SUNDAY 20TH DECEMBER 2020 by THISDAY Newspapers Ltd

PTECSSAN: FG Directive on SIM Registration Poorly Timed Advises government to withdraw policy Ugo Aliogo Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PTECSSAN) has advised

the federal government to withdraw its recent directive instructing telecommunications subscribers to link their SIM cards with the National Identification Number (NIN),

saying the policy is extremely ill-timed. A statement by PTECSSAN President, Comrade Opeyemi Tomori, and General Secretary, Comrade Okonu Abdullahi,

said the government should first address the terrible bottlenecks encountered by citizens in the NIN registration. PTECSSAN stated, “We are forced to believe that, as

usual, the government wants to punish Nigerians for her own ineptitude. At this point in time that there is pervasive hardship in the land brought about by banditry, terrorism,

thuggery and increasing high cost of living, occasioned by the government’s hike on electricity tariff and fuel pump Continued on page 9

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COVID-19: FCTA to Enforce Compulsory Use of Facemasks as Second Wave Spreads Lagos can’t afford fresh lockdown, says Sanwo-Olu El-Rufai tests negative, seeks residents’ cooperation to halt spread Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja and John Shiklam in Kaduna The Federal Capital Territory

Administration (FCTA) has issued new COVID-19 guidelines to regulate social gatherings, workplaces and markets as parts of measures

to curb further spread of the virus within the territory; top amongst which is compulsory use of facemasks in public. This is as the Edo State

government has urged caution and compliance with safety measures as part of collective effort to curb the spread of the virus amid rising cases.

Also, from Kaduna State, the result of test conducted on Governor Nasir El-Rufai for COVID-19 on Wednesday came out negative, even as

the governor has sought the cooperation of residents in halting the spread of the Continued on page 5

APC: We’ll Make Sure Kankara Incident Never Repeats Itself Ruling party apologises to students, parents Tinubu lauds Buhari, Masari over 'prompt rescue' Nigeria must not allow outlaws hold her to ransom, says Atiku Boko Haram abducts 35 commuters on Borno highway Chuks Okocha, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri The leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday, said it would make sure the kind of lapses that led to the recent abduction of over 300 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, in Katsina State did not repeat itself. APC urged the security agencies in the country to note the lessons of the Kankara experience and prevent a recurrence. The party apologised to both the students and their parents, pledging that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration would do all in

its powers to make sure they study in a safe environment. The boys, who were abducted from their school on December 11, were released December 17 following the coordinated efforts of the federal and Katsina State governments. Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari announced Thursday evening that Boko Haram had released the 344 schoolboys. National leader of APC and widely rumoured 2023 presidential hopeful, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, commended Buhari and Masari for their intervention to rescue the students. Former Vice President Continued on page 8

Gunmen Abduct Edo Head of Service, Kill Driver... Page 76

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FG Begins Construction of 600 Houses for IDPs in Katsina Francis Sardauna in Katsina

The Federal Government has commenced the construction of 600 housing units for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who were forced out of their ancestral homes by bandits in Katsina State. The housing units christened "Resettlement City Reintegration and Rehabilitation", is an initiative of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI). The project, situated in Banawa village, Batagarawa Local Government area of the state, will be implemented in synergy with the federal ministry of works and housing. Speaking during the groundbreaking of the project on Saturday, the Federal Commissioner of NCFRMI, Sen. Basheer Mohammed said federal government has already released money for the immediate take off of the project. He said the 600 housing scheme comprises twobedrooms, primary healthcare, education centres, security outposts, worship centres, skill acquisition centres, markets and adjoining farmlands for

use by the beneficiaries. Basheer explained that despite unflinching efforts by federal and state governments to alleviate the hardship afflicting displaced persons, there was growing demands for accommodation due to alarming rate of IDPs, hence the gesture. He reiterated that Katsina State has witnessed extreme violence that led to the tragic displacement of 61,418 persons and destruction of property worth millions of naira across the state. He said: "Based on displacement data available to us at the Commission, displacement figures for Katsina State as of October 2020 was 61,418 persons. "Despite efforts by the state government and federal government to reduce the hardship faced by internally displaced persons, there still remains a growing demand for accommodation given the recurring nature of displacement, which has placed thousands of IDPs living in host communities around the State". He added: "We have designed these resettlement cities with the help of the federal ministry of works and housing, where we intend to have 600 housing

units of two-bedrooms a primary health care and education centres, security

outposts, worship houses, skill acquisition centres, markets and adjoining

farmlands for use by the occupants". The federal commissioner

stated that similar project was ongoing in Borno, Edo and Zamfara states.

BUILDING BRIDGES ACROSS THE ATLANTIC... Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, former Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria and 2019 presidential candidate, with Amb. Linda Thomas-Greenﬁeld, Senior Vice-President Albright Stonebridge LLC and U.S.President Elect Joe Biden’s nominee for United States Ambassador to the United Nations, at a meeting in Washington DC ...recently

COVID-19: FCTA TO ENFORCE COMPULSORY USE OF FACEMASKS AS SECOND WAVE SPREADS coronavirus. The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, read the guidelines, when he reactivated the Enforcement Task Force on COVID-19. He stated that enforcement team would be on the streets in Abuja to ensure compliance and enforce the compulsory use of facemasks and mandatory temperature checks in public places and business premises. He explained that the FCTA would ensure strict enforcement of the guidelines. He also stated that the FCTA would be working closely with the judiciary through the mobile courts system under existing approved laws. The minister described as unacceptable the high figures of COVID-19 cases recorded in the FCT in the last three weeks, stressing that there was an urgent need to contain it from escalating. He noted that it was mandatory for all staff members, including visitors and customers entering workplaces, shops and business premises to wear facemasks that should cover their mouths and noses. "No mask, no entry, no service. All office and business premises must have handwashing station with running water and soap or hand sanitiser. "Employees, who are feeling unwell or have COVID-19 symptoms, should notify their supervisor immediately, or stay at home

and seek medical attention to confirm diagnosis by doing a COVD-19-test. "While the above guidelines regulate formal workplace and business environment, the holiday season demands that we also place special emphasis on market places, places of worship and entertainment as well as recreational centres, which traditionally attract large gatherings during this period," he said. He further noted that all extant regulations issued as conditions for reopening of places of worship on June 4, 2020 subsisted, while urging heads of various congregations to ensure compliance. Similarly, he said all extant regulations guiding the operations of entertainment and recreational centres were still in place while he enjoined operators to ensure strict compliance. The minister urged public transportation facilities such as buses, taxis and tricycles to also obey the already established protocols. Chairman of the FCT Ministerial Task Team on Enforcement of COVID-19 Protocols, Mr. Ikharo Attah, said team would visit offices and businesses to ensure compliance with the COVID-19 protocols.

Edo Govt Urges Caution, Compliance with Safety Guidelines

The Edo State Government has charged residents to be cautious and observe precautionary measures against the spread of coronavirus amid rise in the number of cases in the second wave of the pandemic. Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie, in a statement, reiterated the need for Edo people to, during the yuletide season, observe all precautionary measures against the spread of the pandemic in order to remain safe and healthy. “It is a known fact that we have not seen the end of the COVID-19 pandemic as the entire country is already seeing an uprise in the numbers of confirmed cases of the infection. On Friday, the country recorded the first 1000 cases in a day, with 1,145 new confirmed cases and 1 death reported in 24 states. Edo state recorded 8 new cases. “Today, Saturday, December 18, 2020, Nigeria recorded another 806 new confirmed cases and 11 deaths, which now leaves the country with a total of 77,013 confirmed cases and 1,212 deaths. This calls for serious concern and caution by all residents to remain safe and healthy. “As we go about with the Christmas and New Year celebrations, we urge you to protect yourself and others especially, the elderly who are most affected by the virus by observing physical distancing, wearing facemasks

and regularly washing your hands as well as other safety precautions,” he said. Ogie, however, reassured the people that the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration would continue to rev up strategies and intensify efforts aimed at containing the pandemic and protecting the lives of Edo people. “We recognise this has been an extremely difficult year for us all, but we can’t afford to give up now. We urge residents to support the government's efforts at containing the pandemic by complying with all guidelines as we cannot afford a reversal of the gains we have made against the pandemic,” he said.

El-Rufai Tests Negative for COVID-19, Begs Resident to Cooperate Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has tested negative for COVID-19, following the outcome of the tested conducted on him last week, when persons close to him tested positive. The governor, who was on self-isolation for five days, spoke with some local radio stations in Kaduna at the Government House, and claimed lab result confirmed he was negative. He said he was tested on Sunday last week but the result came out on Wednesday.

“I was tested on Sunday but we could not get the result until today (Wednesday), because there were many samples that were taken. However, when the result came out, it was confirmed that I was negative.” The governor disclosed that there were many government officials including commissioners, who were self-isolation. “Many top government officials are in self isolation. Some are waiting to be tested, some have been tested and they were confirmed positive and are being treated. Thank God I am out after five days in self-isolation. There are some members of my family, who are taking medication for Coronavirus,” the governor said. According to him, the disease is back and it is a serious threat to all, noting that it is killing many people in some countries, but due to prayers from Nigerians, God has been merciful. “Some days ago, my friend, Sam Nda Isaiah (Publisher of Leadership newspapers) died as a result of this infection,” he noted, even as he called on residents of the state to cooperate with the government to contain the increasing rate of COVID-19 infections. He assured the people that there would be no further lockdown of the state unless it becomes compellingly necessary to do so. “We are calling on all

our citizens to join us to fight Covid-19 and save lives without having a lockdown. We think there are lots of simpler things citizens and businesses can do that can help reduce the spread of the disease,” the governor said. He said the government expected voluntary compliance with COVID-19 prevention protocols so that livelihoods could be pursued in safety. “We are counting on the cooperation of our citizens, religious leaders, the business community, transporters and other stakeholders in a collective effort to stop COVID-19. We can do it by voluntary compliance,” he said. The governor, however, directed that all residents of the state must wear facemasks when leaving their homes, warning that security agents would enforce compliance and mobile courts would try offenders. He said mass compliance was preferable to a lockdown, which would disrupt peoples’ means of livelihoods and inconvenience residents of the state. He but warned that the government might impose a lockdown if it became necessary to save lives and prevent the collapse of the healthcare system. Kaduna is among the states with high rates of the COVID-19 infections.

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NEWS APC: WE’LL MAKE SURE KANKARA INCIDENT NEVER REPEATS ITSELF Atiku Abubakar, reacting to the wave of insecurity in the country, said Nigeria must not allow outlaws hold her to ransom. Atiku stated this while sympathising with the Emir of Kaura Namoda, Alhaji Sanusi Muhammad Asha, over the recent murder of his aides and security details by bandits, who attacked his convoy. Meanwhile, barely 24 hours after the Kankara students were released, armed men believed to be members of the Boko Haram sect, reportedly, abducted no fewer than 35 commuters on the MaiduguriDamaturu highway, a senior security source revealed. National Caretaker Chairman of APC and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, said shortly after the release of the Kankara students that the party was gladdened and relieved by the news of their freedom. In a statement issued Saturday, APC apologised to the students and vowed that Buhari and the party would ensure a safe learning environment for them. APC stated, “The All Progressives Congress has received with joy and a glad heart the release and return of the students, who were abducted by terrorists from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, in Katsina State. “We want to congratulate the parents of the children and also apologise on behalf of our party that one of our biggest promises was security and, although, we are doing our utmost best, such incident is a sad event and must, at all cost, not repeat itself. “We do not doubt the capacity of our security agencies, we believe and know they are capable, especially, when they are well motivated and led, which we can assure is the case under President Muhammadu Buhari. “We are trusting and hopeful that this episode will never repeat itself. We encourage the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Police and other security agents to take lessons from the lapses that led to this abduction and ensure that we never see a repeat of this tragedy again.” The party commended the governors of Katsina and Zamfara states as well as the security agencies across the country for making the rescue effort successful. APC assured Nigerians that the Buhari government would take all necessary steps to secure them. However, another statement by the youth representative in the party’s caretaker committee, Mr. Ismaeel Ahmed, warned that no member of APC, outside the 13-member caretaker committee was allowed to speak for the party. The statement said, “The party wishes to inform the general public especially, members of the media that the members of the defunct exco, which was dissolved at the last National Executive Council meeting of the party, do not speak for the party, and, thus, should not be quoted as such. “We have seen statements published in the media quoting members of the party’s dissolved executive and attributing it to the party. This is unacceptable and we will like to make it clear that only members of the current National Caretaker

and Extraordinary Convention Committee may speak for the party.”

Boko Haram Abducts 35 Commuters on Borno Highway A security source, which confirmed the abduction of the 35 commuters on the Maiduguri-Damaturu highway by Boko Haram members, hinted that they were traveling about 6pm on Friday, before they were accosted by insurgents dressed in military camouflage. The source said the commuters were few kilometres away from Maiduguri and were rushing to meet the 6pm window allowed for vehicles to get into Maiduguri before the attack. Vehicles are not always allowed passage into Maiduguri, as the highway leading into the town from Damaturu, which has a gate at Njimtilo, few kilometres to the Borno State capital, is locked at 6pm. The source said the insurgents abducted the victims after attacking a large convoy of commuters near Garin Kuturu in Jakana on Friday evening. One of those who claimed to have escaped abduction told journalists that when they got to Garin Kuturu, they saw a massive burning fire and initially thought it was bush fire. On getting closer, however, they saw that a big truck was set ablaze by insurgents, many of who were dressed in military camouflage, the source said. He said at that point it was already too late, as they had already run into the ambush. The source said, “All we could see was the insurgents storming towards us, before most vehicles could make a U-turn, the insurgents had already caught up with many. “Some of the passengers, however, were able to flee into the bush, but about 35 persons were abducted, two private vehicles and one truck were set ablaze.” The source added that commuters who fled into the bush abandoned some vehicles on the road. A security source that spoke to THISDAY said no search had been initiated for the abducted persons, because it would require a lot of logistics, and the government was yet to come up with the needed logistics. Attempts to get official confirmation of the incident was not successful, as the spokespersons of both the military and the police did not respond to messages sent to their mobile phones.

Buhari’s Prompt Response Commendable, Says Tinubu Tinubu commended Buhari and Masari for the rescue of the schoolboys, saying their quick release has vindicated the president in his untiring effort to make the country secure. A statement released at the weekend in Lagos from Tinubu’s Media Office, signed by Mr. Tunde Rahman, quoted the former Lagos State governor as saying, “The initial abduction of the over 300 Kankara schoolboys

MAKINDE INAUGURATES 1108 COMPUTERS... Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde-- (sitting); Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Olubamiwo Adeosun (3rd left); Special Assistant to the Governor on ICT, Mr Bayo Akande (L); Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun (2nd left); Director General, Due Process, Ms Tara Adefope (L) and Chairman, State Advisory Council, Sen. Hosea Agboola, during the inauguration of 1108 Computers at the Secretariat, ICT Centre in Ibadan...yesterday from their dormitory in broad daylight was unsettling and raises serious concern. “However, their prompt rescue from their abductors is heart-warming. It vindicates President Buhari in his untiring commitment and determination to rid the country of insecurity and confront Boko Haram insurgents and bandits operating in some parts of the country. “I congratulate and commend the president for his prompt and decisive intervention. I must also congratulate Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari and men of our armed forces for bringing the boys back home. This laudable effort must be sustained. We must all do more to tackle the evildoers and see the back of the Boko insurgents and bandits.” Tinubu, however, said the country’s security architecture needed urgent improvement. “We need to upgrade our security infrastructure and re-strategise,” he stated, adding, “The armed forces themselves must renew their efforts to make not only our schools safe for students but also our cities and villages. No development can occur in a climate of fear, uncertainty, and insecurity of lives and property.” Tinubu empathised with the “agonised parents and relations of the abducted schoolboys and rejoice with them over the release of their children from the jaws of the abductors.”

Atiku Warns Against Allowing Outlaws Take Over Nigeria Atiku, in a statement by his media aide, Paul Ibe, on the attack on the Emir of Kaura Namoda, Alhaji Sanusi Muhammad Asha, by bandits said the rate at which life was becoming cheap in the country was worrisome. He said the frequency of attacks

and killing of innocent people by bandits was embarrassing. Atiku said this should be halted to prevent outlaws from taking over the affairs of the country. The Wazirin Adamawa added that a situation where people were afraid to leave their homes for the fear of being killed by bandits was a cause for anxiety, insisting that the government’s response should be tougher and more proactive. “Condemnation of attacks is not enough to reassure citizens, who are constantly living in fear, the government should speed up the prosecution of terrorists and bandits in order to send a strong message to these outlaws that there are consequences for wilful taking of life," Atiku stated. He commiserated with the families of those who lost dear ones, Emir Muhammad Asha, the Kaura Namoda Emirate Council and the government and people of Zamfara State over the tragedy.

Mohammed: It’s Senseless to Say Kankara Students’ Abduction Was Stage-managed The federal government has described as senseless claims in some quarters that the abduction and release of over 300 schoolboys from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State, was stage-managed. Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, dismissed the claim on Saturday, when he spoke on the NTA Good Morning Nigeria programme. According to the interview monitored by NAN, Mohammed queried, “What precisely does government want to achieve? Is it to prove the deficiency of the military or what? “In the case of Dapchi, we had all kinds of bizarre theories. You have to be in

government to know how many sleepless nights the president, ministers and heads of security outfits spent until the matter was resolved.” He alleged that many people were disappointed that the Kankara abduction was resolved fast, just like that of Dapchi. The minister stated, “Many naysayers would have loved the incident to linger and become the igniting rod for their attacks. Otherwise, how do we describe the spurious organisation like the Bring Back Our Boys that emerged within a few days of the capture of the students? “Within a few days of the abduction, the so-called organisation had moved to Katsina. Dapchi abduction was in 2018, how come two years down the lane, nobody has come out to tell us how it was stage-managed?” He admonished politicians and other interest groups to stop politicising and commercialising issues of security and national tragedy. “In times of crisis and tragedy, people normally come together to address the issue. It is not a time to politicise and even trade or commercialise the misery and tragedy of a nation. We can have our differences but when it comes to issues of security, we should come together and fight it,” Mohammed said.

PDP: APC Plotting to Heighten Insecurity in Zamfara, Other States The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Saturday, alerted Nigerians to an alleged plot by the Governor Mai Buni-led All Progressives Congress (APC) national caretaker committee to use its spokesperson, Yekini Nebena, to heighten the insecurity in the northwestern part of the country. PDP said it was already aware of plans by APC to use the said acting national publicity secretary to

destabilise the North-west states, particularly Zamfara State, instigate violence, and blame it on Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle, a PDP member. A statement by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said, "Our party has also noted series of devious statements against Governor Matawalle by the APC, a party that has been exposed to encouraging acts of terrorism, banditry and kidnapping in our country. "The APC has been distraught since their roles in emboldening acts of terrorism have been exposed by our party and now seeks to use an impostor, as spokesperson, to trigger violence, heighten insecurity and blame it on innocent Nigerians. "Our party charges Nigerians to hold the Governor Mai Buni-led caretaker committee responsible, should there be any sudden wave of acts of terrorism, kidnapping and banditry in Zamfara state." PDP urged Nigerians to hold the APC caretaker committee responsible should there be another mass abduction in any state of the North-west or any part of the country. It stated, "Our party cautions the APC to end its evil enterprise with the lives of Nigerians for their selfish interest. The fact remains that the APC has been exposed for what it is: a soulless mob and party of political bandits, which is responsible for the escalated terrorism, wanton killings, kidnapping and ravaging of communities in our country." The main opposition party stated that having exposed the APC, Nigerians should be watchful, remain united in resisting the ruling party and its antics, and continue to give useful information to the security forces, even as they collectively work hard on opportunities offered by democracy to rescue the nation from the stranglehold of the APC.

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NEWS

Follow Path of Honour, Resign, Secondus Tells Buhari Chuks Okocha in Abuja National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to resign after admitting the failure of his administration in the face of growing insecurity. Secondus was reacting to the president's admittance that a lot needed to be done to improve security and that security chiefs were not measuring up to expectation. In a statement by his media aide, Ike Abonye, Secondus stated that since the buck stopped on the table of the Commanderin-Chief, Buhari had chosen to keep the non-performing security chiefs, despite strong appeals to change them.

The PDP chairman said rather than what he called belated lamentations, the president should do the honourable thing by resigning and giving way for fresh ideas and new vitality. Secondus recalled Buhari’s advice while in opposition in 2013 to then President Goodluck Jonathan, saying “Jonathan should vacate and give way to competent hand to govern the country.” The PDP chairman stated, "I find it extremely unacceptable that after the president disregarded all wise counsel to rejig the nation's security architecture for effectiveness, he is now turning round to admit their failure and blame operatives, whom he kept even in their apparent inefficiency.”

AMAECHI @ NPA... Director of Rail, Mr Baba Kobi; Board Chairman, Nigeria Railway Corporation, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan; the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms Hadizah Bala-Usman and the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, inspecting information facilities at the NPA in Apapa, Lagos ...yesterday

Gen Bali’s Burial Arrangement Tears Buhari Mourns Renowned Professor Kinsmen Apart Seriki Adinoyi in Jos The burial arrangement for the late former Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. Gen. Domkat Bali has stirred serious controversy amongst his kinsmen as Ngwang Ishi O’Tarok (NIO), a socio-economic and cultural development organization of Tarok Nation has warned Tarok elders to desist from the plans to bury the General in Abuja against the culture of the land. In a statement signed by the President and Secretary of the group, Chief David Dashe and Nangor Ndam respectively, the group reminded the Tarok elders that Bali, as at the time of his death was still the Ponzhi Tarok and President Langtang Joint Traditional Council as affirmed by the Court of Appeal Jos division on the 11th November 2020. Dashe said, “We learnt that some elders have relocated to Bali’s Abuja residence and issued funeral arrangements programme for his burial without consultation with the Langtang Joint Traditional Council which is the proper thing to do considering that the deceased was the Ponzhi Tarok and president Langtang Joint Traditional Council and a member of Plateau State Joint Traditional Council for Chiefs and Emirs. “These arrangements

which they are making for him not to be buried as a Royal Majesty are in total disagreement by the Langtang Joint Traditional Council, the NIO and the Tarok Nation. “Based on the foregoing, the NIO on behalf of the Tarok Nation warned the Tarok elders from hijacking the funeral arrangements of the Late Ponzhi Tarok and President Langtang Joint Traditional Council HRM Domkat Bali. “Domkat Bali (HRM) died as a “First Class Chief” in office and the arrangements for his burial must be handled by the Langtang Joint Traditional Council, his immediate family and the government of Plateau State.” He observed that the Tarok has an age-long tradition for burial rite that must be maintained and sustained for the youths and also generation yet unborn to learn from. While appreciating President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Simon Lalong and the Gbong Gwom Jos Jacob Gyang Buba for mourning the General Bali, Dashe advised them and the public to disregard the funeral arrangements programme released by a section of Tarok elders and wait for the one to be released by Langtang Joint Traditional Council.

of History, Oloruntimehin

President Muhammadu Buhari has extended heartfelt condolences to the Oloruntimehin family on the passing of the former president of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL) and Historical Society of Nigeria (HSN), Professor Benjamin Olatunji Oloruntimehin. “The President commiserated with Fellows and members of NAL and

HSN on the demise of the very distinguished scholar, who at various times served as a Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Ife, Ile Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) and the pioneer Dean, Faculty of Humanities, and Chairman Committee of Deans, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo State. “As a great historian and widely published author, President Buhari avers that

the prolific academic will be fondly remembered for the insights and clarity in his works, helping readers and students alike to understand the importance of history in national development, and how individuals and societies have evolved. “The President notes that this administration’s decision to reintroduce history as an independent subject at the basic

education level in the country (Years 1-9) will ensure that the works of scholars like Prof. Oloruntimehin, and those who drank from his fountain of knowledge, are preserved, inspiring future leaders for years to come. “The President prays for the peaceful repose of the soul of the departed and comfort for all who mourn,” the statement said.

Obaseki Harps on Inclusive Policies, Commits to Reforms on Sustainable Devt The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said his administration would sustain policies on economic inclusiveness and continue far-reaching reforms that would engender sustainable development so as to provide necessary amenities to lift residents out of poverty. The governor said this in commemoration of the International Human Solidarity Day celebrated every year by the United Nations and its sister agencies. According to the governor, “As we mark the International Human Solidarity Day, it is imperative to point out that deliberate reforms have been undertaken to improve the livelihoods of Edo people

across the wide spectrum of the society. “In essence, we have ensured that our socio-economic policies are geared towards providing opportunities for our people to thrive and live fulfilling lives. These have been done by improving public infrastructure, reforming the education system, revamping the healthcare system and providing economic stimulus to drive growth in agriculture, minerals and the service sector.” The governor said the state government is partnering with development institutions to engender sustainable development through investment in education, healthcare, infrastructure and

environmental sustainability. “As we sustain reforms in the second term of my administration, we have prioritized strengthening of the civil and public service to better serve the people; commenced the process of recruiting professionals to man key institutions and introduced a new way of thinking in the services to place the people at the centre of our interventions.” “These, we believe, will afford Edo people a better deal, as we are confident that in the new year, with the introduction of the state health insurance scheme, Edo people will be able to access quality healthcare, even as they already enjoy one of the most improved public

primary education in the country delivered under the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (EdoBEST) programme,” he added. According to the UN, "the UN General Assembly is convinced that the promotion of the culture of solidarity and the spirit of sharing is important for combating poverty. Through initiatives such as the establishment of the World Solidarity Fund to eradicate poverty and the proclamation of International Human Solidarity Day, the concept of solidarity was promoted as crucial in the fight against poverty and in the involvement of all relevant stakeholders."

prevented majority of them from obtaining their NIN.” It disclosed that only 43 million Nigerians had been able to obtain NIN since its introduction about seven years ago, and wondered how the citizens could obtain within two weeks what they could not get for over seven years. According to PTECSSAN, “Nigerians have suffered immensely trying to obtain the NIN to no avail. Stories told by those that have

registered are not pleasant. Some were leaving their homes for the registration centres as early as 4am daily for weeks before they could register. While those that could not withstand the rigour part with monies to hasten things up for them. “We understand the importance of having a comprehensive database for the country and at the same time having NIN linked with SIMs, we implore

the government to adopt the best of approaches in putting them in place. All these can be done without necessarily causing hardship to Nigerians.” The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) recently mandated the telecommunications operators across the country to block all SIM cards not linked with the NIN and gave an ultimatum for registration.

PTECSSAN: FG DIRECTIVE ON SIM REGISTRATION POORLY TIMED price, we do not expect the government to impose a new and an avoidable hardship on Nigerians through this directive. “We implore the government to withdraw the directive, because it was not well thought out and is highly unachievable. To register about 170 million Nigerians that are yet to be registered within two weeks is a tall order that can never be met with the present encumbrances

in the present approach of registering the people.” The association said “giving two weeks to Nigerians that have not registered to do so will surely add more hardship on them. The government is practically telling them to abandon their businesses and whatever they are doing that bring incomes for them within that long period of time.” PTECSSAN also said with the second

wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, more Nigerians risked contracting the virus if they thronged the registration centres for the registration exercise. The union said, “Rather than issuing a deadline and threats on linking up the NIN to SIMs, what we believe the government should do is to address the bottlenecks encountered by Nigerians in the process of registration, which have

DECEMBER 20, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

EDITORIAL

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

ISSUES IN KANKARA BOYS’ ABDUCTION The authorities could do more to secure our schools

fter a six-day ordeal in the bush with their captors, 344 weary-looking schoolboys of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara returned home last Friday into the warm hands of the Katsina State government. “These students returned barefooted,” an emotional Governor Bello Masari told President Muhammadu Buhari who visited them at the government house. The president, who spoke in Hausa without an interpreter, congratulated the children on their safe return. While we commend the government on this speedy rescue, certain things are still unclear, especially given how tardy information management was on the whole issue. If, for instance, Boko Haram was involved, however marginally, it would mark a clear geographical expansion in its activities from its base in northeast. Whoever did it, however, the damage cannot be easily quantified. The abduction of the schoolboys has added to the climate of fear and widespread insecurity in the country, particularly in the north. The tragic drama was reminiscent of Boko Haram's April 2014 kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls in the northeastern town of Chibok as well as the 2018 Dapchi incident in which some 108 schoolgirls were kidnapped. More than 100 schoolgirls seized from Chibok are still in the wilderness, in a fate similar to that of Leah Sharibu, the lone school girl from the Dapchi’s seizure who remains in captivity on account of her faith. At a time we need concerted efforts to deal with the growing insecurity in the north, the statement by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) targeting the governor of Zamfara is most unfortunate. Playing politics with a tragedy of this nature is reprehensible. With millions of people displaced and hundreds of thousands of families physically and psychological maimed for life, divisive tactics would be most

unhelpful if we are to deal with this challenge. According to Amnesty International, armed groups that kidnap for ransom in the northwest have killed more than 1100 people in the first half of 2020 alone. Besides, conflicts between herders and farmers are increasingly harming the local economy, making it difficult to farm, and making basic foodstuffs very expensive. The impact of the recent killing of rice farmers in Zabarmari can only be imagined.

When a school is under attack and students become targets, not only are their lives shattered, the future of the nation is stolen

Letters to the Editor

hile some are busy seeking a means towards their professional career and for recognition, others are busy building themselves and every environment they find themselves; it gives them that recognition with ease. On Thursday, 17th December 2020, I came across a post on social media, then boom! a mentor and a lecturer, Abdul Ahmad Burra posted a pleasing story that makes me cheerful. A brother also Mal. Hamza from Kashere informed me about the new development. It's an achievement to the entire pen profession, our intellectual, eloquent, vibrant and gentleman emerged as the newly appointed Vice Chancellor of Federal University Kashere. Wow! to God be the glory! Professor Umaru Pate was born on 4th January, 1964 in Adamawa

S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITORS OLAWALE OLALEYE, TOBI SONIYI MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE

T H I S DAY 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 BOLAJI ADEBIYI , PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS ERIC OJEH, PATRICK EIMIUHI ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR SAHEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO HEAD, COMPUTER DEPARTMENT PATRICIA UBAKA-ADEKOYA TO SEND EMAIL: ﬁrst name.surname@thisdaylive.com

ut no less provoking is the impact of the violence on the future ambitions of many Nigerians, particularly children and their education. Statistics show that some 2,295 teachers had been killed and 19,000 others displaced in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa in the first nine years of the more than a decade-long insurgency. An estimated 1,500 schools had been destroyed between 2014 and 2018 in a zone in dire need of school infrastructure. The February 2014 attack at the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi in Yobe State where no fewer than 58 male students were brutally assassinated is still fresh in memory. Incessant violence has very negative impact on the impressionable young, just as adults. One of the abducted young boys vowed last week that he would not return to the school. It has been found that conflict reduces school enrolment as well as years of education. The implication of such a state of affair is damaging. “When a school is under attack and students become targets,” said Manuel Fotaine, UNICEF Director for Emergency Programmes, “not only are their lives shattered, the future of the nation is stolen.” In 2014 the Safe Schools Initiative was launched to counter the growing attacks on the right to education and to build community security groups to promote safe zones for education, consisting of teachers, parents, police and community leaders. “We cannot stand by and see schools shut down, girls cut off from their education and parents in fear of their daughters’ lives,” said former British Prime Minister, Mr. Gordon Brown, then UN Special Envoy on Education at the launch. “The Safe School Initiative will put Nigeria on track to help more and more girls and boys go to school and learn.” Sadly, the idea has long been abandoned with the schools in the north left to their individual devices. But with the recent attack which has provoked mass closure of schools in the region, there is an urgent need to go back to the drawing board. We cannot afford to leave our children at the mercy of violent men bent on truncating their future.

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 (950- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with the email address and phone numbers of the writer.

H AIL TO P ROF. UMARU PATE

State. He started his career in 1971 where Pate was enrolled into Nassarwo Jeleng LEA Primary School and proceeded to Government College Maiduguri in 1976. He finished in 1981 and emerged as the student with the best WAEC GCE O’ level examinations results in the Arts in the school for the year. In the year 1982, he joined the College of Preliminary Studies, Yola, for the IJMB course which qualified him for a direct entry admission into the University of Maiduguri in 1984. The Mass Communication pundit was retained as graduate assistant after graduating with a degree in Mass Communication from the same University of Maiduguri in 1988, on the recommendation of the Head of Department. He immediately left for the University of Ghana Legon for Master of

Philosophy (M.phil) degree in communication studies which he completed in 1990. In 1993, he enrolled for a Ph.D at the University of Maiduguri and graduated in February 1997. He became a Professor of Media and Society on 20th October, 2007. Prof. Pate is a gentleman to the core, eloquent speaker, writer and a mentor, perhaps that's why students from all over the World admire him. The professor has tutored thousands of students in the last 26 years at the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) and other institutions of learning, home and abroad, and can be found in virtually all sectors, especially the media, public relations arms of government and private establishments, universities and the political arena. Prof. Pate is actively engaged in wider community services that

include writing and commenting on national and international issues, offering capacity building services to media and civil society organisation in and out of Nigeria, consulting for agencies and participating in official assignments at state and federal levels. At different times, he has received grants or served as a National or International Consultant to agencies like the USAID, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNESCO, EU, World Bank, NACA, Panos Institute, FMOH, INEC, FES of Germany, DFID of UK, the Ford Foundation, and The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, among others. Other amazing attributes of the media giant is that, he did not allow his level of knowledge to disconnect him from his people and tradition. It would give one ecstasy to know that Prof. Pate holds a traditional title of “Kaigama” in Adamawa State. It is amazing to know that Prof. Pate is a man of great courage who serves humanity, combining two tasking

jobs: Journalism and a traditional ruler as the “Kaigama” of his state. This title represents the Chief of Defense Staff of the Emirate and a member of the 12 Kingmakers of Adamawa which according to history, emerged from the reign of the Muslim founder of the state in 1809. Prior to his emergence as the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Kashere, established procedures were exhausted from the beginning and to the end where the position was initially advertised on the national dailies on the 10th of August, 2020 in line with the University Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1993 as amended. ––Usman Abdullahi Koli, Mass Communication Department, Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic Bauchi (See concluding part on www. thisdaylive.com)

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ Ͱͮ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

NEWS Anyim Recommends Negotiation with Other Zones to Realise Igbo Presidency

Acting News Editor ÌÙãÏÑË ÕÓØÝËØ×Ó E-mail: ÑÌÙãÏÑË˛ËÕÓØÝËØ×Ó̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙ×˜͸΀͹ͽͺͻͽ΁ͺͽͻ ̙Ý×Ý ÙØÖã̚

Urges Igbo leaders to shun antagonism Says 2023 is our turn to produce president Gboyega Akinsanmi A former President of the Senate, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim at the weekend urged the Southeast leaders to negotiate

with other geo-political zones in the federation in order to realise Igbo presidency. Anyim, Secretary to the Government of the Federation under former President Goodluck

Jonathan, contended that it “is time for the south-east to produce the next president of Nigeria.” He made a strong case for Igbo presidency in a lecture he delivered at the sixth World

Igbo Summit held at Gregory University, Uturu, Abia state on Friday. Southeast, a geo-political zone in the South, has not produced a president for the nation since the

UNITED WE STAND... L-R; Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonaya Onu; a former President of the Senate, Chief Pius Anyim and a former Vice President, Air Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, during the 6th World Igbo Summit at Gregory University, Uturu in Abia State.

end of the civil war in 1970. While the Southwest produced President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999, President Goodluck Jonathan represented the South-south between 2010 and 2015. Consequently, different Southeast groups at home and in the diaspora including Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, have been agitating to produce the successor of President Muhammadu Buhari. Delivering the lecture on Friday, the former senate president noted that those calling for Igbo presidency should put in more effort if the goal would be realised. Rather than adopting an antagonistic approach, Anyim observed at the summit that Igbo presidency is neither an entitlement nor a gift. He recommended that in engaging with other zones, the tone “must reflect negotiation and not antagonism. It must be one of friendship and not disdain or disrespect. “It must show our willingness to enter into an enduring and lasting relationship for long term interest of all the parties. The task is achievable if approached collectively,” the former president sa

He observed that the Igbo of the southeast geo-political zone “is in continuous search of a system, or if you like, a polity that guarantees and secures his social, political and economic interest based on equality of citizenship, equity and justice. “I make bold to say that the Igbos of the south-east geo-political zone can find this in Nigeria,” he said while encouraging Igbo leaders to sustain the push for Igbo presidency. Anyim acknowledged that the journey to building an equitable society “is usually challenging and rough, but many nations have arrived safely from this journey. “It is, therefore, my position that those who posit restructuring have a point but should work harder to secure national consensus to make it possible. “Also those who advocate for president of Nigeria of south-east extraction should diligently and boldly pursue it for the time has come, and the time is now. “It is, therefore, my considered view that the present-day political interest of the Igbos of the south-east geo-political zone is to attain the presidency of Nigeria come 2023,” Anyim said at the world summit.

Osinbajo: Govt Alone Can’t Provide People’s Economic Needs Kayode Fasua in Abeokuta The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday appealed to well-meaning citizens to adopt development programmes or projects for their various communities amid acute infrastructure deficit facing the country. Osinbajo, also, noted that governments alone could not meet the social and economic needs of the people, hence the need for individual and corporate interventions to address infrastructure deficit in communities. He made the call at the 1st Annual General Meeting of Remo Growth and Development Foundation (RemoGDF), held at

the foundation’s secretariat in Iperu-Remo, Ogun State. He particularly commended personalities in his Remo native community of Ogun State while urging others to emulate them. He said they had excelled in bringing economic prosperity to the grassroots. Osinbajo addressed the meeting through the Zoom Video Conference, though was physically represented on the occasion by his Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr Babatunde Osibamowo. In his address, the vice president explained that it “is glaring that the government alone cannot meet the socioeconomic needs of the people,

hence the need for collaborative efforts from gifted individuals.” Commenting on fresh developmental initiatives in Remoland, Osinbajo said it was important for the locals to take full advantage of Ogun State’s location-between Lagos and Oyo states, and leap in development. “This task is not for the government alone, but also that of every citizen in the country, to contribute in achieving our dream; in that context, groups like the RemoGDF come in handy. I congratulate the RGDF for empowering the youth, as empowering them is key to our future prosperity. “I salute the Akarigbo (monarch) of Remo land for the establishment

Again, Reprisal Claims Seven in Kaduna, Many Still Missing John Shiklam in Kaduna Seven people have been killed following reprisal attacks on some settlements in Kauru and Lere Local Government Areas of Kaduna State. This was revealed in a statement the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan issued yesterday. The commissioner said the attack followed the killing of seven people in Gora Gan, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of the state on Thursday. Aruwan said the military under the auspices of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) and the police “have informed the Kaduna State Government of counter attacks on

some herder settlements in Kauru and Lere local government areas. “According to the operational feedback from the security agencies, the attacks were carried out by aggrieved youths following the killing of seven persons on Thursday night in Gora Gan, Zangon Kataf Local Government.” The statement said security agencies reported that seven herders were killed in a counter killing in Ungwan Idi and Kasheku villages of Kauru Local Government while two herders were injured at Ningi village of Lere local government. Aruwan gave the names of the seven herders killed at Ungwan Idi and Kasheku villages in Kauru local government as, Mustapha

Haruna,1, Ya’u Kada,1, Sa’idu Abdullahi, I, Zainab Zakari, 1, Sadiya Abdullahi, 5, Aisha Abdullahi,1, and one unidentified woman burnt beyond recognition. The statement added that five persons were still missing and troops were searching for them in the general area. Six huts were also burnt during the attack. “Aisha Mohammed (20 years) and Sadiya Abdullahi (25 years) who were wounded in the Kauru LGA reprisal attack are receiving medical attention at Ungwan Idi Clinic. “At Ningi village of Lere local government area, the two herders were injured and rushed to General Hospital, Saminaka” the statement said.

of the Akarigbo Corporate Council and for his leadership and clear vision for the development of the state”, the vice president applauded. Complementing the vice president, the paramount ruler of Remoland, the Akarigbo, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, called for continual efforts in aiding the growth and economic prosperity of Remoland and Ogun State as a whole. He lauded his subjects for organising themselves into “such a visionary group, whose major interest is to work for the betterment and uplifting of the socio-economic being of the residents of Remoland and the state in particular”. Taking a cue from Osinbajo,

he also urged them to take full advantage of the strategic location of the state, being next to Lagos State-the commercial nerve centre of the country, and harness all the potentials towards improving on the economic fortunes of Remoland and Ogun State as a whole. The monarch enjoined the ‘sons’ and ‘daughters’ of Remoland to increase the tempo of their commitment to the area’s economic growth and “keep the flag flying higher”. Oba Ajayi, said to be the brain behind the formation of the foundation, noted that the achievements of RemoGDF within its short period in existence, had been very startling, even as he

prodded the group’s members to put in more effort. Also at the meeting, the Chairman of RemoGDF, Chief Tunji Lawal-Solarin, said that the group, established in 2018 with over 500 members, had remained committed to developing Remoland and turning it into a destination point in economic prosperity, and also, be a safe haven for all to dwell. Lawal-Solarin said part of the achievements of the group was the construction of Passport Office in Sagamu, the provision of an electric transformer for residents of GRA, Sagamu, and the construction of Multi-door Courthouse/Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre within High Court, Makun, Sagamu.

Glo Unveils Subscribers Friendly NIN Registration Update Nigeria’s multinational telecommunications company Globacom, has moved to make the linking of telephone numbers with the National Identification Number (NIN) as directed by Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) easy for its subscribers. The update was contained in a statement the company’s Corporate Communication Office issued yesterday. Ranked second largest GSM operator in Nigeria, Globacom currently has 52,573,907 subscribers in Nigeria alone, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Globacom, total telecommunications solutions provider, is currently operating in Republic of Benin,

Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire with its own 9,800-kilometre submarine infrastructure that cut across Africa West Coast apart from Nigeria. In its statement yesterday, the company said subscribers could easily link their SIMs with their NIN on their phones via a short code without visiting Gloworld outlets. It said: “All our esteemed customers can now link their National Identification Number (NIN) to their mobile numbers by simply sending ‘UPDATENIN NIN FirstName and LastName’ to 109. For example, send ‘UPDATENIN 12345678903 Chidera Abdul-Ola’ to 109.” It explained that the measure was intended to make it easy

and seamless for subscribers on its network to comply with the new directive by NCC and as part of its commitment to ensuring customers have uninterrupted access to its services. The telecom giant added that customers, who do not have their NIN, but have already registered with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) can dial *346# to retrieve it. It, therefore, advised customers without a NIN to visit a NIN enrollment center to get one. Glo subscribers with additional enquiries are encouraged to contact any of its customer contact channels or to visit https://www. gloworld.com/ng/nin for further support.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 20, 2020 • T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ DECEMBER 20, 2020

OPINION

HOW NIGERIA CAN BECOME A FIRST-WORLD COUNTRY Nigeria has what it takes to achieve ﬁrst-world development, argues Olisakwe Okafor

ith the recent protests by youths demanding an end to police brutality and also demanding for better standards of living, it is relevant to explore ways of achieving rapid development and first-world development status for Nigeria within the 2020s decade. The nation's various governments have published many development plans with the intention of transforming the nation into a first-world country. However, when it comes to implementation, things fall apart. Some of these development plans include the Structural Adjustment Programme/MAMSER of the Babangida government, Vision 2010 of the Abacha government, Vision 2020 of the Yar’Adua government, Transformation Agenda of the Jonathan government and the ongoing Next Level Agenda of the Buhari government. None of them has come close to achieving first-world development in Nigeria because the plans usually lack focus. It’s like a wild goose chase: you end up with nothing. It is more effective to concentrate on one or two policy areas. While everybody has their own idea of what these ones should be, my own one-point agenda is job creation. As the poverty capital of the world, Nigeria has about 100 million people living under the poverty line of $1 per day. The best strategy to eradicate poverty is job creation. We need to create about five million jobs per year for about five years consecutively in order to reduce the poverty rate to about 5%. Most of the poor are children and dependants of a single breadwinner, so about five people can be lifted out of poverty just by creating one job. How do we create five million jobs a year using the concept of international trade? We can start with a major drive to attract foreign investment. Thousands of jobs can be created by just one substantial foreign investor. The investors pay taxes and other fees to the government thereby generating revenue for the government to spend on schools, hospitals and infrastructure. An annual target of $50 billion foreign investment inflow should be set. The next step is to increase exports and to globalize Nigerian companies. Exports here refer to industrial and value-added products, not natural resources. This industrial exports’ strategy was adopted by the Park Chung Hee-led government of South Korea in the 1970s, when they globalized their local companies like Samsung, Hyundai and LG. These three companies are now

world leaders in mobile phones, automobile manufacturing and electronics respectively. Japan is a trillion-dollar economy because of its large number of multinational giants such as Toyota, Honda and Sony. These are global corporations that create jobs, pay taxes and invest billions of dollars in Japan. Most of the cars in Nigeria today are from Japan while British, German and American brands are household names globally. An example of a potential Nigerian multinational giant is the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. NNPC is already a multinational corporation because it supplies crude oil and natural gas to America, Europe and Asia. However, it is one thing to be a multinational corporation and it is another thing to be a multinational giant. Agood example of an African multinational corporation that is working hard to become a multinational giant is the MTN Group of South Africa which is currently expanding its telecoms network outside Africa. To become a multinational giant, NNPC needs to have a global network of petrol stations, refineries, petrochemical industries, logistics networks and oil fields; and compete with the likes of Exxon, Total and Shell in the global energy market. Most importantly, NNPC can become Africa’s leading company in renewable energy, helping to move the continent away from unsustainable energy sources that cause environmental degradation. NNPC can be Africa’s voice in the debate over the future of global energy. The same applies to other multinational corporations like Zenith Bank, Dangote Cement and Globacom. MTN South Africa is the top telecoms company in Nigeria, so I believe that our Nigerian companies can do better in other countries. Nigerian banks are

Nigerian banks are already present in some African countries and it is possible that our global agenda may start from the banking sector. The next step for Nigerian corporations is to dominate Africa. Expansion continues until they become global companies. The best strategy for this plan is mergers and acquisitions

already present in some African countries and it is possible that our global agenda may start from the banking sector. The next step for Nigerian corporations is to dominate Africa. Expansion continues until they become global companies. The best strategy for this plan is mergers and acquisitions. Rather than setting up fresh companies in new countries, they can merge with, or acquire companies in those countries. These acquired companies would then be expanded and integrated into the global network of the group. First-world countries do not rely on taking percentage cuts from sales of natural resources. Rather, they rely on taxes paid by their multinational conglomerates who convert natural resources into value-added and industrial products. Giants such as Toyota, ExxonMobil and Apple are each able to pay billions of dollars annually in taxes to their home governments. Nigeria can therefore multiply government revenues by encouraging our large conglomerates to export and compete in global markets. Their revenues from Europe, America and Asia would all be taxable by the Nigerian government. This will also boost economic growth in Nigeria and with a double-digit growth rate, Nigeria can move from $500 billion Gross Domestic Product to over $1 trillion GDP within two or three years. Let us also not forget what exports do to a country’s currency: one naira to one dollar becomes possible. Nigeria can become a first-world country if she has a sufficient number of multinational giants. The competition between countries of the future will not be about how many army divisions you have, but about how many multinational giants you have. Virtually all first-world countries made their wealth from manufacturing and exports. One area of global potential for Nigeria is automobile manufacturing where we have our Innoson Group. Japan and Germany made most of their wealth from automobile manufacturing. Let us support Innoson to challenge the likes of Toyota and Mercedes-Benz. My advice to Innoson is that they should upgrade their cars so that high-class people in Europe and America can feel proud to drive an Innoson car. Innoson may have to employ the best car designers from around the world in order to achieve better designs, luxury and technology. Major events like international auto exhibitions and car races should have Innoson participation. ––Okafor is an Abuja based Legal, Practitioner (See concluding part of the article on www.thisdaylive.com)

Buhari, NDDC And The Law Ndimele Ajuri urges the President to work within the law by inaugurating the NDDC board

he Niger Delta Minister Chief Godswill Akpabio has turned the forensic audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission into an unending circus for his self-aggrandisement. Early in the year, the Presidency had said that the audit report will be presented at the end of this year, 2020, for which reason it extended the tenure of the illegal Interim Management Committee. However, less than a month to the scheduled conclusion of the audit, which has so far taken over a year, Akpabio has nominated and got the presidency's approval of Mr Effiong Okon Akwa as Interim sole administrator, in what is clearly an agenda to appropriate the resources of the commission through phony schemes instead of the proper structure of a Governing Board as required by the NDDC Act. The announcement of Mr Akwa, which was made on the night of Sunday, December 13, 2020, to replace the Interim Management Committee, has rightly been called another imposition by Niger Delta stakeholders. This is, because, like the equally illegal IMC, the position of interim administrator is not known to the law setting up the NDDC. Mr Akwa himself is a member of the discredited IMC, having been appointed in August as acting Executive Director Finance and Administration. Mr Akwa is even more ethically conflicted in his new designation, which according to the announcement by the presidency is to oversee the forensic audit. This is because Mr Akwa served as SA Finance to Mr Bassey Dan-Abia while he was MD of the NDDC between 2013 and 2015. He in fact was posted by Akpabio to Dan-Abia for that job. Akpabio as Akwa Ibom State governor between 2007 and 2015 nominated Dan-Abia and got him appointed as NDDC MD in 2013. Those years are part of the period under investigation by the forensic audit, yet, a key player in the NDDC mess during this period in the person of Mr Akwa is now in charge of overseeing the forensic audit. This point is not lost on Niger Delta groups which have consistently said that the forensic audit is simply a smokescreen for the minister to micromanage the NDDC and corner its resources. Several NGOs raised the alarm weeks ago that Akwa was being prepared by Akpabio to take over from the IMC as sole administrator under the guise of supervising the unending forensic audit. The anger of Niger Deltans is that Akpabio has weaponised the forensic audit, an otherwise regular activity in any institution, as an excuse to disregard the NDDC Act and run the commission through interim managements solely picked by him. Even those

who initially gave him and the Buhari Administration the benefit of the doubt on the audit have now seen the fraudulent agenda unfold and are calling for the return to compliance with the NDDC Act. The minister first started this fraudulent hijack when he manipulated the appointment of the IMC into office in October 2019, after the president had announced his nominees for the NDDC Governing Board in August and sent the names to the Senate for confirmation. The Board members were subsequently screened and confirmed by the Senate on November 5, 2019. Since then, the minister has through subterfuge delayed the inauguration of the NDDC Governing Board as duly stipulated in the NDDC Act. His strategy has been to use the excuse of the external audit of the NDDC, stretched through a lengthy process of twists and turns to justify the continued illegal stay of the IMC and now an interim sole administrator, members of which he single-handedly nominated and appointed. Initially, the IMC was sold as an aberration to last between three and six months, which was between October 2019 and March 2020. But, strangely, Akpabio got the president to approve an extension in April for the IMC to remain till December this year. Now, with the terminal date at hand, Akpabio is using the smokescreen of the audit to put in place an administrator instead of the proper governance structure of a Governing Board as provided for in the NDDC Act. Indeed, to the people of the Niger Delta states, the retention of Akpabio and his interim contraptions, despite the clear cases of contract racketeering, appointment manipulation and reported cases of fraud, shows that President Buhari does not care for the orderly functioning of the NDDC and the speedy development of the region. The Niger Delta region is the economic livewire of the country, with the oil and gas industry, which is located in the Niger Delta states, contributing over 90 percent of Nigeria's foreign exchange earnings. Yet, the people of these oil-bearing states have a massive infrastructure deficit, suffer from oil spills and other ecological disasters that are unremedied, and generally do not enjoy the expected benefits of being hosts to the oil and gas industry, with poverty and unemployment very high. The NDDC was established in 2000 by an Act of the National Assembly, with a mandate to spur the development of the nine oil producing states that it covers. These are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and

Rivers States. Sadly, rather than help solve the problem of underdevelopment, President Buhari seems to have compounded them, by not allowing for the proper functioning of the agency. Under the Buhari administration we are beginning to see a pattern where the NDDC has been reduced to a source of slush funds to fund various schemes and activities outside of its legitimate mandate because of the undue attention on the agency, by the same government officials who cry to the rooftops about corruption. Perhaps, this is why the administration appears to be comfortable with this ad hoc interim arrangement where the management is not accountable to the people of the Niger Delta region. For instance at the recent National Assembly probe of corruption against the Interim Management Committee between May and July this year, the NDDC account statement with the CBN indicated that the agency paid out about half a billion naira to buy face masks and hand sanitisers for the Nigeria Police, an independent government agency that not only has a robust budget but also has a ministry of its own! Even the president's lukewarm reaction to that investigation and the generally corrupt behaviour of the IMC, in the view of many Niger Deltans pointed to a deliberate pattern of the administration in condoning corruption at the commission for its own selfish interests, which is why the government prefers to have the ad hoc arrangement of an interim management committee and now an interim administrator clearly in breach of the NDDC Act. There is a pattern of illegalities instituted by the current administration to undermine accountability at the NDDC in a way that no other federal agency has been so treated in the last five and a half years of the Buhari government. In the 15-year history of the NDDC, prior to Buhari's coming in 2015, an interim appointment had never been made outside of the law, even when the Governing Boards were dissolved. In line with the provisions of the NDDC Act, when the Board is dissolved, the next most senior civil servant in the NDDC establishment takes over as MD in acting capacity until a new Board is constituted in line with the NDDC Act. ––Ajuri lives in Port Harcourt, Rivers State (See concluding part of the article on www.thisdaylive.com)

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ DECEMBER 20, 2020

LETTERS

MIYETTI ALLAH, OHANAEZE, AFENIFERE AND INSECURITY

ecurity is everybody’s business. It is a flawed assumption that issues of security must remain strictly within the orbit of agencies with the responsibility. Even security agencies cannot function without citizens’ alliance and community help. Simply, they cannot operate in vacancy of citizens’ collaboration and the support of stakeholders and other institutions – both formal and informal.s The most fundamental ingredient to addressing crime is intelligence. And intelligence does not jump out from the coloured screen of a computer; it comes from people – of all shades and appliances. It is the reason I believe our traditional institutions and socio-cultural organisations can be veritable accomplices in the fight against insurgency and banditry. We are yet to really extract commitment from and forge a partnership with these institutions. Yes, we are yet to give them due recognition as accessories to peace and stability in the country. These institu-

Buratai

tions are the closest to the people. They know their own; they understand and speak the language, and they know the terrain.

Socio-cultural organisations should not only be cymbals for sounding alarms and making demands. They can be the partners of the security

agencies in securing the country. In fact, they hold a bigger share in the security enterprise because they represent their people, and as such

DAVID EDEVBIE: A MAN OF CHARACTER

avid Edevbie's leadership style cannot be separated from his intrinsic personality traits. A person of seductive humility and general simplicity, Edevbie has commanded attention by being indifferent to the needs that most politicians have for selfcelebration. He has been simply a silent achiever for his own vision with the humility that has remained the mark of his aesthetics. The Irony is that wherever he stands, he exudes an integrity that earns instant recognition if not obeisance. Anyone

familiar with his works and achievement as a financial expert and administrator would see it as a reflection of the general, unobtrusive civic competence that accompanies his carriage as a member of both the political class and the larger society. Selfassuredly, David Edevbie represents the household of the Urhobo nation as a true master of the character, without self -advertisement. Whatever else he has done, since Igbobi College, Federal Government College, Odogbolu and University of Lagos, and Cardiff Business Sch, University of Wales, as

a banker, as a financial guru, as a Commissioner in Delta State and as Chief of Staff in Delta State, his role as a technocrat has defined him. Whatever comes from Edevbie is always distinct. Edevbie has a gift of innovative thinking, a visionary spirit, tenacious and patience - ingredients that made him succeed in politics and as an administrator. In addition to his devotion to his family and work, Edevbie always find time for his colleagues and friends. They were never far from his thoughts. He is

a determined, collaborative, goal-oriented caring person. I hail the Avwerosuor ovie of Ughelli North as he turned 57. I salute Edevbie's courage, his style, his message, his consistency, integrity, and his mentorship. And because of character, I tell whoever cares to listen that I am proudly and arrogantly Urhobo. Happy Birthday Olorogun David Edevbie and many more years of success sir. ––Allison Abanum, Senior Special Assistant on Strategic Communication and Documentation to the Governor of Bayelsa State.

BANDITRY, KIDNAPPINGS IN THE NORTHWEST

n August this year, the erudite scholar and patriot, Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, revealed that he got credible information that a northern governor was sponsoring the insurgency and killings in the north especially targeted at indigenous North Central minorities. For his bold declaration, Mailafia was subjected to the most humiliating and inhumane treatment by agents of state security. In short, he was treated as a common criminal by Buhari's intelligence and security agencies - which

have consistently failed to curb the free spread of violence and terrorism all over the country. But only recently, a top-ranking member of Buhari's own ruling APC came out to categorically and unequivocally declare that, indeed, they, the ruling APC, have credible security reports confirming that a governor in the North West was sponsoring the unfolding spates of horrific murders, kidnappings and other violent atrocities in President Buhari's Northwest. Certainly, discerning Nigerians believe

that the dividing line between Mailafia's narrative and that of the APC is definitely razor sharp. So, who is fooling who? Furthermore, in the wake of the current deliberate misinformation being dished out by the Katsina State and Buhari's governments about the 'release' of the abducted Kankara school boys, Nigerians are even more confused and bewildered about what is actually happening in the area of stemming this evil tide. Was a ransom really paid? Did Miyetti Allah,

a Fulani group negotiate the release of the school boys? And, to boot, why has Leah Sharibu's return not been possible so far? Buhari and his northern brothers in northwest and northeast must answer these pertinent questions. If not, Nigerians should begin to realise that these key state actors and their agents are neck deep in a grand and rabid conspiracy and complicity that will sooner than later spread to other parts of Nigeria. ––Chris Gyang, chrisgyang01@gmail. com

any challenge affects them directly. On Friday, Bello Matawalle, governor of Zamfara, said Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), the Fulani socio-cultural group, helped secure the release of abducted Kankara schoolboys who have spent nearly seven days in grisly captivity. According to him, no ransom was paid. In his words: ‘’Ask anybody, we don’t pay bandits a dime. What we do is to extend olive branch to them because they also want to live in peace.’’ Aminu Masari, governor of Katsina, corroborated Matawalle’s claim. He said: “Those involved in the negotiation include my adviser, some top military and police operatives. Members of Miyetti Allah; (they) were all involved in the negotiation.” The alleged involvement of Miyetti Allah in the negotiation for the release of the schoolboys actuated a furore on social media. Some asked why Miyetti Allah would be involved in the parleying while others wondered when the socio-cultural organisation became a security agency and state actor. The suspicion of Nigerians who have commented on this issue is understandable, but the misgiving is more of emotion than reason. I must say, Nigerians have a right to be cynical about the purported involvement of Miyetti Allah in this matter, considering the past actions, posturing and statements of the group. But was Miyetti Allah’s intervention needed? Yes. Though the group is not a state actor, it is a stakeholder in Nigeria, particularly in the north just like Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo and Afenifere. If we all agree that most of the bandits terrorising the

country are of the Fulani stock, does it not make sense that an organisation representing the entire group intervenes in moments of crisis by its own, and most importantly prevail on them to give up their arms? Perhaps, the reason for the hurly-burly of emotions on social media is that Miyetti Allah, before the Kankara schoolboys abduction, had not condemned the actions of these stray hounds or intervened wholesomely in similar cases of banditry and kidnapping elsewhere. If they had, I am not aware. This is where I think Miyetti Allah comes short. The group should seize this moment to condemn the perpetrators of banditry and intervene actively and consistently in cases of banditry and kidnapping by providing intelligence to security agencies and speaking with its youths to re-channel their energies away from the kidnapping industry. As I wrote in ‘No need for panic, working with Miyetti Allah in southeast is a security strategy’ in June 2019, we must give no room for conspiracy theories – of domination, invasion or conquest. These are the by-products of distrust and fear. And instead of running wild with emotions, let us give space for rational thinking and disciplined conversations. Miyetti Allah, Ohanaeze and Afenifere can play crucial roles in rolling back the boulder of banditry and kidnapping. Banditry is not a northern problem, it is a Nigerian snag. It involves everyone. To deal with this challenge we must not isolate any stakeholder or group. Security is everybody’s business. ––Fredrick Nwabufo is a writer and journalist

Are You Reading This Santa?

fter a 50-year break, I have decided to send my Christmas present list to Santa again. Why Santa? Well he listens to good people and tries to get them what they want or need. I have lost faith in political leaders in so many countries and there are still a number of people that are ignoring the medical advice they get so I had to look a bit wider. I tried Zooming Santa but there is quite a long list of one on one meeting requests and I am down for some time in 2031. I tried emailing him, but my Gmail wasn't working. The phone call approach

seems a bit out of date now and I am sure Santa has modernised his approach. I hope Santa or one of the elves reads the 'Letters to the Editor' section. All I want are the standard things, World Peace A vaccine for COVID that everyone can get To be able to visit family and friends anytime and safely On a personal level I would like my football team to win this year and especially not get beaten by a late goal minutes before the end of the game. Thanks Santa! Dennis, Aged 61. ––Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

SUNDAY DECEMBER 20, 2020 •T H I S D AY

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺ͸˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸

BUSINESS

Pantami (Minister of Communications) And Digital Economy

Editor: Kunle Aderinokun 08033204315, 08111813084 Email:kunle.aderinoku@thisdaylive.com

Danbatta (Executive Vice Chairman, NCC)

Aziz (DG, NIMC)

The NCC Directives on SIM Registration and Synchronisation with NIN Emma Okonji writes that the recent directives by the federal government compelling telecoms operators to suspend the sale and activation of new SIM cards and to within a two-week period, link all registered SIM cards to National Identification Number, is an onerous task as subscribes kick against the directives

igerian telecoms subscribers with over 207 million active registered lines, last week, were taken by surprise when the federal government issued two directives, compelling telecoms operators to immediately suspend the registration and activation of new SIM cards, until the completion of the audit of the Subscriber Registration Database, while the other directive compelled telecoms subscribers to submit their NIN to their telecoms service providers within two weeks, from December 16 to 30 to enable service providers synchronise all registered SIM cards to NINs. Worried about the urgency of both directives, telecoms subscribers across networks and from all walks of life, have kicked against the directives, saying the time line is not sufficient to achieve result. They cited various reasons that have made the directives too herculean to achieve, to include poor infrastructure for fast capturing of biometrics during NIN and SIM card registration; possibility of stampede while rushing to beat the two weeks deadline for submission of NIN and synchronisation of NIN to registered SIM cards; the busy period of yuletide when many Nigerians travel to celebrate Christmas; and the COVID-19 pandemic that has compelled Nigerians to observe social distancing in public places, among others. Although they commended the federal government for its intention to address insecurity in the county through the initiative of synchronising registered SIM cards with NIN, they however said the approach was draconian, and would never achieve results. They strongly advised the federal government to consider extending the time and giving ample time to carry out the

exercise. They also said the suspension of sale and activation of new SIM card while the exercise lasts, was not necessary, and it would make Nigerians incommunicado, should they lose their SIM cards for any reason, within the period that the exercise will last, since they will not have the opportunity to retrieve their lines and activate the lines for communication.

The Directives

The first directive was to compel the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the telecoms industry regulator, to immediately enforce the suspension of the sale and activation of new SIM cards, while the second directive was to direct telecoms subscribers to within two weeks, submit their NIN to telecoms operators for synchronisation with all registered SIM cards. While announcing the suspension order, which NCC said would last till the completion of the audit of the subscriber Registration Database, which seeks to achieve global standards and quality in the issuance of SIM cards, the Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, said the action became necessary in line with the federal government desire to consolidate the achievement of the SIM card registration exercise of September 2019. NCC therefore advised all telecoms operators to henceforth suspend all sales and activation of new SIM cards on their networks. Part of the statement issued by NCC, read: “In line with the federal government desire to consolidate the achievement of the SIM card registration exercise of September, 2019, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, has directed NCC to embark on another audit of the subscriber registration database again.

The objective of the audit exercise is to verify and ensure compliance by MNOs with the set quality standards and requirements of SIM card registration as issued by the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and the Commission. Accordingly, MNOs are hereby directed to immediately suspend the sale, registration and activation of new SIM cards until the audit exercise is concluded, and government has conveyed the new direction. NCC warned that MNOs must comply with the directive and that non-compliance with the directive would be met with strict sanctions, including the possibility of withdrawal of operating licence. The second directive was issued during a stakeholders meeting convened by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami. The meeting was attended by the CEOs and management staff of the NCC, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), NIMC, as well as the CEOs and management staff of all telecoms service providers in the country. During the meeting some decisions were taken for immediate implementation by all network operators: Affirmation of the earlier directive to totally suspend registration of new SIMs by all operators; Operators to require all their subscribers to provide valid NIN to update SIM registration records; The submission of NIN by subscribers to take place within two weeks from Wednesday, December 16, 2020 and end by December 30, 2020; After the deadline, all SIMs without NINs are to be blocked from the networks; A Ministerial Task Force comprising the minister and all the CEOs among others, as members are to monitor compliance by all networks; Violations of the directive will be met by stiff sanctions, including the possibility of withdrawal of operating license.

The minister therefore urged the general public to ensure that their NINs are captured in their SIM registration data.

Reactions and Oppositions

Both directives have continued to elicit reactions from Nigerians who are angered by the two weeks ultimatum given to conclude the exercise, and they are more disturbed with the threat to block telephone lines that are not linked to NIN, after the expiration of the two weeks order. The National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS), said the suspension order has made many Nigerians incommunicado, having lost their SIM cards to hoodlums and robbery attacks because they could not do the usual ‘welcome back pack’ to retrieve their mobile lines. National Chairman of NATCOMS, Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, who narrated the ordeals of his members in Lagos since the suspension order was announced, said most of his members were victims of the recent Agege mayhem in Lagos, where their mobile phones were forcefully taken away from them by hoodlums who unleashed mayhem in Agege. “Aside the Agege mayhem, which affected some telecoms subscribers, some other subscribers were victims to robbery attacks in different parts of the country in the last few days, while some misplaced their mobile phones and none of them could retrieve their mobile lines nor purchase a new SIM card because of the suspension order on the sale and activation of new SIM cards. Most of our members who owned and run their businesses, and have lost their mobile phones in the past few days, can no longer communicate and their customers can no longer reach them on phone for business transactions,” Ogunbanjo said.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺ͸˜ 2020

BUSINESS The NCC Directives on SIM Registration and Synchronisation with NIN

Adebayo (President of Alton)

Ogunbanjo (Chairman of NATCOMS)

He therefore called on the federal government to intervene and re-order NCC to lift the suspension order on new SIM cards, to enable Nigerians retrieve their lines and reconnect to their business partners, customers, friends, relations and well-wishers. Ogunbanjo who faulted the suspension order, said the order had inflicted so much pain on Nigerians, since people could lose their mobile phones at different circumstances beyond their control. He said the planned re-audit of subscriber registration database, which was the reason for the suspension of the sale and activation of new SIM cards, would not in any way be affected by the continuous sale and activation of new SIM cards. The Executive Secretary, Information Technology Systems and Security, an interest group of the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS) in Lagos, Mr. Rogba Adeoye, told THISDAY that the initiative was laudable, but that the two weeks period would not be enough to achieve result. “Nigeria lacks adequate infrastructure to accomplish the task, coupled with the yuletide season and the COVID-19 pandemic that is still with us in the country, which calls for caution to avoid unnecessary stampede. With these factors, it is evident that two weeks will never be enough to achieve the desired result.” Adeoye therefore advised there should be extension of time and that the Computer-Based Centres (CBC) that were used during JAMB exams, should be deployed to facilitate enrollment and SIM card registration and synchronisation. Also, an expert on technology and Managing Director of DAS Energy Services Limited, Warri, Delta State, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, has said the two weeks ultimatum is not realistic. Onuesoke, who made the observation in Asaba, Delta State noted that such an exercise, which involves no fewer than 100 million telephone users across Nigeria and in Diaspora is not something NCC should come up with overnight. Onuesoke, who stated that the policy was dead on arrival and a clear-cut violation of individual privacy, wondered how millions of subscribers could update their records in two weeks, arguing that, even in the developed world, it is not realistic except the synchronisation is automated. A Professor of Political Economy and Founder of the Centre for Value Leadership, Prof. Pat Utomi, told THISDAY that he did not consider the directive a serious matter to ponder on and warned Nigerians to be wary of the government’s intentions. The Director General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Dr. Muda Yusuf, told THISDAY that government should exercise utmost care in order to avoid creating fresh disruptions in the economy with its latest policy on SIM management. Yusuf also pointed out that it was impractical to accomplish this task in two

weeks as stipulated in the government’s announcement. Also, a Professor of Economics at Akwa Ibom State University, Prof. Akpan Ekpo, warned that the implementation of the policy without extending the deadline for between six months and one year would cause serious economic disruption as most Nigerians rely on their mobile phones to connect and transact businesses. However, an Economist and the Chief Executive Officer of the Economic Associates Limited, Dr. Ayo Terbia, has urged Nigerians to cooperate with the government to ensure the successful implementation of the policy because of its security dimension.

Court order

Meanwhile, Paradigm Initiative has dragged the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and all the major telecoms operators before a Federal High Court in Lagos, for what it described as violation of human rights as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution. Paradigm Initiative dragged them to court over the directive issued by Minister to suspend sale and activation of new SIM cards, as well as the plan to block subscribers’ number who fail to submit their NIN to service providers for synchronisation with their SIM cards, within two weeks, which elapses December 30, 2020. In the suit number FHC/U/1823/2020, which was filed on Thursday December 17, 2020, Paradigm Initiative declared that owning and operating a telephone line or SIM card is an exercise of right to freedom of expression as provided for and guaranteed in Section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended. Paradigm Initiative also declared that the proposed blocking of SIM cards or telephone lines that are not linked to NIN by the network operators, will likely interfere with the applicant’s member’s right to freedom of expression guaranteed under section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended. Paradigm Initiative further said the directive on the proposed blocking of SIM cards was unlawful and unconstitutional as same is not stipulated by a law and not being a restriction that is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society as required by Section 45 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended. Paradigm Initiative therefore asked the court to restrain all respondents in the suit from carrying out or giving effect to the directive on blocking of SIM cards that are not registered with NIN by network operators until all Nigerians have been conveniently afforded the opportunity to register for and obtain valid NINs and update their SIM registration accordingly.

Prof. Utomi

Call for Extension

The House of Representatives has however urged the federal government to extend the deadline for the synchronisation of SIM with their NIN by telecommunication service providers to 10 weeks. The House at the plenary last week, said NCC should give a reasonable amount of time to enable Nigerians to comply with the instruction. It also mandated the House Committee on Communications to ensure compliance. The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance, moved by the Minority Leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu. In the motion, Elumelu noted that as laudable as the idea behind the policy may seem, the timing was very wrong because Nigerians have not been properly sensitised. He said if the NCC was not urgently called to halt their plans there may be unnecessary panic in the country, which may lead to the exploitation of vulnerable Nigerian thereby causing more pains in an already pathetic situation. According to him, the timing is very wrong because Nigerians have not been properly sensitised as only a few educated persons, who bother to read the dailies might have heard about this instructions, therefore, trying to enforce this policy in a period where most Nigerians are gearing up for Christmas festivities may lead to stampede in the process of rushing to get registered, which could lead to unnecessary death and injuries.” He said if the NCC is allowed to carry out this directive, it will bring about untold hardship as millions of subscribers will be disconnected during the yuletide period, which he said could spell disaster in an already volatile situation. Adopting the motion, the House resolved that the exercise should end on February 28, 2021, as against December 30, 2020.

FG’s Determination

In spite of the agitations towards the recent directives on the suspension of sale of activation of new SIM cards and the two-week ultimatum to synchronise all registered SIM cards with NIN, the federal government seems determined to implement the directives, despite all odds. This is evident in the recent licensing of over 200 agents and institutions for NIN enrollment. NIMC, the federal agency responsible for registration and issuance of NIN and national identity cards, last week, released the list of 173 Private Sector Agents and 30 State Governments/Public Sector Institutions, approved by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, to conduct enrollment of Nigerians and legal residents into the National Identity Database (NIDB) on behalf of the NIMC.

Prof. Ayo Teriba

In a statement issued by NIMC in Abuja, its Director-General/Chief Executive, Mr. Aliyu Aziz, explained that the licensed agents were approved after successfully fulfilling all the conditions in the advertised Expression of Interest (EOI) which was done in 2019 as a first step towards the take off the National Digital Identity Ecosystem project. Although the approval was made while Nigerians were protesting the tall orders given by government on SIM cards and NIN, the Head, Corporate Communications at NIMC, Mr. Kayode Adegoke, however told THISDAY that the approved agents would facilitate NIN enrollment and that the agents had the mandate to issue NIN to every Nigerian that registers with them. Adegoke however stressed that the enrollment remained free of charge. Some Nigerians, who reacted to the timing of the approval, said it was a clear indication that government was determined to implement the recent directives, despite protests from Nigerians. A breakdown of the successful licensees shows that 16 state governments were licensed, including Abia, Akwa Ibom, Gombe, Lagos, Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Oyo, Ogun, Sokoto and Zamfara states. Prominent among the public sector institutions licensed are NCC, National Pension Commission, Central Bank of Nigeria (through the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement Systems Plc), National Population Commission, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joint Tax Board and Nigeria Postal Services. Other public sector organisations issued licences include Military Pensions Board, Abuja Enterprise Agency, Corporate Affairs Commission, National Health Insurance Scheme, National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services and National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons. The main mobile network operators in Nigeria, MTN, Airtel, Globacom and 9mobile are among the 173 private sector organisations licensed, while Etranzact, VDT Communications, Unified Payment Services were also licensed. Seven NGOs, namely Africa Youth Growth Foundation, An Nadaa Educational Foundation Arrida Relief Foundation, Hadejia Ina Mafita Initiative Community Based Organisation Mimido Initiative & Development and Murna Foundation were also licensed. “The initiative is to support the federal government’s effort at tackling insecurity in the country. The project aims to eliminate the bottlenecks involved in the enrollment process. It will also improve the identity authentication of citizens and make all identity-related transactions safe within and outside the country,” Adegoke said. Now that the agitations are increasing by the day, the federal government should consider the feelings and complaints of telecoms subscribers, by shifting its earlier position and create room for dialogue.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER 'ECEMBER 20, 2020

BUSINESS/ENERGY

An oil rig

Report: Tax evasion, Stealing, Pillars of Corruption in Nigeria’s Oil Industry Recent investigation by Aljazeera, a global cable news network, has revealed that sabotage, tax evasion by multinational oil companies and direct stealing are the major planks powering corruption in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, reports Chris Paul

nareportanchoredbySandraGathmann,Ajazeeraprobed into the causes of institutional corruption in the nation’s hydrocarbon industry. Africa’s largest oil producer, oil remains Nigeria’s top revenue source. Her economy continues to struggle as poverty maintains an upward climb. Meanwhile, the people living around the resource in the Niger Delta are the world poster natives living in abject penury in the midst of oil wealth. The question is why can’t Nigeria use her oil wealth to improve the lives of its people? What happening to all that money? Home to Africa’s largest population and biggest economy, Nigeria’s blessed growing non-oil resources in services industry and agricultural exports such as cocoa and palm oil. The Nollywood, Africa’s biggest film industry, fashion houses, a booming music business and a very wealthy elite. All these factors make Nigeria earn its title as the giant of Africa. With lots of natural resources such as minerals, gold and especially oil, Nigeria has the continent’s second-largest proven reserves. It is the largest producer worldwide. Yet, over 90 million Nigerians live in extreme poverty, according to World Bank. Compared to Ethiopia and Kenya that have under 24%and 16% of their people living in poverty, respectively; the population of Nigeria’s poor is the highest across the African region. Kenya and Ethiopia do not have oil. Despite all that oil, over 50% of Nigerians live on less than $2 a day. Nigerian government look to oil for over 75% of the nation’s revenue and that is a greater of the challenge her resource-rich economy is facing. That was why when global oil price hit rock bottom in 2014, Nigeria’s economy went into a recession. The nation was still struggling to exit it, when COVID-19 virtually dug a grave for it. Even when the prices of oil were favourable, the Nigerian people never felt it. According to experts, most of that money is used to service rising debts, some of it used to fund the budget, while the rest goes into private pockets. A substantial slice of the oil money goes into paying salaries of the lawmakers, to the neglect of much-needed infrastructure for housing, education and health among others. Again, where does the Nigeria’s oil revenue go? In a viral video, produced Aljazeera followed the money. Crude oil is found under the waterways of the Niger Delta, where few Nigeria oil companies operate, with international oil companies (IOCs) such as Shell, Chevron running the major exploration and extraction in the region. Shell, alone, runs over 40% of Nigeria’s oil production. Since Nigeria lacks the refineries to refine her oil, these

foreign companies sell the oil outside the country. In the end, Nigeria then imports billions of dollar worth of petrochemical products back to the country. So, according to Aljazeera, the multinational oil companies believe refining the oil in Switzerland or the United States lowers the cost of refining since Nigeria lacks the infrastructure to refine her own crude. Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation(NNPC), which is the nation’s national oil company(NOC), plays the role of both industry regulator and a big commercial corporation. The corporation arm signs contracts with the IOC’s on behalf of the federal government. The companies pay for the initial cost including oil licenses, royalties and pay tax on their profits to the NNPC.The NOC then pays the money into the federation account. According to Aljazeera, the regulator that is supposed to police the flow of that money is part of the NNPC. This explains why most of the moneys made and deals signed lack transparency as lots of these transactions happen under the cloak of obscurity. For Aljazeera, “you cannot be both a regulator and a player as well...” As have been reported severally in the media, in Nigeria and globally, that lack of transparency is what has led to alleged corruption in the oil sector. “Billions of dollars have gone missing over the years. One of the most celebrated cases was back in 2016, when it was reported that $16 billion in oil revenue had just gone missing...,” the reporter said. It was money NNPC was supposed to have paid into the national treasury. In its 15th March 2016 publication, BBC reported that “the Nigeria’s state-owned oil company has failed to pay the government $16bn (£11bn) in a suspected fraud, according to an official audit. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) provided no explanation for the missing funds, the auditor general told MPs. Oil revenue accounts for two-thirds of the government’s funding. President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated its promise to crack down on corruption. Reminiscent of similar headlines that attracted attention to the massive corruption in the nation’s oil company, no one was prosecuted and none was held liable. Nigerians, indeed, the world is now used to headlines of missing money in NNPC every few years. Aljazeera also discovered another type of missing money; and that is taxes. The oil companies that pay taxes on their profits to the NNPC, according to the report, “are accused of declaring

fewer profit in order to pay lower taxes.” Aljazeera investigation revealed that the companies sell Nigerian oil at a lower cost to their own subsidiary in a tax haven “and then sell that oil to other buyers at full price. They can inflate the cost of their Nigerian operations. Or under report the volume of oil they produce to begin with.” What that means is that public oil money gets lost in a swamp of tax havens and murky accounting. The next level of corruption is more direct; and that is theft, which the reporter described as “straight-up stealing.” In the video showing young men pouring raw crude oil they tapped from sabotaged pipelines, the focus of the report shifts to the illegal refineries operations going in in the creeks of the Niger Delta region. “Tucked in the forest, we find these men cooking oil. There are hundreds of illegal refineries in the Niger Delta, where criminal gangs like the Delta Avengers, tap into pipelines,” the report revealed. In early 2019, 22 million barrels of oil were stolen and sold on the black market. The foreign television station disclosed that “the barges then take the oil to larger tankers in the Atlantic Ocean and from there, to buyers in West Africa, Europe, Latin America and as far as Asia.” There is even a language in the country that conveys and captures the sentiment that the oil is here to steal. Which is part of what the phrase ‘national cake’ refers to. Oil companies like Shell, according to the report, blames these massive attacks on oil spills and fires. However, Aljazeera reports that “human rights group, Amnesty International says oil companies are also responsible for the spills and accuse them of misleading and neglecting local communities.” In the final analysis, sabotage, theft, tax evasion and corruption are at the bottom of the opaque operations in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. Under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, Nigerian government has been releasing audit reports of its operations in a move to illustrate its commitment to accountability. It has also gone as far as going after the foreign companies “ demanding unpaid taxes and compensation from the IOCs...” In order to harmonise and create some level of transparency, accountability and enabled the environment for shared prosperity, from the resource, across the stakeholder spectrum, the federal government has increased its efforts to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). After almost two decades of delay and so many versions, many hope the bill will clean up the industry, unbundle the NNPC and set the industry on a normal course of operation, by global best practice.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 20, 2020

BUSINESS/ADVERTISING

In its new Television Commercial, First Bank tells a story that reflects the beginning of modern banking and how the bank has consistently grown with Nigeria’s enterprises through partnership and innovation. Raheem Akingbolu writes

hen the promoters said First Bank was “truly the first, many grudgingly agreed. But deep inside its competitors - the possible grudging camp - is the truth regarding the extreme distance the bank has given others in performance and people relevance of its operations! They knew the bank was not bluffing. Not only has it rediscovered itself, but the ability to shed its ancient mindset in terms of operations and blend with modern trends in banking have left many agreeing that perhaps, the saying that the older the wine the better it gets in taste actually applies to First Bank. Its new television commercial (TVC) says it all: a combination of historical renaissance and quite prescient validation of the innovation that usually drives its bewitching communicational ads. From the groundnut pyramids of the north, which was the symbol of the regions commercial edge and the cocoa bean mountains of Western Nigeria to the rubber plantations of the East and Mideastern region, First Bank has applied its new campaign to remind its decades-old patrons, customers, and even competitors, that the beat has refused to abate. Throughout the campaign, First Bank subtly registers itself in the minds of the banking public that it’s entirely Nigerian - past, present, and the future. The wellcrafted historical simulation captures how First Bank opened its first branch in Lagos in 1894 and started helping merchandise and local traders to grow their businesses. The excitement and enthusiasm on the faces of the bank’s early customers after getting their cash books from the Lagos office say it all. Like someone who has gotten a glimpse of what the future holds with banking, the customers express surprises and happiness. The commercial captures the mood and goes back in memory lane on how the bank has helped many people succeed in their ventures. Subtly, the narrator takes viewers to Kano and reveals how the then richest men in the commercial city were making their deposit of 20 bags of Silver in an atmosphere that looks like the first operational day of the bank. Perhaps the beauty of the commercial lies more in the way it strikes a balance between the ancient and the modern days through setting and swapping of background colours. This was cleverly explored by those who conseptualised the TVC, especially in referencing the way the bank transformed into an online haven, driven by technology. While reminding the patrons of the bank’s transformation and technological advancement, the narrator is quick to talk about the expansion of the bank beyond the shores of Nigeria to the West-African region and beyond. The TVC also positions FirstBank as a socially responsible brand by touching on various initiatives it has embarked on. Specifically, First Bank’s contribution to Sports through its support for football and athletics is captured very well. For all these achievements, the narrator narrows the story to the bank’s ability to produce two governors of the

Adeduntan, First Bank MD,

nation’s apex bank –the Central Bank of Nigeria, apparently referring to Dr. Joseph Oladele Sanusi and Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. It will be recalled that Dr. Sanusi was appointed by the Federal Government as the Governor of CBN in May 1999 by President Olusegun Obasanjo, serving until May 2004. Sanusi was picked as a safe and conservative banker. He resumed the same day the former President Obasanjo was sworn in on May 29, 1999. He assembled his team of “eggheads” as Deputy Governors, a perfect mix of public and private sector experts. The Central Bank made remarkable progress under his leadership. Then on 1 June 2009, the second First Bank product, Lamido Sanusi was nominated as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua; his appointment was confirmed by the Nigerian Senate on 3 June 2009, during the global financial crisis. It is on record that against all odds, the new helmsman superintended the transition and consolidation in the then wobbling and ailing banking sector

into a virile and solid financial transactions sector. Sanusi remained in office and continued his wonders until former President Goodluck Jonathan took over. In this position, Sanusi won the prestigious international award of “Central Banker of the Year.” Succinctly speaking, the TVC captures the 126 years history of First Bank. It also shows that the bank’s long years of existence notwithstanding, its handlers haven’t allowed complacency to dampen the drive to position the nation’s number one financial institution as the best and one of the best brands that are making Africa proud. For 126 years, FirstBank has navigated Nigeria’s banking landscape, supporting businesses and building other brands. But the FirstBank story is that of not giving up despite all odds. However, the greater story hasn’t been told by those who daily promote it, but the hope of financial security it has consistently given to the ultimate owners of the brand - the banking public - continues to resonate. This explains why, in a country

where the mortality rate is high in the market, the brand still remains a reference point, when it comes to building an enduring African brand in all the years of its existence. Last, year, the Bank commemorated its 125th anniversary, and the event created a unique opportunity for it to distinguish itself quite clearly from other Banks and organisations in Nigeria, Africa, and the world. Through the anniversary celebrations, the team was able to reiterate that FirstBank has been part of Nigerians, enabling them financially and securing their businesses through needful supports and advisories, ultimately achieving their customer-centric goals. FirstBank has today become a pivotal integral of Nigerians as individuals and Nigeria’s corporate history. According to them, this sets the brand clearly apart in a space of its own, as a Bank that is beyond comparison - one which has woven into the fabric of the society for many years and has continued to be relevant, relentlessly and unrelentingly.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺ͸˜ 2020

BUSINESS/FOCUS

Ogoniland clean up

With over 31 years of legal battle and two judgments of the Supreme Court, will the disputes between an Ogoni community and Shell ever be resolved, Davidson Iriekpen asks

or the second time in less than two years, the Supreme Court penultimate week dismissed an application by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) seeking to set aside a N17billion judgment given against it on January 11, 2019 over a 1970 oil spill in a community in Rivers State. Afive-man panel of the court in a unanimous ruling dismissed the Shell application as lacking merit. Justice Centus Nweze who wrote the lead ruling in the case, marked: SC/731/2017, which was read by Justice Samuel Osuji, agreed with the respondents, Ejama-Ebubu in Tai Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, that Shell’s application was an invitation to the court to overrule itself. The judge said after a thorough examination of the briefs filed by parties, he elected to uphold the preliminary objection raised by the respondents (victims of the oil spill, led by Chief Isaac Osaro Agbara). He, therefore, dismissed the application and ordered parties to bear their respective costs. The same court had, in a ruling on January 11, 2019 dismissed the appeal by Shell against an earlier decision of the Court of Appeal on a June 14, 2010 judgment of the Federal High Court, which awarded damages against the oil company for oil spill at Ejama-Ebubu. Arguing the preliminary objection on September 22, respondents’ lawyer, Lucius Nwosu (SAN), queried the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to entertain Shell’s application, which he said was intended to make the apex court sit on an appeal over its decision. Nwosu contended that Shell’s application was an abuse of court process because there was no longer a pending appeal on which the court could act. He noted that, on learning about Shell’s fresh application, his clients wrote the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to enquire about the status of the oil company’s appeal. According to him, in a reply, dated February 14, the CJN’s response showed that Shell’s appeal was spen. “If the CJN has said the appeal is spent, how can the same appellant come and revive the spent appeal?” He asked. The lawyer, who said his clients had taken steps to execute the judgment, added that the same Shell, which was reluctant to compensate victims of its oil spills in Nigeria, had paid about

$206 million damages in similar circumstances in Mexico. He regretted that Shell was unwilling to abide by the decision of Nigeria’s apex court after subjecting the victims to over 30 years of strenuous litigation in courts across the country. The substantive suit commenced in 1991 before a Rivers State High Court sitting at Nchia Division, when the Ejama community represented by Isaac Osaro Ogbara, Victor Obari, John Oguru, Joseph Ogusu, G. O. Nnah, George Osaro, and Adanta Obelle, sued Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Netherlands, Royal Dutch Shell Plc, United Kingdom, and SPDC over alleged oil spills which occurred when Shell operated in the community in the 1970s. Judgment was entered for the sum of N6 Billion in favour of the community by the Nchia High Court. That judgment was conceded on appeal because the Supreme Court had in a sister case decided that states’ high courts had no jurisdiction in oil related-matters. The plaintiffs in 2001 refiled the suit at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt. After listening to the submissions of the parties in the suit, the trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba, in his judgment in 2010, awarded N17 billion to the representatives of the Ogoni people. The court equally granted the Ogoni chiefs 25 per cent interest charge on the principal sum. SPDC then appealed against the judgment and applied for a stay of execution of the judgment pending the appeal. As a condition for granting the stay of execution, the court required Shell’s bankers, FirstBank, to provide a guarantee of the judgment sum plus interest. This condition was complied with. But Shell’s appeal failed on merit because it failed to file a brief of argument in support of its appeal. Instead it claimed that it was granted leave to file an amended brief of argument, which the Court of Appeal found not to be correct. Against the agreement reached, Shell proceeded to the Supreme Court where its new lawyers filed a fresh application asking for leave to amend the original notice of the appeal filed by Olawale Akoni (SAN) at the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal registry in order for them to argue fresh points not raised at the court below and in order for them to argue 36 additional grounds of appeal. Upon the new application at the apex court, the respondents’ lawyer, led by Lucius Nwosu (SAN), filed a preliminary objection. Assisted by Lawal Rabana (SAN) and others, Nwosu argued that the findings of the Court of Appeal dismissing their appeal were based on facts,

adding that the law is that an appeal must arise out of the decision complained against. He stated that if the decision complained against was based on findings of fact, the constitution requires that you cannot appeal them except you first seek leave of the Court of Appeal. The respondents’ lawyer contended that since that notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal was filed without leave, it meant that the notice was incompetent and cannot be amended because it would mean putting something on nothing and expecting it to stand. Justice Kumai Bayang Akaahs who read the ruling on behalf of other justices led by the then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, said the notice of appeal filed by the oil giant was incompetent. He said motion filed on July 16, 2018 had no leg to stand on and should not have been filed. He consequently dismissed it in its entirety. But Justice Akaahs citing a plethora of authorities to back up his submission, held that since the notice of appeal filed by Shell sought to be amended was incompetent, no valid amendment could be effected because issues of fact or mix law and fact were raised in the original notice of appeal with leave of court. The Supreme Court justice agreed with the submission of Shell’s lawyer that an appellant who has a valid and subsisting appeal can seek the leave of court to do so, adding that in the instant case, there is no such valid notice of appeal that could be amended. However, while the case was still pending at the apex court, sensing that Shell was using delay tactics to prevent FirstBank from paying the judgment creditors the N17 Billion judgment debt, in December 2017, the plaintiffs commenced garnishee proceedings at the Federal High Court in Owerri presided over by Justice Lewis Allagoa. They urged the CBN to pay them N122.53 billion out of FirstBank’s account in its custody. THISDAY gathered that they calculated the principal sum of N17 billion and the accrued 25 per cent interest charge per annum to arrive at the sum of N122,533,403,392. In January 2018, Justice Allagoa granted them a temporary order (garnishee nisi) ordering the CBN to pay them the sum from FirstBank’s account with it. But the CBN asked the court not to make the order absolute. The apex bank’s counsel argued that compelling the CBN to pay the N122.53 billion from FirstBank’s funds domiciled with it could have far-reaching consequences for Nigeria’s oldest and biggest lender by assets

and deposits, and a systemic impact on the rest of the financial system and wider economy. However, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja on March 2, 2020 issued an order absolute. By the order made by Justice Ekwo, the CBN Governor was to order the release of the judgment sum from the account of First Bank. While reacting to the latest judgment of the Supreme Court, the respondents’ lawyer, Nwosu hailed the court for protecting the dignity and integrity of the nation’s judiciary by its decision, despite alleged moves by Shell to ridicule it. Nwosu noted that the judgment sum, “as at today, with the interest running, is in the neighbourhood of N182 billion.” He expressed displeasure with the alleged plot by the CBN to frustrate the execution of the garnishee order absolute got against the account of First Bank by the victims/judgment creditors in their bid to execute the judgment. But Shell in a swift reaction, disputed the amount. The oil giant said the ruling of the Supreme Court did not decide liability or the size of the award. It also denied responsibility for the oil spill in the community, insisting that it was caused by ‘third parties’ during the Nigerian Civil War. It said: “This spill was caused by third parties during the Nigerian Civil War, a challenging period which resulted in significant damage to oil and gas infrastructure in the region. “While SPDC does not accept responsibility for these spills, the affected sites in the Ebubu community were fully remediated. “The claimants have, at their own admission in court, materially miscalculated and overstated the value of the award previously sought in this case. “The ruling of the Supreme Court did not decide liability or the size of the award, which remains in dispute in other ongoing court proceedings. “It is our position that any attempt to enforce payment should not be permitted. It is regrettable that the legal process in this case has focused for so long on procedural issues and not the merits of the case. We have always maintained that we are ready to defend this case based on the available facts.” From the position of Shell that the ruling of the Supreme Court did not decide liability or the size of the award, it is obvious that the case is not yet over despite several judgments. The next battle could be for the courts to determine the actual liability or the size of the award.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER 'ECEMBER 20, 2020

BUSINESS/ENERGY

Confronting Global Oil Market Headwinds Emmanuel Addeh writes on how an attempt to proffer solutions to the crisis currently besetting the global oil market, brought together key decision makers and stakeholders in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, last week, in a virtual meeting

rguably,noyearlike2020, has more aptly conveyed the volatility and unpredictability of the global crude oil market, which has left many countries and companies struggling for survival. Since March, the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic succeeded in reversing nearly all the positive momentum in oil prices garnered before then, leaving in its trail a pessimistic oil demand outlook on the back of severe oversupply. For the oil industry, in terms of pricing, it was double whammy as demand totally collapsed and oil prices began a downward spiral, at a point hitting rock bottom and finally falling into the negative zone. Aside travel restrictions due to containment efforts which affected movement, leading to the shutting down of crude oil-dependent businesses as well as all forms of transportation involving the use of fuel, the price war between Russia and SaudiArabia, further exacerbated an already bad situation. What was thought a fundamentally public health crisis eventually led to an economic recession as the COVID-19 pandemic began to deal a huge blow on the country’s revenue sources, a large chunk of which comes from crude oil sales. Data from the budget office, indicates that crude oil was about 62 per cent of government revenues and 77 per cent of export earnings in 2019, thus, Nigeria has found itself grappling with a dual crisis – an oil crash and the pandemic with all its attendant economic ramifications. With an initial $57 per barrel projection, the country subsequently reviewed the budget oil price benchmark to $28 per barrel for 2020 and production was revised downwards to 1.8million barrels per day (mbpd) from 2.18 mbpd due to curbs imposed by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). In the midst of all the chaos, the Nigeria Oil and Gas Conference & Exhibition (NOG), an annual event, which provides a platform for the international energy industry to interact with Nigerian oil and gas decision makers , last week offered yet another opportunity for key players to discuss the myriad of problems and the possible solutions. Prominent players in the global oil and gas industry, including the Secretary General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Dr Sanusi Barkindo and the Minister of State, Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, assessed the state of the sector, agreeing that urgent decisions must be taken to ensure its survival. Speaking during the conference, Barkindo who chaired the occasion, recalled the catastrophe visited on the global oil and gas industry by the COVID-19 pandemic and oversupply of inventory from April this year, stressing that Nigeria’s exports plunged by 77 per cent in just three months. Also present at the event tagged “Fortifying the Nigerian Oil & Gas Industry for Economic Stability & Growth” were the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, Director of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr Sarki Auwalu and Managing Director, Nigeria LNG, Mr Tony Attah. In attendance also at the ceremony was the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr Simbi Wabote. Barkindo, noted , however, that in the last couple of months the oil and gas industry in Nigeria has rebounded by over 116 per cent due to what he said were robust decisions taken by key stakeholders, including President Muhammadu Buhari, who he said played a pivotal role in the OPEC Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) document. “Nigerian crude oil export earnings plunged by 77 per cent within three months between January to April 2020, but since then they have gradually improved and rebounded by 116 per cent in November compared toApril 2020 levels. “The government should be applauded for its

Barkindo

quick and robust actions. From the perspective of OPEC, I would also wish to express our deep gratitude to President Buhari, who has long been an advocate of OPEC in its overarching commitment to market stability,” he stated. He posited that the government’s proactive responsewitheconomicstimuluspackageshelped protect the economy from a more severe contraction, adding that Nigeria is now consistently regardedasoneofthemostadmiredandrespected members of the OPEC family, particularly in the realm of consensus building. Describing the impact of COVID-19 on the global oil and gas market as unprecedented, the OPEC boss stated that today, the world faces a new wave of infections and renewed lockdowns in many regions. “Let me quote from OPEC’s January 2020 Monthly Oil Market Report published at the beginning of this year. In that report, global economic growth was at a positive 3.1 per cent for 2020. For this year, total world oil demand was projected to rise from 99.77 mb/d in 2019 to 100.98 mb/d. “Only a few weeks later the world plunged into an unparalleled health crisis that has had severe implications on every aspect of our lives. The economy plunged into a deep recession. “The global economy is now forecast to shrink by 4.3 per cent in 2020; all OECD economies are forecast to see a contraction, and all countries in Africa are anticipated to see a drop in GDP too. China is the only major economy expected to witness growth in 2020,” Barkindo lamented. He stated that with the latest estimations for the year 2020, overall oil demand will contract by 9.8 mb/d to average 90 mb/d, an overall loss of about 10 per cent. Barkindo emphasised that as part of efforts to revamp the market, last Thursday, OPEC member countries and participants in the DoC decided to reconfirm the existing commitment of the DoC decision from April 12, amended in June and September 2020, and to gradually return 2 mb/d to the market, with effect from January 1, 2021. “StartinginJanuary2021,participatingcountries will adjust production by 500,000 tb/d from 7.7 mb/d to 7.2 mb/d. Additionally, the meeting decided to hold monthly OPEC and non-OPEC ministerial meetings starting in January 2021 to assess market conditions. “It will also determine further production adjustments on a month-by-month basis while the compensation period for overproduction by DoC participating countries was also extended until the end of March 2021 to ensure full com-

Slyva

pensation,” he added. The former NNPC GMD said between May and October, participating OPEC and non-OPEC countries contributed to reducing the global supply by approximately 1.6 billion barrels, including voluntary adjustments, which has been key to market rebalancing. Drawing from the World Oil Outlook (WOO) 2020, he explained that after a large drop in 2020, global primary energy demand is forecast to continue growing in the long term, increasing by a significant 25 per cent in the period to 2045. Barkindo noted: “The key drivers of this demand are the more than doubling of GDP from $121 trillion in 2019 to more than $258 trillion in 2045 and the addition of around 1.7 billion people worldwide by 2045 to a level of close to 9.5 billion. “We expect oil to retain the largest share of the energy mix throughout the forecast period, providingnearly28percentofglobalrequirements in 2045, followed by gas at around 25 per cent and coal at around 20 per cent.” In his remarks, Sylva stated that President Muhammadu Buhari was focused on cost cutting measures that will enable growth and development of the economy. “For us in the ministry’s of petroleum we are lookingattheNationalGasExpansionProgramme (NGEP) which will boost the use of natural gas in the short and medium terms. “It is also part of the plan by the federal government to shift from crude oil to gas. We have initiated efforts to improve gas accessibility and availability and boosting gas based industrialisation and promoting economic diversification. “With a proven gas reserve of over 200tcf, Nigeria has huge potential on the path to become an industrialised nation with the right policies . The federal government is committed to these programmeswhichwilldevelopgenuinepartnerships,” he noted. Sylva added that deregulation will save Nigeria N1 trillion every year, while market forces will continue to determine fuel prices. Also commenting, the NNPC GMD, Kyari, projected that the demand in the oil and gas industry will remain suppressed substantially till the end of 2020. But he noted that despite all the forecasts , oil will continue to play a significant role in the energy mix till 2050. “ So, it doesn’t mean oil will vanish. What it means is that in terms of its significance, in terms of the volumes of contribution, it will reduce as the years go by. “It is also true that many countries have made

significant business decisions in the use of fossil fuel , including the United Kingdom, which has said that no car will run on fossil fuel in the next 10 years. “This portends a huge change in the way we consume fuel and as we progress, many countries may follow. If they do and it has an impact on our production, it means that only companies and businesses that are cost efficient and are quick to get to the market will benefit from this environment. “That’s why we are bringing down cost of production so that we will become competitive and we are able to get to market earlier and remain in this game,” he stated. He said the national oil company was committed to bringing down the unit cost of oil production in the country to $10 per barrel, so as to remain competitive in the industry and deliver value to all Nigerians. He explained that the NNPC was already working hard to deepen domestic gas utilisation by putting in place the right fiscal environment and the right infrastructure in order to generate more employment and broaden Nigeria’s economy. According to the GMD, the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) was the key enabler that would ensure NNPC’s fiscal environment becomes more competitive and transparent, where investors can project into the next 30 years. Also, the DPR boss, Auwalu, noted that the department is no longer just a regulator, but an opportunity provider and business enabler. “There’s no gainsaying that oil and gas is pivotal to our economy because it accounts for 10 per cent of GDP, 65 per cent to 70 per cent in government revenues and over 80 per cent foreign exchange earnings,” he said. Managing Director, Nigeria LNG, Mr Tony Attah, argued that though Nigeria has recently ramped up its gas production activities, there’s no better time to reposition since the use of fossil fuel is becoming outdated, with countries now using alternative sources of energy like electricity to power their vehicles. “ Oil is definitely running out of time. But we are very rich in gas. So, it’s an opportunity to reposition ahead of the changing energy mix to bring about a greater future. “Look at what other countries have been able to do with their gas reserves. Australia has less than 200 TCF of gas, but it has 89 million tonnes capacity.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺ͸˜ 2020

BUSINESS/ ENERGY

Timipre-Sylva

Chris Paul

he Nigerian Petroleum Industry Bill and the Transformation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas industry in 2021: An Oil Producer Trade Section (OPTS) Perspective was the theme of the webinar put together by the Nigeria American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) last Thursday. Supported by Chevron Nigeria, the webinar had in attendance a cross section of industry experts and enthusiasts from different countries around the world. The Director General of the NACC, Sola Obadimu, anchored the programme, while the director, Downstream Gas at Chevron, Sanjay Narasimhalu, was the speaker. Dame Adebola Williams represented the President of the Chamber, Otunba Toyin Akomolafe. Although, the issue of the PIB and its importance to the Nigerian economy and the nation’s oil and gas industry particularly, has been talked about at many fora, Narasimhalu treated the topic from a fresh perspective. At the core of his position is the urgent need for government to recognise the damage duplicity of oversight and multiplicity of taxation is doing to the revenue potential of the economy through oil and gas. Bureaucracy, he said, is a major obstacle to the growth of the industry as it is stifling projects and operations. For instance, in other competitive countries, it takes about six months for projects to be approved. In Nigeria, it could take as long as 36 months. Like one eating his earnings with both hands, Nigerian government takes 80per cent of its share of Joint Venture proceeds; while it turns a deaf ear to the plea of industry players to

make-do with 55-56per cent range to be globally competitive. Meanwhile, at 42per cent and 69per cent operational and project cost in Nigeria are higher relative to the rest of the world. Narasimhalu warned that the terms of the 2020 version of the PIB for deep water could cost the country 30per cent of its production potential, drawing attention to the profile of investment that came into the industry between 2015 and 2019. With graphic illustration, he explains the volume of capital that came into the country, within the period. According to him, Nigeria has received less than 4per cent in industry investment, which is, about $3 billion unlike Guyana that has over $51 billion in the last four to five years. Nigeria’s competitiveness is driven by government’s take and cost of doing business in the country. If government earning and cost of doing business increases, the benefit that should accrue to the economy decreases. In his submission, Narasimhalu emphasised that the world was changing and Nigeria needed to change with it. With many countries in Africa and beyond, discovering oil in large quantities, investors now have a choice. Consequently, capital will move to where production cost is affordable, fiscal terms are reasonable, political environment is less volatile and corporate governance is more responsible. And so, a legislative framework that is responsive demands become the linchpin that attracts potential investors to the hydrocarbon industry. The NACC webinar, therefore, served as an urgent reminder to Nigerian government of the imperative to pass not just a PIB, but a bill that provides the appropriate legislative framework that ensures that all the variables, deliverable and dynamics that deliver a highly productive oil and gas industry. And that, he

advised, should be done without delay and with an eye for fine details that ensure a profitable oil and gas industry is achieved for Nigeria and Nigerians. Few days to the end of a dreadful year, no thanks to the COVID 19 pandemic, no time could have been more fitting to address the urgency of the passage of a reasonable bill that addresses the compelling needs of the nation’s oil and gas industry. For some reasons, no other stakeholders can appreciate the state of emergency the hydrocarbon sector has found itself enough to desperately seek the intervention of such an inclusive, functional legislative document. The industry needs to be rescued from further decline. Thus none other than the real hands and minds on the plow (the industry players), can give a clear picture of what is required and why it is needed. First, Narasimhalu works for Chevron. One of the largest oil producers in Nigeria and one of its largest investors, the company operates under a joint-venture arrangement with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for the onshore and offshore assets in the Niger Delta region. With extensive interests in multipartner deep water operations, Chevron is the operator of Agbami Field, one of Nigeria’s largest deep water discoveries. The oil company also has a nonoperated interest in the Usan Field. Through Chevron’s principal subsidiary in Nigeria, Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), the company operates and holds a 40 per cent interest in eight concessions in the onshore and nearonshore regions of the Niger Delta under a joint-venture arrangement with the NNPC. The US oil giant also does business through other subsidiaries in Nigeria. With deep water interests, ranging

from 20 to 100 percent, in three operated and six non-operated deep water blocks in Nigeria. Chevron operates the Agbami Field, which lies 70 miles (113 km) off the coast of the central Niger Delta region and spans 45,000 acres (182 sq km). Discovered in 1998, the Agbami Field is at a water depth of approximately 4,800 feet (1,463 m). Chevron has a 67.3 percent interest in the field. Agbami is a subsea development with wells tied back to a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel. The original Agbami development scope (Agbami 1, 2 and 3) is complete. To offset field decline, infill drilling continued in 2019. Chevron has a 30 percent nonoperated working interest in the Usan Field, in 2,461 feet (750 m) of water, 62 miles (100 km) off the coast of the eastern Niger Delta region. The Aparo Field and the thirdparty-owned Bonga SW Field share a common geologic structure and are planned to be developed jointly. The structure lies in 4,300 feet (1,311 m) of water, 70 miles (113 km) off the coast of the western Niger Delta region. The proposed development plan involves subsea wells tied back to an FPSO vessel. Work continues toward a final investment decision. Chevron operates and has a 55 percent interest in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 140. The block lies in roughly 8,000 feet (2,438 m) of water, 90 miles (145 km) off the coast of the western Niger Delta region, and includes the Nsiko discoveries. Chevron’s 30 per cent non-operated working interest in OML 138 includes the Usan Field and several satellite discoveries and a 27 percent interest in adjacent licenses OML 139 and OML 154. The IOC is working with the operator to evaluate development options for the multiple discoveries in the Usan area, including the Owowo Field which straddles OML 139 and OML 154. Chevron is involved in natural gas projects in the western Niger Delta and Escravos areas, including the Escravos Gas Plant (EGP), the Escravos Gas-to-Liquids (EGTL) facility and the Sonam Field Development Project. CNL operates the EGP, which has a total capacity of 680 million cubic feet per day of natural gas and LPG and a condensate export capacity of 58,000 barrels per day. Chevron and the NNPC operate the EGTL facility, a 33,000-barrel-per-day gas-to-liquids plant. This profile cuts across the industry in varying degrees and dimensions among the plethora of players in the nation’s oil and gas industry. Second, Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) is a private industry group committed to the exploration, development and production of Nigeria’s oil and gas resources in a manner that is sustainable and beneficial to the Nigerian people. Indeed, the oil and gas association represents interests of 30 oil and gas companies, operating approximately 90 per cent of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry production; in partnership with the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) or local and international lease holders. An affiliate of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), some of OPTS’ members have also made forays into new energies in-country evolving with the world’s movement towards cleaner energy and as part of its commitment to protect the environment. The Chevron-supported OPTS PIB campaign programme is another wake-up call to the Nigerian government to get its act together and pass the bill into law. While Narasimhalu succinctly delivers, point by point, why it is mandatory and the need to pass not just any PIB, but one that speaks appropriately to the requirements for the type of industry that will deliver for Nigeria and Nigerians.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺ͸˜ 2020

BUSINESS INTERVIEW UMAR IBRAHIM NDIC Examining Framework for Granting Banks Financial Assistance After an illustrious career, spanning over three decades, which saw him completing two terms as the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, formally bowed out of office a few days back. First appointed as MD/CE in 2010, his tenure was subsequently renewed by President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2016. Under his leadership, the NDIC witnessed huge transformation in the implementation of its mandate and public policy objectives. Just before his retirement, Ibrahim fielded questions from the THISDAY Team of Iyobosa Uwugiaren, Ndubuisi Francis and James Emejo, where he spoke on sundry issues in the financial sector, reliving his experiences and offering suggestions on topical issues. Excerpts:

ould you share with us your experiences throughout your stayatNDICbothasexecutive director and chief executive, especiallyyourmostchallenging moments and successes? Well,thankyouverymuch.As Ialwayssay,thejourneyislong,interesting,tedious and challenging. We thank God that we are here today.WhenIjoinedtheNDICin1989,Ithinkthere were less than a hundred of us and we were drawn fromdifferentareas;somefromthecentralbankand some from the universities and very few who had somestintinbankingandsomeofusfromthepublic sector.Andnaturally,thechallengewastosettleand extendthebusinessoftheorganisationthatwasnewly set up and we had to start from, if you like, ground zero.Wehadtocomeupwithaframeworkforbank examinationwhichwasnotthatdifficultatleastsince wecamefromthecentralbankandthepioneerMD camefromtheCentralBankofNigeria-lateMr.John Ebhodaghe,ofblessedmemory.So,weadoptedthe frameworkforbankexaminationthatwasinexistence at the CBN and he was chief bank examiner which was equivalent to a director’s position. So, that was one of the greatest tasks. Now,yourecallthatNDICwassetupasaresultor inappreciationofthederegulationandliberalisation ofthebankingsystematthetimewhichmeansthat as you know we had hundreds of banks and there was a lot of liberalisation in terms of licences of new banks and it was felt that if there was a free entry, theremustbefreebutorderlyexitofinstitutionsthat may have to be liquidated. And therefore, NDIC was established to ensure that you provide some protectionandcomfort,confidencefordepositors-so that they don’t wake up one morning and see their hard-earneddepositsgonebecauseofproblemsthat the banks might experience. As you would recall, what triggered the distress ofsomebankshadtodowiththeStructuralAdjustment Programme (SAP) which resulted in sudden devaluationofthenairawhichalsonecessitatedthe withdrawalofgovernmentdepositsfromthebanks. So,ourfirsttaskandchallengewastosettledown, know your colleagues, know your environment, know the responsibilities of the organisation and come up with a framework for doing what you are supposed to do. Now, my first assignment even as a deputy director or the most senior of the deputy directors - my first assignment was to develop a framework for granting of financial assistance and technical assistance to ailing banks and I headed a whole department that was called Financial and Technical Assistance Department and that was a bigger and new challenge because hitherto the CBN was granting some kind of assistance usually a short-term liquidity support for the banks - just as youwouldgotoyourbankandobtainanoverdraft. Buthere,wehadtodeveloparobustcomprehensive frameworkthatwoulddeterminewhichbankwould getwhatassistanceandunderwhatcondition.Sothat tookustotheUSFederalReserveBankparticularly theFederalDepositInsuranceCorporationtolearn the ropes and we developed the templates among other things. Another area had to do with bank liquidation. Bank liquidation was never undertaken until then andasyouknow,thenormalthingthatfornon-bank institutions,itistohireconsultants,accountantsand appointthemtowinduptheaffairsoftheinstitutions. So, bankingbeingaspecialisedinstitutionanddeposit insurancebeinghighlyspecialised,weweresaddled with the responsibility of again, coming out with a policyforliquidationofbanks-underwhatthreshold mustyouliquidateabankand howdoyougoabout

Ibrahim

it. So, the law establishing NDIC has given it that mandatetoliquidatebanksinextremecircumstances. So, these were the challenging moments ab initio andmovingforward,wesettleddown,facedthejob and as fate would have it, I think barely two years after, NDIC was established, we were confronted with the need to start liquidating banks following what I told you. Some banks clearly could not cope with the certain changes in the environment. They had their own internal issues. At times, they experience internal boardroom squabbles, fights, insiderdealings,frauds,incompatiblehumanbeings being on the board, element of greed, giving loans that went bad for whatever reasons; some of them genuine reasons and so on. So, we were faced with the task of undertaking multiple bank liquidation which was never done in the country before and even in most African countries for that matter. So that required a lot of leadership, a lot of skills and expertise and transparency because there must be good reasons for the CBN, in the first instance, to withdraw a bank licence and for the NDIC to be appointed as a liquidator by a competent court or authorities. So, it was very challenging as we had to undertake some kind of assessments.As soon as you put liquidation in motion, you want to go into the bank, take stock of whatever is there in terms of assets,loans,advances,physicalassetsandwhathave you, so that you take steps in due course to recover theloans,sellassets,determinethedepositors,verify

themandyoustartpayingthemimmediatelybecause that is the essence of reimbursement so that again, somebody’sdepositsmaybeN100,000,N200,000or N300, 000 would not be just there for donkey years beforehegetspaid.Ifthathappens,youcan’tknock at his door or his neighbour’s door and say they need to keep your money safely in the bank - for what? I mean he would ask you. Or I’ll rather keep it under my pillow or in my garage or store so that tomorrow I can always collect my money - I don’t trust these banks - if they go under, who’s there for me? So NDIC is there and that is the essence of it. So these were part of the teething problems but thank Godwemanagedtoscalethroughandestablished our mark and in the later years as you know we witnessed the failed bank era of failed bank decree which resulted in the establishment of failed banks tribunal. That was a very big challenge - some of us wereinvolvedintheestablishmentofthetribunals, inprovidingsupportforthem,inensuringthatthey hadcomprehensiverecordsthatthepoliceneededto undertakeinvestigationsbeforeprosecutionwould besuccessfullyundertakenandasyouknow,alotof thecaseswereprosecuted,IthinkWehadabouthalf adozentribunalsinvariouspartsofthecountryand wehadalotofcollaborationwiththepoliceandwith thejudiciaryallwithaviewtosanitisingthesystem toensurethatthosewhocontributedtothecollapse ofthebankswerebroughttobookandalotofsuccess wasrecordedinthat.Andwhatwasimportanttome

againisprofessionalism,transparencyandfairness and equity. After all, all of us had to appear before the tribunals - NDIC, police and the lawyers and it was left for the tribunals to judge who was wrong andwhatpunishmenttobemetedtotheperson,the institutions and that era resulted in what you may call unveiling of the veil because people at that time were hiding under companies - saying I am just a shareholderorIamjustadirector-butwhenthechips weredown,whowerethosebehindthecompanies? Sotheywereunveiled,theywereexposedandifyou remember, some big names were exposed in this country. So that helped to sanitise the system and withtheadvanceofdemocracy,thelawwaschanged andthewholestructurewaschangedandthepolice andEFCCmoreorlesstookoverinvestigationand prosecution of those cases. But we still have a team rightfromthattimecomprisingEFCC,CBN,NDIC, the ministry of justice, and the Nigeria Police that arestillsaddledwithinvestigationsofsomeofthese cases.Alotofthemfreshcaseswhichwerefertothem. Sir, what has been your relationship with the CBN in your efforts to sanitise the banking system? Well, our relationship is obviously collaborating right from the inception of the Corporation. Before the inception of the Corporation and before the establishment of what is called the Explicit Deposit InsuranceSystem,theCBNwasprovidingsomekind ofimplicitprotectiontodepositors.ButlikeIsaid,with

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺ͸˜ 2020

Some Banks Still Carrying Legacy Bad Loans Traceable to Oil & Gas Sector thederegulationandliberalisationandexplosionof banks,andtheproblemsthatwereforeseenduetothe StructuralAdjustment Programme, that regime of implicitimpliedgivingdepositorprotectionandwas changedtoanexplicitonethatisprovidedforbythe lawandwithcertainconditions.So,ourrelationship has always been collaborative; we were like ‘bond’ in quote with the Central Bank of Nigeria. Our late chiefexecutive,JohnEbhodaghecamefromtheCBN and he was a chief bank examiner before and we wereveryluckytohavehimandwewereextremely luckytohavethelikesofchairman,lateAbdulkadir AhmedwhowasgovernoroftheCBNandwhowas the chairman of the board of NDIC. So, the board comprised the CBN governor and chairman, we haverepresentativesfromtheministryoffinanceas well as the CEO and two other executive directors. So the NDIC is like a child born by the CBN and ourrelationshipcontinuestobethatofcollaboration. Under our law, we are empowered to independently examine the banks, issue them instructions in accordance with the law, the BOFIA as well as directives or prudential regulations that are being issuedbytheCBN.Now,onethingisclear-andthis is an area of contention which can bring about an unnecessary misunderstanding and as far as our relationship with the CBN is concerned. We have always conceded that as far as the arrangement is concerned,theCBNistheregulator.Wearesupervisorsandwesupervisethebanks.Wedon’twakeup onemorningandsay,thisshouldbebanks’liquidity positionoryouneedmorecapitalandsoon(Iamjust giving you an example) - or this is the way foreign exchange should be managed. But they consult us because part of our mandate is to contribute to banking policy. So, in a lot of cases, before they roll out rules and regulations, we are consulted. We haveaforumwhichwasestablishedrightfromthe establishment of the Corporation - CBN/ NDIC ExecutiveCommitteeonSupervisionofBanks.So, wesitdowneveryquartertoreviewdevelopments in the industry in all its ramifications, we agree on a number of issues and we follow them through. So our relationship is collaborative and they are the apexorganisation,theylicensebanks,theywithdraw banks’licencesandsowegivesupporttothemand tothegovernmenttoensurethatthebankingsystem issafeandisstableandthatordinarydepositorsdon’t lose their money because of reckless behaviour of banks or due to certain extraneous circumstances. The NDIC had pushed for more supervisory powers by way of amendment to the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2004. You consequently made presentations before both the Senate and House of Representatives committees during the public hearing on the amendment bill which was eventually signed into law by the president.To what extent does the new regulation meet your expectations? Thisisthesituation.Ourboardisstillexaminingit. Youheardme;IjustspokewiththeministerandIsaid IwillseeheronTuesday.So,therearesomeissuesthat we really need to take on board and iron out so that ourresponsibilityandfunctionsandpowersarenot inanywayjeopardisedintheinterestofthestability of the banking system otherwise we are okay. .As you recall, we were at the public hearing; we stated ourviewsandthecentralbankandallotherparties were there and at the end of the day what came out of it, to be honest in certain areas doesn’t meet our expectations. But when we raised the issues, we were given every assurance that don’t bother, it would not be the way you think. That things will continue to be done smoothly without prejudice to the roles and responsibilities and powers of NDIC asenshrinedinourAct.Butthen,asthelawyerswill tell you, the provisions of BOFIA as it is overrides the provisions of the NDIC Act should there be a conflict. But that is the truth- and to that extent, we would like to see the areas that we are not happy with. We like to see how that could be tackled. You eitherlookattheBOFIAagainormakecertainstatements that in this or that section, the NDIC Act as it is prevails. That kind of statement, which means you may have to amend the BOFIA. So this is the situation. Our board is still examining it.You heard me, I just spoke with the minister and I said I will seeheronTuesday.Sotherearesomeissuesthatwe reallyneedtotakeonboardandironoutsothatour responsibility and functions and powers are not in anywayjeopardisedintheinterestofthestabilityof the banking system, otherwise we are okay. What would you attribute to the current drop in Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) in the banking industry? One,youneedtounderstandthatloansaregiven for the purposes of helping those who collect the loans to do their business, utilise them, make some moneyandyoupaysothatboththeborrowerandthe lenderarehappyintheinterestofwhateverbusiness they want to undertake. Now, many factors could be attributed to non-performing loans and some of them could be instances where, may be, the loan administration or management is faulty in the first place. May be you have not strictly followed the rulesofthegame,youtakeunduerisks-somebody who doesn’t seem to have the capacity of utilising

Ibrahim

say N10 million or N20 million - but because the chairman knows him or a director knows him or somebodyelse,hewilltaketheriskandgivehimN20 million - and he doesn’t have collateral in case there isaproblemormaybethecollateralisoverestimated for whatever reason. Maybehedoesn’tevenhavethecharacterevenif hehasthecollateral,hedoesn’thavetheexperience, he doesn’t have the business acumen and yet you take that risk. So that is dead on arrival. Butitcouldalsobethathehasgoodbusinessplan andverygoodintentionsandcharacterandwilling andabletopayhisloanbutsuddenlythereisachange inhisownbusinessenvironmentorthereisadisaster -itcouldbeflood,itcouldbeCOVID-19anditcould be changes in government policies. Maybe, he is a rice farmer and suddenly he opens the floodgate and you have smuggled rice. So, there are many factors. Particularly as you know, with the oil and gassector,someofthebanksarestillcarryinglegacy badloanstraceabletotheoilandgassector.Andyou know the oil and gas sector has been very messy in thiscountryforseveralyears.Fromtheimportation of petroleum products, pricing, and subsidy - all of thesehavedied.Alsoenergy:thosewhoborrowed moneytobuydistributioncompaniesarenowfinding it difficult to pay for many reasons. The tariffs are low, consumers are not paying, there is insecurity andthereisgeneralproblemintheeconomy,Imean, business will suffer. So,it’sacombinationofallthesefactorsthatmakes it difficult even for banks to lend now. That’s why they are awash - there are in so much liquidity and theywillratherkeepthatliquidityorgofortreasury billsandsoon,whichthegovernmentisdiscouraging.And a lot of the banks that were liquidated that we just discussed went under mostly as a result of bad loans that were recklessly given in some cases. Sir,how much of consumer conﬁdence is currentlyleftinthebankingsystemespeciallygiven the huge disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic globally? As the outgoing MD of the corporation,what are your recommendations to strengthen the supervisory and regulatory framework in the industry? Ofcourse,itshouldalwaysbethecaseanywhere in the world. If you don’t have confidence in the financialsectororthebankingsector,theconsequences are obvious like I told you - you and I will keep our money at home - the banks will not lend to you if they don’t have confidence in you and you cannot gotothebankandaskforaloanandsoitisavicious cycle. So confidence will generate a vicious cycle, a win-winforeverybodyforthebankinginstitutions or for the financial sector - whether it is insurance or pensionandbankingorwhathaveyou.Confidence

is key in any relationship and banking is founded, above all, on the basis of trust and confidence. Ithinkglobally,supervisorsandregulatorsneed to continuously sharpen their skills and capacities andshowmoreunderstandingoftherapidchanges in financial landscape, the intrusion of technology andtechnologydrivenproductsandserviceswhich havedisruptedthetraditionalchannelsoffinancial intermediation. Thesemustbereckonedwith.It’saboutbringing aboutsomekindofequilibriumbetweenpromotion of innovation and ensuring that the innovation is withinlimits,understoodandmanagedsothatthe entire system is not threatened. Particularly for us in the third world, a lot of the talks now all over hastodowiththeemergenceofFintechs-financial companiesthatofferallmannersoffinancialservices to you and I and they are not necessarily banks. Andtheyarenotnecessarilydeposittakinginstitutions and yet they are players, call them shadow banks.Youcanborrowinaminuteusingyourphones andrepayandtheycaneasilytrackyourrecordusing your phone number - so it’s about transparency in thewholemannerwhichwetransactanddealwith one another in life now. There’s almost no hiding place- as we speak. Somebody can Google and see us here and you can’t tell your banker that sorry I am not in Abuja, I am in Lagos because he can see you in your bedroom if he likes. So, the task for everybody,whetheryouareinJapanorUSorRussia or Uganda or Nigeria - it’s almost the same as far as the provision of financial services is concerned. Understand the game, understand the products and services, the tools that are used, monitor them effectively, encourage innovation don’t stifle it and at the same time regulate it so that there’s fair play. Apointofcourseistheemergenceofthepandemic globally.Variousgovernmentsthroughtheircentral banks,ministriesoffinance,depositinsuranceinstitutionswheretheyexist,haveadoptedvariouspolicies tosupporttherevivaloftheireconomiesandtoshore up confidence in their systems by strengthening regulationsandsupervision,byrelaxingsomerules andregulationswherenecessary,byinjectingfunds whichcentralbanksdoalloverbycomingupwith moniesforpalliatives. COVID-19loansintheUSare cheap loans that are given to the SMEs, to the poor and we have all manners of COVID-19 type loans here in Nigeria as you know which is being issued either by the CBN or the ministry of humanitarian affairs or the National Directorate of Employment or many other arms of government and they are largely long term, not quite interest-free but low interest and long-term to refill the economy and get us out of recession, if you like. Now, this as far as the fiscal authorities are concerned, the monetary authorities, the CBN is, we

know,alsoparticipateinensuringthatthebanksstill staysafeandstillgiveloans,stillhelptheeconomyso thatitisnotstrangulated.Butatthesametimetheydo itinasafeandsoundmanner.TheCBN,forinstance, has encouraged the banks to look at the totality of their loans (these NPLs we are talking about); what are the causes of the problems? In which sectors are they---manufacturing,services,hotels,transport,oil and gas? Look at how hard the sectors are hit and restructure the loans by giving them more time to pay, so that at the end of the day, you don’t overkill. So, generally speaking, all hands must be on deck by the banks, the government, the CBN, deposit insurance.And coming to deposit insurance, what is happening is that in recognition of the possible severedistressthatsomeofthebanksmayexperience, whether they are microfinance banks or primary mortgagebanksorthebigdepositmoneybanks.In anticipation of that in some areas and in some parts of the world, they are now ready, may be, to grant someconcessiontothepremiumtheycollecteither by deferring. If you are supposed to pay on the dot DecemberorJanuaryeveryyearbutbecauseofthese experiences, we give you up to six months more or three months more to pay or we stagger it. Or we even give you like two, three per cent discount on your premium. So, there are lots of issues around this and a lot of policies are being adopted. Here in Nigeria as far as NDIC is concerned, we are also looking at our framework for granting of financial assistance to these banks. If a bank comes tosay, wehaveissuedsomuchloans,andnextyear wemaynotmakemuchandsothisyourpremium wemaynotbeabletopay100percentataparticular time, can you give us more time - or can you give us a rebate. We will think in terms of that but if they come to us and say can you grant us temporary financial support or liquidity support so that we meetourobligationstoourdepositors?Themoment you go to a bank and they say come tomorrow or a day after - you are sending a wrong signal and what you spread is that something is wrong with that bank.And before you know it everybody will want to withdraw their money. Part of our responsibility is to consider granting of such financial assistance or temporary liquidity assistancetoadeservingbank.Iusedtheword‘deserving’ bank because the trick here is what constitutes a deserving bank?You run short of money or your capitalisgone,yourshareholderscannotraiseshares now, we will look at all the issues and see whether you deserve it. We must satisfy ourselves that you didnotrecklesslyanddeliberatelyalmostrunyour bankagroundandthencometomeandsaysupport me. No. It’s your business, you have been given a licenceintrust.Yourjobistobecapableandsoyouare expectedtorunthatbanksuccessfullyandprofitably.

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EVENT

Celebrities That Hugged Headlines in 2020 (2) In a year that has seen the good, the bad, and the ugly, celebrities didn’t fail to make it almost unforgettable, writes Vanessa Obioha

acting in Kunle Afolayon’s sex for Grade movie ‘Citation’. Temi played the lead role, Moremi, and starred alongside Nollywood greats like Sadiq Daba, Joke Silva, and the Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria, Ibukun Awosika.

Kenneth Ize

After emerging a finalist on the LVMH Prize — a top fashion competition that honours and supports young fashion designers around the world — in 2019, Kenneth Ize, a young fashion entrepreneur and designer won 2020 Arise Fashion Week ‘30 Under 30’ competition. The designer who works with artisans mainly is known for his colourful designs and use of hand-woven asoke fabrics. He emerged the winner from a pool of 30 contestants at the fashion show which for the first time put the spotlight on young designers only. Ize walked home with $100,000.

Blessing Amidu

With over a decade’s experience in the oil and gas sector, Blessing Amidu, a geologist made history by producing and releasing the first feature-length animation in local and international cinemas in Nigeria. The animated film ‘LadyBuckit and the Motley Mopsters’ stars Jessica Edwards, Bimbo Akintola, Patrick Doyle and Kalu Ikeagwu.

Fireboy DML

Since last year, Fireboy DML has been steadily solidifying his place in the music industry. This year he took it a notch higher with the release of his album ‘Apollo’. The album got raving reviews and positions Fireboy DML as one of the promising voices on the music scene. He earned a nomination in the Best Male Artist category in the upcoming MTV Africa Music Awards alongside Nigerian musical artistes Burna Boy and Rema.

DJ Cuppy Temi Otedola

Ramsey Nouah

Omah Lay

The year 2020 has been a bittersweet experience for the fast-rising artiste, Omah Lay. Before his recent arrest in Uganda over an unauthorized concert, the young star was the name on most lips following the viral success of his song ‘You’. On July 3, Lay was picked as the debut star for Apple’s Africa Rising Campaign which spots talent in Africa and projects them all through the continent and internationally. ‘Bad Influence’, another song of his, was named the Top Song of 2020 by Apple Music. The icing of the year was his nomination on the MTV Africa Music Awards 2021. He was nominated in the Breakthrough Act category. However, the recent event in Uganda is like a dampener to the rosy success he enjoyed, such that the young man tweeted while still in police custody in Uganda: “Is there something bigger at play in Uganda? Why do I have to take the fall for it?”

Kenim Obaigbena

While the movie industry struggled with the closure of cinemas, Kenim Obaigbena, filmmaker and daughter of Publisher of THISDAY Newspaper, Nduka Obaigbena, made the audacious move to launch a streaming service, StreamOVG. She described it as a digital marketplace that provides edutainment content for audiences in West Africa and Diaspora. The platform offers a myriad of documentaries and shows that illuminate African culture, history, business, and politics.

Blessing Amidu

Charles Oputa

Omah Lay

DJ Cuppy

2020 has been a remarkable year for the female disc jockey and daughter of Nigerian oil mogul, Femi Otedola. Her biggest deal of the year was becoming the first African to host a radio show on Apple Music, one of the world’s biggest audio streaming services. The announcement was made in May and so far, Cuppy has hosted an array of Nigeria’s music stars including Davido, Reekado Banks, WurlD, and Ghanaian artiste Stonebwoy, on the show tagged Apple Music’s Africa Now.

Kenneth Ize

She was listed on the newly launched Apple Music’s Holiday Sounds, a playlist featuring top artistes from sub-Saharan Africa and international celebrities. This year also saw the disc journey releasing her debut album ‘Original Copy’ which had the raved hit ‘Jollof on the Jet’.

Temi Otedola

While DJ Cuppy excelled in the music industry, her sister, Temi Otedola, a fashion blogger and avid traveller added a new hat to her career. She made her debut

The musician-turned-rights activist made headlines last November when he openly talked about his struggles with accepting his daughter’s sexuality when she revealed she was a lesbian. His long post on Instagram detailed the gamut of emotions he felt on hearing the news; from confusion to acceptance, after realising that having a gay daughter was not entirely a result of bad parenting. However, his daughter, Dewy, countered his statement a few hours later. According to her, her father kicked her out of the house and left her homeless. She saw his post as ‘gaslighting’ and pretentious because his father no longer picks her calls.

Charles Okpaleke

With the success of the sequel to the Nollywood

T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R ˾ Ͱͮ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

EVENT

Celebrities Who Hugged Headlines in 2020 (2) classic, ‘Living in Bondage,’ Nollywood big shot and owner of Play Network, Charles Okpaleke, has invested more time and money in sequels and remakes. Two notable productions of his this year were the remakes of ‘Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story’ and ‘Nneka The Pretty Serpent.’ He is said to be working on an original, ‘The Six,’ slated for 2021.

Ramsey Nouah

Ramsey started this year with his Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award Best Director win for his debut film, ‘Living in Bondage: Breaking Free’, a sequel to the Nollywood classic ‘Living in Bondage’. Flexing his directorial skills, he jumped on two productions from Play Network Studios, ‘Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story’ and ‘Nneka The Pretty Serpent.’ He co-directed the latter.

Ada Ameh

Lovable TV and film actress, Ada Ameh, on October 20 lost her only child. She was said to have died after surgery in Abuja. Fans of the family comedy TV series where Ameh plays a motherly character took to social media to express their sympathy to the actress.

Fireboy Dml

Desmond Ovbiagele

Ada Ameh

A few months ago, the name Desmond Ovbiagele conjured no image. But since the former investment banker and lawyer’s second film, ‘The Milkmaid,’ was announced as Nigeria’s submission for the 2021 Oscars in the International Feature Film category, his name is on many lips. The film is a Hausa language-based thriller on insurgency, especially as it affects women and children in sub-Saharan Africa. Inspired by the image on Nigeria’s N10 note, the film tells the story of a Fulani milkmaid who confronts extremists in a rural African community, in a quest to locate her missing sister, and how efforts to recapture her disrupted past prove complicated.

Regina Daniels

The controversial actress and wife of billionaire Ned Nwoko finally put to bed this year. The young actress gave birth to a baby boy on June 29. Charly Boy

Tope Alabi

A paternity scandal involving the gospel singer erupted on social media last November when one Mayegun Olaoye claimed to be the father of her daughter, Ayomikun. He alleged that the singer has denied him access to her. However, in an interview with Punch Newspaper, Ayomikun openly declared that the only father she will ever know is Soji Alabi, the husband of her mother.

Kwam 1

In the peak of the coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria, the rumour mill ran a story on an alleged love affair between Fuji maestro, Wasiu Ayinde, more known as Kwam 1, and Olori Ajoke, one of the wives of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III. Both parties later debunked the news, citing it as the work of detractors and rumour mongers eager to vilify the name of the musician. But in October, the musician was in the news again. This time, for allegedly assaulting a popular radio presenter and event anchor, Wole Sorunke, a.k.a. MC Murphy at the 60th birthday party of the Olu of Itori, Oba Abdulfatai Akamo, in the Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State over what the accuser termed a minor issue. Calls to strip Kwam 1 of his Mayegun title were made but again, the Fuji maestro denied the allegation and accused Sorunke of maligning his character.

Regina Daniels

Cynthia Morgan

Kwam 1

Tope Alabi

Since the rebirth of the dancehall artiste who is now known as Madrina, little has been seen of her music career. Yet, in May, she accused Jude Okoye, former manager of the defunct music group, P-Square, of wrecking her career while she was under his label. By November, reports surfaced that the singer had taken legal actions against Okoye, demanding a full account of income and expenditure from her intellectual property by the defendant, and if Okoye is found guilty of ripping her off, should be made to pay her for any amount owed.

˜ ˾ DECEMBER 20, 2020

MARKET NEWS

Japaul Oil Changes Name to Japaul Gold & Ventures Goddy Egene

(NSE) has implemented the change in the name of Japaul Oil & Maritime Services Plc to

The Nigerian Stock Exchange 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

Japaul Gold & Ventures Plc. In a notification to dealing members, the NSE the name

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 17Dec-2020, unless otherwise stated.

change is in line with the approval of the shareholders of the company at its annual

general meeting on 29 July 2020 and the receipt by the company of a new certificate

of incorporation from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Dollar Fund N/A N/A N/A ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ACAP Income Funds N/A N/A N/A 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 1.87% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.61 3.74 47.64% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 0.89% Anchoria Equity Fund 129.05 129.51 21.02% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.39 1.39 17.99% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 18.10 18.65 18.18% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 399.95 412.01 15.78% ARM Ethical Fund 33.80 34.82 16.21% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.22 1.22 21.89% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.11 1.11 11.04% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.15% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.20 2.20 17.79% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.19 2.23 41.62% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 2.52% Paramount Equity Fund 15.53 15.82 24.11% Women's Investment Fund 130.70 132.14 18.50% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.29% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 127.41 128.20 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 108.65 108.65 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 0.62% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.17 1.18 26.03% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.68 1.68 26.27% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 0.89% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 0.89% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,208.13 1,222.90 8.90% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,441.28 1,442.97 21.61% FBN Balanced Fund 183.79 185.16 25.18% FBN Halal Fund 110.10 110.12 10.10% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.35% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 121.28 121.67 7.41% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 121.45 121.85 7.03% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 148.34 150.59 13.99% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy USD Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 3,741.80 3,781.65 22.76% Coral Income Fund 3,269.64 3,269.94 6.52% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 2.53% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.34% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 126.87 127.40 17.91%

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 2.03% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.81 2.87 28.47% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 7.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 156.04 156.97 8.92% 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 1.39 1.41 23.23% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,151.92 1,151.92 10.68% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.59 1.62 28.96% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.12 12.23 7.65% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 1.82% PACAM Equity Fund 1.51 1.52 PACAM EuroBond Fund 105.30 107.68 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 128.90 131.85 13.01% 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 1.02 1.02 9.02% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,521.35 2,532.80 23.74% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 6.41% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 25.56% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 7.46% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 30.57% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.32% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 23.01% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.22 1.22 5.44% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 110.91 110.91 6.43% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Eurobond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Wealth for Women Fund N/A N/A N/A QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 12.07 12.22 17.46% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.37 13.51 15.12% Zenith Income Fund 24.99 24.99 10.01% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.87%

REITS NAV Per Share

Fund Name SFS Skye Shelter Fund

Yield / T-Rtn

120.08

6.95%

52.16

0.21%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

11.67 114.26 88.33

11.77 116.75 89.99

38.39% 20.97% 17.59%

Union Homes REIT

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

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

4.10

4.14

19.32%

Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund

5.70

5.78

-3.54%

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

15.91 1.00 16.09

16.01 1.00 16.29

32.18% 2.27% 54.33%

218.45

220.45

16.51%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.71

13.11%

Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund

Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

20.12.2020

JAY CHIKEZIE ONE NIGERIAN LEADING MEDICAL REVOLUTION Vanessa Obioha writes that despite failing his medicine course in the university, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Tremendoc Limited, Ugochukwu Jay Chikezie is living his dream to work in the medical field with the success of his telehealth solution company

nce upon a time, a young man from Umuahia, Abia State, Ugochukwu Jay Chikezie dreamt of becoming a doctor. His parents wished he would become one

too, for they noticed his proclivity to study the applied science course. Moreover, Nigerian parents take special pride in seeing their children decorated with the title ‘doctor’. It’s like a badge of honour to them. Everything was going as

according to plans. He got admission into Ebonyi State University to study medicine and was expected to graduate with flying colours. But by the end of the first year, Chikezie’s dream of becoming a medical doctor hit the wall. It was the end of the first

year and he was so confident that he passed. But on getting to the notice board where the result of passed students was pasted, his name was missing. Confused, he peered again to be sure his vision was not playing tricks on him. Nothing happened. Rather, he saw his name on the list of those who had failed and would study another course. It felt like a bad dream to him. He good motionless for a while, unable to accept his fate. Gradually, the reality that he failed his first-year exams dawned on him. “I wasn’t too good at Chemistry. I wasn’t too keen on it because I felt at the time that I didn’t need chemistry to study medicine. But getting older, I realised I was wrong,” he says. Apart from his failure in Chemistry, Chikezie modestly admitted that he was unserious too. “I also played a lot at the time and medicine requires a lot of focus and discipline which I believed I lacked.” That setback caused him a lot of heartaches. He recalled a female student taunting him as he stared at the list. “I was 17 years old then and socially popular in school. She kept making fun of me that after all my popularity, I still failed my exams.” That day, he cried. He felt he didn’t only fail his exams but also his parents. Chikezie ended up studying Microbiology but always longed to work in the medical field. “I always wanted to do something in the medical field, or maybe to prove myself, especially to my parents because they also wanted that dream for me. I thought I let them down, and I wanted to prove something.” The opportunity, however, presented itself years later. After graduation, he stumbled on technology in 2011. He was appointed the Commercial Manager of Hibuzz, the first online digital content aggregator in Nigeria. The company was a subsidiary of the defunct HiTV, Nigeria’s first indigenous pay-TV platform. After the company folded in 2011, Chikezie alongside Damilola Jegede who built the platform made a pact. Jegede was to create technological products while Chikezie marketed the products. The duo spent the next three years trying to get investors to invest in their products which ranged from music to medicine. In 2015, alongside Tokunbo Adetona, they had their first breakthrough, NairaBox, the digital lifestyle wallet that allows users to pay for their lifestyle needs conveniently. With the exposure to technology, Chikezie’s dream for medicine was fired up. He sought ways to marry financial technology and medicine. He rubbed minds with his doctor friends who worked in the UK, US and Nigeria but none had the magic idea. His son’s medical condition would, however, ignite the idea that he is

ASSISTANT EDITOR OLUFUNKE OLAODE/funkola2000@gmail.com

T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R ˾ DECE Ͱͮ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

COVER

How a Game Changer Is Living His Dream celebrated for today. “My first son was diagnosed with enlarged adenoids. What this means is that he always had a cold. He always had a runny nose. We will wake up late at night to check on him because he can’t breathe and then we will have to call a doctor,” he explains. “And sometimes,” he continues, “the doctor is unavailable. I would have to drive to the hospital to meet any doctor because we can’t reach our doctor. My wife and I knew what to do. Because we were young parents and he is our first child, we were scared of doing the wrong thing whenever it happened. “So, we always wanted to ask a professional, just to be sure that we were doing it the right way, administering the drug the right way and if we needed to drive him to the hospital because I didn’t want anything to happen and it will be registered on my conscience.” They did this practically every day until the son underwent surgery. But that incident got him thinking of millions of Nigerians who lacked access to their doctors. Chikezie realised that during his trips to the hospital, what he was seeking was reassurance from doctors. “I just realised that what I wanted was just comfort from a professional. Which is what a lot of people want when they go to the hospital, or when they try to reach a doctor. You just want a professional to tell you to take this drug, or you’re fine, or just rest. Not everybody has this access. So that’s when the idea hit me. I thought, why can’t we have a service where people will have access to doctors through a mobile app. “We can aggregate professionals or licenced doctors on them so that people who do not have access to doctors readily would have a doctor accessible to them.” The result of that thinking gave birth to the company Tremendoc Limited. It is a telehealth solution company that makes managing health and wellness easily accessible. Through the mobile app, thousands of Nigerians can have consultations either with their doctors or other doctors working with affiliated hospitals. Today, Chikezie reveals that the company has handled over 60,000 consultations since it relaunched last year. Based on demand, the platform has access to about 1,000 doctors from different parts of the country and they offer about 1,500 consultations daily. “We have different types of doctors on the platform. There are those who deal with their hospitals directly so their patients come, links them up and do follow up on Tremendoc app. And then there are some doctors who we sign up on the platform to deal with the HMOs and the individuals who just go on Tremendoc and sign up.” By putting his marketing skills in use, Chikezie has been able to secure partnerships with Hygeia and AXA Mansard, two of Nigeria’s foremost Health Management Organisations alongside other partners in the banking sector. The staggering figures give the impression of the rising demand for telemedicine, particularly during the COVID-19 induced lockdown period where many couldn’t access their doctors or hospitals. The

young entrepreneur revealed that they recorded a large number of cases on the platform, mostly COVID-19-related. To be sure, Tremendoc is not the first telemedicine app in the country, as much as Chikezie wanted it to be after carrying out his research. He, however, takes delight in educating more people on the solutions the app offers. Services rendered include talking to a doctor either by call or chat (anonymity is allowed), therapy sessions, drug prescriptions, scheduling a doctor appointment or having immediate access to general practitioners and specialists in public and private hospitals. There are plans to make fertility doctors available soon. These services have come in handy for users particularly during the recent curfew imposed in Lagos State as a result of the violence that accompanied the #EndSARS protest. Chikezie shared a testimony where a pregnant woman who went into labour in the middle of the night used the Tremendoc app to access a doctor that managed her situation till daylight when she was conveyed to the hospital and put to bed safely. “This shows you that telemedicine can solve a lot of problems,” he enthuses. Of course, telemedicine cannot replace the role of hospitals, saying: “it is better to have a professional at your beck and call than not to have at all.” He argued that what telemedicine does is to fill the huge gap that exists between doctors and patients, especially in Nigeria where doctors are poorly paid and health facilities are crowded because of lack of personnel to attend to them. “Ninety per cent of doctors in Nigeria today are writing exams to leave the country because of the poor condition of the health sector. Those who are paid relatively well are owed salaries. You can tell that doctors going on strike is a daily occurrence in Nigeria. “But with telemedicine, patients can get across to doctors. You can have a doctor in Cross River State attending to a patient in Niger State or any other state. So there’s that gap that we’re closing slowly with the more people are aware of this service. “Let’s also remember that 70% of the treatments or the illnesses or ailments that are reported in hospitals can be solved via telemedicine.” To a large extent, Tremendoc has recorded success within its short time of operation. His main target is to get 100,000 consultations before the end of the year. Nowadays, when he looks back at his past, he smiles. He remembered incorporating Tremendoc in 2017 and by 2018, the company crashed. Everyone deserted him, he was left with one employee. Even his investors thought he had lost his mind but he believed in the greatness of his company. So he counted his mistakes, rolled up his sleeves and whipped the company back to shape. Today, he boasts a staff strength of 25 and has doctors waiting on the queue to be signed to his platform. You can call that the magic work of Providence but Chikezie sees it as the divine work of the Supreme One. He may not have studied medicine but he is leading a revolution in the medical field. “I am excited about what is happening now, but I’m not surprised. I obviously knew it was going to be great. I’m not fulfilled yet. We haven’t scratched the surface. We are just getting started,” he admits.

CHIKEZIE

“I am excited about what is happening now, but I’m not surprised. I obviously knew it was going to be great. I’m not fulﬁlled yet. We haven’t scratched the surface. We are just getting started,” he admits.

COVER 2 ˜ ˾ DECEMBER 20, 2020

How do you feel being Terry Waya’s son and does he inspire you?

feel like a god amongst humans. That’s the assurance he gives me. My dad had been a massive icon in my life. What he’s done for the country, what he’s done for the family and himself, the amount he’s achieved up until this point is nothing but short of spectacular. I learn new things from my uncles and friends about my dad every single day. He discovered Banana Island. I learn a lot of new things and he inspires me in very different ways. He’s an awesome person. It’s big shoes to fill, but I like to feel I am on the right trajectory. If I could just be one-tenth of the person he is, then I’ll be happy.

Being a controversial man, do you think your dad is misunderstood? I don’t think he cares. He’s always done what he wants. He’s always been who he is. He came from a very humble beginning and made himself into something huge today. I don’t think he cares if people understand him or not, but I think that’s more of a question to ask him because I’m not really sure people think he’s misunderstood. What I do know is that even if they do, he wouldn’t even care. Who will Kiddwaya be without the inﬂuence of his dad? I’ll be the same person. First of all, I don’t think you can tie your success to anyone else aside from God. God first, yourself second. I think any other person is a bonus or an extra. Of course, I owe my dad a lot in life where he’s got me to. But I’ve got myself to this point now. I owe it to myself, my team, and God. No one can be the driving force behind your success because first of all if you did get success, you need to be able to convince yourself to become successful and it comes from your thinking. You don’t need a rich mother or father in life to go far in life. You just need ambition, opportunity, and a bit of luck.

TERSEER KIDDWAYA MY VIEWS ABOUT WINE, WOMEN AND THE WORLD Twenty-seven-year-old Terseer Kiddwaya, son of Terry Waya, a business mogul from Benue State, an entrepreneur, and Nottingham Trent University graduate, talks about life, ambition, and career in this interview with Adedayo Adejobi

How did you arrive at showbiz, entertainment, and the recent TV reality show? Prior to that, I was doing much of these things anyway. I had a lot of powerful friends, political friends, and those in show business and the entertainment industry. I was behind the scene. Big brother provided me with the platform to put myself out there. I didn’t choose it. It chose me. I gave a lot of thanks to the fans who have made me popular. I’m grateful to them for extra motivation. I owe a lot of thanks and love to them for them being the driving force. They are the reason why I’m here. Being in the industry is interesting. You see things differently compared to what you see on television. You also meet a lot of interesting people. So far it’s been fun and I definitely owe it to the fans. Before you relocated to Nigeria, what were you doing in the United Kingdom? Mainly facing my studies. I had my primary, secondary, college, and university education in the United Kingdom. Did anything change with your being

ASSISTANT EDITOR OLUFUNKE OLAODE/funkola2000@gmail.com

DECEMBER Ͱͮ˜ ͰͮͰͮ ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

COVER 2

Why I Feel Like a God among Humans do, rents to pay, bills to pay, and loads of expectations. So this life, in general, is very lonely. I feel that everyone is lonely, but we always find a way to fill the void by going out, drinking, partying with friends, going on holidays, and having friends around us. We just find ways to make us feel like we are not lonely but really we are.

on the reality show? I trust people a lot less now. I now have a bigger target on my back. Apart from that, I’m still the same kid. People who know me can attest to the fact that I don’t form or brag. I don’t try to be someone I’m not. Was there any time the name Terry Waya opened for or slammed a door against you? A lot of doors get opened for me because of my dad and that’s because of the incredible things he’s done for a large number of people in this country. My dad is someone who’ll do something for you and not charge a penny. He does it from the goodness of his heart and you can ask most of his business and political friends. Bear in mind most of these relationships go about 20 to 30 years. He builds lifetime relationships, so these men when they see his son, they accord the same level of goodwill to me. They say my dad did some good things for them years before I was born. My dad works behind the scene without telling me he’s done it for me. I’ll be lying if I told you his name didn’t open doors for me, and I’m grateful for that. One thing that people should understand is that it’s one thing having a door open for you, it’s another thing staying in that room, yes door opened for me but you have to have the personality, the characteristic, the charisma to stay in that room. As far as you have a very strong mind and they have to like you and that boils down to me: how I carry myself. I’m very good with people. I understand people. I understand human behaviour. I know the right things to say. I have a good understanding of my environment. I’m well-cultured and well-travelled. I like the good things of life; like food, cars, and clothes. I am able to sustain a conversation with someone who likes things like spice, wine, or clothes. It is very important to have a good understanding of many different things, so you are able to relate with different people, not just things about food made locally but maybe different types of yachts, different types of private jets, poetry, prose, and history. When you are able to have these kinds of conversations it’s to network. All these and more are made possible due to my background, upbringing, and education which I owe to my parents. What motivates you? That fact that someone out there gets up earlier than me, faster, stronger, richer, better looking - that drives me. It makes me realise that I have to improve. I need to become a better version of myself before my time is up. How have you been able to give back and inﬂuence other people’s lives in positive ways? I hope by creating amazing content, I’ve been able to give back and influence other people’s lives in positive ways. I also have started a non-profit organisation, the Kiddwayya Foundation, one of the many platforms I use in giving back to not only the people in dire need, but to the country that has given so much to me, and eventually the continent. Tell us about a time you failed. I think there are many times I’ve failed. I failed when I drove through the streets and saw people begging for money and I didn’t give them. I failed that person to help him. These are times when I could have been a better person. Every day I fail, but every day I also achieve. So I think as human beings, we fail every day and our problems and failures are easily noticed, but we never noticed our successes. I fail every day, but at the same time, I also achieve great success every day. Life is a balance of

What are your favourite fashion designer brands? I really like Zara. I like simple brands. Zara for me is nicely fitted; because you know I am not an extra-large. My body is quite muscular and as for me a lot of brands can’t fit my size. All these high fashion brands are not for people who are thin. But for me I like Zara. I love jeans clothes. If you notice I wear a lot of jeans clothes that’s just who I am. I like simple things. If I were to pick an outfit that I like, like my dad, it would be Versace. What kind of woman would you like to marry? A God-fearing woman, that believes in God strongly, a woman that is confident and knows how to have fun. A woman who is driven, and has the utmost respect for people, less privileged, mostly. I hate people who are rude or look down on others. You have to treat everybody with respect and it can even mean, for example, in the restaurant the wrong food is served or the food you don’t like. Say it politely. I want someone that has so much respect for everybody.

Kiddwaya

both worlds. In that regard, I’ve been strong, weak, have achieved, and also failed.

So what does success mean to you? Success means how many people around me I can make happy. Success means how many smiles I can put on their faces, and how many mouths I can feed. To me, success is not buying a private jet, a yacht, or a luxury item. If you were to meet a global ﬁgure, who would it be and why? It would be The Rock, Dwayne Johnson. The guy is awesome. He’s an amazing guy, He works so hard. He is so kind. He is a person that I look up to and admire. I think he has a great personality and he’s a great family man. He is always happy and has broken records. Coming from a poor background to become a superstar in wrestling and the highest-paid actor, he has done well for himself. I can see myself in him in some ways. He is just amazing. It’s become a trend for reality show celebrities to immediately gravitate towards acting. Any plans to go into acting? Growing up, being an actor was one of my dreams, aside from being a footballer or a rapper and it is only one of those I can do. So, acting is something definitely I want to go into. As for me, I want to take my time, get mentally, physically fit, and very prepared because acting is a very hard job. It’s not an easy job to get prepared for a role. So, I’m looking at the first quarter of next year to get into acting. But for now, I’m enjoying creating amazing content, working with notable brands to promote and endorse their products. What do you do in your leisure time? I love to sit in the garden to think and reflect on how far I have come; where I want to go. I create time out to meditate. It’s important. It is also good for the body, mind, and soul. Another thing that I do but I am so sure works is I literally in my head count how many things I appreciate in my life, how blessed I am and it makes me smile. I don’t know if that is a hobby. I thank God for waking up, the fact that my head, legs, my eyes, ears are all intact. Counting my blessings elicits happiness within me.

People always feel because they don’t have a new car, the new iPhone 12, wristwatch that their lives are miserable. I spend time to count my blessings and that makes me happy. I have a deep understanding of life: what is important, what is not important, what makes it important, and that’s why I’m real.

You sound deep and introspective. Do you love and read books? I love books. I don’t read 10 books a week. I don’t read as much, but I love books. Robert Greene’s books, Mastering and 48 Laws of power inspire me greatly. It is a lot deeper than actually it is given credit for. I love the way he spins words in tapestries. I love the way he refers to people and history. I love how he tells the story. You have a thing for red wine. I love red wine. I drink red wine to appreciate and really enjoy the different pallets, flavour, taste, the thickness. I fell in love with wine not just for the drinking, but for the experience of learning about grapes, where it’s produced, the bottle, the cork, the label and the rich history that comes with bottling wines. Drinking red wines for me is akin to a history lesson. Drinking red wine is one of those things that give me joy because I learn. You have an eye for fashion. What does fashion mean to you? Fashion is a state of mind. Whenever I wake up feeling I am in love with my body, I could wear jeans, tight tops, or shorts. Next, I could feel like I want to be noticed, or I feel like confidence in the past week has been low. If I feel like being noticed, I might wear Versace. To me, fashion is a state of mind. It’s about how you feel or how you want to feel and that is what we should focus on how. For me, fashion is a state of mind. Do you feel lonely at times? I feel it every day. I feel lonely every day. Life is lonely especially when we become adults. We are not children any longer. Your parents run around you every time. You have obligations, duties, a lot to think about; taxes to pay, work to

Any plans for marriage? I don’t think I am ready for marriage. I think I have so much to achieve and so much to do. I am not saying you can’t do that with marriage, but for me, I’m not ready to give myself 110 percent to somebody else and I believe when you enter marriage you need to be willing and absolutely committed to that person. I’m not in that position right now. I feel it is very important for people out there to understand that: don’t force yourself into marriage unless you are ready mentally. It is not by force to get married. A lot of people force themselves to get married when they are not ready that is when they commit adultery. One has to be ready mentally before going into such commitment. For me, I am not ready. I will say God’s time is the best time. One day, you will wake up and you will know that it’s now time to get married you will definitely know. You come across as some with some deeply-rooted spiritual inclination. Are you spiritual? Yes. I think I am spiritual in a way. My understanding of life, my mind, and body are already out there: I’m spiritual that way. I feel like I’m really here. My physical body is here but my mind is elsewhere. My mind can be in a place where this is the subconscious side of me which is my mind and that is why I said mental health is a very funny thing that needs to be taken seriously. Sometimes I could be physically here with you, but my mind is elsewhere. There are two sides to man, his physical and spiritual state. So, I will say I am very spiritual. What do you think is the role of Nigerian youths in ‘taking back’ Nigeria? I think we do have a role to play as youths. The elders, the media, the blog; everyone has a role to play in ‘taking back’ our country because this country is for all of us. We all have a role to play and that starts from the bottom to the top. It is not just about changing the government; it is about changing our morals and way of thinking. How do you intend to spend your Christmas? I’ll be spending Christmas with family in Benue State. I’m home. My sanctuary. My people. What’s your new year’s resolution? My new year’s resolution is to be better than the person I was yesterday.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ͱͮ˜

FOCUS

My TrueFlutter can Get You a Soulmate Olatoye

DARE OLATOYE A young digital entrepreneur and accountant, Dare Olatoye, whose matchmaking app, Trueflutter, seeks to connect singles to their soulmates has more than love to share, writes Vanessa Obioha

ating apps are one of the ways to meet new people within your social circle and start a relationship that hopefully ends in marital bliss. The most popular dating apps in Nigeria include the America-owned Tinder which matches users based on geographic proximity and has over 50 million users globally. But sometimes, the possibilities of meeting a lifetime partner, particularly for young Africans can be very limited. Part of this is due to the algorithms in place which limits one’s search to

location and picture-based profiles. Dare Olatoye, a 39-year-old digital entrepreneur, and his brother, Ayo, are flipping the script with a new matchmaking app, Trueflutter. As the name suggests, Trueflutter seeks to connect singles looking for a committed and serious relationship. “The type that will make you have real butterflies flutter in your stomach,” said Dare. The quest to build a matchmaking app that addresses the needs of Nigerians and Africans is a result of Olatoye’s frustration with dating apps. And time, he said, was rapidly ticking. On a visit to Dubai a few years ago, his brother suggested again that he try a

dating app but he flung the advice aside, lamenting his failures with three dating apps. Not that Olatoye had a problem meeting women, he didn’t just find his match. “Men look for stability, unpretentious, and good moral values in women. We want a peaceful spouse.” However, the search for a perfect app that meets his demands wrapped around his head, and with his knowledge in technology and psychology, he teamed up with his brother, and the duo began experimenting on a matchmaking app that will eliminate the societal structures and cultures most

Nigerians face using foreign dating apps. “I thought to myself that if I have this certain challenge finding a woman I like, then others will have it,” he said. In 2018 when they had a test-run of the app, the feedback was mind-blowing. Over 15,000 users downloaded the app and lauded the compatibility matches of the app. What the brothers did was to eliminate the process of trial and error by adding algorithms that understand the Nigerian psyche and culture. Unlike most dating apps which offer users only profile pictures, Trueflutter gives users a chance to add a voice note to their profile. The ‘Audio Bios’ is a unique feature that allows users to hear what a person sounds like even before the match. It also lets users respond with a voice text of their own, reducing the awkwardness most people feel after the match and need to start a conversation. That way, users can gauge their personality. Also, based on users’ information, the app can suggest possible preferences such as age as well as allow users to go incognito. “We understand that some people are shy and would prefer to stay incognito. The incognito feature offers them that opportunity. They will only be seen if they click on a profile that they like. The app will send their picture to the person automatically,” Olatoye explained. Understanding that people may have difficulty making a choice, the brothers added ‘Favourite List’ feature which allows users to add possible matches to a list. “We had the ladies in mind when developing this feature,” he noted. Another feature of the app is that it allows users to search for people with LinkedIn accounts. The app, according to Olatoye uses a unique algorithm, strong security features, and advanced privacy settings to accelerate the matchmaking process and ensure users can easily find compatible matches. In August 2020, the brothers closed a seed round which was a syndicated investment from three Angel Networks, and used this to finalize the full product which was recently launched. A certified matchmaker who runs a private matchmaking service, Olatoye revealed that he found his wife through the app. “We got married this year. She wasn’t initially on my app but decided to try it out. We got talking and started a relationship,” he gushed. The author of ‘Beating the Odds: A uide to Dating in the Post-Covid Era,’ is a firm believer in matchmaking apps despite his previous failures with dating apps. He considered it a certified way of finding a soulmate even though some people express scepticism at the thought of finding true love online. “There are many singles programmes in churches but yet, only a few find their spouses in such gatherings. The reason is that people hardly connect in such places. Everyone is busy and rarely socialises. Being busy deprives one of socialising. We go to work, come home late, do other domestic chores, go to bed, and the next morning, the cycle repeats. But with matchmaking apps like Trueflutter, you can socialise. You can find a match that may possibly lead to marriage.” He buttressed this point with an example. “My sister got married at 48 to someone who lived 30 minutes away from her. Your soulmate can be next door but you may never know because of your busy schedule. That’s why in Trueflutter, our tagline is ‘Meet your future’ because you never know if he or she has been close to you all this while,” he said.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ 20 2020

High Life Senator Gbenga Ashafa: A Game Changer

wo words to describe the work of Senator Gbenga Ashafa at the Federal Housing Authority: change and speed. In less than six months, Ashafa has managed to adjust to the sky-high expectations of his office, tune his staff to visions of practical and commendable housing projects, and effectively turn around the generally negative sentiment of Nigerians regarding FHA. Under the management of Senator Gbenga Ashafa, the Federal Housing Authority is becoming one of the most active ministries on the block. For the first time in a long time, staff meetings are not an excuse for roundabout discussions, formulation of white-elephant, and patting of backs for project funds well nipped. Rather, accountability is the watchword, and the results of the efforts of Ashafa and his team speak for them. The latest report from FHA revolves around the results of the meeting between its Managing Director and Chief Executive, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, and executives of the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and GovernmentOwned Companies (SSASCGOC) on December 9, 2020. The meeting saw the review of past alliances and projects, and how best to accomplish the targets of FHA and SSASCGOC. The meeting also demonstrated one of the selling points of the leadership style of Senator Ashafa: a willingness to collaborate with others. It is in this spirit that Ashafa has begun to reform the affairs of the FHA, starting with reorganising key offices and staff for maximum effect. Also noteworthy at the beginning of Ashafa’s tenure was the reconnaissance survey of all housing projects and construction sites still in progress within and around Abuja and the South-West.

Ashafa

with KAYODE ALFRED 08116759807, ̋×ËÓÖ: ÕËãʮÏâ̶͓ãËÒÙÙ˛ÍÙ×

...Amazing lifestyles of Nigeria’s rich and famous

Femi Otedola, Rounding oﬀ 2020 with Another Award The Bible teaches that the life of a person is not measured by the abundance of their possessions, but by their compassion, humanity, and how much both of these factors played in their disposition to do good. On these grounds, the life of Femi Otedola cannot be measured with coffee spoons, which is the point of his latest award. The Sun Newspaper recently recognised the philanthropic work that Nigerian billionaire and world-renowned business leader, Femi Otedola is doing all around Nigeria. The award of honour recognised Otedola’s untiring dedication to those who cannot help themselves, raising the bar on what it means to be sympathetic, humanitarian, and human. While the Sun’s award is coming at the end of 2020, it is not the first, second or even third of the year. If plaques and encomiums were enough, there would be more of them tailing Otedola all year round. But the gesture is what counts: a good nod to a

Otedola

good man doing good deeds. Femi Otedola may not top the list of Nigeria’s wealthiest people or that

of the most innovative or dogmatic. However, no Nigerian compares to him in the distribution of his resources for the public good, in raising the abandoned or impressing hope into the lives of the many and miserable. Who does not know that it was Otedola that donated $50,000 (19 million) to save the life of Super Eagles footballer and coach, Christian Chukwu? Who does not know that it was Otedola who donated two times that amount to pay the medical bills and cushion the difficulties of legendary Nollywood actor, Victor Olaotan? What about Otedola’s timely intervention in the lives of Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Fregene, Reggae star, Majek Fashek, another legendary Nollywood actor, Sadiq Daba, and even a stranger, UniUyo lecturer, Inih Ebong? The good works of Femi Otedola are getting too numerous to count, and so are the awards in recognition of his humanitarian, philanthropic lifestyle.

Calm Down...Aisha Buhari Didn’t Relocate to Dubai

Buhari

It doesn’t take much to burn down a forest. With tensions already high and waiting to burn any and everything to the A year that began with thundering and lightning is about to end. And while the light at the end of the tunnel is bright and beautiful for some people, for others like Gabriel Ogbeche, it is the investigative eye of the Nigerian police. Gabriel Ogbeche, Founder and Managing Director of Rainoil Limited, has got into trouble with a former member of the House of Reps, Ned Nwoko, and the police. The group of three is tied together with Nwoko accusing Ogbeche of plotting to assassinate him. The reports alleged that Ogbeche was dragged to the Abuja Police Command and was interrogated with forks and knives. That is definitely the colourful imagination of folks, but the message is clearly understood. Ned Nwoko’s allegation is in response to a press conference held by Gabriel Ogbeche, where the latter reportedly denied the whole narrative that he was earlier arrested or interrogated over anything relating to Ned Nwoko. He (Ogbeche) stated that he was courteously invited by the police to clarify doubts over the origin of the communal crisis at Idumuje-Ugboko (where both Nwoko and Ogbeche hail from), in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State. Thus, Ogbeche stated firmly—during the

ground, fake news and rumours won’t help anyone. In September of 2020, Hanan Buhari, daughter of the First Family of Nigeria, was given to Mohammed Turad as a wife. A colourful wedding by every standard, the families of the newlyweds even invited chefs and decorators from all around the world, especially Dubai, to add even more colour to the event. Then came the news that the First Lady, Dr. Aisha Buhari, decided to accompany these event chauffeurs back to Dubai, and has remained there for three months. The lion bite in the news of the first lady’s alleged disappearance is that she doesn’t intend to return anytime soon, having realised that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) offers better security than her native country, or Aso Rock Villa. To make matters worse, a supposed insider from the Presidency reported that Aisha Buhari is getting very comfortable over there in Dubai, especially since she has been visiting the ‘Jewel of Arabia’ months before her daughter’s wedding, shopping,

relaxing, apparently preferring to remain removed from the tensions in Nigeria. Thus, using the wedding as a cover, she allegedly ran out and away. Nigerians are not taking any of these well. Understandably, folks have begun to question their own safety and peace of mind, considering the logical conclusion that their leader-in-chief has no confidence in her own safety. However, there is little evidence to back the claim that Aisha Buhari relocated to Dubai. For one, the indicated ‘proof’ of her having gone ‘offline’ on social media since October is airy—isn’t there an internet connection in Dubai? Moreover, Aisha Buhari has proved her mettle as a strong, compassionate, and understanding leader, and the reports that her alleged tiff with Sabiu ‘Tunde’ Yusuf and Mamman Daura scared her off are nothing but fantasies. Needless to say, Dr. Aisha Buhari is very much interested in the welfare of her Nigerian people: she has not—and will never, while in power—leave them to fight for themselves and relocate.

Who is After Gabriel Ogbeche?

conference—that it was a small matter that required his presence at the police command for a few minutes. It would be an over-simplification to say that Ned Nwoko and his people disagreed with Gabriel Ogbeche’s defence. Nwoko responded that something that simple wouldn’t have warranted his (Nwoko’s) going to the police and other security agencies. While the Idumuje-Ugboko conflict is an important aspect of the whole debacle, Nwoko maintained that it was not the main reason Ogbeche was arrested. It turns out that Nwoko’s source is a prisoner at Kuje Prison who overheard his fellows—who have been convicted of stirring up the riot that led to the Idumuje-Ugboko crisis—discussing plots to send Nwoko to an early grave and mentioning the names of their sponsors, which is how Gabriel Ogbeche came into the picture. Ned Nwoko is a former lawmaker who understands that the strong arm of the law should not be used to settle personal grievances, and so there are almost zero possibilities of his merely trying to tarnish Gabriel Ogbeche’s image—as the accused has alleged. Regardless, the police are allegedly taking things very seriously, so Ogbeche’s prospects aren’t looking too good at the moment.

Ogbeche

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MBER 20, 2020

HIGHLIFE

Hope Uzodinma Gets New Nickname

Uzodinma

Governor Hope Uzodinma is gradually becoming a legendary character in Imo State. A charismatic and unforgettable individual for sure,

Uzodinma is determined to break previous records in every possible way. This undertaking recently took a turn for the better and brought about an unintended consequence, and an unintended name—Governor Hope Uzodinma, the Rabbit Farmer. Delivering on his promises to provide gainful employment for the youth of his state, Governor Hope Uzodinma recently launched an agricultural initiative that is expected to set the ball rolling for unemployed youths: the rearing of rabbits. If things turn out according to Uzodinma’s expectations, over 774,000 youths will be able to live fine, reduce the burden on the federal and state governments, and significantly contribute to the Nigerian economy. Unveiling the programme through the Imo State arm of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) at Okigwe road Owerri, Governor Uzodinma revealed that the initiative has been approved by the Federal Government and the Executive Secretary of NALDA. Furthermore, Uzodinma revealed that this is the second phase of

the programme, with Imo State as the testing ground for its success. Many researchers and advocates of rapid Nigerian economic growth maintain that the agricultural sector is the way to get there. Thus, Uzodinma’s gig has won the approval of many. Of course, this has not relieved the Governor from inadvertently securing the nickname, ‘Rabbit Farmer’ or making a good-natured joke of the whole programme. All things considered, this is a good development, especially for someone who has been struggling to unite all of Imo State under his banner and vision. It has to be said that Uzodinma has not had it easy since climbing into the Owerri power chair. From harassing his convoy with local pistols and machetes to being openly opposed by several political characters, the man has had it rough in the last 10 or 11 months. But things have been really good for some time now. With the latest nickname, at least, even the meanest, most average Imo State native/resident can identify with Governor Uzodinma.

Who’ll Save Aremo Segun Oniru? Aremo Segun Oniru has suffered a new brand of embarrassment and degradation. After losing battle after battle, the throne of his father, the allegiance of several cohorts, and landed properties supposed to formerly belong to his side of the Oniru family, the spell of doom on the Prince appears to have climbed to a new low. From a viral video that is getting clicks up and down, the reputation of Aremo Segun Oniru, son of former Oniru, Oba Idowu Oniru, and a former Lagos State Commissioner, has been beaten to the ground. The trouncing took place while Aremo Segun was allegedly on his way to a closed-door cabinet meeting with the new Oniru, Oba Omogbolahan Lawal. Whether the incident merely delayed his trip or effectively terminated remains unknown. From the looks of the viral video, it is probably the latter. In the video, Aremo Oniru was blocked by a number of folks who identified themselves as ‘Ebi’—family members. The supposed relatives (likely of the extended royal houses) rained abuses on the prince and called him a thief. Taking things up a notch, the video captured how one of the

professing relatives went ahead to remove the cover of the licence plate of Aremo Oniru’s white Range Rover, revealing ‘AAO’— Aremo Adesegun Oniru? All the while, the prince remained aloof, only taking out his phone to make a call. According to reports, the allegations of theft revolve around landed properties belonging to the Iru kingdom, properties that used to be under the control of Aremo Segun’s late father, Oba Idowu. This is why the allegations are being taken seriously by several people. Since retiring as the commissioner of Lagos State Waterfront Infrastructure, the only other time Aremo Segun Oniru was publicly ridiculed was when he lost the Oniru throne to the current Oniru, Oba Gbolahan Lawal. While the loss is conventional, the bite of his defeat was the fact that until Oba Lawal was uncovered, Aremo Segun was the likeliest choice—and then he lost. Folks have pointed out that, compared to his former opponent for the throne, Hakeem Ajasa, things are not going too well for Aremo Oniru. He has allegedly bitten the dust more times than any other grand

Ojora

Oniru

character from the current Oniru royal lineage. Regardless, since the purported feud between him and Oba Gbolahan Lawal was settled, it is expected that the new Oniru is already on top of the current situation—that is, the one of Aremo Segun’s humiliation. The allegation of stolen properties is another thing Oba Lawal is allegedly investigating.

Mother Vs Daughter: Kobe Bryant’s Wife in Dirty Lawsuit over Babysitting When an insurmountable predicament knocks one down, petty issues climb on top. That’s true in the case of Vanessa Bryant, wife of the late basketball star, Kobe Bryant as she found herself at the centre of a dirty domestic drama, just about a year after the tragic death of her husband and daughter. Guess what? Her own mother, Sofia Laine, is suing her for $5 million. What’s that all about? According to a lawsuit filed by Laine, Kobe Bryant’s widow should pay her $5 million in ‘backpay’ for being her daughter’s “longtime personal assistant and nanny” to her grandchildren. To break it down, a grandmother is suing her own daughter for babysitting her own grandchildren. Yes, that’s the point. She also claimed that Kobe Bryant promised to financially take care of her indefinitely. “Unfortunately, Kobe Bryant’s promise did not see the light of day as he is now deceased and Vanessa Bryant took each and every step she could to void and cancel all of Kobe’s promises,” she said in the 48-page lawsuit. But her daughter isn’t taking this lying down. In a statement, she denied her mother’s claims that she was a nanny and assistant, accusing her of attempting to “extort a financial windfall” from her. “This lawsuit is frivolous, disgraceful, and

Kobe Bryant’s Wife and Venessa

unimaginably hurtful,” she said. Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, died in a tragic helicopter crash with his wife inheriting a $200 million stake in a sports drink, Bodyarmor,

Lagos High Society Mourns Dapo Ojora

bought by the late NBA star for $5 million in 2013. Various reactions have since trailed news of the lawsuit. On Instagram, one anisha_harrris said: “I don’t think so Vanessa is known for mistreatment of old people and I believe she mistreats her mom and Kobe was the only one nice to her and the kids and I believe Vanessa used her mom like most people do to look after there kids while she hangs out at Fancy events.” Another Instagram account, teekayesam, noted: “Why Kobe had to marry into such a family in the first place? Didn’t listen to his father and mother advise....” Another Instagram user, miss_tian93, said about the crisis: “I’m speechless. How can a mother be this heartless to her own daughter who is still grieving a double loss? How? God grant Vanessa wisdom and strength she needs, this is so sad.” But anneotou asked: “How can you asked to be paid for babysitting your OWN GRANDCHILDREN?” Can this happen inAfrica? Someone, with an Instagram account named _njerih, replied: “This can’t happen in Africa, wanna be paid for babysitting your own grandchildren, pure madness ....Vanessa needs love...I pray she finds peace.”

xcept for the most pessimistic individuals, nobody expected 2020 to come to a darker close than its beginning. However, taking the gruesome death of Dapo Ojora into account, the pessimists were right to be suspicious. The death of Dapo Ojora came as a sudden shock to everyone. Nobody thought that the 58-year-old son of a business tycoon, Otunba Adekunle Ojora, would be found in the pool of blood, dead to the world. But that is exactly what happened. According to reports, the late Ojora was found lying on a bloody floor in his residence in Ikoyi, Lagos, with spent bullets around his remains. The whole of the Ojora family is in deep mourning, even now. While Dapo Ojora was only one of Otunba Adekunle Ojora, he also had a reputable sphere of influence and had solidified his status as the owner of Discovery Resources Limited, a big shot in the uptown business, a mover in the Lagos social scene, and an enthusiast of polo. While the cause of death remains a thing of uninformed speculation, the effects are clearly seen. One of those affected by this sad event is Dapo Ojora’s brother-inlaw, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki. Quite a number of members of the Nigerian high society passed away this year, including former Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; Ogun-born politician and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Buruji Kashamu; recently, Publisher of Leadership newspaper, Sam Nda-Isaiah; and several others who were long relatives, friends and associates, and rivals. However, the demise of these are settled in the hearts of friends and relatives—not that of Dapo Ojora. Undoubtedly, Saraki is having a hard time consoling his wife and Dapo’s sister, Toyin Saraki. But sorrow is the dividend of death, and there’s very little one can do about it. Although investigations are ongoing (since the police allegedly smelt foul play), Lagos businessmen, socialites, polo connoisseurs and admirers, and all the relatives of the Ojora clan continue to mourn the death of Dapo Ojora.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ DECEMBER 20, 2020

Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

SOCIETY WATCH

Aziza Dangote Quits Spinsterhood Beautiful Aziza Dangote until recently, was one of the hottest spinsters in town. Despite pressure from high-profile bachelors, who wanted her hand in marriage, Aziza opted to spend the rest of her life with her long-time boyfriend, Aminu Waziri, son of the late Waziri K. Mohammed, a popular Kano State-born former Chairman of Nigerian Railway Corporation during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s tenure- he died in the ill-fated Bellview Airline Crash in 2005. The Abuja handsome dude, who holds a master’s degree in International Business, is chairman and co-founder of Ignite Africa Challenge, a youth-driven NGO with a focus on achieving the UN Agenda 2063 through the development of sustainable social enterprises across Africa. The two lovebirds exchanged nuptial vows on December 13, at a very private location in Lagos. Those who matter most in the political space alongside captains of industries graced the occasion. The wedding Fatiha was held in line with COVID-19 safety protocols. Friends of the couple also organized a very private dinner at a highbrow location in Lagos. Dressed in evening outfits, looking classy and dapper, the couple showed their dancing dexterity amidst accolades and encomiums from friends. Sources said that was just the first step to their union, as they have other plans for celebration. Though the family is reportedly keeping it private due to the second wave of the deadly pandemic, a possible Kano version of the Nikkah will likely hold. Dignitaries spotted at the wedding Fatiha included the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele; former Senate President, Bukola Saraki; Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Zulum; Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Isa Funtua; Hajia Zainab Dantata; Mariya Dantata; Sadiq Dantata; Baban Eman; Abdulkadir Sunusi; Shaida Sunusi; Ahmed Waziri; Abubakar Waziri; Musa Ado Ibrahim; Salman Munzali Dantata and Cookie Rabiu, among others. It was gathered that her father, Sanni Dangote, younger brother of Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, had always pampered her with the good things of life. In 2015, when she graduated from the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom with a bachelor’s in Biomedical Sciences, her father threw a lavish party for her. For those who may not know, affable Aziza, a master’s degree holder is an epitome of kindness. She founded a non-governmental organization, Orenda Foundation, with a special interest in global health, development, and empowerment – particularly in northern Nigeria. The NGO

Air Peace Boss, Allen Onyema’s Winning Strategy

Onyema

The story of Barrister Allen Onyema, Chairman and CEO, Air Peace, can be likened

For Elizabeth Jack-Rish, December 5, 2015, would forever remain fresh in her memory. On that red-letter day, she had found love and also given her heart out to Tein T.S. Jack-Rich, a billionaire oil baron and founder of BELEMA Oil Producing Limited, in love, amidst a blaze of glory. Five years into their marriage, the couple have continued to thank God for making their paths cross in life. Little wonder, the ELIN Group boss and mother of two took to social media to publicly celebrate her husband, saying, “Mi Amor, knowing you is like an increase of lifespan because of the joy and peace of mind you bring to me. You stood by me when no one was willing to even give me a chance. You have been my shield here on earth and I will forever be grateful for you, Iyanabo; to our beautiful daughters, you will always be their first love and shield of protection. “Five years of being your wife has brought me nothing but joy, knowledge, peace of mind, and most importantly, our baby girl. I won’t trade what I share with you for anything else in this world. I hope you are here and live thereafter forever. Happy Anniversary.’’ The award-winning 27-year-old entrepreneur is one woman who is making the womenfolk proud. Two years

to the proverbial cat with nine lives. How? When he volunteered to bear the cost of repatriating hundreds of Nigerians who were stranded in South Africa in early September 2019, following a wave of xenophobic attacks, not a few were really impressed and even declared him a national hero. No doubt, the altruistic move turned out to be very beneficial to his airline in terms of publicity. But two months after, November 2019 to be precise, the story changed for the billionaire when the United States government surprisingly accused him of fraud. For some inexplicable reason, he has since maintained his innocence, despite the allegations. And a lot of people seem to support this approach. Despite the seeming roller coaster of events that almost tainted his image, Onyema started 2020 celebrating what could be said to be the most successful year in his company’s history. With air travels nearly shut down by the coronavirus pandemic, many airlines literally bled, as many announced layoffs or wage cuts. In the face of the challenges posed by the pandemic, the airline

management has had to think out of the box to stay afloat. Indeed, Onyema has proved to everyone that the modern aviation industry is certainly not for the lily-livered, as he recently acquired more brand-new aircraft to shore up his airline’s operations. Air Peace, it was gathered, recently took delivery of a brand new 50-seater Embraer 145 Jet. The ERJ-145 aircraft, with registration number 5N-BXF, flew into the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in October, with the promise of receiving two more brand new jets. Onyema has proved that the future is bright for those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. It will be recalled that Onyema, a lawyer, had launched his airline worth over N45 billion in October 2014 with seven aircraft all named after his family members. He went a step further in ensuring safety by contracting one of the world’s best maintenance organisations, BT Aviation Maintenance Company in the United Kingdom.

Elizabeth Jack-Rich’s Love Letter

Jack-Rich

ago, she embarked on an entrepreneurial journey with the ELIN Group. In just two years of operation, she has achieved great

success as the business has grown into a conglomerate. With footprints across West Africa and the United States, her group’s investment portfolio touches several facets of Nigerian society, drawing on its core operating values of integrity, mutual respect, customer service, innovation, and safety. She has grown the ELIN Group Limited into a thriving privately-owned conglomerate, with diverse business interests in real estate, power generation, agriculture, gas utilization, and mining operations, maritime, and now the aviation sector. Interestingly, the lightcomplexioned woman has not forgotten her roots even though her success has made her one of the most highly regarded business leaders in Nigeria and beyond, she remains passionate about giving back to others so they can benefit from the same opportunities she has enjoyed. Her foundation, Elizabeth Jack-Rich Foundation, which was founded three years ago, has been a conveyor of hope to the downtrodden, the aged, and ex-service personnel.

Ex-Minister Odom’s Daughter, Jessica to Marry Justice Bello’s Son, Gabriel Last December 21, 2019, witnessed a wedding of the year when former FCT Minister of State, Chuka Odom, gave his medical doctor first daughter in marriage to a Delta State-born medical doctor based in the United States of America. Come December 28, 2020, the Odoms will host a traditional wedding ceremony for their second daughter, Jessica Odom, a Queen Mary University of London LLM (Distinction) and LLB University of Reading (Second Class Upper) at his country home in the Imo State Capital, Owerri suburb of Ikeduru. The people of Ikeduru and Okene in Kogi State will gather on that December date to consummate the union according to Igbo traditional marriage rites, long before the church wedding comes up in April 2021. The event promises to be a classic trad, as the youth would describe it, but it will also be a wedding of cultural dimension when

you think of the rich cultural traditions of the Igbo and the Ebira. It will be a confluence of the cultural diversity of the two peoples and will be quite a significant outing called ‘wine carrying’ in Igbo tradition (Igba Nkwu). Not only will the legal community converge on Ikeduru in their numbers, as the two parents and Jessica come from there, but so too will be the digital people who will be there to honour one of their own. It will be a rare outing for the people of Imo and Kogi because Gabriel and Jessica will be out to showcase their social groups and ultimately add colour and vivacity to the event. Retired Justice Moses Bello was the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Abuja while Odom is a legal luminary, businessman, and politician. Gabriel and Jessica’s intimidating CVs include skills in organization and leadership, legal analysis, business planning, and execution.

Jessica and Gabriel

Philanthropist Cleric, Esther Ajayi’s Wondrous Donation

Dangote

Without a doubt, if the history of the biggest philanthropists in Nigeria were to be documented, Rev. Mother Esther Abimbola Ajayi, founder of the Love of Christ of Generation (C & S) Church, London, and The Esther Ajayi Foundation’s name would definitely gain prominence. It seems she has entered a covenant with her creator to dedicate the rest of her life to humanitarian services. Her generosity, particularly in recent times, has successfully made her be continually in the subconscious of several admirers in and outside the country. For the woman famously known as Iya Adura, life is meaningful only when it is

Ajayi

lived in service to humanity. She has always been guided by this philosophy; she does not wish to be respected for her wealth, but for the grace to impact on the lives of the people around her. However, she loathes people singing her praise over such acts of humaneness. Those whose paths have crossed hers said the woman with the milk of kindness is always in constant quest to lift the needy individuals around her, while also contributing to the development of her society. Again, last Tuesday, she exhibited her act of benevolence at the commissioning of the new office building of the Special Protection Unit, Base 2 Lagos at Oduduwa, Ikeja, Lagos state. It was gathered that

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ DECE Ͱͮ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

with JOSEPH EDGAR ̡͸΁͸΁ͽͻͺͽͿ΁͹̢

Sanwo-Olu – Wish You Speedy Recovery Bro, kindly please take care of yourself o. The news of your testing positive hit me at Onigbongbo while I was eating afang with Ajanaku. I first thought it was fake news but after a bit, some serious media started carrying the thing. It is times like these that I miss my father because he would have come to give you enema. You don’t know what enema is? Oh, it is Calabar people and Igbo people that used to do the thing. That is when they will boil hot water and put soap in it and it

will be foaming and then they will pour it into one container and then there will be a pipe and the pipe will now be inserted in your bum and the hot water will now be passed into your system. After it all, you will rush to the toilet to evacuate. It is a beautiful laxative that works wonders. My father (now late) used to swear by it. Anything that do you, na enema. I am sure if he was alive today, he would have been giving everybody the enema because he believed that for any treatment to

be effective, you would just have to clear your system. Anyway, I am just giving you a gist because even if you wanted to do the treatment, the issue will now be who will administer the enema. Is it the first lady or the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Abayomi? Whatever the case is my Lord, concentrate, and get well. I really do like you. See you when the thing turns negative. I have afang for you. But before then, no vex na social distancing. Get well, my lord.

Sanwo-Olu

Ganduje

Buahri

Abiodun

Awolowo

ABDULLAHI GANDUJE - HITTING BELOW THE BELT Lord, this your talk on why you deposed Emir Sanusi is loose talk if I must say. It is very unbecoming of a statesman and parodies the decision-making process in a serious nation-state. So, these are the inputs that go into policymaking? Appoint someone make he pain the other person? What kind of country did they born me into like this? This is nothing but beer parlour talk and in fact, if you talk this kind talk at the Duke Summit, we will suspend you. So, telling us this and also why he was removed is to achieve what? This same Jonathan that everybody universally lampooned including possibly yourself at the time is now the one that we are all saying sorry to and trying to clean up like this? That we are now facing Golgotha did not mean that during his time we were not facing Hades. So climbing the podium with a cheap face mask under the chin and giving all these tales by moonlight is something I really do not

understand o at this time when inflation is now crossing 14% and Covid is ravishing, and the dollar is jumping and, make I continue? Please, spare us this kind of gist and show us a better life. It’s the least we can ask for. I tire.

I even asking question, there is precedent na in Chibok. The whole thing just tire me, I swear. Just when you feel you have heard it all, another one happens, and when it happens like this, na to go see if the cows are being well-fed? Na wa. Na real wa. Make we dey siddon look na. Abi.

kind of human rights when unborn babies are being carved out of their mothers’ wombs and eaten up? Are they not seeing what is happening in the country and how the army is struggling to even meet up? Why are they always so eager to jump in and weaken our forces in the name of human rights? That was how the CNN people jump into the Lekki thing and found themselves in hot water. Please leave our army alone, is it your army? Stop all these distractions, abeg.

NIGERIA – IN COWS WE TRUST I am sorry I had to parody the famous American quote. Those ones sef with this Trump person are really having their own reality show on full blast. Here our own kind of show is nondescript. Things are just getting bad daily. Just when you think it will not get worse over 300 boys are kidnapped and the governor can only curse. Kai, I am one of the most positiveminded in this country believing very seriously that we are just going through a phase and that things will soon get better once we can hunker down and wait for 2023. But at times even me I go just weak. So, they enter a school and carry 300 children just like that and were driving through the streets just like that until them disappear? Why am

ICC – LEAVE OUR ARMY ALONE Mbok, who are these ICC people? They are becoming quite irritating if you will pardon my language. Are they mad? Please pardon my language again. Can’t they see the havoc the bandits are causing? The insecurity everywhere and the loss of lives and limbs and all they can do is to be saying they want to investigate the army? Which army, the army that needs help? These ICC people no get sense o. So why are they not investigating the other side? Please I no call name before they throw fatwa on my head. I cannot shout o. If they do not leave the army alone I will rain curses on their heads o. What

MAINA – FAINTING NOW A PASTIME Since we cannot seem to be able to go beyond first round in all recent World Cup tournaments, I think we should push for fainting to be officially recognized as an Olympic sport. Our team complete, with the most recent member of the team doing his own this past one week. Fainting is now a very serious sport played by princes like polo. You must be well-heeled and connected to be able to be part of this elitist

DECEMBER Ͱͮ˜ ͰͮͰͮ ˾ T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

LOUD WHISPERS pastime. Mbok, na my brother Dino own na funny pass. He just go like electric fish, bend him head one side and slump. Now this Maina own, he just siddon and bend him head. I tell you the way we are going we will soon be world champions. You know what Kung Fu is to China, abi na Korea who cares, that is how fainting will be our own. We will be able to generate strong international revenues if we send our ambassadors like Metuh, Dino, that NDDC man, Pondei, out as ambassadors and coaches to various parts of the world. Faint my left leg, abeg pour the man water make he wake up answer question. Where is our pension money o. Na wa. GOV DAPO ABIODUN – THE CLAIMER-IN-CHIEF This is claimer-in-chief. As Anthony Joshua win world title bro just claim am. He no even know wetin happen o or how many times the man had to train all-nights and the deprivations, all bros know is that the man is from Sagamu and there must be alignment. Mbok, Joshua please come and present the belt o so that we can rest and move on. Anthony Joshua has been a strong force in not only the boxing world but also as a global proponent for all things good. He has kept his faith with his home turf, visiting us, pitying us, and saying the right things. I watched that fight at least the point he knock the opponent down and that one was now vomiting the afang he ate the previous evening. Made us proud, he is a great son of Ogun state and I am sure his picture will be on the reelection poster as one of the dividends of democracy in Sagamu. I don run o. OLISA METUH – REPRIEVE FROM HELL He was saying it. He said this judge was biased but did we listen? No! Everybody was happy to see his back in prison. Why? He was part of the team that ravished the country and as such must suffer. When the man was screaming that he was not getting fair hearing we all laughed. Today, he has been vindicated but not after damaging his health and spending all of this time in Jail. They have reordered a retrial as reported but at least he has gotten temporary respite. Will they allow him go home? Me I don’t know law up till that level. All I just want to say is that with this judgment, there is still hope in our institutions. Bro, keep the prayers going, you certainly do really need them at this point. AWOLOWO VS OBASANJO – I HAVE RUN AWAY That is how out of boredom, I broadcasted on WhatsApp this very stupid question – between Obafemi Awolowo

Obasanjo

and Olusegun Obasanjo who impacted Nigerians the most. Mbok my phone nearly explode, all the Yoruba people jump up o. Over 5,000 shouting

Edgar

and screaming, ‘Up Awo!’ while the rest of the country jumped and were screaming, ‘OBJ!’ You see why we will

SAM NDA-ISAIAH – A BEFITTING TRIBUTE Oga was a fan. He loved this column and didn’t hide it. Not only him o, plenty people love this column o. But he especially was really into it. He got my number and called. He said, Edgar, I love the way you write and I said, I am not hearing you. He had a croaky voice and spoke funny. I said, speak again and he laughed. I would have loved for you to write for me at Leadership but you no go gree. I say, ‘My lord that no be problem but you see when I yab your people dey will deal with me o. Like that El-Rufai, he no dey gree o. We laughed and became very good friends. When I approached him on my idea of staging a play on Obj, he talk o. Let me explain. I called him at Ikeja Shopping Mall - please don’t

Nda-Isaiah

ask me wetin I go do there and I ask him the question as I was driving in. Oga start to answer, as I enter the TM Lewin Shop to buy shirt, I buy finish, drive to Onigbongbo to eat afang, drive to my house for Yaba, enter toilet and oga still dey talk. Wetin he talk, please don’t ask me. He was such a good friend that when I organized a session on Zoom to look at economic possibilities post-covid, he chaired the occasion and spoke very passionately about Nigeria. When Erelu passed in July, he gave me a full-page advertorial in his paper and called in to say sorry. I only knew him for less than one year but he impacted me so much that his passing really hit me. Sleep well, my lord. You deserved eternal rest.

continue to have problems in this country? The emotive nature of our engagements. People did not seek to understand the question very well but because of the emotional pull of our leanings jumped at the question from a point very far from logic. Awo built Cocoa House, how that impact the fisherman in Mpat Enin in Akwa Ibom State begin to wonder me. Oh, Obasanjo did not like Awo: kai, is that the question. The sheer naivety in the answers I got made me cancel the exercise. I can safely say that I got hundreds of answers and 90% of the answers were just emotional dribble and if you take note that these were very literate and so-called exposed people you begin to understand the nature of our problem in this country. Simple question, who impacted the nation more between these two historical figures and you are hearing things like Awo could fly at night, Awo had only one wife unlike Obj that we cannot count. Obj is stingy and has beware of snakes at his gate. Na wa. COVID-19 LOCKDOWN BLUES As I write, my fingers are trembling. The daily count of infections is just moving like a yoyo. Today, it will say 700, tomorrow it will say 200. I just tire. The only thing there is that it looks like Nigerians do not care anymore. They have more pressing problems to face than an illness that would most likely 80% of the time not kill you. Wearing a mask? Those of us still wearing masks come look like aliens. Will there be another lockdown? The man on the street does not support it but if you ask me, what I think, I will say, mbok leave me o. Need to bathe with sanitizer. ALVIN JOSEPH EDGAR – HAVE A GOOD CRY This is my son. Erelu had her for me some 13 years ago and then she died. He is a strong boy as during the burial, he was the one holding me and saying daddy be strong. Me I don’t know how to do boldface as he catch me, I cry. But he, after that first time he was told has not really shown any grief. He tries to hide his distress from me but I know he is grieving. I can see it in his eyes that he misses his mum. But he just won’t let me know. I know he cries at night but will quickly clean up once he hears me coming. He is only 13 and has lost his mum at such a young age. What baffles me is why he thinks he should be strong and not show weakness. I fear this may not be healthy, he should cry some more. I am thinking maybe I should go and knock him one night so that he can loosen up and really cry for his beautiful mum. Please tell him I love him. Thank you.

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

20.12.2020

A BIOGRAPHICAL TRIBUTE TO NIKE, THE LADY OF THE ARTS

Cover continued on Page 64-65

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ DECEMBER 20, 2020

ARTS & REVIEW\\BOOKS

A BIOGRAPHICAL TRIBUTE TO NIKE, THE LADY OF THE ARTS In her biography on Chief Nike Davies-Okundaye, a proliﬁc development consultant reconstructs the artist’s life from her early beginnings to her recent more successful years. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports

f Nike’s path in life had taken a much lighter and easier route, it is unlikely that she would have achieved as much as she has today. So many factors: poverty, differing cultural and belief systems; her courageous and rebellious nature, and a strong desire for a different type of life than what circumstances would have given helped to shape all the various stages in her life, and her development as an extraordinary power.” Perhaps, no other paragraph in Kofo Adeleke’s Bata Mi A Dun Ko Ko Ka (A Biography of Nike) sums up Nike Davies-Okundaye’s life’s story more succinctly as the foregoing, which concludes page 29. Indeed, as Adeleke’s exhilarating book corroborates, not even the most severe, but needful, blows of Fate that Nike passed through, especially in her early childhood years, robbed her of her effervescence. She had cheerfully lived through it all, remaining as happy in poverty as in wealth. Her disarming charm, generosity and simplicity resounded throughout the 233-page book like a theme song. As a thoughtful inclusion in the book, whose foreword was written by a former US Ambassador to Nigeria Dr Robin Renee Sanders, Adeleke offers a sketchy timeline – titled “Milestones” – which gives the reader a bird’s eye view of the celebrated artist’s life. The author – a development consultant who among other things has written extensively on environmental issues – has a lifelong passion for history, the historic built environment and local arts and crafts, which puts her in good stead to write about the woman, who is fondly referred to as “Mama Nike”. In the book’s opening pages, the author first unfurls a scene that evokes a bustle of activities at Nike’s gallery in the Lekki area of Lagos in the reader’s mind’s eye. It is that of Nike readying her assistants for a familiar day-long and exhausting journey to her hometown Ogidi-Ijumu in Kogi State on an air-conditioned bus, generously painted with adire motifs and pictures of the artist and her four daughters. Then, with the account of the party’s arrival at their destination, her narrative beautifully dovetails into a crash course on the rustic community of Nike’s ancestors. It is at this point that the reader comes to terms with the fact that not even being easily one of the most renowned personalities in the Nigerian art scene, made Nike’s fate any different from that of the biblical prophet without honour in his hometown. “Chief Reuben Okundaye, Nike’s husband, was highly instrumental in reintroducing Nike to her hometown,” Adeleke informs the reader, adding that it was he who “suggested to Nike that they ought to establish a presence in Ogidi”, after their marriage ceremonies in 1993. The reader’s admiration for Nike soars, as the author narrates the initial conflicts the artist had to face and overcome in her childhood years. The innate sterling qualities of this delicate female child, who had lost her mother when she was only six years old and her grandmother the following year, glowed through these gloomy years, further eliciting awe in the mind of the reader. Her eventual upbringing by her great-grandmother, who was the head of all the craftswomen in Ogidi-Ijumu, taught her what she needed to learn about weaving textiles and making adire fabrics. Of course, there was also the fact that art runs in her family. For besides her late mother, who was an artist, there was also an aunt,

who later raised her, who was also an artist. As for her father Nicholas, Adeleke describes him as “a skilled artisan with many talents.” Nonetheless, circumstances still nudged Nike on towards her calling. For instance, the lack of funds to continue her education, rather than hinder her, became an impetus to live her passion. Running away from home at the age of 14 with a friend called Justina, to avoid being married off to a polygamous junior government minister, she had first joined Olosunta Travelling Theatre, one of the then-existing travelling theatre company, before breaking free to become independent. This move, according to the author, “was also her first step on her way to moving to Osogbo, which had already become a mecca for artistic expression.” Besides, this move served as a catalyst that led to her association and marriage to the charismatic artist popularly known as “Twins Seven-Seven”, whose real names were Omoba Taiwo Olaniyi Oyewale-Toyeje Oyelale Osuntoki. It was during her years in Osogbo that she learned indigo-dyeing and adire-making from the town’s informal art school, which was established by the late Ulli Beier and his wife, Georgina. Thanks to her artistic and marketing skills, she easily wormed her way into the close-knit circle of the local art community. Adeleke quotes her on page 57 of the book as saying: “My first gallery was in my bedroom and I called it – 'Africa No. 1 Shop'”.

But her actual lucky break came in 1974, she was among the 10 artists picked from the continent to teach traditional weaving in the US. According to the author’s account, she had accompanied her husband Twins Seven-Seven on the trip, which happened to be her first outside Nigeria. Twins Seven-Seven was invited to be an instructor at the summer school to the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Maine. While in the US, she not only visited museums, she also learnt new skills, which included quiltmaking. The reader gets a close-up view of what Nike’s life among the other wives in the Twins Seven-Seven household was like and is not surprised when the free-spirited Nike broke free from this unpleasant family cluster. “Twins was a good teacher, a good artist,” Nike is quoted as saying in the book. “I worked in his studio, I was running a gallery under him and we had our bitter times, which we don’t tell people about, and the good times. When I left him, he said, ‘You’re coming back’ and I said ‘I’m not. Me that has to queue for three years to get a kiss from you, now I am alone with a man to myself why should I come back and queue up?’” Of course, she did not come back. Nike, who not only holds a chieftaincy title from her home town (the Yeye Oba of OgidiIjumu) but also holds another from Osogbo (the Yeye Tasase of Osogbo), blossomed spectacularly in the art scene and currently lectures at several universities in the US, Canada and the UK, even without a university education. Fame stalked her from the period she became a favourite of White expatriate aficionados and when she mingled with celebrities, who included the late Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. The woman, who turned 69 on May 23, is not only celebrated for her art but also for her philanthropy, which expresses itself in her passion for empowering the less-privileged. Her four art centres – in Lagos, Osogbo, Abuja and her home town Ogidi, in which she had trained over 3 000 young Nigerians for free – offers free training in visual, musical and performing arts. Her work as a textile artist has seen her give workshops in Europe and North America. Yet, she owes much of her current renown her paintings, which are influenced by her links with the informal Osogbo Art School. Indeed, her figurative paintings, which are inspired by Yoruba mythology, have been the toast of aficionados from 1968, when she held her first solo exhibition at the Goethe-Institut, then along Broad Street, Lagos. Since 2012, some of her works found their way into the collection of The Smithsonian Museum as well as The Gallery of African Art and The British Library, in London. This is besides the others, which are in other high-profile public collections worldwide as well as in private homes, including that of a former US vice-president, Walter Mondale. Bata Mi A Dun Ko Ko Ka, which is generously illustrated with photographs, offers the reader an intimate glimpse into the life of this amiable lady of the contemporary Nigerian art scene. It is a delightful read, which every keen art lover would do well to acquire. t " GPSNBM VOWFJMJOH PG UIJT CJPHSBQIZ HSBDFE CZ UIF /PCFM MBVSFBUF 8PMF 4PZJOLB BOE UIF -BHPT 4UBUF (PWFSOPS #BCBKJEF 4BOXPMV XBT IFME ZFTUFSEBZ %FDFNCFS BU UIF $IPJDF *OUFSOBUJPOBM #VJMEJOH BMPOH -JHBMJ "ZPSJOEF 4USFFU JO 7JDUPSJB *TMBOE -BHPT

BOOK LAUNCH

‘Finding Your She SPARK’ Set forVirtual LaunchToday Yinka Olatunbosun

n invigorating session at the breezy lobby of Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja with the author and image consultant, Yvonne Ebbi turned out to be unforgettable. The motivational speaker who had worked with women in her career as a personal branding consultant is set to launch her third book titled “Finding Your She Spark’’ today on the virtual platform. The author who is an Oxford University alumna, a TEDx Speaker and social intelligence expert discussed the rationale behind writing the book on the heels of interaction with women who desire to excel in their career, relationships, businesses or in leadership roles with a handful of journalists in Lagos. “Women are hardworking and we build content,’’ she began. “What it is that is lacking is the courage to demand for more. We give so much and without realizing it, we settle for less. So, I came up with a personal session branding

with women and I had a goal session. Many of them could connect with it. I came up with the idea of breaking down the module of personal branding. Personal branding is like having a signature, having a unique proposition, a brand. If you can build the brand to be a premium brand, then you can charge the premium price.” In her experience, many women yearn to be better rewarded for their skills and talents but had been swarmed by other seemingly intimidating factors. Hence, the 214-page book “Finding Your She Spark’’ is the author’s account of a personal branding journey, a potpourri of real experiences, relatable encounters and rich exemplars which will help women to discover, maximize and monetize their personal brands. It is also described as ‘a blend of frank conversations, affirmations, stories and straight talk for women about building their self-worth.’ “It is not going to be a sprint but a marathon to build a personal brand. Once you have that, then it is bankable and you can sell that. Your personal brand is linked to your perceived work. People use perception to size you up. It is not just about the work you do. People judge you by other things. We want our women to understand that it is important to build yourself,

increase your self-worth index and personal brand index and help others see you as a person of value, a person who has something to offer. When people see you that way, they will pay you what you are due,’’ she added. As a globe-trotting lead consultant, The Etiquette Place, a corporate finishing school changing the narrative in matters of executive intelligence and proper public conduct, Ebbi seeks to reach more audience with this book in Nigeria. She revealed that some of her sponsors would obtain copies of the book to distribute to women groups, communities as well as campuses. Her #BestFoot programme has transformed many executives and corporate organisations while the She Spark initiative is raising a community of women who are becoming global brands and influencers. She emphasized some of the values that she always inculcates in her audience. “Your content is important but your appearance is key. On the social media, your timeline is like your office. You can be a person of authority on your timeline and be an expert. If there is a trend, speak about it. You can own that life that you want but you must know the process.’’

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ DECEMBER 20, 2020

ARTS & REVIEW\\ BOOK REVIEW

A HARVEST OF TRIPLE HERITAGE Tony Onyima

really consider it a privilege to be invited to partake in this literary feast. Book writing is one of the most emotional and engaging undertakings in life. It is mentally demanding and drains you of your being. Therefore, when one in a challenging environment such as ours churns out three books in a row, that person should be commended. We are all here then to harvest this triple heritage of Azuka Onwuka. My assignment is to attempt a review of these books and perhaps offer an opinion. The first book Two plus One is an intriguing novel about marriage, trust and infidelity. The story is set in Nigeria and the central figures are Kene and Victoria. In 201 pages and twelve chapters, the author weaves a love story about Kene and Victoria whose marriage has “all the trappings of a perfect union, eliciting envy and admiration”. They are real people who face real issues. They face the storm of childlessness, withstand it and weather it. They face financial challenge and overcome it. They face sexual temptations and come out fine. But when the temptation of trust comes, their marriage receives a knock. Will it survive? That is what the author tries to unravel in Two plus One. And you need to read the book to find out. The title – Two plus One – is an obvious rhetorical question, which mathematically is equal to three. But emotionally the answer equals heartbreak, confusion and betrayal. Infidelity is every marriage’s worst nightmare; it is a betrayal of trust and a break in the bond of marriage. The author painstakingly demonstrates the effects of infidelity on marriage through the eyes of Kene and Victoria. In this book, the author creates an intricate plot to the point of excruciating suspense and successfully holds the reader ’s attention up to the last page through his deft use of flashback technique. The style of the book is absorbing and gripping. The author ’s power of description is compelling and his relentless use of local phrases is unique. The very first sentence in Chapter One grabs your attention and creates the thirst in you to know more. Sample: “Victoria’s chest rose and fell rapidly. Her heart pounded gbim, gbim, gbim. Her head felt too heavy for her neck. Her legs wavered as if they were those of a midget bearing the bulk of a giant. Then it seemed as if a river had burst its bank: warm tears gushed down her cheeks” (page.1). This type of vivid description draws in the reader to follow the story. The author consciously and deftly deploys some local words to good effect. Such words like akwunakwuna, tufia, koro-koro, 419-ed, mugu, akpu, orishirishi, mammywater, otumokpo, ogbanje, Papa ejima, ofe akwu, danfo, area boys, oga, flasher, omugwo, tear-rubber, post-office face, etc. are generously used in the novel without apologies. Most times, their meanings are contextually derived. In a past article, the author rationalizes this technique. Hear him: “Every non-English word must not necessarily have an English name. Ogbanje is ogbanje; abiku is abiku; chi is chi, banga is banga; edikaikong is edikaikong; suya is suya. You can explain them but you don’t have to force an awkward English name on them. If they gain currency, they can go into the English dictionary as new words.” One of the strengths of Two plus One, perhaps, lies in this creativity. Onwuka has also tried to promote the use of grammatically sound words and expressions in his novel. For example, we see the use of “flip-flops” rather than “slippers” on page 31. We see the expression “the gift of the gab” (page 52) instead of the wrong but common “gift of the garb.” On page 46, we see that people can “demand bribes” but cannot “demand for bribes.” On page 27, we see that when a woman loses her virginity, it is said that she’s been “deflowered,” not “disvirgined”. When one throws more light on an issue, the person is said to have “expatiated on it,” not “expantiated it” (page 27). Onwuka has also used the novel to talk about some social issues like the booming baby factory: looking at

the causes and solutions (pages 23-26). He raises the issue of communal format of raising children which has given way for the personalized method (pages 44-46). He talks about the curious issue of Christian men having to undergo three types of marriage with the same woman: traditional, civil and Christian (pages 28-30). He raises the issue of demonization of Egypt for the enslavement of the Israelites without any praise for Egypt for saving Jacob and his family from hunger and starvation as well as providing refuge for baby Jesus when Herod wanted to kill Him (pages 108-110). All these issues are raised in passing while the story flows. Published in Nigeria by Nesma Xandria Limited, the book is well proofread and edited. It was printed on cream paper and pleasing to the eyes. This book is good for young people who are courting, newlyweds and even those who have been married for many years. The second book, English Incorporated, is a vital English handbook for every one who speaks and writes English. First published in 2001 and completely overhauled and revised in 2019, this is a useful book about common mistakes in written and spoken English. The author is at home with the book, having studied English at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the University of Lagos, where he is also pursuing his doctorate degree in English. So the book was written from a position of authority. In well-laid-out 13 Chapters and 266 pages, the author takes the reader through topics like confused words, non-existent words, expressions that should never be altered, tricky expressions, frequently mispronounced words and modern trends in English. As the author rightly points out in the preface, “language is an embodiment of communication, correctness, beauty, style, class, order and delivery. And for a structured and dynamic language like English, which has absorbed many foreign words and phrases, anyone who employs it in communication must ensure that it is used, not as the user wants, but as the language demands”. The quality of a message, he insists, is diminished if the language is faulty. And I agree. The author also laments that the mass media, which should be a trusted source of learning good English, has ironically become the greatest platforms of promoting the so-called common mistakes and errors, because of a drop in thoroughness and attention to details. This book is, therefore, a vital guide to proficiency in the use of English. Chapter One discusses the right and wrong use of 86 confused words with examples from the Nigerian media. The right and wrong use of words like severally vs several times, taxing and tasking, vicious circle or vicious cycle, late and blessed memory, ordinance vs ordnance, driving licence or driver ’s license, delay tactic or delaying tactic, you and I/ you and me, abide with/abide by, fatal and ghastly, lend and borrow, each and one another, etc., are carefully explained with examples. To show the dynamic nature of English, the author in Chapter 12 lists some words and expressions that have undergone changes. For example, the sentence – ‘everybody loves their children’- is now accepted

as Standard English, even though language purists still reject it. Also, the plural forms of some words that were adapted from their Latin plural are changing. So these days, it is fully accepted in Standard English to use “stadiums” as the plural of “stadium.” Expectedly, the book is written in simple, flowing and conservational style laced with humour. The copious use of examples gives the book a unique strength. Being a book on the use of English, I spent some time looking for errors but couldn’t find any. Perhaps, I didn’t find because I couldn’t recognize errors because I am not an English expert like the author. Overall, this book is recommended for everyone irrespective of your discipline or age. The third book, Secret of the Egret and other stories, is a storybook that seeks to fill a void. African children know more about Superman, Spiderman, Captain Planet, Bob the Builder, Alice in Wonderland, Alladin, and the like than African stories and heroes. In the absence of the moonlight tales that were passed on from parents to their children, today’s children are disadvantaged. Their world is filled with Western books and cartoons. They know little about Africa. This colourful book is, therefore, a child of circumstance. Like every parent raising children in cosmopolitan cities, the author was faced with the challenge of finding storybooks with African background for his children. After searching at many bookshops in Lagos, he noticed that African storybooks for children were few. “I was challenged to write stories for our children and other families whose children may face the same challenge”, he said. So far, the author has written 33 stories for children. Consisting of three illustrated stories, Secret of the Egret and other stories is the first batch of the 33 stories. Each story is set in an African country and teaches the wisdom in African sayings, as well as the capital cities of countries, important personalities and key natural sites. At the end of every story, the meanings of some new words and expressions are explained. Key facts presented in the story are also stated and explained. The book is printed in colour, which makes it more appealing to the children. Almost all the pages are illustrated to make the book more interesting for children. Secret of the Egret is a book that every child of between 6 and 12 years will love to read and read again. Even older children will love to read it and get a lot of value from the volume of information packed in it. Even as an adult, I learnt a few things from it. On a final note, Azuka Onwuka, in my view, has done a great job by producing three books which cater for the needs of the family and different segments of the reading public. He has also tried to remind us of the importance of reading from the cradle, because a reading nation is a leading nation. Make sure you beef up your library with these books. Thank you. --- Onyima, former Anambra State Commissioner of Information, Culture and Tourism and former Managing Director of Sun Newspapers Limited, is the Managing Consultant of Bridgehead Communications Network Ltd, Abuja.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ ͺ͸˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸

Women Demand Further Actions in Tackling Gender Based Violence Tobi Soniyi

he Nigerian Feminist Forum (NFF) as a feminist movement recognizes the importance of women and girls in the development of every society, and believes that including women in a nation’’s development plan will yield better results. We strongly hold the view that Nigeria must protect women and girls from sexual, physical and psychological violence, as well as ensure economic emancipation of women. In this wise, we continue to kick against discriminatory and violent practices against women including sexual and gender based violence. Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) refers to any act that is perpetrated against a person’s will and is based on gender norms and unequal power relationships. It includes physical, emotional or psychological and sexual violence, and denial of resources or access to services. Violence includes threats of violence and coercion. SGBV inflicts harm on women and girls who are major targets as minors and is a severe violation of human rights. The impunity enjoyed by perpetrators, and the fear generated by their actions, affect women and girls, stunting their contributions to development, peace and progress. Violence against women is defined by the UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, adopted by the General Assembly on 20 December 1993, as “any act of genderbased violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life”. According to a 2006 report by the UN Secretary General, SGBV is pervasive across all cultures, regions and diverse social categories around the world. However it manifests differently, and in varying levels of intensity according to the socio cultural and institutional factors that shape it. Also, a UN women country report of 2008 on SGBV in Nigeria presented an empirical pervasiveness of sexual gender based violence across the country’s six geopolitical zones. Our advocacy as a feminist movement in partnership with a range of organizations, networks, and individuals with expertise, seeks to eradicate all forms of gender based violence and to dismantle the structures that encourage violence against women and girls. The NFF observes that despite gains recorded in the struggle for the emancipation of women, violence against women continues to triple. There is also a noticeable stagnancy if not a decline in opportunities for women. In addressing GBV, we understand the importance of policy and legal interventions, however we have also identified some gaps in implementation. Areas of Concern Responding to violence against women and girls, as by developing, enforcing and reforming national policies on gender based violence remains a strategic priority for the NFF. This includes the elimination of harmful practices as well as taking a critical look at the structural drivers that encourage sexual and gender based violence. To reduce sexual and gender based violence, and ensure access to justice and support for survivors, legislation and policy interventions remain critical. Areas in need of attention. As the world develops, it is sad to note that there is yet to be an inclusive system of government in Nigeria, an inclusive government where women are in strategic decision making positions to be able to speak on areas of concern of women, as they understand first hand these issues. According to the Women’s International League for Peace

The NFF observes that despite gains recorded in the struggle for the emancipation of women, violence against women continues to triple. There is also a noticeable stagnancy if not a decline in opportunities for women

Ihuoma Obibi of the Nigerian Feminist Forum and Freedom, Nigeria currently ranks 181 out of 193 countries in terms of women’s participation in politics a percentage of 3.38 and a decline from 7% in 2010 which has ever been the highest, but still relatively poor. Out of the 109 members of senate of the 9th assembly, only 7 are female, also the House of Representatives have a total representation of 11 women out of its 360 members. Although the 1999 Constitution (as amended) gives equal political, economic, social, cultural, religious and civic rights to all citizens of the country regardless of gender, we are yet to see this in reality, especially in politics. This patriarchal perception embedded in societal belief that the activities of women should not go beyond the confines of gender stereotyping is so entrenched in the Nigerian culture and encourages the decline in the percentage of women who take interest in politics as well as a decline in the selection/appointment of women in decision making positions. We understand that patriarchal realities, stereotyping of social roles and cultural prejudice in many societies and communities play a significant role in the dominance of men in political positions, but equal access to power and women occupying decision making positions not only gives them an edge towards speaking on the key issues that affect women, but also enables them to establish laws and policies that will protect women and girls from all forms of violence and discrimination For survivors of violence who may have experienced trauma, there are no facilities in place to cater for them with psychosocial support. Cases of Sexual and Gender Based violence are treated with no importance and care, and this places the perpetrators at an advantage as they usually are not held accountable for their actions. Government owned hospitals have no rape kits or sexual assault forensic trained professional and this makes it impossible to gather and preserve physical evidence following a sexual assault/rape. Also the absence of gender desk units in almost all states in the federation makes reporting of SGBV cases even more difficult. Recall that in June 2020 the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu ordered the establishment and strengthening of gender desk units as part of measures to provide a new set of policing tools for tackling emerging crimes such as domestic violence, rape, child molestation and other incidents of gender based violence. However, as of the time of writing, only a few states have functional gender desk units. In May 2015, the federal government enacted the Violence against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP) following advocacy and pressure from civil society organisations. The Act is an improvement on the penal and criminal codes in relation to violence; it also makes provisions for compensation to victims as well as the protection of their rights. The Act among others aims at eliminating gender-based violence and sundry discrimination and abuses by expanding the definition of rape, domestic offences, incest and several forms of violence.

Under the VAPPAct, a wide range of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) including; rape/defilement forced financial dependence or economic abuse, harmful widowhood practices, genital mutilation, abandonment of children, harmful substance attacks, and incest are all recognized as punishable offences. However, the VAPPAct is yet to be domesticated by all states in the country. Call to Action Responding to Sexual and Gender Based Violence SGBV requires addressing the multi-dimensional and complex circumstances of identity and oppression surrounding survivors and individuals who perpetrate violence. Freeing women from the shackles of oppression through economic development will require policy and legislation. NFF recognizes the importance of institutional responses to sexual gender-based violence, and therefore calls for; An intervention towards the domestication of the VAPPAct in all states. An inclusion of a quota system in the constitution to enable for clearer terms in women’s involvement and participation in politics. More training for professionals, re-organizing the police to be able to prioritize complaints of violence and adapt reporting systems so they are accessible as well as the provision for a more comprehensive and supportive response system to survivors. Reforming the justice system through sensitization and training of members of the judiciary, to address violence against women and girls. This should improve access to justice for vulnerable women, survivors of domestic violence, by eliminating unaffordable court fees and by enhancing free legal aid services. Regular awareness-raising and educational campaigns to make violence against women and girls socially unacceptable whilst involving men and boys in combating violence against women and girls. The inclusion of women in decision making positions to be able to speak on the areas of concern of women, as they understand first hand these issues. Government should work with civil society organizations to develop protocols and guidelines for all institutions of learning on how to handle complaints of violence against women. There should be prevention, protection and sanction mechanisms. As a movement, we hold the view that Nigeria must protect women and girls from sexual, physical and psychological violence, as well as ensure the economic emancipation of women. All these can only be achieved when we fight the structures that drive SGBV, as well as uphold laws that will punish offenders by bringing them to justice. NFF is a biennial public policy forum that brings together feminists from the six geo-political zones, government officials, and other strategic partners to deliberate on issues of key concern to the development of and emancipation of women in Nigeria.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ DECEMBER 20, 2020

CICERO

Editor:Olawale Olaleye Email:wale.olaleye@thisdaylive.com, SMS: 08116759819

IN THE ARENA

Unlike Chibok, Kankara Ends Well Although in the seeming absence of leadership, political order and law, life has become somewhat uncertain, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short, the denouement of the Kankara abduction incident, however, leaves so much to be grateful for, writes Louis Achi

ccording to the quaint English philosopher-historian, Thomas Hobbes, in a “state of nature”, human life would be “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short”. In the absence of political order and law, everyone would have unlimited natural freedoms, including the “right to all things” and thus the freedom to plunder, rape and murder; there would be an endless “war of all against all.” As prognosis or prophecy, this Hobbesian insight strangely applies to the condition of the Nigerian state, currently. Alongside Hobbes, the likes of Hugo Grotius, Locke, Rousseau, Kant and others helped to shape and deepen the Age of Enlightenment’s compelling governance tapestry of the social contract theory. Cut to the bone, it’s a moral and political-philosophical theory or model that concerns the legitimacy Kankara boys after their release of the authority of the state over the some great commendation for not just pulling off individual. It typically posits that individuals have the release of the students, but doing so at the nick consented, either explicitly or tacitly, to surrender of time. This has become instructive, when placed some of their freedoms and submit to the authority side-by-side with the Chibok experience, which still of the ruler in exchange for protection of their leaves some sour taste in the mouth. Many of the remaining rights or maintenance of the social order. girls are yet to be rescued let alone reunited with From the early 17th Century to date, it has emerged their families. as the leading doctrine of political legitimacy in However, same Thursday, the US Department Western Civilisation. of State condemned the abduction in a statement Hence the social contract and its inherent political issued by a spokesperson Cale Brown and urged the legitimacy are expressed in the foundational docufederal government to hold those responsible for the ments of most nations and international bodies. kidnapping of Kankara school boys accountable “to Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as the full extent of the law.” amended), Article 3 of the Universal Declaration Before the Kankara kidnap was the November 28 on Human Rights, Article 4 of the African Charter massacre of over 43 rice farmers in Zabarmari, in on Human and Peoples’ Rights capture these nonnegotiable foundational imperatives: the right to life, Borno State, by Boko Haram terrorists. Four days ago, the US Mission in Nigeria also liberty and security. Likewise, Section 14 (2b) of the warned her citizens and others planning to travel to extant Nigerian Constitution states that the welfare Nigeria that insecurity may increase during the holiand security of the citizens shall be the primary day period proclaiming no place in the country was purpose of government. But what is the reality? A state of insecurity reigns. safe. This advisory was contained in a new security alert issued the US Embassy in Abuja and Consulate Massacres, wanton kidnaps, brazen banditry, bloody General Lagos and posted on the embassy’s website, Boko Haram insurgency, rogue herdsmen depredastating that: “Crime is endemic throughout Nigeria.” tions, cult killings, communal clashes and more are For good measure, it added that: “Terrorist almost daily fare. organisations and individuals inspired by extremist Gunmen armed with assault rifles, penultimate ideology exist throughout Nigeria. We remind U.S. Friday, with Boko Haram smugly claiming responcitizens to exercise caution while traveling and sibility, kidnapped more than 330 students of the residing in Nigeria. Crime is endemic throughout Government Science Secondary School in Kankara, Nigeria, ranging from petty street crime to carjackNorthern Katsina State. ing, and crime levels tend to increase during the The schoolboys were released - not rescued - on holidays.” Thursday by their captors. Significantly, Governor The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Masari of Katsina State has severally denied that no Buratai, who recently sternly warned his men to ransom was paid. perish any thoughts of a military coup, probably Even at that, the Buhari administration deserves

captured another dimension to the unfolding national security crisis. When any nation’s army boss openly warns his men against consorting with the political class, especially in a setting suggestive of sinister collaboration to unhorse a democratic government, the message is usually unsettling. This was what transpired on December 4. While the Nigerian Army decorated 39 newly promoted Major Generals, on December 4, COAS Buratai, warned generals to perish any ideas of a coup, vowing the Nigerian Army will never tolerate any agent of destabilisation bent on scuttling the current democratic dispensation. According to the brawny army boss, the Army hierarchy was aware that some generals were being approached and his eyes are on them. “Democracy has come to stay. We will not tolerate any agent of destabilisation. The years of military misadventure in politics have never carried us anywhere. It is over. Do not hobnob with politicians”, he declared. In May 2017, Buratai had also warned his officers against unholy alliances with politicians. The statement came on the heels of a major shakeup in the overburdened Nigerian Army then. Given Buratai’s vast military experience and the substantial intelligence at his disposal, it would probably be folly to assume he is unaware of the implications of the message he communicated to his men then and penultimate week. Nigeria is no doubt facing its most challenging times ever, with insecurity pervading the entire landscape. All security agencies must work together to stem the growing menace that is threatening to take the country to the hobbesian state of nature.

P O L I T I CA L N OT E S

Buhari

This Animal Farm!

he recent kidnap of over 300 students in a Katsina State School raised genuine concerns amongst the generality of the people, coming after the Chibok experience. But what further aggravated public’s worry was when President Muhammadu Buhari, chose to visit his cows as against the part of town, where the incident took place. Although the boys were eventually released after ransom was allegedly paid, even though Governor Aminu Masari of the state tried to change the narrative, the situation highlighted more crystal clearly how much premium the Buhari presidency places on

life and the security of the people. Like George Orwell’s Animal Farm, where the rules states that, “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than the other”, in Buhari’s Nigeria, even certain classes of animals are more important than human beings, which explained why the president was more bothered about visiting the cows as against Kankara, even when he is in town. Unfortunately, the sanity of Nigeria’s Animal farm deteriorates each passing day, leaving the inhabitants constantly depressed. It was a no-brainer that the quick resort to negotiating with bandits by Masari some months back was going to backfire, including the fact that it was not sustainable. And as it is now, this animal farm called Nigeria is in trouble.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ DECEMBER 20, 2020

BRIEFINGNOTES

Beyond Metuh’s Victory The nulliﬁcation of the judgment of Justice Okon Abang convicting the former spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, by the Court of Appeal has again added to the long list of Abang’s controversial rulings, orders and judgments. Davidson Iriekpen writes

t was a judgment any rational being knew could not stand the test of time on appeal, because of the atmosphere it was conducted at the lower court. Many even knew that the court was on mission to jail and convict him at all cost. So, when the Court of Appeal nullified the judgment and set the former spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh free last week, it did not surprise those who were carefully following his case. Metuh, who held sway under the Goodluck Jonathan administration as PDP mouthpiece, was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside his company, Destra Investment Limited in 2016 on a seven-count charge of diversion of illegal monies received from a former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd). The former spokesman was also accused of transacting with the sum of $2 million without going through a financial institution, in violation of a provision of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act. He had pleaded not guilty to the charges. But on February 25, 2020, Justice Abang sentenced Metuh to seven years imprisonment after finding him and his firm guilty. If Metuh’s conviction did not make any sense, the most incongruous was that of Dasuki. The former NSA was not a defendant in the case but only appeared in case as a subpoenaed defence witness. But judge went ahead to indict him for breach of trust and acts of corruption by his action of giving the sum of N400million to the former PDP spokesman from the office of the NSA’s account without justification. Dissatisfied, Metuh, his firm and Dasuki separately filed appeals against the judgment at the Court of Appeal, accusing Justice Abang of bias and alleging a breach of their rights to fair hearing by the judge.They quoted from the records of proceedings of the trial court, the perceived bias comments of the judge criticising Metuh and members of his legal team for allegedly making life difficult for him over his firm handling of the case. Specifically, Dasuki, who is standing trial before another court in respect of the handling of the funds of the NSA office ahead of the 2015 general election, stated in his appeal that without being charged or allowed to defend himself in the case before Justice Abang, more than 10 indicting comments were made against him by the judge. He said his indictment by the judge was a breach of his right to fair hearing. In a unanimous judgment, the three-man panel of the Court of Appeal, not only voided the trial and conviction of Metuh and his firm by Justice Abang, but also held that their trial was tainted with bias and prejudice. Justice Stephen Adah, who read the lead judgments, said from the record of proceedings, it was evident that Justice Abang not only descended into the arena, but also portrayed himself as someone who had an axe to grind with the defendants and his team of lawyers. He noted that the trial judge, in his judgment, narrated his ordeal in the hands of the appellants (defendants) and their lawyers, which also portrayed him as someone, who was not willingly trying the case. Justice Adah, however, gave Abang some tutorials in law when he said the duty of a trial judge is to be detached from the case before him, adding that such a judge is expected to afford both parties fair hearing in the case.The appellate court’s judge, who noted that a trial judge is expected not only to be fair to both sides, but must be seen to be impartial in his handling of any case brought before him, held that in his

only role he played in the trial was as a subpoenaed witness. The judge said the appellant was not heard on the issues on which indicting statements were made against him in the judgment. Nullifying those portions of the judgment that indicted Dasuki, Justice Adah said:“This appeal is allowed and every strand of those lines, indicting the appellant in the judgment is nullified.The appeal of the appellant succeeds.” For many, who were following the case, it was not a surprise that the Court of Appeal unturned the judgment of Justice Abang. During trial, he had given orders that made many to think if he was acting a script.The first was when he repeatedly denied Metuh the permission to travel abroad for medical attention, when many of his colleague judges were granting defendants permission to do that. One of the most obvious sign that Metuh would not get justice from Justice Abang was when his lawyer, Oneykachi Ikpeazu, in December 2016 filed a subpoena requesting him to summon Dasuki to testify in court as a defence witness. This is because in Metuh’s statement, he had claimed that Dasuki gave him the N400million on the orders of former President Goodluck Jonathan. But instead, he refused, saying because Dasuki had engaged in unlawful activity, he did not need to be subpoenaed as his evidence was immaterial in the case. It took intervention of the Court of Appeal for the former NSA to appear before the judge. Delivering the lead judgment upon appeal, Justice Peter Ige of the Court of Appeal, held that Justice Abang’s refusal to sign the subpoena and his subsequent refusal to grant the application requesting the signing of the subpoena was a violation of Metuh’s right to fair hearing guaranteed by Section 36 of the Metuh Constitution. It also ruled that with Dasuki’s name featuring prominently handling of the case, Justice Abang did not treat the defendants in the counts preferred against Metuh, the ex-NSA was an (appellant) and their lawyers fairly. essential witness in the case.The court, therefore, added that “His (the trial judge’s) comments betrayed the mindset of it was not within the power of the judge“under the guise of the court against the appellants (defendants),”Justice Adah exercising discretion”to determine whether or not Dasuki’s said. testimony would serve useful purpose to the defendant. He added that the appellants were able to convince the The masterstroke in the judgment was delivered by Justice appellate court that there was the likelihood of bias on the Mohammed Mustapha, who held“Counts 1, 2,3,4 and 7 of the conduct of the trial judge, who denied them fair hearing while charge against Metuh are alleging that he received N400milthe trial was going on. lion from the former NSA with the knowledge that the funds “Where somebody is charged, he must be subjected to fair formed part of an unlawful of Dasuki. trial and accorded respect,”Justice Adah said, adding that the “No, if that were so, one cannot but wonder how the appelimplication of a trial tainted with bias on the part of the judge is lant could possibly explain or discharge the burden placed on that the product of such trial could not stand. him especially, as it is those facts that the trial court found the He accordingly annulled the proceedings leading to the existence of prima facie evidence. February 25, 2020 judgment of Justice Abang, and ordered the “It stands to logic and common sense that an accused person return of the case to the Federal High Court for retrial. is entitled to call any witness of his choice in his defence, and In the third judgment, the Court of Appeal upheld the in calling such witness, it is perfectly within the right of such appeal by Dasuki, against his indictment in some portions of an accused person to approach the court to issue subpoena to the judgment convicting Metuh. secure the attendance of such a witness.” The same three-man panel of the Court of Appeal held that It was not far-fetched why Justice Abang did not want the trial judge was wrong to have indicted Dasuki in some portions of the judgment when he (Dasuki) was not a defendant in Dasuki to appear as a defence witness. He knew that when the former NSA appears before him, he would cite the judgment the case, but only acted as a subpoenaed witness. of Justice Binta Nyako of the same Federal High Court in the Justice Adah, in the lead judgment, was of the view that the trial judge breached Dasuki’s right to fair hearing as he was not case of Mohammed Bello Adoke vs Attorney General of the Federation, which exonerated him from liability for carrying heard in respect of the issues on which the trial judge made out presidential directives. indicting statements against him, particularly as it related to Even when Dasuki eventually appeared before him and the N400 million his (Dasuki’s) office was said to have transcited the case, and telling the world that he acted on presidenferred to Metuh’s account. tial directive, the judge was not convinced. He did not only still He faulted certain lines of the judgment, which indicted the convict Metuh, but also indicted the ex-NSA. appellant (Dasuki) without giving fair hearing, noting that the

NOTES FOR FILE

COVID-19: Be Responsible This Yuletide! Across the world, there’s one bad news everyone is dealing with at the moment and it is the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, which is claiming as many lives as the first wave did. Unfortunately, while some countries have been busy embracing selective lockdowns as part of measures to curb any further spread, Nigeria is unable to go this route. The reasons are simple. Apart from the fact that the economy has yet to recover from the initial lockdown, it has also entered another recession, said to

be the worst since 1987. In addition to this are the many security challenges the country is currently facing, which have made it difficult for other sectors of the economy to function effectively. This is why the resort to personal discipline is inevitable in taming the virus. People must take responsibility and follow through with all the Covid-19 protocols as prescribed by experts. It is dangerous taking chances or acquiescing to a large gathering at this time, bearing in mind the fact that it’s yuletide, when

people are likely to be reckless. Whether or not anyone likes it, at the end of the day, people’s lives are in their hands. It’s a function of choice. You either choose life or disobey simple rules and face your battle with Covid-19. At least, government has done enough seeking people’s cooperation to defeat the virus. The incident commanders in both Abuja and Lagos are currently in isolation. Thus, for those who still think it’s all a façade or remain reckless, good luck!

SGF, Boss Mustapha

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ DECEMBER 20, 2020

CICERO/REPORT

Tambuwal

Tambuwal’s Different Kind of Revolution Although currently in isolation in strict observance of the Covid-19 protocols after he was exposed to an infected person, Governor Aminu Tambuwal’s strides in diﬀerent sectors of the state especially, the health sector, give nothing but hope and promises. Onuminya Innocent writes

ealth they say is wealth. That is why Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State is doing everything humanly possible to revitalis the sector. As with several other sectors in the state, the health sector has witnessed what could be regarded as significant developments in the last five years under the Tambuwal-led administration. On assumption of office in May 2015, he discovered that the health sector was one of those in critical state. Though the previous administrations has done a lot to salvage the situation, but for Tambuwal, more needed to be done to leverage the sector. In his first term, the governor ordered the renovation and equipping of the specialist hospital, which gulped hundreds of millions of naira. Today the specialist hospital can favourably compete with any tertiary health centre in the country. It is also used as a referral centre within and outside the state. To the governor, having Usman DanFodio University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) and Specialist Hospital in the State was not enough to provide tertiary health care service delivery to the people of the state. The work at Sokoto State University Teaching Hospital, Kasarawa, has reached an advanced stage. When recently a delegation of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Sokoto State Council, led by its

Chairman, Comrade Isah Shuni, paid an inspection visit to the project site at Kasarawa, the chairman lauded the efforts of the governor for embarking on people-focused projects. According to Shuni, the project tallied with the yearning and aspirations of residents of the state. “As watch dogs, we come here to see what the governor is doing with public funds and not to antagonise him but to work as partners in progress. “During the electioneering, the governor made many promises to the people of the state, including providing quality health service delivery”, adding that, what was on ground attested to the fact that the governor was fulfilling his campaign promises to the people of the state. The project consultant, Architect Kabiru Umar Yabo, while speaking to reporters, disclosed that the contract was awarded at the sum of N6.8billion with the time frame of 30 months, adding that the project comprised 22 structures, two site fences and administrative block. Barely three months that the project was awarded, work has reached 30 per cent milestone, meaning it could be completed before the completion period. When the governor also spoke on the project at the groundbreaking by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike some months ago, he said when completed, the teaching hospital would provide tertiary health service to the people of the state, the country and also used as a training center for medi-

cal students of Sokoto State University. The Tambuwal administration has also completed Farfaru Advance Diagnostic Centre (FADC) awaiting inauguration. The Centre, which is to serve as advance laboratory, is equipped with modern equipment to conduct all forms of laboratory tests. Before now, some advance and complex medical tests were sent to Kano and other places from the Usman DanFodio University Teaching Hospital and Specialist. But with Farfaru Advance Diagnostic Centre, most of these tests would be done in the state, which will go a long way in saving lives. The state has also started the construction of premier Hospitals in Sabon Birni in the Eastern senatorial district and another in Tambuwal in the Southern Senatorial district According to the governor, the two hospitals would serve the rural dwellers in those senatorial districts and reduce the overstretching on health facilities in the urban centres. The state has also launched Sokoto State contributory Health Scheme in July 2018 for its workers with 21 accredited general hospitals and 65 primary health centres to Carter for the scheme. There’s no debating the fact that by the time all these projects come into fruition, Sokoto’s health sector would stand shoulder-to-shoulder with any from any part of the country. Indeed, it is a different kind of revolution that dares to change the Sokoto story.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ ͺ͸˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸

ASUU Has Outlived Its Shelf Life Ade Okopi

want to start this intervention by apologising to Mr. Shaka Momodu, (spelt Moodu in the December 4 column) and the ardent readers of the column-THIS REPUBLIC (appearing these days fortnightly or so?) and the generality of the Nigerian media space for coming late. I have actually been on my honeymoon for about two weeks now; accordingly, connubial best practices and obligations require that there be nothing of interest that would bring about divided attention for my darling betrothed, whatsoever may be the case. However, I am particularly motivated to do this rejoinder because Mr. Momodu himself has written in this piece that “I challenge ASUU to prove otherwise”. I follow this column like a religion, accordingly, whatsoever may be my submission in the current instance, my respect for Mr. Momodu does not diminish by any inch and my allegiance to the column is still cocksure intact. As a starter, I do not know the motivation or inspiration behind this particular intervention by Mr. Momodu which was actually riddled with bile and brimstone against ASUU which is my constituency. However, I want to assume and believe that, this particular intervention was done purely out of altruistic and patriotic zeal and candour as the columnist is won’t to doing with his pen on other pressing national issues. I am very sure Mr. Momodu is the type of journalist that is not motivated by hate and prejudice. No matter what he has said about Nigerian academics, I shall endeavour all I can not to be confrontational but to stick to some of the valid talking points he had raised in his column. As an academic, I was strictly trained to be always open-minded, ready to bow to superior logic and not to be hysterical and presumptuous whatever may be the case. Accordingly, I shall approach the meat\bone of Mr. Momodu’s submissions as they have come in his paper. He started the conversation with: “in 20 years, university teachers in the country under the auspices of ASUU have embarked on strike over 15 times (a strike almost every one and a half years) that saw them stay away from work for about 50 months cumulatively, resulting in a loss of about 21% of academic time”. As truth as this assertion may be, it is important for the public to know that no ASUU strike happens overnight, accidentally or sporadically. Before the union embarks on any strike, it must have explored all avenues and done so many things for peaceful and amicable resolution of the contentious issues. A process is usually followed and sometimes the process leading to any industrial disharmony could be up to 3 months. ASUU as a labour group subscribes to the conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The union is an umbrella body of intellectuals; accordingly, all its actions are always guided by standard regulations and global best practices. The same modus operandi that guides the activities of intellectuals be it in Germany, UK, Canada, USA, Malaysia Japan etc. What this means is that if you take the Nigerian condition and apply it to any of the efficient nations that have been mentioned above, the same symptoms would suffix. The reason(s) it seems as if Nigerian academics delights in embarking on strike or “de over-do” is because Nigeria is a peculiar country and particularly at the moment it is led by an extraordinary and a wonderful president. Also, I want Mr. Momodu to know that there is no labour union in the world (non!) that is in love with strikes and embarks on it at will and at the slightest provocation. Also, no scholar worth its onions delights in docile and unproductive moments. Strikes are usually the last resort and it is usually embarked upon with much pain and difficulty (sometimes reluctantly) especially when all available options have been explored. Also, it seems to be the only language those who control things round here understand. Mr. Momodu also claims that: “ASUU’s current strike over the union’s refusal to enroll its members in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) commenced on March 9”. Thereafter, he added that the strike is meant to compel the FG to implement the agreements reached by both the ASUU-FG in 2009 and which subsequently metamorphosed into the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and the 2017 Memorandum of Action (MOA). Mr. Momodu’s assertion makes it seems as if the main reason for the current strike is because of ASUU’s refusal to enroll on IPPIS and the subsequent non-payment of its members. I make bold to state that such claims run hollow because it is contrary to the actualities of the issue. On IPPIS and why the union is on strike, I implore Mr. Momodu and others like him who are interested in the enlightenment of the Nigerian society to an opinion I expressed in the Sunnewsonline edition of April 9, 2020. Let me quote myself here: “What really are the points of discrepancies between ASUU and the FG? I mean what are the issues at stake? But before then, let me strip the most ludicrous and inconsequential of them all, and which has been introduced into the narratives by the FG because of its sinister agenda. In this case, the so-called Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) which ordinarily is a non-issue but the FG has made it to become one in order to confuse and obscure the main issues, distracts ASUU from pursuing the real issues which is to the best interest of the downtrodden masses, put the union on the defensive (lose momentum), whip up and sway public opinion to its side, hoodwink the masses and then buy them ample time to effectively and comprehensively ground tertiary education in Nigeria as they have done to primary and post-primary education”. As I have said then, nothing has changed ever

Ogunyemi, ASUU-President since. IPPIS is never the reason for the current strike and even if all our salary backlogs and the one for 2021 are paid today, the tendency is that the strike would still subsist. The FG is being snaky and crafty by foisting on gullible Nigerians to believe that IPPIS is the main issue of contention here. Nothing has changed actually! Also, I plead with all to endeavour to read the press release of ASUU of March 9 when it embarked on the current industrial action. For the avoidance of doubt, this is the summary of why the ASUU has currently downed tools. A major issue of differences between the FG and ASUU has to do with the lack of goodwill and commitment to honour agreements and keep to timelines on the part of the FG. In fact, the Buhari government has become a serial deceiver. The government does not have sincerity on its currency list and fidelity is a luxury to it, but ironically, it claims and sees itself as the best thing to have ever happened to Nigeria and Nigerians. For instance, between 2016 and 2019, the FG went into negotiations with ASUU on the need to make funding available for the Revitalisation of Public Universities. These revitilisation funds do not go to the coffers of ASUU, neither are they managed by the union. Such funds are exclusively at the mercies of the Vice-Chancellors to manage who are in real sense appointees of the FG. The funds are meant for the infrastructural development of our ivory towers. Today, a tour round our University campuses reveals nothing but an eyesore! Students still sit on bare floor to receive lectures! A country that prides itself as the “giant of Africa” could still afford to have its university students sit on bare floor to receive lectures in the 21st century. Our ivory towers and other ancillary establishments are not only straddled with moribund and decayed infrastructures but also suffer critically from infrastructural deficit. Even Mr. Momodu agrees with ASUU on this when he crooned that “Students’ hostels still stink like police barracks unfit for human habitation with bedbugs feeding on our adolescent youths. The toilets and bathrooms are a disgrace to human civilisation. Visit the lecture theatres or classrooms where ASUU holds sway as lord of the manor and see the deplorable state. Go to faculties of engineering, science and medicine of various public universities – visit the laboratories and you would cry for our beloved country. Equipment being used to teach our youths in this fast-paced, technology-driven age of the 21st century was procured in some cases since the founding of the universities. How can they compete with their peers around the world? But this not really ASUU’s worry. They are much more interested in their pockets”. And this is a major reason why ASUU is on strike. How does this amount to selfishness and a fight for the pocket? In the light of this, some ASUU chapters are beginning to fund projects in the universities. For e.g. the University of Jos ASUU chapter presented a 1000 sit capacity lecture theatre to the university in June\July this year. What other nobler way can one be more altruistic and selfless? The second contentious issue has to do with Earned Academic Allowances (EAA). Is it a crime for one to peacefully get and enjoy what is legitimately due to him\her? These are accumulated allowances that lag up to the year 2014 of which if not for the nonchalant attitude of government, it should not have been allowed to accumulate for this long. This has led to accumulations, thereby amounting to humongous sums to the point that it is becoming “tough” for government to defray. What is the logic in withholding someone’s allowance he\ she is legitimately entitled to for up to five years in arrears? What if the person expires before this time? Which of course is happening to so many. Is that how other employees and functionaries of government are owed their allowances for that long; especially those of them in the political class? We all know how they allocate to themselves humongous allowances and severance packages sometimes they pay upfront of one year.

So why is ASUU’s own always an issue? This to me is not fair at all. Before the ASUU suspended its last strike in March 2019, the government pledged that they were going to defray the backlogs of EAA from 2013-2018 in four installments beginning from November 2019 and running through February2022 and subsequently mainstream all EAA into the monthly salaries of lecturers starting from 2019. Government in its characteristic style failed to keep its words. Allowances they ordinarily ought to get and enjoy quietly and without stress and turbulence. It is also proper to state here that it is only in Nigeria that the intelligentsia is made to go through a lot of struggles, unnecessary embarrassment and public ill will before they get what is rightly due them as if they do not deserve it. Sometimes, a professor barely gets up to a hundred thousand naira in this whole EAA brouhaha with all its attendant and irreverent publicity and stigmatisation. Nothing can be more demoralising. Today, the majority of the public see lecturers as the highest paid in the land with other side benefits. On this, I would want to challenge the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) to come clean on it; they should make public the different salary structure of all public and civil servants in the country. This is the only way ASUU can be vindicated from the bashing of the public. Is this the right way to treat the group of people a nation is depending on to mould and build the brains and minds of her future? “Nigeria is a carcass” crooned Dan Agbese and truly it is. This is what Momodu terms “selfishness and a fight for the pocket”. Even the holy books clearly state that a labourer deserves his\her dues. Another issue at stake in this whole saga has to do with salary shortfall of its members for the months of January, 2017 and 2019. ASUU has drawn the attention of the DG budget office to this for rectification and subsequent payment of these salary arrears, but as usual, the response has been “we are working on it”. Ordinarily, this should not take time in rectifying but it is not very clear why government is foot-dragging on this. Again, a salient item on this whole FG, ASUU face-off has to do with the proliferation, underfunding and poor running of state-owned universities. ASUU is saying too many state governments are setting up universities without adequate funding and proper management and hence these institutions are suffering unnecessarily. In fact, it seems as if some of these universities are being set up for political expediency and exigencies rather than the purpose for which they are meant to be. There is nowhere in the modern world where universities are established on account of politics. And because these universities start off on a wrong footing, they are largely neglected by those who should cater for them and see that they blossom. But this has not been the case, so what we have as state universities in most cases are glorified secondary schools that are ill-equipped, ill-manned and poorly funded. Accordingly, the output from most of such institutions is a disaster. So ASUU is saying why set up a university in the name of it if you know you are not going to properly fund and manage it? What is the point in that? And because ours is a behemoth federal structure, ASUU is saying the FG through the instrumentality of the National Economic Council (NEC) should prevail on the visitors’ (the governors) to these state universities in order for them to do the needful. In other words, there is nothing wrong with setting up a university but there is everything wrong with failure or refusal to fund it. How does this amount to a fight for the pocket? And then there is the issue of the government visitation panels to all its universities. The visitation panels are meant to checkmate the level of accountability and transparency on all issues as it affects university management. They are meant to look into the books, appraise the level of government spending on infrastructure that is on ground and see if the university is administered in strict compliance with the laws and regulations establishing them. The greatest selling point of this administration is its purported fight against corruption and so this is a good avenue of demonstrating such fight. But curiously, the government is foot-dragging in constituting and sending these panels to the universities. It has been one complaint too many. So ASUU is also beginning to wonder why the government is exhibiting such nonchalant attitude towards a fundamental issue as this, especially as it relates to accountability and transparency. But this government is supposed to be an exterminator of corruption. What an irony! Is government afraid of something or they have something to hide? Enough of the blackmail! ASUU stands for everything that will promote transparency and accountability. Friends and folks, these are the issues at stake. Back to Mr. Momodu, even though some of the issues he raised have been touched. For want of space, I shall try to be brief as possible in responding to the issues he has raised in his intervention. According to him, “the 50 months tally translates to over four years of lost academic work by lecturers and study for students - enough time to be admitted to, and graduate from a standard four-year course in the university and this should prick and shame the conscience of ASUU if it has any”. ––Ade Okopi is of the Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies, University of Jos, Jos. He can be reached throughadeokopi@gmail.com (Readers should see concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ECEMBER 20, 2020

INTERNATIONAL EngagementofNigerianDiasporaforNationalDevelopment: The Challenge of Structural Re-alignment

t the epicentre of Nigeria’s foreign policy in 1960 was Africa as the cornerstone and thereafter, in 1976, as the centrepiece. Africa, as cornerstone and centrepiece, was largely defined by Nigeria’s policy of no compromise with the obnoxious policies of apartheid in South Africa and the need for decolonisation. In the eyes of many scholars, Nigeria had a foreign policy with the anti-apartheid war and struggle for decolonisation. This was the first pillar of Nigeria’s foreign policy. When South Africa was freed from the clutches of racial segregation in 1994, the belief was that Nigeria did not have any foreign policy anymore. Asecond foreign policy pillar was introduced in 1987 with the establishment of the Technical Aid Corps (TAC) Scheme, which has been, since then, the most important, instrument of Nigeria’s foreign policy. It was put in place by Professor Bolaji Akinwande Akinyemi when he was Minister of External Affairs. The TAC Scheme has remained a catalyst in promoting Nigeria’s international cooperation. As explained by the then military President of Nigeria, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, ‘the TAC Scheme is in furtherance of our commitment to our foreign policy, which makes Africa its centrepiece. This administration believes that it is in Nigeria’s national interest, and that it should be regarded as Nigeria’s sacred duty to enhance the status of Blacks all over the world...’ What is noteworthy about Africa as centrepiece and the TAC Scheme is that emphasis was placed on helping others and defending black dignity, in the strong belief that any taint on any African or Black man is necessarily also a taint on every Nigerian. While the protection of black dignity remained a major focus, a third pillar was again introduced in 2017. This was the focus on the use of Nigerians in Diaspora as an instrument of foreign policy, especially in growing national unity and socio-economic development. In this regard, efforts were first made by President Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, to bring together Nigerians in the Diaspora in September 2000 when he held a meeting with 3,700 Nigerians in Diaspora in Atlanta. He asked them to prepare ‘to participate fully in the process of visioning, planning and pursuing the political well-being, the economic development and the sound governance of their country. As further explained by Dr. Bashir Obasekola, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisations Europe (NIDO-E), President Obasanjo said that ‘we can tap the knowledge and skills of many of our fellow Nigerians, wherever they are,’ and had therefore called for the establishment of a mechanism ‘to establish structures and networks that will promote the use of special skills of Nigerians in the Diaspora. It is against this background that the formation of NIDOs began in 2001 in the United States and thereafter in 2002 in Europe. It is not only within this context that a third important pillar of foreign policy was also introduced, with the establishment of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) in 2017 which is currently headed by Honourable Abike Dabiri-Erewa, but also why, on Tuesday, 15th December, 2020 the Diaspora Affairs Department of the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA) held a ‘Think Nigeria’ Diaspora Symposium,’ on ‘Engaging the Nigerian Diaspora for Inclusive Development’ at the Chida Hotel, Jabi, Abuja. The symposium was chaired by Ambassador Joe Keshi, former Permanent Secretary.

Issues in Engaging Nigerians in Diaspora

The first issue in seeking the engagement of Nigerians in the development of Nigeria is who should have full responsibility for the conduct and management of DiasporaAffairs. There are currently two important institutional mechanisms competing for the management of Diaspora affairs. There is the Directorate of Technical Cooperation inAfrica, which was specifically created as an independent Ministry to promote technical cooperation and economic integration amongAfrican countries but was later brought under the supervisory authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. What is noteworthy about the mandate of DTCAis that the promotion of technical cooperation and economic integration is expected to be achieved ‘by attractingAfrican experts to enhance Africa’s development through the creation of an enabling environment and opportunity for Nigerian professionals and indeed, those ofAfrican descent, to invest their immense intellect,

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Buhari expertise and skills into the economies ofAfrica,’ to borrow the words of the DTCAin its concept note on ‘’Think Nigeria Diaspora Symposium.’’ As further explicated by Dr. Theodore Sefia and in the concept note, ‘the Think Nigeria Diaspora Symposium is expected to propose recommendations for more effectively engaging Nigerian professionals in the Diaspora to facilitate institutional effectiveness, efficiency and adoption of best practices by proffering concrete applicable strategies on how to galvanise the Nigerian Diaspora for socio-economic transformation of Nigeria.’ In this same vein, and for the same objectives, the NationalAssembly promulgated the Law establishing the NiDCOM in 2017. And more than three months ago, the NiDCOM, under its Chief Executive, conceived of the need to empanel a research committee to investigate how best to engage all Nigerians in the Diaspora with the ultimate objective of national economic development. Thus, we do have the DTCAand the NiDCOM focusing on the same NIDOs. The DTCAis under the Ministry of ForeignAffairs. The NiDCOM is, stricto sensu, not under it. Besides, the Ministry of ForeignAffairs is not on record to be happy with an autonomous NiDCOM. If we consider the main objectives of economic development, and particularly the quest for technological breakthrough in Nigeria, the NiDCOM can be under the Ministry of the Economy or Science and Technology. If we do consider the aspect of operational protection of stranded Nigerians, the NiDCOM essentially falls within the framework of citizen diplomacy, and therefore can be under the Ministry of ForeignAffairs. However, there is the need to always differentiate between international relations and international life. International relations is about government-to-government relations while international life involves the activities of non-government officials, that is, beyond the officialdom. Relationships between the Government and the NIDOs does not fall under international relations but under international life, and therefore, NIDO affairs fall squarely under the purview of the NiDCOM. Consequently, when thinking of how ‘to facilitate dialogue with all levels of the Diaspora on Nigeria’s institutional realignment drive for sustainable development,’ which is the first cardinal point of enquiry of the DCTA’s symposium on Engaging the Nigerian Diaspora for inclusive development, there will be need to under-

There must be a structural re-alignment for actualising whatever Diaspora engagement we may want to contemplate upon. In other words, there is the need for a Nigerianocentric re-alignment and a quadrilateralised organogram or a four-layered vertical structure of authority in which the NiDCOM will be at the crescendo: NiDCOM, Federation of all NIDOs, Regional NIDOs and National NIDOs abroad. The Federation of NIDOs, when created, should be ofﬁcially invited to submit their viewpoints on critical challenges, especially through video-conferencing. The federation of NIDOs should be institutionalised and made to report to the Government of Nigeria through the NiDCOM and not the Ministry of Foreign Affairs because Diaspora matters fall under international life and not under international relations. And perhaps most importantly, the need to create a Nigerian Diaspora Town in the mania of the 1977 FESTAC Village is a desideratum to serve as a depository for and epicentre of scientiﬁc, doctoral dissertations, peer reviews and articulation of development strategies

score the factor of collaboration to the detriment of destructive competition. In this regard, I hold the strong belief that the mandate of the NiDCOM cannot with ease be achieved if, structurally, it is placed under the Ministry of ForeignAffairs for two reasons that are not far-fetched. First, on the very day of the symposium, which was a Zoom meeting, the Minister of State for ForeignAffairs, His Excellency Zubairu Dada, who was to give the keynote address and declare the meeting open, was late for 21minutes. Even when he arrived, he said he would read his speech as given. He did not apologise for his lateness. In fact, the reading of his speech did not show any seriousness of purpose.And perhaps more disturbingly, he left the meeting after the delivery of his speech and photo session. The business of Nigerians in Diaspora cannot be managed on the altar of this type of political chicanery or on a lighter mood. To promote harmonious working relationship with the NIDOs cannot but require finding more time for them. It must go beyond ordinary speech giving and pontificating. Nigerians in the Diaspora generally work in a very disciplined environment where time is time and business is truly business. Asecond reason is the mania of the Ministry of ForeignAffairs in the management of its parastals in general. The specific case of the Nigerian Institute of InternationalAffairs is a pointer. The Foreign Ministry completely bastardised the Institute in collaboration with the misinformation by General Ike Nwachukwu-led Governing Council, but joyfully acceded to without verification by the Foreign Ministry. Thus, the NiDCOM should be encouraged and empowered the more to do what it has been doing well in the advancement of the interest of the NIDOs and enhancing their contributions to the development of Nigeria. Without scintilla of doubt, Honourable Dabiri-Erewa has been playing active parts in various Diaspora matters. She is not simply recognised as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NiDCOM, but more interestingly, as ‘Mama Diaspora’ in the mania of ‘Mama Bakassi’, Florence Ita Giwa. In Nigeria, whenever a public official publicly demonstrates special passion or commitment to a given national issue, it is the tradition of the people to always give such a person a nickname. It is within this context that the notion of ‘Mama Diaspora’ should be understood. The essence of the foregoing is to underscore the point that the NiDCOM is better placed to handle Diaspora matters than the Ministry of ForeignAffairs, especially in terms of commitment and seriousness of purpose. Another important issue is the question of remittances without investments.As observed in the goodwill message by the Chairperson of the House Committee on Diaspora Matters, Honourable TolulopeAkande Sadipe, there were 1.24 million migrants from Nigeria in 2017 according to UN official records, while in 2019, the World Bank has it that formal remittances toAfrica reached US $86bn. Of this amount, 70% was accounted for by Egypt, Nigeria, and Morocco. However, as good as the remittances might have been, the issue is that ‘seven out of ten (70%) Nigerians send money to friends or family in Nigeria, rather than hold savings, deposits or any form of investment. Two in five (21%) Nigerians hold stocks and shares in Nigeria...’ (vide Commonwealth Diaspora Investor Survey Country Report 2018). More important, it is observed that a majority of Nigerians in Diaspora want to invest, but many problems militate against such intention. In the words of Honourable Sadipe, ‘despite a majority of respondents expressing an interest in investing in Nigeria, some still hold no form of saving or investment in the country.Arange of issues presented as barriers have affected investment from Nigerians in the Diaspora, which must be addressed if this gap is to be closed.’ This observation raises the issue of the way forward and the challenge of structural re-alignment.

The Challenge of Structural Re-alignment

In her paper on ‘’Administrative Structure for Diaspora Engagement, Honourable Abike Dabiri-Erewa, traced the genesis of Diaspora contributions to national development to 1920 when Nigerians began to travel abroad for schooling. The contributions were noteworthy at the time of the struggle for independence and thereafter. She identified three main challenges to Diaspora engagement: lack of data with which to plan and strategise; lack of appropriate office accommodation for members of staff; and paucity of operational funds. In spite of this, as Mama Diaspora put it, ‘though these challenges are daunting, the Commission is forging ahead to ensure that its Mandate is fulfilled and implemented for the Nigerians in the Diaspora to be a catalyst for the accelerated development of our dear country, Nigeria.’ From the foregoing, there is no disputing the fact that Nigerians in Diaspora are considered important and strategic instrument of national development in a contemporary world of globalisation. However, their good use for national growth and development is still challenged by many factors. For instance, Dr. Bashir Obasekola, in his paper entitled, ‘The Role of Diaspora Organisations in Promoting Diaspora Engagement,’ adopted a two-pronged interrogative framework to explicate some of the challenges: how to strengthen partnership and coordinating capacity of Diaspora organisations, on the one hand, and how to strengthen and stimulate the role that the Diaspora organisations are already playing in promoting development in Nigeria. Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

˜ ˾ DECEMBER 20, 2020

EVENTS

r. Adesina Peter Bello of the late Chief Daniel Bello family took former Miss Aderinola Anastacia Jayeola as wife at an ellaborate wedding ceremony recently in Lagos. The photographs below show the families and friends that graced the ocassion. PHOTOS: AKINYELE ABAHYOMI The new couple, Adesina Peter Bello and his wife, Aderinola Anastacia

Groom’s parent, Barrister Peter Bello, and wfe, Victoria

Bride’s parent, Mr Jayeola Thomas, and wife, Kehinde

L-R: MD, THISDAY Newspapers, Mr Eniola Bello, and Mr Femi Bello

George Dada and wife, Grace

L-R: Ebenezer Bello and Ade Akinola

L-R: Tayo Balogun and Olusola Bello

L-R: Sunday Jegede and Kehinde Adedeji

L-R: Richard Adeniyan and Clement Ojo

L-R: Adunni Mehan and Bukola Agbaje

L-R: Bolanle Oyeniyi and Folake Gbadebo

L-R: Funke Kolawole, Paul, and Adeniji Kolawole

L-R: Omolara Momodu and Loveth Akinola

L-R: Precious Akinola, Semilore Akinola and Lanre Akinola

L-R: Dr. Chmoﬁna Bello and Abraham Ekefe

L-R: Jayeola Adebayo and Orisunwaona Adebukola

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ENGAGEMENTS

Kankara: A Walk Back from Darkness

he boys of Kankara Government Science Secondary School committed no crime known to law in a secular state. Their parents enrolled them in a government boarding school in search of education, knowledge and enlightenment. Like their compatriots in the rest of the country, they all aspired to become great scientists, teachers, doctors and leaders in different callings. They had no cause to be afraid because they believed, quite justifiably, in the government that inscribed its name on the signpost of the school. But on the night of Friday, 11th December, their dreams and aspirations were sadly interrupted by machine gunfire. The serenity of their school environment was disrupted by rough unschooled bearers of violence. The children cried desperately for help and protection. Their parents were far away. The school authorities who were acting in locus parentis were helpless. For a whole week of nightmare in uncertain agony, the Nigerian state failed these young citizens and left them in the hands of agents of dark violence and death. Boys who went to bed as free citizens of this republic woke up in a dark forest as unwilling guests of a devilish collective of transactional bandits in the service of deranged jihadists. Happily, the nightmare ended rather quickly with the news of the sudden release of the boys. Whether they were released after negotiations with their captors or they were rescued in an unusually amicable security operation, the important point is that the boys are free and back in the warmth of their respective homes. While we await the full details of how they regained their freedom, the scar of this weeklong excursion into the dark will likely remain etched in the minds of these young Nigerians for life. In one week only, the abduction of the Kankara boys dramatized all that is wrong with present day Nigeria. We showcased to the world, our perennial wrestling with facts and figures, our penchant for bare faced lies and uncoordinated frenzy in the face of avoidable mishaps. For a whole week, no one could tell exactly how many boys were missing from the Kankara School. The first speculative report said they were between 500 and 600 boys. A later report by school a sources indicated no less than 300. Later, the Katsina state governor, Mr. Aminu Masari, put the figure at 330. The BBC and CNN later indicated 337. A spokesman of the Abuja presidency casually dismissed the entire claim of mass abduction and put the figure, in a BBC interview, at about 10-11 boys, as if even the loss of one boy is not bad enough. The Nigerian military insisted on a figure of 333, making this the second largest haul of kidnapped school children after the 2014 Chibok incident with 276 girls. The numerical ping pong may no longer matter in the euphoria of the boys’ release but we have further reinforced our reputation for disrespect for precision in matters of fact and figures. Nonetheless, whatever effort led to the early release of the boys is commendable when we consider what could have become of these innocent boys in the absence of such concerted action. If it was military action, our forces deserve commendation especially given the minimal loss of lives. If it was negotiation, so be it. If it was ransom payment, welcome to a fast growing sector of the underground economy, the area of transactional kidnapping! No one can blame the Nigerian public for the spontaneous outburst of rage and hysteria over the Kankara episode. The abductions were coming against a backdrop of similar mass stealing of young students in previous incidents in our troubled north. Coming after Chibok (2014) and Dapchi(2018), this latest incident brought back memories of these unresolved ones and the tardiness of their handling by our authorities. Yet, in spite of the commendable early resolution of this school abduction drama, the ultimate political casualty of this latest incident remains the beleaguered president Buhari and his administration. By some opportunistic political calculation, the terrorists chose to conduct the Kankara abduction in the first night of Mr. Buhari’s arrival in his home state of Katsina, ostensibly on a short vacation. For a president who has repeatedly restated his commitment to national security as a key political objective, this abduction was a slap in the face. The expectation that the president’s home state would be one of the safest places in a turbulent Nigeria is only natural. In conducting the Kankara abduction on such a massive scope and with the audacity that we have come to associate with the new breed of bandits and Boko Haram, the terrorists were literally taking the battle to the president’s doorstep and literally challenging his mythic reputation for military bred toughness. For a presidency already patented for epic incompetence and ineffectuality, the instant public outrage and political backlash towards Buhari were predictable. The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led the fray in castigating the president and his party for an embarrassing handling of the general security situation in the country. Even the usually tepid National Assembly was unavoidably critical of the president and timidly urged him to ‘wake up’ to the responsibility of protecting the citizenry. The Sultan of Sokoto condemned the attack and posed it as a challenge to the capacity of the Buhari administration to keep the citizenry safe. Wole Soyinka spoke in similar vein and posed the attack as a direct affront to Mr. Buahari to prove that he is still in charge of the nation. Predictably, Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili, outspoken critic of the Buhari administration and fastidious advocate of education rights especially of the girl child, used the occasion to renew her call for a medical evaluation of the

Masari president to ascertain that he is still of sound mind and body to competently preside over the affairs of state. Major political groupings and voices especially from the northern segment weighed in on the incident. They issued fiery statements and staged angry demonstrations in Katsina and later Daura, hometown of the president. The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) spearheaded the political axis. Predictably, Boko Haram stepped forward to assume responsibility for the raid. With an exclusive franchise on industrial scale terror, Boko Haram is eminently positioned to appropriate every act of mass terror in Nigeria. Claiming responsibility for the Kankara abduction made logical sense as it fits well into a pattern it had established with the Chibok and Dapchi girls’ mass abductions. To prove its claim, the terror gang posted a video of the innocent boys begging and appealing to Nigerian authorities to do nothing that would endanger their lives. Hate them as we all do, Boko Haram must be credited with a rather sophisticated sense of political opportunism and communication scheduling. It knows when to strike for maximum effect and the best political foot to put forward. A school abduction conducted under the nose of the president, in his home state and calculated to disrupt his vacation homecoming is ordinarily a master stroke. It dramatized the progressive devaluation and decay of the power of the Nigerian state. There could be no more argument as to who had been ‘degraded’ or ‘substantially neutralized’. But the Nigerian military establishment is not one to be beaten in the game of political grand standing. As late as last Wednesday, a military spokesman asserted that the Kankara abduction was further indication that Boko Haram has lost its foothold in the North East and was now foraging for relevance elsewhere! But then Kankara is a clear 750 kilometers away from Maiduguri, the favourite playground of the jihadists. An insurgency that has been ‘virtually defeated’ does not roam freely through thousands of kilometers unchallenged. Nor does it so easily earn the right to negotiate the release of the boys with agents of the state. The crucial import of the Kankara episode is the weight it lends to the sinister logic of the Boko Haram insurgency and what it means for the future of education and civil society in Nigeria. Boko Haram has remained unambiguous and consistent in restating and pursuing its war objectives. As its name implies, its core war aim is to erode and discourage Western education and its underpinning value system in its target territory. This has majorly defined its operational targets. It has targeted schools, abducted girls into sex slavery, forced marriage and quickly brainwashed and tutored some of them in suicide bombings. With the Kankara boys, it graduated to young school boys, some of whom could have ended up as child soldiers, programmed killing machines and fanatical conduits of sectarian insanity. I am not aware that the Nigerian state and its military and security apparatus has proffered an alternative coherent doctrine to counter Boko Haram’s war objective. Beyond the threadbare rehash of the push to defeat Boko Haram as an insurgency that is a threat to our national sovereignty, the Nigerian military and security establishment has not quite thought it fit to generate a credible set of contrary war objectives. Beyond defeating the insurgency, how do we kill the extremist doctrinal basis of Boko Haram? How do we defeat the insane fundamentalism of Boko Haram without hurting our people’s right to freedom of religion and belief? How do we re- establish confidence in the secular essence of the Nigerian state and the secular values undergirding its order? How do we underline the belief of the Nigerian state and its people in Western education as the key to national modernization? These and more are the questions that go beyond these episodic encounters with bandits and criminals hiding under jihadism to institutionalize organized crime and extortion as permanent features of our reality. In the brief duration of the Kankara abduction, the leaders of certain states tacitly abdicated their oaths of office and sur-

rendered to the blackmail of Boko Haram and its principal war objective. In quick succession, governors began to announce the closure of schools in their territories. The governor of Katsina state, the epicenter of the abduction, ordered all schools in the state closed for fear of further attacks. Similarly, the governor of neighbouring Zamfara state declared an indefinite closure of schools in the state. Kano state, easily one of the nation’s most populated states, followed suit by shutting down day and boarding schools. Benue State, located further south in the mid section of the country, announced a similar shutdown of schools as late as last Thursday. Without the early release of the Kankara boys, it was looking likely that all 19 Northern governors would go the same route. These school shutdowns were presumably predicated on the need to ensure the safety of school children. Underlying these thoughtless reflex decisions however was the hope that the terrorism and banditry that made the closures necessary would cease merely because the schools have been closed. How long would it take to re -establish security in the states and therefore reopen the schools? Were we now going to run a nation where the northern half is without schools indefinitely? It is hard to understand the common sense that informed these hasty knee jerk reactions. Irrespective of how many more attacks and abductions of school children take place in the future, we must as a nation stoutly reject this cowardly closure of schools as a solution to the increasing influence of bandits and jihadists in any part of the country. We must defend the right of our children to receive education in open unfettered schools. That incidentally is a constitutional responsibility of our president and governors to guarantee the right of citizens to knowledge, education and freedom from ignorance. It is not just schools that are now under threat of terrorism in parts of Nigeria. Along with schools, other indicators of normal life are threatened. The economic prospects of these states, most of which are already functionally bankrupt, is endangered. Normal activities cannot go on let alone the prospects of either domestic or foreign investment in the region. The larger Nigerian economy will eventually take the hit as foreign investors will avoid the northern states for fear of the ravaging insecurity. The examples of other countries wracked by insecurity and terrorism ought to instruct us. In Iraq, for instance, the northern regions of Kurdistan have remained the most attractive destinations for western investors for years on account of their relative peace, security and stability. On the contrary, the southern Sunni and Shiite territories have remained unstable war zones and play grounds of sundry terror gangs and foreign occupation forces, making them unattractive for sustainable economic activity. Similarly, the border regions of Waziristan between Pakistan and Afghanistan have for decades remained hotbeds of insurgency and safe havens for sundry terror gangs and hence a no go zone for investment, civilized social life and meaningful development. Beyond the Kankara episode, therefore, the answers that we urgently need to the epidemic of insecurity require more of common sense and political will than additional budget provisions for more arms and sophisticated war planes. In the face of an enemy that moves around in droves of motor bikes and armed with conventional small arms, costly heavy armaments may be useless. We need to think for instance of a special schools protection security plan for the vulnerable states. This will require political leaders and military authorities coming together to arrange for the permanent posting of security personal in schools. In addition, we may consider a special weapons training programme for and the arming of selected teachers in schools located in the vulnerable areas. Admittedly, the area in question is large and expansive while the manpower numbers of our military and security outfits may not be adequate. But in the age of appropriate technologies, it is relatively easy to maintain a round the clock surveillance of the entire territory using a combination of camera equipped mobile drones and manned aerial reconnaissance by the Nigerian air force. Regular armoured convoys and combat aircraft may be useless in this theatre as they imply the presence of a visible army of insurgents in conventional battle formations to be targeted and assaulted. In matters of public security, unusual problems necessitate innovative solutions. When in the 1970s the hijacking of Israeli and Israel -bound passenger jets became the favourite of Arab terrorists, the state of Israel began the policy of emplacing special commandoes in every El Al flight and other passenger flights bound for Israel. Similarly, in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York in September 2001, the US government introduced the system of placing armed marshals, often seated in the front rows, in every US domestic flight. Similarly, in response to the numerous school shootings in the US, the federal government and states introduced the placing of armed guards in most schools in suspect areas. In addition, special weapons training programmes for teachers were introduced to enable teachers act as first defenders of their schools in an emergency before the arrival of the police. We can do a bit more to protect our schools in the north. Our country already leads the world in the number of out of school children. The north leads the nation abysmally in this regard as well. Perhaps the Kankara episode is a walk into the womb of darkness and back. But it is also a metaphor that defines what Nigeria owes its citizens and most especially our children, their education and our future.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ DECEMBER 20, 2020

THE ALTERNATIVE

with RenoOmokri

The Pied Piper of Kankara

any of my readers may have read the famous German fairy tale, The Pied Piper of Hamelin. Basically, it was about a pied (someone dressed in multi-coloured clothes), piper, who had been hired by the Saxon town of Hamelin to help them get rid of an infestation of rats. He played his enchanted pipe, and all the rats in Hamelin followed him and the town was rid of its infestation. And then the town’s people refused to pay him. And the piper did not make a fuss. He simply played his magical pipe, and all the children of the town followed him, never to be seen or heard from again. We now have a parallel of the Hamelin piper in President Buhari. Oh yes. First of all, let me say that we give God the glory over the reported release of the #KankaraBoys. I commend everyone involved in their release. I urge that lessons be learned by the #Buhari regime, and that all boarding schools are temporarily shut until 24-hour armed guards can be provided. Having said that, let me say that Buhari was voted in by Nigerians in 2015 to bring in what he described as Change. And yes, he fulfilled his promise. He changed Nigeria from the third fastest growing economy in the world, according to CNNMoney (fourth fastest according to the World Bank), in 2015, to the world headquarters for extreme poverty today. Buhari changed Nigeria from a country that made her best progress in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index in 2014, when we moved eight places forward, from 144 to 136, to a country that is now ‘endemically corrupt’ and thus moved back to 146, our worst ever position on the CPI. He changed Nigeria from being the fourth most terrorised nation on Earth, according to the Global Terrorism Index, by making us more terrorised and insecure that we are now the third most terrorised nation. Not done, Buhari, who met a total national debt of N12 trillion in 2015, has increased our indebtedness times three to N34 trillion today, without a commensurate improvement in our economy. In fact, we have had only two recessions in the last twenty years, and both have been under Buhari. Finally, Buhari changed Nigeria by tithing our currency from the most stable currency in Africa in 2014, to the world’s fourthworst performing currency today, moving the Naira from N199 to $1 to N500 to $1 (and rising). So, having fulfilled his promise to change Nigeria, Buhari expected to be paid in the currency of unconditional support and national popularity. And not having gotten that, he has been sulking.

Faced with the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests, and the Zabarmari massacre of close to a hundred farmers (not the 43 that the government propagandists declared), and the killing of thirty villagers by bandits in Zamfara, and the outbreak of #COVID19 amongst his chief of Army staff and 27 of the nation’s top army Generals, he thought it was a fitting time to go on a ‘private visit’ to his cows in Katsina. And off he went on Friday, December 11, 2020, where his presence may have led to bandits (we now know they are Boko Haram), attacking the town of Kankara in Katsina state and making away with hundreds of boys (initially thought to be as much as 600, now believed to be 333). It is almost as if Buhari went to Katsina to exact revenge on his kith and kin for the ingratitude he believes Nigeria has shown him. And those who thought that the President cared about the abduction, received the shock of their lives. The abduction occurred on Friday the 11th. On Saturday, the President did two things. Both of which had no bearing on the crisis. First of all, he visited his cows and allowed himself to be filmed inspecting and admiring them. Secondly, he congratulated Anthony Joshua, the World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, on his victory over Kubrat Pulev. Who does that? I mean, which President worth his salt, would do that? But the worst is yet to come. The next day, despite being in Katsina, where Government Science Secondary School is located, you can imagine that this president could not even visit GSSS Kankara (he was 120 miles away from the town). He had to call Abuja to send a ‘high powered’ delegation to visit a state where he was present. At this juncture, even a statue would be a better leader than Buhari! Even the President’s wife has relocated from Aso Rock Presidential Villa over ‘insecurity’. Maybe that is the same reason Buhari temporarily relocated to Daura. Tell me, if Aso Rock is not secure, where in Nigeria is secure? And look at the response of the government. Absolutely shambolic. The President is like a deer caught in the headlights. It is time to ask if Buhari has gone senile. For months he closed our borders. Now, five days after #KankaraStudents abduction, the Buhari administration announced the reopening of the Northwest border. I thank God that the boys have been rescued (Governor Masari said herdsmen of the Miyyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria helped secure their release. Hmm!). Anyway, the timing is suspicious. Very suspicious. Is Buhari working with Boko Haram? Opening the border in the NW just days after 333 boys were abducted makes it look like the government is in cahoots with the terrorists. Is this the case? After Murtala was killed our borders

THE PUBLIC SPHERE with Chido Nwakanma

were closed until Dimka was caught. This does not make sense! It may seem a moot point now that the boys have been recovered, but if there is no crime and punishment, this level of abduction will occur again. Those behind the abduction must be found and brought to book. And to make matters worse, on Thursday, December 17, 2020, Buhari marked his 78 birthday, and his spokesman, Femi Adesina, rather unwisely chose to celebrate his boss and released a rather effusively sycophantic piece titled ‘If Only We Knew This President’. Alas, Femi, we know this President, and he is an unmitigated disaster. He lacks the intellectual capacity to manage a McDonald’s Restaurant, much less a multi-ethnic nation like Nigeria. And what is more, we watched a video, released by Boko Haram on the President’s birthday, which confirmed our worst fears, that some of the boys were killed. If what Boko Haram posted is true, then it even makes it imperative that those behind the abduction and subsequent murder must be brought to book. The testimony by one of the abducted #KankaraStudents that some of his colleagues have been killed is heartbreaking. That this news is coming at the same time #Buhari is celebrating his birthday is even sadder. Right now, Buhari is more of a threat to Nigeria than Boko Haram. As such, I am sending this message to the President on his birthday. Make of it what you will. Dear #Buhari, On your 78th birthday, I remind you of the 78 farmers whose throats were slit by Boko Haram and the 333 #KankaraStudents abducted by Boko Haram on your watch (even though most were recovered, some died. I remind you that you met Nigeria as the third fastest-growing economy in the world, but today, we are the world headquarters for extreme poverty. I also remind you that you met Nigeria at 136 on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, but today we are so corrupt that we are at 146. Finally, I remind you that in 2015, Nigeria was the fourth most terrorised country in the world, according to the Global Terrorism Index, but today we are now the third most terrorised nation on Earth. The truth is clear. At 78, you belong in a retirement home. Go there. I, Reno Omokri, will pay. That is my birthday present to you! And finally, it is interesting that Governor Masari said herdsmen from Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders rescued the #KankaraBoys. It is good that #OurBoysAreBack, but questions need to be answered. And what about the boys that were killed? Who will be held responsible? How do we prevent reoccurrence?

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@ChidoNigeria https://www.facebook.com/chido.nwakanma

The Route to 40m NINS and SIMS in 14 days

hree of the four GSM service providers lead the list of 203 firms the Nigerian Identity Management Commission appointed 16 December as Data Capture Agents to assist it with the registration of Nigerians into the identity database. It came on the commencement of a peremptory two-week deadline for citizens wishing to continue using their phone lines to ensure the integration of their National Identity Numbers (NIN) with their SIM cards domiciled with the telcos. I questioned the rationale for such an imperious order given the circumstance of COVID-19, environmental conditions, time of year, and experience of citizens with attempts at getting either the NIN or the national ID before it. Thank you to the high officials who reached out with explanations and clarification on reading my article, “That Zombie Order on NIN-SIM Integration”, published across platforms. Your reasons are exciting and well-received. They hardly break the ice, though, as you well know given all the facts. Nigerian Identity Management Commission (NIMC) rushed out a release of the list of 203 companies, composed of private and public sector agencies, the same day as the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) was informing citizens of the directive of the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy on the 14-day wonder. The firms got notice of their success with the bidding to serve as Data Capture Agents one year into the exercise on that same day. Not surprisingly, many have yet to announce any plans or modalities for the activity even as we enter Day Five of 14. Airtel is one of a few that has acknowledged even the fact of its new license. Like the other telcos, however, Airtel has focused its messaging on the integration of the existing NIN numbers. No one has mentioned what would happen to

the over 100million subscribers on all networks who do not have NIN due to the failure of NIMC. Indications are that Airtel subscribers would be among the first to have access to NIN registration beginning this week. On that list are Globacom Limited and MTN Nigeria Communications among the private firms. Rational minds would expect NIMC to have licensed the telcos more than a year ago to bridge the scandalous gap its inability to manage the registration created. Instead, it dilly-dallied. The firms, taking from the first-named one in each alphabet, include Adebola Sobanjo Company Ltd, Basaleh Global Services Ltd, Citizen Helpline Ltd and Dantata Universal Services Nig Ltd. On the list are Electronic Payplus Ltd, File Solutions Limited, Greenmozis Ltd, Hunter & Cook Ltd and Ibolda Health International Ltd. Yet others are Jetlink Limited, Kevone Consult Ltd and Las Ventures Global Services Ltd. Limited. There are Nehemic Nigeria Limited, Office Machines Nigeria Ltd, Pandus Powell’s Nig Ltd, Research and Data Solutions Limited and Samuiky Global Limited. Then there are Tech Systems Limited, Unified Payment Services, Vantage Management Consultancy Ltd, YWC Technologies Limited and Zebra Multiservices Ltd. Watch them. Between the firms, NIMC and NCC, expect the unfolding of another Nigerian wonder. As many would recall, the first wonder happened during the country’s hosting of the FIFA Junior World Cup in 1999. FIFA official from Trinidad Jack Warner was astonished at the turnaround within days of his team declaring Nigeria unprepared for hosting the tournament. He announced a wonder. Many issues arise from the handling of this exercise by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy. Communication has been suboptimal. The news release announcing the licensing of 203 NIN Data Capture Agents was undated and unsigned. It was as if someone left room

for deniability. There was no coordination between the sister agencies. No official by Thursday 17 December has drawn a link between that list and efforts to ensure Nigeria meets the deadline it imposed on itself. Citizens and the media, left to their devices, have drawn varied conclusions, some not salutary. Among the conclusions citizens drew is a linking of the policy to graft. Others say it is typical of Nigeria to hound citizens or frustrate them. Citizens must get endless identification papers: BVN, Passport, Driver’s license, Voters ID, National ID (NIN) and NIMC Slip. The security bugaboo is at the heart of the current exercise. Kidnappers and all manner of deviants register SIM Cards with fake identities. They use images of their captives, pay off almajiri with tiny sums to pose for IDs. They then dispose of the SIMS after making those demand-calls. It is not easy to trace them. The Nigerian approach to security is befuddling. This matter ultimately concerns us. However, officials convince themselves that citizens lack the intelligence to comprehend the issues or to act reasonably. So, they hide what is in plain sight. They fail in risk communication. Officials ignore the principles. Those principles include creating and maintaining trust, acknowledging, and communicating even in the uncertainty, and coordinating. Others are transparency, proactivity in public communication, involving and engaging those affected, use of integrated approaches and building national capacity and national ownership of the challenge. The agencies expect to sign up approximately 40m NINS and integrate them with SIMS during this first round of the exercise. Better late than never as we all pray that the increased number of Data Capture Agents means a reduction in exposure to crowds and the threat of COVID-19. It is critical to us all that NIMC and NCC succeed with this exercise.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾DECEMBER 20, 2020

NEWSXTRA Gunmen Abduct Edo Head of Service, Kill Driver Gboyega Akinsanmi

Gunmen yesterday kidnapped Edo State Head of Service, Mr. Anthony Okungbowa along Oza Road in Orhionmwon Local Government Area (LGA) of the state several sources have told THISDAY. Edo state is becoming notorious for kidnapping. On December 3, one person was killed in the state during a kidnap incident. During the latest onslaught, the assailants reportedly killed

Okungbowa’s driver, according to different government officials that spoke privately with THISDAY. One of the government officials, last night, confirmed the incident, which he said, had stoked panic among the state’s top functionaries. The official disclosed that Okungbowa was kidnapped while returning to Benin, the Edo State capital after attending a function in Orhionmwon LGA. Another government official, also, confirmed that Okungbowa

Bauchi Asks Judiciary to Speed up Trial of Criminals Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi Citing its implication for national security, the Bauchi State Government yesterday challenged the judiciary to conclude the cases of suspected bandits, kidnappers and terrorists, which were standing trial in different states of the federation. Likewise, the state government tasked the members of the Bench to speed up the prosecution of the suspects currently facing rape, murder and sexual violence charges in different courts of competent jurisdiction nationwide. The state governor, Senator Bala Mohammed gave the charge at the 2020/2021 Legal Year held at the High Court Complex in Bauchi yesterday. At the session, the governor observed that speedy trial could help in curtailing the nefarious activities of these criminals not only in the state, but also across the federation. Mohammed commended the performance of the judiciary in the state in the area of speedy dispensation of justice within the last legal year, disclosing that the state judiciary determined two-thirds of cases in the legal year. He said speedy justice dispensation would enhance the confidence of the common people in the judiciary.

He said in an effort to protect the weak and vulnerable, his administration passed into law, the Violence Against Parsons Protection Bill, insisting that under his watch, criminals who derive pleasure in putting the young ones and their parents through agony would not go scot free. Since my assumption in office, the governor said: “I made a decision to operate an open door policy of an all inclusive government anchored on transparency, rule of law, accountability and good governance. “To achieve that, I carried along other arms of government by collaborating and cooperating with them while recognising and respecting their independence as enshrined under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). “The judiciary, a non-elective arm of government, remains the stabilising factor in a democracy and needs understanding, cooperation and support of other arms of government,” the governor added. Citing his belief in justice and judicial independence, he promised “to provide a conducive working environment for the judiciary to enable the judiciary function effectively and efficiently in line with the international best practices.”

NABTEB Releases 2020 Results, 63% Clinches Five Credits Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB) yesterday released the result of its 2020 in-school examinations with 63.01% of its registered candidates clinched five credits with English and Mathematics. NABTEB, which was established to replace City and Guild (C&G) of London and Royal Society of Arts (RSA) of London, said 36.99% of the candidates, who sat for the exams did not pass with five credits. NABTEB’s Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Isioma Isiugo-Abanihe formally released the 2020 exam result at the national headquarters of the board in Benin City, the Edo State capital yesterday. Giving details of the result, the registrar disclosed that 48,597 candidates had five credits and above without English and mathematics. She added that 36,2029 of the 57,474 candidates who sat for the 2020 in-school examination scored five credits and above including English Language and Mathematics. She explained that the performance “is similar to 2019 May/June NBC/ NTC examination results where 32,673 candidates obtained five credits

and above including English and Mathematics.” She said the effort of the board “to reduce examination malpractice is yielding results as only 453 candidates were found to be involved in malpractices. “I am sure you will agree with me that the most viable pathway to addressing youth unemployment is through comprehensive Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). The 21st labour market requires high-level skilled workers such as those nurtured through TVET. “It is for this reason that the government has prioritized provision of various skill empowerment programmes for youths as a means of eradicating hunger and extreme poverty and fostering sustainable development in the country.” NABTEB’s helmsman advised prospective candidates to approach the board’s offices in any state or zone for guidelines to enable them register for the rescheduled 2020 examination for private candidates “I would like to tell stakeholders that the essence of sending children to technical and vocational schools is to acquire skills with which to excel at work or in higher education studies,” the board’s registrar explained.

was abducted while returning to the state, though claimed that the state government had been making efforts to secure his release from the den of kidnappers. He disclosed that the state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki had been in constant touch with the Edo State Police to ensure Okungbowa was released. News of Okungbowa’s kidnapping has since been trending on the social media, especially Twitters. Deji Adesoga in his twitter handle @DejiAdesogan said “Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers, on Saturday, kid-

napped the #Edo State Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa, along Oza Road, in Orhionmwon LGA of the state. His driver was reportedly killed.” Another Twitter handle, @ Naija_PR said: “Gunmen have kidnapped the Edo State Head of Service, Mr Anthony Okungbowa and killed his driver.” In its Twitter handle, @ SaharaReporters reported that gunmen Kidnapped Edo Head of Service | Sahara Reporters. Both the Edo State Government and the state police command are yet to formally comment on the incident, though

manhunt had been launched to free Okungbowa. On December 3, one person was killed during a kidnap incident in Edo State. The police said many people, mainly passengers, were eventually abducted by the kidnappers. The police said the dead victim was a member of a vigilante group in the Urhokosa/Obagie area of the Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi highway where the kidnap occurred. Members of the vigilante group had engaged the kidnappers in a shootout. During the incident gunmen laid siege to the road and at-

tacked a commercial bus at the Urhokosa/Obagie end of the road. They took a number of the passengers hostage. A driver of one of the vehicles plying the road who managed to escape, Martins Aibogun, said a group of suspected kidnappers led the first set of the victims to the bush, while a second group caused the driver of the bus to use the vehicle to block the road. Aibogun said, “There were two sets of armed kidnappers. I think they are coordinated in the way they operate. The security agencies must step up their tactics to address this problem that has become a daily occurrence.”

IN THE SPIRIT OF YULETIDE ... L-R: Supervising Apostle, Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, Surulere District, Pastor G.O Ogunleye; Chairman, Carol Committee, Evangelist Akin Ekundayo and Onisanya of Isanya Kingdom/representative of Oni of Ife, Oba Muraina Adedéji, at the Church inter- denominational nine lessons and Christmas carol service in Lagos recently

Middle Belt, Southern Leaders Give FG 90 Days to Set Up C’ttee to Review Constitution Tobi Soniyi Leaders of various ethnic groups from the South-West, South-East, South-South and the Middle Belt have given the federal government a 90-day ultimatum to constitute a committee on Sovereign National Conference to decide on the repeal of the 1999 Constitution or to dissolve Nigeria’s amalgamation of 1914. They described the 1999 Constitution as a fraud put together to subjugate other nationalities under the control of the Fulani perpetually. A statement on Friday, said the Middle Belt and southern leaders made the resolution at a meeting in Lagos. The leaders came together under the auspices of the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination.

According to them, the 1999 Constitution was responsible for the worsening insecurity and poverty in the land. Some of the leaders who signed the communiqué are former Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang; Prof. Yusufu Turaki; a prominent historian, Prof. Banji Akintoye; President-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo; Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe; Senator Aniete Okon; and Fred Agbeyegbe. Others include Air Commodore Indongesit Nkanga (retd.); Ambassador Godknows Igali; Fred Agbeyegbe, Rear Admiral Geoffrey Yange and Dr Kunle Oshodi. The leaders said all elections must be suspended so that winners would not be sworn in with the same 1999 Constitution which they described as faulty. The communiqué read partly, “Being

confronted by the clear and present danger of extermination in the hands of our supposed compatriots in the union of Nigeria, (we) hereby declare a sovereignty dispute with the federation of Nigeria as represented by the Federal Government of Nigeria, on account of our repudiation and rejection of the imposed 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, whose authorship was fraudulently imputed to us. “Furthermore, effective from today, 18th December 2020, (we) give a 90-day notice to the Government of the Federation of Nigeria, the Security Council of the United Nations, the Government of the United States of America, the European Union as well as the international community, of the intention of the peoples of the alliance territories to reconsider our continued allegiance to the disputed 1999 Constitution as well as the unitary union of death, attrition

and backwardness it foists on us. “We demand that in the 90 days of this notice, the following specific actions must be taken by the Federal Government of Nigeria to firmly set in motion an irreversible process by which the aforementioned grave constitutional grievances would be addressed: “A formal announcement by the Federal Government of Nigeria acknowledging the constitutional grievances and sovereignty dispute now declared by the peoples of the South and Middle-Belt of Nigeria. “A formal commitment by the Federal Government of Nigeria to the wholesale decommissioning and scrapping of the 1999 Constitution. “A formal announcement by the Federal Government of Nigeria suspending further general elections under the disputed 1999 Constitution.

Delta Sets up N4.2Bn Floating Market to Boost Economy

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

The Delta State Government yesterday said it had concluded a plan to set up an ultra-modern floating market in Ogheye, Warri North Local Government Area (LGA), which would cost the state N4.2 billion. The state government noted that when completed, the floating market project would not just boost the local economy of Delta State, but also the economies of its neighbouring states, especially Ondo State. The Commissioner for Works, Chief James Augoye disclosed the

plan at a session with journalists in Asaba, revealing the construction of the multi-purpose market would be completed by the end of the first quarter of next year. The commissioner noted that the proximity of some communities in Ondo State to the floating market in Warri North LGA would give them the economic benefits of contiguity. Augoye said Ondo riverside communities “are about only 15 minutes from the market at Ogheye. The market comprises 90 lockup shops and 86 open stalls, “Electricity to the market will get its supply from a huge generator

to be stationed in the market that also has public toilets and a police post meant to ward off possible sea pirates and other criminals in the area.” Augoye explained the market “is currently being constructed on a massive platform at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. It is tied in such a way that no matter the waves it will remain stable. “The market had been there over the years and it was built on planks. So, every six months the market operators have had to change the planks. But we want to put a permanent structure in

that place. “The market will not be used only by Deltans but by people from Ondo State as well. The project is going to be of great economic value not only to the people selling in that area, but also to communities in the neighbouring states. “Fishing is the major occupation of the people in that locality. We are building units for preserving fish and units for drying fish. If you visit the place today, you will see fish wasting; but that will be a thing of the past when the project execution is completed at the end of March 2021,” he said.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾DECEMBER 20, 2020

NEWSXTRA

Nigeria is Unfair to Judges, Retired Judge Laments

Says judiciary making enormous contributions to nation-building AA retired judge of the Benin Division of the Court of Appeal, Justice Atinuke Akomolafe-Wilson has declared that Nigeria has been most unfair to the members of the Bench. Akomolafe-Wilson, also, said the judiciary had contributed significantly to the task of nation-building, citing diverse judicial interventions that had strengthened democratic institutions. She expressed this concern at her 70th birthday held in Benin-City, the Edo State capital where she served as the Director of Public Prosecution, Solicitor General/ Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice and High Court Judge before her elevation to the Court of Appeal. Akomolafe-Wilson’s anniversary was graced by Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mesem; Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Esther Edigin; a former National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and a former Edo State Governor, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor

Also in attendance were the Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike; Chairman, Nigerian Governors Forum and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, among others. Sharing her 44-year experience in public service, the judge said: “I believe the judiciary has made enormous contributions to nationbuilding.” Despite the contribution of the judiciary, Akomolafe-Wilson observed that the Nigerian public “has been most unfair to Nigerian judges, past and present.” “Judiciary is ours to cultivate and not to plunder. From experience, I understand the stressful demands of judicial office. I think that judicial office holders deserve commendation and adequate reward,” she said in her valedictory speech. While admitting that there are a few bad eggs, Akomolafe-Wilson argued that this does not justify the media bashing of judges, who according to her, hardly have the opportunity to defend themselves. She said: “In the course of my career, the judges I associated with

and worked with are the finest breed of selfless and patriotic Nigerians that I have seen. “Our judiciary must be appreciated and adequately rewarded for their work. As at now the salary of judicial officers and their withdrawal remunerations are ridiculously low. Middle clerk staff in some other government departments earn better in all ramifications”. Akomolafe-Wilson lamented that there “is no progression in judges’

earnings while serving. For instance, a judge that was appointed 30 years ago earns the same salary as one appointed today. There is no increment in salary. “It is ridiculous and most discouraging. We cannot expect a magical wand to improve the system of administration of justice with poor caseload management. We need to deploy more funding to the judiciary to adequately remunerate serving judges and appoint more,” she said.

She explained that a judge must sacrificially keep tenaciously to his oath of office while canvassing that the appointment of judges ought to strictly be on merit, having regard to persons of intelligence and integrity and not based on favouritism, lobbying and worse of all partisanship. “A proper scrutiny ought to be carried out by the appointing authorities so as to sustain the integrity of the judiciary”, she said. She noted that the role of the

judiciary in our nation today “cannot be overemphasized. The judiciary deserves to be respected. Any form of clamp down on the bench for whatever reason is an affront on the judiciary. “It brings the whole organ into disrepute which ultimately is capable of taking our society back to the days of jungle justice. The executive should be patient to take advantage of the rule of law. This is only possible with a strong and independent judiciary.

Govts Have Failed Nigerians, Cleric Alleges Oluchi Chibuzor The General Overseer of Gospel Herald International Church, Dr. Caleb Ayanwusi yesterday lamented the failure of governments at all levels to discharge their duties to the people under the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Ayanwusi, also, blamed the governments for increasing poverty, collapse of the standard of living of the vast majority of people of Nigeria, fall in life expectancy and the unrest and violence trailing these deprivations. He made these allegations during the presentation of seed money to 35 graduates of the skill acquisition and training programme organised by the Caleb Ayanwusi Foundation (CAF) in Lagos yesterday. At the presentation, Ayanwusi accused the governments of flagrant violation of the spirit and letters of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulated that the primary purpose of government is the welfare and security of Nigerians. Contrary to this provision, Ayanwusi said the government at all levels had not only abandoned this social contract, but also weaponised poverty, which was the opposite

of this constitutional injunction, to wage war against the people. He warned that if the government failed without further delay to live up to its responsibilities as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, the country might not survive the collapse and break-up which according to him was staring her in the face. The cleric urged those vested with the mandate of the people to return to the part of honour by taking seriously the welfare and security of Nigerians. He, however, commended some Nigerians, who according to him were making daily sacrifices in different forms, including cash donation to finance empowerment programmes like the one CAF did at the weekend. While acknowledging the support of the Managing Director of Precious Paint Limited, Mr. Adeyemi Oke, among others, who pledged to support the next round of the empowerment programme scheduled for early next year, Ayanwusi admonished the graduates to make good and profitable use of the skills they acquired and the interest-free seed money they were given.

Essang Passes on at 85 A matriarch of the Isaac Nkereuwem Family, Mrs Arit Edet Essang has passed away after a brief illness at Gbagada General Hospital Lagos. A statement by the family said the matriarch died on October 10 at the age of 85. The statement said a Night of Judah would be organised in her honour next Tuesday, December 22 at the Chief E. M Essang Compound, Eyulor, Oron, Akwa Ibom. Time is 4: 00 p.m. On Wednesday, December 23, according to the statement, funeral Service at Primary School, Eyulor, Oron, Akwa Ibom at 10.am. ThestatementsaidEssang,fondlyknown asMmaNenewasbornonApril4,1935. It said Mma attended the Convent Girl’s School in Oron where she obtained her First School Leaving

Late Essang

Certificate with distinction. It described her as “a woman of great empathy and compassion. Throughout her life, her house was a hub of activities filled with relations, children, the downtrodden and the outcasts. “She took them in and raised them as her own children and treated everyone with love, dignity and respect,” the statement said.

ONE TRAGEDY, TOO MANY.. A fully loaded Tanker on fire at Otedola Bridge, Lagos... yesterday

Ogun Asks NDLEA, Police to Flush out Drug Peddlers Kayode Fasua in Abeokuta The Ogun State Government yesterday said it had engaged the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Nigeria Police to get rid of drug peddlers and hoodlums from all parks and garages in the state. The state government, also, assured commuters that there would not be a return of traffic logjam along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway during the period of Christmas and New Year. The Chairman, Ogun State Parks and Garages Development Agency (PAGADA), Mr. Abeeb

Ajayi gave this assurance in a chat with THISDAY just after the inaugural meeting of the board members of the agency in Abeokuta. Ajayi said the agency would impose heavy sanctions on operators of trailers and other articulated vehicles causing obstruction along the LagosIbadan Expressway and other highways in the state, during the Yuletide. He also warned those issuing unauthorised tickets and traders engaging in sales of illicit drugs in various motor parks in the state to desist or face the wrath

of the law. Ajayi said the agency would collaborate with security agencies, including the police and the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), to rid parks and garages of hoodlums and drug peddlers. According to him, the board had the mandate of Governor Dapo Abiodun to carry out necessary reforms and ensure compliance with safety, security and environmental regulations in parks and garages across the state. He disclosed that a planned meeting with various transport unions and associations in the state

would further discuss modalities towards achieving the objectives of the agency. He added that there was the urgent need to have the database of all operators in the industry, for proper sanitisation of their operations. Ajayi added that the state government was seriously working to clear Ogere, Mowe and Ibafo, among other areas along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, of needless traffic congestion, adding that a mobile court had been deployed to sanction drivers engaging in indiscriminate parking on the highway.

Matawalle Seeks Collective Approach to Security Challenges Innocent Onuminya in Gusau Amid the rising wave of abduction in the Northwest, Zamfara State Governor, Dr. Bello Matawalle has canvassed a collective approach to tackling the country’s intractable security rather than apportioning blames on one another. Matawalle, also, said he would not breach the social contract with the people of Zamfara State, which according to him, was the central reason he was elected the governor of the state at the time a peoplecentred was much in need. He made these remarks at the 2020 Access Weekly Magazine Colloquium & Awards held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Conference and Exhibition Centre, Alausa at

the weekend. Matawalle was honoured at the colloquium for his exemplary leadership qualities and improved security under his administration alongside Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, among others. The colloquium is an annual event of Access Weekly Magazine published by Mr. Sola Olugbemiro. This edition focused on: “The Revolutionary Change in Youth Movement: Strategies for Youth Mobilisation & Engagement.” Receiving the award at the colloquium, Matawalle canvassed a collective approach to security challenges facing the country, especially the North while urging leaders at all levels to stop

apportioning blames. The governor explained that security should always be seen and treated as everybody’s business, thereby calling for a more coordinated approach to making the country more secure for all its citizens and more conducive for investment, development, and progress. Matawalle, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Media, Public Enlightenment and Communications, Mr. Zailani Bappa urged the governments at all levels “to engage the youths and implement skills acquisition programmes that would make them self-reliant or self-sufficient.” He attributed his administration’s success in security to what he described as the fair implementation

of social intervention programmes and other employment opportunities initiated when he assumed office. According to him, the programmes have been yielding positive results. He said: “Our youths are now more engaged in one way or the other. As a result, the crime rate is going down. And we will sustain this effort in order to make our state safer, first for its residents and also for investments. Presenting the award to the governor, Editor-in-Chief, Access Weekly Magazine, Mr. Dada Dele said the organisation decided to honour Matawalle at the 2020 colloquium and award due to unprecedented improvement the state government had recorded in the area of security.

˜ ˾ DECEMBER 20, 2020

SUNDAYSPORTS

Edited by Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

Messi Equals Pele’s Record with 643rd Goal for Barcelona LA LIGA

ionel Messi equalled Brazil legend Pele’s record of 643 goals for a single club after scoring for Barcelona in Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Valencia. The Argentine, 33, achieved the feat with a diving header just before half-time, immediately after his penalty was saved by keeper Jaume Domenech. Messi scored his first goal for Barca in 2005 against Albacete. Pele, 80, scored 643 goals in 19 seasons for Brazilian side Santos between 1956 and 1974. Sadly for Messi his celebrations will likely be muted after Barcelona failed to beat their mid-table opponents. The result leaves the 26-time champions fifth in La Liga, eight points behind Atletico Madrid, who earlier defeated Elche 3-1 to move to 29 points. Fierce rivals and champions Real Madrid, five points ahead of Barca, had a late fixture against Eibar last night. This should have been Barcelona’s third league win on the bounce, having led 2-1 in the second half and grown stronger as the match progressed. They were given an almighty jolt in the 29th minute when defender Mouctar Diakhaby gave the visitors the lead when he headed in from a corner after being left unmarked. Valencia had defended well up to that point and felt aggrieved that Barcelona were awarded a penalty just before half-

Lionel Messi has equaled Pele’s record for Brazilian club, Santos

time when Jose Gaya was judged to have pushed Antoine Griezmann over in the area. After the referee Alejandro Hernandez

Liverpool Crush Crystal Palace with Sledgehammer PREMIER LEAGUE

oberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah both scored twice as Liverpool hit seven past Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park to go six points clear at the top of the Premier League table on

Saturday. Firmino, Salah, Takumi Minamino, Sadio Mane and Jordan Henderson were all on the scoresheet as the champions overwhelmed Roy Hodgson’s side with a stunning away performance. Liverpool raced into the lead in the third minute as Mane set up Minamino, who coolly found the bottom corner. And the Senegal international then doubled the advantage in the 35th minute after a superb turn, before Firmino tapped home to round off a brilliant counter-attack on the stroke of half-time. Captain Henderson curled in a fourth just after the restart before Firmino added his second after good work from Salah. Salah headed home a sixth with nine minutes remaining, before doubling his tally with a brilliant individual effort moments later. The Egyptian forward rounded off a brilliant team performance, as a scintillating Liverpool ensured they would be top at Christmas for the third consecutive season. Liverpool last scored seven in a topflight away game against Derby County back in 1991. And the side that had been hit for seven at Villa Park in Octoberwere back to their brilliant best, creating attack after attack against a sorry Palace side to win

away from home in the league for the first time since September. Two days after being named FIFA men’s coach of the year, Jurgen Klopp gave a rare start to Minamino, dropping Salah to the Premier League’s first ever nine-man bench. And the Japan international soon opened the floodgates, netting his first Premier League goal exactly 12 months after it was announced he would be moving to Anfield. Mane and Firmino were both on target in a blistering first period, and the Senegal international seemed in the mood to score more, looking furious after being replaced by Salah after 57 minutes.

confirmed the foul following a check of the pitchside monitor, Messi stepped up for what should been his historic moment.

Winner of 2020/21 NPFL Season to Pocket N75m, Says LMC NPFL Duro Ikhazuagbe

he winner of the 2020/21 Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) scheduled to kick off on December 27 is to smile to the bank with a cool N75million prize money. The League Management Company (LMC) who are the organizers of the Nigerian topflight league, announced yesterday that the first runner up team is to also get N50million while the third team in the final NPFL standing will get N35million. Chairman of the LMC, Shehu Dikko said yesterday that participating clubs in the NPFL have been assured of a robust revenue distribution with the minimum guaranteed revenue/payment from the LMC-Redstrike

COVID-19 Forces Postponement of Kaduna Speaker’s Cup Final

ollowing the spike in Covid-19 cases in the state, the Tsaunin Kura GRA Residents Association (Sabo GRA), organisers of the Kaduna State House of Assembly’ Speaker, Rt. Honourable Yusuf Zailani Peace and Unity Cup have postponed the final earlier billed for today, December 20. According to a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the community, Okpani Jacob Onjewu Dickson, this was made known at a press briefing held yesterday in Kaduna. Reading the text of the statement, President General of the Tsaunin Kura GRA Residents Association, Dr. Silas Adamu said that the decision was based on concerns raised by Governor Nasir el-Rufai. “We are concerned by the surge of Covid-19 cases as expressed by our Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, who is genuinely concerned about the well being

However, Domenech made a brilliant save only for the Argentine to then nod home at the far post seconds later.

of all citizens in the state,” he said. He explained that already, the decision to postpone the final has been conveyed to the Speaker, who has also commended the community for the decision, which he described as noble. Dr Adamu therefore, expressed regrets for inconveniences caused all teams and several dignitaries who had put in much preparation into gracing the final matches. Though he didn’t disclose when the new date of the anticipated final would be, he hinted that a date will be announced once the second wave of Covid-19 clears in consultation with the Speaker and other key stakeholders in ensuring safety. of guests, community members and players is guaranteed He therefore, charged residents of the community to ensure they strictly adhere to Covid-19 protocols as advised by the NCDC.

Partnership to ensure commercial stability, operations, sustainability and success of the league. The LMC Chairman noted that the partnership “will also guarantee other stakeholders of NPFL, including match officials and services providers of a much improved and, or sustained indemnity and professional remuneration as part of the measures to improve standards across the football league industry value chain”. Continuing, Dikko declared that “on the back of the LMC-Redstrike partnership, the NPFL will now see the return of performance incentive payments to NPFL participating clubs such as, Basic Award (Guaranteed payments for participation), Technical/ Performance Award (payments earned based on milestones achieved by clubs), Merit Award (Prize Monies distributed to clubs based on final position on the league table at the end of season) and Parachute Payments (to support clubs relegated from the NPFL in the previous season)”. The LMC Boss said other programmes and branding strategies to increase the excitement value of the league will be unveiled in due course. These includes, the return of bonuses to clubs for Away Wins, Away Draws, getting more than 5000 fans for home matches, featuring U-18 Youth Players, Stadium maintenance support etc. “There’s no doubt that exciting times lie ahead for all football lovers in Nigeria who have long yearned to have matches and activities of NPFL made readily available to them by streaming and broadcast on other platforms, including traditional TV”, Dikko remarked. He said the LMC is assuring millions of football fans in Nigeria that their patience will very soon be rewarded with a repackaged NPFL, whose exciting football matches and activities they can view and follow anytime and anywhere on the NPFL.TVPlatform. Dikko assured stakeholders that there will be strict compliance with the clubs licensing regulations among other regulatory requirements resulted in the delay in commencing the league as envisaged.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 20, 2020 • T H I S D AY

Sunday December 20, 2020

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Justice Atinuke Akomolafe-Wilson to the Executive “The judiciary deserves to be respected. Any form of clamp down on the bench for whatever reason is an aﬀront on the judiciary” – Retired Justice Atinuke Akomolafe-Wilson spoke at her valedictory as she retired from the Court of Appeal at 70.

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From Chibok Girls to Kankara Boys

pprehension. Relief. Apprehension again. My emotions went full cycle in seven days. The abduction of 344 students of Government Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina state, had whipped up a frightened feeling of déjà vu in me. The Chibok schoolgirls in April 2014 readily came to mind. More so, I feared that these boys could be turned and recruited into the Boko Haram army to replenish the terrorist ranks. Their release seven days later brought me big relief. These are people’s sons, brothers, nephews, cousins and friends. But the euphoria was soon over as I remembered that the fundamental problem remains unsolved: insecurity. Their release would only paper over the cracks. Yet, truth be told, I was glad we moved quickly to get those boys back, unlike in the Chibok case when we were busy arguing and pointing gingers while Boko Haram kept moving them far away from home. We are hearing conflicting stories behind their freedom. This governor would say it was Miyetti Allah that brokered the deal; that governor would say he merely spoke to their captors and they released them; and the army would say “we rescued them in a clinical operation”. I have my suspicion about what really happened — especially as we got all the boys back — but if my son or nephew was among them, I wouldn’t give a damn if ransom was paid. It is called the Devil’s Deal. I could feel the disappointment of some people when the Kankara schoolboys were released. They were preparing for a return match over Chibok. Just as the Chibok abductions were politicised and utilised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and their civil society allies to wrestle President Goodluck Jonathan to the ground in 2015, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the anti-Buhari camp were all too eager to weaponise the Kankara abductions for political gain. It is called a pound of flesh. They sounded deflated when the Kankara boys were released. This politicking would have been exciting if not that we are talking about human lives here. Everything cannot be politics. As you would expect, there are cynical theories that the Kankara abductions were staged. Someone said where did the 344 students get new blankets to cover themselves after their release? This is not the first time such cynical questions would be asked. When the Chibok girls were kidnapped, I got SMS broadcasts questioning the veracity. How many trucks would be needed to move 300 girls? How could 300 girls be preparing to write an exam? What is the population of the school? They wanted to write physics? When did northerners start studying science? It was when Boko Haram released the video of the captives weeks later that some people managed to believe. In February 2018, when 110 Dapchi schoolgirls were kidnapped and later released, we were told “the drama” was staged as well “to make Buhari look competent”. It would appear that the only thing that would satisfy some people is for the abducted students to remain endlessly in Boko Haram captivity — just as it happened with Chibok. That way, they would believe that the Dapchi and Kankara abductions were real and they would feel pleased and fulfilled. You can argue that Nigerians have become cynical over time because their government has also not done enough to build trust in them. That would be correct if we discount some people’s mischief. Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari should not be fooled by the release of the Kankara

Buhari schoolboys. The basic fact remains unchanged: that whatever he is doing to secure the country is neither efficient nor sufficient. Ironically, on the eve of the release of the Kankara boys, Alhaji Sanusi Muhammad Asha, the emir of Kaura Namoda, was attacked and eight members of his convoy killed by gunmen on their way from Abuja. Kidnappings are still going on across Nigeria, particularly in the north, and armed bandits are still terrorising people all over the place. Boko Haram has not relented either. The fact that the Kankara boys are back home should not pull the wool over our eyes. Sadly, one area the president has often gone missing is emotional connection with Nigerians. He is an introvert, agreed, but when you get the job of presiding over 200 million people, you lose the right to be detached. What the president says, or fails to say, is as important as what he does, or fails to do, in times like these. Nigerians want their president to communicate with them. They want to be assured that he is in touch with their realities. It is very wrong to treat everyone who criticises Buhari as an adversary who deserves no answers. There are people doing it for politics and there are people doing it out of patriotism. And everybody deserves an answer, no matter the motive. Buhari’s emotional absence from our national life has really helped those propagating mischief. The Jubril Movement — so-called because they came up with the theory that the real Buhari is “dead” and it is one lookalike named “Jubril Al-Sudani” from Sudan that is in charge — has been gaining a lot of followers by playing on Buhari’s perpetual distance from us. It now seems there are cracks in the Jubril Movement, with some of their leaders beginning to say it is actually Buhari that is in Aso Rock but he has “dementia” and does not know that the schoolboys were kidnapped. They say he is not even aware he is president and does not know anything about what is going on in Nigeria. You could feel the disappointment of the Jubril Movement when Buhari granted an interview on video talking about the Kankara kidnappings. He also addressed the boys, advising them not to be intimidated about returning to school. He commended the army for the “rescue”. So much for dementia! Someone commented, though, that this is another proof that Buhari has “dementia” — because “it was Miyetti Allah, and not the army, that rescued the boys”. Confirmation bias, that is. Of course, Buhari only has himself to blame. Nature abhors vacuum.

You cannot be so distant from your citizens and expect flowers and hugs in return. Nigerians deserve something better. There are many critical matters arising from the Kankara abductions which should not escape our attention. One, this is an attack on education. The cornerstone of Boko Haram’s ideology is opposition to non-Islamic education, generally understood to mean Western education. We are already confronted with a low literacy level in northern Nigeria and a high number of out-of-school children. This is going to make matters worse. Many parents will now pull their children out of school because it is very clear that the government cannot protect them. There will be dire consequences for national development. It is a setback. The rest of Nigeria will feel the impact. Two, there is increasing evidence linking the banditry and kidnappings to Boko Haram. I have been having this feeling that most kidnappings for ransom attributed to “Fulani herdsmen” are actually being carried out by Boko Haram satellite groups — more like their fundraising arm. There are credible reports of Boko Haram’s increasing presence outside the north-east. The manner of Kankara kidnappings looked too similar to the ones in Dapchi and Chibok. That we blamed bandits for the Kankara kidnappings and Boko Haram now did a propaganda video showing the boys in their captivity should tell us something. The Boko Haram influence is expanding. This is terrifying. Three, there is a compelling need to separate politicking from the insecurity ravaging the country. If I had my way, I would prostrate before our political leaders on all sides and plead with them to let us have a common, collaborative front on this issue. Nobody is safe. It does not matter your ethnic, religious, regional or political affiliation. I understand the desire for revenge; it is only human. But the time has to come for everyone to draw the line in the interest of our country. One of my favourite politicians today is Keir Starmer, the leader of the UK Labour Party. He always rises above partisan sentiments when the matter at hand has to do with the health and safety of British citizens. When the Chibok schoolgirls were kidnapped in 2014, I watched in dismay as Nigerian politicians took advantage to fan partisan and sectional interests. The Jonathan camp said the abductions were designed to destabilise his government and hamper his re-election bid in 2015. They even said Buhari was behind Boko Haram. The opposition camp, on its part, used the insecurity to campaign against Jonathan, even insinuating that Jonathan was funding Boko Haram to destroy the north. Admiral Murtala Nyako, then governor of Adamawa state, even said in the US that the Nigerian military was dropping arms by air for Boko Haram to destroy the north. Goodness, I hate politics! For some of us, though, all we desire is a safe and prosperous Nigeria. Anybody who is able to take a dispassionate look at the state of the nation will only come to the conclusion that the people are having it rough, no matter their tribe or tongue. Unemployment, poverty and insecurity are hurting Nigerians, north and south. The people are daily struggling to make ends meet. Yet they remain at the mercy of criminals who kidnap, extort, torture or kill them for doing nothing wrong. This country has continued to fail its citizens. This failure, I would suggest, should be our major concern. It is the responsibility of the president to secure the country and we must hold him to it always, everyday.

And Four Other Things… COVID-NIN So my 75-year-old mother will have to go and queue up with the crowd to get a national identification number (NIN) in this season of COVID-19 — which targets her age group? And if she doesn’t take the risk of catching COVID within two weeks, you will cut off her mobile line? And, then, my mum and I would not be able to communicate? You will disconnect her line, deny telecom companies income, block vital tax revenues for the government in these hard times, stifle the growth of the life-saving telecoms sector and further shrink an economy that is already in recession? This is yet another concrete evidence of the wretched quality of thinking in government. Daft. SECOND WAVE When researchers started trying to explain the relatively low cases of COVID-19 in Africa, it became inevitable that we would soon let down our guard — more so as we have always prided ourselves as having natural immunity. Some describe COVID-19 as “glorified malaria”. So many Nigerians have abandoned the basics: wear your face mask, wash your hands and watch the social distance. COVID-19 cases are increasingly on the rise, especially in Lagos, Abuja and Kano. We still have to be thankful that COVID-19 is not like Ebola, which has a mortality rate of 50 percent. As we enter the festive season, we must show responsibility by avoiding large gatherings. We all have a role to play. Duty. SPOT OF BORDER After shutting Nigeria’s land borders since August 2019 to curb smuggling of drugs, small arms and agricultural products, President Muhammadu Buhari has succumbed to pressure and decided to re-open four of them: Seme in Lagos, Illela in Sokoto, Maigatari in Jigawa and Mfun in Cross River. The border closure has never been popular with many economic experts and businesses because of the negative impact on economic growth and free trade. Our West African neighbours, whose economies benefit from illegal trade, were also unhappy. But, as with all things in life, there will always be trade-offs. With our weak border security, smuggling will be back in full force. Catch-22. TRUMP CARD After losing to Joe Biden on all fronts — including at the Electoral College — US President Donald Trump has refused to accept defeat. He is your typical African politician wearing American skin. He tried all tricks in the book. He is doing well on Twitter — even if his tweets are often flagged. He did not make any headway where it counts: the court process. The judges refused to service his desire to rubbish American democracy. Even the Supreme Court, where he thinks he has allies, refused to play ball. If it was Nigeria, judges would be granting reckless injunctions up and down. The June 12 conundrum always comes to mind. The insanity has not waned 27 years after. Lessons.

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