WEDNESDAY 22TH DECEMBER 2021

El-Rufai: We Don’t Negotiate with Terrorists in Kaduna, We Kill Them Says the only repentant bandit is the dead one House urges IG, service chiefs to end banditry in state Deji Elumoye and Udora Orizu in Abuja Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, has declared that his government has no other considerations for captured

bandits, except to send them back to God to answer for their activities against humanity. El-Rufai also expressed concern about the inability of the security agencies to access the locations of the bandits troubling

his state. He said these issues informed his visit to the State House, Abuja, yesterday to meet President Muhammadu Buhari and avail him details of the security situation in his state, where terrorists killed some 40

persons a few days ago.

In a similar vein, the House of Representatives urged the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, and the service chiefs to intensify operations to eradicate the activities of bandits

and restore normalcy, especially, in Giwa/Birnin-Gwari Federal Constituency of Kaduna State.

Briefing newsmen after his meeting with Buhari, el-Rufai said people who engaged in terrorism or banditry never

ever repented, but could only be stopped by death. He added that his government was convinced it was its duty to end the reign of terror by dispatching terrorists Continued on page 49

House Passes 2022 Budget, Raises Sum to N17trn... Page 5 Wednesday 22 December, 2021 Vol 26. No 9753. Price: N250

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Electoral Bill: Senate Mobilises to Override President's Veto, House Defers Battle Till Jan Over 75 Senators sign proposal, more expected Deji Elumoye and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Nigerians have not heard the last of President Muhammadu Buhari's refusal to assent to the 2021 Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, as the senate, yesterday, showed readiness for a showdown with the executive over the matter and immediately moved to override the president.

Although the situation in the House of Representatives, was not as heated as the Senate, the House leadership said, while the bill might not have received presidential assent, it was within the responsibility

of the parliament to decide the best way forward, adding that it would resume efforts to reform the electoral system next year.

THISDAY, however, learnt that over 75 senators had already signed a proposal, as at yesterday evening, indicating a commitment to override Buhari's veto of the electoral bill, which would be introduced as a motion.

Buhari’s letter was read at the start of plenary by the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmed Lawan, after the upper chamber came out from a closed session, which lasted some 40 minutes.

Continued on page 10

…Fayemi, Ortom Praise Buhari for Withholding Assent to Bill CSOs sad, want parliament to overrule Buhari Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Adedayo Akinwale and Juliet Akoje in Abuja Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and his Benue State counterpart, Samuel Ortom, have reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal of assent to the 2021 Electoral Act Amendment Bill, saying the decision was in the interest of the people.

Fayemi, however, denied insinuations that they were behind the president’s rejection

of the bill, saying they were not afraid of direct primaries.

Fayemi, who spoke with newsmen yesterday after a meeting with Buhari at the State House, Abuja, dismissed insinuations that the president had danced to the governors’ tune by declining assent to the bill. He said the governors did not care whether the mode of primaries was direct or indirect.

The NGF chairman said as someone, who had gone through both systems during his first and Continued on page 10

TAKING THE BOOSTER DOSE...

President Muhammadu Buhari (left) being administered with the COVID-19 booster dose at the Presidential Villa, Abuja...yesterday

PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI

WHO Warns of Imminent Spike in COVID-19 Omicron Cases During Yuletide... Page 6

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

NEWS

RECOGNITION FOR EXCELLENCE...

L-R: Coordinating Director, Executive Chairman's Group, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr Muhammed Lawal Abubakar; Executive Chairman, Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), Mr Ayodele Subair; Executive Chairman, FIRS, and Chairman, Joint Tax Board (JTB) Muhammad Mamman Nami; and Secretary, JTB, Nana-Aishat Obomeghie, during the presentation of Award of Recognition to Subair at a Gala Night to mark the end of the 149th JTB Meeting in Lagos…recently

House Passes 2022 Budget, Raises Sum to N17trn Increases oil price benchmark to $62 per barrel Okays N215bn for FIRS Approves Buhari's N276bn virement request Extends implementation of 2021 budget by 90 days Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives at plenary yesterday approved the sum of N17.127 trillion as budget for the 2022 fiscal year, against the N16.391 trillion in the appropriation bill that was submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari in October.

The 2022 appropriation bill which was increased by N736 billion, was passed following the consideration and adoption of clauses in the bill's report presented by the Chairman Appropriation Committee, Hon. Muktar Betara.

The House also approved an increase in the oil price benchmark from $57 to $62; increased the deficit

by N98 billion to accommodate some other requests of national importance not provided for in the budget and which could not be covered by the revenue increase.

The lawmakers further approved 1.88mbpd as daily oil production; $62 oil benchmark price; N410/$ exchange rate; 4.2 per cent GDP growth rate and 13 per cent inflation rate for the 2022 fiscal year.

A breakdown of the approved budget showed that statutory transfer would gulp N869.667 billion; recurrent expenditure was allocated N6.910 trillion; N5.467 trillion for capital expenditure and N3.870 trillion for debt service in 2022.

Under the Statutory transfers, National Judicial Council is to get N120 billion; Niger Delta Development Commission – N102.783 billion; Universal Basic Education – N112.287 billion; National Assembly – N139 billion; Public Complaints Commission - N11.190 billion and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is to get N219.544 billion.

Also, the National Human Right Commission was allocated N4.500 billion; North East Development Commission – N48.076 billion; Basic Heath Care Fund – N56.144 billion and National Agency for Science and Engineering (NASENI) – N56.144 billion, respectively.

On the other hand, a breakdown of the National Assembly budget showed that while N33.267 billion was allocated to the Senate; N51.995 billion for House of Representatives; N7.734 billion for National Assembly Service Commission; N9.602 billion for Legislative Aides; N118.970 million for Senate Public Account Committee; N142.764 million for House Committee on Public Account; N8.308 billion for General Services; N7.374 billion for National Institute for Legislative and

Democratic Studies; N471.335 million for Service Wide Vote; N581.848 million for Office of Retired Clerks and Permanent Secretaries; N125 million for Senate Committee on Appropriations and N165 million for House Committee on Appropriations.

The sum of N100 billion was also approved for Zonal Intervention Projects; N10 billion for National Assembly liabilities; N300 million for National Assembly e-Library; N139 million for National Assembly Dashboard; N1 billion for Constitution review and N20 billion for Special Intervention projects.

Under the recurrent (non-debt) expenditure, the House approved the sums of N350 billion for National Social Investment Programme (NSIP); N4 billion for Employee Compensation Fund; N30 billion Contingency (Recurrent); Treasury Single Account (TSA) N1 billion; N50 billion for Police Operations Fund; N50 billion for Hazard Allowance for health workers; N50 billion for Enhanced Allowance for Nigeria Police and N300 billion for national Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (FG commitment, including NSIP upscaling).

Others included N40 billion for settlement of MDAs electricity bills debt; N65 billion for Presidential Amnesty Programme: Reintegration of transformed ex-Militants; N115 billion for military operations: Lafiya Dole and other operations of the Armed Forces; N1 billion for severance benefits to retired Heads of Government Agencies and parastatals; N2.300 billion for entitlements of former Presidents/ Heads if States and Vice Presidents/ Chief of General Staff; N125 billion for Pension Protection Fund; N10 billion for benefits of retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries an Professors; N11 billion for arrears of pension liabilities; N30.064 billion for defunct privatized agencies pension; N125 billion for payment into redemption fund.

Also, the House approved the sum of N215.811 billion budget for Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), out of which the sum of N119.068 is for Personnel cost, N60.016 billion is for Overhead cost and N35.097 billion is for capital expenditure for year 2022.

In the same vein, the House passed for a third reading the Finance Bill which seeks to amend the Capital Gains Tax Act, Companies Income tax Act, Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, Personal Income Tax

Act, Tertiary Education Trust Act (Establishment) Act, Value Added Tax Act, Insurance Act, Nigeria Police Trust Fund (Establishment) Act, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure Act, Finance Control and Management Act, Fiscal Responsibility Act and for other related matters.

Meanwhile, the lawmakers also approved the President Muhammadu Buhari's virement request of N276.757 billion from the N13.588 trillion approved in the 2021 Appropriation Act as well as N983 billion approved in the Supplementary Appropriation Act, on July 26th, 2021.

Buhari in the letter read by the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila said: "You may also recall that during the signing of the 2021 Appropriation Act, i mentioned that, where necessary, I will revert to the National Assembly with a request for amendment, virement or other

appropriate adjustments to ensure that the core objectives of the Budget are accomplished. Accordingly; the 2021 budget implementation is faced with challenges that will require additional funding for some critical and urgent line items in the Budget "The purpose of this letter, therefore, is to forward the comprehensive virement Proposal for the consideration and approval of the National Assembly. The details of the expenditures proposed for the virement are attached herewith as schedule 1 while Schedule 2 shows the sources of the funds to be vired for the items in Schedule 1.

“In the light of the above, i implore the House to urgently consider the virement proposals to support our efforts to improve the well-being of our citizens."

In similar vein, the House approved the extension of the implementation of the 2021 Appropriation Act by 90 days.

The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by the Majority leader, Hon. Ado Doguwa.

Earlier, in his last day of plenary speech, Gbajabiamila reiterated the resolve of the ninth National Assembly towards improving the appropriations process to ensure more effective and efficient allocation and use of our national resources.

He, however, said a recurring challenge was how best to ensure that the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the federal government adhere strictly to the letter of the appropriation law.

He, therefore, said in 2022, the House would explore further options for legislative action in this regard.

Gbajabiamila explained: "This is a subject of grave concern, especially now when we must contend with the reality of limited resources amid significant developmental

challenges. During consideration of the 2022 Appropriation Bill, we were inundated with requests for funding from Ministries, departments and agencies of government, all of whom require additional funding to effectively discharge their mandates.

“We recognise the genuine urgency of many of these requests and we have tried within the reality of limited revenues to meet the most critical needs.

“However, one thing that is now abundantly clear, is that the legislature needs to act to reform the envelope system currently in place because it imposes conditions that do not make for optimal outcomes.

“At the same time, we must begin also to consider options for merging agencies where there is a significant overlap in functions and responsibilities, and scrapping other institutions where their utility is no longer apparent.”

Senate Okays Finance Bill 2021 Deji Elumoye and Juliet Akoje in Abuja The Senate at plenary yesterday passed the Finance Bill 2021 which was transmitted to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari, on December 7, 2021.

Like the House of Representatives, the Senate also okayed the amendment of the 2021 Appropriation Act to give room for the execution of capital projects till March, 2022.

The passage of the Finance bill in record two weeks was sequel to the consideration of a report by the Joint Committee on Finance, Customs, Excise and Tariff, Trade and Investment.

Presenting the report, Chairman of the Joint Committee, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, said the bill seeks to support the implementation of the 2022 Federal Budget of Economic Growth and Sustainability by proposing key specific taxation, customs, excise, fiscal and other relevant laws.

According to him, a total of 12 Acts were amended under the finance bill which contains 39 clauses.

He added that the bill seeks to promote fiscal equity, align domestic tax laws with global best practice, introduce tax incentives for infrastructure and capital markets, support small businesses and promote increase government revenue.

According to him: “The Finance Act 2020 was predicated essentially on having no new taxes and no new incentives due to the COVID -19’s impact on the economy as such it was structured across four broad thematic areas; Enacting counter cyclical measures and crisis intervention initiatives; Tax, fiscal responsibility, and public procurement reforms; Reforming fiscal incentives policies for job creation; Ensuring closer coordination of monetary, trade and fiscal policies; and Enhancing tax administration.”

The Joint Committee based on its observations, accordingly, recommended five per cent Capital Gains Tax to be imposed on shares’ disposal transactions where gains exceed N250m in 12 calendar months.

It recommended that gaming and lottery companies be taxable, as well as oil and gas companies.

The Committee also underscored the need for midstream and downstream oil and gas companies to be made liable to corporate tax without the benefit of tax exemptions for firms exporting goods to earn foreign exchange.

It observed that doing so would prevent double-dipping by gas utilisation companies such that they cannot claim both (1) 3-year tax holidays; as well as (2) Petroleum Profit Tax Act Incentives or (3) Pioneer tax Holidays under IDITRA.

The Joint Committee advocated for qualifying capital Expenditure rules for small and pioneer companies, to prevent double dipping by mandating that companies cannot deduct qualifying Capital Expenditure to reduce their taxable profits where the relevant qualifying capital expenditure is used to generate tax - exempt income.

It sought more powers for the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to collect NPTF levies on Nigerian companies on behalf of the fund and to streamline tax levy collection from Nigerian Companies in line with President Buhari administration’s ease of doing business reforms.

The Joint Committee also harped on the need for the federal government to ensure that the FIRS deploys both proprietary and third-party tech applications to collect information from taxpayers, enhance confidentiality and non-disclosure and to enable them investigate tax evasion and other crimes and sanction noncompliant tax payers.

It further called for the FIRS to be empowered to assess non-resident firms to tax on fair and reasonable turnover basis on turnover earned from digital services to Nigerian customers, with a further mandate to appoint persons for the purpose of collection and remittance of non- resident taxes.

The Committee demanded

necessary reforms on securities lending transactions, minimum tax for insurance companies and companies in general, taxation of unit trust income, real estate investment trust and insurance companies’ capitalisation by NAICOM in line with Tax Equity.

It urged the government to mandate the FIRS as principal tax revenue collection agency to collaborate with other law enforcement MDAs in streamlining tax collections by enhancing public financial management reforms.

According to the Joint Committee, doing so would reduce revenue leakages and better track actual expenditure to revenue performance in line with the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as Amended), Fiscal Rules and other Extant Money Acts.

It also called for the diversification of Nigeria’s revenue from oil to other sectors to fund critical expenditures.

The Committee while demanding an increase of 0.5 percent in educational tax, pushed for close monitoring of unfolding development and policies on VAT, tax incentives, projected increase in tariff on tobacco, alcohol and carbonated drinks to fund vital expenditure on health, education and security, with a possibility of introduction of new taxes, tariffs and levies as the economy recovers.

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NEWS

SYMBOLIC CHEQUE PRESENTATION FOR 21 CRITICAL ROADS FUNDED BY THE NNPC...

L-R: Project Manager, Salini Nigeria Ltd,Mr Gennaro D'itria , Representative of the Group Managing Director/ Chief Finance Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation,Mr Umar Ajiya, Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Muhammad Nami, Hon.Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola,SAN, Head of Roads and Infrastructure, RCC (Nig.) Ltd, Mr Feda Natour,Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works and Housing, Mr Babangida Hussaini , Deputy Managing Director, CCECC , Mr Jacques Liao and Managing Director, KAU International Ltd, Mr Ibrahim Babasheu, during the Symbolic Cheque Presentation for 21 Critical Roads funded by the NNPC through the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Works and Housing Headquarters, Mabushi, Abuja ...yesterday

WHO Warns of Imminent Spike in COVID-19 Omicron Cases During Yuletide Says 3.3 million people died in 2021 Sanwo-Olu cautions Lagosians on virus, security, fire outbreak House passes controversial infectious diseases bill Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Udora Orizu in Abuja The World Health Organisation (WHO) has alerted countries that increased social gathering during the yuletide period might lead to increased omicron Covid-19 cases that could overwhelm health systems and cause more deaths.

Speaking at a media briefing in Geneva, the WHO Director General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus lamented that 18 months after the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world was still in the grip of the deadly virus.

Owing to this, Lagos State

Governor, Mr. Babajide SanwoOlu, has called on residents of the state to be cautious and take all necessary precaution to avoid the spread of the virus as well as any mishap relating to fire and security misfortune in the state during the festive period.

This is just as in Nigeria, the House of Representatives yesterday passed a controversial bill which seeks to repeal the Quarantine Act and enact the Control of Infectious Diseases Bill, make provisions relating to quarantine and make regulations for preventing the spread of dangerous infectious diseases in the country.

Ghebreyesus expressed sadness that more than 3.3 million people had lost their lives to COVID-19 this year, more deaths than from HIV, malaria and tuberculosis combined in 2020.

"And still, COVID-19 continues to claim around 50 000 lives every week. That’s not to mention the unreported deaths, and the millions of excess deaths caused by disruptions to essential health services," he said.

The WHO chief said Africa was facing a steep wave of infections, driven largely by the Omicron variant.

He cautioned that increased

social mixing over the holiday period in many countries could lead to increased cases, overwhelmed health systems and more deaths.

Ghebreyesus said a month ago, Africa was reporting its lowest number of cases in 18 months, adding that last week the country reported the fourth-highest number of cases in a single week so far.

"There is now consistent evidence that Omicron is spreading significantly faster than the Delta variant.

"And it is more likely that people who have been vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 could be infected or re-infected," he said.

NNPC Hands over N621bn Symbolic Tax Credit Cheque for Road Infrastructure to Ministry Fashola says oil company not taking over construction of roads Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday handed over a N621 billion symbolic cheque to the Ministry of Works and Housing in furtherance of the recent tax credit road infrastructure funding arrangement approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

At the event, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola dispelled insinuations that the NNPC was taking over the job of the ministry, stressing that the arrangement was coming under Executive Order 7, which existed during the last administration but was never deployed.

Fashola explained that the instrument was first activated on the Obajana-Kabba road as well as to address the Apapa-Oworonsoki expressway, stressing that since then, a lot of progress had been made.

He noted that when the government started the use of Executive Order, it was met with a lot of criticism that it was specifically made for Aliko Dangote, but added that even smaller companies can now come together to do smaller roads.

“So, this is not an order for one person, it is an order for all businesses and we are now seeing that a conglomerate like Dangote Group and now the oil industry has come in to cover 21 roads of about 1,800 kilometres. That is massive and it’s a show of confidence by the NNPC,” he noted.

Fashola said the telecoms sector had also begun to show interest in the arrangement as a strategic expansion of the private sector to the development of the country’s infrastructure, pointing out that there will be no review of the cost of the projects in the future.

“We have agreed that nobody will be asking for a variation. We have put in a governance process which allows us to do certification within a certain number of days,” he said, adding that, “The NNPC will have no more than 30 days to pay.”

According to him, this new redefinition of project funding in the sector will enable contractors order more materials and machines and roll out work, stressing that people will begin to see the intervention of the NNPC by the end of the dry season.

In addition, to ensure that timelines are adhered to, he stated that the works ministry has a prescribed number of days within which to act, to approve the certificates.

“The money does not belong to the contractors. It is going to the quarry, to those supplying diesel, sand, lubricants and other materials,” the minister said.

To the minister, this would increase the flow of money in the economy and ultimately lift more people out of poverty as promised

by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He clarified that the NNPC was not taking over the construction of Nigerian roads, saying that it’s only putting in its tax liabilities to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) which is being devoted to the roads.

"NNPC is not taking over roads, NNPC is not constructing roads, NNPC is just putting forward its tax liabilities to the authority which is supposed to collect, which is the FIRS, and they are dedicating it to build roads that have been awarded and would have been completed but for insufficient budgetary provisions.

“Let me make it clear that this

is a tax credit intervention and essentially, the private sector company is putting forward what should have been its tax compensation for liabilities to government," he stated.

Also speaking, Group Managing Director of the NNPC Limited, Mallam Mele Kyari, described the initiative as remarkable because of the difference the funding will make in the country's roads.

Represented by the Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Umar Ajiya, the GMD noted that due to the incessant vandalism of the NNPC’s pipelines, the national oil company had resorted to hauling products by road.

“This is a very remarkable event simply because the condition of the road network in the country is affecting our business in our quest to participate in the energy security of Nigeria.

“We are charged with the responsibility of wetting the country with petroleum products but most of our pipelines have been vandalised over the years which has resulted in the haulage of these products to trucks along some of these national road networks.

Apparently expressing his frustration about the COVID-19, Ghebreyesus said: "All of us are sick of this pandemic. All of us want to spend time with friends and family. All of us want to get back to normal."

He said the fastest way to achieve relief from the pandemic was for all leaders and individuals to take difficult decisions that to protect their citizens.

According to him, this would mean cancelling or delaying events if necessary.

"If we are to end the pandemic in the coming year, we must end inequity, by ensuring 70 per cent of the population of every country is vaccinated by the middle of next year," he said.

WHO had last week issued Emergency Use Listing for a ninth vaccine, produced by the Serum Institute of India under license from Novavax.

“This new vaccine is part of the COVAX portfolio, and we hope that it will play an important role in achieving our global vaccination targets,” he added.

Ghebreyesus further spoke of the debilitating impact of the COVID-19 which had weakened ability to attend to other health challenges.

He said the pandemic had caused setbacks in the efforts to defeat the world’s leading infectious diseases.

According to him, there were an estimated 14 million more malaria cases and 47 thousand more malaria deaths in 2020 compared to 2019.

He said a new data released this year, showed that 23 million children missed out on routine vaccines in 2020, the largest number in over a decade.

The WHO boss added that the situation had increased risks from preventable diseases such as measles and polio. He further recalled that the world body launched a global road map to defeat meningitis by 2030.

On the outlook for 2022, the WHO chief expressed hope that the year would see an end to the pandemic.

He said it would be a year that all countries would invest

in preventing a future disaster on a large scale, and in accelerating efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Sanwo-Olu Cautions Lagosians

Sanwo-Olu called on Lagosians to be on alert against another wave of COVID-19 by adhering strictly to all safety protocols during the Christmas period.

Speaking at the grand finale of the ‘Year 2021 Community Day Celebration,’ held at Police College, Ikeja yesterday, Sanwo-Olu also advised residents in the various communities across the state to be responsive by providing intelligence to security agents.

He urged them to promptly report anything they see to security agents at the community level.

He said: “As Community Development Council (CDC) leaders, please take the message back home that because of the harsh weather during the harmattan season, fire is always a very easy occurrence.

“So, people need to live safely.

Stay safe and make sure you don't have combustible items around your shops, houses, and ensure precautions on electric gadgets to avert fire incidents.

“Security they say is local.

Security is important at the grassroots level. You have been working with us, continue to work with us. You see something, you say something. All the neighborhood watchers are in your communities; let them know if you see strange movements.

“If you notice things that are not meant to be in your communities, pass on the message to them and you can be rest assured that the security agents will come around to keep you safe and secured. As we are going into the yuletide season, please let's be very vigilant and make sure that we are our brothers' keeper.”

The governor also added that, “We are getting out of the COVID-19 but we cannot be completely relaxed. In all of our engagements, let's continue to keep those simple safety protocols."

Continued on page 10

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OGUN GETS NEW JUDGES...

L-R: Newly appointed High Court Judge, Justice Olusina Akinsinde; Ogun State Chief Judge, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu; Governor Dapo Abiodun and President, Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Mobolaji Ojo at the inauguration of new Judges of the State High Courts and Customary Court of Appeal in Abeokuta … yesterday

Buhari Inaugurates $73 million Intervention to Boost Sugar Sector James Emejo in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday inaugurated a $73 million- infrastructure intervention project to drive development and accelerate the growth of the sugar sub-sector.

The move was in line with the federal government’s determination to diversify the base of the economy through the formulation of favourable policies, provisions of technical support, creation of a business-friendly environment and provision of incentives to attract more investments into the industry.

The president, at the formal commissioning of the “Presidential Intervention on Irrigation Infrastructure to Accelerate Sugar Backward Integration Programme Projects,” held at the State House, said the goal of the intervention was to support the development of irrigation infrastructure on 10,000 hectares of sugar plantations located at six Backward Integration Programme (BIP) sites.

These included NumanAdamawa State; Sunti-Niger State; Lafiagi-Kwara State; Bacita-Kwara state; Toto and Tunga-Nasarawa State.

Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Niyi Adebayo, stressed that the objective of the programme was to significantly improve the country’s performance on cane yields as well as reduce

the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry’s progress in achieving self-sufficiency.

He pointed out that the strategic intervention would also enable the country’s leading sugar producers namely Dangote, BUA and Flour Mills, to expand capacity and capitalise on the import substitution opportunity within the sugar market to further reduce the country’s import bill.

Buhari said: "The implementation structure considered enhancing rural jobs and hence the recommendation that 10 per cent of the total allocation to each BIP operator would be reserved for sugarcane out-grower farmers within the community.

"This is strategic, humane and sustainable in the thought process and I am certain that local communities will find this inclusive which is an effective approach to

project implementation."

However, Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Mr. Zacch Adedeji, explained that the intervention was part of government’s determination to provide an enabling environment for private investments to thrive and flourish in the country.

He said, "Preliminary activities, including identification of the specific project sites for each operator which include framework

for design and engineering services for the in-field and bulk water supply systems, project management and maintenance specifications, adoption of a business model and costing, among others have been concluded long before the formal commissioning of this laudable initiative.”

The Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule who is also the Chairman, Forum of Sugar Producing States, said

Bayelsa Spill: FG, Other Stakeholders' Joint Investigation Holds Today Minister clarifies ‘Hiroshima’ statement

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

A federal government delegation led by the Minister of State for the Environment, Sharon Ikeazor, yesterday fixed the statutory Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to the Santa Barbra Well 01 spill site operated

by Aiteo Eastern E&P Limited for today.

Speaking when she carried out an inspection of the site, Ikeazor also clarified a statement earlier attributed to her as having compared the spill to the Hiroshima bombing of 1945.

Ikeazor was accompanied by the Director General of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Mr. Idris Musa and Global Group Aiteo Director/ Coordinator, Asset Protection/

Security Services and Community Matters, Chief Andrew Oru. “Someone misquoted me. We were talking about artisanal refining.

I remember clearly what I said, that I’ve seen pictures where these artisanal refineries have burnt down areas and that those pictures I saw looked like Hiroshima.

“Someone now likened it and said it was Aiteo. We have the recordings of that media briefing. What I was likening it to were pictures of artisanal refining areas being burned out and that these have to be done in an environmentally friendly manner to decommission them.

“So I have come to see for myself, we’re waiting for the result of the JIV, then we would start clean up and remediation measures,” she

stated.

She highlighted efforts by NOSDRA and the operator, Aiteo, to prevent further damage to the environment as well as the company’s initial palliatives to the impacted communities.

On her on-the-spot assessment of ground zero and the magnitude of spill, the minister stated that most of the spill were contained by the booms earlier deployed, stressing that a lot of barrels had been recovered. ’’Any environmental impact is always heart-wrenching. What I saw on the ground wasn’t as much as what was portrayed in the media.

“Luckily, Aiteo and NOSDRA responded quickly, so most of what was spilling from that wellhead was contained with the booms they

had in place. We travelled over the water, I didn’t see that much crude floating. It shows that they’ve been able to recover some, I think 16,000 barrels so far,’’ she added.

On what measures could be put in place to avert similar future occurrences, Ikeazor noted that the responsibility lied with both the oil companies and host communities to take care of the environment and oil facilities as well as their equipment.

“Like I said, we will wait for the JIV so we know exactly what the cause of this was. Then we can make a categorical statement that we must all protect the environment. I am happy to see a lot of mangroves that are still thriving in the Niger Delta and we must keep it that way,” she said.

FGInauguratesCommitteetoResolveNigeria,GhanaTraders’Conflict Dike Onwuamaeze The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment (MITI), Mr. Adeniyi Adebayo has inaugurated an inter-ministerial committee that would look into the lingering conflicts between Nigeria’s business operators in Ghana and their Ghanaian counterparts.

The committee would also attend to the implementation of the signed joint statement between Nigeria and Ghana, which were concluded at a high level bilateral meeting between the country’s delegation led by Adebayo and representatives of Ghanaian government led by the country’s Minister of Trade between May 31 and June 2, this year.

Adebayo, in a statement by the Special Assistant on Media to the

Nigeria has both the human and natural resources to be among leading sugar producing countries in the world.

He urged all critical players in the sector to wake up and redouble their efforts towards actualising the sugar masterplan.

"We all have to roll up our sleeves and match our words with concrete actions to enable us achieve our desired objectives in the sector,” he added.

MITI, Mr. Ifedayo Sayo explained: "President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the constitution of a delegation to Ghana in order to engage and effectively find a lasting solution to the recurring dispute between Nigerian traders and their Ghanaian counterparts through a bilateral engagement.

“The lingering dispute between the two countries, which worsened with the eviction of Nigerian traders in 2007 and the closing of over 300 Nigerian traders’ shops in 2018, was as a result of renewed trade nationalism by the Ghanaian traders who felt edged out by foreigners in retail businesses.

"You may recall that in 2018, the problem was aggravated by the country’s efforts to enforce the GIPC Trade Act, which requires

non- Ghanaian traders to have an investment portfolio of $1 million to engage in any retail business in Ghana.”

Adebayo said during the visits, the Nigerian delegation held consultations with all the stakeholders from Nigeria in Ghana including professional groups and traders, and, “the general concern especially from the traders was that the Ghanaian authorities have adopted discriminatory practices against Nigerians and other foreigners.”

He added: “The bilateral consultation between the two countries resulted in signing the Joint Statement that seeks to address the challenges."

He said President Buhari has approved, “the establishment of this inter-ministerial committee to

handle the implementation of the outcome of the joint statements; formalise trade and investment relations and address other critical issues between the two countries.”

The committee would be headed by the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Evelyn Ngige.

Adebayo said: "The permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment will chair the Nigeria-Ghana Inter-Ministerial Committee for the Nigerian side while the Trade Department will serve as the secretariat while membership is from representatives of the following Ministries, Department and Agencies: Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Nigeria Customs Service (NCS); Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS); Standards Organisation of

Nigeria (SON); Federal Ministry of Justice; Ministry of Finance; National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC); Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF); National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP); Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC); Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC); Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCo); National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) and Progressive Ambassadors of Nigeria (PAN)."

He urged members of the committee to handle the assignment with the importance it required in order to find lasting solutions to the lingering problem.

It was learnt that earlier, regulators on ground zero supervising the cleaning of the hydrocarbons from the immediate cordoned off area, ascertained that 16,000 free phase oil mixed with water has so far been recovered from the site.

In addition, NOSDRA in collaboration with Aiteo, have also completed plans to execute the remediation phase which will mop up all the remnant crude which escaped through the booms.

Meanwhile, Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri has expressed dissatisfaction NOSDRA over comments attributed to the director general of the agency. Diri spoke on Monday during a courtesy visit by Ikeazor to the Government House, Yenagoa.

Governor Diri who described NOSDRA’s action as unacceptable, said his decision to set up the technical committee on the spill was influenced by the country’s Constitution and the laws of Bayelsa State.

He said he owed the people of Nembe the responsibility of protecting every victim affected by the spill and would leave no stone unturned in ensuring justice and full compensation for the people.

While calling on the JIV team set up by NOSDRA to be transparent and free from any form of compromise, Senator Diri, said it was unethical for Aiteo to provide logistics for the JIV. He said: “Honourable Minister, I was not happy with the report I got from my team, particularly comments allegedly made by the DG of NOSDRA. I’m an elected governor of Bayelsa State and the number one thing about me is the wellbeing of the people, the environment and property of my state.

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 22, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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TEN ELECTORAL BILL: SENATE MOBILISES TO OVERRIDE PRESIDENT'S VETO, HOUSE DEFERS BATTLE TILL JANUARY In the letter, the president explained that his decision to withhold assent to the electoral bill was informed by advice from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government after a thorough review.

"In the premise of the above, I hereby signify to the National Assembly that I am constrained to withhold assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021, in line with the provisions of Section 58(1) & (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). It is my considered position that the political parties should be allowed to freely exercise right of choice in deciding which of direct or indirect primaries to adopt in the conduct of their primary elections as their respective realities may permit."

According to him, signing the bill into law would have serious adverse legal, financial, economic and security consequences on the country, particularly, in view of Nigeria’s peculiarities. He also said any attempt to impose direct primaries on the political parties would be undemocratic.

Buhari further noted that such imposition would negatively affect the rights of citizens to participate in government as constitutionally guaranteed.

This is the second time the president would be withholding assent to the electoral bill, the first being during the Eighth National Assembly in 2018, when he said the passage of the bill by the then National Assembly was too close to the 2019 general election.

Two closed-door sessions held at yesterday's plenary was said to be inconclusive, as senators, reportedly, threatened to invoke the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to veto the president's position at Wednesday's plenary.

Apprehensive of possible outbursts from senators on the president's veto and, apparently, to prevent open opposition to Buhari’s communication to the senate, Senate President Ahmed Lawan called for an executive session at 10:44am, which lasted an hour. Again, midway into the plenary, Senator George Sekibo (Rivers East) cited Order 14 of the Senate Standing Rules for the senate to go into another round of closed-door session, which Lawan upheld.

Sekibo was said to have used the opportunity of the closedsession to vent his anger over the decision of Buhari to turn down the signing of the Electoral Bill after the two chambers of the National Assembly had dully passed it.

It was further gathered that, at a point, the second closed-door session became rowdy, when some senators suggested that the veto

should be upturned, while some others tried to prevail on them not to take the matter too far.

THISDAY also learnt that more senators were in support of the plan to override the president, because it had become a fierce battle for their political survival in their respective states, where governors had become their arch-rivals.

It was learnt that the reason for the executive sessions was to enable the senators to resolve some contentious issues, including the electoral bill, so that they would not openly confront themselves at plenary.

Speaking after yesterday’s plenary, Sekibo confirmed that senators were ready to override Buhari’s decision at today's plenary. He also stated that his colleagues were being mobilised ahead of the plenary today, adding that many senators have already signed the veto notice.

According to him, "By law, we have the power to override him.

That's what Section 58 (4 & 5) of the 1999 Constitution says.

We will use our powers to do it.

And they are saying that people must be present at voting.

"Our rule gives us three methods of voting. Voice vote, by signing the document (signature), and electronic voting. So, we can use anyone. We collected signatures in the chamber and it cuts across party lines."

Senator Abba Morro also faulted the president's reason for rejecting the bill saying, "The reasons given by the president to withhold assent, to my view and the views of majority of senators, are not enough, because all stakeholders have acknowledged the fact that the amended electoral act, as it is today, contains fantastic provisions that could deepen democracy.

"If we reject the amended electoral bill because of direct primary, then, it will be very unfortunate. If it's because of direct primary, the president rejected the will of the people, I can assure you that myself and my colleagues are prepared this time around to override the president."

Other senators, who also spoke, but on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that it was the plan of the lawmakers to override the veto on Tuesday, but it was scuttled by some of their colleagues, who considered it an embarrassment to the president, and would not allow it to happen.

One of the senators said, "Yes, our initial plan was to override President Buhari's veto on the electoral bill, but they truncated it in the process. So, we will come back on Wednesday and continue from where we stopped."

Another senator explained that

he and his colleagues were out to override the president, but the senate president started saying it was not a just cause.

Yet, another senator, when asked whether or not there was a plan to override Buhari, responded, "That's what we want to do," adding that of all APC senators present yesterday, only three did not sign. But he was optimistic they would sign today.

On whether there was need to carry the House of Representatives members along, a ranking senator said, "We have a majority of willing team in the House of Representatives, because the idea of the direct primaries emanated from the lower chamber and it was sold to us in the senate."

But the Speaker, while reading his remarks at the last plenary of the year, said, "This year, despite the differences of opinions, all of

us in the House of Representatives and indeed, the entire National Assembly, worked to pass the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill.

We included in that bill, provisions we hoped will significantly enhance the conduct of our national elections and improve public confidence in our electoral outcomes.

"As it is now, that bill has not received presidential assent, and it falls to parliament to decide the best way forward. When we return in the New Year, we will resume our efforts to reform the electoral system in our country.

And we will do it together. That is what the Nigerian people expect of us, and we will do our duty for God and country.

"Whichever way it pans out, we must not throw out the baby with the bath water and must deliver a credible and enduring electoral

House Passes Controversial Infectious Diseases’ Bill

Meanwhile, the proposed legislation in the House of Representatives titled: "A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Quarantine Act and Enact the Control of Infectious Diseases Bill, make Provisions Relating to Quarantine and make Regulations for Preventing the Introduction into and Spread in Nigeria of Dangerous Infectious Diseases; and for Related Matters; (HB. 836)," was

sponsored by the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; the Chairman Committee on Healthcare Services, Hon. Tanko Sununu and Chairman Committee on Health Institutions, Hon. Pascal Obi. The Bill which was introduced and passed for second reading by the lawmakers in May 2020. The proposed legislation among others seeks to strengthen the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and make it more proactive and not just reactive and function when there is an outbreak.

The bill also seeks to empower the Minister of Health as well as the director-general of NCDC, to make regulations on quarantining, vaccination and prevention of infectious diseases in Nigeria.

While supporting the bill, Gbajabiamila had said the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic bedeviling the world, makes it ideal to seek reforms of the public health emergency frameworks of the country.

According to him, the new bill would replace the Quarantine Act and tackle the limitations of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on curbing the spread of diseases.

However the bill birthed several controversies and criticisms from Nigerians, including 36 State Governors that condemned it, calling for it to be stepped down. They

the reality of limited resources amid significant developmental challenges.

"However, one thing that is now abundantly clear, is that the legislature needs to act to reform the envelope system currently in place, because it imposes conditions that do not make for optimal outcomes.

"At the same time, we must begin also to consider options for merging agencies, where there is a significant overlap in functions and responsibilities, and scrapping other institutions, where their utility is no longer apparent," he said.

While the House has adjourned till January and promised to revisit the matter when it reconvenes, it has also said it would recall its members immediately, if the senate overrides the president.

ELECTORAL BILL: SENATE MOBILISES TO OVERRIDE PRESIDENT'S VETO, HOUSE DEFERS BATTLE TILL JANUARY second primary elections to pick his party’s tickets, he was comfortable with any of the modes chosen. He, however, observed that by declining assent, Buhari stood on the side of the people, as he was neither for nor against direct primaries but wanted all options provided for, adding that the president’s courage must be commended for standing on the side of the people.

Fayemi stated, in answer to a question, “I don't know what you mean by governor's being happy. At least, as the governor, who has gone through a series of elections, my election to office during my first term was via a direct primary that took place in all the 177 wards in my state.

And my election to my second term in office was via an indirect primary.

“So, I've tasted both. And I can tell you that it really doesn't matter to any governor whether you have primaries via direct mode or an indirect mode. What’s governors’ interest and concern is that opportunities are given for an inclusive process. And I think that is what Mr. President's letter has brought out.

“Mr. President has not objected to direct primaries, neither has he endorsed indirect primaries.

He has only said, be fair to all; let all options apply and what you decide should be determined by your own local and peculiar circumstances, being mindful of questions of security, finances, and internal democracy.

“So, I think we all should commend the courage of Mr. President to stand with the people.

And the president, you know, just like me, is not afraid of whatever mode you decide to use. When I chaired the primaries, the historic primaries that brought him in as

a presidential candidate, I was the chair of that primaries in 2014, it was indirect primaries.

“But in 2019, when he was coming back, he came back via a direct primary. So, Mr. President has also tasted both.

And I don't think he's somebody to be lectured about the pros and cons of either processes. What is important is to ensure that whatever process you choose in your particular circumstance still provides a process that is as free in a manner as possible.

“It's not completely free process, but at least there is something that is called substantial compliance in electoral law. And if it meets substantial compliance, I think all of us should be happy with that. We shouldn't really dwell too much on it. There's been this exaggerated expectation that direct primaries is going to provide all answers to whatever electoral challenges that we have faced.

“And we all know that that is false. Direct primary has its own challenges, indirect primary has its own challenges, a consensus approach is also not without challenges, but options should be provided. That's all I think Mr. President has said and whether governors are happy or not, it's really immaterial to governors whether it's direct or indirect.”

Fayemi said he was at the Villa as Chairman of NGF to brief the Buhari on issues concerning the states and commend him for trying to stem insecurity in the country.

He said, “Well, it's customary, I mean, as Chairman of the Nigerian governors, to always exchange notes with Mr. President from time to time, especially, in the yuletide season like this, I always find time to come and say hello to Mr. President.

WHO WARNS OF IMMINENT SPIKE IN COVID-19 OMICRON CASES DURING YULETIDE According to a statement, Sanwo-Olu, while speaking on his administration's commitment to community development, said his government as a people-oriented government had executed grassroots improvement programme across the state.

He said the government was committed to promoting coordinated efforts for a peaceful, harmonious and serene atmosphere for growth and development in communities.

He said the Community Development Associations (CDAs) in Lagos State are the engine for growth and therefore called on the various CDAs to join hands with the government to ensure safety and security of lives and property in Lagos, particularly during the festive season.

system to Nigerians. Every law is a living document and as long as it has breath, it must survive."

He assured Nigerians that the House would pass Appropriation Bill 2022 yesterday, in keeping with the new tradition of operating an annual national budget from January to December.

Gbajabiamila said the ninth National Assembly, with each budget cycle, sought to improve the appropriations process to ensure more effective and efficient allocation and use of national resources.

He noted that the recurring challenge was how best to ensure that the ministries, departments and agencies of the federal government adhere strictly to the appropriation law.

This, the speaker noted, was of grave concern, especially, now that the country must contend with

had said the bill lacked proper consultation. Also allegations that the House collected $10 million bribe from a foreign sponsor to speedily pass the bill trailed it at the time.

In his reaction, Gbajabiamila said the allegation that the bill was a sinister attempt to turn Nigerians into guinea pigs for medical research while taking away their fundamental human rights was far from the truth.

While stating that members of the House would never contemplate doing anything that would jeopardise the wellbeing of the citizens, promised that a public hearing would be held on the bill.

Gbajabiamila also set up a 12-man committee to look into allegations that he and some members of the House collected $10 million bribe from a foreign sponsor to speedily pass the bill.

The Public Hearing, which held over a two-day period in June, 2020, at the National Assembly Complex saw the participation of diverse stakeholders ranging from government agencies to civil society organisations, religious and professional bodies and special interest groups who came in their numbers to make their views on the controversial bill known.

At the plenary yesterday, Tanko Sununu (Kebbi, APC) moved for

the consideration of the report on the bill and it was seconded by Hon. Henry Nwawuba (Imo, PDP).

Presenting the report, Sununu said the Bill which contains 6 parts and 81 sections, is aimed at getting the country positioned to address public health challenges caused by infectious chemicals, radiations and other agents.

"The bill was passed for second reading, it was aimed at getting the country positioned to address public health challenges caused by infectious chemicals, radiations and other agents. It contains 6 parts and 81 sections. The committee deliberated severely and conducted a well-attended public hearing and organised a report drafting section to all members of the committee to produce the report as presented.

After a diligent consideration, I wish to seek the leave of the chairman for the report to be considered by the committee of the whole. The bill has the capacity to improve the health system in Nigeria."

Thereafter, the House suspended its relevant rules and moved that the bill and other bills be passed for third reading.

With this passage, the bill will be sent to Senate for concurrence for onward transmission to President Muhammadu Buhari for possible assent.

“But yes, there will always be issues to discuss between the subnationals and the president of the federal republic, to commend him for his efforts in trying to stem the tide of insecurity in our country, and to also deal with the economic challenges that we are confronted with.

“On our part as governors, we have had cause during the year to raise issues about insecurity in various domains. We have had cause to raise issues about economic challenges that the country is experiencing; we have had cause to raise other governance-related issues.

“And Mr. President has responded to many of those issues, he has stepped in the bridge, he has assisted us as states, even most recently, he had supported as with bridge finance, to address some of the economic difficulties that states are experiencing. And it's always appropriate to express our gratitude, even if we continue to raise concerns about aspects of our governance that we still want him to do more on.”

Asked what the president felt about his visit, Fayemi said, “Oh, it's always enlightening to meet with the president, as you know.

I came to see the president in my capacity as the chairman of the Nigerian governors and to express, as I said, gratitude for his approval of the bridge finance, and also to let him know some of the steps we are taking in our various states to also fundamentally address this lack of revenue, because we have a challenge in this country, and tokenistic support will not do what the federal government does not have the resources to, neither do we have the resources in our various states.

“So, we need to look for creative measures that would allow us to be able to raise funds that we can use to tackle the challenges of the moment – the challenge of infrastructure gap, the challenge of educational inequalities of our children that are out of school in parts of the country, the challenge of security.

“If we don't have the resources, we would continue to have difficulties in managing people's expectations. And the truth of the matter is, the country is not as buoyant as most people think it is. And one of our suggestions to Mr. President is clearly that we need to create the enabling environment that will give those who can provide such support for the country the confidence to want to invest in the future of Nigeria. Those are the things that I discussed with Mr. President.”

However, Ortom, a member of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who spoke yesterday in Makurdi, said the National Assembly needed to reconsider the direct primaries clause in the bill.

Commending Buhari for refusing assent to the electoral bill, Ortom stressed that the electronic transmission of results would deepen democracy and add value to the electoral system.

CSOs Sad, Want Parliament to

Override Buhari

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the country expressed sadness and disappointment at President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to withhold assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill. They, therefore, called on the National Assembly to override the president's veto in the next 30 days.

The CSOs recommended to the legislature what to do, In a statement signed by Yiaga Africa, International Press Centre (IPC), Centre for Citizens with Disability (CCD), Albino Foundation, CLEEN Foundation, Institute for Media and Society (IMS), Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), and Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ).

The statement said, "The National Assembly, as a matter of national emergency, should either override the president’s decision or remove the contentious clause (s) from the bill and transmit the bill back to the president for assent within the next 30 days.

"The National Assembly should ensure that all clerical, editorial, and cross-referencing gaps in the current bill are resolved before transference back to the president.

"The president should expeditiously assent to the revised bill upon receipt from the National Assembly.

"Civil society groups, media, and development partners must sustain the effort to protect the will of the people and safeguard the electoral reform process from policy capture and manipulation."

They said what was more disappointing was the fact that the president delayed his response until the effluxion of time required for assenting to the legislation, the date the National Assembly was proceeding on the Christmas and New Year holiday.

According to the CSOs, "The president’s decision to withhold assent to the bill will have serious implication for INEC as it prepares for the FCT Area Council election, the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, and, ultimately, the 2023 general election.

“The non-conclusion of the electoral amendment process will mean that these elections will be conducted using the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), denying INEC the opportunity to test the efficacy of some of the new innovations introduced in the proposed Electoral Bill 2021.

"This is apart from the delay the commission will have to contend with in the required effort to review its guidelines, regulations and manuals in accordance with certain provisions of the bill.

“Furthermore, based on the revised timelines for specific electoral activities in the bill, INEC and other stakeholders will have to grapple with logistical, financial, and programmatic difficulties in the run-up to the 2023 general election. We reckon that this may not bode well for Nigeria’s electoral democracy, hence the clamour for the speedy conclusion of the electoral reform process.”

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 22, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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NEWS

GANDUJE VISITS KWANKWASO...

Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State (R) and former governor of the state, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, during a condolence visit and prayer at the graveyard of late Inuwa Musa Kwankwaso, younger brother to the former governor in Kano ...yesterday

FG Secures $700m World Bank Loan to Tackle Poor Water Supply The federal government has disclosed that it has secured a $700 million World Bank loan for specific water projects around the country.

The Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Suleiman Adamu, made this known on Monday, during a chat with newsmen on the sidelines of the ministry’s inaugural awards ceremony of the Rewards and Recognition System in Abuja.

According to Adamu, the federal government’s role was to support state governments, which he said have the lion’s share of the responsibility for water supply.

"What Nigerians need to understand is that the federal government is not responsible for providing water in their taps, that is the responsibility of state governments and that is why we don't have a Federal

Water Board.

"All the incentives like P-WASH (Plan – Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) Action Plan, declaration of state of emergency by the president are efforts by the federal government to push the states to invest more in water.

"We re-launched the water resources policy in 2016. We have been able to generate from the World Bank $700 million. This

money is not going to be spent by the Federal Government; it is going to the states for them to improve their water supply situation," the minister said.

Seven states (Imo, Delta, Bauchi, Ekiti, Katsina, Kaduna and Plateau) are expected to be beneficiaries of the first phase of the World Bank loan.

The Rewards and Recognition System Awards Ceremony

was organised to recognise and celebrate the ministry’s employees, who have put in stellar performances at their duty posts.

Adamu expressed confidence that the National Water Resources Bill, currently before the National Assembly, will be passed in 2022.

"It will be passed in 2022. At this point, the budget is the most important thing. The national

According to him, the system recognises that staff have other needs aside from monetary ones.

"The intrinsic need for recognition. encouragement, and reward of outstanding performance forms the other pillar on which the rewards policy stands. We need to appreciate those that have helped us. A motivated workforce is an efficient workforce," he stated.

Ogun Approves 100% Increase in Judges' Rental Allowances Ogun State government has approved an increase in judges' rental allowances from 100 per cent to 200 per cent of their basic salary, just as a memo to provide for extra allowances for all judges to enhance their performance, would be forwarded to the State Executive Council.

The State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, disclosed this when he inaugurated two Judges into the state’s High Court and three into the State Customary Court of Appeal at the Obas Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta yesterday.

The five judges are Justices Adewole Adeyemi and Safrat Bello

for the State High Court and Justices Philip Akinsinde, Olukemi Osisanya and Idowu Odugbesan, for the State Customary Court of Appeal.

According to the governor, "we will continue to appreciate the enormous work of our Judges. We don't want them to compromise that is why we will continue to

Joint Tax Board Honours LIRS, Executive Chairman, Others The Joint Tax Board (JTB), at its 149th meeting honoured the Lagos Internal Revenue Service and its Executive Chairman, Mr. Ayodele Subair, for contributing towards the actualisation of the JTB’s vision.

Also honoured at the gala night were the Executive Chairman, Enugu State Board of Internal Revenue, Prince Emeka Anthony Odo; Executive Chairman, Plateau State Internal Revenue Service, Pastor Dashe Arlat Dasogot; Executive Chairman, Delta State Internal Revenue Service, Sir Monday John Onyeme; and Executive Chairman, Bayelsa State Internal Revenue Service, Dr Nimibofa Ayawei, for long service at the JTB. According to a statement, Subair received the award of recognition held in Lagos, to mark the end of the two-day meeting hosted by the Lagos State Government and LIRS. The 149th JTB meeting was part of the board’s mandate to meet quarterly to appraise performance and deliberate on tax issues of national importance at various levels of government.

In his acceptance speech, Subair

assembly is already engrossed in dealing with the 2022 budget.

I can assure you that after the budget their attention will go back to it and we hope that it will be passed in 2022", the minister stated.

He noted that the institution of the Rewards and Recognition Policy in the ministry was a deliberate means of inspiring civil servants to be more efficient.

thanked the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for his vision that pushes Lagos to work and his support for the LIRS. He also thanked the LIRS staff, partners, and taxpayers in Lagos and asked them to pay their taxes voluntarily to avoid penalties.

Subair, who described the recognition as an opportunity to do more, saying, “All tax authorities are making efforts to improve on the ease of doing business and simplification of tax administrative processes which will in turn significantly advance on the tax compliance levels within the country.”

He also encouraged taxpayers, residents, and businesses in Lagos to interact with the LIRS online platforms, contact the specially designated officers at LIRS tax stations or call the customer contact centre on 0700-CALLLIRS (0700 2255 5477).

The JTB, established by section 86 (1) of the Personal Income Tax Act Cap. P8 LFN 2004 has all the executive chairmen of states internal revenue services as members. Its other members include the Federal Road Safety Commission, Revenue Mobilization,

Allocation & Fiscal Commission, Federal Ministry of Finance, The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service and Nigeria Governors’ Forum, among others.

The JTB advises all tiers of government on tax matters to evolve an efficient tax administration

system in the country; resolves areas of conflict on tax jurisdiction among member states; promotes uniformity in the application of tax laws and in the incidence of tax on individuals throughout the country; and decides on matters of procedure and interpretation on income tax matters on member states.

look after their welfare.

"The judges are the judiciary is the last bastion of hope of the common man, it is the balancing between the legislature and the executive.

Judges are also the pivotal wheels which the civilised societies stand.", He said state was blessed with men and women of exceptional qualities whose contribution to the socio-economic development of the state and nation was not in doubt, adding that the appointment of the five new judges was a unique milestone in the history of the State as it was done to preserve the existing legacies left behind by the Ogun founding fathers.

The governor noted that the hallmark of any administration was the availability of men and women of high quality, expressing the hope that the culture and tradition of integrity,

honesty and hardwork would be enhanced with the appointment the five Judges.

While calling for mutual respect among the three arms of governments, Abiodun assured that his administration would continue to implement policies and and program that would reposition the judiciary for optimal performance.

He appealed to the people who were yet to be vaccinated to do so, while those who had received the two jab should get the booster jab, as Omicron variant of COVID-19 was spreading at an alarming speed.

Responding on behalf of other judges, Justice Adewole Adeyemi appreciated the governor for finding them worthy of the position, assuring they would do their best to make the state Judiciary to continue to be the best in the country.

House Investigates Maltreatment of Nigerians at Togo Airport Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives has mandated its committees on foreign affairs, national security and intelligence to liaise with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to investigate a viral video showing how Nigerian travellers coming from the United States of America through the Eyadema International Airport, Togo, were humiliated and maltreated by Togolese security personnel.

The resolution of the lawmakers was sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance, sponsored by the Minority Leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu (PDP, Delta).

Moving the motion, Elumelu

recalled that on December 18, 2021, a video surfaced on the social media where some Nigerian travellers who transited at the Gnassingbe Eyadema international airport were seriously brutalised, maltreated and humiliated by Togolese security personnel.

He noted that the Nigerians were travelling on Ethiopian airlines from the United States of America to Lagos, only to get to Lome on transit and were told that their connecting flight was full and therefore, could not continue the trip.

He said the House was aware that this had infuriated the Nigerian travellers, when some of them tried to protest to the

management of the airlines, they were brutalised, rough handled and shackled by Togolese security personnel for trying to claim their rights and speak against the incompetence of the airlines.

Elumelu said the House was also aware that after the humiliation and intimidation, the travellers were left stranded at the airport with the option of finding their way down to Lagos at their own cost.

He said instead of the security personnel to aid the passengers in getting back to their desired destination which was fully booked for and confirmed by the airline, they decided to brutalise and humiliate the passengers and by extension, disregarding Nigeria

as a country.

He was worried that if the action was left unquestioned it would give security personnel in other countries the impetus to treat Nigerian travellers with disdain, disrespect and further brutalisation, hence the need for an urgent investigation.

The lawmaker said the assault meted out on innocent Nigerian travellers who were not accused of breaching any known law or committing any crime, was barbaric, inhumane and totally unacceptable, and against international best practices.

Adopting the motion, the House directed the Committees to investigate the matter and report back as soon as possible.

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 22, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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COMMENT

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

CHRISTMAS IS HERE AGAIN There is hope in the season of love, writes Sonnie Ekwowusi

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wo days ago I went to the dry cleaner’s shop to submit some clothes for dry-cleaning. No sooner I was attended than a teenage girl sauntered into the shop. She was carrying on her head a load of carefully-wrapped assorted lady’s clothes which obviously she brought for dry cleaning too. “Good morning aunty, my Mum sent me to bring these clothes to you for dry cleaning. She said that she wants to collect the clothes before Christmas because she wants to use them for Christmas”, said the innocent-looking girl. “Okay from your Mum? Wait o, but I thought you people are not Christians? Do you celebrate Christmas?” queried the attendant. “Don’t mind them, they do. They all celebrate Christmas. They pretend as if they don’t. But they do.

Everybody celebrates Christmas”, retorted another lady attendant who was in the inner room sorting out some customers’ clothes.

I left the dry cleaner’s shop pondering the words of the second attendant, “Everybody celebrates Christmas”. She was right. Christmas is the most celebrated religious feast in the world. The popularity of Christmas grows day by day. Whether or not they accept the Christian theological beliefs which underpin the celebration of Christmas, most people across the world are enraptured by the magnificent allure of Christmas even though externally they may not show it or are forbidden by the State not to show it. For example, in the past, public celebration of Christmas was forbidden in Saudi Arabia. But the celebration of Christmas in Riyadh at the moment, much to the delight of expats and Saudi citizens, is simply phenomenal. First, unlike in the past, most shops in Riyadh at the moment are fully stocked with the traditional Christmas trees, Christmas ornaments, Christmas cribs, special festoons, rosettes and so forth. Christmas buyers could be seen pouring in and out of the shops purchasing all sorts of goodies to their heart content. The questions being asked today are: What’s driving this change in Saudi Arabia? Is this a sign of changing times?

Well, time will tell. Remember that women are now allowed to drive cars in Saudi Arabia, something that was unthinkable in the past.

Unfortunately the essence of Christmas is continuously being whittled down or deconstructed. While some perceive Christmas as a kind of religious interlude for family gatherings; decorations of houses; exchange of gifts; singing of Christmas carols, others see Christmastime as a time to revel in the orgy of self-deification, capricious expenditure and militant consumerism. Instead of seeking joy in the true meaning of Christmas, these people seek joy in drunken orgy and pleasure unmindful of those famous words of St. Augustine: “Lord, you stir man to take pleasure in praising you, because you have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you”. In many parts of the West, Christmas now bears the colouration of a new paganism, new secularism and post-Christen culture: Christmas is understood as a mere holiday. Three weeks ago, an internal communication document of the European Union (EU) was leaked to the public. In the document, the EU had proposed to abolish Christmas by substituting the word Christmas with the so-called inclusive language “holiday season”. The document also proposed that religious names such as “Mary” and “John” and other such names should no longer be used.

This is not surprising. The EU is anti-God and anti-religion. There are some who live and behave as if God were not going to ask them to render an account someday. Anyway, in response to EU’s attempts at paganization, secularization and satanization of Christmas, Pope

HOPE IS OUR GREATEST ASSET. WE CEASE TO LIVE WHEN WE CEASE TO HOPE. WE CEASE TO HOPE WHEN WE GIVE IN TO DESPAIR. WE GIVE IN TO DESPAIR WHEN WE CEASE TO SMILE. SO WIPE AWAY THE TEARS FROM YOUR EYES

Francis has said that the efforts of the EU to abolish God and to abolish Christmas result from a “watered-down” approach to Christianity that has failed throughout history. “The European Union must take on the ideals of the founding fathers, which were ideals of unity, greatness, and be careful of not paving the road for ideological colonization,” Pope Francis said. Faced with a public outcry against its satanic agenda, especially Pope Francis’ backlash against it, the EU has been forced to withdraw the aforesaid document calling it “a work in progress” and promising in a tweet to publish an “updated version” of the document.

Anyway, EU or no EU, the essence of Christmas is Jesus Christ, the redeemer of mankind. At Christmas, we are invited to relive that deepest mystery which took place more than 2000 years ago when God took flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary and was born in a relatively humble city of David called Bethlehem. At Christmas we are invited to reproduce Christ’s life in our individual lives. Pope Francis urges everyone to make a concrete commitment during this Christmas, no matter how small, to visit the sick, lonely, needy, elderly persons and hearken to the assistance of the poor. He also advised that the spirit of Christmas is best lived in asking others for forgiveness, granting forgiveness, asking for clarifications and paying a debt.

Considering that Nigeria now is facing the most dangerous existential threat since her independence, President Buhari should be alive to his constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property. At the moment life has lost its meaning in Nigeria. The North continues to totter on the brink of her final collapse. Seethed with anger over the unprecedented slaughtering of human beings in the North, some northern youths last week staged a peaceful protest urging President Buhari perhaps for the umpteenth time that his primary constitutional responsibility is to protect lives and property of the citizenry. When a government has failed to protect lives and property of the citizenry it is an indication that that government has woefully failed.

All said, no matter what happens under the sun you must not be weary. You must not give in to despair. Everything may seem to be collapsing. Omicron may seem to be taking its highest human toll.

Government may be irresponsible. Poverty may be grinding Nigeria to a complete halt. Your means of livelihood may be destroyed. Your bank account may be emptied of money. Your health may be failing you. Your loved one or your sweet heart might have died. But nothing is gained by succumbing to melancholy. It is true that we live in a sad world, and that many men and women of our times have stopped smiling. Take consolation in the good tiding that has been brought to us. Jesus Christ, the Saviour of mankind, is born among us. So be hopeful. Hope is our greatest asset. We cease to live when we cease to hope. We cease to hope when we give in to despair. We give in to despair when we cease to smile. So wipe away the tears from your eyes. Weep no more. Although we live in a sad world, you must regain our laughter and sense of humour. With our laughter we can challenge the sad world to look at us and be hopeful This column intones the Nunc Dimittis today as it proceeds on Christmas vacation to return, God willing, in January 2022. Thanks for your company in this tireless job of clothing the naked public square. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in advance.

THE BOLA TINUBU DILEMMA Does APC want to win with him or lose without him? asks Tanko Sule

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was in between my PHD research efforts during the feisty days of the Trump campaign to be president when the man appeared on NBC and made a case among the Christians for their votes. He said some Christians may not like him. They may even see him as an infidel. He had embarrassed his party with so many allegations of sexual impropriety that in the past had scuttled ambitions even for far lesser positions than president.

His ambition was alive because of the fresh air he brought into political candour in country. He had said many things many people wanted to hear but could not say. Trump knew this and wanted to grow his following. The evangelicals were a group he could not win without. They constitute a basic bloc in the Republican Party and in the core of the American conservative coalition.

But he had a proposition for them. He knew they had hot-button issues about their faith, and they could not compromise them. One of the issues was sexual orientation as well as abortion rights.

The Supreme Court has always been a battleground in the culture wars. If you had majority of justices, you win. Roe Versus Wade was a sore point for Christians who wanted abortions illegal.

He, Trump, was a great example. If they rallied behind him he was be their voice and fighter.

He did a similar thing to the gun lobby and said with him in the White House, they had nothing to fear.

The buzz among his supporters was that

Trump was not perfect. They knew that he was a formidable candidate. They decided to look the other way and stuck with him in the course of the campaign and voted for him in spite of verbal contempt on minorities and racist words.

Today it is because of Trump that anti-abortion is fighting back.

I have been following events in Nigeria, especially in President Muhammadu Buhari’s party.

I was in the country in August and spoke with a few persons in Abuja and Kaduna, long-time friends and associates, and the motif of the argument is that Bola Tinubu was the reason the party does not have peace.

I wondered why. Some of them said it was because he wants to be the presidential nominee and some bigwigs in the party are not comfortable with him. I asked the question, if he is so much trouble for the party why not pick another candidate? Their reply was that moves were in the offing. But there was a snag, they did not know who in the party could really give a fight against what the opponent, the PDP, could offer, especially if the person is as formidable as Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. “You know,” noted one of them who has ears to the APC ground, “Atiku gave the party a big fight. He might have won. They had to put off the election.”

There are great reasons to believe, in spite of the efforts of Sokoto governor Aminu Tambuwal, that the PDP knows that if they want to return, they need the stature and resources of the Adamawa

man.

APC has not one as counterweight, except Tinubu. Some of the big men in the north have lost their gravitas under Buhari. They have failed either from grace or influence because you cannot have two leaders in a lion’s jungle. The only person they need to fight the Adamawa titan or anyone the party may throw up is Tinubu.

Some believe that the man is too powerful. They believe he loves power and he might relegate them to the background. There is no evidence from his past that Tinubu ever forgets where he ate his butter when he was hungry.

He was a governor of Lagos for eight years and he has continued to enjoy support from the people not only of the state but from the majority of his Yoruba kinsmen and women.

He has also shown a lot of friendship with the north right from when he was governor. it is not clear why they should fear him.

But whether or not they want him, they have to decide whether they want to win the presidential election in 2023 or they want to be an also-ran.

He is known to be a great mobiliser of men and women.

Atiku is a man of great resources and the last election was evidence of how one man can rally resources for the benefit of a cause, whether we like it or not. The Adamawa big man is no pushover. Atiku knows this may be his last try for Nigeria’s number one job. He is going to put everything inside. His powder is dry. His arsenal

is humming. His soldiers are battle ready. They lost last time. No one should count him out going forward.

But Tinubu is the one who knows him. They were once associates and belonged in the trenches together. Tinubu is famous for his resources. He too can fight, and he knows how to win. It was principally because of his effort that we have APC today. It is because of him that an incumbent president was flushed out of power. President Buhari associates may want to play down his value all they want but they know they are not in the doldrums today because one man saw Buhari’s shortcomings and turned it into an opportunity for the country and himself.

What he has done for the APC he can do again for the APC. The difference will be that he will be the ticket bearer and the upshot of the candidacy.

AS I told my friends when I visited the country, it means that the APC is in the situation that the gun lobby and the Christian evangelicals were with Trump. They knew that they were in a dilemma.

It was either they won with Donald Trump as the presidential standard bearer, or they lost without him.

That is what the APC should address. Do they want to win with him or they want to lose without him? The choice is theirs. It was on that note I left them. Here in the U.S., as we enter the new year, I thought President Buhari and his men should brood over the options.

Sule wrote from the United States

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EDITORIAL THE RISING COST OF COOKING GAS Government should intervene to bring down costs

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he astronomical rise in the cost of cooking gas is posing is a serious problem for consumers. As of today, a 12.5 kg of gas is sold for no less than N10,000. At the same time, a 20 metrics tonnes of Liquedfied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is sold for N11.6 million as against its market price of N3.8 million in January this year. And as it is always the consequence, it is the common people that are paying for the effects of this headwind. Today, many families are desperately resorting to cooking with firewood and charcoal as alternative means of energy as they could hardly afford the prevailing prices of gas.

Apparently mindful of the situation, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said recently that the corporation is working towards increasing the supply of LPG (cooking gas), in a bid to force down its price. “Two things are in play; one is the supply, and the other is the international price of gas. It (price) moves with the ALL STATES OF THE price of every other FEDERATION SHOULD EMULATE THE INITIATIVE petroleum product including crude oil OF LAGOS STATE and its derivatives.

GOVERNMENT WHICH So it reflects what RECENTLY ESTABLISHED is happening in A 40 METRIC TONNES LPG the international PLANT THAT WILL CATER market,” said Kyari.

FOR 20,000 HOMES “What we are doing THROUGH PROVISION is to increase supply.

OF CHEAPER AND Once the supply is increased the prices AFFORDABLE GAS will come down.”

The escalating price of gas inevitably leads to increase in the cost of food items in the market as people’s purchasing power continues to dwindle in the face of surging prices of essential commodities.

Meanwhile, in a country where many households can hardly afford Kerosene for cooking, the option of resorting to firewood should not be encouraged as it

Letters to the Editor

contributes to the destruction of the environment. It is important that the problem be expeditiously tackled by the federal government, given its implications.

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

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

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

RE: ADDRESSING THE MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT NATFORCE

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he Management of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) wishes to draw the attention of the general public to some false, fraudulent and misleading information linking the Centre with the National Taskforce on the Prohibition of Illegal Importation/Smuggling of Arms, Ammunition and Light Weapons (NATFORCE). Regrettably, some media organisations have also endorsed NATFORCE’s false declarations and have begun to disseminate the inaccurate information to unsuspecting members of the public.

The NCCSALW condemns in the strongest terms the claims and insinuations that NATFORCE is linked to the NCCSALW and is an offshoot of the NCCSALW as published in a national newspaper and some online media agencies on 17 December 2021.

Furthermore, the piece conveyed that NATFORCE is the most desiring body that could be used to augment the growing security lapses and civil strife and is a source of meaningful employment for the teeming youths who are roaming the streets without means of livelihood.

For the avoidance of doubt, the information on NATFORCE’s relationship with NCCSALW circulating on social media and in some national dailies is not only false but malicious and intended to portray its affiliation with the NCCSALW in order to justify its deceitful recruitment drive. The NCCSALW wishes to affirm for the records that it has no connection with NATFORCE or any of its activities as conveyed by the publication. Also, the Centre has not

owever, it must be admitted that the gas crisis is another evidence of government’s failure to fulfill its obligations to the public. Otherwise, it is beyond imagination that the cost of cooking gas should be soaring beyond the means of the ordinary folk in a country reputed to have the ninth largest deposit of proven gas in the world. Sadly, a large volume of this gas that should have been put into use is flared into the atmosphere every day while the country resorts to importing about 60 per cent of the gas required for domestic consumption from Algeria, the Americas, and Central Africa. Invariably, it is the shortfall in domestic production that can only be bridged by importation that is driving the demand for forex and sending the price of cooking gas beyond the reach of the consumers.

The escalating cost of food and cooking gas has prompted the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to express concerns for the fate of poor families struggling to survive the prevailing socio-economic hardships.

The union attributed the prevailing gas crisis to devaluation of the naira coupled with the inconsistent policy of the government.

Government should give drastic attention to the gas crisis in the country by granting concessions to importers and people that want to invest in the domestic gas production business. We need to see a lot of commitment to all the international pacts on climate change, including the recent ones in Paris and Glasgow aimed at reducing the use of coal, firewood and encouraging greenhouse gas emissions. Also, all states of the federation should emulate the initiative of Lagos State government which recently established a 40 metric tonnes LPG plant that will cater for 20,000 homes through provision of cheaper and affordable gas.

engaged NATFORCE or any individual or recruitment agents to recruit on its behalf. NATFORCE’s attempt to portray itself having any connection with NCCSALW is inappropriate and abhorred.

The general public is urged to note that in the wake of the wanton destruction of lives and property occasioned by the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons, this is not the time to trivialise the efforts of government at curbing security challenges confronting Nigeria today. All well-meaning Nigerians are enjoined to stand resolute in condemnation of any form of criminality especially the needless proliferation of illicit weapons.

The NCCSALW urges all to eschew primordial sentiments and allow the effort of government to be institutionalised and entrenched. We need a weapon-free society for development and sociopolitical well-being of citizens to thrive. NATFORCE or any other organisation, group or groups purportedly in the vanguard of promoting illicit weapons-free society, must do so consistent with the initiative of government aimed at curbing insecurity and not to be seen to take advantage of desperate times to hoodwink able-bodied Nigerians especially the youth in any deceitful employment drive.

The general public is therefore advised to be wary of some misguided elements whose intention is to misinform the citizens for reasons best known to them.

Group Captain E. Akintunde, For National Coordinator NCCSALW, Office of The National Security Adviser

NASS HAS THE YAM AND THE KNIFE

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he ninth National Assembly has suffered much critical public opprobrium on its toadish and subservient relationship with the executive particularly in the area of facilitating the passage of most of the executive bills targeted at acquisition of foreign loans most of which are now ballooning into the threshold of delinquency.

Though the desirability of the loans are not as much in contention when put in the contexts of critical infrastructure that have suffered neglect for decades under various administrations some of the dramatis personae that failed in the noble task ironically are now pontificating on various platforms.

Nevertheless allowing foreign loan to escalate to a point where over 90% of Internally Generated Revenue is required to service interests accruable portends an existential danger to the fiscal survival of the nation, more so when the IGR has remained stagnant or in reversed aggregates over the years due to Covid constraints and depleting oil revenues.

Section 58 (4) of the 1999 (as amended) stipulates that: “Where a bill is presented to the President for assent, he shall within thirty days thereof signify that he assents or that he withholds assent.”

Similarly, section 58 (5) provides: “Where the President withholds his assent and the bill is again passed by each House by two-thirds majority, the bill shall become law and the assent of the President shall not be required.”

Both subsections 4 and 5 have been ignored by the president putting both the electoral body and the body politics in cliffhanger. This lacuna presents the NASS a golden opportunity to insulate itself from the dilatory pace of governance that has become customary with the executive under President Buhari’s watch.

Bukola Ajisola, bukymany@yahoo.com

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 22, 2021

MIDWEEKPOLITICS

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

When APC Chairmanship Aspirants Explained Their Plans Adedayo Akinwale writes that nine out of 11 national chairmanship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress unveiled their plans to journalists at a media forum in Abuja

Mustapha

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head of the national convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) slated for February 2023, nine out of 11 national chairmanship aspirants locked horns in Abuja to unveil their manifestos and also make people see reasons for making each of them their preferred candidate for the party’s number one position.

The aspirants were brought together by the APC Press Corps at its Second Annual Summit with the theme: “APC Beyond 2023, The Task Ahead”. The event was used as an avenue for the aspirants for the position of the chairmanship of the party to unveil their plans and programmes.

The aspirants that graced the occasion included; former Governor of Nasarawa, Senator Tanko Al-Makura, Senator Mohammed Musa, former Zamfara state governor Abdulaziz Yari, former Governor of Borno state Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, who was represented by Mr. Cairo Ojougboh, former Governor of Bauchi state, Isa Yuguda, Malam Mustapha Saliu, Mr. Sunny Monidafe, Mohammed Etsu and Senator George Akume, who was represented by former Minister of State, Niger Delta, Sam Odeh.

There was no doubt all the aspirants gave a good account of themselves as they explained their plans to move the party forward especially as they prepare for post Muhammadu Buhari era who most of them described as the unifier of the party.

It is important to note that most of the aspirants vying for the chairmanship position are either from the defunct Congress of Progressives Change (CPC) bloc or the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) bloc and a few form the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) bloc.

For instance, Mustapha, Al-Makura are from the CPC bloc, Sheriff, Yari and Musa are from the ANPP bloc, while Monidafe, Akume are from the ACN bloc.

THISDAY investigation, however, revealed that the CPC bloc is more favoured to produce the next national chairman of the party and also considering the fact that all the party’s ex chairmen including Chief Bisi Akande, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Adams Oshiomhole are all from the ACN bloc.

Speaking at the event, Mustapha provided some insight into how his ‘doing it differently’ catchphrase will work in party administration.

He was of the opinion that the culture of imposition of candidates on the people will be a thing of the past with him at the helm of affairs. He said there is no way an unpopular candidate will be imposed on people and the party will be expected to win the election.

Mustapha stated: “What I will bring differently are some of the experiences I have garnered and also looking at the future, try to relate with what is obtainable today.

Like I said, with my experience in the past, one of our major problems has been this

Al-Makura

Akume godfatherism of a thing; not giving people the opportunity to choose their leaders.

“Every political party, the end goal is how you win a general election. And if you impose an unpopular candidate, you are bound to suffer, anti-party first within your own party, before you even suffer from the outside forces of the general election. So, for me, if I can bring a leadership that will first guarantee justice and fairness in the party, also be able to uphold our party’s manifesto- because that is what we sell to the electorate-then I would have achieved part of my agenda.”

Mustapha added that the party’s national secretariat will be the clearing house for policies and manifestos. He said he would promote policy uniformity in all APC states.

He said, “People get into the office, they abandon the party manifesto. The same party, you find this governor is going right, the other one is going left.

It shouldn’t be so. There should be some uniformity. If you are able to have that, then your party would be able to record a better success story than when the states under one party are going different ways.”

Mustapha assured that he would instill party supremacy and discipline.

He said if party supremacy and discipline are in place, it would be easy to hold elected members accountable to the party’s manifesto or ensure that what they promised the people during their campaign.

In his submission, Akume said the theme of the summit couldn’t have been better, saying the reason was that the party should be thinking about the future of the party beyond 2023.

He said while it was his desire to be elected as the chairman of APC, added that he was not desperate and ready to work with whoever emerges.

Speaking at the event, Al-Makura said the ruling party was in a transition period and there was need for thinking about APC beyond 2023. He expressed worry that Buhari who he described as the unifier of the party and has held the party together in the past six years and a half would be on his way out.

Al-Makura wondered if party members were prepared to carry the mantle

and at least try to do what Buhari has been doing for yeh last six years. He said that sum up that what needs to be done in sustaining the gains and securing the future.

“I am here as one of the aspirants.

It may interest you to know what is my motivation? What is my motive?

What is my objective of wanting to be the national chairman of this great party? It is not about myself. It is not about the ego or what goes with that.

It is about sustaining the gains as one that was opportuned by providence to be part of those that participated in the merger exercise. It will be a total disservice to the party, if I sit back at this very critical period, not to partake in ensuring value, addition to the party.

That is my objective. That is my reason for wanting to contest for the office of chairman.”

Al-Makura stressed that the best way to reposition the ruling party and prepare for a post-Buhari era is by electing him as the next Chairman of the party.

According to him, The challenge is the sacrifices people have been able to make over this period of time. I think there couldn’t be a better way to get this party properly positioned than someone that has been with the party right from the beginning and has gone across the board to know what needs to be done and what not. By the special grace of God, if I become the National Chairman, I would ensure justice, I wish to ensure fairness and I will ensure a level playing field for everybody and ensure also internal party democracy and a reward system.”

On his part, the Senator representing Niger East, Sani Musa lamented that all political structures in the country have been reduced to only platforms where leaders usually use to attain leadership.

He stressed that the trajectory was not good for the country because it has not given the populace what is desired.

He pointed out that there was a need to make APC an institution whereby it would be governed by the book and leaders, as well as members must abide by the constitution of the party.

Musa added that his vision is to bring technology to the running of the

The CPC bloc is more favoured to produce the next national chairman of the party and also considering the fact that all the party’s ex chairmen including Chief Bisi Akande, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Adams Oshiomhole are all from the ACN bloc

Yari administration of APC. He noted that the internal structure needs to be re-engineered, saying the party needs a leadership that is participatory.

He said, “When I said I would be adaptive to participatory and affirmative work style, that will usher visionary and perfect leadership of this party. What I mean by that is an APC must be an institution, which is the only antidote to the reckless disabuse of office and ethics which brings about disharmony and wrangling.”

Also, Yari said the theme was at the heart of any APC member, especially those that initiated the merger of the party in 2013.

“I’m one of the co-founders of this great party and my colleague, Al-Makura and he mentioned one other who is not here (Kayode Fayemi). I can tell the gathering that the three of us started this progressive.

A little history about it is that at any point in time we went for a meeting in Amaechi’s House, after the meeting of the Governors Forum, they would say PDP governors wait, the President wants to see all of you and we were being a kind of intimidated with what PDP was doing.

“So, we too said we’re going to do something and Al-Makura was part of the initiative, Fayemii as well as the immediate past Chairman, that’s Adams Oshiomhole. We arranged that after a meeting, we should also announce that we have opposition governors meeting in Fashola’s House. That’s how the APC I can tell you come to birth.”

Yari added that governors would continue to dominate the affairs of the party because they are the alpha and Omega and financiers of the party.

He added: “The issue of domination, of course, governors must dominate the party.

Why? Because they’re the Alpha and the Omega and they are the financiers but we have to change the narrative. If we change the narrative and with members of the party, at least a certain direction on the issue of critical importance, then that narration can be changed.”

Speaking, Mr. Sunny Monidafe said he would generate N4.2 billion monthly and ensure that the party can easily function without money bags.

He said: “We have about 42 million members in the APC. If we can convince them to pay N100 per month, we will raise N4.2 billion. Multiply that by 12 months, you will get N50.4 billion,’ he said.

“The governors will then use the money allocated to them monthly and generated to provide services for citizens. I am a youth pastor, but two of my brothers are Muslims. Under my watch, we will hold annual party conferences, at both national and state levels. We will push for the party to screen candidates for ministerial and commissionship positions.”

As the aspirants continue with their campaign, it is still unclear if the national convention of the party will hold in February as planned.

21

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 22, 2021

POLITICS

Goje to Gombe Gov: Stop Persecuting my Supporters, Respect Court Orders

GOVERNANCE IN PHOTOS

Nseobong Okon-Ekong reports that the enduring political feud between Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State and Senator Danjuma Goje continues to record more intriguing twists

L-R: Lagos Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso; Special Adviser, Innovation and Technology to Lagos State Governor, Mr. Tunbosun Alake; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Commissioner of Science and Technology, Mr. Hakeem Popoola Fahm and Founder, Eko Innovation Centre, Mr. Victor Afolabi, at the opening of the ‘‘Art of Technology (AOT) Lagos 3.0’’ Conference themed: “Funding and A Connected Lagos” held in Victoria Island, Lagos recently PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

Governor Inuwa Yahaya

L-R: Guest lecturer, Dr Reuben Abati; Former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Former Ogun State Governor, Sen Ibikunle Amosun; Chairman of occasion/Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; the celebrant, Akin Osuntokun and former health Minister, Prince Julius Adelusi -Adeluyi and Prof Jide Osuntokun during the public lecture commemorating Akin Osuntokun’s 60th birthday in Lagos ….on Thursday

Danjuma Goje

A

former Governor of Gombe State, Senator Muhammad Danjuma Goje yesterday lamented that his supporters and aides are being persecuted by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.

Speaking through his counsels led

by Herbert Nwoye during a press conference in Gombe, Goje said the governor violated court orders which directed both parties to maintain status quo pending the ruling on the matter.

Nwoye said Goje, who chairs the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, has filed a motion exparte before a Federal High Court in Gombe, where he sought an interim injunction restraining the police and the Gombe State Government from further invitation, continued reporting or interrogating him and his associates, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction against the state government.

He said the court had ruled in favour of his clients and granted their prayers pending the hearing and determination of their motion on the next adjourned date, January 18, 2022.

He alleged that the state Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Zubairu Mohammed Umar and the state Acting Chief Judge, Justice Mu’azu Pindiga hiding under the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, to humiliate and violate the right of Goje’s associates and supporters.

He also accused the state government

of planning to re-arrest Muhammad Adamu Yayari, Goje’s new media aide, who was granted bail on Monday after he spent 20 days in detention over Facebook post.

THISDAY reports that the relationship between Goje and the Gombe State governor had since turned sour.

Recently, Goje was attacked while on his way to his house in Gombe.

Goje, who chairs the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, has filed a motion exparte before a Federal High Court in Gombe, where he sought an interim injunction restraining the police and the Gombe State Government from further invitation, continued reporting or interrogating him and his associates, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction

Wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and President, 9th House of Representatives Members’ Spouses Association (HORMSA), Salamatu Gbajabiamila (3rd right) with the children at the Christmas party hosted by HORMSA at the Abuja Children’ Park and Zoo, Garki for children from some orphanages

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, flanked by his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat (left); Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa (right) with other members of the Assembly, members of the State Executive Council and traditional rulers, during the presentation of the Y2022 Budget Estimates at the House of Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 22, 2021

22

FEATURES

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

Under Nutrition Remains a Major Health Problem Among Nigerian School Children In this interview, Ms. Philomena Orji, Country Director, Helen Keller International, an American NGO that focuses on nutrition, talks about the achievements of the Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyle Project funded by Mondelez International, parent company of Cadbury Nigeria Plc, in Nigeria, among other issues. Dike Onwuamaeze brings excerpts:

P

lease can you give us a background to the Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyle Project that Mondelez International, the parent company of Cadbury Nigeria Plc, is funding in Nigeria?

As you are aware, Nigeria suffers from high levels of food insecurity and malnutrition, including micronutrient deficiencies and poor child growth. Diets that are poor in vitamins and minerals, contribute to preventable malnutrition and mortality in children under five. Among the risk factors are extremely high levels of vitamin A deficiency, and extremely low levels of exclusive breastfeeding and dietary diversity.

The rate of stunting, or chronic malnutrition, is 37 percent, resulting in lifelong cognitive and physical deficits. Undernutrition remains a major health problem among Nigerian school children, while overweight and obesity are emerging problems in urban areas. The main reason for this is that dietary diversity is limited, contributing to micronutrient deficiencies. A study of 200 primary school children in Lagos State revealed 38 percent were suffering from anemia. There is clearly a need to formulate and implement nutrition education programmes to correct malnutrition among primary school children in Lagos. According to the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, 60 percent of the children in the state attend public schools, which have fewer resources than private schools.

While physical education is a compulsory subject in primary school, there has been a systematic decline in its implementation over the past two decades. Moreover, physical education and sport facilities and equipment are inadequate.

At the start of the project in 2018, among the nine project schools, only Agidingbi Primary School had a few footballs for exercise, while all other schools have no sports equipment.

Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) existed in the schools but were weak, due to lack of parental engagement. To combat these issues mentioned above, Helen Keller International, in collaboration with the Lagos State Government, had to intervene by implementing the Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyle Project, with funding from the Mondelez International Foundation since 2018, to support schools and communities to reach under-served children in Nigeria through innovative ways. The programmes are all geared towards creating school and community environments that encourage children and families that adopt lifelong healthy habits.

What are the objectives of the project and who are the beneficiaries?

The primary objective of this project is to reduce undernutrition, and overweight among primary school pupils aged six to 11 years in nine public primary schools in Ikeja LGA, Lagos State. The target schools are Agidingbi Primary School, Estate Primary School, Ogba Primary School, St. Peters’ Primary School, Tokunbo Alli Primary School, Oke-Ira Primary School, and Ojodu Primary Schools (1, 2, and 3). The project has three major objectives, which are as follows: to provide nutrition and hygiene education to children in the identified primary schools; to promote active play and a healthy lifestyle among primary school children; and to promote the cultivation and consumption of diverse micronutrient-rich fruits and vegetables.

Since the inception of the project in 2018, Helen Keller International has taught over 6,000 children the importance of proper nutrition, physical activity, and gardening through in-school and after-school activities. The programme in Nigeria targets a direct reach of 6,000 children in primary schools, and an estimated indirect reach of about 48,000 out-of-school children, and their families across the Community Development Areas (CDAs) of Lagos State.

So, we have made tremendous progress in terms of reaching our target.

To what extent would you say that you have achieved your objectives?

To a very large extent, I would say. A lot of effort has gone into achieving the project outcomes since its inception. For instance, for nutrition education, the percentage of pupils with improved knowledge increased by 20.61 per cent on good nutrition and healthy lifestyle.

For active play, the percentage of pupils who reported that they are physically active or engage in play for 30 minutes or more daily,

were put on hold during the lockdown. During the first outbreak of COVID-19, Helen Keller donated some sanitary and hygiene materials such as hand sanitizers, soap, disposable face masks, construction of tippy taps, and hand washing stations, to the schools and communities. Helen Keller also used virtual platforms to follow up on project champions to ensure continuous management of smart gardens.

From your experience, what are the challenges involved in implementing a social and behavioral change program such as this, in a developing country like Nigeria?

Helen Keller International employed a Social and Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC) strategy to enable the adoption of improved nutrition, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices and active lifestyles, across the project schools. The major challenge with this is that change takes a long time to materialise, especially when there are few resources like we encountered in the public schools. With continuous training of teachers and other technical support we have made much progress in catching the pupils young. Many of them are already adopting the nutrition and healthy lifestyle. They are now change agents, positively influencing their family and their community.

Philomena Orji, Country Director Helen Keller International increased by 26.67 per cent, while the number of students who report increased consumption of vegetables, fruit and fresh foods, increased by 12.33 per cent. The project has reached over 179,309 people in Lagos State. We have conducted four harvest fairs, four sport festivals, and established over 2,917 gardens in the communities. The crops grown in the gardens are nutrient-rich crops such as vitamin A maize, orange fleshed sweet potato (OFSP), green leafy vegetables, cucumber, etc.

What is the extent of government’s involvement in the project and what efforts have you made to take it to the rural dwellers?

The Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyle Project is implemented in collaboration with the Lagos State Government.

Helen Keller has a memorandum of understanding signed with the Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget. Helen Keller aligns with the developmental partners department of the ministry. The project has a technical working group (TWG), which comprises various stakeholders in government. Helen Keller also collaborates with regulatory agencies such as State Universal Education Board, Ikeja Local Government Authority, relevant line ministries such as Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health, Primary Health Care Development Board, Ministry of Community and Local Government Affairs, Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, and other community bodies.

To reach the rural dwellers, the project engaged with community development committees and associations, School Based Management Committee (SBMC), and Parent Forum (PF).

What were some of the key challenges that you faced in the implementation of the project and how did you overcome them?

At the earlier part of the project implementation, we had bureaucratic challenges with obtaining permission to conduct activities in the schools. We engaged officially with authorities at every single time, but with the inauguration on of the TWG, the bottlenecks were reduced, and we were able to implement freely.

We also encountered another challenge during the project’s second year, when the Lagos State Government introduced the EKO EXECL platform to be used in the primary schools. The platform was rigid and could not accommodate the extra-curricular activities of the pupils, such as school gardening activities, active play, and some other components of the project, because it is centralised, electronically controlled, and must be adhered to. Helen Keller had to conduct series of advocacy meetings with the authorities for its adjustment and flexibility. We are happy that these advocacies yielded a positive outcome. Also, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the schools shutting down for several months. Soon after re-opening, the schools had to shut down again for a short period due to the EndSARS protests in October 2020.

What has been the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the project?

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic has affected the whole world. It affected the programme implementation as well since the pupils who are the direct beneficiaries had to stay at home due to school closure.

Many activities that were already planned

We have recorded many success stories. Many of these testimonies from the schoolteachers include how sedentary pupils are now active in class and are representing their schools at different competitions including inter-house sports

To what extent have you succeeded in creating the desired change?

We have recorded many success stories. Many of these testimonies from the schoolteachers include how sedentary pupils are now active in class and are representing their schools at different competitions including inter-house sport, quiz and debates amongst other. Also, many parents and families now have smart gardens in their homes since Lagos is a cosmopolitan city with limited space. In addition, more than 450 pupils across the schools have formed Health and Young Farmer Clubs, and have been a great positive influence on their other colleagues and families.

What level of training did you carry out to ensure success of the project and to what extent did you involve the parents of these children in the project?

The project has conducted a series of trainings since inception, which include Training of Trainers (TOT) on the three thematic areas of the project: Nutrition Education, Home Gardening and Active Play. The target participants were teachers, project stakeholders, community members such as the Parent Forum, School Based Management Committees, and others.

We have conducted extensive training for our project champions and equipped them with the right training materials. This was done to ensure that the trainers are passing the right knowledge to their participants. We are confident the training guides and manuals developed will outlast the project.

What were some of the key milestones that you achieved and what steps have you taken to ensure the project is sustainable after your exit in December this year?

Key milestones achieved in the project include but are not limited to the increased knowledge of our pupils in the project schools on nutrition and healthy lifestyle, active participation in class and garden-based production, and consumption of nutrient-rich foods. The produce from school gardens have been showcased at the annual harvest fair in the project school in Ikeja.

The project has also engaged 25 other public primary schools in Lagos State, at different times, during the Healthy Sports Festival.

Activities of the project led to the establishment of the demonstration garden at the Ikeja Local Government Education Authority Complex.

Project champions, who are parents, were also engaged and all these champions have their smart gardens and have recruited other champions in the communities. The project also supported Cadbury Nigeria Plc, our host company, to establish a garden on their premises, as part of their 2021 Purpose Day’s activities.

We believe this is a legacy project. The project has also been able to influence EKO EXECL in adopting the Nutrition and Healthy lifestyle Project’s co-curricular activities, thus engaging all the primary school pupils in Lagos State.

So, the impact has been quite huge and felt across Lagos State.

23

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 22, 2021

FEATURES

2021: A StellarYear forViacomcbs Networks Africa Chiamaka Ozulumba reports that for Viacomcbs Networks African, the year was filled with noteworthy achievements

Wizkid

2

021 has no doubt been an incredible year filled with noteworthy achievements for multimedia giant, ViacomCBS Networks Africa. By leveraging the power of music and quality entertainment, this entertainment powerhouse has successfully portrayed the creativity and versatility of Africans by showcasing the continent’s talent and culture through its thriving channel brands.

The year was quite a huge success for the network in the area of Diversity and Inclusion, being a high priority for the Network. Working to improve female representation in the African media, MTV Base, the flagship channel brand of the Network in Nigeria launched its first-ever reality TV show series titled Inside Life. The first season of the exciting series was with former Big Brother Naija celebrity, Erica Nlewedim.

In this series tagged ‘Inside Life with Erica’, viewers got to see their beloved Queen of Elites in her element as she navigates the business and entertainment worlds while maintaining crucial relationships in her life. The show was a massive success, garnering millions of views from viewers across Africa.

Further supporting African female talent and bringing reality TV even closer to local audiences, the Networks’ MTV channel launched a locally produced female-led shows such as MTV Africa’s ‘Have Faith’. ‘Have Faith’ gives viewers a glimpse into the life of influencer, model, entrepreneur, and musician, Faith Nketsi aka ‘Queen Twerk’. In this series, Faith toes a rather unfamiliar path by advocating for female sexual liberation through her music.

Interestingly, BET, the preeminent entertainment brand of black culture globally, declared 2021 as The Year of the Black Woman. This was highlighted by the launch of the Network's fourth female-led reality series on BET Africa. Starting with the premiere of DJ Zinhle – The Unexpected, a show that follows the intriguing life of super ambitious business mogul, DJ Zinhle. In this series, she is faced with the dilemma of how to reveal her pregnancy to her family and friends while skillfully navigating the aftermath of the decision. The series explores relevant social and cultural issues faced by African women, including societal expectations and handling multiple businesses while working in a male-dominated industry amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The show is a massive success, as it continues to garner traction across Africa.

Inside Life with Erica On the International front, 2021 saw former Big Brother Naija Season 4 (Pepper Dem Geng) housemates cum celebrities, Natacha Akide aka Tacha and Esther Agunbiade, power their way to the top with their breakthrough moment as the newest agents to enter the field on MTV’s “The Challenge: Spies, Lies, & Allies". The duo represented Nigeria and Africa in the 37th season as two of the nine rookies joining the cast of the show from Croatia, where “17 American players battled it out against 17 international competitors in cutthroat challenges and brutal eliminations for a share of the $1 Million prize.

VCNA also introduced the new reality TV show ‘Mike + Perri Celebrity Bumps’, featuring first runner up and former Big Brother Naija ‘Pepper Dem’ housemate, Mike Edwards, and his wife Perri ShakesDaylon. The show took fans through the never-before-seen pregnancy journey of the first-time parents whose love story captured the hearts of millions across the continent. With interesting clips from their baby shower, gender reveal party, doctor’s appointments, final delivery, and other priceless moments with friends and family, Mike and Perri shared their unique and unfiltered experience as expecting parents amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beyond improving diversity and ensuring that all target groups are well represented, ViacomCBS has also found creative ways to ensure that Africa's culture and talents spread across the globe. Since the launch of BET Africa in 2015, the channel has featured several Nigerian artistes, including OmahLay, Tems, Wizkid, Rema, amongst others, and has served as avenues for Nigerian artists to gain international exposure. This year, The BET Awards - an annual award ceremony that celebrates and honours black excellence across music, sports, movies, and television - nominated prominent Nigerian artists like Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Tems as the Best International Act - honouring their phenomenal achievements across the world.

Highlighting the incredible feats achieved by other entertainment brands, ViacomCBS Network's kids' brand, Nickelodeon named Nigerian comedy star, Emanuella Samuel as

the ‘Favourite African Social Media Star’ at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards 2021.

The 10-year-old comedienne was nominated alongside comedy group – Ikorodu Bois; South African Magician, Wian Van Den Berg; Ugandan Youth Dance Group, Ghetto Kids; Kenyan social media sensation, Elsa Majimbo, and South African media personality, Bonang Matheba.

Taking their support for African talent a step further, the Network celebrated Africa Day 2021 in May, where they shone the light on leaps in innovation made by Africans across the world. The virtual event hosted some of the continent's most-streamed artists, including Angelique Kidjo, Elaine, Bella Shmurda, Gyakie, Omah Lay, Zuchu, Teni and other prominent artists who put up show-stopping performances. Additionally, they lent their voice to the global fight against malaria by partnering with the #DrawTheLine campaign to drive awareness about the epidemic. This saw the unification of notable African stars in their shared vision for a malaria-free world.

Through ViacomCBS Networks Africa's channel brand, Comedy Central Africa, ViacomCBS celebrated South Africa's heritage month as well as Nigeria's Independence Day with a one-of-a-kind hilarious EP. Merging music styles and comedy, the EP was designed to provide comic relief following the previous turbulent months. The star-studded EP featured some of Africa’s best-known musicians and comedians, including popular Nigerian comedian, Basketmouth.

MTV Base positioned its quarterly discourse tagged Musicology to provide support for artists and musicians across the continent post-COVID. The platform has featured entertainment and media experts who have explored creative ways by which artists can maintain relevance while monetising their craft. The show featured the likes of Joey Akan, Sean Okeke, Oyinkansola Fawehinmi, Lanre Shonubi, Motolani Alake, Titilope Adesanya, Darkoo, Sheye Banks, Scoop Naija, Owolabi Daniel, amongst others.

In July, MTV Base debuted a new season of its popular reality show, ‘Celeb Living’.

Fashioned after fan favourite ‘MTV Cribs',

this new season gave viewers an exclusive tour of the homes, cars, and closets of celebrities while also sharing in their most intimate moments with friends and family.

ViacomCBS has also efficiently utilized the power of music and entertainment to inspire change and reimagine the global African narrative. The network has effectively distilled its vision to reposition Africa entertainment culture into every one of its shows and events organised by its channel brands. ‘ISONO’, BET's first original daily drama brings to light issues and conversations that would otherwise be termed 'abominable' in traditional African settings. The show marked key milestones such as its 100th episode, and very recently, celebrated its 200th episode since its launch in 2020. The first 200 episodes have played a major role in tackling societal issues from gender-based violence to substance abuse and mental health. The show also secured eight nominations in the South African Royal Soapie Awards 2021, with lead cast members, Nthati Moshesh nominated twice for Outstanding Lead Actress and Viewer’s Choice Award for Best Actress.

As a result of its phenomenal work and extensive impact across Africa, ViacomCBS' MTV Base continues to maintain its leadership position as Nigeria's and Africa’s number one music channel as rated by MPS Nigeria. This rating came on the heels of its recent win as the Outstanding Entertainment Company of the Decade at the Awards organised by Nigeria's leading marketing industry publication, Marketing Edge - a testament to their noteworthy contributions to Nigeria and Africa's entertainment space.

With sister channels like MTV Africa, Comedy Central Africa, Nickelodeon Africa, Nicktoons and Nick Jr Africa, ViacomCBS has created socially, and culturally relevant content made for, and

by Africans. Indeed, the Network has captured the hearts of many by constantly driving the catalysts for change in Africa through edutainment (through its educational and entertainment content), music, and lifestyle.

While the year is far from over, it has been, without any shadow of a doubt, a stellar year for ViacomCBS Networks Africa. Considering the giant strides and creative innovation this multimedia giant has demonstrated this year and in previous years, ViacomCBS is bound to remain the millennials' powerhouse for quality entertainment come 2022.

24

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 22, 2021 •T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2021

25

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

A T

REPO

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

08056356325

D E C E M B E R

S & P INDEX

2 1 , 2 0 2 1

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OBB

14.00%

CALL

4%

INDEX LEVEL

565.29%

1/4 TO DATE

6.06%

N412.08/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

14.50%

1-MONTH

6%

1-DAY

–0.11%

YEAR TO DATE

– 15.66%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.41%

Turnover in Fixed Income, Currency Markets Decline by 8.8% Amid CBN Cut in FX Interventions

Kayode Tokede Turnover in the Fixed Income and Currencies (FIC) markets dropped by 8.8 per cent to N164.52trillion in first 10 months of 2021 from N180.49 trillion in prior 10 months of 2020 over Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) reduced interventions in the foreign exchange market.

The FIC markets on FMDQ Exchange comprises of foreign exchange, Treasury bills, OMO bills, CBN special bills, Federal Government of Nigeria bonds, other bonds and money market instruments.

Analysis of trading activities in the FIC markets of the FMDQ showed that the segment started the year on a weaker proportion but picked up between September and October of 2021.

Specifically, turnover at FIC markets of FMDQ in January 2021 was at N13.03trillion, a decline of 44per cent Year-on-Year (YoY) performance from N23.19 trillion reported in January of 2020.

In the following month, the turnover at FIC markets closed at N17.74trillion from N23.47 trillion in February 2020, while in March, FMDQ reported 23.8 per cent

YoY decline in FIC markets to N19.55trillion from N25.66trillion reported in March 2020.

However, in August 2021, FMDQ disclosed that turnover at the FIC markets traded flat at N14.26trillion but increased by 70.7 per cent YoY to N24.03trillion in September 2021 from N14.07trillion in September 2020.

The CBN had in its report for the month of August said the foreign exchange inflow to the economy increased due to improved inflow through the bank.

According to the CBN: “Aggregate foreign exchange

inflow into the economy increased by 48.2 per cent to US$9.85 billion in August, relative to the $6.98 billion in July. The increase reflected higher inflow through the CBN, due to the additional SDR allocation of $3.34 billion from the IMF. The 20.7 per cent rise in autonomous inflow also contributed to the increase in aggregate inflow in August, driven, majorly, by increased invisible purchases.

“Foreign exchange outflow through the economy increased by 3.3 per cent to $3.54 billion in August, due, mainly, to the 8.8 per cent rise in the outflow

through the Bank, on account of increased interbank sales and Swap transactions.

“Autonomous outflow dropped by 15.6 per cent to $0.65 billion in August, compared with $0.77 billion in the preceding month, due to a decline in both visible and invisible imports.

“Consequently, the economy recorded a net inflow of $6.31 billion in August, compared with $3.55 billion in the preceding month. A higher net inflow of $2.54 billion was recorded through the Bank, compared with $0.66 billion in July.”

In addition, turnover at the

FIC markets in October 2021 grew by 6.4 per cent in YoY performance to N17.21trillion from N16.17 trillion recorded in prior period of 2020.

THISDAY gathered that the decline recorded at foreign market transactions of the FMDQ market impacted on the overall FIC markets transactions in the months under review.

The foreign exchange market primarily contributed 28.6 per cent of the total FIC markets in 10 months of 2021 as against 31.4 per cent recorded in 10 Continued on page 26

FG Mulls Extension of Implementation of 10-year Sugar Masterplan Implementation James Emejo in Abuja The Executive Secretary/Chief Executive, National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Mr. Zacch Adedeji, has hinted on plans to extend the implementation of the 10-year Nigerian Sugar Master Plan (NSMP), which has been in operation for seven years.

In an exclusive chat with THISDAY, he stated that if the country must achieve self-sufficiency

in sugar, it would have to extend the implementation period.

He pointed out that despite attracting investments worth over N200 billion in the sugar industry since the plan was launched, there had been drawbacks, which would hamper the actualisation of the initial targets by 2024.

He identified the challenges to include the current predicament in procurement of foreign exchange required by sugar companies to

import equipment and machinery to set up.

He gave an instance where one of the major operators in the industry had attempted to open Letter of Credit (LC) in the last 18 months without success.

Adedeji, also said the existing challenges in acquiring land for cultivation of sugar estate was affecting the development of the industry.

According to him, less than

100,000 hectares of land are presently under acquisition adding that even if the whole land was cultivated, the country would still not achieve 1.7 million metric tons target.

According to the NSDC boss, despite the challenges, the implementation of the plan has awaken government’s consciousness in reassessing the actual requirements for the attainment of self sufficiency in sugar production in the country.

He said if the country is able to

achieve success in the implementation of its Backward Integration Programme (BIP), it would have the capacity to bridge about 11 million metric tons shortage of sugar in Africa.

He said there had been deliberation by the council in the past three years towards reviewing current assumptions on the NSMP and, “whether that is what is required of not.”

He said, “We would have to

extend the implementation period if we would actually achieved that.”

He added that at this point, the federal government could not afford to abort the masterplan and risk the investments so far attracted into the sector.

Essentially, the masterplan, which was approved in 2012, seeks to among other things limit unrestricted importation and facilitate domestic production thereby creating job opportunities for Nigerians.

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT T U E S D AY, D E C E M B E R 2 1 , 2 0 2 1 FGN BONDS DESCRIPTION 7.144 FGNSB 15-JAN-2022 13.125 FGNSB 16-JAN-2022 16.39 27-JAN2022 5.910 FGNSB 12-FEB-2022 13.050 FGNSB 13-FEB-2022

Price

Yield

BILLS Change (%)

MATURITY

OTC FX F U T U R E S

Discount Yield Change (%)

100.21

4.03

0.32

NTB 13-Jan-22

3.69

3.70 0.00

100.63

4.02

0.32

NTB 27-Jan-22

3.85

3.87 0.00

101.23

3.90

0.27

NTB 10-Feb-22

4.00

4.02 0.00

100.31

3.74

0.19

NTB 24-Feb-22

2.45

101.35

3.73

0.19

NTB 10-Mar-22

2.98

CONTRACT TENOR (MONTH) 1

Contract

Current Rate ($/₦)

NGUS DEC 29 2021 421.18

2

NGUS JAN 26 2022 422.61

3

NGUS FEB 23 2022 424.04

2.46 0.00

4

NGUS MAR 30 2022 425.46

3.00 0.00

5

NGUS APR 27 2022 426.89

C Ps MATURITY

Discount Yield

Change (%)

PARP CP II 30DEC-21 CMBL CP XVI 7-JAN-22 CTIL CP I 10JAN-22 MREP CP XXXX 10-JAN-22 MREP CP XXXV 14-JAN-22

5.99

6.00

0.39

8.03

8.06

0.36

6.21

6.23

0.34

12.84

12.93 0.34

7.94

7.98

0.33

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2021

26

BUSINESSWORLD

INSURANCE

Reversing Micro Pension Scheme Slow Growth The slow growth rate of the micro pension scheme three years after its official launch is now worrisome to Pension stakeholders, writes Ebere Nwoji

W

hen the National Pension Commission (PenCom) was established five years ago, precisely in October 2016, it was announced to the media that it had set up a database as part of preparation for the take off of the micro pension scheme, the commission said it was targeting to ensure that within the first six months the scheme took off, it would register minimum of 250,000 contributors and would in first three years shoot up total pension assets from the N8 trillion level it was then to N20 trillion by the year 2019.

PenCom at that time was very optimistic about achieving this target, given the years of preparations and modalities it had put in place to ensure smooth take off of the scheme.

But five years after this projection, the commission is lamenting that it could only register approximately 73, 000 contributors within the first three years of the micro Pension launch.

President Muhammadu Buhari launched the micro Pension plan on March 29, 2019.

Since its launch, contrary to the desires and aspirations of the pension sector regulator, PenCom, the micro pension plan has witnessed slow growth.

This is in contrast to the speedy growth witnessed by the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) which had within 17 years of its existence registered over 10 million contributors and built up N13 trillion assets.

Section 2(3) of the Pension Reform Act, 2014 (PRA 2014) provides that employees of organisations with less than three employees as well as the selfemployed persons shall be entitled to participate in the Contributory Pension Scheme in accordance with guidelines issued by the Commission.

Labor experts said these categories of persons mainly in the informal sector constitute the vast majority of the working population in Nigeria and are not covered by any retirement benefit scheme.

PenCom said it accordingly considered it necessary to develop the guidelines for the implementation of the provisions of section 2(3) through a “Micro Pension Plan”.

The commission described Micro Pension Plan as an arrangement for the provision of pensions to the self- employed and persons operating in the informal sector.

At the 2016 edition of its annual media retreat held in Calabar, Cross River State, PenCom assured the media that it had put in place adequate preparations that would enable it achieve its target in the micro pension scheme.

The them head of micro Pension department of PenCom, Mr. Polycarp Anyanwu, told the media at the retreat that already the commission had set up micro pension department made up of 23 staff, developed a micro Pension data base, and had been collaborating with potential contributors for the micro pension scheme.

He said the commission had been collaborating with chambers of commerce, as well as other government agencies in charge of small businesses such as Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDAN) and was working on guidelines for the commencement of the scheme.

Anyanwu, had explained that Micro Pension initiative existed for the provision of pension

coverage to self-employed persons, adding that in Nigeria, it covered three strata of income earners namely lowest, middle and high income earners.

According to him, the commission was working assiduously to enroll 250,000 contributors within six months of the commencement of the initiative.

He disclosed that the commission was also targeting the self-employed in various trades and professions in Nigeria such as artisans, accountants, lawyers, mechanics, tailors, market men/women, hair dressers, architects, engineers among others.

Anyanwu maintained that the scheme was an offshoot of the Pension industry’s five-year strategic plan to expand the coverage of the CPS to 20 million contributors by 2019.

According to him, the commission had also reviewed the implementation of Micro Pension in other jurisdictions like Kenya and Ghana; formulated Guidelines and Framework on Micro Pension; consulted licensed Pension Industry Operators and enhanced its information and communications technology capacity to accommodate the scheme.

On benefits accruable, Anyanwu said it would avail the contributors’ access to regular stream of retirement income at old age and improved living standards of the elderly.

He said contributors were to benefit from the various incentives to be offered by the PFAs, adding that the initiative would deepen financial literacy and inclusion; secures financial

autonomy and independence of retirees; passage of wealth to survivors in the event of death; increases National Savings and long term funds; promote growth development of the capital, mortgage and insurance markets and have positive effect on the national economy as pension assets increased.

However, in contrast to this, three years after the Micro pension scheme took off, Anyanwu’s successor, the current Head, Micro Pension Department, PenCom, Mr Dowda Ahmed, said current number of contributors into the micro pension scheme which was approximately 73000 contributors fall short of the commission’s expectation.

According to him, the commission, had expected more than what it has recorded, adding that the commission had engaged some stakeholders to ensure that the Micro Pension Plan had an enabling environment to thrive.

He described the Micro Pension Plan as a long-term voluntary financial plan for the provision of pension coverage to the self-employed and persons working under organisations with less than three employees who are mainly in the informal sector.

According to him, the commission had expected more than what it has recorded.

“Yes we are not making so much as expected, a lot of work has been going on to that effect.

Our targeted media campaign is coming up, our major challenge is lack of awareness about the products itself and there is need for operators

and commission to do more to create awareness.

When THISDAY contacted some self employed and Micro business operators who fall within the target market of the micro pension scheme on their status and those of their workers, their responses show that they have little or no interest in the scheme. According to Barrister Uche Chukwujekwu, a lawyer with his chamber in Igboelerin, ojo area of Lagos, he hardly believes in Nigerian system anymore.

This, he said, is because system that works elsewhere hardly work hardly work in Nigeria.

He said for instance, he bought a new Toyota Highlander jeep, which he took comprehensive insurance on and just last week, the car was damaged by a commercial bus driver who obviously has no Third Party insurance cover.

He said he had contacted his insurer, one of the biggest insurance companies in Nigeria, had obtained all the required papers including police report but that up till now, the insurance firm had not given him any reply in terms of claims payment. He reasoned that if he as a practicing lawyer could not easily receive claims payment on a comprehensive insurance he took on his car, he wondered what the ordinary man in the street who took similar policy would pass through before receiving his claims.

He said the same thing goes to the micro pension scheme.

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

TURNOVER IN FIXED INCOME, CURRENCY MARKETS DECLINE BY 8.8% AMID CBN CUT IN FX INTERVENTIONS

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Comms/e-Business Editor Emma Okonji Aviation Editor Chinedu Eze Asst. Editor, Money Market Nume Ekeghe Senior Correspondent Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafo (Energy) Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) Reporters Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy) Ugo Aliogo (Development)

months of 2020.

THISDAY learnt that the reduced apex bank intervention can be felt in the total foreign exchange turnover in 10 months of 2021, dropping by 16.3 per cent YoY. THISDAY investigation revealed that total foreign exchange turnover dropped to N47.06trillion between January and October 2021 as against N56.22trillion reported by the FMDQ Exchange in the prior 10 months of 2020.

Analysts attributed the decline to low FX supply to the specialized investors and exports window to weak intervention by the apex, stressing that the inflow in foreign exchange was another major contributing factor.

The Vice President, Highcap Securities Limited, Mr. David Adnori, said the decline in foreign exchange market turnover between January and October of 2021 was as a result of scarcity

caused by the existing challenges of COVID-19 virus.

According to him: “A lot of the transactions in the foreign exchange market went to the parallel market that comes with higher price and the major reason for this is availability.”

He said the global trade has not fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, leading to weak supply of foreign currencies into the Nigeria’s market.

He added that: “A lot of Nigerians in the Diaspora who used to send remits are also faced with the impact of the pandemic.

Although, we have seen steady increase in crude oil price but the backlog of hard currency demand from CBN has also affected supply.

“Foreign investors are also showing interest due to challenges in their market. In addition, the federal government is also committed to foreign

currency spending and it also contributed to supply.”

On his part, analyst at PAC Holdings, Mr. Wole Adeyeye also attributed the decline in turnover trade at the FMDQ foreign exchange market to scarcity.

THISDAY also laernt that naira closed at an average of $/N415.10 in October 2021 from an average of $/N385.90 in October 2020.

FMDQ had in its monthly report for October 2021 said: “In the FX Market, the Naira depreciated against the Dollar, losing 0.57 per cent ($/N2.35) to close at an average of $/N415.10 in October 2021 from $/N412.75 recorded in September 2021.

“The CBN Official Spot $/N exchange rate closed at an average of $/N379.05 in October 2020, representing a $/N0.01 depreciation of the exchange rate from $/N379.04 recorded in September 2020.”

The Governor of the CBN,

Godwin Emefiele recently announced that naira has depreciated at the official market to N410 against the dollar.

Emefiele said the drop in crude oil earnings and the associated reduction in foreign portfolio inflows significantly affected the supply of foreign exchange into Nigeria.

He said, “In order to adjust for the decrease in the supply of foreign exchange, the naira depreciated at the official window from N305/$ to N360/$ and now hovers around N410/$.’’

“Despite the rebound in economic activities, the fragile recovery will keep the economy operating below full capacity.

The emerging food supply shocks associated with the drag in production, due to insecurity situations across the country, combined with the speculations on increase in the price of PMS and electricity tariff, will continue to have

knock-on pressures that will keep headline inflation above desired levels.

“Inflation rate is nonetheless expected to continue to decelerate in the short-term. The outlook for the external sector remains stable, albeit susceptible to further external shocks. This is premised on the expectation of sustained improvement in crude oil prices. The ongoing policy on diaspora remittances is expected to attract foreign exchange inflow.

“Despite the optimism, downside risks to the outlook remains. Concerns over the emerging third wave of the COVID-19 in Europe and Asia could disrupt global supply chain and crude oil demand.

In addition, vulnerability to foreign exchange pressure, rising inflation, insecurity across the country, infrastructure gap, and constrained fiscal space, remain a challenge, ”the CBN added.

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

ECONOMY

MSMEs as Fulcrum of Economic Growth, Sustainability MSMEs require a holistic intervention from both government and private institutions if they must play their roles as catalysts for growth, James Emejo writes

T

he huge potential and capability of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), to facilitate the economic development of any economy cannot be disputed. In Nigeria, the sub-sector, which had largely been neglected by successive administrations, has become the pillar of growth and currently looked upon to solve the country’s increasing unemployment challenges. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) estimates that about 23.18 million Nigerians are unemployed with the country’s unemployment rate put at 33.3 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2020 (Q4 2020) compared to 27.1 per cent in Q2. Although, the MSMEs sub-sector holds the magic wand to liberating the economy, creditors including deposit money banks often labeled them as unorganised and too risky entities to benefit from bank credit. Nonetheless, this notion has since changed, especially with the outbreak and spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has continued to ravage global economies. With the volatility and uncertainty in the global oil market, which showed unprecedented price fluctuation, thereby affecting revenues and limiting government’s ability to meet financial obligations, the need to support small businesses had further been reinforced. In addition, the deteriorating level of poverty in the country also makes such critical intervention into the sub-sector almost inevitable.

COVID-19 AND CONSTRAINTS

No doubt the impact of COVID-19 further dampened the prospects of MSMEs as most of them couldn’t withstand the disruption brought about by the pandemic, leading to massive shutdown of businesses and loss of jobs. Reports indicated women enterprises have been worse hit. It was in realization of the capabilities of MSMEs and the need to ease all the restrictions that have impeded their growth performances that the federal government recently launched a new national policy on MSMEs to better regulate the sector and correct the bias that had worked against the operators. However, despite the opportunities in the sectors, MSMEs performance as indicated in the new framework, had been dismal due to a combination of problems including lack of access to credit and frequent public policy changes and somersaults. Besides, in Nigeria, there is the outstanding issue of more inclusive participation in the sub-sector by a burgeoning youth population, who require re-orientation to effect optimal migration from a jobs-seeking mentality to one of jobs-and-wealth creation. With a national population of over 190 million people, of which 65 per cent are persons below the age of 35 years, the imperative for more youth participation in entrepreneurship cannot be

overemphasized.

CBN INTERVENTION

There is no doubt that apart from allowing MSMEs to access financing under the apex bank’s Agricultural Credit Scheme, the emergence of the Biometric Identification Number (BVN) and the Global Standing Instruction (GSI) had helped in no small way in enhancing credit delivery to MSMEs almost without collateral requirement.

These initiatives facilitated by the apex bank have come with invaluable benefits.

The CBN believes that helping small businesses to grow as well as produce local and export product could invariably help in achieving price stability among others. Now, small businesses can afford to access credit at affordable rates after meeting minimum requirement, which are no longer as stringent as they used to be. Speaking on the development, the Director General/Chief Executive, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Dr. Dikko Umaru Radda said the new policy framework recognises MSMEs by their turnover rather than asset base and split them into nano/homestead and micro enterprises.

He pointed out that inflation and naira devaluation had eroded the asset levels set in 2007 when the first national policy was approved adding that, “As a result, comparison of new investments with the old becomes clumsy and misleading -that’s not the case when comparing turnovers of the same time- certifying asset values are more complex than determining turnover values.”

However, stakeholders have often differed in terms of the most challenging needs of MSMEs – while some believed that lack of access to affordable finance remained a major constraint, other said lack of requisite skills was the bane limiting their development while another school of thought believed both finance and mentorship are required to put the operators on the path of sustainability.

The federal government’s efforts has been focused on providing a comprehensive response to the plight of small businesses by seeking to formalize their registrations with the Corporate Affairs Commission, building their capacity and assisting them to access financing.

Radda had pointed out that the subsector remained critical to the Nigerian economy as they collectively accounted for a majority of the enterprises in the country and the highest number of jobs created in the economy.

While flagging-off the National Business

Skills Development Initiative (NBSDI) in Sokoto recently, he said there were 41,543,028 MSMEs, employing 59,647,954 or 76.5 per cent of labour force and contributing 49.78 per cent and 7.64 per cent to nominal GDP and exports respectively.

He said, “This staggering statistics cannot be ignored in any serious economy.

Properly harnessed, MSMEs can trigger an entrepreneurial revolution in industry, agriculture and commerce in Nigeria.

“In recent times, the start-up ecosystem has received a lot of attention globally for their role as economic catalysts. A lot of emphasis has been put on the MSMEs segment leading to the creation of departments which have now become part of the strategic focus of financial institutions, multilateral agencies and economic planners.”

Further determined to support the MSMEs in a most practical way, SMEDAN had developed the NBSD to provide entrepreneurship skills, vocational skills and provision of empowerment materials mostly equipment to fill the capacity gap of the youths.

It is indeed; the first time graduate trainees would be trained and provided with startup equipment to immediately commence their businesses.

According to the SMEDAN boss, “The NBSDI enhances youth engagement in productive ventures, thereby ensuring they earn income through filling the artisanal gap in Nigeria. The initiative is designed to ensure that more professional services will be provided by local and well-trained young artisans leading to reduction in job losses to immigrants from neighbouring countries. It seeks to pursue a drastic reduction in dependency poverty as most of the out of school youths who still rely on stipends from parent are empowered to become self-reliant.”

The programme is currently being implemented in all the states of the federation and FCT where a total of 5,365 entrepreneurs will be impacted with entrepreneurship skills, vocational skills and empowerment materials at the rate of 145 entrepreneurs per state and FCT. Sokoto was chosen specifically for the official opening ceremony considering the strategic importance of the state as the seat of the Caliphate and a foremost supporter of MSMEs in the zone.

EXPECTED OUTCOME

The NBSD is expected to among other things improve business management practice, enhance service provision by trained artisans and increased access to finance, equipment and other business resource.

Other benefits include increase in the number of formalized artisanal businesses, improved market support services by MDAs and responsible stakeholders to MSMEs, improved satisfaction level of customers of artisans through improved service delivery as well as increased patronage of Nigerian artisans.

Radda further said, “In our determination to address the challenges confronting the MSMEs in Nigeria in a holistic manner, the Agency is implementing the One Local government One Product (OLOP) in one hundred and nine (109) senatorial districts in the country.

“This ambitious effort of the agency is based on the successful implementation of the pilot phase of the OLOP programme in Katsina, Kaduna, FCT, Osun and Anambra States. The intervention activities under OLOP, among others, include access to workspace, equipment support, access to working capital, and capacity building.

“In the same vein, the agency is implementing the Conditional Grant Scheme (CGS) for micro enterprises in Nigeria. This programme is aimed at formalizing a majority of the micro enterprises that are mostly operating in the informal sector. This programme, which involves capacity building, registration of the micro enterprises with the CAC, provision of micro insurance, opening of bank accounts and provision of grants (N50, 000 each) has so far been implemented in 16 states where over 25,000 entrepreneurs have been impacted.”

TESTIMONIALS

However, beneficiaries have applauded the federal government for its bold initiatives to reposition the country’s MSMEs landscape, expressing their belief that the programme would effectively enhance capacity building, skills acquisition, financial empowerment and job creation.

Reacting to the government’s gesture, Shafi Shafi and Rachael Paul who spoke on behalf of North Central zone, said introducing such a programme for the downtrodden was highly commendable, adding that the scheme was a clear indication that President Muhammadu Buhari’s led administration cares for the wellbeing of the poor masses.”

They added that though the government has graciously trained them and given them drier / pedicure equipment each in their hundreds, the government should also endeavour to provide them with working capital for them to begin their journey towards their financial freedom.

Similarly, Fatimah Yarima and Fatimah Muhammed who spoke on behalf of North East unanimously said they were provided with sewing machines and further pleaded with SMEDAN to help with more machinery and capital to begin their businesses in earnest.

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Seguin: Locally Relevant Innovations Are key to Our Future Growth Managing Director of Nigerian Bottling Company, Matthieu Seguin, in this interview, speaks on the Company’s 70 milestone celebration, contributions to the socio-economic development of the nation and its impact on the people and local communities. Excerpts: Seventy years is a huge milestone.

Can you tell us how it started? n Nigeria, the Coca-Cola System is made up of two parts –CocaCola Nigeria Limited and Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Limited, a consumer-packaged goods business and strategic bottling partner of the Coca-Cola company which manufactures and distributes Coca-Cola beverages across Nigeria. NBC’s operations started back in 1951, when the company was incorporated, and we started to bottle in 1953, at the basement of the Mainland Hotel, which was the first production hub. Today, we have 8 plants and 14 Distribution Centres across Nigeria; we also serve more than 200,000 customers, employ more than 3,000 people as full-time employees, a lot more when it comes to indirect employees, and we do business with over 1000 suppliers, most of whom are local suppliers.

More importantly, the Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company Group, which is now present in 29 countries, really started from here in Nigeria; so that is an iconic heritage, with the Group now recording close to a billion euros turnover yearly in different continents. And it all started from here 70 years ago.

I

Quite interesting. In addition to that, could you tell us about your relationship with A.G Leventis?

The Nigerian Bottling Company was founded by Chief A.G. Leventis in 1951 and for some time, the Company was a subsidiary of A.G. Leventis. Over time, the business model has evolved, but the Leventis family is still a shareholder, albeit not directly involved in the management of the company. Since we got listed, the company has been fully operated by its management team, while the family sits on the board.

You’ve been in Nigeria for 70 years, and in this period have employed thousands of people, can we talk about your impact in Nigeria? And what would you say has sustained the Coca-Cola System in Nigeria through all these years?

I’ll say it’s a combination of various elements – firstly, it is the quality of our people. To us, regardless of how much we invest, or what equipment we invest in, what matters primarily is the people who work with and are linked to the system – which mostly comprises of the employees of NBC, our customers, and our partners; this has been our fundamental ideology at NBC. The second element is the belief. We’ve been here for 70 years, and we have seen both good and bad times. The first country the group expanded to after Nigeria was Ireland in 1979 and from there it’s just history.

The mere fact that we now operate in 29countries, all emerging from here, is a true reflection of our belief. So, the anchor of the belief of Coca-Cola Hellenic and Nigerian Bottling Company has been on the basis of Nigeria. This is why we have believed in the possibilities and future of this country over the last 70 years and will continue to do so in the next 70 years, and even more.

Looking at your investment of over the last ten years, what has been your focus?

The first area is in strengthening manufacturing capability in the areas of production equipment including new lines, warehousing, trucks, and so on. And the

Seguin

impact of this investment is visible across Nigeria. For example, recently I was in Abuja, as we commissioned a newly completed PET production line. Following this, I was also in Port Harcourt to visit our expansion drive over there. We are also expanding our capabilities in Kano and other regions. Basically, in all of our plants, we have been investing in developing new capacity, new production lines, and new equipment. Beyond that, one key element we have been investing all along is in the capabilities of the people. On this a quick example is the Sales Academy in Mushin, which we commenced back in 2015.

Today we have gone digital, to provide online courses where we can provide training to our sales force on how to navigate their roles and grow their capacity.

We also have the Supply Chain Academy where we train hundreds of new line operators per year, and we are able to leverage their expertise across our plants. For example, the new line at our plant in Ikeja is fully

manned by the people we have trained in the Supply Chain Academy. As I said before, investing in machinery is easy, but having the right people who are able to man the machines, maintain the machines, and making sure they sustain our quality standards is critical to our business.

When it comes to impact, especially at the socio-economic level, there are many areas through which we have touched the lives of Nigerians. We have implemented several initiatives to support youth development, promote sports development, women empowerment, protect the environment, boost sustainability and much more.

You had mentioned plans to invest massively in Nigeria in the coming years. Will this investment be on production alone?

It will be comprehensive. Some of the investment will be on our people because we need to make sure that we are able to build capacity for the next generation of our workforce. It

is incredible when you think about the number of people we trained within the last 10 years alone, we want to do even more in the next five years. So, it is about intensifying every part of the plan for the next five years.

You’ve invested over $1 billion in the last ten years, now, you’ve committed to even more. Should that tell me that you have confidence in the Nigerian economy?

We have always believed in Nigeria and will continue to do so. We have seen the country through moments of great triumph and times of major difficulty.

For us, we have always wanted to see the cup as half full, and that enables us to identify opportunities to grow our equity and deliver stakeholder value.

In practical terms, we are committed to Nigeria because we see the long-term value of investing in the country, and we see the expansion and the exponential opportunity of the market.

Now in 70 years, you’ve had customers constantly requesting Coca-

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2021

29

BUSINESSWORLD Cola and all your products. How have you been able to meet the demand?

First of all, we don’t take anything for granted. Over the years, we have seen a lot of competition in this market and in the last few years, we have seen more entrants into the market. That is a good development, and we believe there is room for everyone, so we welcome competition. It basically keeps us on our toes and makes sure that we focus on the right priorities as well as the right innovation in the market. So back to your point, we partner with our customers to make sure that while we are seeking profitability as a business, they are also successful and making a living. If you look at our customers over the last 70 years, many have made a living from selling Coca-Cola products. Some of our distribution partners started with just about five crates back in the day, and now they are selling up to forty thousand cases of Coca-Cola every month. With this, they are able to not only sustain themselves, but also their families, fund education for their children and do much more. We are very proud of this, that as the Coca-Cola System in Nigeria, we can make a difference in the lives of our customers.

What has been the impact of your investment in terms of profitability, employment, and taxes to government?

In terms of impact in the area of employment, our operations have supported the creation of hundreds of thousands of jobs, directly and indirectly.

For examples, recently we have driven direct job creation through the expansion of our production capacity with the introduction of more lines, which require more people to be directly employed by us for their day-to-day operation; but also, indirectly because we need people to set up those lines, and there is a massive impact there. For example, between 2015 and 2019, we accounted for over 58, 000 jobs created across the value chain. When it comes to contributing to the economy and taxation, our VAT is a good example - we have a growing base and we have recorded significant tax remittances to the government over the years. Between 2015 and 2019 alone, tax payment supported by the Coca-Cola System rose to N223 billion. We believe as we scale our operations and expand further, we will be able to contribute more in this regard.

We all know that the Coca-Cola company has hundreds of brands outside Nigeria, does the Coca-Cola System in Nigeria, have any plans to bring in more of these brands to Nigeria to enrich your portfolio?

We are committed to delivering an unbeatable 24/7 portfolio of brands to satisfy our consumer’s beverage needs at any time of the day. Our Schweppes brand is a good example of innovation to meet consumer preferences. If you remember Schweppes a couple of years back, it had these stubby cans that were not really premium. Today, we have been able to evolve Schweppes to a much sleeker, and much more premium brand. We have extended coverage and distribution into more places like hotels, restaurants, and cafes; and in addition to many new flavours launched last year, in the last two to three months, we have introduced two new products- Schweppes Ginger, and Schweppes Zobo. The Schweppes Zobo is particularly special to us (it is not found anywhere else in the world) as it’s an example of how we are able to launch new products, which are locally relevant to our consumers here in Nigeria.

Essentially, this is a reflection of how we leverage our new investments to innovate for the market.

Would you like to share with us your proudest accomplishments as the Managing Director of NBC? Considering that you left and came back to Nigeria as the MD of NBC, what are you most proud of?

First of all, I’m very proud and happy to be back here, this is really home for

INTERVIEW “Our first priority is delivering our sustainability commitments. Top on the agenda is our ‘World Without Waste’ agenda. As an organisation, we place a huge premium on entrenching sustainability as a culture that permeates our entire value chain.” me, and I was honored and privileged to be able to come back. In terms of achievements, I think the best thing for me are the smiles and the openness of our people whenever I visit the plants and the field. Today, I can say we are clear on the strategy and the choices we are making. As a business, we face quite a few challenges that are peculiar to the environment in which we operate, and we are making tough decisions on a day-to-day basis.

Yet, in the midst of that, we are very clear and happy knowing fully well that we are innovating to remain the leading consumer packaged goods company. The feeling every day in the office and at the plants is very different. Also, people are opening up and coming forward with what is working and what is not working, and what we can do to make things better – not leaving it to management to decide, or me basically to decide – but for us as a team to tackle the issues together. This is what I’m most proud of.

Your stakeholders and shareholders are watching you as you mark your 70th anniversary, and as they do this, they are also analyzing the market with all the competition, wondering if you’ll be weakened or not. What are you assuring your stakeholders and shareholders as you mark 70 years and beyond?

As I said before, we are very fortunate to have shareholders who know Nigeria very well and are happy to be associated with us, so they don’t look at us like outsiders or wonder why we are taking certain decisions. I’m lucky because I don’t have to explain over and over about the challenges we are facing on a day-to-day basis. Yes, we are very mindful of competition, and as I said before, competition is good. It helps keep us on our toes and helps us not to lose track of what really matters, which is the consumer and the customer. We believe that as long as we keep listening and prioritizing our customers, consumers, stakeholders, and the community - then we are in a good place.

When it comes to where we are going, we have a clear plan and we are moving forward to ensure we stay aligned with our goals for the market whilst keeping customer satisfaction at the core of this.

Let’s talk about your social responsibility initiatives, do you have a roadmap for the years to come?

This is something we are also very proud of. We are here primarily to

make a difference deliver deeper experiences for our consumers and impact our communities in positive, definite ways. We believe doing good is good for business and are committed to making an impact in several ways.: Our first priority is delivering our sustainability commitments. Top on the agenda is our ‘World Without Waste’ agenda. As an organisation, we place a huge premium on entrenching sustainability as a culture that permeates our entire value chain. We want to collect back our primary packaging materials and recycle them. We are also passionate about water stewardship, and we have received global recognitions for our innovations around that area. And then, reducing our carbon footprints is also big on our agenda. We recently announced our commitment to achieve our net zero emission targets by 2040.

That is a long way to go but when it comes to water sustainability, all across our plants, we are very clear on the amount of water we use, the quality of water that we use, and the quality of water that we put back into nature after production - that is one aspect. We also provide potable water to disadvantaged communities, like we did in some parts of Kano in 2019, where we provided free, potable water to more than a million people and that makes a big difference.

When it comes to energy, we started optimizing our energy mix since 2011, ensuring a transition to cleaner and renewable energy in most of our plants.

The introduction of our Combined Heat and Power (CHP) technology is one of such innovations. In four of our eight plants, we are using solar panels. We started in Maiduguri, and then to Abuja. Now, we are in Kano and Asejire, and we want to complete the rest of the installations at all our plants. Another key focus for us is on packaging. As bottlers of the Coca-Cola brands, plastics form a chunk of our packaging.

We have been leveraging several initiatives to address this challenge head on. From January this year, we have reset our frameworks to strengthen our response to the problem of post-consumer waste. We have also integrated incentives into our community recycling programs and raised public awareness on how we can all be involved. Secondly, I have been fortunate to be Chairman of the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA). We are now about 20 members across the industry, forming the Alliance to try to change the narrative. We have set up collection hubs and recycling banks and as the Coca-Cola System, we are leveraging on the Foundation to set up more

hubs. Our plan is to deliver additional 20 recycling banks in Lagos and Abuja by the end of this year. Another example is in our Sprite bottle. Sprite is now in clear bottles, because it is easier to recycle, compared to the green bottles. Sustainability will continue to be a defining priority for our business in the coming years.

You talked about certain things you have done, in power and in water and I know many companies are battling with some of these challenges for production. But looking at other challenges, what are the most pressing ones to you, as you produce for the Nigerian consumers?

We acknowledge that the operating environment is tough and can be sometimes overwhelming. But our focus has always been on how best to navigate those problems and create value for stakeholders. We have a rich Nigerian heritage and are familiar with doing business in Nigeria. That also makes it familiar to handle. But, as a country, these challenges should remind us to begin to reflect on the impact of these challenges on the consumers. For example, imagine what the impact of increasing excise tax on soft drinks will mean for the consumer. We can also begin to ask questions like: how do we bring in foreign investments into Nigeria, despite the forex scarcity? Let’s also think of what the impact for this forex scarcity would be on other organisations, beyond the few multinationals like us who were born here and know how to navigate the business landscape, but for many other companies who are upcoming, what would this mean for them? Asking these questions would put us in a better position to design policies that support the growth of the economy.

As we round up this discussion, what should the consumer, the Nigerian economy, the government, and of course the employees, expect from you going forward?

What we will continue to do as a System is pretty simple – to refresh Nigerians as we have been doing for the last 70 years, and to make a difference, day in, day out, with our consumers, customers, stakeholders, community.

As I earlier mentioned, we have continued to touch lives through our initiatives such as youth and women empowerment, supporting the growth of the circular economy, education, sports development, and so on. I go out a lot to our plants, to the markets, and my best way to learn about their expectations is to listen and seek information on how we can improve. From this, we are able to move forward with some very good decisions that enable us to make the most impact in our people, communities and all stakeholders.

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Onaolapo: For Sustainable Borrowing, Fiscal Imbalances Must be Addressed The Chief Executive Officer, Eczellon Capital, Diekola Onaolapo in this interview spoke extensively on Nigeria’s debt standing, state of the economy, investment landscape and other pertinent economic issues; Nume Ekeghe presents the excepts Can you speak on the current investment landscape in Nigeria, the country’s economic trends? igeria has always enjoyed fairly strong fundamentals among the developing economies. Its large-and-still growing, youthful population, market size and still-underexplored potential across various sectors, especially in non-oil sectors such as agriculture, transportation, information technology, manufacturing, healthcare and education, et cetera, should establish an undoubted attractiveness to investment, from both local and foreign interests.

That said, recent reports show that sentiments of foreign investment interests are, at best, mixed. According to the report of RMB – 2021 top 10 investment-attractive African countries, Nigeria out-rightly fell out of the (top 10) list, from its 2ndposition in 2014. Note-worthy, on same report, Egypt went from 6th to 1st in the same period, Rwanda – 9th to 4th, and Botswana, from not making the list in 2014 to 5th in 2021.

The ranking, according the publisher, considers operating environments, fiscal scores and development plans, especially in a COVID-19 world, to measure investment attractiveness. Another ranking however – the Absa Africa Financial Markets Index (“AAFMI”) 2021 report – retained Nigeria as the 3rd most attractive country in Africa for foreign investment, citing evaluation across 6-pillars of market depth, access to foreign exchange, market transparency, tax and regulatory environment, capacity of local investors, macroeconomic opportunities, and enforceability of the standard master agreement. Away from such reports, and to gauge from real measures like FDI inflows, a recent NBS report shows that FDI and portfolio investment flows into the country fell by 13.9 per cent and 56.5 per cent respectively in two years. That should factor in Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, followed only by a tame economic recovery in 2021, which was also ravaged by the emergence of new variants. Against this backdrop however, Nigeria emerged as number 1 for Funding raised by startups in 2021, at $1.37billion (according new statistics platform,thebigdeal.substack.com), with South Africa and Egypt being 2nd and 3rd, with $838million and $588m respectively.

In all, trends in macroeconomic environment are key influencers of investment landscape and determinants of investment flows. For foreign investments, it is a balance of strong fundamentals versus inherent risks in the macro environment, including socio-political stability and currency dynamics. For local investment sentiments, you will consider cost and ease of doing business in terms of supporting infrastructure and regulations, and then access to financing and cost of capital. While the federal government should be commended in its efforts to improve business conditions, worrying macroeconomic indicators, policy uncertainties / contradictions and insecurity have, in recent times, eroded the overall favourable sentiments to the attractiveness of the Nigerian investment landscape.

The managers of the economy will need to address these issues to return the country to a viable position to harness opportunities inherent in its potential.

On economic trend, following its exit from the COVID-19 propelled recession in Q4’ 2020, Nigeria’s economy has been on a path to recovery, a positive signal, especially to investors that exited the country in the heat of the pandemic. In 2021, the country has recorded consistent GDP growths from the first to the third quarter, with the most recent (Q3’2021) being a GDP growth rate of 4.03per cent. However, GDP growth alone is not enough to measure economic performance, other indices must be considered. You may also want to look at things like trends of in-country production, employment indices, inflation, and measures of general well-being of the citizenry, all which have great impact on the economy and investment landscape, in the medium to long term.

On production, the NBS released its report on trade and Nigeria’s trade deficit for the three quarters ending September 30, 2021 was N8.9 trillion. The country’s imports consistently outstrip exports, and that is export for which crude oil represented 66 per cent, 80 per cent and 78 per cent of exports in Q1, Q2 and Q3 respectively. We simply are not producing enough.

The thing is, this is not rocket science. Insecurity is a great hindrance to production. Consider agriculture, in which case, farmers are unable to access farms due to banditry and such. This disruption alone upends the entire agriculture value chain, with far reaching untoward consequences to the national economy.

Also issues around power still hold back sectors like manufacturing. Lastly, regulatory issues largely hamper businesses, in an environment where regulators and businesses view one another as opponents, as opposed to being collaborators. These have implications on issues like unemployment. And the numbers show this. For instance, out of the 122,049,400 economically active or working age population (15 – 64 years of age) as at

It is against this backdrop and the need to achieve a unified exchange rate that, we believe, the CBN acted by ending its weekly supply to the BDCs. That said, the wisdom of the CBN in taking this step and its effect on the market, especially in the short term, is still being debated, given the influence of the BDCs in the parallel market from which the temperature of the FX is typically measured. Since the days following the CBN’s action, the Naira has steadily depreciated, despite the designation of teller points in Deposit Money Banks to serve retail demand.

The inability of the designated teller points to serve retail demand shows that the CBN is yet to achieve its objective with this strategy as evidenced by the expanding variance between the official and the parallel market.

It is yet to be seen if the CBN will not be forced to revert to the BDCs, albeit probably with a different regulatory and control approach, in order to ensure that permissible retail demands are met.

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Do you think the decision is a good one especially in trying to lure back FDIs? You probably won’t say FDI inflows are particularly directly impacted by that decision. That said; following the decision, there has ultimately been a widening of the gap between the official and parallel rate, which tends to distort the valuation of the Naira. This invariably will further signal potential Foreign Direct Investors.

That said; the intent of the CBN is to achieve a true value for the Naira as against the market-making activities of some BDCs. If the CBN’s action is backed with other initiatives that facilitate this objective, the confidence of potential investors may be bolstered in the medium to long term.

Onaolapo Q4, 2020, NBS reported that only 46,488,079 are in employment.

Of this, 30,572,440 were full-time employed, i.e., working 40+ hours per week, while 15,915,639 were under-employed i.e., working between 20-29 hours per week. This implies, in a country of over 200 million, a dependency ratio of over 4:1, i.e. every employed person has about 4 persons depending on him / her for economic survival, even as food inflation increases and income has largely stagnated. This has serious implication on poverty, security and long-term economic growth and stability.

The good news is that certain economic sectors are thriving even through these challenges.

Technology – especially FinTech and e-commerce, as mentioned earlier, have attracted investment interests. Entertainment industry continues to grow along with other sectors. We expect that policy makers will recognise the need to support the growth of these sectors, especially as they engage the youth, for all round economic gains. Other strategic sectors must also be supported to improve the efficiency of production and competitiveness of Nigerian products, especially in view of AfCFTA, which opens Nigerian businesses to competition from the enlarged, integrated regional market.

On the subject of foreign investment, there has notably been an increased divestment of foreign investors out of Nigeria, what should be done to reverse this trend?

As mentioned earlier, key concerns for foreign investment interests include socio-political stability, security, Foreign Exchange stability and regulations, especially with regards to respective sectors. The issue of security is obvious and we cannot discuss its importance enough, although current state of insecurity requires more than just economic analysts’ projections and recommendations.

The FX environment is an area, which requires more creative management, given the high monoproduct (Crude Oil) dependency of Nigeria for its foreign exchange earnings. The relationship between crude oil prices and Nigeria’s economy became quite evident in the fallout of the 2016 oil price slump which sent the country to recession and reversed foreign investments from the country.

As economic growth picked up tamely, even before Covid-19, FX issues remain a key indicator for foreign investments. One of indices considered by the AAFMI report mentioned earlier noted that Nigeria has continued to perform poorly in the area of access to foreign exchange and management thereof. While administrative controls were imposed, with some goods placed on import

restrictions, market liquidity was also hampered, limiting foreign exchange repatriation and the supply of FX to certain windows. This will not encourage foreign investment inflows, especially given pandemic-times global macroeconomic imbalances.

With regards to the wave of divestments as you referenced, the oil sector is one sector that has witnessed series of divestments by foreign investors, notably Shell Petroleum Development Company and Total. The divestment decision has been largely attributed to factors both internal and external to the economy. These factors include, security and other local challenges faced by the oil producers, the global push for cleaner energy, various lawsuits and other legal issues faced by oil companies, and uncertain outlook in the oil and gas sector most especially around the implementation of Petroleum Industry Act. Using the oil and gas sector as a case study, and based on my perspectives on catalysts of divestments from other sectors of the economy, reversing the trend of foreign divestments will require deep structural reforms by the government, especially around the three issues mentioned earlier.

Investors need to be convinced that the exchange rate system provides a near-accurate translation for their investments which points to the need for the foreign exchange system to be unified in order to provide appropriate investment values for potential investors. Furthermore, there is a need for not only the formulation but also, the implementation of business-supportive policies, which will transcend political administrations. In addition, infrastructure and security challenges should be properly addressed to further enhance ease of doing business for both domestic and foreign investors.

Speaking of FX, what are your thoughts on the recent decision by the Central Bank of Nigeria action in ending its weekly foreign exchange sales to Bureau De Change (BDC) operators in Nigeria and how it has affected the FX supply and pricing?

My understanding is that the BDCs were originally created to serve the retail end of forex demand, where they were meant to serve individual demand not greater than $5,000. The BDCs, however, according to the CBN, have allegedly been catering to wholesale demand beyond regulatory limits and in many cases, engaging in transactions deemed illegal, such as obtaining dollars from the CBN to fund supply at the Parallel market at premium rates, a practice which further widens the gap between the official and parallel market.

What do you think is the appropriate pricing of the naira?

A look at the spread between the parallel market exchange rate and the official exchange rate of the dollar to naira, which has widened from NGN69.75 in December 2020 to NGN156 as at December 9, 2021, indicates a dearth in the supply of dollars in the face of keen demand, as well as some speculative pressure.

Therefore, one may say that the true value of the Naira lies some premium above the current rate as is being managed by the CBN. It is difficult to assign a specific price to the naira.

A true value cannot be determined when valuation is managed and not determined by forces of demand and supply.

On the federal government’s plan to issue Eurobond, do you think the environment is ripe given the current situation in the global economy?

The Nigerian Eurobond market has seen a number of corporate and government issuances. In 2021, there have been many Sub-Saharan African (“SSA”) Eurobond issuances as countries seek to raise funds to finance their economic growth and development imperatives, particularly in response to the covid-19 pandemic and its impact on their economic activities.

Eurobonds are typically leveraged to plug the country’s fiscal budget deficit and support faster economic recovery. . Typically, they are cheaper and more flexible than local currency issues, if FX and other cross-border risks are not priced in. However, Nigeria’s current Eurobond sale comes when the country is grappling with a 98 per cent Debt Service-to-Revenue ratio, according to stats from some authorities on the economy and its imminent sale will further strain the country’s revenues if the funds are not deployed to projects that are revenue-generating or self-financing in nature. It also exposes the country to foreign exchange volatilities may make it costlier, although you would expect appropriates hedges will be included in the overall issue structure.

What are your thoughts on Nigeria debt profile, are we headed to a debt trap?

It should be noted that a nation’s debt profile should not be looked at in terms of its size alone.

Debt is part of the tools governments use to finance important development programmes and initiatives.

The largest economy in the world – the USA – is also the largest national debtor. If debt funds are deployed towards the execution of economically impactful revenue-generating projects or projects in capital formation, debt becomes an attractive fiscal tool for the government to achieve sustainable growth.

However, the challenge in the Nigerian situation is that, historically, debt raised seems to finance not capital expenditure, but debt-servicing and recurring expenditure. This creates a vicious cycle, where debt will perpetually be raised to service debts.

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

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

TRIBUTE

Late Agbai

For Agbai, a Worthy Elder

By Eniola Bello

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ur paths first crossed when he was Abia State Commissioner for Information, sometime between 2000 and 2003. In my Eni-B column on the back page of THISDAY, I had written a scathing article on his principal Orji Uzor Kalu, at the time the Abia State governor.

Barely two weeks after, Dr Agbai Eke Agbai walked into my office at THISDAY corporate headquarters, Apapa Lagos, to

personally invite me (he could easily have sent the Invite which he came with) to a lecture Kalu was to deliver at The Apapa Club. We hit it off as if we’ve known each other for years.

Although I was a member of The Apapa Club then, the lecture was not on my schedule on account of the choice of guest speaker. With Agbai’s visit, however, I decided to attend the lecture. I was surprised that he did not, as other information managers of politicians/public officials were

(still are) wont, write, or commission others to write, abusive rejoinders.

And on meeting me for the first time at the lecture venue, Kalu, perhaps to ease any likely tension between us, made light of my column with a self-deprecating joke.

Agbai and I thereafter became buddies, a close friendship that has survived his stint in the Abia cabinet and has lasted some 20 years.

A scholar perpetually on a quest, Agbai would, at the initial stage of

our friendship, always call on reading my column; we would discuss the issues of the day, exchange important information and examine different perspectives. Since he is constantly on the move from the United States where he has his family, to the United Kingdom where he regularly passes through, to the numerous other countries the privilege of being on the entourage of former President Olusegun Obasanjo takes him, we usually seize every opportunity whenever he is in Lagos, or sometimes when both of us happen to be in Abuja, to meet over lunch or dinner. An intellectual sparring partner, our lunch or dinner meetings go beyond revelling in good food and fine wine, they are veritable grounds to debate global issues of the day, and ultimately, we would return to Nigeria, its peoples and its leadership challenges.

Despite the challenges of Nigeria always evoking feelings of disappointment and anger, we usually move the luggage of our discussion on the conveyor belt of passion and hope. At the of the day, we leave such meetings sated, enriched, recharged.

Indeed, Agbai loves life and living.

For him, every occasion involving family or friend creates an opportunity for celebration. He luxuriates in putting together small groups for such celebration, and in the process connecting or reconnecting people, and widening one’s social network. He comes alive at such events, partly playing the personable host, warmly welcoming every guest and easing them into the social environment; partly playing the bartender, ensuring no guest is without a glass of one drink or the other; partly playing the toastmaster, introducing the guests and generally managing the ceremony; partly playing the comedian, narrating funny stories that crack everybody up; and partly playing the moderator, coordinating discussion of issues, asking the questions and picking the speakers. He is a master of surprises, always doing the unusual and, like a magician, springing the unexpected.

Talk of loyalty and friendship, Agbai continually strategizes on ways of supporting friends – either those in positions of authority, or those lost at critical moments.

I will cite three instances that concern me. When my wife Helen passed on June 2019, Agbai, unable to abort a scheduled engagement, got his partner to fly into the UK from her US base to attend my wife’s funeral. Some years earlier, I had mentioned to him that the day we were to fly to Obudu Ranch, on his invitation, to attend the 25th wedding anniversary of another of his friends, was Helen’s birthday, Agbai had got the pilot, to our pleasant surprise, to announce my wife’s birthday and sing her a song midway into the flight. And when I recently re-married, Agbai conspired with Dr Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke to put together a home-made post-wedding celebratory dinner at her Ikoyi residence. All this is the essential Agbai – a friend in good and bad times.

It is therefore my pleasure and honour to write this testimony to the character of the man Dr Agbai as he joins the Elders Council. Although a man of the world, Agbai is also immersed in the tradition, culture and mores of his people.

I understand that the Ime Uche is not a Council of just anybody and everybody, that those admitted are men of character and learning, those imbued with courage, knowledge and wisdom. I also understand that the Ime Uche is the seventh of the rites of passage the Abiriba male child must successfully pass through. For our friend Eke to have successfully navigated the Igba Nnunnu, Igba Ekpe, Ila Uche Oba, Izari Efa, Igwa Mang and Iburu Omu makes his admittance to the Ime Uche indeed worthy of celebration. The Elders’ Council has gained a worthy compatriot.

To my friend Dr Agbai, his immediate family and the entire Ikwu Umuotutu family, permit me a shout out: ikele!

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 22, 2021

EDUCATION

PAMO Varsity’s First Taste of Convocation

PAMO University of Medical Sciences last week rolled out the drums to celebrate its fourth founders’ day and first convocation for the first batch of its graduating students who have helped in no small measure to put the school on the map of great institutions in the country, Blessing Ibunge writes

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lowing graduation gowns, joyous faces of parents, family members, and photographers characterised the sight at the usually quiet campus. The occasion was the first convocation and fourth founders’ day celebration of PAMO University of Medical Sciences (PUMS), Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as the students were formally pronounced “graduates.” For the students, the years of study are now history.

Even the parents were not left out in sharing and documenting their joy and happiness on that special day. They thanked God for the institution, urging the management to ensure that they continue to do what is right and innovate in order to have an influx of applicants and students.

“I don’t mind putting all my four children here. As a matter of fact, my second child, a boy, is here. I will make sure that the third and last child will come here to school. I like everything about the place- the serenity, hostel, and basic facilities, security, ICT and equipment. Everything is excellent. I hope the management of this place keeps it up,” a parent, Mrs. Abigail Nwosu, said.

PAMO, Nigeria’s first private medical university offers courses in anatomy, biochemistry, human nutrition and dietetics, pharmacology, physiology, medicine and surgery (MBBS), and nursing.

Last weekend, 21 students were its first graduates, finishing a race that was generally accepted to be worth the effort. The 21 students graduated from the Department of Anatomy, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, and Physiology.

As part of the activities to celebrate the occasion, the university had planned a three-day event starting December 17 with medical outreach at Elelenwo at Odani Community Town Hall, a novelty football match on December 18 starting with the convocation lecture delivered by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof.

Abubakar Rasheed to the award of degrees and prizes to the graduands.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.) urged the federal government to support private universities through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), among other interventions.

Abdulsalami, PUMS’ chancellor, called on state governments to support private institutions for educational development.

He noted that the success of PUMS is a demonstration of what can be achieved when states step in to support the provision of private education in their respective states.

The former head of state noted that although the institution was only four years old, it blazed the trail among other universities in the country.

“In the same vein, the federal government is called upon to render support to private institutions through university education trust funds. It is also statutory for state governors to extend a hand of support to private institutions in their respective states,” said Abdulsalami. “It is important because of the not-too pleasant experience in other institutions.”

Abdulsalami lauded Governor Nyesom Wike’s administration for awarding scholarships to indigenes of the state studying at the university.

Wike said the government and people of Rivers are delighted with the establishment of PUMS and the vast opportunities it avails youths in the state to become skilful medical professionals and practitioners. He said the state government has maintained and sustained a close, symbiotic, and mutually beneficial relationship with the

L-R: Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo; Deputy Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Ahmed Muhammad Ketso; ViceChancellor, PUMS, Professor Michael Diejomaoh; former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd.); Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike; his wife, Eberechi; and Pro-Chancellor, Chairman of PUMS Governing Council, Dr. Peter Odili, at the first convocation ceremony of PUMS, Port Harcourt… recently

university from its inception to date by identifying with and contributing materially to its steady growth and progress.

“Back in 2017, we instituted a special public scholarship, covering tuition, accommodation, and feeding to encourage our indigenous students to take advantage of the university and become graduates and professionals of the areas of interest. We have religiously implemented this scholarship programme for four consecutive years with almost 600 beneficiaries as at the last academic session,” said Wike.

“Today, I am very pleased to note that all the graduating students of Rivers State origin are scholars of the Rivers State Government educated and trained with public funds. In addition to the scholarship, which now costs well over N2.9 billion to implement annually, we have also made several generous financial donations towards the infrastructural development of the university.”

He commended ex-Governor Peter Odili for establishing the first and only private medical university in the South-South.

Wike announced a N500 million grant to the institution, a postgraduate scholarship to the overall best graduating student, and a N5 million reward for the best departmental graduating students.

In his keynote speech, Rasheed said private universities have continued to play a vital role in Nigeria’s national development. He said PUMS is currently the 19th best private university and 35th best out of 200 universities in Nigeria.

The institution’s Pro-Chancellor and Governing Council Chairman, Dr. Peter Odili, said PUMS’ management commended Wike for offering scholarships to over 600 Rivers students to study medicine and allied medical courses at the university.

Apart from awarding students, the occasion witnessed Abdulsalami and Wike receive honorary doctorates.

While Abdulsalam received Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) Honoris Causa, Wike bagged Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) Honoris Causa.

The founders of the PUMS conceptualised the university as a world-class institution dedicated to building healthcare workers, including medical doctors and nurses in the country The university has maintained standards and policies in its four years of existence. Not only is admission into the school strictly based on merit, students resident on campus, but it also has zero tolerance for cultism and other vices.

For students to fully concentrate on their studies and not show off affluence, they are not allowed to use private cars on campus. Even visitors, parents,

The founders of the PUMS conceptualised the university as a world-class institution dedicated to building healthcare workers, including medical doctors and nurses in the country. The university has maintained standards and policies in its four years of existence.

Not only is admission into the school strictly based on merit, students resident on campus, but it also has zero tolerance for cultism and other vices

and guardians are not allowed to have unscheduled visits.

Furthermore, the institution frowns upon indecent dressing as students are not allowed to expose their bodies. The school has a dress code for lectures and official functions for students and officials.

PUMS boasts of conducive classrooms, halls, laboratories, and library facilities, and its hostel has a room for two students.

All the rooms are en suite with a constant water supply and water heater. The school has a 24-hour power supply.

One of the university’s greatest strengths is having an existing teaching hospital established by its founder, a renowned medical doctor established in the 1980s called PAMO Clinics and Hospitals Group.

The hospital has been at the forefront of providing high-class medical care and services to residents and visitors to Port Harcourt and Rivers State for nearly 40 years. It has also provided high-quality medical treatment and health promotion services spanning Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Paediatrics to individuals, families, and corporate organisations spanning sectors such as energy, oil, and gas, power, agriculture, and construction.

From takeoff, the hospital has been aiding students right from the early stages to have requisite medical knowledge and experience. This is unlike other universities whose students are not exposed to hospital experience until they are in the 400 level. Even at that, the management is currently building a gigantic four-storey building on Aba Road that will house a comprehensive teaching hospital.

Besides, the school signed a memorandum of understanding with the Rivers government and State University Teaching Hospital, where its students for clinical training before completing the building of the PAMO teaching hospital.

The full accreditation of the school’s courses and programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC), Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Medical Laboratory Council, etc., has turned it into a first choice for Nigerians seeking medical education.

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 22, 2021

EDUCATION

Learn Africa Celebrates 60th Anniversary, Promotes Digital Transformation Funmi Ogundare The Chairman of Learn Africa, Chief Emeka Iwerebon, has stated the organisation’s readiness to focus more on digital technology by transitioning from traditional publishing with end products being e-books and e-learning.

Iwerebon, who said this at the company’s diamond jubilee celebration, said to achieve this, it has collaborated with the federal government and others to develop teacher training content

for the N-Teach of the N-power programme. He said it recently developed its e-content for the use of modern readers and online learners.

Speaking to journalists, he said the organisation commenced its digital transformation when it worked with the federal government to power the teacher training content and provide e-content to senior secondary school students.

“We are working with the government to provide e-

content in subjects like English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology to senior secondary school students. We have been awarded a job of providing an e-library to Kaduna State,” said Iwerebon.

He added that the organisation was developing a consortium for digital learning for Africa, where it will be providing content for about 30 million students.

Iwerebon disclosed that it was collaborating with UNICEF to provide content at an affordable

price so that public schools students can have access to it.

“Almost 85 per cent of students population are in public schools, and if they are in public schools, it should be free,” he stated. “So, the government has a role, and if they are providing one book per child, I think things will be different. But I am not sure that is happening. Education is supposed to be free, but the books they are providing is not enough.”

Regarding whether there will

still be demand for publications in print, he said, “It can’t phase out. We will always have the hard copy. Even in the developed society, it’s ratio 60 to 40. It is so because data is expensive, and there are connectivity issues in the rural areas.”

He added, “We have a recent information that began the e-revolution much earlier than us, they are still using the paper, so you can’t discard it, but we won’t use in the kind of numbers we are using it.”

Iwerebon expressed concern about piracy in the country, saying that it relies on government and security agencies to stamp out the scourge.

In his remarks, the chairman of the occasion and Commissioner of Education and Technology, Ogun State, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, congratulated the organisation for the feat, saying that the diamond jubilee provides the organisation’s staff with the opportunity to let them know how much they are valued.

Queen’s College Condemns Bullying, Violence in Schools Uchechukwu Nnaike

L-R: The Managing Director, Alhaji Hassan Bala; Lead Author (New Concept English), Dr. Feyi Ademola-Adeoye; Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu; one of the authors of New Method Mathematics, Ms Yetunde Salau; and Chairman, Learn Africa PLC, Chief Emeke Iwerebon, during the 60th anniversary celebration of the organisation, in Lagos... recently

Don Identifies Obstacles to Food Security, Proffers Solutions A Professor of Agriculture Engineering at the University of Ibadan, Emilolorun Aiyelari, has identified banditry, poor funding of the sector, land use policy among others, as obstacles to food security in the country.

Aiyelari stated this recently while delivering the first Candida Adenike Afodu Lecture Series in Agriculture/ Horticulture at the Augustine University, Ilara, Epe, Lagos.

He regretted that the country’s Strategic Grain Reserve Storage Programme (SGRSP) was underperforming, as the silos had little to store for any

rainy day.

“Most of the 33 silos across the country with a total capacity of 1.3 metric tonnes of grains are empty or put into other uses. Such is the case of the Ibadan office of the SGRSP silos now on loan to the Flour Mills of Nigeria Limited,” he said.

He added that the silos laid fallow for many years.

Citing the high costs of agricultural machines and equipment as a barrier to food production in Nigeria, he stated, “In the 1960s and 70s, there were agricultural machinery assembly plants in Lagos, Ibadan, Kano, Kaduna,

Bauchi, Enugu, among others.”

According to him, three years ago, when the dollar exchanged for N360, a medium-sized tractor of 75hp was sold for between $25,000 and $30,000 (N9m and N12m). As of November 20 this year, he pointed out, the same sold for N18.4m.

“How much loan is the farmer going to take to buy such machines, and how will such a farmer break even?” said Aiyelari.

On the negative effects of banditry on agriculture, Aiyelari recalled a publication of 43 communities in Sokoto where

bandits were on the standby to collect levies from farmers or even use them to work for bandits.

He also blamed the government for not implementing the 2003 Maputo Declaration that African nations should devote at least 10 per cent of their annual budgets to agriculture.

He added that the highest the nation has ever done was 5.4 per cent.

Suggesting the way forward, Aiyelari called for serious military operations in the North at a scale never seen after the civil war to tame banditry and insurgency.

Global Future Depends on Sciences, Says Archbishop Okeke David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka The Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha Archdiocese, Valerian Okeke, says the world’s future is dependent mainly on science.

Archbishop Okeke, who spoke during this year’s edition of the Archbishop Valerian Okeke Science Competition (AVOSCO), said there was a need to get the students to start loving science subjects, and the best way to do so was to introduce the competition.

“Our aim is to mould you into good people in the society.

Education is key. Our interest

in this competition is to make you great. We’re doing this because of our love for your greatness and the brightness of your future,” said Okeke.

“We urge you to aim for excellence and strive for the best. Pursuing a culture of excellence is uniqueness in itself. Embrace the culture of excellence if you want to achieve greatness.”

Okeke added that the world’s future was dependent on science, and the best way to get the students to embrace science is a competition like this. We call on all of you

to be very studious in your educational pursuit.”

Meanwhile, a Senior Secondary Two (SS2) student of Divine Rays British College, Ernest Ifeanyi Ofoama, has been announced as the winner of the senior category of the competition.

Students of All Hallows Seminary school, Onitsha and Regina Pacis Model Secondary School, took second and third positions.

In Junior Secondary School Category, Deborah Igwilo of Regina Pacis School, Onitsha took the first position with

86 points. John Paul of All Hallows seminary and Somtochukwu Okwuego of Divine Rays took 2nd and 3rd positions respectively, scoring 84 and 83 points each.

Rev. Fr. Simeon Amuluche, Schools’ Project Manager in the archdiocese, stated that about 180 schools participated in the contest. He stated that the contest, an annual event, was in its sixth year.

The archbishop presented all awards to recipients, including cash, laptops, projectors and other items, to the winners depending on their categories.

The Principal, Queen’s College, Lagos, Dr. Tokunbo YakubuOyinloye, has reiterated the school’s zero-tolerance for bullying and violence, urging students to live together as a family.

Speaking at the school’s recent 60th inter-house sports competition, she also appealed to parents to talk to their children, relate well with them and let them know that bullying and fighting are not part of their aim for coming to school.

As part of the zero-tolerance for bullying and violence, the principal said the junior students are taught to be assertive, not aggressive, and speak up when bullied.

She said senior students were often reminded to treat the juniors how they treat their younger ones at home. “If you cannot slap, beat, maltreat or injure your younger ones at home, don’t come and do it in school,” she said.

She added, “Our newest slogan is ‘Torch ‘n Go’. If you bully a child, you are de-boarded,

it means you cannot stay with other students.”

Yakubu-Oyinloye said the sports competition also inculcated the spirit of unity in the students.

As members of different houses, she said they learn to come together to identify talents and assign tasks to individuals based on their capabilities.

The principal added: “We believe in academic excellence, moral uprightness, integrity in character and also in sports development, hence, the need for Inter-house sports competition.”

The chairman of the occasion, an APC chieftain, Owoeye Adedeji, described sports as a unifying factor in the country.

He called for more government’s investment in the sector to encourage more participation.

While also condemning bullying in schools, he advised parents to maintain a good relationship with their children and always make time to listen to them.

He said there should be constant engagement between parents and schools to assess the progress and well-being of their children.

Corona College Urges State of Emergency on Education Uchechukwu Nnaike Worried about the level of insecurity in the country and its effects on education, the Corona College of Education has called on the federal government to declare a state of emergency on the education sector.

The college also advocated value re-orientation and transformation to adequately address the precarious state of the country’s education system.

The college stated this during its third public lecture in Lagos recently.

Speaking on the theme ‘Emergent Security Issues in Nigeria: The Facts, Puzzles and Remedies for the Education Sector’, the Director-General of Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, appealed to the government and every stakeholder that identifies with the problems of education in the country not to handle the security issues with levity.

“People really need to know what it means when there is a crisis in a sector. It means that the country cannot make any meaningful economic development or growth if we don’t

fix that sector,” said Osaghae.

He explained that challenges, ranging from banditry to civil unrest, kept students out of school, making youths easy recruits for bandits and terrorists.

Osaghae added that although insecurity is a global problem, the government must see education as a veritable tool for curbing violence.

“Government must find a way of providing security for the sector. The nation must seriously invest in education if we must catch up with the rest of the world on economic and infrastructural development.”

He also called for a technological-driven curriculum that will develop youths’ job competencies and help them add value to the system.

The call to action came amidst concerns about Nigeria’s failing education system. According to UNICEF, one in every five of the world’s out-of-school children is in Nigeria. Though primary education is officially free and compulsory, the report said more than 10.5 million of the country’s children aged 5-14 years are not in school.

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 22, 2021

EDUCATION

Olubando: American University of Beirut Prepared Me to Face Life with Confidence The Lebanese-Nigeria Initiative is a social impact group established by some Lebanese business leaders in Nigeria. A few years ago, it endowed $1.5 million at the American University of Beirut to award full MBA scholarship every year to a young deserving Nigerian resident in the country as part of building skillful human capital for the Nigerian economy. Ajibola Olubando, the first beneficiary of the scholarship shared his experiences with Oluchi Chibuzor

T

o assist some of those who are seeking opportunities like this, can you tell us how you got to know about the LNI scholarship award?

A friend of mine informed me that the LNI is sponsoring a candidate for an MBA programme to one of the best schools in the world, the American University of Beirut, Lebanon. I have been looking out to a scholarship opportunity to further my studies at masters degree level in such leading school and I was excited about the prospect hence I applied.

So how did you feel when you were informed that you have been selected among many candidates?

As at that time I worked in Abuja so I was in the office when I got a call from someone in LNI, telling me congratulations, you have won the LNI scholarship for 2019/2020. I was in shock and later I started processing the information I heard. I knew I did my best during the application processes and so as other candidates. But God said it was my time. So I composed myself and went to inform my manager in the office and we jumped in excitement. I called my partner, my brother and sister to tell them of the great opportunity. It was really amazing to me to win the scholarship

Give us a summary of your experience in Beirut, what was the education like, the people, the culture?

The LNI management and the Chairman, Mr. Faysal El Khalil, were helpful at the very point of my entry into Beirut, everything was covered. It was really a beautiful experience. On arrival at Beirut airport which was about 2am, the chairman had already sent someone to receive me and drive me to the university. As soon as I arrived the airport, I saw beautiful mountain and the houses doting the landscape.

It was picturesque. That was my first good impression about Beirut. It was a beautiful site.

We proceeded to the school and got there about 2:40 am to a warm welcome. I was taken to my room and made sure I was comfortable, that was my first experience. The next day, the LNI chairman came around and took me on a tour of the university. I got to know where to get my food, groceries and was shown everything I needed to survive in the school.

In terms of academics, AUB is one of the best schools in the world. The faculty, curriculum, the intensive lectures, seminars and writing theses ensured you were kept busy almost 24 hours.

Our class and indeed the school has multi-racial population with students from France, Spain, the Netherlands, the United States, among others. As part of getting hands-on information

French, English, Irish, etc.

I also heard people speak Yoruba and Igbo, meaning that there are so many Nigerians living and doing business in Lebanon. Beirut like Lagos is a very diversified and inclusive city. In the class, people were speaking different languages and I was like, take it easy let me try and catch up. With the diversity of languages going to places was easy because the average person on the street could speak a little English.

Olubando about production processes, we went on business excursion to China to learn about how the Chinese people’s work ethic that made China global leader in manufacturing. It was an enlightening experience for me.

If I take on all the experience, I can write a book on it.

On the tourism side, Beirut is one of the most exciting cities in the world. For Lagosians and Nigerians, it is close to home because everywhere is bubbling and hustling: small streets, high rise buildings, very happy and warm people. If you have been in Beirut, you wont feel anything different from being in Lagos. The people are very welcoming. To balance it up, there are so many activities in the country side for visiting.

I went skiing. I also visited my friends, their home town, went to an amusement park in the middle of Lebanon. Food was another experience. All together I will say, the education, social life, the exposure that LNI MBA scholarship at AUB has equipped me to face the future with great confidence.

On the lighter side, talk about the food culture, the language, how you were able to navigate those terrains In Beirut, they eat lots of bread, flat bread, the type we use here to make shawarma.

There is plenty salad and many other variety of meals. In the area of language, I was surprised to see that most people speak different languages: Arabic,

Westerfield College Opens Victoria Island Campus Oluchi Chibuzor

The management of Westerfield College has commissioned its Victoria Island campus, a project which represents improvement and growth to the institution, which started 11 years ago.

According to the school, this has helped it achieve part of the goals set out to help young people access some of the best universities in the world, having trained them in Nigeria judiciously to succeed when they

get to these universities.

Speaking in Lagos, at the official opening of the facilities, the Chief Executive Officer, Westerfield College, Micheal Dosunmu, said it gives them a far bigger room to engage and interact with a wider pool of students.

He noted that the newly commissioned campus was seven times bigger than their Yaba campus.

“Our goal at Westerfield is to create an environment where

the kids are trained to be good ambassadors of Nigeria, which represent people whose country you want to interact with or engage with,” he said.

On how they were able to attract the investment for the project, he remarked that necessary policy must be put in place to attract investors in the sector.

Representing the chairman of the day and Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, Dapo Akinosun, said the environment represented a

serene atmosphere where those seeking western education can leverage.

“The school creates an atmosphere for those of us who send our children abroad or plan to send them to school anywhere in the world. This kind of environment is great enough to give them what they will experience anywhere in the world,” he noted.

“This is certainly a world-class facility, and I believe that every child who passes through here will definitely be better.”

IGSOSA 67 Set Hands over Remodelled Building to School Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

The 1967-71/73 set of Ibadan Grammar School, Ibadan, has renovated a block of four classrooms and handed it over to the authority of the school.

The Chairman of the set, Mr. Bankole Ademulegun, while speaking at the event held on the premises, said the set decided to give back to the school which modelled their lives as part of activities to mark 50 years of leaving the school.

According to him, the school

which produced prominent Nigerians like the late Chief Bola Ige and High Chief Bayo Akinola, was once a pride of the Western region, disclosing that the set spent over N20 million on the renovation of the classrooms, provision of furniture and renovation of the school’s chapel.

While calling on the state government to hand over the school back to the old students to manage, he noted that the set would continue to give back to their alma mater to bring it back to its lost glory.

“It is a joy that we are celebrating 50 years that we left this school which made us what we are today and modelled our lives,” he stated. “It was part of activities to mark the milestone that the set decided to renovate a block of four classrooms and also furniture for the students to learn in a conducive environment.

The principal of the Senior Secondary School, Mr. Olugbenga Oladejo, lauded the set for the renovated building, stating that the school would continue to be grateful to them

for contributing to improving teaching and learning in the school.

He charged other sets and other stakeholders to emulate the 1967-71/73 set, insisting tha education remains the best legacy that can be bequeathed to the youths who are the leaders of tomorrow.

The dedication of the renovated building was preceded by a thanksgiving service held at the school’s chapel with Ven. (Prof.) Kolawole Jaiyeoba, IGSOSA Global President, ministering.

If you are to advise the next set of LNI scholars, what will you tell them?

LNI MBA scholarship will definitely change your lives, change your world if you are lucky to win it. So you need to be diligent in processing the application, prepare yourself, It is not an easy exercise. I give you an instance. In Nigeria we take eight courses in a semester or there about, but at AUB, I took four courses but those four were deep and intensive. There are short lecture hours but you do a lot of research, writing, group seminars, and so forth. It is an intense experience that changes you and builds you up. I will advise any candidate applying to do his/her best and not allow the opportunity slip away.

As beneficiary of this MBA scholarship, what can you say to LNI? To the chairman and all executives of the Lebanese-Nigeria Initiatives, I really cannot thank you enough for this fantastic opportunity that you have given me and all other Nigerians that

have opportunities to get quality education and come back to Nigeria to be a tool for social and economic changes.

Thank you for this wonderful opportunity.

How are you going to use the knowledge gained to impact the community, which is the essence of the scheme?

On the business side, a friend of mine has an agriculture business which we were planning before I went for the programme.

The knowledge and training I have got will help me know how to advise the business better and will help us optimize our operations and help us avoid certain pitfalls and be able to plan our success. Personally I am able to manage my time, my income and expenditure is better planned now. I can discern profitable investment opportunities and plan how to get funding where necessary. I am already a part of the LNI family and will continue to be a good ambassador of the initiative. I will also be looking at a small scholarship for local students, taking the expenditures of these local students in universities and secondary schools in my community in Lagos here and in Nigeria.

We will also focus on those who are graduating from the universities and polytechnics to provide proper career roadmap for them. I will encourage them to take advantage of the LNI MBA scholarship at AUB because it gives you a leg up in wherever you find yourself in future.

LBS Becomes First Academic Institution to Get ISO 9001:2015 Certification Mary Nnah

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has awarded the Lagos Business School (LBS), a leading graduate business school in Africa, the ISO 9001:2015 certificate, an international standard measurement for Quality Management Systems (QMS).

Speaking on the milestone achievement, the Dean, Lagos Business School, Prof. Chris Ogbechie, said the institution’s global rankings and accreditations had been achieved due to a careful and deliberate implementation of a QMS to deliver a superior participant learning experience.

“Today, our efforts have been rewarded with the award of the ISO 9001: 2015 certification. This affirms our dedication to providing quality education and service to our customers and stakeholders as well as meeting all statutory and regulatory requirements.

This prestigious award is a

reward for the many years of dedication to service by the staff, faculty, students and stakeholders,” he said.

Ogbechie added, “This ISO 9001:2015 certification puts LBS in a league of its own as the only academic institution with such an honour. We have always set the pace for academic excellence, and this certification is another pedestal others will try to achieve.”

In his remarks at the presentation ceremony, the Director-General of SON, Mallam Farouk Salim, explained that the standard was specifically designed to improve the quality of educational service delivery in the world.

Also speaking, the President, Lagos Business School Alumni Association (LBSAA) and Publisher, Businessday Newspaper, Frank Aigbogun, said he was pleased that the strong ideals of LBS have brought the institution the milestone certification.

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 22, 2021

CITYSTRINGS

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

Unleashing Real Estate Potentials in Nigeria Given the real estate deficit that has plagued the nation, MD/Chief Executive Officer, Reftop Homes Limited, Oluwafemi David Asogba, recently harped on the need for government and stakeholders to unleash the real estate potentials for Nigerians in general, Precious Ugwuzor reports

F

or MD/CEO Reftop Homes Limited, Oluwafemi David Asogba, the need to release the real estate potentials of Nigerians is quite germane.

According to him, they are focused on providing accommodation for people, just as they encourage people to invest in real estate.

Although he might have been in the real estate sector for the past five years, Reftop has been in existence for one year now and they are registered with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and also are also a member of Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), while the application is ongoing with the Lagos State government to retrieve their license.

On how insecurity, COVID-19 and economic downturn affected real estate developers in meeting the need of housing provision for generality of Nigerians, Asogba said: “COVID-19 affected everybody and all businesses around the world. We have kept our dream alive and no matter the challenges we are going through, we promised ourselves that we must deliver. Though it has not been easy but God keeps us moving to deliver affordable homes to Nigerians.

“On insecurity, you need to be alive to be known and addressed as a real estate developer. Insecurity has made developers go low to save their respective lives. COVID-19 is not even helping matters. The economic downturn is a reflection of poor governance. If every area of the economy has been handled proficiently, the economy would not have witnessed such a downturn.”

On the need to prioritise provision of low income housing for the average Nigerian with reference to those done by former Lagos State Governor, Pa Lateef Jakande, he said: “To be honest with you, Pa Jakande has done very great. Pa Lateef Kayode Jakande deliberately built low cost houses all over the length and breadth of Lagos State for the masses. He named it

Asogba

low-cost housing scheme but the masses named it ‘Jakande Estate’. “ Today, Jakande Estate has moved up the masses to middle income brackets. Jakande Estate has provided houses for the low and medium income earners. It has linked the entire Lagos State together from Badagry to Iyana Iba, from Ipaja to Ikorodu, from Isolo to Lekki, from Ibeju to Epe. Just name it. Jakande’s records in housing delivery are yet unsurpassable.

“Meanwhile, the current governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been filling the vacuum and I read in the news that he is coming to Sangotedo to commission some building.

We believe he can do more and create enabling environment and businesses in the real estate sector to thrive.”

On what is preventing the private sector real estate developers from filling the gap of providing houses for the low income earners, he cited

funding. According to him, “funding is the limiting factor preventing real estate developers from filling the gap of providing houses for the low income earners.

“The institutions responsible for the provision of funds for private real estate developers are lagging behind in the discharge of their statutory duties especially in low-income housing delivery. I will appeal to the Lagos State government to do more because most of the land under acquisition today can be released to the real estate sector and the private business owners that are running real estate.”

Lamenting the rising cost of building materials and its implications for the housing industry, Asogba said the prices of building materials and other items will continue to rise as long as Naira depreciates against the dollar.

“Once we stop paying dollars to import petroleum products into the country, the pressure on Naira will reduce or disappear. Most of the building materials are not produced in Nigeria. They are imported. What I would advise the government is to look inward, work on our tax and importation duty. We should build our own building materials instead of been a consumer. We can be a producer of those things”, he added.

Harping on the role of government in meeting Nigeria's housing deficit he said: “In many nations of the world, government is not taking hundred percent of charge of buildings. It is played by the private sector. So what I will advise is that the government should give the private sector the level playing ground to carry out the assignment.

“In some countries, there are loans for companies. For instance, the government can say this company should come and take loan and build this unit of houses. Even Lagos State government can say a particular loan is available for real estate sector for a period of time and they will be followed by regulations.”

The Reward of Giving Back to Society Following his outstanding performance in touching lives in Imo State and beyond, Founder, Aka Ji Ikukuoma Foundation, Dr. Summers Nwokie, has been recognised with the Imo Philanthropist of the Year, writes Chiamaka Ozulumba

A

ka ji Ikukuoma Foundation was established few years ago out of the passion to put smiles on the faces of the downtrodden. Its objective was to develop rural communities, give aid to indigent women and widows, ensure the protection of the rights and privileges of the girl-child and the prisoners.

Also, the foundation is charged with the responsibility of working for the overall development of the underprivileged persons, to hunt, train and develop the potentials of talented youths who are gifted in different kinds of sport.

The Aka ji Ikukuoma Foundation also assists in the provision of healthcare materials and provides scholarship and educational aids to the poor in the society.

Essentially, since it was established, it has worked rigorously to break the chain of poverty beclouding the people of the state and beyond in order to restore hope for a better tomorrow.

For High Chief Dr. Summers V.C Nwokie, the founder of the Aka ji

Dr. Nwokie

Ikukuoma Foundation, his immense contributions to human and community development can never be

overemphasised as his penchant for giving is extraordinary, while his unwavering concern for the indigent

and the downtrodden is legendary.

It is worthy of note that his love for humanity and desire for continuity, effective service and proper documentation, propelled his establishment of Ikukuoma Foundation, a non-governmental, humanitarian organisation, in order to institutionalise his public-spirited and philantropic activities.

So, the worthy recognition that was bestowed on Dr. Nwokie is very significant as it conveys a message of appreciation and goes on to establish the fact that his efforts are impactful, both to the beneficiaries and the public in general.

Before now, Dr Summers had been conferred and honoured with several awards and Chieftaincy titles such as Aka Ji Ikuku 1, Agbara Ka Ibeya 1, Aka Ekpuchi Onwa 1, Onapuru Dike ihe okpu n’Onu 1 in recognition of his numerous contributions to the development of the community.

Without any iota of doubt, The Imo Philanthropist of the Year Award on Dr Summers through his foundation following his contribution to the development of the society is deserving.

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 22, 2021

CRIME&SECURITY

Pakistani NavyVisits Nigerian Counterpart, Pledges to Strengthen Partnership

WNC Chief of Staff, Rear Admiral Habila Zakaria and PNS ALAMGIR Commander, Commodore Mahmood Azhar

WNC Chief Operations Officer, Commodore DF Mathew with Pakistani defence attache and Commodore Azhar

The Pakistani medical rhapsody at Ojo community Precious Ugwuzor

T

he Pakistani Navy Ship (PNS) ALAMGIR recently visited its Nigerian Navy counterpart at the Western Naval Command (WNC) in Apapa, Lagos.

While pledging to strengthen the partnership between both nations, the PNS also held a a two-day medical outreach for the Ojo community in partnership with the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital.

The mission Commander, Commodore Mahmood Azhar said Pakistan cherishes its relationship with Nigeria and looks for ways to strengthen it by improving more cooperation between the countries in future.

He said: "Therefore, we are going to have a two-day medical camp in which we have a team of specialist doctors who are going to provide free medicines as well for the local populace.

"This is just a way to show our token of love to the Nigerian people and it shows our intention and the good wishes

from the people of Pakistan to Nigeria.”

The Commodore said that Nigeria is the most important country in Africa, therefore, Pakistan would continue to seek for ways to strengthen bilateral relationship between the two countries.

"We wish Africa and Nigeria more success and we will ensure that our relationship is better in future," Azhar said.

Also speaking, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Rear Admiral Jason Gbassa said the medical outreach was a good idea because it would help improve the health status of the people of the community.

Gbassa, who was represented by the Command's Chief of Staff, Rear Admiral Habila Zakaria, said the sea exercise between the two navies would further cement the collaboration.

The FOC said that both countries have had a lot of areas where they have gained from each other in terms of trainings.

"Many of our officers are beneficiaries of the trainings from Pakistan and we have seen some improvement from the officers who have studied in Pakistan," Gbassa said.

CRIME SITUATION REPORTS

CRIMINALITY: TACTICS AND PREVENTION Gbolahan Samuel Moronfolu Crime is a social canker-worm that has eaten deep into the social fabric of the Nigerian society such that its effect is multi-dimensional. Although crime is inevitable and normal aspect of social life, it is an integral part of all healthy societies. It is one of the human security problemsconfronting humanity across the world. Several nations have grappled to contain the rising incidence of homicide, armed robbery, and kidnap, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, illegal gun running and host of others.

Before we can X-ray crime, we need to understand that there is an existing Law. What is LAW:- LAW is a rule of action prescribed by the Government which every member of the society is bound to obey in other to ensure a peaceful co-existence among the people.

Any breach of the law could either be criminal or civi;l in nature, What is a Crime?

A crime is an offence that merits community condemnation and punishment, usually by way of fine or imprisonment.

This is different from a civil wrong (a tort), which is an action against an individual that requires compensation or restitution.

An offence on the other hand is a crime that breaks a particular law and requires a particular punishment. It is a behavior which causes people to be upset or embarrassed. A criminal offense is knowing or conducting one’s behavior in a way that violates local, state, or federal laws. Some behaviors are only considered civil offenses, like disagreements concerning payment schedules, other, more severe offenses toward a person or property are considered criminal.

Criminal offences are normally prosecuted by the Federal Government, whereas it is usually up to an individual to take a civil action to court.

It is also possible for an individual to begin criminal proceedings, but this is very rare. Some matters, such as assault, can be both crimes and civil wrongs at the same time. The police can prosecute for assault and the victim can take civil action to recover money (or some other kind of compensation) for any injury suffered.

It is not always easy to tell when something is a crime. A person who takes and fails to pay back money commits a civil wrong (not a crime). Although a civil action can be commenced to recover the money, the borrower can only be prosecuted for a criminal offence if fraud is involved.Whether or not the police decide to charge a wrongdoer with a criminal offence is entirely their decision. A victim of crime cannot force the police to prosecute an offender but it is possible, although not common, to make a private persecution.

It is advisable to get legal advice if you are considering this.

There are two elements necessary in a crime thus: ACTUS-REUS: This refers to the act or omission that comprises the physical element of a crime as required by statute. When a person commit a crime there are physical acts that make up element of the crime. These physical acts, or a failure to act, constitute the actus rues of the crime. In fact, the literal translation of ‘actus rues’ from the original latin is ‘guilty act’ in order or a person to be charged with a crime, the actus rues of the crime must have occurred. If there is no acutus reus, then no crime was committed. These are crimes where the actus reus of the crime is the actual crime itself. In other words, all that needs to be demonstrated is that the act occurred, regardless of the defendant having a ‘mens rea’ or ‘guilty mind’.

MENS REA:- This is also refers to as GUILTY INTENT. It is a mental element of a person’s intention tocommit a crime or knowledge that one’s action or lack of action would cause a crime to be committed. It is a necessary element of many crimes. In simple term, it is an intent to do something which is normally wrong, or the guilty or blame able state of mind Forms of crime Crime can involve violence, sex or drugs but also discrimination, road

rage, and burglary. Crime is any behavior and any act, activity or event that is punishable by law.

Examples of crime: Cybercrime Anyone using the internet can be a victim of cyber crime. Examples include identity theft and child pornography.

One way the government is combating this crime is through the Cyber Crime Reporting Website.

Youth crime To increase public safety, the government is combating youth crime and antisocial behavior by young people through swift intervention, rapid sentencing and appropriate after care.

Human smuggling and human trafficking: The government has taken a number of measures to combat human trafficking, including a higher maximum prison sentence for perpetrators.

Illegal possession of firearms Substantial fines and prison sentences may be imposed for the illegal possession of firearms and illegal trade in firearms. Possession and sale of stilettos, flick knives and butterfly knives are also prohibited.

Cannabis cultivation Cannabis cultivation is prohibited in Nigeria. Cannabis growers often have ties with organized crime. Cultivation is a source of nuisance and a risk to neighbors. There is a risk, for example, of fire and antisocial behavior by criminals visiting the premises. The government will take action against people who supply equipment to grow cannabis.

Fraud Fraud includes benefit fraud, tax fraud and money laundering from criminal activities. The government will fight fraud by: confiscating laundered money and criminal assets: every year, the authorities seize tens of millions of Naira and luxury goods such as houses and cars from criminals; creating more capacity for financial investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC);paying more attention to financial investigations in basic police training.

Real estate Organized criminals often buy expensive properties with the proceeds of crime. The government can use property as a basis for uncovering and dismantling criminal practices. The government is studying ways to identify and combat property crime more effectively.

Benefit fraud Personal circumstances determine the level of certain benefits. Recipients must therefore report changes in their circumstances and family income so that they do not receive benefits they are not entitled to. By carrying out more inspections (e.g. home visits), the government will reduce the number of undue benefit payments.

Evasion of social insurance payments Employers must withhold social insurance contributions from their employees’ salaries and remit them to the authorities. But they do not always do so, especially if the employees are illegal. To prevent the social insurance system being exploited, the government will act firmly against businesses that do not remit social insurance contributions. They must pay the contributions and will be fined.

Illegal workers Illegal workers are usually subject to low pay and poor working conditions.

Furthermore, employers do not respect collective labor agreements and do not pay tax and social insurance contributions. Medical expenses are therefore not reimbursed following an accident at work.

-Moronfolu is a seasoned security consultant with many years of security and policing experience. FELLOW, Fourth Estate Professional Society (FFPS), he has also partaken in peace keeping operations within and outside the country and has flair for general security education.

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T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ DECEMBER 22, 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Wema Bank Revamps Loan Offering for Female SME Owners Nume Ekeghe In a further demonstration of its commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs, Nigeria’s leading digitally-driven financial institution, Wema Bank, has revamped its 9 per cent Loan Offering for Female SME owners.

The bank in a statement said the revamped offer includes a longer tenor, easier access and requires no guarantor or collateral, in accessing this facility.

“This is a boon for those wishing to restock their businesses for the festive season or other short-term business needs, “Wema Bank said.

Commenting on the offer, the Divisional Head, Retail Business,

Wema Bank Plc. Dotun Ifebogun explained they reviewed it to make it easier for applicants to access the facility, which would help them grow their businesses.

He said Wema Bank has shown its interest in the growth and development of female-owned businesses by also offering business training in the past through the Sara by Wema proposition, adding that the revamped loan offer is another effort in that direction as they will access business loans at a single-digit interest rate with insurance cover, among other benefits.

According to Ifebogun, apart from requiring no collateral or guarantor, applicants can access a loan of up to N1 million with a one-year tenor instead of the

previous six months, adding that people who do not have a Wema Bank account can also benefit by signing up on ALAT. Highlighting other eligibility criteria, the Divisional Head, Retail Business, said to access the 9 per cent Loan Offer, the beneficiary business “must be owned or run by a woman while the company shareholding must show that women own at least 51 per cent of the business or 2/3 of signatories.”

He also explained that the facility is available to registered and unregistered women-owned businesses operating for a minimum of two years, as well as new loan customers with applicants enrolled on at least one of Wema Bank’s channels.

63 Customers Emerge Winners in UBA Savings Promo Nume Ekeghe The United Bank for Africa (UBA) yesterday rewarded 63 of its customers spread across its various saving products at its ‘super savers promo draw.’

The 63 winners comprised 12 millionaires, 20 kiddies and teens account holders who won N200,000 each as educational grant, 10 Next Gen customers who won N15,000 every month for a year, totaling N180,000 per person.

Also, 20 Lucky customers won N100,000 each, one lucky customer who won N500,000, another lucky customer who won N1.2 million, one customer who won N2 million and 10 customers who won N1 million each.

The draw which was held

virtually yesterday through Facebook and Youtube platforms had representatives from the Consumer Protection Council(CPC), the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), and the Lagos State Lottery Board to ensure transparency and accountability. Speaking at the draw, the Head of Personal Banking, Ogechi Altraide noted that the bank is committed to creating a positive impact in its customers and urged for customers to maintain and cultivate and enhance savings culture.

She said: “At UBA, the welfare of our customers and their financial freedom is at the center of everything that we do and this is why we are making millionaires, either by supporting your businesses, or by rewarding

you for saving.

“And I’m happy that today we have witnessed the super savers promos, the draws and we have made 63 winners have won amazing prizes. 12 of them actually have been made million years today and I’m happy that I can say that UBA has kept her word, UBA has rewarded her customers.”

She added: “ I would like to congratulate all the winners and and I’d like to encourage you to continue to save to continue to save with UBA, if you did not win today, there is opportunity for you to win every month as UBA will always keep her word. And I’d like to thank all our customers you have kept faith with us this year you have continued to save.

‘Sigma Pensions Committed to Meeting Customer Expectation’ Sigma Pensions Limited has assured that it is committed to meeting its customer’s expectation and remains wholly guided by the law governing pension administrations in Nigeria.

The Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) stated this in a reaction to another judgment at the National Industrial Court granting retirees access to 50 per cent lumpsum of their Retirement Savings Account (RSA) balance at retirement. The latest court ruling in the case of Rakiya Bakari Girei V Sigma Pensions Limited, National Pension Commission and Attorney General of The Federation, comes in the wake of a similar case in which PenCom and another PFA have secured a stay of execution of the judgment and are currently appealing the decision of the court.

Sigma Pensions following

series of reports in national newspapers and online platforms, has therefore restates that as a responsible organisation, respectful of regulatory authority and rule of law, will await the outcome of these proceedings and act accordingly in due course, SigmA SAID. “Following the recent judgement by the National Industrial Court on the interpretation of the application of the lump sum payment to retirees, Sigma Pensions maintains a position of strict adherence to the law and laid down principles governing the industry. Nigeria’s Pension Industry is governed by the provisions of the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014, a repeal of the old PRA 2004. The 2014 Act, which is silent on a percentage which a retiree may receive as lumpsum, establishes the regulator of the

industry, the National Pension Commission (PenCom) and grants same a mandate to among many others, “issue guidelines, rules and regulations for the investment and administration of pension funds. Pursuant to this mandate, PenCom on a regular basis issues directives and guidelines to govern the activities of Pension Fund Operators (PFOs) and PFOs are to strictly adhere to these guidelines, “it noted.

“In line with this mandate, PenCom has provided Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) with a Programmed Withdrawal Template (PWT), a benefits computation tool. This template is used

by PFAs to calculate and arrive at the amount, which a Retiree may receive as lump sum and as Programmed Withdrawal over the course of their life, (except for annuity purchase).

Sircar: Berger Paints Committed to Assisting Underprivileged The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Berger Paints Nigeria Plc, Mr Anjan Sircar, has stated that the Company Would continue to assist underprivileged in pursuit of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) The leading manufacturer of coated pints in Nigeria has just donated an array of foodstuffs to an Orphanage, the Heart of Gold Children’s Hospice, Surulere, Lagos to put smiles on the faces of orphans during this festive period.

Besides, Berger Paints has Re-painted Nigeria Red Cross

Health Care Centre, Makoko Community, in Lagos, to give it a facelift.

In a statement issued signed by Sirca, the company said the gestures are borne out of the Company’s CSR Policy, “As a good corporate citizen, beyond meeting and surpassing the expectations of our stakeholders in the area of value, we are equally committed to supporting the underprivileged and society at large in various capacities.

“In this festive season, we are obliged to put smiles on faces of the needy. This

informed our decision to repaint the Nigerian Red Cross Society Primary Healthcare Centre and supply an array of food stuff to Heart of Gold Children Hospice. At Berger Paints Nigeria Plc, our business success is not only measured by financial targets, the positive contributions we make to lives are also cardinal.”

The Proprietress, Heart of Gold, Mrs Theresa Adedoyin, on behalf of the Management, expressed appreciation to the Board and Management of BPN for the donation.

L-R: Mr Fidelis Ayebae, Managing Director, Fidson Healthcare Plc; Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, Director General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC; and Mr Kunle Oyelana, Managing Director, GlaxoSmithKline Nigeria Plc, at the NAFDAC facilitated contract manufacturing partnership signing and production commencement ceremony in Lagos... recently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7

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

43

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͰͰ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Stock Market Down 0.01%on Profit-taking in MRS, Eterna, 19 Others Kayode Tokede The stock market of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) yesterday closed on a negative note with a decline of 0.01 per cent as investors’ take profit in MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, Eterna Plc and 19 other stocks.

The stock market performance of yesterday witnessed Eterna dropping by 9.91, MRS Oil

Nigeria depreciated by 9.85 per cent, Japaul Gold was down by 7.69 per cent , and Learn Africa that declined by 7.14 per cent.

On this, the NGX All-Share Index declined by 0.01 per cent, to close at 42,388.57 points from 42,394.71 basis points it opened for trading. Similarly, the overall market capitalisation value lost N3 billion to close at N22.126 trillion from N22.129trillion the market opened for trading.

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

As measured by market breadth, market sentiment was positive as 21 stocks gained relative to 15 losers.

Meyer Plc recorded the highest price gain of 9.52 per cent to close at 46 kobo, per share. Consolidated Hallmark Insurance followed with a gain of 9.26 per cent to close at 59 kobo, while CAP rose by 6.87 per cent to close at N19.45, per share.

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

Academy Press up by 6.38 per cent to close at 50 kobo, while Lasaco Assurance appreciated by 5.77 per cent to close at N1.10, per share. On the other hand, Eterna led the losers’ chart by 9.91 per cent to close at N5.00, per share.

MRS Oil Nigeria followed with a decline of 9.85 per cent to close at N12.35, while Japaul Gold and Ventures lost 7.69 per cent to close at 36 kobo, per

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

share.

Learn Africa declined 7.14 per cent to close at N1.17, while FTN Cocoa processors shed 4.76 per cent to close at 40 kobo, per share. The total volume traded increased by 94.1 per cent to 275.931 million units, valued at N3.935 billion, and exchanged in 3,489 deals.

Transactions in the shares of UACN topped the activity chart with 75.880 million shares

O F

valued at N720.791 million. FBN Holdings (FBNH) followed with 68.559 million shares worth N836.406 million, while United Bank for Africa (UBA) traded 16.723 million shares valued at N133.783 million.

Stanbic IBTC Holdings traded 13.316 million shares valued at N478.720 million, while Courteville Business Solutions transacted 7.10 million shares worth N2.662 million.

2 0 / 1 2 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

44

WEDNESDAY, ͺͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĨĞůů ďLJ ϭϰďƉƐ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ƐŚĞĚ ϲďƉƐ dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ ϭϰďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ƐŚĞĚ ϲďƉƐ ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

Ăƚ ϭ͕ϲϳϰ͘ϴϵ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůͲƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ ŽŶ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϲйͿ͕ ϭ͕ϴϱϳ͘ϵϱ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƐĞůů ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ ŽŶ E/d, ;Ͳ Ϭ͘ϴйͿ͕ t W K ^^ ;Ͳϭ͘ϯйͿ͕ ;ͲϬ͘ϲйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ h ĂŶĚ h ;ͲϬ͘ϳйͿ͘ ;ͲϬ͘ϲйͿ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵͲ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂͲ

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

ŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϭ͘ϳй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘ ƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϯ͘Ϯй͘

>ŽĐĂů ŽƵƌƐĞ ĂĐŬͲƉĞĚĂůƐ 'ĂŝŶƐ͘​͘​͘ ^/ ĚŽǁŶ ϭďƉ ^/ ƵƉ ϭϭďƉƐ ĂƐ E' D 'ĂŝŶƐ ϯ͘ϯй

WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ƚŚĞ zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͕ ĚĂLJ͕ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĞƋƵŝƟĞƐ ƵƉƟĐŬ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ŝŶ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ,KEz&>KhZ ůŽƐƐĞƐ ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ͕ E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ & E, ;нϬ͘ϳйͿ ďŽůͲͲ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůů ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ ŽŶ ƐŽŵĞ ďĞůůǁĞƚŚĞƌ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ƐƚĞƌĞĚ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ďŽƵƌƐĞ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůůͲ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϴйͿ͕ ^^ ;ͲϬ͘ϲйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ h ;ͲϬ͘ϲйͿ͘ ĐĐŽƌĚͲ ŝŶŐůLJ͕ ^ŚĂƌĞ

ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž ďĞŶĐŚŵĂƌŬ

ƌŽƐĞ ŝŶĚĞdž

ƚĂͲ ďLJ

Current Price

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

1,857.95

-0.06%

955.00

0.0%

33.6%

74.50

0.0%

10.3%

25.80

0.0%

7.1%

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

ƉĞƌĞĚ ϭďƉ ƚŽ ϰϮϯϴϴ͘ϱϳ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͕ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƐŚĞĚ ϭϭďƉƐ ƚŽ ϯϵ͕ϱϱϬ͘ϯϲ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ zd ůŽƐƐ ŝŵͲ

8 Lafarge Africa PLC 9 Access Bank PLC

േϯ͘ϮďŶ ƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŽ േϮϮ͘ϭƚŶ Ͳϭ͘ϴй ǁŚŝůĞ ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ Ăƚ ƌŽƐĞ ϱ͘ϯй͘ ďLJ

10 United Bank for Africa PLC 11 FBN Holdings Plc

dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ േϮϯ͘ϰďŶ ƚŽ േϮϬ͘ϲƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ϵϰ͘Ϯй ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ĂŶĚ ϱϴ͘ϯй ďLJ Ϯϭ͘ϲй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ƚŽ ϭϭϬ͘ϴŵ ƚŽ ƵŶŝƚƐ Ϯϳϱ͘ϵŵ ǁŚŝůĞ ǀĂůƵĞ ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ േϯ͘ϵďŶ͘ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ h E ϴϴ͘ϱй ;ϳϱ͘ϵŵ ƚŽ േϯ͘ϭďŶ͘ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ dŚĞ & E, ŵŽƐƚ ;ϲϴ͘ϲŵ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂŶĚ ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁĞƌĞ dZ E^ KZW ;ϭϭ͘ϵŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ & E, ;ϭϭ͘ϭŵ h ;ϭϲ͘ϳŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁŚŝůĞ & E, ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ;േϴϯϲ͘ϰŵͿ͕ K E K ;ϳ͘ϯŵ h E ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ ;േϳϮϬ͘ϴŵͿ͕ E ^d> ĂŶĚ ;േϮ͘ϮďŶͿ͕ E ^Ͳ d> ;േϱϮϴ͘ϱŵͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘ E' D ;േϭϰϱ͘ϬŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;േϭϯϰ͘ϴŵͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘

ƵůůŝƐŚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĞĂƌŝƐŚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ǁĂƐ ďƵůůŝƐŚ ĂƐ ϰ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ Ϯ ůŽƐƚ͘ >ĞĂĚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ĂƐ ϰ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ͕ ϭ ŝŶĚĞdž ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ &ZͲ/ d ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚĞdž ƌŽƐĞ ϭ͘Ϯй ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶͲ ŝŶĚĞdž ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŽƉƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵͲ ƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ D E &/d ;нϯ͘ϲйͿ ĂŶĚ // K ;нϭ͘ϱйͿ͘ ^ƵĐĐĞƐƐŝǀĞͲ Ğƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ϰ͘ϲй ĂŶĚ ůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ &ZͲ/ d ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĮƚͲƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ E ^d> ;Ͳ ϱďƉƐ ϯďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ŐĂŝŶƐ ŝŶ ϵ͘ϭйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ hE/> s Z ;Ͳϯ͘ϱйͿ͕ ŽŶ >/E< ^^hZ ;Ͳϲ͘ϰйͿ͕ ,KEz&>KhZ ;нϭ͘ϱйͿ͕ E ^d> ;нϭďƉͿ͕ ĂŶĚ DdEE ;нϱďƉƐͿ͘ ĂŶĚ D E^ Z ;ͲϮ͘ϮйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬͲ ůƐŽ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŐĂŝŶƐ ŽĨ ϮďƉƐ͕ ŝŶŐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĨĞůů ďLJ Ϭ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϮďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůͲ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ ƉƌŝĐĞ ƵƉƟĐŬ ŝŶ W ;нϲ͘ϵйͿ͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ŇŝƉ ŽīƐ ŝŶ K E K ;ͲϬ͘ϴйͿ͕ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͘ ƐŝĚĞ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ƐŚĞĚ ϰϱďƉƐ ĂŶĚ ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ŐĂŝŶͲ ϰϯďƉƐ ĐŽƌƌĞƐƉŽŶĚŝŶŐůLJ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ůŽƐƐĞƐ ŝŶ d ZE ;Ͳϵ͘ϵйͿ͕ Ğƌ͕ ƵƉ ϭ͘ϴй ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂͲ K E K ;Ͳϭ͘ϭйͿ͕ E/d, ;Ͳϵ͘ϵйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ^^ ;ͲϬ͘ϲйͿ͘ ƟŽŶ ŝŶ E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͘

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ tĞĂŬĞŶƐ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ƚŽ ϭ͘ϰdž ĨƌŽŵ Ăƚ ϭ͘ϵdž ĂƐ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ͕ ƐĞƩůŝŶŐ ϭ͘ϲdž Ϯϭ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ϭϱ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĚĞͲ ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϯdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ Ϯϰ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ

Previous Price Current Price Change Weighting Change YTD

Ticker

12 Nigerian Brew eries PLC 13 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC 14 International Brew eries PLC 15 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC 16 SEPLAT Energy PLC 17 11 PLC 18 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

Price Change Index to Date

ROE

ROA

P/E

5.0x

P/BV

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

26.6%

85.8%

15.0%

3.5%

12.1%

12.1%

14.7%

5.2%

0.7x

5.3%

17.2%

-3.7%

-3.7%

19.1%

11.2%

35.8x

6.7x

-20.2%

-20.2%

24.8%

3.9%

3.9x

1.0x

11.7%

25.6% 29.9%

1.9% 2.8%

24.65

-0.8%

6.4%

-0.6%

-0.6%

20.9%

2.8%

3.3x

0.7x

12.0%

256.50

0.0%

6.0%

4.7%

4.7%

40.4%

16.7%

12.7x

4.9x

6.1%

7.8%

186.00

0.1%

5.1%

9.5%

9.5%

179.2%

14.1%

13.4x

20.4x

5.6%

7.5%

1,395.10

0.0%

3.5%

-7.3%

-7.3%

106.8%

15.6%

27.1x

31.9x

4.3%

3.7%

24.00

0.0%

3.6%

14.0%

14.0%

11.6%

8.4%

9.0x

1.0x

4.2%

11.1%

9.00

-0.6%

2.9%

6.5%

6.5%

17.0%

1.4%

2.5x

0.4x

9.4%

39.6%

7.95

-0.6%

2.4%

-8.1%

-8.1%

2.0x

0.4x

6.9%

50.0%

12.20

0.0%

4.0%

70.6%

70.6%

3.7%

13.9%

48.00

0.0%

1.7%

-14.3%

36.00

0.0%

1.8%

-4.7%

8.4%

0.8%

7.2x

0.6x

-14.3%

5.3%

1.9%

44.2x

2.3x

2.3%

2.3%

-4.7%

15.4%

2.0%

8.3x

1.3x

11.3%

12.1%

-10.3%

-3.9% 4.4x

0.7x

5.8%

22.9%

4.85

0.0%

1.2%

-18.5%

-18.5%

28.30

0.0%

1.1%

8.8%

8.8%

650.00

0.0%

1.6%

61.6%

61.6%

3.4%

1.9%

15.0x

0.5x

6.3%

6.7%

0.9x

-11.7%

0.0%

19 Fidelity Bank PLC 20 Ecobank Transnational Inc 21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC 22 FCMB Group Plc 23 Sterling Bank PLC 24 NASCON Allied Industries PLC 25 Transnational Corp of Nigeria 26 Presco PLC 27 Unilever Nigeria PLC 28 PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC 29 United Capital PLC 30 Guinness Nigeria PLC 31 Custodian and Allied Insurance 32 AIICO Insurance PLC 33 TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeri 34 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

142.00

0.0%

1.2%

56.0%

56.0%

38.8%

25.2%

9.7x

3.4x

5.2%

10.3%

2.54

0.8%

0.7%

0.8%

0.8%

12.0%

1.1%

2.2x

0.3x

8.7%

44.5%

8.90

0.6%

1.0%

48.3%

48.3%

14.8%

0.9%

2.5x

0.3x

17.00

0.0%

0.5%

-3.4%

-3.4%

3.00

0.0%

0.5%

-9.9%

-9.9%

1.50

1.4%

0.3%

-26.5%

-26.5%

10.1%

0.9%

13.20

0.0%

0.3%

-9.0%

-9.0%

21.3%

0.97

0.0%

0.4%

7.8%

7.8%

87.80

0.0%

0.3%

23.7%

23.7%

13.35

0.0%

0.2%

-4.0%

-4.0%

6.25

0.0%

0.2%

17.9%

17.9%

40.8%

1.7x

8.8%

3.3x

0.3x

3.3%

6.9%

12.4x

2.5x

3.0%

8.1%

11.1%

2.3%

5.1x

0.5x

1.0%

19.4%

2.1x

1.2%

-1.3%

-0.8%

5.0%

1.2x

30.7%

-1.1% 4.0%

10.00

0.5%

0.4%

112.3%

112.3%

2.2x

7.0%

39.00

0.0%

0.4%

105.3%

105.3%

8.1%

3.8%

13.9x

1.1x

1.2%

7.2%

7.80

0.0%

0.2%

33.3%

33.3%

24.7%

7.5%

3.8x

0.9x

7.2%

26.0%

7.2%

1.1%

383.3x

0.7x 1.9%

19.8%

0.69

1.5%

0.2%

42.5%

43.8%

221.90

0.0%

0.3%

70.7%

70.7%

0.3%

5.0x

24.80

0.0%

0.2%

40.7%

40.7%

20.7%

2.5%

4.3x

0.8x

1.8%

23.1%

35 Wema Bank PLC 36 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

0.80

0.0%

0.1%

15.9%

15.9%

13.7%

0.8%

3.8x

0.5x

5.0%

26.5%

0.0%

0.0%

7.1%

0.8%

5.5x

0.6x

5.2%

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

4.55

-1.1%

0.1%

23.0%

14.5%

2.6%

2.0x

0.3x

4.7x

0.6x

40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

23.0%

62.50

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

-41.3%

-9.2%

52.95

0.0%

0.1%

-4.4%

-4.4%

14.8%

10.1%

5.38

0.0%

0.0%

49.4%

49.4%

18.3% 51.0%

2.3x

-20.3% 2.0%

21.4%

0.9x T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

T o p 10 G a i n e r s P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

M EYER

0.46

9.5%

UA C N

75.9

-0.5%

C H IP LC

0.59

9.3%

FB NH

68.6

0.0%

CA P

19.45

6.9%

UB A

16.7

-0.6%

A C A D EM Y

0.50

6.4%

ST A N B IC

13.3

0.0%

1.10

5.8%

C OUR T VILLE

7.1

2.7%

SOVR EN IN S

0.25

4.2%

M B EN EF IT

6.9

3.6%

C H A M P ION

2.44

3.8%

Z EN IT H B A N K

6.8

-0.8% 4.2%

T ic k er

LA SA C O

M B EN EF IT

0.29

3.6%

SOVR EN IN S

5.5

N GXGR OUP

18.80

3.0%

GT C O

4.7

0.0%

C OUR T VILLE

0.38

2.7%

C H IP LC

4.5

9.3%

ĐůŝŶĞĚ͘ D z Z ,/W> ;нϵ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ W ;нϲ͘ϵйͿ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ;нϵ͘ϱйͿ͕ ϭϱ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ͘ DZ^ ;нϵ͘ϵйͿ͕ D zͲ T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

T o p 10 L o s e r s

ůĞĚ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ĂŶĚ d ZE ;Ͳϵ͘ϵйͿ͕ DZ^ ;Ͳϵ͘ϵйͿ͕ : Ͳ < Z ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ͕ ,KEz&>KhZ ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ ůĞĚ ĂŶĚ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ T ic k er

W h>'K> ;Ͳϳ͘ϳйͿ ;Ͳϴ͘ϯйͿ͕ ůĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞƌƐ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ƚŽĚĂLJ͛Ɛ ǁŚŝůĞ dZ E^ > ^ K ;Ͳϲ͘ϳйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ >/s Ͳ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ĞdžƚĞŶĚĞĚ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ŽŶ ^dK < ;Ͳϰ͘ϴйͿ ůĞĚ ĂŶ ůŽƐĞƌƐ͘ WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ĚĂLJ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ǁĂŶŝŶŐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽĮƚͲƚĂŬŝŶŐ͘ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ŵŝdžĞĚ͕ ĂƐ ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ ƐĞĂƐŽŶ ŐƌĂĚƵĂůůLJ ǁŝŶĚƐ ƵƉ͘

ET ER N A

P ric e 5.00

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

-9.9%

FB NH

836.4

P ric e C hg % 0.0%

UA C N

720.8

-0.5%

M RS

12.35

-9.9%

J A P A ULGOLD

0.36

-7.7%

N EST LE

528.5

0.0%

LEA R N A F R C A

1.17

-7.1%

ST A N B IC

478.7

0.0%

CHA M S

0.20

-4.8%

M TNN

314.9

0.1%

F T N C OC OA

0.40

-4.8%

Z EN IT H B A N K

168.5

-0.8%

UN IT YB N K

0.45

-4.3%

UB A

133.8

-0.6%

GLA XOSM IT H

6.00

-3.2%

GT C O

121.6

0.0%

R EGA LIN S

0.43

-2.3%

SEP LA T

93.2

0.0%

N EIM ET H

1.75

-2.2%

B UA C EM EN T

83.0

0.0%

45

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 22, 2021• T H I S DAY

MARKET NEWS A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these 'shares' on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust): is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 20Dec-2021, unless otherwise stated.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS

MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS

AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 163.59 165.02 1.06% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 9.06% Nigeria International Debt Fund 318.27 318.27 -17.88% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 100.97 102.12 -7.81% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AIICO Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A info@anchoriaam.com ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 7.78% info@anchoriaam.com Anchoria Equity Fund 136.94 138.61 2.95% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.15 1.15 -13.61% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 20.20 20.81 11.41% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 451.73 465.35 12.83% ARM Ethical Fund 39.38 40.57 16.82% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.07 1.08 -2.07% ARM Fixed Income Fund 0.00 0.00 -94.19% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.26% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 107.94 107.94 6.13% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,064.20 1,064.20 6.42% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.05 2.05 -2.76% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.19 2.24 1.37% mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com ; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund Paramount Equity Fund Women's Investment Fund CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Cordros Money Market Fund Cordros Milestone Fund Cordros Dollar Fund ($) CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Coronation Money Market Fund Coronation Balanced Fund Coronation Fixed Income Fund EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-assetmanagement-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Emerging Africa Money Market Fund Emerging Africa Bond Fund

Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 1.04 1.04 5.67% investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Bid Price 100.00 17.03 139.85

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 100.00 9.72% 17.35 6.51% 141.44 5.08% assetmgtteam@cordros.com

Bid Price 100.00 131.59 110.35

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 100.00 8.34% 132.42 12.23% 110.35 5.82% investment@coronationam.com

Bid Price 1.00 1.25 1.42

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 1.00 8.15% 1.26 3.99% 1.42 -10.28% mutualfundng@ecobank.com

Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 100.00 100.00 7.59% 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 8.61% 1,178.00 1,202.88 2.53% assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com

Bid Price 1.00 1.04

Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.11 Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 104.49 FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price FBN Bond Fund 1,387.85 FBN Balanced Fund 174.07 FBN Halal Fund 115.32 FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 FBN Dollar Fund (Retail) FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Legacy Money Market Fund Legacy Debt Fund Legacy Equity Fund Legacy USD Bond Fund

122.18 148.10 Bid Price 1.00 4.00 1.72 1.20

Offer Price 1.00 1.04

Yield / T-Rtn 7.93% 3.90%

1.11 10.84% 104.49 4.44% invest@fbnquest.com Offer Price 1,387.85 175.22 115.32 100.00

Yield / T-Rtn 11.36% 4.32% 9.31% 9.27%

122.18 3.95% 150.10 12.15% fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Offer Price 1.00 4.00 1.75 1.20

Yield / T-Rtn 7.52% 3.42% 12.85% 6.07%

FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.03% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.82 2.88 -1.31% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 155.97 156.25 0.30% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.26 1.30 0.12% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.07 1.07 4.12% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.49 1.51 9.03% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,158.56 1,158.56 8.53% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 11.59 11.69 10.79% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 10.23% NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 101.63 101.63 7.64% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 9.61% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.58 1.61 13.17% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.13 11.16 -8.36% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 7.41% PACAM Equity Fund 1.43 1.44 -9.72% PACAM EuroBond Fund 113.17 115.48 3.23% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 127.38 129.74 6.89% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.08 1.08 10.05% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,382.63 3,415.07 5.27% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 235.36 235.36 4.67% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.25 1.27 6.78% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 312.58 312.58 6.08% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 235.54 239.42 8.01% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.71% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 10,988.26 11,147.76 4.72% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.29 1.29 5.23% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 116.80 116.80 5.15% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 106.14 106.14 UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.35 1.37 5.07% United Capital Bond Fund 1.95 1.95 6.59% United Capital Equity Fund 0.92 0.94 15.00% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.15% United Capital Eurobond Fund 122.14 122.14 6.69% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.08 1.09 5.65% United capital Sukuk Fund 1.07 1.07 7.21% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund 13.07 13.18 10.12% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 14.52 14.67 9.98% Zenith Income Fund 24.83 24.83 3.45% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.84%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

124.98 54.46

10.62% 7.74%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

13.61 128.24 101.64 17.44 21.46

13.71 131.43 103.88 17.54 21.56

5.76% 6.65% 2.45% -5.19% 17.29%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

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

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.92 5.46 17.53 1.00 20.78 157.55

4.02 5.56 17.73 1.00 20.98 159.55

4.45% -3.91% 8.30% 0.00% 1.24% -15.13%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.28

13.11%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

46

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 22, 2021 •T H I S D AY

47

WEDNESDAY, ͺͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

BOOSTED AGAINST OMICRON COVID-19...

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde (middle) taking the COVID-19 booster jab from the Executive Secretary, Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, Dr Muideen Olatunji (right) while the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, PHOTO: OYO STATE GOVERNMENT. Hon Debo Ogundoyin look on during the flag off of COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign held at Aleshinloye Market, Ibadan.

PSC Rejects Tenure Extension for Former Presidential Security Aide by former IG Orders CP to refund salaries earned since Jan 1, 2020 Promotes two AIGs to rank of DIG, six CPs elevated to AIG Says Kyari's case will be treated in January Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The 13th Plenary Meeting of the Police Service Commission (PSC) yesterday rejected a tenure extension granted a former Chief Security Officer to former President Goodluck Jonathan, CP Abdulkarim Dauda, who was due to retire from service in January, 2020 but had his tenure extended to 2023 by the former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu.

The commission also announced the promotion of two Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) to the rank of Deputy InspectorGeneral of Police (DIG) while six Commissioners of Police (CPs) were promoted to the rank of AIG. The two AIG’s promoted to DIGs were AIG Zaki M. Ahmed and AIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo.

While AIG Zaki was promoted to cover the vacant duty post that was created as a result of the retirement of DIG Tijjani Baba who retired on October 6th, 2021, AIG Kokumo will be filling the gap left by DIG David Oyebanji Folawiyo who retired on November 21, 2021.

Commissioners of Police Buba Sanusi, CP, Katsina State; Ndatsu Aliyu Mohammed, CP Anti Fraud, Force Headquarters Abuja; Bello Sani Dalijan, CP INEC; Sahabo Abubakar Yahaya, CP Yobe State; Akingbola Olatunji, CP Benue State and Hakeem Odumosun, CP Lagos State whose appeal for adjustment of promotion date was approved were promoted Assistant Inspector’s General of Police.

Briefing newsmen at the end of a plenary meeting in Abuja, the Commissioner representing the Media and the South-south zone in the commission, Mr. Austin Adoyonme Braimo, said the board rejected an appeal by the affected former security aide of President Jonathan, whom instead of proceeding on retirement in January 1, 2020, his tenure was extended to 2023 by former IGP Mohammed Adamu.

He said that in spite of the extension, CP Abdulkarim Dauda wrote the commission to promote him to the rank of AIG. The board, however, rejected his appeal and ordered him to refund the salaries earned within

the period.

"We want to ensure that justice is done. That is what the board has done. We took the decision so that it will act as a deterrent.

"The board has taken a decision and the decision will be communicated to the IG", he said.

The commission also announced the promotion of 17 Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) to the rank of Commissioner of Police while 24 Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACP) were promoted to the rank of DCP. He disclosed that 49 Chief Supretendents of Police (CSPs) were elevated to the rank of ACP

even as 74 Supretendents of Police (SPs) were moved up to the rank of CPS. Further details showed that 866 Deputy Supretendents of Police (DSPs) were promoted to the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP) while 716 Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASPs) 2 were confirmed ASP 1.

"I urge officers who have not received promotion to be patient.

We are aware of so many officers, who have spent 6-7 years on the same rank. We will address it", he said.

On the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Abba Kyari,

he said the recommendation of the IG was before the commission and would be given due consideration.

He said the recommendation was before a department, which would get to a standing committee before reaching the plenary for consideration.

Continuing, he said Abba Kyari's matter would be treated by January next year.

Meanwhile, Police Force Headquarters yesterday paraded 26 crime suspects including five women in Abuja.

The suspects were involved in kidnapping, armed robbery, impersonation, among others.

New Regional Maritime Boss to Fast-track AFCFTA, Says OPS Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The emergence of Nigeria's Paul Adalikwu as the new Executive Secretary of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) will help speed up development of the maritime sector,

the leadership of the organised private sector (OPS) in Nigeria have said.

They expressed optimistism that Adalikwu's appointment would facilitate the realisation of the critical objectives of the African Continental Free Trade

Area (AFCFTA) agreement.

Adalikwu who was unanimously elected at the 16th Extra-Ordinary Session of the organisation in Accra, Ghana, had recieved the endorsement of Transport Ministers of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) member countries.

but these are all the indications that the vaccine is working. These are mild symptoms compared to the symptoms you will feel if you were to contract the actual COVID-19.

“This is part of the technology that pretends that this is COVID-19, but in actual fact, it makes your body raise up armies that will now defeat the actual virus.

“So, please stop hesitating, stop having any doubts. It is a question of integrity for us that we do the right thing and we are showing, through leadership from Mr. President, the governors, the legislators that have come out openly to take these vaccines, that these vaccines are exactly what we need to be able to protect our health and then begin to build back our economy.”

He is expected to run the affairs of the organisation for four years from its headquarters in Abidjan.

The objectives of MOWCA include to serve the regional and international community for handling all maritime matters that are regional in character; cost effective shipping, pollution free marine environment and promoting safety and security in the region’s maritime domain.

MOWCA unifies 25 countries on the West and Central African shipping range (inclusive of five landlocked countries).

These countries comprise of 20 coastal states bordering the North and South Atlantic Ocean with five landlocked countries.

Adalikwu, had in his acceptance speech, thanked the 25 MOWCA countries for the support and assured them of running the organisation in line with the rules and vision of its founding fathers.

Reacting to the development, the organised private sector in Nigeria commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the nomination and support for the emergence of the new Secretary General.

According to the statement signed by Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, President of Nigerian Private Sector Alliance and Vice

Continued on page 48

Continued on page 49

Buhari Gets COVID-19 Booster Vaccine NPHCDA: Booster shot gives better protection against Omicron

Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday received the booster dose of Pfizer Biontech vaccine as an addition to the initial two jabs he had taken earlier in the year, at the State House, Abuja.

Like the original two jabs, the booster shot was administered on the President by his Chief Personal Physician, Dr. Suhayb Rafindadi, after which his vaccination card was signed by the Director-General of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib.

Speaking on the significance of President Buhari receiving his booster vaccine shot, Shuaib said the president was leading by example, being one of the first to receive the booster shot, at the

same time passing a message to Nigerians that the vaccines are safe and efficacious.

He, however, called on Nigerians still hesitant about taking the vaccines to go get vaccinated, pointing out that more than eight million Nigerians had been vaccinated successfully.

The NPHCDA boss, however, noted that new developments have shown that COVID-19 is fast becoming the disease of the unvaccinated, adding that the country has acquired enough vaccines to cater for eligible Nigerians.

He said: “The significance of the shot this morning is that the father of the nation is leading by example, as usual, he is among the first people that have taken the booster dose of the Pfizer Biontech vaccine. Again, to show, clearly, to all Nigerians that

Sixteen assorted fire arms were also recovered from them including three AK47 rifles and seven AK 47 magazines and 167 live ammunition, smart phones and Iphones.

Parading the suspects, Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Frank Mba, a Commissioner of Police, said the suspects were variously involved in the kidnapping of a 9-year old boy from a school in Abuja while others were involved in kidnapping and armed banditry in Kaduna State even as others robbed petrol stations and ATM machines.

He said the suspects would be charged to court on conclusion of investigation.

it is safe, it is efficacious, and now that over eight million Nigerians have been vaccinated, here is another proof that this vaccine is safe and it's a clarion call to all Nigerians to make themselves available to get the vaccine.

“The evidence is there, over 8 million Nigerians have taken the vaccines safely. They are well, they are going about their normal businesses and what we're seeing from the data is that COVID-19 is now mostly a disease of the unvaccinated.

“Out of every 10 people that have died, the data shows that eight of them are unvaccinated. So, there's a greater likelihood of dying from COVID-19 if you're unvaccinated.”

He added: “What Mr. President has done today is again to indicate to all Nigerians that federal government does everything to make sure that

only safe and efficacious vaccines are brought into Nigeria, and that when they are brought into Nigeria, we'll double check to make sure that it fits the very high standards that have been set by NAFDAC. “So, when you go to any health facility, when you go to any mass vaccination site, one thing that should be clear in your mind is that this vaccine that is going into your body is safe and is going to protect you against severe forms of COVID-19. It will also protect you from dying from COVID-19.

That is the assurance that we're giving Nigerians.

“The other thing that we are also telling Nigerians is that when you take the vaccine, you may feel some pain at the site of the vaccination, you may feel a little bit feverish, you may feel a little bit of body pains,

48

WEDNESDAY, ͺͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

AT GROUND ZERO, SANTA BARBRA WELL...

L-R: A Nigerian Navy Personnel; Minister of State for Environment , Mrs. Sharon Ikeazor, and Health Safety and Environment Manager, Aiteo Eastern E&P Company, Mrs. Augustina Bisong, at Ground Zero Santa Barbra Well 01, in Opu-Nembe , Bayelsa State, where the minister visited to ascertain post-spill clean-up readiness… yesterday

Finally, FG Restores Emirates' Winter Schedule in Nigeria Chinedu Eze After many weeks of diplomatic row, the federal government has finally reinstated Emirates Airlines daily schedule to Nigeria.

Emirates had been given approval to operate 21 times weekly; two daily flights to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and one daily flight to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The restoration of Emirates flights was contained in a letter signed by the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Musa Nuhu, addressed to the country manager, Emirates Airlines.

The letter stated: "Following the further consultations with various stakeholders and the letter from Dubai CAA with reference number DCAA/ASA/N-3/016 dated 17th December, 2021 offering Air Peace Airlines daily slots to Dubai airports, I wish to inform you the re-instatement of the ministerial

approval of Emirates Airlines Winter Schedule."

It noted that the approval was predicated on compliance

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, has called on the people of the state to come out en masse to welcome Pesident Muhammadu Buhari to the state tomorrow, December 23.

The President is expected to commission multiple projects that were completed by the Zulum administration.

The governor made the call while inspecting one of the projects penned down for commissioning, the Customs flyover, this afternoon.

Zulum said Buhari has greatly supported Borno towards the people living in peace harmony and progress, adding that he has spent more than $50 million to generate stable and sustainable power and energy for the people

Nigeria to UAE. The federal government had restricted Emirates to just one weekly flight to Abuja, after

discussions broke down over the UAE’s restriction of Air Peace to just one flight to Sharjah.

In response, Emirates had

also withdrawn flight services from Nigeria in what led to a diplomatic impasse between the two countries.

INEC Reviews Bimodal System, Unveils Electoral Innovations Discovers 14,665 multiple registration of voters Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, announced that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) designed by its in-house engineers, has been reviewed for maximum performance and deployment in coming elections.

INEC National Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, at a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners in Abuja, said the BVAS was one of the two important technological innovations introduced during the in the Anambra State governorship election.

Zulum Urges Borno Residents to Give Buhari Rousing Welcome Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri

with the Dubai Travel Protocol as released by Dubai airports on Friday 26 November 2021 as it affects travellers travelling from

of the state.

He promised that if the Maiduguri Gas power plant was completed in March, people of the state would enjoy stable power supply for 24 hours.

The governor also commended Buhari for spending million of dollars to purchase weapons and other equipment for the military as well as ordering security operative to secure farmland and allow farmers to cultivate their farm across the state.

President Buhari is expected to commission newly constructed first ever flyover in Borno and dualized 20 Kilometres Custom to Muna highway, as well commissioning of New Centre for Distance Learning at the University of Maiduguri, led by a business mogul and philanthropist, Alhaji Muhammed Indimi, among others.

The BVAS, which was designed to replace the Smart Card Reader for verification and authentication as part of improved voter accreditation process, he said was deployed for the first time in a major election after the successful pilot in the Isoko South I State Constituency in Delta State in September this year.

“Like every new technology, glitches were observed and important lessons learnt. We wish to assure Nigerians that the Commission has reviewed the performance of the BVAS in Anambra State and there will be a tremendous improvement leading to optimal performance in future elections.

Aside the BVAS, which had come to stay, he said: “So too is the uploading of Polling Unit results on the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal in real-time on Election Day. “We are convinced that the introduction of technology in voter accreditation and result management is better than the best entirely manual process. It also increases public confidence in the process. We will continue to deepen the use of technology in our elections,” he said.

He said that the second technological innovation introduced in the Anambra election went virtually unnoticed by many Nigerians.

“For sometime now, dedicated portals were created by Commission to handle different aspect of the electoral process. For instance, the nomination of candidates by political parties, including the uploading of nomination forms, is now done online. So too is the accreditation of election observers and the media.

In addition, and for the first time in the history of the Commission, the accreditation of polling and collation agents nominated by political parties was done online.

“This has ensured that all such agents were provided with identification tags bearing not only their party logos, names and other personal details but personal photographs as well.”

In all, he said the Commission issued 63,745 identification tags to agents of the 18 political parties that sponsored candidates for the election.

“This has sanitised the process and made the identification of ghost party agents easier. We will maintain the same arrangement for all forthcoming elections, including the 2023 general election.”

He also reported that INEC had completed the second quarter of the CVR exercise, which started in June online and physically at designated centres, adding that the third quarter exercise would start in January 2022.

“For those already registered, they would like to know when their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) will be available for collection. The Commission is working on these concerns and issues and will issue a comprehensive schedule for both activities early in the new year.”

Yakubu said the commission had cleaned up the data, using the new Automatic Biometric Identification System (ABIS) to weed out multiple registrations.

As a result, he said that a testimony to the efficacy of ABIS process, "14,665 (34.1%) multiple registrations were detected and rejected. Consequently, the number of new valid registrants in the FCT is 28,321.

"Added to this figure are requests for transfer of registrations to FCT, replacement of lost or damaged PVCs and update of voter records, making an overall total of 39,208 new PVCs to be printed. I am glad to report that all the PVCs will be

available for collection from 6th January 2022 until 4th February 2022.”

On other off season elections, Yakubu said in June this year, the Commission released the timetable and schedule of activities for the Ekiti governorship election holding on June 18, 2022 and the Osun governorship election scheduled for July 16, 2022.

He said that a major activity for the two elections is the conduct of primaries by political parties for the nomination of candidates for the election.

For Ekiti State, he said the exercise begins in the next 2 weeks on January 4, 2022 and ends on the 29th, while in the case of Osun State, party primaries begin on

February 16, 2022 and ends on March 12, 2022.

In addition, he explained that there are eight pending bye-elections involving three Federal Constituencies (Jos North/Bassa in Plateau State, Akure North/Akure South in Ondo State and Ogoja/Yala in Cross River State) and five State constituencies (Shinkafi in Zamfara State, Ekiti East I in Ekiti State, Akpabuyo in Cross River State, Pankshin South in Plateau State and Giwa West in Kaduna State).

The commission, however, reminded political parties that in choosing their candidates for these elections, that they must abide by the provisions of the law, INEC’s regulations and guidelines as well as their Constitutions and guidelines.

BUHARI GETS COVID-19 BOOSTER VACCINE The DG, who noted that the booster shot gives a better chance against the Omicron variant of COVID-19, explained the procedure for receiving the jab.

According to him: “To get the booster shot, all you need to do is go to the nearest health facility or any vaccination center with your vaccination card and you will get the booster shots, we're making the vaccines available all across the country. So, you don't have to go too far from where you live or from where you work to get the booster doses.

“For example, if you've gotten the AstraZeneca vaccine, first and second doses, you have to wait six months after the second dose to get your Pfizer Biontech. If you actually got the Moderna vaccine, you also have to wait for six months before you get the second dose or get the booster dose. So, after the first dose of the Moderna, you get the second dose after four weeks,

then after six months, you are now eligible to get the booster.

“If you got the Johnson and Johnson vaccine as a single shot vaccine, then you are eligible for a booster after two months. So, these are the protocols that we've laid out there, and we're encouraging Nigerians to go and get vaccinated with the booster shots because what evidence shows is that when you get the booster shot, you actually get better protection against the Omicron variant. We are all aware that the Omicron variance is globally being transmitted, especially with the holiday season, people are traveling.

“So, this is an opportunity for you to go to the nearest health facility or the nearest mass vaccination site, we now have mass vaccination sites, in markets, in shopping centers, in places that are densely populated; in some estates and in the workplace.

You can go to any of these centers and get vaccinated."

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2021

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FOCUS Atedo Peterside: My COVID Experience After Taking Two Doses of Astrazeneca Vaccine and Pfizer Booster Shot, COVID Still Knocked on My Door

By Atedo Peterside

T

here was an outbreak of COVID in my house as last weekend approached and so I told myself that I must do the correct thing.

I immediately went into self isolation (because I had been exposed) and started cancelling all physical engagements that I had committed to attend over the course of the next few days.

One of the first casualties was a Future Leaders Network event billed for Saturday morning in Ikoyi where I was supposed to be the Keynote Speaker. I contacted them and offered to deliver my Keynote Address virtually instead. Dr Tony Rapu (Medical Doctor & Pastor) was the intermediary for this engagement. He was the one who pressured me to commit to being the Keynote Speaker at this event that was organised by a bunch of highly responsible young men. Tony even held an emergency conference call between the young leaders, himself and myself to help “pacify” them after I cancelled my physical participation. They decided to postpone their event on account of my physical absence; they felt it was too late in the day to hurriedly arrange for my virtual participation instead.

I maintained my ground with all and sundry that it would be irresponsible for me to start going around Lagos attending physical functions at a time when there had been an outbreak of COVID in my house. I know a little bit about the Omicron variant and how highly transmissible it is. That I had no symptoms whatsoever was not the issue. The chances were that I could be at the incubation stage.

It would suffice to say that I cancelled all physical engagements in Lagos, including Weddings, Business Meetings etc. Then I got a phone call inviting me to go to Aso Rock on Wednesday to attend the launching of the new National Development Plan 2021-25 by Mr President,

Peterside

in my capacity as Co-Chairman (Private Sector) of the National Steering Committee that was set up to produce the Plan. Indeed, my Co-Chairman (Public Sector) called me also i.e. the Finance Minister. I told her that I felt fine and had no symptoms,

but that the correct thing to do (as per NCDC protocols) was that I must continue to self-isolate. In anycase, my latest COVID test had been taken on Monday morning by 54-Gene and the result was not yet out.

The Finance Minister accepted my logic and

said she would explain my absence for health reasons and based on a strict adherence to the NCDC safety protocols. We even discussed how long the incubation period could stretch.

This morning (Tuesday) I woke up and saw an email that came in overnight containing my COVID test result from Monday (yesterday) morning and it was POSITIVE. I have chosen to tell this story so others can learn from it. If I did not steadfastly cancel all engagements since Friday morning, only God knows how I might have contributed to the spread of COVID in Nigeria simply by being irresponsible and disobedient.

I still do not have any COVID symptoms, but in a sense my positive test result was both a relief and a lesson. To all those who felt I was being too strict to the point of being ridiculous, I stand vindicated. I am relieved because some people argued with my stance and felt I was simply overzealous.

Now they know different.

Apart from using my plight to serve as a lesson to others, my final reason for making this public is to help a few misguided persons who still prefer to stigmatise COVID. There is nothing to be ashamed about if you are the latest person to be caught by a pandemic.

Finally, please get your head around this; I had taken two doses of the Astrazeneca Vaccine in early March and late May 2021 and I also took the Pfizer booster shot last week in Victoria Island and yet COVID still knocked on my door. I was well prepared in the sense of taking all the preventive measures which the Nigerian Government placed at my disposal. Perhaps the vaccines help to make me asymptomatic (so far) ? Are you as well prepared as I was? If you are not, what do you intend to do about it? *Atedo N A Peterside CON Chairman, Anap Foundation COVID-19 Think Tank

NEWS EL-RUFAI: WE DON’T NEGOTIATE WITH TERRORISTS IN KADUNA, WE KILL THEM to meet their Creator.

Regarding his position on repentant bandits, el-Rufai said, "There is nothing like repentant terrorists (or bandits). The only repentant bandit is the one that is dead. Our intention in the state is to kill them (bandits/ terrorists), let them go and see God." Explaining that care must be taken in dealing with bandits to avoid collateral damage to innocent civilians, he said, “There was a problem. Even if you know where the bandits are, you don’t want to go and bomb all of them, because they may have civilians in custody.

You may have collateral damage.

And without the declaration of bandits as terrorists, it might even be referred to as abuse of their human rights.”

The governor, however, said the recent declaration of bandits by the Federal High Court as terrorists had provided an avenue to fight them without limits.

“So, no one will be dragged to the international court, because you killed bandits. No,” he said, emphasising that Kaduna State would not negotiate with bandits, as its policy was to kill them all.

On the nomenclature of the criminals, the governor stated emphatically, “They are bandits.

If you want to call them terrorists you can call them terrorists, but we don’t want to confuse them with terrorists that we know, the Boko Haram. IPOB has been declared terrorists. We don’t call them terrorists, we call them IPOB. The nomenclature doesn’t matter. What matters is

that they are now fair game for the armed forces.

“Once you say banditry of whatever description has been designated terrorists, that’s it.

That gives the military the power to do what they do. What we call them is not important. What they are called does not matter, but it is the legal status of being declared terrorists that matters.

The legal status is that they have been declared terrorists but which terrorists? There are many terrorists in Nigeria. Boko Haram are terrorists. Ansaru are terrorists.

“The ones that we have in Kaduna are bandits that have now been declared terrorists.

These are people that rob, they kill, they kidnap for ransom. We call them bandits to differentiate them from the rest but they are terrorists.”

He called for more military operations, adding that the security agencies have been overstretched, with their involvement in operations in virtually all parts of the country.

On whether the security forces lacked the requisite intelligence to be ahead of the bandits, el-Rufai said, “Yes, we receive security reports, we know a lot about the bandits and where they are and their activities.

“But you must understand that the intelligence has to be acted upon. And if the security forces are unwilling or unable to reach the locations where these bandits are, then, there is nothing we can do as a state government.

“Federal security forces are not under our direct control. We

support them, we work with them, the intelligence is being provided, but the truth of the matter is that our military and police are very few in number and they are overstretched.”

The governor acknowledged that the security agencies were doing their best, but said their efforts were not enough.

He said, “So, you have to understand the limitations that they face before you conclude that they are not doing enough.

They are doing a lot. But is it enough? Certainly, not. Much more needs to be done.

“But can they do more with the number of policemen they have and the number of soldiers?

I don’t know. We need to ramp up recruitment in the Nigeria Police; we need to ramp up recruitment in the Nigerian armed forces.

“We have too few number and our armed forces are overstretched. They are operating in several states, about 33 states, the last time we checked, and how many are they? So, we must understand the constraint that they face and sympathise with them.

“But with the acquisition of more advanced equipment from Jordan, China, Turkey and the United States, we expect that the kinetic capabilities of our armed forces will be greatly improved.

So, we hope to see the end of this insecurity.”

The governor, however, said despite the level of insecurity in Kaduna, the state had continued to attract investments even though it could have been better.

He stated, “Kaduna State is a huge state. We have 46,000 square kilometres. So, the fact that there is insecurity in one part does not mean there’s insecurity everywhere. It’s not Lagos; it’s not a small place at all.

“Yes, we’ve had investment summit and they have been very successful. In the last five years, we have attracted nearly $3billion in investments, in spite of all these stories about insecurity, because investors know that large parts of Kaduna State are quite safe; they are safe as anything.”

Meanwhile, at the House of Representatives, the lawmakers urged the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, and as well the National Commission for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons to intervene by providing relief materials and support for the victims of insecurity in Kaduna State.

The resolutions were sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Shehu Balarabe at the plenary yesterday. Moving the motion, Balarabe lamented that killing and kidnapping of innocent citizens in his constituency by armed bandits, saying it has reached an unbearable dimension.

He recalled that the persistent and increasing cases of armed bandits attacks, killings and kidnappings in Giwa and other local governments, which has continued, hds been made known to the House several times.

He recalled that the armed bandits had shot dead a member

of Kaduna State House of Assembly, representing Giwa West constituency, Hon. Rilwanu Aminu Gadaga on December13.

The bandits, he further recalled, had recently massacred 40 people in villages within the Giwa constituency, burning several houses, destroying motorcycles and other properties.

While acknowledging the efforts of the state government and various security agencies to counter the bandits and

stop the killings, the lawmaker expressed concern that despite the current effort of government and security agencies, those bandits have continued to strike mercilessly and ruthlessly on innocent citizens.

Adopting the motion, the House mandated its committee on disaster management to visit the local government, access the situation and report back within two weeks for further legislative action.

NEW REGIONAL MARITIME BOSS TO FASTTRACK AFCFTA, SAYS OPS President Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the maritime sector was key to the realisation of the AfCFTA. “We have no doubt Adalikwu will make a world of difference in this position to ensure the development of the maritime sector in West and Central Africa. The clear and urgent need to bring up to speed the maritime sector for the purposes of realising the the critical objectives of the AFCFTA cannot be over emphasised.

"The development of the African Maritime sector is key to our realisation of the noble ideals of the AfCFTA. Adalikwu's position will now go to support the leading and dynamic roles Dr Adesina, President of the AFDB and Prof Oramah, President of the AFREXIM Bank are playing in bringing socio-economic development to Africa," he said.

He described Adalikwu as a highly educated, trained and seasoned technocrat, noting that he will bring a wealth of experience

and dynamic competence to the Secretariat of MOWCA. Adalikwu, in his acceptance speech, thanked the 25 MOWCA countries for the support and assured them of running the organisation in line with the rules and vision of its founding fathers.

He also pledged commitment to mobilising all countries in West and Central Africa to maximise their maritime potentials for their individual economic growth and collective interest of all.

He said “It is with utmost respect and emotion that I address you on my success at the just concluded election that has placed on me the onerous task of piloting the affairs of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) in the next four years.

"Africa is so highly endowed to have positive impact on trading activities within its maritime domain and I will work very assiduously to see that we take our proper place in the global maritime space.”

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WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 22, 2021 •T H I S D AY

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WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 22, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

NSCDC Promises to Secure Custodial Centres against Attacks Michael Olugbode in Abuja The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Audi, has promised to work in consonance with officers and men of the Nigeria Correctional Service(NCoS) to the end jailbreak in the country.

Speaking at the opening of the third Commandant General’s Conference of the NSCDC, Audi disclosed that recently, the Minister of Interior charged the Corps to effectively collaborate and synergise with the NCoS to effectively secure our Custodial Centres across the country against marauding hoodlums who have suddenly focused their attention on attacking these centres in a bid to embarrass the government.

He said: “This is an additional responsibility which must be carried out to the latter. I therefore charge you all to ensure full implementation and compliance as you return to your various formations. You are expected to liaise with the Controllers of Corrections in your various states to workout modalities to effectively synergize to provide additional security to complement the security arrangements already on ground at the various Custodial Centres.”

He told the officers that: “You will be adequately briefed and furnished with the list of the Custodial Centres located within your State before the end of this programme.”

He reminded the officers that: “At the last conference, I gave a specific charge and tasked the various Directorates, Zonal and State Commands to redouble their efforts and step up their

operational activities to effectively deliver on the Corps mandate and to secure and safeguard the Nation’s Critical National Assets and Infrastructure while at the same time ensure effective

synergy with the Military and other Sister Security Agencies to end the spate of insecurity in the Country for peace and socio economic development.”

He said: “This conference

therefore provides us the opportunity to appraise our journey so far and assess the performances of each Directorate, Zonal and State Commands in the outgoing year.”

MORE WINNERS EMERGE IN GLO PROMO…

L-R: Managing Director, Anambra State Signage and Advertising Agency, Chief Jude Emecheta; Anambra State Commissioner for Social Welfare, Children and Women Affairs, Lady Ndidi Mezue; car winner, Chinedu John Anierobi, his mother, Mrs. Mabel Anierobi; Nollywood actress, Patience Ozokwor; Globacom’s Regional Manager, Mike Ehumadu, and popular actress, Ebube Nwagbo, at the presentation of prizes to winners in Globacom’s Joy Unlimited Extravaganza promotion in Onitsha, Anambra State…yesterday

Don’t Compromise Security Issues, We’ll Avert Teachers’ Strike, Says Niger Commissioner Bauchi Gov Charges New CP Laleye Dipo in Minna

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi The newly posted Commissioner of Police (CP) to Bauchi State, Umar Sanda, has been charged not to compromise issues of security in the state no matter who is concerned.

He was also charged to provide effective policing across the state using community policing system by engaging traditional and community leaders who have adequate knowledge of their people and the terrain.

The charge was given by the State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed while receiving the new CP, who paid him a familiarisation/courtesy visit at the Government House yesterday, stressing that the issue of security should not be trivialised by any means.

Mohammed further charged

the new CP to work with state government in addressing various forms of security challenges from across the state considering the terrain.

The governor said that his administration was committed to providing all the needed support for the activities of security which he said must not be toyed with calling on the Commissioner not be influenced by self-centered personalities no matter his/her status.

Mohammed also advised him to provide a platform for discussing critical security issue with the Divisional Police Officers who are more on the ground to enhance their operations.

The CP had earlier told the governor that he was there to familiarise with the governor having been just transferred to the state.

The Niger State Commissioner for Education Mrs. Hannatu Jibrin Salihu, has vowed that the state government would do everything possible to avert the strike threatened by teachers in the state.

Teachers in the state have vowed to remain at home if at the end of December the local government councils in the state would continue

to pay the salaries of primary school teachers in percentages.

The income of the councils reduced following the implementation of partial autonomy for local governments, some four months ago and resulting in a situation where more than 18 out of the 25 local governments were not able to meet their financial obligations.

However the commissioner for Education said yesterday that government would seriously

dialogue with the leadership of the NUT at all levels with the sole aim of averting the strike.

She also promised that the ministry would also discuss with those in charge of finance at local governments on how to restore all deductions made from teachers’ salaries, which were not forwarded to the NUT. Earlier while addressing the 3rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Teachers Social

Security Scheme (TSSS) at the Teachers House, the commissioner assured that the state government would continue to “collaborate with the leadership of the NUT for administration and business purposes towards building a long lasting partnership that will not only make NUT a model amongst the labor associates in the state but an exemplary model for other states labor unions to look upon as pacesetter in the scheme of things.”

I Killed Lucky Igbinedion’s Mother with Stool, Says House Help Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-city A twenty five-year-old female house help, Dominion Okoro, a native of Calabar, Cross River State, yesterday revealed how she used a stool in the early hours of December 2 to hit the head and killed Madam Maria Oredola Igbinedion, 85, the mother of former Governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion.

Okoro, employed a year and three months before the alleged crime, while being paraded at Edo State police headquarters in Benin-city, disclosed that she made away with N100,000, a wristwatch and jewelry from the residence of the Igbinedions at the Government Reservation Area (GRA), Benin-city.

She said: “I killed mama (Madam Maria Igbinedion) in other to take her money. She

did not offend me. While she was sleeping on her bed around 12:01 a.m. on December 2, 2021, I used a stool to hit her on the head while she was shouting for help; the gate man was the only person around but did not hear the shout, so mama later died.

“I waited till 4 a.m. on December 2, 2021, before leaving the house with mama’s N100,000, wristwatch, and jewelry. I escaped to Cross River

State, but I was later arrested by the police.”

Mrs. Igbinedion was buried in Benin-city on December 10 after a funeral service at St. Augustine Catholic Church in the Edo State capital.

The prime suspect (Dominion’s) elder sister, Patience, was arrested by the police before Dominion was later apprehended and moved to Benin for thorough investigation.

The Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has announced the creation of the Ministry of Homeland Security and Vigilante Affairs (MHSVA), which would be headed by Dr. Ugorji Ugorji.

The announcement of the creation of the new ministry yesterday followed the reconstitution of the state cabinet and the swearing in

of 18 new commissioners who are mainly technocrats by the state governor.

The creation of the MHSVA demonstrated the administration’s readiness to proactively tackle the spate of rising insecurity in the state in an innovative way.

Ugorji is a security analyst and global affairs scholar with expertise in human capital

development and homeland security.

He had earned four university degrees by the age of 29– two bachelor’s degrees, one master’s degree, and a doctorate degree. His doctorate is in Educational Leadership and Administration from Rutgers University, New Jersey.

He also bagged a second Master’s degree in Homeland

Security from George Washington University, Washington, DC. He has over 35 years of experience in public administration at local, state, national and international levels.

Ugorji was appointed the first ever special adviser on Homeland Security and Intelligence for the state by Uzodimma in January 2021.

Customs Strike Force Seizes N6.1m Hard Drugs in Katsina Imo Creates Ministry for Security, Appoints New Commissioner plus capsule, bobarak capsule Francis Sardauna in Katsina The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Strike Force Zone B, has intercepted N6.1 million foreign hard drugs with fake National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) registration number in Katsina State.

The Coordinator of the Comptroller-General of Customs Strike Force, Oseni Aliyu Olorukooba, disclosed this yesterday while displaying the seized items before journalists in Katsina.

He said the drugs were intercepted by operatives of the strike force in Malumfashi and Jibia local government areas of the state as part of the NCS’s ongoing war against smuggling.

He listed the seized drugs to include 52 cartons of EJAC powder manpower, hympashy capsule, amipara

manpower, Sacks manpower, goldfly, gonorrhoea capsule, ginseng coffee manpower, among others.

He also announced the seizure of 550 bags of foreign rice, 300 cartons of foreign spaghetti, 790 cartons of foreign soaps concealed in biscuits and noodles’ cartons and a motorcycle with the duty paid value of N104,788,000.

Olorukooba said: “For the purpose of statistics, we have seized 450 bags of 50kg each of foreign parboiled rice, 100 bags of 25kg each of rice, 300 cartons of foreign spaghetti, 790 cartons of foreign soaps, 52 cartons of drugs and one motorcycle.

“The grand total of the duty paid value of all the items seized within the last quarters (October to December) in the Katsina axis here is N110,890,000.”

Stakeholders Advise Airline Operators on Bad Weather, Operational Guidelines Stakeholders in the aviation industry have advised airline operators to continue to stick to operational guidelines in order to ensure the safety of lives of Nigerians and other air travellers.

In a statement issued yesterday under the aegis of Vanguard for the Safety of

Air Travellers (VAFAT), the stakeholders said the major concern of any traveller, especially those by air, is safety, how to take off and land safely, urging airline operators to continue to have passenger safety as topmost priority at all times.

They also warned travellers

to desist from mounting undue pressure as well as physical abuse on pilots and crew, in order to fly with sound minds, which is necessary for safety of passengers.

The statement, which was signed by Magnus Mezie-Obi and Zainab Ladi Abdulmumuni, National

Secretary and National Publicity Secretary of the group respectively, also commended airline operators, the Minister for Aviation and the directorgeneral of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for the current health of the country’s aviation industry and airspace.

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WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 22, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Insecurity: Lawmakers Urge IG, Service Chiefs to End Banditry in Kaduna Udora Orizu inAbuja The House of Representatives has urged the Inspector General of Police (IG), Usman Alkali Baba, and Service Chiefs to intensify operations to completely eradicate activities of

bandits and other criminals, and restore normalcy in Giwa/Birnin-Gwari federal constituency, Kaduna State.

The lawmakers also urged the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, and the National

Commission for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons to intervene by providing relief materials and support for the affected victims.

The resolutions were sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. hehu Balarabe at the plenary

NYSC Tasks FG on Approval of Trust Fund Funmi Ogundare The Lagos State Coordinator, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mr. Eddy Megwa, yesterday called on the federal government to approve the NYSC trust fund, as it will go a long way to sustain the financial requirements of the scheme.

Megwa, who made this know during a media chat, emphasised on the impact corps members are making on the economy, saying the approval of the trust fund will further boost their morale to be job creators.

According to him, “We know that the number of corps members coming into the scheme keeps increasing.

At inception, it was just 2,000 plus. This number is what the scheme mobilises for a state for a particular orientation now. Even then, they were eager to go for youth service because the jobs were there, but now, the jobs are not there.

“At the peak of the COVID, we introduced the skills

Bonnie Iwuoha’s Death Devastating, Painful, Say Editors The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has expressed shock and sadness over the death Abia State former Commissioner of Information and Strategy, and a Fellow of NGE, Mr. Bonnie Iwuoha.

In a statement issued yesterday which was signed by the NGE’s President, Mustapha Isah, and the General Secretary, Iyobosa Uwugiaren, the professional body of all the editors in Nigeria described the death of Iwuoha as “devastating, painful and huge loss’’ to the Guild and journalism profession in Nigeria.

“Iwuoha was a committed Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors. He served in various committees, and was the chairman of the Electoral Committee of NGE on several occasions, including our last convention in May 2021 in Kano. His last outing in the Guild’s activities was the All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) in Abuja two months ago, where he was a discussant at the conference. ‘’This was typical of him.

He never missed any of our activities. He was a man of deep conviction, honest, very principled and lively. Just last week, the former president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) called some Standing Committee’s members of NGE, including the president and the General Secretary, to discuss the affairs of the Guild.

acquisition programme, when the corps members started producing facemasks and hand sanitisers.

They also went to raise funds from their allowance to buy food stuff for distribution to people.

It is about them making impact on the society. Skills acquisition is what is driving the scheme, without it, our society will be in big mess,” he stressed.

He also expressed concern about the unemployment rate in

the country, saying that by the time the scheme churns out over 400,000 corps members every year, only 5,000 are able to get pensionable jobs.

“What will happen to the remaining graduates? Will they be at home folding their arms? Before you know it, they would have become bandits. If you listen to the refine English spoken by bandits, you will know that these are graduates.”

yesterday. Moving the motion, Balarabe lamented that killings and kidnappings of innocent citizens in the constituency by bandits has taken unbearable dimension, and has become the order of the day.

He recalled that the persistent and increasing cases of bandits attacks, killings and kidnappings in Giwa and other local government areas which has continued doggedly till

date has been made known to the House several times.

The lawmaker also recalled that the bandits had shot dead a member of Kaduna State House of Assembly representing Giwa West constituency, Hon. Rilwanu Aminu Gadaga, on December 13.

Balarabe further recalled that these bandits recently massacred 40 people in villages within Giwa constituency,

burning several houses, destroying motorcycles and other properties.

While acknowledging the efforts of the state government and various security agencies to counter the bandits and stop the killings, the lawmaker expressed concerns that despite the current effort of the government and security agencies, those bandits are striking mercilessly and ruthlessly on innocent citizens

Forum Passes Vote of Confidence on APC Caretaker Committee Ugo Aliogo

The Progressive Students Forum (PSF) of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has passed a vote of confidence on the Caretaker Committee of the party led by Mai Mala Buni.

PSF, in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Mr. Precious Igwe, said the image and legacies of

the caretaker committee is evident and the progressive student forum is pleased with the political engineering in progress in our party, which has witnessed the harvest of high-profile governors and legislators since the caretaker committee came on stream.

“The PSF is grateful to the national youth leader, Mr. Ismeal Ahmed, for the leadership strives

and commitment to young people across Nigeria, we look forward to a fruitful working relationship. God bless Nigeria.

According to PSF, a group known as Progressive Youth Movement, posing as youths under the APC, publicly announced the disbandment of the caretaker committee led by Buni.

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 22, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWSEXTRA

Make 2022 Tougher for Drug Cartels, Marwa Tasks NDLEA Officers

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) has tasked officers and men of the anti-narcotic agency to make it difficult for drug barons, traffickers and cartels to operate in Nigeria in the new year, 2022.

He gave the charge yesterday at a meeting with the Directors, Zonal Commanders, State, and Special Area Commanders, during which four state commands and 25 officers were given cash-backed awards and commendation letters for their outstanding performance in the areas of drug supply reduction, drug demand reduction and diligent prosecution of cases in the last quarter of the year, 2021.

Marwa, who used the opportunity to thank President Muhammadu Buhari for his constant support and encouragement to the NDLEA and its work, said: “The figures of our Drug Supply Reduction activities have skyrocketed: 11, 340 arrests and 1,111 convictions in 11 months. These figures are balanced by equally impressive Drug Demand Reduction stats: 7,066 counselled and rehabilitated, all in our facilities.

“During the 11 months, we have successfully mopped up over 3.3 million kilogrammes of assorted drugs; away from the streets of Nigeria; away from criminals, terrorists and bandits; away from our youths.”

He added that: “This awards and commendations ceremony is an attestation that the leadership of NDLEA is keeping its side of the bargain, to wit, to motivate the NDLEA workforce as a means of getting the agency out of the

rut in which it was stuck for years. It was to this end that we instituted, among other measures, the Bimonthly Best Performing Command Award, which after two editions was transformed into the quarterly awards.

“The transmutation notwithstanding, the objective remains to reward individual hard work and diligence of officers and to appreciate the collective effort of commands. It cannot be gainsaid that the awards have

not been successful. From all indications, our reward scheme has galvanised the NDLEA workforce as evidenced by our daily and weekly performance, which attracts national and international accolades.

A CELEBRATION OF LIFE…

L-R: Chief Consultant , Family Physician, Ekocorps Plc, Dr. Blessing Chukwkelu;Acting Chief Executive Officer, Ekocorps Plc,Dr. Adegbite Ogunmokun; The Widow, Mrs. Alice Obiora; Chief Nursing Officer, Ekocorps Plc, Mrs. Fidelia Anele, and Head, Department of Surgery, Mr. James Ajayi, at the service of songs and evening of tributes in honour of the co-founder Ekocorps Plc, late Dr. Amechi Abidua Obiora in Lagos…recently

EFCC Arrests Suspect NSCDC Arrests 53-year-old for Alleged Rape of Minor in Kwara with 576 ATM Cards at Kano Airport Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Barely two hours after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, secured the conviction of three smugglers who were arrested with 1,144 ATM Cards at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, the Kano Command of the Commission again, arrested another suspect at the same Airport with 576 ATM Cards.

The suspect, Khalil Bashir Lawal, was intercepted on Monday, December 20, 2021, by operatives of the commission in collaboration with Nigeria Aviation security and Nigeria Customs Service under the aegis of Special Task Force on Money Laundering.

Upon his arrest, it was discovered that Khalil, who was traveling to Uganda with Ethiopian Airline had concealed 576 ATM cards bearing different names and banks in his luggage.

A statement by EFCC said the suspect will be charged to court as soon as the investigation was concluded.

The commission had arrested three suspects at the Kano Airport between November 24 and December 1, 2021, while they were trying to smuggle a total of 1,144 ATM cards.

However, a Kano State High Court presided over

by Justice Jamilu Shehu on December 20, 2021, convicted and sentenced them to six months imprisonment each.

Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested a 53-year-old man for allegedly having canal knowledge of 14-year-old close friend’s daughter. In a statement issued in Ilorin, yesterday signed by the command’s Public Relations

Officer (PRO) Mr. Zaid Afolabi and made available to journalists said that the suspect committed the offence in the suspect shop located at Ori Oke, Elekoyangan area of Ilorin, the state capital.

According to the statement, the victim was said to be hawking puff puff and used to carry the item to the shop of suspect from where he lured her with N200.

The statement added that, the suspect has made confessional statement that the victim used to hawk puff puff which she usually bring to his shop and he took advantage of her naivety to lure her with N200 .

The statement also said that the suspect also confessed to have done this on few occasions In a related development, the command also paraded

a 31-year-old man, who was equally accused of forcefully sleeping with 16 years old daughter in Ilorin.

The command PRO, however, said that the two rape cases have been transferred to the intelligence and investigations department for full scale investigations after which the suspects will be charged to court.

Wike Signs N483 Appropriation Bill into Law Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt The Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has signed the state’s 2022 budget of N483.1 billion into law.

Signing the Rivers State Appropriation Law No. 11.

2021, yesterday, at the Executive Chamber of Government House, Port Harcourt, the governor assured that his administration would mobilise resources

towards achieving 80 percent implementation of the 2022 budget.

Governor Wike said: “By the grace of God, we will hit the ground running from January 1st. And so we think that what you have done is to give support to the executive council to render good services to the people of the state.”

The governor said his administration would remain focused in providing services

to the state and its people.

According to the governor, everything would be put in place to ensure the state have the enabling resources to execute and implement what is provided in the budget.

“I must sincerely thank and assure you that we will do all we can to make sure we achieve not less than 80 percent of the implementation of the budget, believing that God willing, we will get the necessary resources,”

Wike said.

He hinted that as a political year, 2022 would also be turbulent politically and would require so much attention in that regards.

He restated that the refusal of President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill would have ripple effect on the polity, particularly if the National Assembly decided to override the president.

The General Superintendent, Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM), Pastor William Kumuyi yesterday said COVID-19 is not politically motivated, noting that the pandemic was real.

Kumuyi noted that COVID-19, which had as of Monday claimed 5.36 million lives and

,according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), was not surprising, saying Christ foretold global outbreak of pestilence in the bible towards end time.

He made these remarks at a news conference he addressed at the Deeper Life International Conference Centre, Km 42, Lagos-Ibadan expressway to

six-day global crusade under a theme, “The Great Miracle Explosion.”

He addressed the conference alongside his wife, Mrs Esther Kumuyi; Lagos Coordinator, Deeper Life Bible Church (DLBC), Pastor John Akinwande; Secretary of the church, Pastor Samuel Afuwape; Group Pastor,

Babatope and Group Pastor, Idimu-Isheri DLBC, Pastor Johnson Ajibade, among others.

Kumuyi explained that from his observation, COVID-19, a pestilence foretold in the Bible, was real contrary to speculation in some quarters, including some religious organisations.

(NLWL <RUXED *URXSV COVID-19 Not Politically Motivated, Kumuyi Tells Nigerians $GRSW 2\HEDQML infected 275 million worldwide mark the flag-off of the church’s Oshodi DLBC, Pastor Segun Gboyega Akinsanmi

A major pan-Yoruba coalition, the Oodua Nationalist Coalition(ONAC), has adopted All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial hopeful in Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji.

ONAC, in a statement issued after its meeting in Lagos, asked all its members across party lines to support the candidature of Oyebanji.

The group said it will set up Independent Campaign Organisation (ICO) beyond political party lines focusing on artisans, workers, peasants, youths, women and farmers across Ekiti and the South West to ensure Oyebanji’s victory “Supporting Oyebanji is a clarion call in defence of liberty, justice, human and material development of Ekiti State,” ONAC said in

the statement signed by its Deputy National Coordinator Sulaiman Oluwole Aremu, Secretary General Olufemi Agbana and the Ekiti State Coordinator, Mr Ayodeji Omotoyinbo.

ONAC is a coalition of 22 pan-Yoruba groups including the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Agbekoya; South West Christian Muslim Youth Dialogue Group (SWCMDG); Oodua Development Congress (ODC); South West Liberty Movement ( SWLM); Yoruba World Council (YWC); South West Artisans Association (SWAA), among many others.

ONAC said of all the candidates that have shown interest in the gubernatorial race, Oyebanji is the only one with a long history of relationship and understanding with pan-Yoruba groups.

3UHVLGHQF\ 1R ,QGHÀQLWH +ROLGD\ LQ )LUVW /DG\·V 2ͿFH Deji Elumoye inAbuja

The Office of the First Lady of Nigeria has refuted claims that its staff members were asked to go on indefinite holiday.

A statement issued earlier yesterday by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Health and Development Partners, Office of the First Lady, Dr Mohammed Kamal, had directed staffers of the office to go on festive holiday,

without listing a resumption date.

This was interpreted by some online platforms to mean the staff of the office had been asked to go on an endless holiday, and further interpreted as the office being shut down.

Reacting to the development, the Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the First Lady, Aliyu Abdullahi, explained that the message was gotten wrong because the person

who issued the statement was not media inclined.

According to him, the intention of the message was to inform the staff that their Christmas and New Year holiday had commenced, adding that the message missed to include the fact that the office would resume in the first week of January, 2022.

He said: “On the issue you asked about the break, I believe that there is a communication

error in the sense that I think communication must be specific and definite.

“I don’t believe that the First Lady is dissolving the office, as insinuated in some quarters.

I think it’s just a break for the festive season, but because perhaps the person who released the communication, is not be a media person, he may not know how to put the intention of the First Lady.

WEDNESDAY, ͺͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

54

WEDNESDAYSPORTS

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

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Osimhen Declares Self Fit for Super Eagles at AFCON Duro Ikhazuagbe Super Eagles Interim Handler, Austin Eguavoen, must be grinning from ear to ear now following Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen’s post on social media that he’s now fit to play for Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations scheduled to kick off on January 9 in Cameroon.

Following the facial injury Osimhen sustained last November and the subsequent surgeries, the Napoli forward was initially ruled out of participating in the tournament.

But yesterday, the Napoli talisman posted on the social media that he was now available to be selected by Nigeria.

Osimhen, 22, posted this message on Twitter: “I am 100% ready to represent Nigeria at the AFCON 2021 unless if not picked by the coaches.”

The post was later followed by tweets of several pictures by Napoli, showing Osimhen appearing in a special black protective mask, training alone.

Before undergoing surgery on his cheekbone and eye socket on 23 November, Osimhen had scored nine goals in 14 club appearances this season.

Later yesterday evening, Osimhen was reported to have contacted both the Sports Minister, Sunday Dare and the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick to reassure them of his readiness to be part of Nigeria’s squad to Cameroon.

The news of his return to action must have come to Eguavoen like a sweet smelling fragrance. Another Nigerian forward touted as possible replacement for the Napoli star, Paul Onuachu, also came up with hamstring injury on Sunday during his club’s Belgian league engagement and now ruled out of action for one month.

Although Eguavoen is yet to name his squad from the 40-man list submitted to the NFF by sacked German Coach Gernot Rohr, the picture of those to be in the team will begin to emerge when Eagles assemble in Abuja for the final training before jetting out to Yaounde to open their campaign against Pharaohs of Egypt on January 11.

Victor Osimhen appearing for the first time in the protective mask meant to help him avoid further aggravating his facial injuries

StanbicIBTC,NFFSignN2.3bn Insurance Deal for Eagles Dike Onwuamaeze Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, a member of Standard Bank Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to provide N2.3 billion insurance cover for all 35 players of the senior national team, the Super Eagles.

The MoU, which was signed recently between Stanbic IBTC and NFF, would become effective from the AFCON starting in Cameroon on January 9, 2022.

Under the agreed terms, Stanbic IBTC would provide group life insurance for all 35 players of the national team with a total sum assured of N1.75 billion and total personal accident insurance for all 35 players with a total of N583 million annually for the next three years.

The Stanbic IBTC would also provide gender sensitivity support for female sports correspondents in Nigeria.

The Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, Dr. Demola Sogunle, described the MoU as a landmark event that is geared toward encouraging the growth of football in Nigeria.

Sogunle said: “We are all gathered here to grace this momentous occasion as two great Nigerian institutions come together to advance Nigeria’s most popular sport. With this partnership, we will further drive the development of the youths

via football.”

He said that the partnership was based on youth empowerment and football development, which are values shared by Stanbic IBTC and the NFF. “This is a great day for football development in Nigeria, and we believe this partnership will boost the growth of this beautiful round leather game in the country. Over the years, various Nigerian football teams have made their marks in various international competitions.

We believe the Nigerian football teams will only get better and will dominate the beautiful game in the future. Yes, it can be, as we like to say in Stanbic IBTC, knowing that everything is possible, as long as we put our hearts to it,” he said Sogunle also congratulated the President of the NFF, Mr. Amaju Pinnick, for being elected into FIFA’s Executive Council and asserted that Nigeria would gain a lot from his membership of football’s highest decision-making organ.

Pinnick described the partnership between the bank and the NFF as a historic “and one of the most unique sports contracts we have had in a long while and we are excited that Stanbic IBTC is driving not just a partnership with the NFF but a sponsorship that also encourages the advancement of the female gender.”

NdidiDreamsLeicesterUpsetting Liverpool in Caraboa Cup Today Ahead of today’s Carabao Cup clash with Liverpool, Wilfred Ndidi insisted yesterday that Leicester City players are looking forward to the game at Anfield with enthusiasm.

Ndidi spoke on the game with LCFC TV yesterday. It is Leicester’s first competitive game in 10 days after Premier League fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur and Everton were postponed due to positive Covid-19 cases at the club.

He however admitted that it was a difficult period for him and his teammates being idle.

“It’s been difficult because we haven’t really had time to train as a group,” the Nigeria midfield enforcer told LCFC TV. “We have to follow the protocol and it’s been difficult because we haven’t been together as a group.

We’ve been training individually because of COVID-19, but we’ll just see what comes.

“It feels like (it’s been a long time since Leicester’s last game).

We had be at home for some days so it feels so long. Now we have a game coming up, but we haven’t really trained properly together. It feels a little bit better now, but as a group, everyone is not yet back.

“As a group, we know what we want and I’m happy because we’re getting back together.”

Brendan Rodgers men no doubt face a difficult task against Jurgen Klopp’s Reds who are overwhelming favourites to secure

a place in the last four.

Ndidi however believes winning their first-ever FA Cup crown last season after beating Chelsea in the final can give the squad confidence in this season’s Carabao Cup. “It gives us this mindset that it is achievable, it is possible, no matter the team you are playing,” Ndidi added.

“It is really possible. The confidence is here. When you think back to that amazing feeling of winning the FA Cup, it is something we have in our minds that we can achieve things together as a group.

“We’ve done it and it we can still do it. We’ve done it before and we can do it. It all depends on us to actually be at our best in every single game.”

Wilfred Ndidi...hopes Liverpool will fall in the Carabao Cup tonight

DareDirectsEaglestoCamp in Abuja for AFCON 2021 Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, has announced that the Super Eagles will set up training camp in Abuja prior to next month’s AFCON in Abuja.

“The camp of the Super Eagles ahead of AFCON will be in Abuja,” Dare told TVC yesterday.

Super Eagles were earlier scheduled to open camp in

Uyo on December 28.

The Abuja camp is now expected to open same Tuesday next week.

The Eagles will open their AFCON campaign on January 11 against Egypt.

The Minister’s announcement came just after the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja was

handed back to the sports ministry by the contractors after major renovation.

An invitational tournament involving NPFL clubs was staged at the stadium to show the readiness of the arena.

The stadium is expected to soon host matches involving the country’s various teams.

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WEDNESDAY, ͺͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

SPORTS

‘PSG Plotting ‘Final Game of the Year’ Without Neymar, Mbappe’ Paris St Germain will look to end the year on a high this evening when they take on Lorient in the final game of the year.

Now, Manager, Mauricio Pochettino, is plotting the team’s

FRENCH LIGUE 1 tactics with Neymar still injured and Kylian Mbappe suspended.

PSG are top of the standings

with 45 points while relegationthreatened Lorient are 19th ahead of the final match before a short

winter break in France.

Mbappe, who turned 23 on Monday, is suspended for one game after picking up a third booking in 10 Ligue 1 games, while PSG said Neymar is not expected to return

from an ankle injury for another "four to five weeks".

"We have to build and move forward in a different way on the pitch. With Neymar or Kylian on the pitch, we are quickly looking for verticality," Pochettino told a news conference ahead of Wednesday's match.

"Without Mbappe we have to build differently and we will perhaps play at a different pace.

It will be a challenge to see how the team plays in this situation.

"We are not talking about replacing him but finding the balance to win. We often have things like that because of injuries and suspensions during the year.

We have a good squad to find

the balance that will lead us to victory."

The onus could fall on Lionel Messi, who has one league goal and four assists since joining the French side this season. But Pochettino said PSG's youngsters could play a part too.

"I think it's important for young players to play in an official match.

It's good to be able to mix our team. We have lots of good talent at the training centre," he added.

"We need them to be in the locker room with the professional group. They need experience and over time they will have more.

When you feel they are ready, they will play,” Pochettino said of his youngsters.

VBank Opens Seamless International Door for Gamers

Neymar (left) and Kylian Mbappe are not in Mauricio Pochettino’s plans as PSG play Lorient today in the last game before PHOTO: REUTERS winter break in France.

Some young Nigerians gathered at the Hall Two of the Landmark Events Center at Oniru in Victoria Island last Wednesday to match their talents and compete at the first edition of the Vbank Kon10dr E-Sport Championship.

This event marks another milestone for the micro-finance bank, as they continue to lend their support to sporting categories that have not only captured the imagination of the younger generation, but that are also fast becoming the rave worldwide.

Just last year, the bank supported the Snooker and Billiards family as they hosted both table sports at the prestigious Lagos Country Club in Ikeja.

The Kon10dr e-Sport Championship brought together another family; those who match their gaming skills with opponents both locally and internationally. And that international angle is what makes the involvement of the

bank with the game unique, as it opens an international door for the participants of the sport to enjoy.

The finals saw contestants competing in four categories: three were individual events while one was a team event.

Vbank creates an opportunity for gamers by giving them a gateway on the bank App, to pay for their PSN and Xbox Live.

And for people who are constantly battling and competing with a global audience, this makes the playing field more level.

The Senior Product Manager for VBank, Ebere Ahaotu ,further reiterated, “At VBank we have always been passionate about sports, and the development of our local talents.

“That’s why this partnership with Kon10dr to sponsor the esports Championship affords us the opportunity to push Nigerian e-sports to the global stage.”

CAF: No Going Back on January 9 Kick off of AFCON in Cameroon Ahly, Raja Set for Epic CAF The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, has reiterated that the delayed Africa Cup of Nations will go ahead as planned.

Motsepe was speaking with less than three weeks until the tournament kicks off as he visited Yaounde's Olembe Stadium, which will host the opening match on 9 January on Monday.

His comments came as speculation persists that the finals will be delayed further or even cancelled because of the latest problems with the global Covid-19 pandemic.

"I will be in Cameroon on

7 January with my wife and kids to witness this incredible competition," Motsepe insisted on Monday.

"You can see that there's a huge commitment and a focus to make sure that there's good progress.

"We are going to host with the people of Cameroon an exceptional tournament. It will be the most successful AFCON. We are ready to show the world the best of African football and African hospitality.

"This tournament is important for the people of Africa and I'm so proud and so excited with the

work done."

Also on Monday, Samuel Eto'o, who was elected president of Cameroon’s FA earlier this month, hit out at the constant reports placing the competition in doubt, many of which came from Europe.

The former Barcelona star highlighted the fact that the European Championship took place earlier this year as the pandemic continued to rage across the continent.

"If the Euros took place in the middle of the pandemic, with full stadiums in several cities in

DStv, GOtv Set for AFCON Matches SuperSport will again be the number one destination for football fans on DStv and GOtv with the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon 2021 getting the new year off to a cracking start.

According to a statement issued by the Pay TV yesterday, All 52 matches will be broadcast live on DStv with several dedicated channels to ensure the widest, most entertaining broadcast of the 33rd edition of the event.

Top analysts and presenters will be on hand to deliver world-class coverage, while the action on the pitch ought to be no less stellar with top players like Mo Salah (Egypt), Sadio Mane (Senegal), Naby Keita (Guinea), PierreEmerick Aubameyang (Gabon), Riyad Mahrez (Algeria), Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria), Wilfried Zaha (Ivory Coast) and Trézéguet (Egypt)

among those expected to shine in Cameroon.

To be played among six groups of four teams each, AFCON will host powerhouses like Algeria, the defending champions, Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana and Tunisia. “AFCON is the continent’s showpiece event and we are delighted to offer it on various channels and platforms,” said Marc Jury, SuperSport’s CEO. “With many big-name players and so much at stake, our expectations are of a hard-fought, entertaining tournament that delivers the action that African football is synonymous with.”

CAF General Secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba said: “SuperSport is an important platform in SubSahara and we are excited to team up with them for the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations.

“It is important for CAF to

ensure that the AFCON, being the single-biggest sporting event on African soil, and prime content, is accessible all over the world.

This event is consumed not only

by Africans but enjoys a global audience,” he concluded.

On DStv, SS Variety 1 will feature 43 matches with the other nine on SS Football.

GOtv will broadcast 43 fixtures on Select 2 with nine more on Go Football. SuperSport will also have a full digital offering that will take in various content pieces, including focus on the big stars, key clashes and statistical pieces that will set the scene. There will be live coverage of all the big games on web, app and social.

The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations is scheduled to begin on Sunday 9 January and continues to Sunday 6 February.

Europe and there was no problem, why wouldn't AFCON be played in Cameroon?" he told French station Canal+.

"Or are you trying to say that like we've always been treated, we Africans aren't worth anything so we have to put up with it?

"I don't see why AFCON wouldn't take place. The Cameroon FA that I represent will defend hosting this competition to the end."

Like former African Footballer of the Year Eto'o, Motsepe, 59, also seemed surprised by the continued rumours surrounding the 24-team finals.

"We have to believe in our people," the CAF boss said. "We have to stop being the ones that lack confidence and are always expressing negative views of our people.

"All over the world there are competitions with challenges but we have to be more optimistic because sometimes we are over critical of ourselves.

"If we're not going to have confidence in what we do, who's going to have confidence in us?

"This is the generation where Africans must believe in Africans.

We can host a football competition that's as good as you can see in Europe and the world,” he concluded with enthusiasm.

Cameroon had been slated to host the 2019 Nations Cup, but the country was stripped of hosting rights in November 2018 with CAF citing delays in the country's preparation for the tournament.

Super Cup Showdown Egyptian giants Al Ahly will face Moroccan counterparts Raja today at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Doha, Qatar, to determine the winner of the 30th edition of the TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup. Al Ahly hold the record for the greatest number of CAF Super Cup titles, having won seven times out of the nine finals they have played, the last of which was the latest edition last May, beating RS Berkane 2-0 in Doha.

Meanwhile, Raja appear in the

CAF Super Cup for the fourth time, winning it twice before, the latest in 2019, defeating Tunisia’s Esperance 2-1 in Doha.

Al-Ahly qualified for the TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup 2021 after winning the Totalenergies CAF Champions League title for a record 10th time last July, beating South Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs 3-0 in the final in Casablanca, Morocco.

Raja lifted the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup for the second time, beating Algeria’s JS Kabylie 2-1 in the final last July.

Raja Casablanca are dreaming of another Super Cup on their trophy shelf tonight PHOTO: MAXPPP in Doha, Qatar.

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

TR

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& RE A SO

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Price: N250

MISSILE Federal Government to ASUU

“We cannot possibly be blackmailing them; we tried to explain to them that we will fulfil the agreements when we have the resources. Agreements have been signed and they are meant to be fulfilled. Once there are resources, we will meet your needs; all you have to do is to keep the academic calendar running. So, please, where is the blackmail?”---Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, in a conciliatory response. denies ASUU’s claim of blackmail.

KAYODEKOMOLAFE THE HORIZON

kayode.komolafe@thisdaylive.com

0805 500 1974

The Thorny Road to Electoral Reform T

he cause of electoral reform would be greatly served if the bill to amend the electoral law could be salvaged as the President has withheld his assent to it. The important thing is for the protagonists of the bill not to feel frustrated about the possibility of some reforms in the process before the elections.

This is because the content of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021 is more than the clause stipulating that parties should choose their candidates for elections through direct primaries.

The other provisions including the one on electronic transmission of results of election are the stuff worth saving.

With the President’s action it might appear that electoral reform is jinxed under his leadership.

However, the President can still prove his critics wrong by looking at the important bill beyond his unconvincing reasons for withholding his assent.

The National Assembly must learn the due lessons from the experience of 2006. A bill for the amendment of the constitution was killed on the floor of the National Assembly because of a clause that could guarantee the then incumbent President Olusegun Obasanjo a third term as against the stipulated two terms in the 1999 Constitution. The National Assembly under the leadership of Senator Ken Nnamani has been justifiably celebrated for “stopping the third term agenda” of Obasanjo. But the other provisions that could enhance political reforms were also missed in the process. The amendment was not only about a third term. There were other provisions to boost the operations of multi-party democracy. Obasanjo later denied in a broadcast that he ever wanted a third term.

If the National Assembly fails to muster the required majority to veto the President, there should be a tactical second look at the contentious clause on direct primaries. This would enable the federal legislature give a greater attention to the other provisions. There is really no point getting fixated on direct primaries. The importance of each provision of the bill is not in doubt; but nothing should be exaggerated. After all, it is a measure of internal party democracy that an otherwise routine process of the mode of primaries could become a a war of attrition among politicians. The forces on both sides of the argument are actually contending for whatever is left of the souls of their respective parties which are in need of rebuilding.

To start with, the concept of direct primaries should be demystified. The existing electoral law gives the legal backing to parties to conduct direct or indirect primaries. This means that even if this bill is killed eventually, nothing stops a party (big or small) from conducting a direct primary election for those aspiring to fly its flag in any election.

So the tone of the debate is totally misplaced. For instance, how can the provision of direct primaries in the proposed legislation be an “imposition” when the existing laws expressly give the powers to the National Assembly to legislate on the process of elections including how parties conduct their affairs? Can the argument be stretched further to say that even the idea of conducting a primary (direct or indirect) in itself is an imposition? The democratic quality of the process will certainly be diminished if it is made legal for the party leaders to merely compile names of candidates for elections without inputs from party members in the choice of candidates.

In any case, direct primaries are not a new thing to the Nigerian electoral process. The Presidency celebrated the direct primary in which President Muhammadu Buhari emerged as the candidate

Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019.

Some governors got their parties’ tickets by means of direct primaries. Yet, some of the governors are believed to be opposed to the bill because of the direct primary provision.

At least, an earlier attempt to amend the Electoral Act was aborted largely because of the timing.

The argument then was about the propriety of amending the electoral laws almost on the eve of elections.

This probably informed the commendable steps taken by the legislature this time round to have the bill ready before the whistle is blown for the 2023 elections.

For practical purposes, as variously canvassed by pundits Buhari should be in the legacy mode by now. So it should worry those strategising for the President that his tenure will in the future be referred to as one in which the road to electoral reforms was laden with a lot of avoidable thorns.

The good news is that all Buhari needs to do is to give leadership to clear the road to electoral reform of the obstacles. This is important for the development of liberal democracy. By the way, it’s worth stressing that the failure to make it statutory for parties to conduct direct primaries would not be the only hurdle to scale on the road to electoral sanity.

The Nigerian experiment with liberal democracy has proved that the credibility of elections is central to the health of the system. Yes, democracy means more than periodic elections. Yet without the element of choice inherent in credible elections, there will be a huge deficit in liberal democracy. So the debate should be conducted in such a healthy and productive manner that could deepen the democratic process.

The reform of the system for the purpose of making elections more credible could be a political legacy of a President conscious of the verdict of history.

Perhaps, it was this sense of history that made Buhari’s predecessors make some efforts at varying degrees of electoral reform with varying degrees of successes.

To the eternal credit of President Umaru Yar’Adua, he committed his administration to electoral reforms in his inaugural speech. The 2007 presidential election that produced Yar’adua was flawed in many respects. Yar’Adua never lived in denial of the faults in the system. He established a panel headed by former Chief Justice Muhammadu Uwais. Professor Attahiru Jega, who later emerged as Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), was a member of the distinguished Uwais committee. After 16 months of work, the committee submitted an important report which included recommendations on electoral offences tribunal, funding of election, synchronising the state electoral structures with that of INEC and strengthening the independence of the commission.

Unfortunately, more than a decade later some of the important recommendations of the Uwais Panel that could help in sanitising the electoral process of the viruses of irregularities have not been implemented by successive administrations.

For instance, why is there no pressure on government to establish the electoral offences tribunal to enhance orderliness and peace at the polling booths and at other stages? The objective reality is that INEC is so overwhelmed by the multi-layered operations involved in the conduct that it lacks the capacity to diligently pursue the prosecution of electoral offenders as it is the case now.

Hence, there is the urgent need for the institution of electoral offences tribunal.

Having acknowledged that the use of card reader has eased the voting process, it would be strange if the President is opposed to the electronic transfer of results as it is being alleged. From all indications, the forces that want the bill to become law seem to be ready to soften their position on the provision for direct primaries for the clause on electronic transfer to be part of the law.

Apart from direct primaries, electronic transfer of results and other provisions in the amendment bill , there are other weight issues of the electoral process.

For a credible system to be in place, these problems have to be ultimately tackled. One is about the funding model. The President gave costs as one of the reasons for opposing direct primaries. His statement came at a time when INEC is proposing a budget of N305 billion! This is more than the realistic budgets of some states put together. It is more than the allocations to some items in the social sector. The process is already costing huge some sums of money. Now, this huge cost cannot be addressed by merely saying that “if you find democracy too expensive, try dictatorship”.

For instance, in the United States elections are funded in the federalist spirit by state and federal governments. Counties and municipalities also bear some costs.

It is expected that a funding model would be developed in Nigeria in the course of political evolution. That is why the experiment with liberal democracy will be boosted when legislations target identified problems such as the one of Electoral (Amendment) Act 2021.

Above all, there is also the huge deficit in the electoral process which politicians of different hues are hardly talking about: that is the progressive decline in voter turnout in all categories of elections.

It was a symptom of alienation of the people from the political process that in some elections lower than 30% of registered voters turned up at the polling centres to cast their votes. Billions

of naira are invested on elections in which a few thousands of votes are recorded. Tens of thousands of policemen and security agents are mobilised to secure a state in which fewer than a quarter of a million would vote. This trend could ultimately impair the legitimacy of the democratic process. This problem is not matter of legality; so it is not one that can be solved by another electoral amendment bill. You cannot decree the participation of people in the political process. Instead, it should be deemed a problem for political parties and the governments elected on their platforms to tackle it as part of the process of electoral reform.

PolicyNotes For a Foreign Policy Review

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WhatsApp post in circulation has raised serious issues about foreign policy in a rather sarcastic manner. The author of the message puts the matter, inter alia, like this: Turkey-Africa Summit; China-Africa Summit; Israel-Africa Summit; UAE Africa Summit; France-Africa Summit; Russia-Africa Summit; Germany-Africa Summit; UK- Africa Summit; Albania Africa Summit. Soon it will be Afghanistan-Africa Summit and Taiwan-Africa Summit...

The sarcasm should be ignored while the salient being made is pondered. Some of the real summits in which one country engages African countries as a group have been justified on the grounds of economic, strategic and diplomatic benefits accruing from the meetings.

This new foreign relations trend of one country inviting to its capital African heads of state to discuss African problems should rankle all panAfricanists. There is hardly any other continent that practises this sort of cheapening diplomacy for whatever reasons.

Nigeria, representing about a fifth of the continent, should at least have a rethink on this country-continent relations.

The principle of self-respect should make it look awkward.

Nigeria once proclaimed foreign policy themes such as “Africa as the centrepiece ,” “economic diplomacy” and “citizen’s diplomacy.”

Nigeria once boldly took the initiative to save West Africa from imploding when world powers were not forthcoming with rescue efforts. Nigeria once promoted the idea of “concert of medium powers.” Not a few Nigerian super-optimists had expected that Nigeria should be in the group of Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) identified by Gold Sachs economist Jim O’Neil in 2001 as countries that would dominate the world economy by 2050. Alas! A decade later it was South Africa that was added to make the acronym BRICS. At a time the acronym should be BRINCS with the addition of Nigeria, the largest black nation is episodically joining other African countries in ill-defined summits from one non-African capital to the other.

Despite all its problems, Nigeria should conduct her foreign policy with some dignity of purpose.

It’s time Nigeria had another foreign policy review.

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