.9%), ;нϮ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

ƟǀĞůǇ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϯ͘Ϯй͘ WAPCO ;нϮ͘ϭйͿ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůǇ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ

ϭϳ͘Ϯй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞǆ͘ ASI up 11bps as DANGCEM Gains 3.3%

zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂǇ͕ ƉƌŝĐĞ ƵƉƟĐŬ ŝŶ ,KEz&>KhZ ^Ğůů WƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ ŽŶ E' D ƌĂŐƐ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ͘͘͘ ^/ (+9.8%), E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ & E, (+0.7%) boldown 1.8% stered ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽŶ the local bourse as the All-

Yesterday, sell pressure on DANGCEM (-10.0%), UACN

index

rose

(-10.0%), and UBA (-0.6%) dragged performance on the 11bps to 39,550.36 points. ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůǇ͕ zd ůŽƐƐ ŝŵͲ

ůŽĐĂů ďŽƵƌƐĞ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ E'y ůů-Share Index declined 1.8%

proved to -1.8% while ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƌŽƐĞ ďǇ

ƚŽ ϰϭ͕ϲϴϱ͘ϮϮ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ ĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐůǇ͕ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ േϮϯ͘ϰďŶ ƚŽ േϮϬ͘ϲƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚǇ ǁĂƐ ŵŝǆĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ

to 3.5% while ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƐŚĞĚ േϯϵϭ͘ϯďŶ to ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďǇ Ϯϭ͘ϲй ƚŽ ϭϭϬ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ value

േϮϭ͘ϳƚŶ͘ Trading ĂĐƟǀŝƚǇ ĨĂůƚĞƌĞĚ ĂƐ most volume and stocks value ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ďǇ ϴϴ͘ϱй ƚŽ േϯ͘ϭďŶ͘ The traded ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĂŶĚ ;ϭϭ͘ϵŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ Ϯϴ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůǇ to by volumeĨĞůů wereϮϳ͘ϭй dZ E^ KZW & E, (11.1m

Price Previous Current Change Price YTD Weighting Change

Ticker

Current Price

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

1,844.22

0.08%

955.00

0.0%

33.9%

74.50

0.0%

10.4%

25.50

4.9%

7.1%

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 8 Lafarge Africa PLC 9 Access Bank PLC 10 United Bank for Africa PLC 11 FBN Holdings Plc 12 Nigerian Brew eries PLC 13 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC 14 International Brew eries PLC 15 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC 16 SEPLAT Energy PLC 17 11 PLC 18 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

Price Change Index to Date

ROE

ROA

P/E

5.0x

P/BV

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

25.7%

84.4%

15.0%

3.5%

12.1%

14.7%

5.2%

0.7x

5.4%

17.3%

-3.7%

19.1%

11.2%

35.8x

6.7x

-21.2%

24.8%

3.9%

3.9x

1.0x

12.2%

25.9% 30.0%

1.9% 2.8%

24.55

2.3%

6.4%

-1.0%

20.9%

2.8%

3.3x

0.6x

12.3%

252.00

-10.0%

6.0%

2.9%

40.4%

16.7%

12.5x

4.8x

6.3%

8.0%

174.50

0.0%

4.8%

2.7%

179.2%

14.1%

12.6x

19.1x

6.0%

7.9%

1,395.00

0.0%

3.5%

-7.3%

106.8%

15.6%

27.1x

31.8x

4.3%

3.7%

24.40

2.1%

3.7%

15.9%

11.6%

8.4%

9.1x

1.0x

4.1%

11.0%

9.20

2.2%

2.9%

8.9%

17.0%

1.4%

2.6x

0.4x

9.4%

38.8%

7.90

-0.6%

2.4%

-8.7%

2.0x

0.4x

7.0%

50.3%

11.60

1.8%

3.8%

62.2%

3.9%

14.6%

8.4%

0.8%

6.8x

0.6x

47.00

0.1%

1.7%

-16.1%

5.3%

1.9%

43.3x

2.3x

2.3%

37.00

0.0%

1.9%

-2.0%

15.4%

2.0%

8.5x

1.4x

11.0%

11.8%

-10.3%

-3.9%

5.00

2.0%

1.3%

-16.0%

28.30

0.0%

1.1%

8.8%

630.10

0.0%

1.5%

56.6%

3.4%

0.9x

-11.4%

4.4x

0.7x

5.8%

22.9%

1.9%

14.5x

0.5x

6.5%

6.9%

10.3%

0.0% 142.00

0.0%

1.2%

56.0%

38.8%

25.2%

9.7x

3.4x

5.4%

2.43

2.1%

0.7%

-3.6%

12.0%

1.1%

2.1x

0.2x

9.1%

8.70

2.4%

0.9%

45.0%

14.8%

0.9%

2.4x

0.3x

21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC 22 FCMB Group Plc 23 Sterling Bank PLC

15.95

-0.3%

0.5%

-9.4%

2.90

0.0%

0.5%

-12.9%

1.49

0.0%

0.3%

-27.0%

10.1%

0.9%

3.2x

0.3x

3.4%

Bearish Sector Performance

24 NASCON Allied Industries PLC 25 Transnational Corp of Nigeria

14.00

0.0%

0.3%

-3.4%

21.3%

6.9%

13.2x

2.6x

2.9%

7.6%

0.96

1.1%

0.4%

6.7%

11.1%

2.3%

5.1x

0.5x

1.0%

19.6%

Across sectors under our coverage, performance was

26 Presco PLC 27 Unilever Nigeria PLC

2.1x

1.1%

-1.3%

-0.8%

473.4m units and േϱ͘ϮďŶ͘ FBNH ;ϮϮϴ͘ϱŵ ACƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ĂŶĚ K E K ;ϳ͘ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ E ^d> ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ;േϮ͘ϮďŶͿ͕ CESS (45.6m units), and STERLNBANK (37.9m units) led E' D ;േϭϰϱ͘ϬŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;േϭϯϰ͘ϴŵͿ ůĞĚ ďǇ ǀĂůƵĞ͘ by volume while FBNH ;േϮ͘ϲďŶͿ͕ ZENITH ;േϰϱϮ͘ϰŵͿ͕

and ACCESS ;േϰϮϭ͘ϵŵͿ ůĞĚ ďǇ ǀĂůƵĞ͘

Bullish Sector Performance

bearish as 4 indices lost, 1 index gained ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ &Z-/ d

Across our sector coverage, performance was bullish as ŝŶĚĞǆ ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŽƉƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵͲ 4 1 lost whileindices, the AFR-ICT er indices 'ŽŽĚƐ gained, ĂŶĚ Insurance downindex 4.6%closed and ϭ͘Ϯй dŚĞ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůǇ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĮƚ-ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ E ^d> (ŇĂƚ͘ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ and Oil & Gas indices led gainers, 9.1%), (-3.5%),buying >/E< ^^hZ up 1.7% hE/> s Z apiece following interest ŝŶ (-6.4%), 'd K and D E^ Z (-Ϯ͘ϮйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůǇ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬͲ ;нϰ͘ϵйͿ͕ E/d, ;нϮ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ K E K ;нϴ͘ϴйͿ͘ dƌĂŝůŝŶŐ͕ ing indices fell by the Insurance andϬ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϮďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůǇ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůConsumer Goods indices rose 1.1% ŽīƐ ŝŶ K E K (-0.8%), E/d, (-Ϭ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;-Ϭ͘ϮйͿ͘ ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϭй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůǇ͕ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ďĂƌŐĂŝŶ ŚƵŶƟŶŐ ŝŶ t W/

19 Fidelity Bank PLC 20 Ecobank Transnational Inc

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

1.8%

driven

price

apprecia-

0.0%

0.3%

23.7%

0.0%

0.2%

-5.0%

6.00

0.0%

0.2%

13.2%

1.6x

9.3% 5.2%

1.2x

-1.1% 4.2%

9.70

-0.5%

0.4%

105.9%

2.2x

7.2%

36.50

0.0%

0.4%

92.1%

8.1%

3.8%

13.0x

1.0x

1.2%

7.7%

7.50

0.0%

0.2%

28.2%

24.7%

7.5%

3.7x

0.9x

8.1%

27.1%

7.2%

1.1%

388.9x

0.7x 2.0%

20.3%

0.70

0.0%

0.3%

44.5%

45.8%

216.80

0.0%

0.3%

66.8%

0.3%

4.9x

24.80

0.0%

0.2%

40.7%

20.7%

2.5%

4.3x

0.8x

1.8%

23.1%

0.80

0.0%

0.1%

15.9%

13.7%

0.8%

3.8x

0.5x

5.0%

26.5%

2.1%

0.0%

7.1%

0.8%

5.5x

0.6x

5.2%

37 Oando PLC 38 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd 39 Beta Glass PLC

4.93

8.8%

0.2%

33.2%

14.5%

2.6%

2.1x

0.3x

4.7x

0.6x

40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

33.2%

62.50

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

-41.3%

-9.2%

52.95

0.0%

0.1%

-4.4%

14.8%

10.1%

5.38

0.0%

49.4%

2.3x

-20.3% 2.0%

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 P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Vo lum e

ƟŽŶ in E' D (+3.3%).

OA N D O

4.93

8.8%

FB NH

228.5

1.8%

WA P IC

0.51

8.5%

A C C ESS

45.6

2.2%

M B EN EF IT

0.26

8.3%

ST ER LN B A N K

37.9

0.0%

26.5

-4.2%

P ric e C hg %

C H IP LC

0.53

8.2%

UN IT YB N K

Investor ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ tĞĂŬĞŶƐ

M EYER

0.30

7.1%

Z EN IT H B A N K

18.7

2.3%

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďǇ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ

GT C O

25.50

4.9%

WA P C O

17.5

2.1%

8.70

2.4%

F ID ELIT YB K

14.8

2.1%

24.55

2.3%

UB A

10.2

-0.6%

Investor ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďǇ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ͕ ƐĞƩůŝŶŐ Ăƚ 1.6x

;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ ϭ͘ϰǆ ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϳǆ ĂƐ

ET I Z EN IT H B A N K

ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϯǆ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ Ϯϰ stocks

A C C ESS

9.20

2.2%

GT C O

9.3

4.9%

Ϯϭ

A C A D EM Y

0.47

2.2%

T R A N SC OR P

8.2

1.1%

ƐƚŽĐŬƐ

ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ

ǁŚŝůĞ

ϭϱ

stocks

de-

21.4%

0.9x

T ic k er

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ

18.3% 47.1%

ƚŚĞ ŇŝƉ ƐŝĚĞ͕ ƚŚĞ Industrial Goods index fell 5.3% on the

ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƐĞůů ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ ŽŶ E' D ;-10.0%).

30.9%

35 Wema Bank PLC 36 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůǇ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞǆ ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ŐĂŝŶͲ ;нϴ͘ϱйͿ͕ D E &/d ;нϴ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ /Ed Z t ;нϮ͘ϬйͿ͘ KŶ er,

87.80 13.20

46.5% 41.7%

advanced while 15 stocks declined. MRS (+9.9%), MAY-

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

clined. OANDO (+8.8%), WAPIC (+8.5%), and MBENE-

BAKER (+9.8%), and HONYFLOUR (+9.8%) led gainers

FIT

(+8.3%) led gainers while UACN

(-10.0%),

while ABCTRANS (-8.3%), LASACO (-6.7%), and LIVE-

DANGCEM (-10.0%), and we NEIMETH STOCK (-4.8%) led losers. Yesterday, expect the (-6.9%) market led decliners. In today͛s trading session, we expect an ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ŵŝǆĞĚ͕ ĂƐ earnings season gradually extension winds up. of today's bearish performance, barring any ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ĚƌŝǀĞƌ͘

T ic k er UA C N

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

9.00

-10.0%

FB NH

2614.2

1.8%

P ric e

252.00

-10.0%

Z EN IT H B A N K

452.4

2.3%

N EIM ET H

1.63

-6.9%

A C C ESS

421.9

2.2%

M A YB A KER

4.20

-6.5%

WA P C O

421.4

2.1%

P H A R M D EKO

2.00

-5.2%

GT C O

233.2

4.9%

SOVR EN IN S

0.22

-4.3%

D A N GC EM

214.4

-10.0%

UN IT YB N K

0.46

-4.2%

F LOUR M ILL

180.2

0.0%

NA HCO

3.40

-2.9%

M TNN

105.7

0.0%

80.5

-0.6%

56.8

0.0%

D A N GC EM

C A D B UR Y

9.00

-2.7%

UB A

N GXGR OUP

16.40

-2.7%

ST ER LN B A N K

FRIDAY DECEMBER 10, 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 08Dec-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 161.56 162.97 -0.19% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 9.14% Nigeria International Debt Fund 318.50 318.50 -17.22% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 103.13 104.18 -6.75% 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 10.11% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.26 3.32 -5.49% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 8.69% Anchoria Equity Fund 135.37 137.10 1.77% info@anchoriaam.com Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.14 1.14 -14.01% 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 20.12 20.73 10.95% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 449.54 463.10 12.28% ARM Ethical Fund 39.70 40.90 17.77% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.08 1.08 -1.68% ARM Fixed Income Fund 0.99 1.00 -5.46% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.64% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 107.73 107.73 5.92% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,060.41 1,060.41 6.04% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.04 2.04 -3.34% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.18 2.22 0.80% mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com ; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund Paramount Equity Fund Women's Investment Fund CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Cordros Money Market Fund Cordros Milestone Fund Cordros Dollar Fund ($) CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Coronation Money Market Fund Coronation Balanced Fund Coronation Fixed Income Fund EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-assetmanagement-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Emerging Africa Money Market Fund Emerging Africa Bond Fund

Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 1.04 1.04 5.27% investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Bid Price 100.00 16.52 137.14

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 100.00 9.67% 16.82 3.28% 138.68 3.03% assetmgtteam@cordros.com

Bid Price 100.00 131.03 110.18

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 100.00 8.80% 131.85 11.80% 110.18 5.66% investment@coronationam.com

Bid Price 1.00 1.24 1.42

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 1.00 8.04% 1.26 3.27% 1.42 -10.60% mutualfundng@ecobank.com

Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 100.00 100.00 7.74% 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 8.64% 1,171.68 1,195.90 1.98% assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com

Bid Price 1.00 1.04

Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.09 Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 104.35 FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price FBN Bond Fund 1,382.01 FBN Balanced Fund 172.47 FBN Halal Fund 115.01 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

122.04 146.63 Bid Price 1.00 4.00 1.71 1.20

Offer Price 1.00 1.04

Yield / T-Rtn 7.93% 3.64%

1.09 8.74% 104.35 4.30% invest@fbnquest.com Offer Price 1,382.01 173.71 115.01 100.00

Yield / T-Rtn 11.40% 3.52% 9.27% 9.13%

122.04 3.97% 148.61 11.18% fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Offer Price 1.00 4.00 1.74 1.20

Yield / T-Rtn 7.35% 3.30% 12.03% 5.91%

FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.03% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.84 2.90 -0.60% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 155.60 155.87 0.06% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.25 1.29 -0.58% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.07 1.07 4.28% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD ﬁncon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.49 1.51 9.03% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,153.76 1,153.76 8.12% 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 11.36 11.45 8.65% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 10.18% 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) N/A N/A N/A Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) N/A N/A N/A PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.58 1.61 13.19% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.11 11.13 -8.56% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 7.75% PACAM Equity Fund 1.44 1.45 -8.99% PACAM EuroBond Fund 112.33 114.60 2.45% 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 127.67 130.10 6.81% 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 1.08 1.08 10.04% 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 3,351.36 3,383.27 4.29% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 235.18 235.18 4.59% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.24 1.26 5.93% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 311.91 311.91 5.85% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 235.60 239.18 7.97% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.66% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 10,853.11 11,009.48 3.43% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.29 1.29 5.05% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 116.66 116.66 5.02% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 105.86 105.86 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 1.32 1.34 3.56% United Capital Bond Fund 1.95 1.95 6.37% United Capital Equity Fund 0.91 0.93 14.19% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.02% United Capital Eurobond Fund 121.93 121.93 6.49% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.07 1.09 5.08% United capital Sukuk Fund 1.07 1.07 7.09% 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 12.97 13.08 9.28% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 14.48 14.63 18.62% Zenith Income Fund 24.79 24.79 3.29% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.72%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

124.98 54.25

10.62% 7.34%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

13.62 126.36 101.56 17.19 20.57

13.72 129.50 103.79 17.29 20.67

5.84% 5.08% 2.37% -4.40% 12.91%

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

3.83 5.40 17.50 1.00 21.78 157.42

3.93 5.50 17.70 1.00 21.98 159.42

2.16% -4.86% 8.09% 7.72% 6.11% -15.19%

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 DECEMBER 10, 2021 •T H I S D AY

FRIDAY DECEMBER 10, 2021 • T H I S D AY

FRIDAY DECEMBER 10, 2021 •T H I S D AY

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

FOREIGN DESK

COMPILED BY BAYO AKINLOYE

F i ve We s t e r n N a t i o n s J o i n i n Boycott of China’s Winter Olympics

A small but influential group of Western nations has announced diplomatic boycotts of the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics, citing its record of human rights abuses. The boycott allows the nations to send athletic delegations to the Games while refusing to send any high-ranking officials or dignitaries as an official delegation. The nations involved in the diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Games include: United States: White House spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters Monday that the US “will not be contributing to the fanfare of the Games, but said the nation will be behind the members of Team USA “100% as we cheer them on from home.” Australia: Relations between Canberra and Beijing have deteriorated in recent years over several issues, especially Australia’s push for an independent probe into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, which was first detected in late 2019 in central China.China has retaliated by imposing heavy tariffs on Australian commodities. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Wednesday “there has been no obstacle” on Australia’s side to hold talks with China to resolve the issues, but said his country “will not step back from the strong position we’ve had standing up for Australia’s interests.” Britain: Prime Minister Boris Johnson made the announcement Wednesday during a session in Parliament, adding that athletes would still participate as he did not believe “sporting boycotts are sensible.” Canada: “We are extremely concerned about the repeated human rights violations by the Chinese government,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday in announcing his country’s diplomatic boycott. Lithuania: Education, Science and Sport Minister Jurgita Šiugždinien said in a press release last Thursday — days before the United States officially announced its diplomatic boycott — that she and other senior ministry officials will not travel to the Beijing Games. Relations between Vilnius and Beijing have worsened since Taiwan opened an unofficial embassy in the Lithuanian capital last month. Beijing has denounced the boycotts as “posturing” and has vowed to retaliate with unspecified “countermeasures” against the United States over its decision to stage a diplomatic boycott of the Games, which run February 4-20. China Committed Genocide against Uyghurs, Says Tribunal An unofficial UK-based tribunal has found that China has committed genocide against the Uyghur people in Xinjiang. The Uyghur Tribunal cited birth control and sterilisation measures allegedly carried out by the state against the Uyghurs as the primary reason for reaching its conclusion on Thursday. Sir Geoffrey Nice, a prominent British

barrister who chaired the tribunal hearings, said its panel was satisfied China had carried out “a deliberate, systematic and concerted policy” to bring about “long-term reduction of Uyghur and other ethnic minority populations”. He added that the panel believed senior officials, including the Chinese president Xi Jinping bore “primary responsibility” for the abuses against Muslim minorities in the Xinjiang region. The tribunal’s panel was made up of lawyers and academics. Its findings have no legal force and are not binding on ministers, but its organisers said at the outset they intended to add to the body of evidence around the allegations against China and reach an independent conclusion on the question of genocide. The Chinese government denies all accusations of human rights abuses in Xinjiang. Responding to the tribunal’s ruling on Thursday, a spokesman told the BBC the body was a “pseudo tribunal” and a “political tool used by a few anti-China elements to deceive and mislead the public.” WHO: Rich Countries May Begin Hoarding COVID-19 Vaccines The World Health Organisation (WHO) has expressed concern that wealthy countries will start to hoard COVID-19 vaccines in response to the rapid spread of the new Omicron variant. WHO vaccine director Kate O’Brien urged richer nations to continue donating vaccine doses and shipments to underserved countries to address what had become a dangerous inequity in access. “As we head into whatever the Omicron situation is going to be, there is risk that the global supply is again going to revert to high-income countries hoarding vaccines,” she said. There are concerns that vaccines are less effective against the variant. Recent studies of the Pfizer/ BioNTech vaccine showed it produced

far fewer neutralising antibodies against Omicron than against the original strain, but that the booster could reverse this deficit. However, the WHO says administering primary doses should be the priority. US Sends Back Migrants under ‘Remain in Mexico’ Policy US authorities sent the first two migrants back to Mexico on Wednesday under the reinstated “Remain in Mexico” policy. The Trump-era policy makes asylumseekers wait in Mexico for hearings in US immigration court. The UN International Organization for Migration said the two migrants were sent to Mexico over a bridge in Ciudad Juarez, across the border from El Paso, Texas. The UN agency did not provide the nationalities of the two. The two were greeted by Mexican officials who provided them with documents, and UN officials gave them coronavirus tests and took them to a shelter. Mexico says the US government has agreed to vaccinate all migrants returned under the program. The administration of US President Joe Biden reinstated the policy Monday to comply with a court order and agreed to changes and additions demanded by Mexico. The returns were scheduled to begin in El Paso with up to 50 migrants to be returned daily to Ciudad Juarez, said a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity because details were not made public. The Homeland Security Department confirmed that returns began at one location and will be expanded to six others. It declined to identify the launch city or how many migrants will be processed, citing “operational security reasons.” Scores Killed, Thousands Displaced in Cameroon Water Crisis Clashes among farmers, ranchers,

and fishers over water scarcity have escalated along Cameroon’s northern border with Chad. Cameroonian officials say villages and markets were torched Wednesday, and violent conflict sent thousands fleeing into neighbouring Chad. A messenger sent by traditional rulers tells at least 120 people in Kousseri, a town on Cameroon’s northern border with Chad, that there will be no development without peace, and communities will become poorer. He says armed conflicts will only bring hunger and suffering. The message is broadcast several times on Cameroon’s CRTV, a government-controlled radio and TV station, in Massa, Mousgoum and Arab Choua languages. Massa, Mousgoum and Arab Choua communities live in the Logone and Chari division, where Kousseri is located. Government officials in Logone and Chari said they initiated the message of peace after a conflict among farmers, cattle ranchers and fishers over water degenerated into a violent conflict Wednesday in the communities. On Wednesday night, community leaders said several villages were torched, farms destroyed, and parts of the largest market in Kousseri set on fire. They said more than 40 people had been killed, 70 wounded, and several thousand civilians had crossed over to Chad for safety. Groups Dismayed at Philippine Supreme Court Anti-Terror Law Ruling Fearing “deadly consequences,” human rights groups in the Philippines have expressed dismay after the Supreme Court upheld most provisions of the anti-terror law, which they say is detrimental to the country’s democracy as it threatens human rights. Cristina Palabay, secretary-general of human rights group Karapatan, a petitioner against the law, said the much-anticipated decision is a “partial win” but also a huge disappointment as it reinforces the climate of fear shrouding the country. Last year, the Philippines joined the growing list of Asian countries and territories such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and Thailand that passed laws aimed at cracking down on dissent and activism. According to authorities, the Philippines has been dealing with terrorism in the country’s south, which has been a hotbed for local and international terrorist activities. In the middle of the pandemic, the law was passed in record time and was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in July last year, when protests were barred under the country’s quarantine.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2021 • T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

NAVY EMBRACES LOCAL CONTENT... R-L: President Muhammadu Buhari; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; and his Ogun State counterpart, Dapo Abiodun at the inauguration of six warships and 100 Epenal boats at Naval Dockyard, in Lagos... yesterday

President Inaugurates Six Warships, 100 Boats, Commends Navy for Local Content Devt Chiemelie Ezeobi in Lagos and Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday commended the Nigerian Navy for maintaining a steady course in its drive for local content development, which he said was in tandem with the philosophy of his administration. Buhari stated this at the Naval Dockyard in Lagos, during the inauguration of six warships, including the third indigenously constructed Seaward Defence Boat (SDB) III, NNS OJI, built by the Nigerian Navy. Aside the 100 epenal and suncraft boats, as well as a helicopter, the president also unveiled the acquired Inshore Patrol Craft (IPC), Fast Patrol Boats (FPB), including NNS LANA, KANO, IKENNE, ABA, SOKOTO, and OSUN. While laying the keel for the construction of SDB IV and V, the president said the new inductions to the naval fleet would boost their capability in securing Nigeria’s maritime domain. For him, the inauguration was nostalgic given that he had in 2016 inaugurated NNS KARADUWA, the second locally built SDB, and TUGBOAT UGWU, which were constructed. The second SDB was constructed following the successes recorded by NNS ANDONI, the first locally made warship commissioned by then President Goodluck Jonathan. Buhari said, “We should note that we are in a critical period where our country is faced with a serious decline in our revenue and the security challenges we are facing. “The present realities, therefore, call for prudent resource management, innovativeness, accountability and careful maintenance. “I wish to reiterate that despite these challenges, our administration is very determined to ensure that the navy is well supported to achieve its statutory responsibilities." Acknowledging the navy's dedication towards ensuring the security of the vast oil and gas industry in the country's maritime environment, as well as sea lanes of communications, Buhari said the service was undeniably a major contributor to the economic well-being of the country given the present high dependence on oil and gas revenues.

He said, "Arrests of those involved in illegalities have yielded results as some pirates, illegal bunkering syndicates, pipeline vandals and other miscreants have been convicted during this year. “Such successes were made possible through the enforcement of our new anti-piracy law, Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act 2019. “Furthermore, the provision of the new policy directives by the current administration of the Navy codified in such documents as the Nigerian Navy Strategic Plan 2021-2030; Chief of the Naval Staff Strategic Directive 2021-5; and the Total Spectrum Maritime Strategy have given the Service credible guidelines and leverage for improved operational efficiency." The president lauded the navy’s efforts in the fight against maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea region. He also commended the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo’s strategic actions, adding that the government will continue to support the ideals of the Nigerian Navy in the performance of its constitutional duties. Earlier, the CNS said the inauguration of some recently acquired Inshore Patrol Craft (IPC), Fast Patrol Boats (FPB) of various categories, and the SDB III marked another milestone in the navy's history. He said, "I am delighted to notify that the Naval Dockyard Limited SDB Project, which started in 2007, has yielded substantial reward with the completion of the third Seaward Defence Boat. "Evidently, with the experience garnered so far, the Naval Dockyard Limited is adequately poised to take on this challenge (construction of SDB IV and V) in pursuit of the FGN’s (Federal Government of Nigeria) Local Content Development effort. "SDB III, Inshore Patrol Crafts (IPC) and Fast Patrol Boats (FPB) namely: NNS ABA, NNS KANO, NNS IKENNE, NNS SOKOTO, and NNS OSUN, will be deployed for surveillance and patrol duties within our waters. "Invariably, the induction of these platforms into the NN fleet will lead to further decline in criminal activities in our maritime domain." Present at the occasion were the Minister of Defence, Magashi Bashir; Chief of Defence Staff,

General Lucky Irabor; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya, represented by GOC 81 Division, Major General Lawrence Fejokwu; and Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba. Others included Managing

Director, Bridevine Resources Limited, Okunade Ojengbede; former NDC Commandant, Rear Admiral Ilesanmi Alade (Rtd); Senate and House of Representatives Committees Chairmen on Navy, Senator

George Sekibo, and Hon. Babajimi Benson, respectively. Senior officers at the event included Rear Admiral Chris Ezekobe, Rear Admiral Abraham Adaji, Rear Admiral Oladele Daji, FOC West and NAVTRAC, Rear

Admirals Jason Gbassa and Kamarudeen Lawal, respectively. Arthur Eze and National President, Naval Wives Association of Nigeria (NOWA), Hajiya Nana Gambo, also graced the occasion.

Troops Rescue 20 Police Officers Kidnapped in Yobe Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), yesterday, said troops of Operation Hadin Kai rescued 20 policemen kidnapped by insurgents in Yobe State. The policemen were abducted when terrorists launched attack on the Buni Yadi Police Division, adding also that, 62 insurgents had been equally decimated in the past two weeks during military operations in the North-east. This is as 192 more terrorists and their families had reportedly surrendered to troops in Borno State. Also, troops of Operation Delta Safe, said they had shut 39 illegal refineries in the Niger Delta region. At a media briefing in Abuja, the Acting Director of the Directorate of Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Brig Gen Bernard Onyeuko, said the policemen were abducted during an attack by insurgents in Buni Yadi, Yobe State. Reviewing operational activities in the last two weeks, he said

Operation Hadin Kai had recorded significant results in the various operations. "Notably, on December 3, 2021, troops repelled BHT/ISWAP terrorists’ attack in a fierce gun battle in Kala Balge LGA of Borno State. During the encounter, troops subdued the terrorist elements with superior firepower and neutralised no fewer than 26 of them. "Troops also destroyed as well as captured several fighting equipment and vehicles of the terrorists. Regrettably, our gallant officers and soldiers paid the supreme prize. They are our heroes in the battle against terrorism," he said. He said troops battled insurgents in several locations, notably, Gombi LGA of Adamawa State as well as Rann/Rumirgo villages and Biu, Bama, Mafa and Dikwa Local Government Areas of Borno State, where some terrorists surrendered to troops. "Cumulatively, a total 62 terrorist elements were neutralised, 28 of them were arrested while 54

assorted arms and 144 rounds of different calibre of ammunitions were recovered. "Also, a total of 101 rustled livestock were recovered and 20 kidnapped NPF personnel, who were abducted when the terrorists attacked the Police Division, were rescued by own troops at Buni Yadi within the period. "Additionally, troops’ kinetic and non-kinetic operations have continued to drive the terrorists out of their camps into surrendering. A total of 192 terrorists and their families comprising 51 adult males, 67 adult females and 74 children surrounded to own troops within the period", he said, noting that the surrendered terrorists were properly profiled and handed over to appropriate authorities for necessary action. Onyeuko stated that Operation Delta Safe in the Niger Delta region sustained anti-illegal oil production operations and other non-kinetic operations to forestall activities of vandals and other economic saboteurs in the South

South Zone. He said the operations took place in Rivers, Cross River, Delta and Abia States, where 39 illegal refineries were immobilised. "Troops discovered and immobilised a total of 39 illegal refining sites, 73 ovens, 25 cooking pots/boilers, 18 cooling systems, 27 reservoirs, 39 large dugout pits and 89 storage tanks. Consequently, a total of 1,014,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil; 50,500 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene and 1,808,500 litres of stolen crude oil were recovered in the course of the operations. "In addition, 18 criminals associated with pipeline vandalism, piracy, illegal oil bunkering and armed robbery were arrested within the period. Also, troops recovered six assorted arms, 586 rounds of different caliber of ammunitions, 12 AK-47 rifle magazines as well as 278 pieces of galvanised pipes and 40 wooden boats used for illegal oil bunkering activities in the course of the operations," he said.

NFIU Moves to Bridge Gaps in Combating Money Laundering, Terrorism Financing Adedayo Adejobi The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), has said it was working to bridge the gaps in efforts to combat money laundering and terrorism financing in Nigeria, while also fostering timely information exchange and sharing among members of Financial Intelligence Units within the West Africa Sub-Region. This, according to the NFIU was because lack of common Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter Financing of Terrorism (CFT) Compliance Standards enabled criminals to move from one institution to other institutions and from one jurisdiction to another to

perpetuate crimes ranging from but not limited to money laundering and terrorism financing. Giving his keynote speech at the 5th Induction Ceremony and Annual General Meeting of the Compliance Institute, Nigeria (CIN), held in Abuja, on behalf of the Director, NFIU, Modibo Tukur, Muhammed Giya, pointed out that anti-money laundering and counter financing of terrorism were challenging endeavours and special battles of global concern,which could only be won through cooperation, effective coordination and collaboration. Giya said money laundering and terrorism financing activity in one country could have

serious cross-border and even global adverse effects on other countries. He noted that jurisdictions with weak or ineffective controls were especially, attractive for money launderers and financiers of terrorism. “These criminals exploit the complexity of the global financial system, the speed at which money can traverse borders, as well as differences between national laws to carry out their concealment objectives,” he explained. He also said the absence of common AML/CFT compliance standards in Africa and its sub-regions has continued to hinder the effectiveness of the fight against money laundering

and the combating of financing of terrorism on the continent. According to him, “Special money laundering schemes such as Trade-based Money Laundering (TBML) that are cross border in nature can only be defeated through effective collaboration, coordination and extensive use of Technology. “To foster timely information exchange and sharing between member Financial Intelligence Units in the Sub-Region , NFIU, which is the new Headquarters of West African FIUs Forum, is currently developing Secure Web Exchange Platform to be hosted by the Forum Secretariat for information exchange on money laundering and terrorism financing in the region.”

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2021 • T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

16 DAYS ACTIVISM AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE … L-R: The Permanent Secretary, Post Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB), Evangelist Mrs. Favour Ugwuanyi; Commissioner for Gender Aﬀairs and Social Development, Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Princess Peace Nnaji; wife of Enugu State Governor, Mrs. Monica Ugochi Ugwuanyi and wife of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Lady Princess Akunna Ubosi, during the state's women monthly prayer rally and event to mark the16 Days Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), held at Michael Okpara Square, Enugu...yesterday

INEC: Political Parties to Bear Cost of Direct Primaries

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, said it had very small role to play in the conduct of direct primaries by political parties for selecting their candidates in an election. The commission disclosed this while disclaiming speculations that the cost would be on the federal government, adding that the political parties would instead bear the cost of the direct primary elections to be conducted on all elections INEC said since the political parties bore the cost of the indirect primaries, they would also bear the cost of direct primaries. National Chairman of INEC, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, reportedly hinted at this while meeting with members of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation in Abuja. Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Mukhtar Batera (APCBorno), disclosed this when he addressed newsmen shortly after the closed door meeting.

The meeting followed a resolution of the House mandating the committee to interface with INEC on the cost implication of direct primaries by political parties as contained in the 2021 Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

Batera said Yakubu told the lawmakers that the conduct and funding of primaries were basically the function of the political parties and not the umpire. “In our discussions with the INEC Chairman, we wanted to

just minimal. “He said the responsibility lies with all the political parties. He said party primaries is the role of political parties and not INEC. “For direct primaries, what the INEC Chairman told us is that only the political parties have the

responsibility on primaries and the funding of the primaries,” he said. Batera quoted Yakubu as saying INEC was not interested in evaluating the cost of primaries, because it was not part of its functions.

Fayemi: Nigeria Needs to Restructure Now Before It’s Too Late Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti and Dike Onwuamaeze in Lagos Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has said Nigeria needed a restructured federation that would allow for a greater degree of decentralisation of power in order to have a country that works for its citizens and is beneficial to Africa and the rest of the world. Fayemi made this statement yesterday in Lagos, when he presented the NIIA @ 60 Distinguished Lecture titled: “Fixing Nigeria for a

Better World,” to mark the 60thanniversary of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), where he affirmed that Nigeria should “embrace political restructuring through a national dialogue before it is too late.” Also, while playing host to 84/85 alumni of the University of Lagos, who paid him a visit at his office in Ado Ekiti, Fayemi, said the country stood a good chance of getting a new Nigeria, where truth, honesty and honour could thrive if the citizens could be more united and patriotic. Speaking at the NIIA lecture, he said, “Partial, incoherent,

IN RECIPROCAL ACTION, FG REDUCES EMIRATES FLIGHTS TO ONCE WEEKLY season W21/22. “Kindly note that the proposed timings were coordinated with the various stakeholders at Sharjah Airport, despite the terminal congestion and various challenges that will be faced, and with the best intentions we kept in mind our long business relationship we enjoy with Air Peace. “As such we are pleased to propose the following timings: Once weekly flight every Thursday (day 4) with arrival time at Sharjah to be STA 01:00 UTC, and departure time from Sharjah will be STD 05:00 UTC. “We will be looking closely in the near future for any potential opportunities for Air Peace for the upcoming summer season S22.” Before its flights were suspended in February this year by the federal government, Emirates was operating two flights to Lagos daily and one flight a day to Abuja, which made it 21 weekly flights to Nigeria. In order to enable Emirates Airlines have monopoly of direct flight from Nigeria to Dubai, UAE has refused to allow the Nigerian carrier operate to the Middle East country. Investigations carried out by THISDAY revealed that before the federal government banned Emirates from operation to Nigeria

know the requirements for the 2023 elections as well as cost of direct or indirect party primaries. “On the primaries, when we discussed with him, he specifically told us the role of INEC in direct or indirect primaries, which he said is

then, the UAE wanted to use Rapid Antigen Test to stop Air Peace from operating to Dubai. UAE in several media statements had insisted that other airlines would not airlift Nigerians to Dubai and gave other stringent measures, including that Nigerian passengers must have to spend 14 days in another country after leaving Nigeria before they would be due to travel to Dubai if lifted by other airlines. Air Peace then stopped flying to the city when it became clear that its passengers would be made to conduct about three COVID-19 tests on arrival in the UAE at their own expense, thus making the flights very expensive for its passengers. The federal government had resisted that and insisted that it did not have infrastructure for the Rapid Antigen Test and also insisted that airlines flying to Nigeria must abide by its own COVID-19 protocols. After UAE removed the Rapid Antigen Test for Nigerian travellers, the federal government lifted the ban on the airline, but informed source from NCAA hinted that UAE might not want Air Peace to operate to Dubai, while Emirates had already scheduled to resume flights to Nigeria on December 5.

NCAA source disclosed that the Director General of NCAA had withdrawn from the first meeting that was to be held between Nigeria and UAE over the resumption of flights to both countries, when he learnt that Air Peace was not invited for that meeting and it was rescheduled and the Nigerian carrier was in attendance. Informed source also disclosed to THISDAY that in tandem with the policy of reciprocity of the federal government, the NCAA had resisted all attempts to marginalise the Nigerian carrier by denying it slot to operate to UAE, a policy that was lacking in the past, which led to the shortchanging of Nigerian carriers. Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, had explained how the federal government resisted UAE attempt to allow only Emirates to operate to Nigeria, using stringent COVID-19 protocol, which the minister described as discriminatory and ensured that Nigeria resisted it. “Government should be applauded for standing its ground before this absolute impunity by UAE. They refused to give Air Peace slot allocation but Nigeria allows Emirates to operate to Dubai and Lagos daily,” an industry source told THISDAY.

piecemeal, and scattered efforts at reform built on a foundation of injustice and inequity may buy time but they will not provide the durable solutions we need as to be able to say to ourselves and to the world in full confidence that we are back as one united, indivisible and strong nation.” He, however, said Nigeria required a purposeful domestic policy that would work for its citizens in order to be able to project strong foreign policy in spite of its weak economy as it did, when it intervened in Liberia and Sierra Leonne, in spite of the harsh structural adjustment economic policy. “Some of the most immediate tasks that we need urgently to address collectively include the restructuring of the national politico-administrative system to allow for a greater degree of decentralised and devolved powers that can make for a more updated federal arrangement.

“Connected to this is the equally urgent task of updating the rules, policies, and institutions for the effective and equitable management of our diversity. “Furthermore, our country is in need of a fully revamped social compact between state and society that can serve as the bedrock for the exercise and enjoyment of citizenship on a pan-Nigeria basis.” The Director-General of NIIA, Professor Eghosa E. Osaghae, in his welcome address, said the theme of the 60th anniversary was informed by the opinion that no nation could achieve its foreign policy objectives effectively without fixing its domestic environment. Chairman of the anniversary lecture, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, a former Minister of External Affairs and director-general of the NIIA, said he would refrain from summarising and commenting

on the lecture delivered by Fayemi. He, however, supported the governor’s call that the time has come for the NIIA to relocate to Abuja to enable it to attract the right kind of audience to its functions. Meanwhile, while playing host to 84/85 alumni of the University of Lagos, Fayemi insisted that, "There is need for all patriots and like-minds to come together with a view to getting a better future for Nigeria and the time to do that is now. "Getting a new Nigeria is possible. We can design a new Nigeria, where all of us can be equal, live peacefully with one another if we are patriotic and united." Fayemi was excited to reunite with a group of friends, who were his compatriots in students' unionism, during his days as an undergraduate, at the University of Lagos.

Okorocha Loses as NUC Hands Over Mbadiwe Varsity to Imo Govt Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The National Universities Commission (NUC), has presented the operating certificate for the Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University, Ogboko, to the Imo State government. The handing over was performed by the Executive Secretary of NUC, Professor Abubakar Adamu, at a brief event held yesterday at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja. The handover put to rest, the tussle over ownership of the university between former governor Rochas Okorocha and the Imo State government. The administration of the current Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, had seized

the university previously known as the Eastern Palm University, Ogboko, from Okorocha and renamed it the Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwa University, Ogboko, Imo State. However, with the handover, the NUC has recognised and approved the operational license of the university as the 42nd state-owned university in Nigeria. While presenting the certificate, Rasheed, congratulated Uzodimma and assured him of the commission’s readiness to assist the state in her academic strides. The Executive Secretary commended the governor of for his vision to expand access to university education in Imo state and by extension, south-eestern region of the country.

"By a copy of this letter, the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) are being notified of this development,” he said. Receiving the Letter of Recognition, the governor commended the NUC for ensuring stability in the country university system. He said that the resolve to establish a state university was informed by the level of youth restiveness in the South-East. “Imo State is highly populated, we have a population of over five million and our youth population is very huge and it is also part of what has led to restiveness in the south east.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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Buhari Laments Brutal Killing of Katsina Commissioner, Says Act is Heinous, Condemnable Police arrest suspect

Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Francis Sardauna in Katsina President Muhammadu Buhari, last night, reacted to the reported assassination of Katsina State

Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr. Rabe Nasir, describing his killing as heinous and condemnable act. But the Commissioner of Police in the state, Sanusi Buba,

who confirmed the death of the commissioner while briefing journalists at the residence of the deceased at Fatima Shema Estate, however, hinted that a suspect had been arrested.

The President, who in a statement by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, claimed there was no place for such violence in the country, said he was deeply anguished by the tragic killing

of the up and coming leader, who had served his community, state and the nation with utmost diligence. “My thoughts are with the bereaved family,” the President

GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY OF AMCE… L-R: Minister of Information and culture, Alh Lai Mohammed, President, Afreximbank, Prof. Benedict Oramah and Representatives of the President and Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, during the groundbreaking ceremony of African Medical Centre of Excellence, AMCE, in Abuja...yesterday

UNODC: $1.7trn Spent on Illicit Gambling Annually Michael Olugbode in Abuja The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has estimated that about $1.7 trillion “is wagered on illicit betting markets each year. The UNODC gave the estimate in the, “Global Report on Corruption in Sport,” a playbook to effectively tackle crime and corruption in sports by setting out a range of concrete policy considerations, also revealed the staggering scale, manifestation, and complexity of corruption and organised crime in sport at the global, regional, and national levels. The report developed in partnership with nearly 200 experts from across governments, sport organisations, the private sector, academia, and related stakeholders. While corruption in sport was not a new phenomenon, it pointed out that fraudulent activities in the running of sports institutions and competitions had been documented from the time of the ancient Olympic Games, adding that the past two decades had witnessed a substantial increase in criminal activities within the area. “Indeed, globalisation, a huge influx of money, the rapid growth of legal and illegal sports betting, and technological advances transforming the way sport is played and consumed are making it increasingly attractive to criminal networks seeking to exploit sport for illicit profit. “It is against this backdrop, the Global Report breaks down an extensive range of issues, analysing the role of illegal betting, competition manipulation, abuse in sport, the susceptibility of major sporting events to corruption, and the involvement of organised crime, among others,” it added. The report also highlighted the changing landscape of sport and

its relation to corrupt practices, the existing initiatives to tackle the problem, issues related to detecting and reporting wrongdoing, as well as how existing legal frameworks can be applied to address corruption within this area. According to a statement

by UNODC yesterday, the Global Report came out at a pivotal time, with increasing emphasis being placed on anti-corruption efforts within all sectors, including the sporting community. The report was launched ahead of next week’s biennial

UN anti-corruption gathering, the conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, being held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt from 13th to 17th December, where the issue of corruption in sport will be discussed. Designed for both

governments and sports organisations, the global report also highlighted the urgent need to strengthen legal, policy and institutional frameworks to prevent and respond to different manifestations of corruption and crime in sport at the global, regional, and national levels.

Secondus to Image Makers: Leave Me Out of Your Mess Chuks Okocha in Abuja The immediate past national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, has asked hired image launders within the party to leave him out of the present 'mess' within the party. Secondus, however, asked curiously where the image launders of Governor Nyesom Wikewere, when he was state chairman of the party in Rivers State, National Organising Secretary and deputy national chairman of PDP In a statement by his media aide, Ike Abonye, the former National Chairman said the image launders, having seen where their inundate ambition and impunity brought the party, some faceless hirelings

have been making spirited efforts to spin out good from a messy situation. "Our reaction would not have been necessary if they had not embarked on needless name calling of Prince Secondus and attempt to label him wrongly by not only ignoring his envious achievements in the party but deliberately trying to discredit him," the statement stated. Secondus said the two latest articles were, "One political personality that can influence Anyim's Presidential Ambition and two, political moves that may have cost Secondus PDP national championship seat." The statement said from the content of the two articles, it was clear that the new godfather of PDP was drumming the melody to give meaning to his new

role of deciding, who is to be what in PDP henceforth and indirectly drawing template for the incoming national leadership of the party. "Somebody was deliberately trying to hide the truth by failing to capture the correct position of things in the PDP, because there were lots of fallacies in the write-ups. The story could not connect with the reality on ground, where a hitherto peaceful and vibrant party was suddenly thrown into turmoil by the same ambitious godfather, whose aspiration is to hijack the party for himself. "The faceless writers claimed that the three state governors of Ebonyi, Cross River and Zamfara States left the PDP, because it was being mismanaged. But in being economical with the truth,

the writers failed to capture the man whose overbearing role caused their exit. The writer pretended not to know that it was the meddlesome interloping role of a particular governor that actually forced Governors Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State and Prof Ben Ayade of Cross River State out of the party. "The altercation between this governor and Umahi was everywhere in the news for the writer to have known. Ditto his principal role in the crisis in Cross River State PDP that culminated in the exit of the Governor. Even in Zamfara State, Governor Bello Matawelle, still fingered this very governor's careless utterances as his reason for feeling not wanted in PDP and his eventual leaving,” he said.

A Crushing Fall Awaits APC in 2023, Elumelu Declares Udora Orizu in Abuja Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu (PDP, Delta), has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) would face an inevitable and crushing fall in 2023 after which it wiould go into political oblivion. The Minority leader, who spoke at the valedictory session of the outgoing National Working Committee of the PDP in Abuja, said, the harmony in the PDP signposted the peace, cohesiveness and progress that would pervade the

nation, when the party takes over power in 2023 from the 'vexatious, retrogressive, and corrupt' APC. According to Elumelu, the achievement of seamless transition in party administration at the expiration of statutory tenure, reinforces the status of the PDP as a party of statesmen and women and the mainstay of democratic practice in our country. “I am happy that we have roundly shamed the APC and their agents, who, as naysayers and enemies of democracy, had set land mines, expecting our party to

submerge in crisis, factionalise and founder, so as to deny Nigerians the platform to rescue our nation from the vicious claws and deadly stranglehold of the APC. The APC has failed in governance and party administration and a crushing fall awaits it in 2023”, Elumelu said. He also commended the outgoing NWC for their commitment in revamping and repositioning the party thereby restoring the confidence of the people in the PDP as the only viable platform for restoration of good governance in the country.

“I dare say that in spite of its many challenges, the outgoing NWC is an embodiment of the resilient spirit of the PDP. This NWC, took up the challenge, picked our party from its lowest ebb, rebuilt our political stables, rekindled the zeal of our members and restored the confidence of Nigerians in the PDP. “The courage and commitment exhibited by our leaders contributed in reigniting the passion in Nigerians to join forces with our party in their collective resolve to rescue our nation from the misrule of the APC,” he added

said, and urged the law enforcement agencies to do a thorough investigation and bring to justice, all those who were behind the dastardly act. Buba, while briefing journalists, said, "This unfortunate incident happened late yesterday (Wednesday) night. We have evacuated the corpse and investigation has commenced. "We don't want to go into details about the circumstances surrounding the killing. A suspect has been arrested and investigation has commenced. The corpse has been evacuated to the Federal Medical Centre, Katsina." Governor Aminu Bello Masari and other top government officials have visited the residence of the deceased. Unknown gunmen killed Bindawa two nights ago at his residence. Sources within the estate told THISDAY that the slain commissioner was stabbed with a knife by the hoodlums in his sitting room and his corpse was locked in his toilet. Remains of the commissioner, sources said, would be buried today at 2:00pm.

78 Election Observers Submit Reports in Anambra Poll Chuks Okocha in Abuja The outcome of the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State assumed a different twist, yesterday, when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) received reports from accredited observers, who monitored the election. Altogether, 78 election observers including six foreign election observers briefed INEC on the conduct of the Anambra governorship election. The observers, who though commended the conduct of the election, however, lamented the malfunctioning of the Biomodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) as one key issue that almost marred the election. One after the other, the observers said apart from the tense security situation in the state during the governorship election, what nearly marred the electoral process was the malfunctioning of the BVAS. Some of the election observers blamed the malfunctioning of the BVAS on poor GSM network in the state. But they commended INEC for its efforts to conduct free and fair election, adding that the observed difficulties must be addressed. Coordinator of the Advocate for Peoples Rights and Justice, Victor Giwa, said the processes were not right for the BVAS to function as it was not susceptible to the environment. He explained that much as the BVAS functioned very well in the Isoko Federal Constituency, it was too early to unleash such a system on a bigger election like a governorship election. Other observers in their comments, called on INEC to overhaul the BVAS system to make it more functional during subsequent elections like the Federal Capital Territory, the Osun and Ekiti States governorship elections. The election observers explained that unless the mistakes of the BVAS were corrected, it stood the chances of encumbering the 2023 general election.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 10, 2021 • T H I S D AY

FRIDAY DECEMBER 10, 2021 T H I S DAY

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Killings: House Urges Buhari to Deploy Military Personnel to Sokoto Atiku condoles with families of victims

Udora

Orizu

Abuja

The House of Representatives has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to deploy more military personnel to Sokoto State where bandits recently attacked and killed several travellers. Some days ago, 23 people lost their lives as their vehicle caught Àre under gunshots by bandits in Angwan Bawa, Sabin Gari Local Government Area of Sokoto State. The former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has commiserated with the aͿected families and the people and government of Sokoto State over the senseless attack and killing of victims However, apart from requesting that more military personnel be sent to Sokoto, the lawmakers also directed the Ministry of Humanitarian AͿairs and 'isaster Management to provide relief materials for the victims. The resolutions of the lawmakers were sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance at the plenary yesterday. The lawmakers, while

noting with greatest dismay the death of 23 travellers killed by the bandits, said they are disturbed by the massive killings, kidnappings,

random and other terrible crimes against humanity are on the increase virtually on daily basis. Similarly, the lawmakers

adopting a motion titled, “Unfortunate Boat Mishap at Bagwai and Badau of Shanono/Bagwai Federal Constituency, Kano

State,” urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to pay a condolence visit to the families of the deceased and provide

modern boats to enable the people to travel safely along the :atari 'am and as we train those handling the boats.

GLO JOY EXTRAVAGANZA CAR WINNER…

L-R: Regional Manager, Globacom, Port Harcourt, Mr. Augustine Mamuro , car winner, Ikenna Adiele; Mr. Willie Ellis of Marketing Department, Globacom, and RiYers State Commissioner for Sports, Mr. Boma I\a\e ¿rst rigKt during tKe presentation of pri]es to winners in Globacom¶s -o\ 8nlimited E[traYagan]a Promo in Port Harcourt, Rivers state… yesterday

Ngige, Uba in Battle for 1'/($ $UUDLJQV 6XVSHFWV IRU 'UXJ 7UDͿFNLQJ Control of Anambra APC Wale Igbintade

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

Minister of Labour and Employment, 'r Chris Ngige, who is also the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State, and the candidate of the party in the just concluded governorship election, Senator Andy Uba are at war, over the leadership of the party in the state. THIS'A< gathered that while 'r Ngige will on Friday in his Abuja residence be hosting the party’s state caucus meeting, the state chairman of the party, Mr. Basil Ejidike, sponsored by Senator Andy Uba and deputy governor of Anambra State, 'r Nkem Okeke will on same day hold same meeting at Maitama in Abuja. There are fears in both factions of the party over which of the meetings will attract attendance

from members of the state caucus of the party. There have been a running battle in the party in the state, with some members of the party having been sacked. While some members of the party had affirmed the sack of Ejidike as the chairman of the party in the state, Ejidike had dismissed it, engineered the recent sack of the secretary of the party, Mr. Chukwuma Agupugo. Agupugo had been accused of anti-party activities, while a source in the party told our correspondent that he was found to be loyal to 'r Ngige, who is opposed to the leadership of the party. The genesis of the crisis in the party had been accusations against Ngige, who was said to have been opposed to the emergence of the party’s gubernatorial candidate in the last election, Senator Andy Uba.

Amotekun Impounds 50 Vehicles in Ondo, Refutes Allegation of Brutality Fidelis David in Akure Men of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, codenamed ‘Amotekun’ have accosted 50 vehicles over failure to comply with the state government’s decision on ban on the use of tinted glass and vehicles without registration across major roads in the state. The state commander of the agency, Mr. Adetunji Adeleye, stated this while brieÀng journalists yesterday in Akure, the state capital, refuting allegation that the o΀cials of the agency have resulted to searching and conÀscating the mobile phones of youths in the state, particularly in Akure the state capital.

He also denied allegation of rising spate of brutality, harassment, among the Amotekun corps in the state, noting that its o΀cials upholds the professional ethics of discharging their duties professionally without resorting to intimidation of innocent and law-abiding citizens. He said “We have begun 24 hour surveillance across roads in Ondo State. Recall that two weeks ago a three year-old girl was kidnapped in Akure. It took us enough time and energy that would have been saved to trace the movement of the hoodlums because the Mercedes Benz used in kidnapping the girl was tinted and unregistered.”

The National 'rugs Law Enforcement Agency (N'LEA) has arraigned Mr. Osondu Christian, a Brazil-based Nigerian, Mr. Okafor Moses and three others before a Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos for allegedly dealing in heroin and cocaine. Other defendants are Mr. Udeh Victor Mr. Abanijo Isioma and Mr. Ihator Theophilus. They five were arraigned before -ustice 'aniel Osiagor

in two separate charges. Osondu, Udeh, Abanijo and Ihator were arraigned on a four count-charge of conspiracy, unlawful importation and unlawful possession of 3.2 kilograms of heroin while Okafor was separately arraigned on a two count-charge of unlawful importation and possession of 2.55 kilograms of cocaine. Arraigning the defendants, the N'LEA Prosecutor, Mr. Abu Ibrahim, told the court that Osondu and the other three

defendants, allegedly committed the offence between November 4 and 5, 2021. He told the court that Osondu conspired with one Udeh Clement, both based in South Africa to smuggle in the said hard drugs. The prosecutor stated that Osondu was arrested during inward clearance of Air Peace flight from Johannesburg, South Africa, at the E-Arrival Hall of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

According to him, the trio of Udeh Abanijo and Ihator conspired with both Udeh Clement and Chinedu Oseki (both based in South Africa) to distribute the banned drug in Nigeria. The N'LEA prosecutor further told the court that the Brazil-based Okafor, who was arrested on November 13, 2021, conspired with one Awuga, who is also based in Brazil but now at large, to unlawfully import 2.55 kilograms of cocaine.

*URXS 'HPDQGV 3URVHFXWLRQ RI 1''& 6WD; Involved in Contract Scam Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Civil Society Organisation under the aegis of Social Action, has demanded the arrest and prosecution of anyone found guilty in the Niger 'elta 'evelopment Commission (N''C) contract scam. This as the group has called on President Muhammadu

Buhari to initiate the prosecution of contractors or any other person involved in the alleged mismanagements of the over N6 trillion, in the commission. Mr. Green Isaac, led the group on a peaceful protest to the headquarters of N''C in Port Harcourt yesterday, where the demand was made in commemoration of the International Anti-Corruption

'ay 2021. Isaac, who noted the theme of this year’s Anti-Corruption 'ay Commemoration as “<our Right, <our Role Say No To Corruption”, stressed that “N''C has became a curse instead of be a blessing to the people of the Niger 'elta, as it has been largely noted that the agency become a cesspool, avenue for sharing of our

collective wealth.” He said the purpose of the protest was “to continue to speak up as silence would be treason for us if we do not speak up against the level of impunity in the Niger 'elta 'evelopment Commission, N''C, an agency established two decades ago to bring development to the Niger 'elta region”.

FG Constructs 3,000-capacity Modern Custodial Centres Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola yesterday said that the federal government has invested in the construction of 3,000 modern capacity custodial centres in each of the six geo-political zones of the country.

He said that the development became imperative in view of the scourge of recent vicious attacks on the nation’s custodial facilities. Aregbesola, who spoke in Ilorin, Kwara state capital during the 2nd ministerial strategy retreat of the ministry of Interior, said that, the federal government would leave no

stone unturned at protecting the life and property of the people of the country and other various national facilities located across the nation. The retreat is tagged, “'eveloping Internal Security and Public Safety Towards a five-year Strategic Plan for Accelerated National 'evelopment,”.

Aregbesola also said that the target of the investment in new custodial facilities was to decongest the existing ones, ensure good living condition for inmates, and support implementation of the NCoS Act 2019 with the goal of rehabilitating, reformation, and reintegration of inmates.

Nollywood Actress, Ngozi Chiemeke, Killed in Delta Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

Tragedy has struck in Agbor, administrative headquarters of Ika South Local Government Area of 'elta State following the shooting of a budding Nigerian actress, Ngozi Chiemeke. The young Nollywood actress was said to have gone to use

POS shop on 'eeper Life Road, in Boji-Boji area of Agbor when some armed men invaded the place and shot her. The up-and-coming actress was later confirmed dead by medical experts at a hospital in Agbor. However, the state police command spokesman, Mr. Bright Edafe, who confirmed

the incident in Asaba yesterday , could not state if the killers of the young actress dispossessed her of money or other valuables at the time of filing this report. Meanwhile, the 'elta State Commissioner of Police, Ari Muhammed Ali, has announced that the ban on the use of fireworks in the state was still

in force, warning that defaulters risked being jailed on account of using these fireworks. He said that “the Command will enforce all the extant laws prohibiting the use of fireworks such as ‘knock-out’ or ‘banger’ and other fireworks especially during this coming <uletide season.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 10, 2021 T H I S DAY

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Buhari Inaugurates 20-year-old KanoMaiduguri Road, Cautions Drivers Fashola defends govt’s borrowing

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday commissioned the 104-kilometre (km) KanoMaiduguri dual highway, including the 4km single carriage way on section 3 of the Azare-Potiskum road, which links Bauchi and Yobe States. The project which he described as a critical component of the country’s road network, adds to the hundreds of kilometres of highways inaugurated by the president in the last few weeks. Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of State, Trade and Investment, Maryam Katagum, said the piece of infrastructure was a manifestation of the commitment of his administration to improving road transport, ease of doing business and job creation. In addition, he explained that it was part of the fulfilment of his pledge to lift the Nigerian people out of poverty. He pointed out that with the commissioning, the travel experience will now improve, including a reduction of the hitherto tedious route to about one hour. He noted that reduced

journey times as a result of the improvement in the road network, meant reduced expenses on travel, stressing that reduction in travel expense also meant more money in the pockets of travellers.

While highlighting that various segments of the society had been employed directly or indirectly during the project, the president said that his administration was gradually restoring many of the

dilapidated roads throughout the country. Buhari explained that road furniture, such as the lane markings and route assurance signs which had disappeared in the country’s highways were

being gradually returned. “Our commitment to change has restored them, with the markings helping drivers to achieve better lane management and control of their vehicles; while

the route assurance signs provide information about how much further or longer, the drivers and commuters have to travel and the distance to the next village, town or state,” he added.

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People with Disabilities USAID to Strengthen Research and Lament Stigmatisation, Call Policy Processes in Agric Sector for Prosecution of Rapists Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

People Living with Disabilities (PLWD) in Bauchi State have lamented that the stigmatisation and maltreatment they encounter in their homes often lead them to beg for alms and eventually get sexually abused. The representative of a nongovernmental organisation, Heal Initiative Development, Aisha Adamu, stated this yesterday in a goodwill message during a one-day programme to mark 16 days of activism organised by the Development Exchange Centre in Bauchi. She said: “Most of the challenges we often face come from our parents firstly and then the community. For example, when parents give birth to a disabled child, they begin to maltreat them

as if they are not humans. Their needs are not being catered for and they are treated with disdain. “It is from there that we start facing this stigmatisation in our hearts, and low self-esteem that since we are not being catered for even by our immediate family, then we are not useful in the society. When a child faces such stigmatisation from home, he’s not sent to school, his needs are not provided for and because he is humiliated and despised at home, they end up begging on the streets, especially the female child. “The moment she starts begging for alms, miscreants will take the advantage to abuse her sexually, emotionally and sometimes even physically. This happens because they see you cheaply looking dirty without help and they take advantage of you.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has expressed commitment towards supporting policy processes through scientiÀc research to enhance skills and mentoring through training and institutional capacity development in Nigeria. The lead principal investigator to the USAID

Nigeria agriculture policy activity from the Michigan State University, Prof. Saweda Tasie, stated this during a oneday Research Dissemination Workshop on the impact of COVID-19 on Agri-Food Small and Medium Enterprises: Evidence from Fish and Poultry Value Chains in Kaduna State recently. Saweda, who participated

via zoom explained that the initiative, which was implemented in the Michigan State University, is aimed at promoting policy driven collaborative research and analysis, as well as supporting Nigerians and partners to provide evidence that would guide policy processes in the agricultural sector. She identiÀed key members

of the research team from diͿerent institutions to include: National Agricultural Extension and Research Liason Services (NAERLS), the Nigerian Agricultural Policy Project (NAPP) Scholars, as well as International Food Policy Research Institute and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD).

House Moves to Make Crèches Compulsory in Workplaces Udora Orizu in Abuja

The House of Representatives at the plenary yesterday passed for second reading a bill seeking to amend the Labour Act, to make provision for the establishment of crèches in public and private workplaces for employees who are breast feeding/nursing mothers.

The proposed legislation titled: ‘A Bill for an Act to Amend the Labour Act, 1971, Cap. L1, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and for related matters (HB.1438)’, is sponsored by Hon. Serguis Ogun (PDP, Edo). Leading the debate on its general principles, Ogun said the bill, which has three

clauses, seeks to amend the Principal Act so as to make provision for the establishment of crèches in public and private workplaces for employees who are breast-feeding/nursing mothers, and for other related matters. According to him, clause one is the enactment clause; clause two is the amendment clause of

the Principal Act, while clause three is the citation. He said the extant provisions of the Labour Act, which provides for four months maternity leave for nursing mothers, may be insu΀cient for mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies for | up to six months as recommended.

Aregbesola Seeks Policies, Nasarawa Gov Presents N109.8bn 2022 Budget Estimate to Assembly Programmes to Boost Igbawase Ukumba in La¿a the Assembly for screening the state. the budget estimate showed and conÀrmation as members The 2022 budget estimate, that the education sector got Internal Security Nasarawa State Governor, of the State Executive Council. according to him, showed the highest allocation of N31.8

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has advocated for policies and programme to boost eͿectiveness and e΀ciency of internal security. Speaking at the second Ministerial Retreat of the Ministry of Interior yesterday in Ilorin, Aregbesola charged agencies under the ministry to put in place policies and programmes that would ensure eͿectiveness and e΀ciency towards improving internal security. He said: “At the back of our mind, we must never forget, above all things, that our main purpose is to serve the people by strengthening internal security and give all

the people resident in the country the peace of mind they deserve.” He also called on the agencies under the ministry to forge strategic alliance with sister agencies. He said: “It is also important for the four agencies to forge strategic alliances with other agencies, especially in light of new security challenges to our facilities and the nation at large.” The minister charged the participants to speak freely and make creative and intelligent contributions, stressing that: “This retreat should also aͿord us critical and creative thinking and original solutions and ideas. Everyone should speak freely but creatively and intelligently.

Abdullahi Sule, yesterday presented a budget estimate of N109.8 billion for the 2022 Àscal year to the state House of Assembly for approval. This was even as the governor also submitted a list of 15 commissioner nominees to

Sule, while presenting the 2022 budget estimate, tagged: ‘Budget of Sustainable Transformation’, told the lawmakers that the speedy passage of the 2022 budget estimate would enable the state government to execute developmental projects across

recurrent expenditure taking N70.8 billion, representing 64.56 percent of the budget’s total size, while the capital expenditure was estimated to receive N38.9 billion, representing 35.44 percent of the budget. A sectorial breakdown of

Umahi Opposes Direct Primary Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki

Ebonyi State Governor, Mr. David Umahi, has opposed the direct primaries been proposed in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill. Umahi stated this when he received the Registrar of National Examinations Council

(NECO) Professor Dantani Wushishi in Abakaliki, Capital of the state. He commended the President Muhammadu Buhari for refusing to asset to the bill, stressing that adoption of direct primary would give rise to litigations. The governor said that direct primaries would lead to so much

confusion that would derail or possibly truncate democracy in the country. He said: “Let me congratulate Mr. President for refusing to sign that electoral bill. You see, when we are making laws we have to look at all the factors. “This is a country that when you are defeated in any primary you refuse to accept defeat. Now,

billion, followed by the health sector, N11.8 billion. The governor, therefore, assured the Assembly of the full implementation of the budget if Ànally passed into law for the overall development of the state.

imagine the number of our local governments, 774. Imagine the number of wards, you now go to conduct primaries in all these wards, maybe for the president and after that the senate and the rest of the positions. “Even if you are doing all of them in one day expect petitions by the number of political parties times the number of wards.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 10, 2021 T H I S DAY

WORLD OF ISLAM

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Bandits Kill 16 Worshipers in Niger True Believers Love,

Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

Laleye Dipo in Minna About 16 worshipers were last Wednesday killed by gunmen in Baare village in the Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State. This is the second incident in about six weeks following the massacre of 18 worshipers in Mazakuka in the same local government area. Eyewitnesses said the armed men, like they did during the Àrst attack, rounded up the early morning worshipers before gunning them down in cold blood.

Several other worshipers were said to have escaped with gunshot injuries, with the injured currently receiving treatment at the Kontagora General Hospital. It was gathered that many people, mostly women and children, were abducted by the bandits and taken into captivity. However, the police have conÀrmed the death of only nine villagers. The state Police Commissioner, Mr. Monday Bala Kuryas, told journalists in a telephone interview

that combined security operatives are on the trail of the bandits, saying they will be apprehended soon. Kuyars said security agencies in the state would never shy away from their responsibility of protecting the lives and property of Nigerlites and Nigerians, but called for credible intelligence from the public to succeed. It will be recalled that the state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, recently set up a commission of inquiry into the Mazakuka massacre and the reprisal that followed it.

Electoral Bill: News of Buhari’s Alleged Rejection, A Hatchet Job, Say CSOs Deji Elumoye and Udora Orizu in Abuja

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have condemned fake news making the rounds over alleged rejection of Electoral Act Amendment Bill by President Muhammadu Buhari published by one of the national dailies. The CSOs in a statement yesterday signed by Executive Director, Adopt A Goal for Development Initiative, Ariyo-Dare Atoye; The Convener, Raising New Voices Initiative, Jude Feranmi; and Executive Director, Speak Out

Africa Initiative, Kenneth Eze, described the news headline as a hatchet job, shameless and unfortunate to misinform Nigerians and mislead Mr President. The organisations called on Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria, the Press Council, Nigerian Guild of Editors and the National Union of Journalists should investigate immediately the online blogs and Sun newspaper for the lie presented to the people as news. The statement reads: “We woke up this morning to the FAKE NEWS HEADLINE by

The Sun Newspapers which read “Buhari Rejects Electoral Bill”. This hatchet job carried out by some crooked persons to misinform Nigerians and mislead the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is shameless and unfortunate. In an era where fake news continues to harm our society, cause chaos and hamper democracy, we are shocked that The Editorial Management of The Sun newspapers and some online news outlets would render their reputation and their platform to be used for this shoddy job.

Port Harcourt Engineer Wins First Car in Globacom’s Joy Unlimited Promo It was a moment of joy and excitement in Port Harcourt yesterday as the fourth prize-

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I Formerly known and addressed as YINKA WILLIAMS and OLAYINKA ABIOLA WILLIAMS now wish to be Known, called and addressed as OLAYINKA ABIOLA WILLIAMS-TAIWO due to marriage. All 'ocuments and &erti¿cates bearing my former Names Remain Valid. Nigeria immigraWiRQ VerYiFe %aQNV ¿QaQFiaO iQVWiWXWiRQV VFKRROV 5eOeYaQW $XWKRriWieV and the General public please take note. I Formerly known and addressed as LANRE WILLIAMS and KOFOWOROLA OLANREWAJU WILLIAMS now wish to be Known, called and addressed as KOFOWOROLA OLANREWAJU WILLIAMS-AKINRINLOLA due to marriage. All 'ocuments and &erti¿cates bearing my former Names Remain Valid. Nigeria immigration VerYiFe %anNV ¿nanFiaO inVtitXtionV VFKooOV 5eOeYant $XtKoritieV and the General public please take note.

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presentation event in Glo ‘Joy Unlimited Extravaganza’ promo took place in the garden city with a civil engineer, Ikenna Adiele, going home with a brand new Kia Rio car. It was the Àrst car prize to be won in the promotion so far. The event brought Christmas early for scores of Nigerians as

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80 other subscribers went home with diͿerent prizes, including television sets, generators and refrigerators. A visibly elated Adiele, an indigene of Abia State who works in Port Harcourt, thanked Globacom for the prize. He said: “I am very excited and I don’t know what to say. I saw the advert and I decided to participate by dialing the “611” promo code after which I started recharging my phone. Lo and behold, after about two weeks, I got a call from Glo customer service number 121, and after conÀrming my identity, I was told I won a brand new Kia car. I could not believe my ears. Glo has made me a car owner. This is the biggest gift in my life and my Àrst car. I will forever remain with Glo network. I will keep the car for my personal use”. Other winners at the event thanked Globacom for the opportunity provided for Nigerians to win prizes through the promo. According to a generator winner, Paschal Oyedo, a Port Harcourt- based lawyer,” I did not believe it until I got to Glo o΀ce and saw the generator. This is exciting. I will take the generator at home to the o΀ce and keep this brand new one for the enjoyment of my family at home. Glo has been good to Nigerians”. Also, Paul Okoh, a retired civil servant, now a farmer in Port Harcourt said: “ I am overjoyed, I have always believed in Glo. They always give quality prizes. I received a Glo refrigerator today. Kudos to Globacom”.

Not Fear God (2)

By: Spahic Omer/IslamiCity

“A true believer is so obsessed with cultivating love for God that he has no time, nor interest, to worry about unduly fearing him. He only fears the prospect of incurring God’s displeasure, by whatever means and whatever degree”. Al-taqwa is derived from the words waqa and wiqayah, which mean “to protect” and “protection” respectively. Al-taqwa could therefore be construed as “observing one’s duty to God”, “God-consciousness”, “selfrestraint”, “protecting the relationship with God, and by means of performing righteous deeds and shunning immoral ones, protecting oneself from the consequences of damaging such relationship”. Al-taqwa is also understood as a shield. To fear God in the conventional sense of the threat of a perceived danger, or because God is seen as innately angry, aggressive and willing to punish, is not right. It is a sign of one’s weak faith and even misguidance. Needless to say that one needs to fear God and His punishment only if he rejected and disobeyed Him. He must do so proportionately to his misconduct. A true believer is so obsessed with cultivating love for God that he has no time, nor interest, to worry about unduly fearing him. His heart is so filled with love that there is no room whatsoever for components of unnecessary fear in it. He only fears the prospect of incurring God’s displeasure, by whatever means and whatever degree. At any rate, it is either love or fear. One needs to fear God only because he does not love Him. Whereas one needs not fear God only because he loves Him and behaves in accordance with the dictates of that love.

The Qur’an and the concepts of fear There are more than ten types of fear articulated by the Qur’an. This is partly because of the richness of the Arabic language, and partly because of the importance of the concept and its many categories and their detailed nuances. Four categories stand out. The first and most basic category is khawf, which is the fear of something specific - physical or otherwise - that is dangerous and unpleasant, and can harm. This category appears 124 times in the Qur’an in several derived forms. Believers do not harbour this type of fear in relation to God. Yet if they to some extent do, it is rather metaphorical and deterrent. Evildoers entertain it, and are advised to do so, as their actions merit nothing but God’s punishment and wrath. Illustrative of this type of fear are the following verses: “Say: “Indeed I fear (akhaf), if I should disobey my Lord, the punishment of a tremendous Day” (al-An’am, 15). “O Musa (Moses), fear not (la takhaf). Indeed, in My presence the messengers do not fear (la yakhaf)” (al-Naml, 10). “And how should I fear (akhaf) what you associate while you do not fear (la takhafun) that you have associated with Allah that for which He has not sent down to you any authority? So which of the two parties has more right to security, if you should know?” (al-An’am, 81). “…So surely there will come to you a guidance from Me, then whoever follows My guidance, there shall no fear (khawf) come upon them neither shall they grieve” (al-Baqarah, 38). Even Satan admitted that he fears God (akhafu-Allah). He did so for obvious reasons. He knows what consequences he will have to face on the Day of Judgment for all his evil schemes and deeds in this world. No surprise that after confessing his cowardly fear of God, Satan also acknowledged: “Allah is severe in punishment (His retribution)” (al-Anfal, 48). The second prominent category of fear in the Qur’an is khashyah. It occurs 48 times in a few derived forms. It means a fear based on knowledge of some aspects of Truth which, in turn, is associated with action. It is a positive fear. It is synonymous with utmost respect and reverence. It means to be awestruck and captivated by the excellence and greatness of the known. This fear is always mentioned as a sign of true faith and as a feature of true believers. For example, the Qur’an says about God’s upright and knowledgeable servants: “Only those fear Allah (yakhsha-Allah), from among His servants, who have knowledge” (Fatir, 28).

Even the Prophets have been praised by dint of this type of positive fear: “(Allah praises) those who convey the messages of Allah and fear Him (yakhshawn) and do not fear anyone but Allah. And sufficient is Allah as Accountant. The third conspicuous type of fear in the Qur’an is khushu’. It appears 17 times in several derived forms. It connotes a positive fear of God in the heart, which however manifests itself on the body and its limbs. Its root word khasha’ means “to surrender and submit to”, “to humble oneself before”, “to become humble”, and “to obey”. The bodily manifestations of the inner fear (respect and veneration) here take precedence over the internal state. For example, the Qur’an describes true believers with respect to their prayers: “They who are during their prayer humbly submissive (khashi’un)” (al-Mu’minun, 2). Just as there are humbly submissive and obedient hearts (qulubkhashi’ah), there are also hardened and disobedient hearts (qulubqasiyah): “Has the time not come for those who have believed that their hearts should become humbly submissive at the remembrance of Allah and what has come down of the truth? And let them not be like those who were given the Scripture before, and a long period passed over them, so their hearts hardened; and many of them are defiantly disobedient” (al-Hadid, 16). This category of fear is often mentioned in the context of the Hereafter. The reason for that is that in the Hereafter all veils will be lifted and people will discover and come to terms with the whole Truth. It will be then that their hearts and souls, as well as their entire being, will be overwhelmed by the greatness and magnitude of Truth. Every aspect of their selves will clearly display such an inner and also outer condition. The Qur’an says: “Their eyes humbled (khushsha’an), they will emerge from the graves as if they were locusts spreading” (al-Qamar, 7). “On that Day (many) faces will be downcast (humbled) (khashi’ah)” (al-Ghashiyah, 2). Of course, the most famous form of “fear” in the Qur’an is al-taqwa, as explained earlier. It occurs 258 times in many derived forms. Other lesser known forms of fear are: hidhr (fearing something and trying to avoid it at all costs), raw’ (being alarmed and panicking due to a sudden situation), wajas (abruptly fearing something but trying to hide that feeling), wajl (fearing something in the sense of deep reverence and admiration), rahb (fearing something to the extent that a person is always kept alert and vigilant), ru’b (being terrified of something), shafaq (fearing something and mixing that feeling with an amount of love), and wajf (fear combined with distress and worry).

The Prophets Zakariyya and Yahya The Qur’an depicts the spiritual condition of the Prophets Zakariyya (Zechariah) and his son Yahya (John) – as well as the former’s wife - as follows: “Indeed, they used to hasten to good deeds and supplicate Us in hope and fear (rahaban), and they were to Us humbly submissive (khashi’in)” (al-Anbiya’, 90). In this verse, two types of fear are attributed to the Prophets Zakariyya and Yahya. The first one is rahb (rahaban). It means that they were terrified at the prospect of not proving equal to the task of protecting and fulfilling God’s rights upon them, offending Him thereby and hence, being denied His divine love, benevolence and mercy. That kept them alert and vigilant at all times, strengthening in the process their love for and service to God. That featured regularly in their supplications as well. The second type of fear mentioned in the above verse is khushu’. It means that the first spiritual and mental state of the Prophets Zakariyya and Yahya – that is, rahb – was the cause of them humbly submitting all their decisions and actions, yet their entire lives, to the will and power of God alone. That is the meaning of them being khashi’in, which was a result of their adoption of rahb. The Prophets Zakariyya and Yahya did not fear God in the conventional sense of the term. Rather, they loved Him immensely and were ready to do whatever it takes lest they should imperil that beauty and privilege. The only way to do so was through their total obedience and humble submission to God. They feared the possibility – however remote - of losing, and also not receiving, the splendour of love, along with the chance of actualizing and living it.

FRIDAY, ͹͸˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

FRIDAYSPORTS

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

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Okocha Special Guest as His Two Former Clubs, Fenerbahce, Eintracht Play Draw Former Super Eagles Captain, Austin Jay Jay Okocha, was one of the Special guests at Thursday’s Europa League clash between his former clubs Fenerbahce and Eintracht Frankfurt. The legendary Nigerian midfielder played for both teams and his presence at the game was rightfully acknowledged by both Fenerbahce and UEFA on their Twitter handles before the game played in Istanbul, Turkey. The match ended 1-1 which helped the German Bundesliga team top the Group D standing on 12 points. The Turkish Super Lig was third on six points. In show of solidarity and honour, former Arsenal star and now Fenerbahce player, Mesut Ozil posed for photographs with the Nigerian 1994 AFCON and 1996 Atlanta Olympic gold

E U R O PA L E AG U E medal winners. Okocha featured for both Fenerbahce and Frankfurt during his club career in Europe where he became a fans favourite.

The 5th edition of the annual Sports Carnival of Federal Government College Warri Old Student Association (FEGOCOWOSA), Lagos Branch brought together members, family, and loved ones under one umbrella at the Main Bowl Pitch of the Kings College, Lagos sports ground. The year’s FEGOCOWOSA’s sports carnival tagged, “Albert Okumagba Memorial Sports Carnival”, was held in honour of late Albert Okumagba, an ambassador of sports and unity who passed on one year ago in November. Okumagba was a pioneer to the creation of the Lagos branch of Federal Government College (FGC) Warri. He promoted sports as a tool for unification. Speaking to THISDAY during the event, the Chairperson, FEGOCOWOSA, Lagos Branch, Sophia Onyenkpa, said that this year’s edition has been named “FEGOCOWOSA Lagos, Albert Okumagba Sports Carnival” in memory of a foremost leader, sports lover and supporter of their Alma mater, its growth and development as well as for Okumagba’s immense contributions to the sports, the association and unity schools in general. “This fifth edition is a very special one, because it is a memorial carnival, the first of its kind, in honor of one of us, Mr. Albert Egba Okumagba, who passed on in November last year. He actually started the first

Austin Jay Jay Okocha (right) Mesut Ozil shortly before Fenerbahce and Eintracht Frankfurt PHOTO: Twitter played 1-1 in a Europa League game in Turkey...yesterday

Napoli Qualify for Knock Out Stage, Send Leicester to Conference Playoffs Duro Ikhazuagbe

Despite the absence of Napoli’s in-form Nigerian International, Victor Osimhen, the Italian Serie A team cashed on Leicester City’s slack defending to snatch all three points and qualify for the knock out stage of the Europa League last night with a 3-2 victory. Osimhen who medics predicted will need up to 90

A Festival of Sports for Late Albert Okumagba Mary Nnah and Oluwabunmi Fache

He first joined Frankfurt in 1992, made 90 appearances scored 18 goals before departing in 1996. After leaving Frankfurt he signed for Fenerbahce in 1996 and scored 30 goals in 62 games before his record transfer move to Paris Saint-Germain in 1998.

of this carnival and he has also been one of the pioneer people that started the association in Lagos state so, we have made this year's carnival in his honor, to honor him, for all he has done for the association. “We also have in our midst today, his wife and his family member, who came all the way from the UK, to grace this occasion”, she noted. She stressed further that Kings College was chosen as venue for this year’s edition because Albert was also a one time student of Kings College and he held both schools so dear to his heart and finally was a foundation member of Unity Schools Association (USOSA), comprising all federal colleges. Onyenkpa, who revealed the theme for this year’s sport carnival to be “Unity through Sports” said further that Albert Okumagba has always seen sport as a form of unity for the whole country. “We see sport as a unifying force, and that was one of the driving forces we started this carnival in the first place under the leadership of Albert Okumagba, so we started this carnival to promote sport and for people to come together in unity. “If you look at Nigeria, one thing that has no demarcation is sport, whether you are from the East, West, South-South, North etc, we all come together when it is time for sport so we are promoting it to get all youth to come together to do everything together in the name of sport, as a way of promoting unity in our country”, she concluded.

days for full recovery after surgery to his injured cheekbone and eye socket, returned to training on Wednesday. It was his first training since that November 21 incidence when he got injured after colliding with Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar. But yesterday in Naples, the Foxes had started the evening in pole position to advance from Group C but will now drop into the Europa Conference League knockout play-offs in February. Wilfred Ndidi missed the services of both Kelechi Iheanacho and Ademola Lookman as the

Foxes floundered. Adam Ounas' early goal set the tone for an error-strewn display from Brendan Rodgers' side, with Caglar Soyuncu's ill-advised pass contributing heavily to Algeria winger Ounas scoring his first goal for Napoli since April 2019. Ryan Bertrand was at fault as Luciano Spalletti's side extended their lead, playing Andrea Petagna onside, with the forward in turn squaring for Eljif Elmas to tap home. But the Foxes responded in superb fashion with Jonny Evans driving in an immediate response

after a free-kick was only partially cleared and Kiernan Dewsbury¬Hall levelling matters with a superb left-foot volley from the edge of the penalty area. However, another defensive lapse, from a Leicester side whose last clean sheet came on the opening day of the Premier League season, proved decisive. Bertrand, Harvey Barnes and Timothy Castagne were all guilty of not marking tightly enough as Giovanni di Lorenzo picked out Elmas, who allowed the ball to run across his body before driving it into the bottom right corner.

RESULTS Lyon 1-1 Rangers Spa’ Prague 2-0 Brondby Sociedad 3-0 PSV Storm Graz 1-1 Monaco Legia 0-1 Spartak Moscow Napoli 3-2 Leicester Fenerbahce 1-1 E’Frankfurt R’Antwerp 1-0 Olympiacos

Europa Conference Tottenham v

Rennes (PP)

CSKA Sofia 2-3 Roma

2021 FCAAN D Course graduating class in Ikeja, Lagos...recently

FCAAN Excited about 2022 After a Successful Year 2021

The leadership of the Football Coaches Association of African Nations (FCAAN) has expressed satisfaction with the body’s output for the year 2021 and has declared that it has great expectations for the coming year, which promises to be highly exciting with the Africa Cup of Nations for both men and women, global youth women tournaments and the FIFA World Cup finals for men. Speaking from his base in the United States of America, FCAAN President, Dr Terry Babatunde Eguaoje averred that organizing six courses of different grades across the federation in the outgoing year was a huge improvement on the state of paralysis imposed by the novel coronavirus pandemic in

the year 2020. “During the year 2020, we had to see what we could do through online services as the ban on public and social gatherings made seminars and workshops impossible. Based off that fact, we have to be grateful for what have been able to achieve this year, even as we are confident of doing better in year 2022. “Our focus next year would be on higher-grade courses as we focus hard on our vision of building a large population of coaches who have sound, correct education and are attuned to modern methods and techniques, which will help to improve the standard of the game in Nigeria and Africa as a whole,” said Eguaoje, who is also Consultant on Coaching and Development to

the Nigeria Football Federation. FCAAN’s resolve and commitment to its vision ensured that it explored and exploited online training possibilities and opportunities even during the lockdowns and restrictions of the pandemic period. “We kept going by doing online programmes and we thank our able resource persons for their quick adaption and flexibility. Much knowledge was imparted during the period. It helped us to keep the momentum of several years and go full throttle when the restrictions were lifted.” Eguaoje added: “This year, we had one D course, one E course and two F courses in Lagos, one F course in Port Harcourt and one C course in Akure. A total of six courses in all.

“All these could not have been possible without the active support and endorsement of the Nigeria Football Federation. We are grateful for the NFF President and FIFA Council Member, Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick, the entire NFF Board and the General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi. We aim to do even better in the year 2022 with their support and understanding.” At the end of the D course in Lagos, Coach of Nigeria Women Premier League side FC Robo Queens, Emmanuel Osahon said: “I thought I knew so much about coaching, but attending the course showed me that I have so much ground to cover. I just can’t wait for the C course.”

FRIDAY, ͹͸˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

SPORTS PEOPLE

Atanda ‘Mansa’ Musa Relives His Reign as Ping-Pong Czar Atanda Musa...relives His glory days as Africa and Commonwealth champion at the weekend

He was a household name within and outside of the country in the 1980s till early 1990s when he took a bow from the game that brought him to limelight. Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992 was his last competition for Nigeria. Noted for his ferocious forehand, backhand and the loops from rallies arguably puts him ahead of his contemporaries. During the week, former African champion, Atanda Musa, fondly referred to as Mansa Musa, returned to the familiar ground he left 29 years ago. He was special guest at the just concluded Asoju-Oba Table Tennis Championship, the same tournament that shot him to fame. In this interview with FEMI SOLAJA, the former African and Commonwealth champion was full of praises for Aruna Quadri, the star who reigns supreme in the game in the continent today. “He (Quadri Aruna) would not have survived a contest against me if he were to play in my era,” began Musa in this no-holds-bared chat with THISDAY. Musa is currently on vacation in Nigeria from his base in the USA.... What is your take on the state of table tennis in the country? irstly, I want to say that I am really glad to be here again after many years outside the country. When I visited the venue of the Asoju-Oba tournament (at the Teslim Balogun Stadium), I saw young boys and girls who are very glad to play the game with the same passion that was associated with the era that I belong to. I saw lads who were happy and willing to improve themselves. However, the major problem retarding their development, in my own opinion, is lack of coaches or technical personnel to straighten the rough edges for them. We need to employ many coaches because during my time, we had lots of them around. I was developed by the Late Mufutau Oduntan hence I will implore those in authority to get many of the coaches who are out there without a job to help our players grow.

But do you think Nigeria currently have technical personnel that are good enough to meet up with international standard instead of just giving jobs to jobless and retired table tennis players? Yes, we have them around here but we are not utilizing them. Many of them that I know, can deliver. The advent of technology has made things easier now. When you engage personnel that are not on steady income, it would be difficult to get the best out of them. But if they are employed and placed on salaries and given targets, we will discover and improve on existing talents. Things will certainly change for the better. What memory do you still hold dear to heart during your active playing days in the country? The 1984 memories of the final match of Asoju-Oba comes to mind. The hard-won match against Late Yomi Bankole (aka The Hawk) remains unforgettable. It was a winner-takes-it-all with a brand new Peugeot 504 at stake. Although Late Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, the sponsor of the tournament had assured me of a new car even if I lose, my mind was definitely on the prize at stake and fortunately, I won the match and the brand new car. Playing against Yomi Bankole most of the time was a bigger task for me. To play against him requires special motivation and hard work not just skill. That guy was very good in power play because when he smashes the ball you feel it and because of his aggressive nature of play, he was fondly called ‘The Hawk’. He was a legend of the game. Sad that he’s gone. What is your view of the exploits of Aruna Quadri? Aruna is doing a great job and he has surpassed whatever I achieved in my days but the only problem of his reign is that he is the only one that is up there and goes to international tournaments. The gap between him and the next to him is too wide and speaks volume of this present era. During my days in the game, I was almost at same level with all my rivals. If you win a tournament during my era, you must have been extremely good.

Look at Aruna Quadri today, the gulf between him and the next ranked player is too wide and almost over 50 in the ranking position but during my time, if you place me on 95, be rest assured that the next in line is 94.5 and this explained the fierce rivalry that existed during my time and it really helped table tennis to be famous like football. Quadri is playing among the best in the world today and making Africa to be counted. How do you feel about this his ﬂedgling career? I’m very proud of his achievements. When I was in America, everyone was talking about him. I’m proud of him and proud of being a Nigerian as well. At the last World Championship in Houston, Texas, he was able to justify his fledgling profile and his current ranking is the reward for dedication, hard work and focus. He’s the first African to reach the quarter finals at the Olympics (Rio 2016), the best I attained during my time was last 32 but he made it to last 8 in Brazil. It was a great feat and I strongly believe that he can still do more. When you were growing up, who was your role model in table tennis? Well, when I started playing in the street, I admired one Lekan Fenuyi because I was schooling at Ijebu Ode while he was at Ijebu Ode Grammar School. That time, there were only 12 States in the Federation and I was representing Ijebu zone and played for Western State. I like the way he played and that really shaped what I became later in the years to come. Going by your exploits in the game, many years ago and when you look at what Aruna Quadri has done in the last few years, if the lad were to belong to your generation or you

Atanda Musa (left) with our correspondent Femi Solaja after the interview session in Lagos...at the weekend

were to have been born to this era, who could have won a contest between Atanda Musa and Aruna Quadri? If Aruna had belonged to my generation, no chance for him because he would have fizzled out in the formative stage of his career. In my time, we had over 20 top players and you have to overcome the likes of Yomi Bankole, Abbas Ekun, Francis Sule, Sunday Eboh, Titus Omotara, Fatai Adeyemo, Taofik Maya, Thomas Ogunrinde and many more. We had too many good players and when I’m seeded at the top and Bankole number two, down the chart and all those in the middle were formidable opponents as well. It was always tough to go through the rough path all the time to play in the final match against Bankole or any of the other tough guys. But if I were to belong to this generation, don’t forget I’m 61-year-old now, and to play among the guys today, you have to take into cognizance, the fact that the speed is too much now. During my time, we played modern table tennis and it was good for the spectators with which they sit down and watch good game and plenty rallies. In some of my games against Bankole, we can have up to 16 to 20 rallies but today the highest they play is may be six to seven rallies because the speed is too fast. Not just like the internet connection which can be slow in one area but faster in another region. So in my days, it was more energy-sapping playing rally just to secure a point and end at 21. But today, its half the mark which is also good for the modern era as well. In our time, we had self-discipline. We trained on our own. I go to stadium and do everything on my own and avoid anything that could destroy my career. What do you think is the magic helping Aruna Quadri to cope, playing with the top players globally? He was able to cope with hard work and don’t forget that week in week out, he plays against them and has been part of them unlike our days when all we do is to play local tournaments and when we have the chance to participate in tournaments outside, we were never under any pressure because we were at our beacon as super star but when we upset form book, that was the story. Going by global trend in sport betting, Table Tennis could be the origin of how the norm got into sports but the negative impact on global scene today is that a strong mafia or cabal is using it to influence the outcomes of games. What do you think should be done to eradicate external influence as a determinant in competitive sport? Well I have no knowledge of that but as far as I am concerned, I used to stake bet when I am sure of going to win my games. It was an additional motivation. But sometimes I lost my bets. If I’m to be honest with you, 99.9 percent of table tennis players can’t do without the betting culture.

You coached in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and lately USA. What will it cost Nigeria to engage Atanda Musa? Let me be honest with you, I can come back home and coach but we (Nigeria) need to be consistent in our approach to engagements. Take for instance, the changes at Federal Government, Sports Ministry and at Sports Federation level make things really difficult. Where I have worked previously, everything is captured in black and white (contract). But here, i think it gets bad when the fellow that engaged you get fired or resigned to leave you in the lurch. Anyway, Nigeria is my country. I will be glad to give back to my country but we need to change attitude (of how we hire and fire) to move forward. Do any of your children took after you in table tennis? No way. All of them are in America. They believe there is no money in the sports hence are all engaged with American sports During your days in active table tennis, you were loved by most fans of the game especially females, did you take advantage of your fame to have many of them as special friends? I took life so simple. I have been in America for a long time and what keeps me going is my moral uprightness. It has given me the honour to even recommend visitors to the country because of my moral standing. I didn’t just build it when I got there but it’s been part of me while I was playing in Nigeria. I adhere to my training schedule and stay focused most of the time. It’s a matter of choice as an athlete. It is either you want to stay long at the top or enjoy the top for a while and vanish within a very short period of time. Woman can help you climb up as well as bring you down. What will you consider your low moment in life? It was when my mother passed on. I was very pained with her demise because of what she meant to me. I was about going to Saudi Arabia in 1999 when she took ill and did not survive the operation after spending so much on her treatment. However, age is a wonderful healer. Is Funke Oshonaike’s long stay at the top of women’s table tennis a blessing to Nigeria? She has paid her dues. By now, she should have become a coach in the women session and give them the impetus to develop the young talents. For her to still be representing the country is not in any way development to the sports. She can do practical and theory as a coach for the women game. We should move up to the national level and impact knowledge on the coming players. She has reached final bus stop as a competitive player.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 10, 2021 • T H I S D AY

Friday December 10, 2021

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MISSILE Joe Gadzama to Nigerians “Nigeria, without a doubt, has a leadership crisis. But, rather than waiting for good leaders to fall from the sky and do the necessary, every Nigerian should become the good leader he or she desires. To be a credible leader and follower, one must be open to genuine change and not just the mantra of it” – Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Joe Gadzama, admonishing every Nigerian to equally be a role model, for the country to move forward.

OKEYIKECHUKWU EDIFYING ELUCIDATIONS

okey.ikechukwu@thisdaylive.com

As Fayemi Was Saying

uring the presentation of the June 2021 edition of a bi-annual publication of the World Bank on the economic outlook of Nigeria, tagged Nigeria Development Update, Dr Kayode Fayemi said: “There is this false notion that Nigeria is resilient. Nigeria is a strong country, but we are almost on the precipice. It is almost midnight in our country. If we do not take these tough measures that we will have to live with, then we will have to deal with the consequences.” Six months after the occasion, where he spoke on the theme “Resilience Through Reforms,” and to a government of which he is a part, the consistent deafness of the federal government is still intact. Fayemi had called for more collaboration between the federal government and the states, if Nigerians are to be convinced that subsidy is no longer sustainable. The question, perhaps, is how? The fine report of the El’Rufai led committee on restructuring, which was set up by the APC, to find a final solution to divisive sentiments in the country, is has not added value to this government. The celebrared “economic team” made up of Bismark, Soludo and many distinguished individuals and set up to guide the president was never put to rwal use. Otherwise, we won’t be where we are today. And there is still no indication that anyone is really taking anything seriously these days. Let me take us back to a “conversation” I had with Fayemi on this page sometime in April 2015. That was immediately after Buhari emerged President Elect. Under the title: “Buhari: What Fayemi Should Note” I started the conversation with these words: “Kayode Fayemi is no godfather of the APC, but I consider him a man of great value to the party and to the nation. His loss of power in Ekiti State must have given him time for introspection and further preparation. His capacity for filtering out what matters at any time is borne of a commitment to the common good that is not driven by a fast food approach to leadership. That is why I invite people like him to pay more than passing attention to the call on Buhari to hit the ground running. Rather than ‘hit’ the ground running, the man should step out and plant his feet on terra firma, after a careful terrain analysis. Anyone who ‘hits’ the ground just like that may break a leg, stagger a bit, lose his bearings for a long time or even not easily catch his breath. Swamps, thorns, fast-flowing rivers, quicksand, wild forests full of boar constrictors, stony and rocky grounds and deserts abound everywhere. So Buhari must know that a nation that is bred on the wrong paradigms for over two decades will not easily key into new ways of doing things.” In giving the above advice, it never occurred to me that a man who spent 12 years trying to become president could possibly mistake the title for the job itself. Still addressing Fayemi on what he should bear in mind, it was said: “His having won the election does not make him the candidate of all voters in the March 28, 2015 presidential elections. He was not my candidate, but since the elections were conducted in order to elect a president for Nigeria out of the long list of contestants, there is no basis for further bellyaching after the rules of engagement have delivered an outcome. The thing to do now is (1) keep Buhari and his team on their toes,

Fayemi for the survival of the nation, (2) emphasize good governance and (3) insist on effective service delivery. It is for the new opposition to monitor the new government and design alternative policies that would enable it get the vote of Nigerians in future. This, I believe, will also be for the greater good of our political evolution as a nation.” Beyond these broad strokes, Fayemi was also asked to “…remind the President Elect that many serving senior military officers may have joined the military back then because it was seen as the quickest way of becoming governors, or getting rich. The integrity of the military recruitment process may have been marred over time. The recent Army intake in Army Government Day Secondary School, Abuja, for instance, can be investigated to ascertain whether it is true that those with letters of recommendation were attended to, while the others had to disperse. Assuming this is true, and I have my doubts, there may be more to the initial trouncing of Nigeria by Boko Haram. There are still enough professionals and retired officers to turn the armed forces around.” But why did I choose to send Fayemi on such errand, after admitting, ab initio, that he was no godfather of his party? I gave my reasons thus: “Because Fayemi focused

on values and symbols during his tenure as governor, it will make sense to him when I say that the federal government should quickly restore the integrity of our national symbols. The Coat of Arms being used by most governors, heads of parastatals, and some divisions of the armed services have two yellow horses. Meanwhile, the national Chargers are white in colour. As Minister of Information and National Orientation, Chief Chukwuemeka Chikelu took great time and troubles to identify the content of the Coat of Arms and specify the meaning of everything on it. He also even designed a model national letter-headed paper that was to be used for all government communication. This was presented to the National Executive Council under President Obasanjo. Frank Nweke also brought up the issue of national symbols and the Coat of Arms after Chikelu. Buhari should understand the need for “Brand Integrity” of Service symbols and, especially, national symbols.” There you have it. So, my choice of Fayemi as the mail-bearer of advice for a new government was not done on a whim. Concerning some of the things we all heard before Buhari won the elections, I “told” Fayemi: “Buhari’s has ‘threatened, at different times, to cut down the entitlements of former state governors, reduce the number of ministers and do away with the office of Ministers of State. That is good, but the Fayemis of the APC should start designing a navigation strategy for this engagement, as the potential victims within and outside the APC are big boys and girls. Given the dire straits in which we find ourselves as a nation today, we have to get our past leaders to follow the commendable examples of other nations, rather than continue to raid the treasury like incensed pirates. The other matter, of course, is the number of Special Assistants and, especially, Senior Special Assistants running all over the place. It is possible to dispense with close to 80% of them. Thus, the APC must begin in good time to preach the culture of sacrifice and efficiency to its members. Otherwise it may re-enact what we saw when the PDP, with absolute majority in the National Assembly, could not pass most of its Bills because a large swath of its members became an opposition within their own government.” Not quite done, I said: “I, again, invite Fayemi’s attention to the fact that Nigeria had a monetisation policy that was once faithfully implemented across the MDAs. Today, heads of MDAs, Permanent Secretaries and Directors

Because we are not doing the right things, because security, social infrastructure, and national cohesion are in limbo while our leaders are only concerned mainly with positions and elections, that rather than good governance, I understand Fayemi to be voicing his sensing that we must stop sowing the whirlwind if we are to avert a gathering storm that may yet break

are housed by the government, driven by government drivers in government vehicles; after they have all presumably received the monetary equivalent of the things now still being provided for them by government. Chikelu, in particular, was so particular about the implementation of the policy under his Ministry that he ensured that the vehicles for sale were sold at very low prizes to the disengaged drivers, to enable them start new livelihoods.” I ended my “conversation” with Fayemi by bringing in the Okonjo-Iweala SURE-P programme thus: “On March 13, 2015, I wrote in THISDAY Newspaper: “…the SURE-P had made tremendous impact on the life of Nigerians, but it should be reviewed, disaggregated into its various components and retired to the MDAs that should ordinarily have statutory responsibility for those components of SURE-P. What this means in simple terms is that my position on the PTF, of decades ago, applies to SURE-P. Let it be scrapped and let the MDAs face their jobs and be held accountable.” Looking at the nation six years after the aforementioned “conversation” my message, like many other well-meant messages, must have missed the target, or “the other side” won in the end. Whichever way we look at it, it is not cheery news that the nation lost at least 367 soldiers, policemen, and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, in order to eliminate 92 terrorists within the last two years; as reported by SMB Intelligence. It is also not good news to learn that a total of 569 people died in various ambushes, by terrorists, within the same period. Perhaps you want to think of why anyone would remove, and saving, 1.8tr Naira subsidy on fuel, and then give away 2.4tr Naira to 40 million allegedly affected by the removal of the subsidy. We have taken quite a few loans and we are still looking for more. Our overheads are going up, all our borrowings are for consumption, alms giving, rather than wealth creation, has become the major business of government. Where are the “Anything but Jonathan” singers of six years ago? As I also said on this page on August 9, 2019, under the title “Anything but Jonathan, Right? “President Olusegun Obasanjo was one of the callers. His (often justified) criticisms of the former president were strident, pointed, relentless, unequivocal, upfront and personal. He, alongside others, raked up the man’s faults for everyone to see... Jonathan was roundly humiliated in Obasanjo’s Ota Farm. Buhari, on the other hand, was later given an endorsement reception in the same Ota Farm…. Jonathan’s grave diggers were also digging too close to where they were standing. They forgot that whoever does not look for the roots of a problem, but seeks to find progress and improvement in constant change, “stands on the precarious ground of an adventurer.” Because we are not doing the right things, because security, social infrastructure, and national cohesion are in limbo while our leaders are only concerned mainly with positions and elections, that rather than good governance, I understand Fayemi to be voicing his sensing that we must stop sowing the whirlwind if we are to avert a gathering storm that may yet break. A people stretched well beyond their limits, under a leadership that shirks practically all leadership responsibilities, have nothing to lose anymore.

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