5.01% 2nd Quarter GDP Growth Excites Nigerians Buhari lauds economic managers Rewane, others say economy not out of the woods Deji Elumoye, Kingsley (GDP) report released by the Nigerians. was the highest quarterly to the President on Economic after the devastating effects Nwezeh, James Emejo in National Bureau of Statistics This indicated a silver growth since 2014. Matter, Dr. Adeyemi of the COVID-19. Abuja; Nume Ekeghe and Ugo (NBS) yesterday that showed a lining that the country may Owing to this, President Dipeolu, attributed the But analysts which included Aliogo in Lagos 5.01 per cent jump in growth, be returning to real growth has GDP performance to some the Managing Director of the compared with the 0.51 per after adjusting to inflation and expressed excitement over interventions put together Financial Derivatives Company The second quarter (Q2) cent recorded in Q1 2021, population growth. the development. by the federal government 2020 Gross Domestic Product triggered excitement among The GDP growth recorded Also, the Special Adviser to reposition the economy Continued on page 8

CAN: 's Security Architecture is Compromised... Page 5

Friday 27 August, 2021 Vol 26. No 9636. Price: N250

www.thisdaylive.com T R U N T H & R E ASO Buhari Elated as NNPC Breaks Jinx, Declares N287bn Profit, First in 44 Years Directs timely publication of corporation’s audited accounts Explains how feat was achieved Kyari: Before PIA, Nigeria’s oil industry was in bad state Cuts timeframe to recoup investment in Dangote Refinery from five to three years Deji Elumoye and Emmanuel history. Buhari stressed that Addeh in Abuja NNPC's losses were reduced from N803 billion in 2018 to President Muhammadu N1.7 billion in 2019. Buhari yesterday hailed the This is just as the corporation Nigerian National Petroleum yesterday attributed the historic Corporation (NNPC) for profit it recorded in its 2020 declaring a Profit after Tax Audited Financial Statement (PAT) of N287 billion for the Continued on page 8 year 2020, the first in its 44-year Plateau Violence: Doctors Suspend Strike Due to Overwhelming Emergencies Hospitals in dire need of blood, says Red Cross Situation is engulfing, NMA claims Seriki Adinoyi in to suspend the ongoing nationwide strike action Worried by the increasing “on compassionate ground” medical emergencies to enable them attend to the orchestrated by the recent rising emergencies arising from violence in Jos and other the violence. parts of Plateau State, the However, giving a more A SOURVENIR FOR THE GENERAL... National Association of vivid picture of the situation Resident Doctors (NARD), Jos on ground was Red Cross, Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (R), presenting a sourvenir to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major University Teaching Hospital General Faruk Yahaya, during a courtesy visit by the COAS to the Government House in Ilorin, yesterday. The army chief branch, has recalled members Continued on page 10 commended the Governor for his proactive steps and support for the security agencies.

Finally, Bandits Release Tegina Islamiyya School Pupils... Page 42 2 FRIDAY AUGUST 27, 2021 •THISDAY FRIDAY AUGUST 27, 2021 • THISDAY 3 4 FRIDAY AUGUST 27, 2021 •THISDAY FRIDAY, ͺͿ˜ͺ͸ͺ͹˾THISDAY 5

Group News Editor: Goddy Egene NEWS Email: [email protected], 08033506821, 08097777322

THIRD QUARTER NIREC MEETING IN ABUJA... L-R: Chairman, Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF) and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Sultan of Sokoto and Co-chairman Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), Alhaji Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Musterpha; President Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Olasunpo Ayokunle and Emir of Kano Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero; during the 2021 third quarter council meeting of NIREC in Abuja...yesterday Again, NNPC Set to Deduct N215bn from September FAAC Raises contribution to joint account in July by N20bn Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja per cent decrease relative to while domestic gas receipts in was applied on the gross deductible from the August the full return of what the the 11.58 million barrels lifted the month was N6.8 billion. domestic receipts before 2021 proceeds due for sharing government terms under- The Nigerian National the previous month. In addition Nigeria NLG arriving at the net receipt at the September, 2021 FAAC recovery in February this Petroleum Corporation In the same vein, the (NLNG) feedstock was valued of N67.28 billion in order to meeting,” the NNPC stated. year. (NNPC) is once more set to NNPC presentation to the at $54.09 million during make funds available for JV Last month, the In June, the NNPC told deduct about N215.3 billion joint committee showed that the period out of which cost recovery to sustain the corporation continued its the nation that Nigeria was from its contribution to next Nigeria maintained 1.554 $44 million was received existing production level. regime of deductions from losing about 42 million litres month’s joint Federation million bpd Organisation during the month, the “The balance of the federation account of petrol to the activities Account. of Petroleum Exporting difference being Modified N40.000.000.000.00 will be withholding N117.4 billion of smugglers across the The aforementioned amount Countries (OPEC) production Carry Agreement (MCA) deducted in subsequent from the three tiers of country’s borders, increasing is a combination of N175 cut during the month. obligations, gas reconciliation months. The July, government. Nigeria’s estimated daily billion value shortfall or Crude oil export revenue and credit notes. 2021 value shortfall of At the time, the total consumption of 60 million subsidy and N40 billion Joint received in July 2021 “Out of the value shortfall N175.317.701.294.80 and subsidy retention on petrol litres to 103 million litres, Venture (JV) cost recovery. amounted to $12.95 million, of N143, 286,281.752.62, the outstanding balance of since this year had hit a total thereby worsening the In a document obtained equivalent to N4.97 billion, sum of N103.286.281, 752.62 N40,000.000,000.00 will be of N608.808 billion since subsidy payment regime. by THISDAY yesterday detailing the national oil company’s presentation to the Federation Account CAN: Nigeria's Security Architecture is Compromised Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting which held between 18th and 19th of August, the Sultan, Fayemi, others seek national dialogue on peace, unity data showed that NNPC paid N67.280 billion to the joint FG pledges collaboration with religious, traditional rulers account in July, in contrast to Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja religious and traditional leaders thousands of our members "It's important we sit nation to the government. the N47.162 billion in June. to promote peace and unity were killed including the late together and discuss the issues "In fact, Mr. president is very The July payment was about The Christian Association in the country. CAN Chairman in Michika that concern this nation. Most concerned about the level of N20 billion higher than that of Nigeria (CAN) has again CAN, in an address delivered Local Government of Adamawa times, we meet at NIREC, insecurity in the country and of June. lamented the deteriorating by its Assistant General State. discuss issues and arrive at the the high cost of living. Furthermore, in January, security situation in the Secretary and chairman of "Today, Leah Sharibu is a face conclusion. Unfortunately, He is, however, working on net revenue to FAAC was country, saying her security the planning committee of the of the persecuted Christians in people would go about and be how to resolve these issues N90.8 billion; N64.161 billion architecture has been 45th anniversary celebration, the country. Her only offence doing otherwise, particularly in the shortest possible time." in February and N41.184 compromised. Mr. Biodun Sanyaolu, accused was her refusal to disown her preaching hate and violence. "The President will continue billion in March. Also, it However, as part of activities the federal government of faith. She was forced to join "We must be truthful to one to give all necessary support was zero in April; N38.608 marking its 45th anniversary mishandling the insecurity about 120 abducted Chibok another. What is so difficult to religious and traditional billion in May; N47.162 billion celebration, CAN enjoined all situation in the country by schoolgirls, whose lives are in the President organising leaders to promote peace in June and N67.280 billion Christians and non-Christians refusing to deal decisively being wasted in the den of a dialogue that would have and unity in the country. in July. to observe a day of fasting and with the Boko Haram terrorists, the terrorists," he said. in attendance impressive I can assure you that the Year-to-date, the document prayers nationwide against the militant herdsmen and bandits The Sultan, who spoke at the participation of the traditional President is doing everything showed that the NNPC has menace of insecurity, economic He said: "It is reprehensible third quarterly meeting of the rulers, opinion leaders, market possible to bequeath a safe only been able to make a predicaments and erosion of that the security architecture Nigeria Inter-Religious Council leaders, elder statesmen and prosperous nation to the contribution of N349.254 moral values. of the country has been (NIREC) on Thursday in Abuja, and every person that has next one. billion to the three tiers of This is as the Sultan of compromised. Terrorists are warned that if urgent steps something to contribute? "The President is very government with a huge Sokoto, Sa'ad Abubakar III, has operating with impunity were not taken to reverse the "We should look ourselves concerned about the level deficit of N1.115 trillion. urged President Muhammadu wherever and whenever they trend, more people might be eyeball to eyeball and tell of insecurity and the high But added to JV cost Buhari to urgently convoke a wanted. Our security agencies consumed by the activities of ourselves the truth. We cost of living in Nigeria. He recovery and priority projects, national dialogue to discuss are giving us the impression insurgents. shouldn't be afraid of such is working on how to resolve the document revealed that the peace and unity of Nigeria. that these terrorists, those According to Sultan, the conversation again because these challenges in the shortest total distribution made by Similarly, the Governor of operating in the northwest dialogue meeting should things are deteriorating. possible time," he said. the corporation in January Ekiti State and Chairman of are named bandits by their have in attendance traditional Dialogue is the best approach, Also, the CAN President, was N195.624 billion; it was the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, friends and sympathisers. leaders, community leaders because whatever cannot be Rev Samson Ayokunle, N191.194 billion in February, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has urged "It appears there is a and religious leaders, as well achieved through dialogue accused President Buhari of and it hit N224.589 billion all stakeholders in the polity conspiracy and deceit going as opinion leaders – people will remain unachieved with being sentimental and bias in in March. Additionally, it to join hands in finding a on with the Boko Haram, drawn from the political and violence". his handling of insecurity and decreased to N156.366 billion common understanding and herdsmen and bandits. I was business sectors and other Mustapha, who gave governance in the country. in April, but again rose to compromise that would proffer just sharing this with one of persons, who matter in the assurances that President He further alleged that N320.315 billion in May and lasting solution to the killings, brothers before this meeting. affairs of Nigeria. Buhari was not only fully the president was practicing was N295.396 billion and attacks social disharmony in I believe there is a way out "Things are getting worst in aware of the insecurity "double standards," by N270.405 billion in June and the country. if the government is sincere. Nigeria by the day especially, situation in the country, but choosing which killings to react July respectively. In the same breath, "When the attacks on our the security situation. committed to bringing it to to and those he maintained Overall, NNPC’s crude oil Secretary to the Government members began, it was only Unfortunately, our military an end, contended that the silence from, as highlighted lifting of 8.66 million barrels of the Federation (SGF), CAN that was crying out and intelligence agencies seem present administration was in the reference to the recent (export and domestic crude) Boss Mustapha,said federal until they began to attack not to be doing enough to doing everything possible to killings in Plateau, Nasarawa in the month recorded 19.84 government would support their fellow Muslims. Several bring an end to the killings. bequeath a safe and prosperous and Benue States. 6 FRIDAY, ͺͿ˜ͺ͸ͺ͹˾THISDAY NEWS

SANWO-OLU AT ‘BOS MEETS BUSINESS’... L-R: Managing Director, Goodware Stitches Limited, Mrs. Matilda Taiwo; Lagos Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and CEO, Musbolat Fashion, Mrs. Taiwo Folusho during the 7th Lagos Corporate Assembly ‘BOS Meets Business’, at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja...yesterday Another Court of Coordinate Jurisdiction in Kebbi Reinstates Secondus Party adopts Saturday for NEC, October National Convention date still feasible Atiku: I’ve been away to study at Cambridge Nseobong Okon-Ekong and Executive Committee (NEC) "An order of this Honourable leadership crisis between the "We will conduct our Former Senate President and Chuks Okocha in Abuja meeting of the party would court granting leave to the first deputy national chairman for convention and have brand PDP Reconciliation Committee hold Saturday, adding also that respondent (Uche Secondus) south, Akinwonmi and the new officers. I am a child of Chairman, Dr , The Peoples Democratic Party the national convention would to continue exercising all the deputy national chairman for circumstances. Let us work commended the BoT chairman (PDP) crisis took another still hold in October as earlier constitutional powers of the office north, Senator Suleiman Nazif together. I have health challenges. for calling the meeting and for interesting turn late last night recommended. of Chairman of PDP (second was over and the party was more I am a PDP to the core. I have Akinwonmi for accepting to lead as Justice Nusirat. I. Umar, a A former Vice President and defendant) as enshrined in both than united than before. not left for any other party and the party at this moment. vacation Judge of the Kebbi State presidential candidate of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria But he said the NEC of in unity we shall succeed. I have He also commended the NWC High Court has restored the PDP in the 2019 presidential as amended and the Peoples the party would hold this not left for any other party." for resolving their leadership embattled National Chairman election, Alhaji , Democratic Party's constitution Saturday, while the October Jibrin, while speaking, said the crisis, stating that the speed of the party, Uche Secondus to who surfaced at the Board of pending the hearing and final national convention date was meeting of the Board of Trustees with which the party resolved his position. Trustees (BoT) meeting yesterday, determination of applicant's still feasible . was summoned to ensure that its crisis would show Nigerians The Deputy National however, offered excuses for motion on notice. " Also, confirming the October sanity returned to the party, that the PDP was ready to lead Chairman (South) of the Party, his long absence from the Three concerned members national convention date, recalling what happened in the the country. Elder Yemi Akinwomi, had party, saying he away at the of the party, Yahaya Usman, Akinwonmi said the national last BoT meeting that necessitated Meanwhile, the PDP assumed leadership of the PDP Cambridge University for a Abubakar Mohammed and convention would elect new yesterday’s meeting governors after their meeting last in acting capacity, following a Master’s degree in International Bashar Suleman were the NWC members. He explained that the PDP night in Abuja, have supported restraining order on Secondus by Relations. claimants/applicant in the "PDP is not dead. When NWC invited him to attend the NWC and BoT for NEC on a court of coordinate jurisdiction However, in a suit brought case while Secondus and the they see us hugging ourselves, the reconciliation meeting Saturday and national convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, before her in Birinin Kebbi, the PDP were the defendants/ they will know that the PDP is where he saw Akinwonmi and in October forcing Akinwomi to suspend state capital in case KB/AC/ respondents. not dead," he said, while also Nazif embraced each other and Chairman of the PDP indefinitely, the alreadyM170/2021, Justice Umar said Secondus was suspended on commending the Chairman of supported him. governors and Governor of scheduled National Working she was satisfied after reading Monday by a Degema High the BoT, Walid Jibrin, for acting On his part, Atiku, who Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Committee (NWC) meeting the affidavit of the respondents Court in Rivers State. The swiftly to resolve the leadership explained away his long absence Tambuwul said the decision of the party. that an interim order should restraining order was given crisis in the NWC between from the party said, "I was was in line with the earlier But regardless of the latest be granted on the purported by Justice O. Gbasah.when himself and Nazif. away. I went to school. I went position of the governors and development, the party has suspension of Secondus pending contacted on the new order last He said, "I thank the BoT to Cambridge, where I read the expanded BoT of the party. insisted that the National the determination of the case. night, Secondus in a brief chat chairman for his tireless efforts. Masters in International relations. Interestingly, however, the with THISDAY, confirmed that We invited the BoT chairman I thanked former President National Secretary of the PDP, he had secured the stay order to our NWC meeting and he Obasanjo for recommending Senator Umar Tsauri, had from the Kebbi State High Court. observed our meeting. I am me to Cambridge University" hinted earlier before a Kebbi NBC Queries Channels TV over However, addressing a man of peace. Our national He commended the NWC court restored Secondus, that newsmen after the NWC convention will hold in for settling down to resolve embattled PDP chairman would Ortom’s Anti-Buhari Interview meeting, yesterday, National October as earlier directed by the power tussle and the BoT assume his office whenever the Publicity Secretary of PDP, the expanded BoT. Our NEC for providing leadership, saying, court order that restrained him Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja be sanctioned. Kola Ologbondiyan, said, the will hold on Saturday. “Now, we are in opposition.” was vacated. The NBC stated that Channels The National Broadcasting Television violated during the Commission (NBC) has airing of the programme, Section queried Channel Television 1.10.4, Section3.1.1, Section 3.3.1 for broadcasting a programme (b), Section 3.3. 1 (e), Section 3.11.1 Abba Kyari: DIG Egbunike Panel Submits Report to IG on Tuesday that had Governor (a) and Section 3.12.2 respectively. Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja to effect the arrest of a rival in presenting the report, thanked guided in its decision-making Samuel Ortom of Benue State Section 3.11.1 (a) says that the Nigeria. the IGP for the confidence processes. "The IGP assured as guest. broadcaster shall ensure that The Deputy Inspector-General of Following the indictment, the reposed in him and members of that a careful and expeditious The query titled: ‘Notice of language likely to encourage or Police (DIG) Joseph Egbunike- United States Federal Bureau of the panel to conduct the probe. review of the recommendations Infraction,’ dated August 24, incite to crime or lead to disorder led panel set up by the police Investigation (FBI) served the He noted that the panel would be undertaken by the 2021, was addressed by the is not broadcast, while Section high command to investigate court processes on the Nigeria commenced investigations Force Management Team Director-General NBC, Balarabe 3.12.2 says that the broadcaster the allegations of fraud levelled Police. immediately it was inaugurated and thereafter forwarded Shehu Ilelah to the Managing shall not transmit a programme against suspended Deputy A statement issued by Force on August 2, 2021 and the to appropriate quarters for Director of Channels Television. that incites or is likely to incite Commissioner of Police Public Relations Officer, Mr report submitted was the necessary action(s)". In the letter, the NBC rebuked violence among the populace, (DCP) Abba Kyari, yesterday Frank Mba, a Commissioner outcome of "a painstaking, He reiterated the commitment Channels Television over the causing mass panic, political and submitted its report to the of Police, said the Inspector- transparent and exhaustive of the force to ensuring justice failure of its anchors to properly social upheaval, security breach Inspector-General of Police, General of Police, Usman investigative process". He said for all. interrogate Ortom, who was and general social disorder. Mr Usman Baba. Baba, "received the report of the report presented "contained It would be recalled that the alleged to have made inciting, While appearing on the The panel was constituted on the NPF Special Investigation the case file of the probe, Police Service Commission (PSC) divisive and unfair comments programme, Governor Ortom August 2, 2021. The setting up Panel (SIP) investigating the evidences and findings as well had suspended Kyari following on the peak hour Sunrise Daily had criticised the present of the panel was sequel to an alleged indictment of the as testimonies from DCP Abba the recommendation of the IG programme. administration and described indictment of Kyari in a case erstwhile Head of the Police Kyari and other persons and pending the submission of the This, the agency said was in President Buhari as the worst involving a notorious internet Intelligence Response Team groups linked to the matter". Egbunike panel even as it set violation of some provisions of when it comes to handling of fraudster, Ramon Abbas aka (IRT), DCP Abba Kyari by the The IG, who commended up an in-house committee to the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. security matters. Hushpuppi, who was involved Federal Bureau of Investigation the panel for the work done prepare ground for the receipt Ilelah, who cited the infraction He also alleged that the in $1.1million scam of a Quatari (FBI)". stated that the essence of of the panel report from the IG. of some sections of the Code President had a subtle agenda to businessman in the US District The report was submitted by the probe was to carry out Force Headquarters had also subsequently directed the ‘Fulanise’ the country by treating Court of California. the Chairman of the SIP, DIG discrete investigations into replaced Kyari with DCP Tunde television station to explain the alleged attacks carried by The court had ordered the Joseph Egbunike, at the Force the allegation levelled against Disu as the new head of the within 24 hours of the receipt suspected herdsmen with kid’s arrest of Kyari, who denied that Headquarters, Abuja. the officer to enable the force Police Intelligence Response of the letter why it should not glove. Abbas paid N8 million to him It said DIG Egbunike while leadership be appropriately Team (IRT). FRIDAY AUGUST 27, 2021 • THISDAY 7 8 FRIDAY, ͺͿ˜ͺ͸ͺ͹˾THISDAY PAGE EIGHT 5.01% 2ND QUARTER GDP GROWTH EXCITES NIGERIANS Limited and a member of the the nominal GDP growth rate had to resume our efforts to by his Media Adviser, Femi improving the business for a lockdown,” he added. President’s Economic Advisory recorded in Q2 was higher tackle poverty in order to Adesina, urged the economic environment, and investing Projecting into the future, the Council (EAC), Mr. Bismarck than the -2.80 per cent growth achieve sustainable growth, managers to continue with massively in infrastructure, are President assured Nigerians that Rewane, have warned that the recorded in Q2 2020 when while using vaccinations and the positive development by beginning to yield fruit. there were much to be optimistic economy was not yet out of economic activities slowed pharmaceutical interventions to touching the lives and pockets “Equally gratifying is the about, adding that investments the woods. sharply at the outset of the fight the spread of the virus. of the average Nigerian. complementary news of the in agriculture and infrastructure According to the NBS, the pandemic. While the pandemic presents The president expressed steady decline in the rate of would continue, just like ongoing GDP grew 5.01 per cent (year-on- Furthermore, the NBS report challenges to governance, it also optimism that recent reforms and inflation, over the last few efforts to achieve a significant year) in real terms in the second showed that nominal growth provides opportunity for public efforts such as the conclusion months. improvement in the security quarter of the year (Q2 2021), rate was also higher than the private sector collaboration of the Marginal Fields Bid The positive effects of the situation across the country. compared to the -6.10 per cent 12.25 per cent growth recorded beyond rhetoric and dialogue. Round, the renewed focus on Economic Sustainability Plan He added: “There is no doubt recorded in Q2 2020. in Q1 2021. gas development (including (ESP), which helped fast-track that a more secure environment This marked three consecutive Daily average oil production Buhari Hails Q2 the NLNG Train 7 project, and the country’s exit from the - which the security agencies are quarters of growth following stood at 1.61 million barrels GDP Performance various pipeline construction COVID-induced recession of working hard to achieve - will the negative growth rates per day (mbpd), which was projects) as well as the Petroleum 2020, continue to be evident, spur and energise the shoots of of -6.10 per cent and -3.62 per -0.10mbpd lower than the Industry Act (PIA), would attract as some of the sectors driving economic progress being seen cent in Q2 2020 and Q3 2020 1.72mbpd recorded in Q1 President Buhari who was excited about the GDP new investment to the oil and the Q2 2021 growth have and felt in the country." year-on-year respectively. and -0.19mbpd lower than the gas sector, and create conditions benefited or are benefiting from The statistical agency pointed 1.81mbpd recorded in the same performance also hailed the managers of the nation's for more robust levels of growth government-led interventions. Analysts Warn out that the Q2 2021 growth rate quarter of 2020. in the future. “The successful roll-out was also higher than the 0.51 per According to the report, the economy for a job well done Economy Not Out of and further expressed optimism “It is gratifying to note of vaccines and COVID-19 cent recorded in Q1 2021 year oil sector contributed 7.42 per that various policies of the protocols has also helped the Woods -on -year, indicating the return cent to total real GDP in Q2 about the country's future. The president in a statement administration, aimed at to reduce pressures on the Continued on page 10 of business and economic compared with the 9.25 per cent boosting agricultural production, healthcare system and the need activities near levels seen seen in Q1 and 8.93 per cent in prior to the implementation Q2 2020 while the non-oil sector of COVID-19-related restrictions. contributed 92.58 per cent to According to the GDP report GDP in real terms. for Q2, the "steady recovery Agriculture's contribution to observed since the end of GDP grew to 23.78 per cent from 2020, with the gradual return 22.35 per cent in Q1. of commercial activity as well A further breakdown of as local and international the figure showed that real travel, accounted for the contribution of the manufacturing significant increase in growth sector to GDP in Q2 stood at performance relative to the 8.69 per cent, lower than the second quarter of 2020 when 9.93 per cent in Q1 and 8.82 nationwide restrictions took per cent in Q2 2020. effect." The contribution of trade Year-to-date, real GDP grew to GDP increased to 16.66 per 2.70 per cent in 2021 compared cent from 15.61 per cent in to the -2.18 per cent recorded in the preceding quarter as well the first half of 2020, the NBS as 14.28 per cent in Q2 2020. added. Also, the information Nevertheless, the statistical and communication sector agency further noted that contributed 17.92 per cent to quarter-on- quarter, real GDP GDP in Q2 compared to 14.91 grew by -0.79 per cent in Q2 per cent in Q1 and 17.83 per compared to Q1 2021, reflecting cent in the previous year. slightly slower economic activity Also, Dipeolu said the than the preceding quarter due challenges facing the country largely to seasonality. could be tackled through robust In the quarter under adoption of technology, pointing review, aggregate GDP stood out that the potential solutions at N39.12 trillion in nominal ranges from improving the terms, higher than the N34.02 delivery of education using trillion in Q2 2020, indicating digital contents, deepening a year-on-year nominal growth financial inclusion, through the PDP BOT MEETING... rate of 14.99 per cent. It showed expansion of digital payment Former Vice President of Nigeria and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar that Real GDP stood at N16.69 systems especially for the (middle) flanked by Secretary, PDP Board of Trustees and former Senate President, Sen. Adolphus Wabara (left) and former trillion in Q2. distribution of social benefits. According to the report, According to him, “We have National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Bello Haliru (right) at the PDP BOT meeting in Abuja... yesterday BUHARI ELATED AS NNPC BREAKS JINX, DECLARES N287BN PROFIT, FIRST IN 44 YEARS (AFS) to the adoption of cost- He congratulated the NNPC over 14,966 per cent increase, company. very drastic changes to the way transition did not mean that the cutting measures, which hit board for a job well done. while the Petroleum Products “The first principle of course we do our business. One is to world was eliminating crude about 30 per cent in the last The president stated, "I have Marketing Company (PPMC) is elimination, that is, you don't cut cost, to be more efficient, and oil completely, but projects two years. further directed the NNPC to recorded N14.2 billion profit in buy what you don't need. And also to ensure that this company would be done in such a However, president has timely publish the audited 2019, compared to N9.3 billion we simply stopped buying what is transparent and accountable way that carbon effects on the directed the corporation's financial statements in line in 2018, representing 52 per cent we didn't need. Also, during to the Nigerian people." environment would be reduced management to ensure timely with the requirements of increase. the particular fiscal year 2020, Earlier, Sylva praised the close to zero. publication of its audited the law and as follow-up to whoever we engaged on all our NNPC board and management “What the PIA is trying to do accounts. our commitment to ensuring NNPC Explains How contracts, we insisted on cutting over the feat. is to make Nigeria a much more Special Adviser to the transparency and accountability Feat Was Achieved costs by at least 30 per cent. He listed other similar attractive and clement business President on Media and by public institutions. “This worked and we were achievements in the last few environment for people to put Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, “I congratulate the board, Meanwhile, the NNPC has able to pull down most of our months as the passage of the their monies into, while focusing in a statement quoted Buhari management and staff of the attributed the N287 billion procurement costs by 30 per PIA and the historic publication on the development of gas in the to have said the directive was corporation and look forward profit recorded to its adoption cent. We saw the opportunity of the NNPC 2018 and 2019 domestic and the spot markets,” in line with an earlier pledge to greater value creation for the of cost-cutting measures. to be much more efficient by accounts last year. he maintained. by the federal government to Nigerian people.” The Group Managing automating our systems and Meanwhile, Kyari has said The NNPC helmsman, who publicly announce the financial For the first time since its Director of the corporation, processes and that made us the PIA had replaced some also spoke on the corporation’s position of NNPC. establishment, NNPC, in June Mallam Mele Kyari, told faster and also ultimately it regulations enacted in 1969, acquisition of 20 per cent in Buhari, who doubles as and October, respectively, last journalists at the headquarters reduced so much of logistics which were already archaic. Dangote Refinery, further Minister of Petroleum Resources, year, made public its Audited of the company in Abuja that costs that ordinarily would Kyari said the oil and gas reduced the timeframe within disclosed that the profit was Financial Statement (AFS) for the national oil company had have been additional costs to industry was in a bad state which to recoup its about $2.7 made possible by the prudent 2018 and 2019. It noted in the adopted drastic changes in the our business,” he noted. before now. billion investment from five management of the country’s documents that were released way its business was conducted He admitted that although The GMD, who spoke on a years to about three years. resources. five months apart that it had before now. there's more work to be done, national television programme He said, “What I see Buhari said, “I am pleased achieved a 99.7 per cent Kyari, who spoke alongside he remained proud of his team yesterday, credited the success is that there are a lot of to announce the declaration of reduction in its loss profile from board members of the at the corporation, maintaining of the new law to a clement misunderstanding around the Profit after Tax of N287 billion in a whopping N803 billion in 2018 corporation, who were also that history had been made by legislative environment, which NNPC proposed acquisition of year 2020 by the NNPC. This is to N1.7 billion in 2019. joined virtually by the Minister of the NNPC. had aligned with the executive 20 per cent of equity in Dangote sequel to the completion of the Although, a number of the State, Petroleum, Chief Timipre According to him, the NNPC arm of government. Refinery. What is not obvious is statutory annual audit exercise corporation’s over 20 subsidiaries Sylva, explained that the efforts has now turned the corner from Kyari stated that because of that, first, the Dangote Group for year 2020. recorded losses, the general of the corporation to embrace being a loss- making business the fiscal uncertainty that made does not want the NNPC to "The NNPC losses were administrative expenses of the transparency and accountability that would look to improve the environment uncompetitive, take this equity. reduced from N803 billion in national oil company witnessed a encouraged by President Buhari, on its performance especially of the about $50 billion new “But the NNPC is just year 2018 to N1.7 billion in 22 per cent decrease, from N894 had started paying off. under the Petroleum Industry investments in the oil and gas, jumping in to take this equity. year 2019 and the eventual billion in 2018 to N696 billion The GMD said he attempted Act (PIA). which came into sub-Saharan Again, no resource-dependent declaration of net profit in in 2019. to bring in a new perspective in “This is a very proud Africa in the last five years, only country, like Nigeria, will agree year 2020 for the first time in Some of the corporation’s the running of the national oil moment for us, because to our $3 billion came into Nigeria. to allow such monumental its 44-year history. subsidiaries, which posted company and built on what he shareholders we're no longer He said investors were not project, with energy security “This development improved performance in its met, ensuring more efficiency declaring losses. As a matter of sure what would happen if implications, which has is consistent with this last audited results, included the by automating the company’s fact, just like last year as we they brought their money to connection with fiscal security, administration’s commitment to Nigerian Petroleum Development processes and systems as well moved from loss level of N803 invest in Nigeria. to take place without having a ensuring prudent management Company Limited (NPDC), as choosing wisely what to billion in 2018, we reduced it “Therefore, it is absolutely a seat on its board. of resources and maximisation which recorded N479 billion invest in. to N1.7 billion in 2019. new opportunity for the NNPC “Refinery is a very lucrative of value for the Nigerian people profit in 2019, compared to N179 Added to those factors, the "And in the 2020 fiscal year, and its subsidiaries, because, business. The government from their natural resources.” billion in 2018, representing a 167 NNPC boss stated that the we're making profit after tax of henceforth, they have to justify believes it can recoup its money The president said to take per cent increase. In addition, the corporation had also been N287 billion. This is no doubt a their existence, as there will not within three years. Nobody is NNPC to the next level, he had Integrated Data Sciences Limited focusing on staff welfare, saying huge progress, but by no means be any patronage from the going to take government money directed that all the financial (IDSL) recorded a N23 billion happy workers would ultimately sufficient,” he said. government or access to the to put into this project if not statements of the corporation profit in 2019, compared to N154 deliver on the objectives of the On the changes made by the resources of the state,” he stated. for the fact that it will benefit must be promptly released. million in 2018, representing corporation, he said: “There are Kyari argued that the energy the people.” FRIDAY AUGUST 27, 2021 • THISDAY 9 10 FRIDAY, ͺͿ˜ͺ͸ͺ͹˾THISDAY NEWS 70% of Nigerian Youths May Soon Become Ex-convicts, Says EFCC Anti-graft agency records 33 convictions in 24 Hours Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja and like TV/radio documentaries, going to be a safe haven for cyber Paul Obinna Thomas. and you thereby committed an which statement is untrue in Hammed Shittu in Ilorin write ups, whistle blowing etc criminals,” he added. Others are Damilola Michael, offence contrary to Section 22(2) any material particular and should be encouraged as we Meanwhile, the Benin zone Umoru Mosuru, Dotun (b)(i) and (ii) of the Cybercrimes thereby committed an offence The Economic and Financial call on media to join in the had on Wednesday August 25, Ogunboye Olaleye, Adekunle (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act contrary to Section 39(2)(a) of the Crimes Commission (EFCC), anti-corruption fight." 2021 secured 30 convictions Joshua, Elliot Igunbor, Ezomo 2015 and punishable under Economic and Financial Crimes has said more than 70 per cent The commander warned before Justice A. T. Mohammed Junior, David Oluwatobi, Section 22(2)(iv) of the same Act.” Commission (Establishment) Act of Nigerian youth might soon fraudsters to desist from engaging of the Federal High Court sitting Ereoman Emmanuel, Oyetunde Three sureties who were 2004 and punishable under become ex-convicts if the present in acts of corruption and steer Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Victor Temitope, Nurudeen arraigned for perversion of justice Section 39(2)(b)of the same Act.” high rate of their involvement clear of the three states under The convicted internet Abiodun Imole and Adeboye were Lewis Ogenkhene, Ughoshe All the defendants pleaded in cybercrime was not stopped. his command, saying, the “eagle fraudsters were arraigned Victor. Adolphus and Osazuwa Efosa guilty to the charges, when they This is as the Benin Zonal eyes” of the Commission was separately on one count charge The charge against one of Robertson. were read to them. Command of the agency, widely open and ready to catch bordering on impersonation and them read: “That you Adebuje The charge against Ogenkhene The prosecution counsel, yesterday, secured the conviction any corrupt individual, anytime, obtaining by false pretences. Isaac Oluwadunsin on the 5th read: "That you Lewis Ogenkhene Francis Jirbo, Austin Ozigbu and of three cyber criminals before anywhere. They are Okei Morrison day of August, 2021 at Ondo (m) on or about the 15th day of Ibrahim Mohammed, prayed the Justice A. T. Mohammed of the He described the media as Onome, Ejiro Nwaju, Oki Alex State within the jurisdiction September, 2020 in Benin City, court to convict and sentence the Federal High Court sitting Port a crucial partner in preventing Efe, Omoghene Gift, Collins of this Honourable Court did Edo State within the jurisdiction defendants accordingly. Harcourt, Rivers State, bringing corruption, economic and Odinaka, Onyue Martins fraudulently impersonate the of the Federal High Court did Justice Mohammed to 33 the number of internet fraud financial crimes in Nigeria. Ifeanyi, Azubuike Christian, identity of one Michelle Orton knowingly make a false statement convicted and sentenced the convictions recorded by the zone "The task of fighting economic Achiever Effiong, Adeniyi a white woman and citizen of the to Detective Ajisafe Wasiu, an quartet of Imole, Olagoke within 24 hours. and financial crimes is painstaking Michael Femi, Eze John Paul, United States of America in your officer of the Economic and Ibrahim, Odinaka, John Paul, The Ilorin zonal commander and broad-based and should be Akinayomide James, Adejube Samsung S8 and email address Financial Crimes Commission Adekunle Joshua to three years of the EFCC, Mr. Usman Muktar, embraced by all strata of the Isaac Oluwadunsin, Isaac Phillip, [email protected] to in the course of the exercise imprisonment with the option while speaking with journalists society with the media serving Ibrahim Olalekan Olagoke and gain advantage for yourself of the duties of his office, of N500, 000 fine each. on the state of the nation, decried as channel of communication the high rate of cybercrime and enlightenment. among youths and enjoined "Commission depends greatly every stakeholder in the country on the media to achieve success to discourage the youths from in the anti-graft campaign, internet fraud. especially, as it affects the Muktar, who said the EFCC prevention mandate, which is had witnessed an increasing hinged on Section 6 of the EFCC number of arrest of Nigerian Establishment Act. youths in cybercrime in recent “Without a doubt, the media time, charged parents to ask their is a critical stakeholder in the children questions about sources anti-graft war. With your pen, of their wealth. you could make or mar the fight "When your children, who are against corruption. The media’s in schools stopped asking you potential to inform and educate for money for upkeep or driving the people is crucial for us. expensive cars, parents should "We believe that on our own, ask questions. Unfortunately, we cannot win the war against some parents support these corruption without a buy-in by youth in internet fraud. They the people. This is where the say it's oyinbo money. How does support of the media comes that turn to be your money?", in. We need the media to help he asked. sensitise the people on the ills of He lamented that free money corruption and economic crimes”. from cybercrimes led to the use Still on cybercrime, the Zonal and sales of hard drugs and drug Commander stated that, “The abuse, saying all hands must be Command, which covers Kwara, on deck to save the situation. Ekiti and Kogi States is engaging Muktar added: "Corruption relevant stakeholders including among elected political office religious and traditional leaders, holders is also a cause for concern. Civil Society Organisations, NIGERIAN BREWERIES VISITS UGWUANYI... People should ask questions CSOs and the youths with a about projects and quality of view to sensitising them on the L-R: Enugu State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of the state and the new Managing work/projects. It would make inherent dangers of corruption. Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc (NBL), Mr. Hans Essaadi, when the NBL boss paid a courtesy visit to the governor at the them sit up. Such programmes My Command is certainly not Government House, Enugu...yesterday 5.01% 2ND QUARTER GDP GROWTH EXCITES NIGERIANS development. He added, "Therefore, private during and after COVID-19, only of investors in various sectors with the fact that inflation has But speaking to THISDAY, Rewane, said it was not yet investment is a function of then, we can say we are out of of the economy contributed to moderated at the same time. It however, analysts who time to pump champagne as confidence. What are we going the woods." the positive performance. is still quite high, but it has not welcomed the positive GDP, the GDP result was a base year to do to endear the conference Also, Managing Director/ Also, the Chairman of Fidelity been rising in the last report.” noted that it doesn't indicate effects comparing a, "period of investors? And that's the big Chief Executive, SD&D Capital Bank Plc and President of He also stressed the need to that the challenges confronting when there was no activity question that we have to ask. Management Limited, Mr. Bank Directors Association of sustain the growth trajectory the economy were over. to when there's now activity." "We need confidence of Idakolo Gbolade said: "The Nigeria (BDAN) Mr. Mustapha with expansionary policies. They, therefore urged the He said though the impact of investors will depend on how Nigeria economy is trying to Chike- Obi applauded the He also advised the federal government to remain the GDP performance would be we behave ourselves in the bounce back in an unprecedented federal government over the government to address the focused on infrastructural limited, the government needs investment community." manner year- on- year." latest GDP performance. security situation of the country. development, stimulate private to stimulate private investments In his contribution, the He said that the Speaking yesterday in an On his part, the Managing sector investment as well as and boost public spending to Managing Director/Chief implementation of favourable interview on Arise News Director, Kairos Capital, Mr. provision of favourable policies strengthen the economy. Executive, Dignity Finance and policies by government Channel, Chike-Obi said: “ Sam Chidoka, who spoke in to further enhance the ease of According to Rewane,"We Investment Limited, Dr. Chijioke particularly in agriculture, This is good news, no matter an interview with THISDAY doing business in the country. shouldn't start bringing the Ekechukwu, said, the growth, mining, manufacturing had where you are you need to start said: “We may argue that it is Also, they stressed the need to champagne glasses yet because "does not mean we are out of started paying off with efforts progressing from some place. base-year effect because at Q2 implement policies to help regain it's too early. its good news the woods." to tackle insecurity also yielding People are going to tell you we 2020 we were at -6 per cent, but lost grounds in all sector of the but the impact is limited at He added: "About this time in some positive results. started from a low base, but I maintain that it is good news economy following the damage this time." 2020, the entire global economy He noted that the Central the fact that we can grow by and it is in the right direction. inflicted by the COVID-19. "So we need private was shut down, and so was the Bank of Nigeria (CBN)'s Anchor five per cent from any base is “Any growth is good for They also emphasised the investment in addition to economy of Nigeria. Borrowers Programme (ABP) very encouraging. So, I think the economy as we need to be need to address the current state government spending. "So that we have a year-on- and other government agencies this is very encouraging. outstripping population growth of insecurity and as well as boost "And government spending year growth of 5.1 per cent intervention in key sectors were “Government policies have so we need to be growing at foreign exchange availability cannot do it alone. Government shouldn't be seen as all uhuru. redefining the agricultural value helped and incentives given by the minimum of about four to for the manufacturing sector spending cannot achieve what "We need to be looking at the chain. government has helped. So, this five per cent continuously for which remains key economic we need to achieve." lost opportunities in all sectors He added that the resilience is good news and situate this the foreseeable future.” PLATEAU VIOLENCE: DOCTORS SUSPEND STRIKE DUE TO OVERWHELMING EMERGENCIES Nigeria, which on Thursday strike for the past weeks had commitment to offering health "The Plateau State branch of and living with the fear that and killings,which are one too called on spirited members of been recalled to the hospital “on services to them," he said. the Nigerian Medical Association same will happen the next many. The people deserve the public and good Samaritans compassionate ground” to enable Also, Head, communications, is saddened and disillusioned day elsewhere or in their better from their leaders as to donate blood to victims of them attend to emergencies. Red Cross Nigeria, Mr. Mafeng by the persistent and vicious neighbourhood unabatedly, every life is indeed sacred, and the attacks, because the state’s "In view of the current Mark, in an S.O.S message to acts of inhumanity currently with huge sums paid as ransom. the right to life, a fundamental Specialist Hospital was in dire situation, I reached out to the public, urged everyone that ravaging the society and exerting "This worrisome and sad human right of every Nigerian shortage of blood and could the NARD leadership for a was fit and capable to donate a great toll on the physical and turn of events is severely citizen, which should be no longer cope with demands. compassionate waiver for ARD blood by immediately visitingthe psychological wellbeing of the bleeding the resources of the guaranteed by the government. On its part, the Nigerian JUTH to attend to emergencies. various hospitals attending to masses across the state. people and ultimately wrecking "We express deep Medical Association (NMA), The indefatigable NARD the victims. "The innocent, armless, the economy of the state in concern as the victims of Plateau State chapter, has President in consultation with NMA, in a statement on accommodating and committed general, resulting in further these unwarranted attacks also expressed concern over other NARD leadership has Thursday by its chairman, Dr. citizens of the state have increase in the sufferings that continue to populate our the rising traffic at hospitals' graciously approved this waiver Innocent Emmanuel, decried the continued to live under the have characterised the life of hospitals' emergency wards emergency units and mortuaries for our members in JUTH to current security situation in the perennial unsavoury reality of ordinary citizens, who abinitio and mortuaries," NMA said, in the aftermath of the violence, attend to emergencies arising state, where people are attacked, perpetual terrorism manifesting have mostly been living below, calling on the government and describing the situation as from the ongoing crisis in Jos. injured and murdered in cold as kidnappings for ransom, rape, at or only slightly above the the security forces to genuinely overwhelming. "While we call on government blood in their homes, and their maiming and killings as well poverty line. commit themselves to doing President of NARD, JUTH to live up to its responsibility of farmlands and other means of as threats of total annihilation. "The NMA frowns more to prevent further branch, Dr. Nanpon Nalda, said protection of lives and properties, livelihoods completely destroyed, “On a daily basis, people are exceedingly at the unabating incidences rather than taking his members, who had been on we assure of our unwavering describing it as terrible. kidnapped from their houses and wanton destruction, injury reactive measures. FRIDAY, ͺͿ˜ͺ͸ͺ͹˾THISDAY 11 NEWS Ortom to Garba: Your Language Use Exposes Quality of Your Leadership Accuses president of stoking crisis in Benue to declare emergency rule Says Buhari should answer to questions raised and not attack critics Alleges President's spokesman was high on negative substances President, not Benue gov spreading division, hate, PDP posits Chucks Okocha in Abuja of Garba Shehu and his against the governor can and Fulanise the nation like adjusted to a deadening crisis in the country, the and George Okoh In cohorts, Governor Ortom force him to repeal the law former President Olusegun status-quo, I don't want Buhari Presidency is thinking Makurdi rose to become a Local on open grazing of cattle in Obasanjo, Professor Kunle peace. If peace means a of Rwandan Genocide while Government Chairman, Benue State. Olawunmi and other patriotic willingness to be exploited exposing its deep-seated The last may not have State Publicity Secretary "We advise the Presidency Nigerians have rightly said." economically, dominated detestation for Governor been heard in the brickbats of National Centre Party to focus on ending the killing He urged the good politically, humiliated and Ortom. between the Benue State of Nigeria; State Treasurer of innocent Nigerians, fix the people of Nigeria to call the segregated, I don't want "Governor Ortom is Governor, Samuel Ortom, of All People’s Party, State economy as it promised and Presidency to order before peace.” a highly principled and and the Senior Special Secretary as well as State stop the stinking corruption it destroys Nigeria, saying, On its part, the PDP in forthright leader, who is Assistant as the governor, Deputy Chairman of the under their watch. “If nothing is done fast to a statement by its National loved not only in Benue, yesterday, said the language Peoples Democratic Party, "They can’t run away from avert the impending disaster, Publicity Secretary, Kola but also across the nation. often employed by him in PDP, National Auditor of their responsibility. They armed herders, bandits and Ologbondiyan, recalled The PDP urges Nigerians to engaging people has exposed PDP, Minister of the Federal were brought to power to other terrorists will one day how the Buhari Presidency hold the Buhari Presidency the quality of the leadership Republic and now a two-term serve the country not to take over Aso Rock Villa and has been planting seeds responsible should any harm he represents. Governor. oppress the people and those occupying the Villa at of discord in the country come to him or his family Ortom said he was not 'The governor spoke the suppress their freedom of the moment will willingly with hate language, divisive members. oblivious of plans by minds of most Nigerians on speech. They are on record surrender to them and flee tendencies and unconcealed "As a party, the PDP the Muhammadu Buhari specific areas of failure of the to have publicly promised from the country. nepotism, to the extent that demands that the Buhari administration to stoke crisis Presidency and its complicity during their campaigns "No day passes without our nation has become Presidency should come in the state just so it could in the heinous crimes before the 2015 elections reports of herdsmen and widely divided along all clean on its handling of declare a state of emergency, committed against citizens by that they would respect other terrorists killing fault lines. insecurity in the country. all because he would not armed Fulani herdsmen and the rights and freedoms defenseless Nigerians in The PDP said Nigerians This is particularly against change his position on the other terrorists. Instead of of Nigerians if elected. parts of the country. The have not forgotten how the backdrop of its manifest anti-open grazing law. taking the governor on those Sadly, what the people of number of displaced people President Buhari, ahead of failure to battle and rout He, however, called on points, Shehu went chasing this country have got from has risen to millions, yet, the the 2011 general election, out terrorists, bandits, the Garba to let President vain and mundane matters the current government is Presidency wants everyone declared that “if what kidnappers and marauders Buhari respond to some of in a desperate attempt to the opposite of that promise. to remain silent while the happened in 2011 should that have taken over our the critical national questions malign the governor”, the "Governor Ortom stands country burns. again happen in 2015, by highways, forests, pillaging raised during his recent statement stated. by his words that this is not "Governor Samuel Ortom the grace of God, the dog communities and killing interview with the Channels The governor also demand the first time a Fulani man will not keep mute! Let it and the baboon would all Nigerians on daily basis," Television as against the an apology from the is President of Nigeria, and be on record that while be soaked in blood”. the PDP said. resort to personality attacks, Presidency for accusing him also that it is the first time the Presidency deliberately In addition, the PDP The PDP said under adding that the author of of stirring ethnic tensions the country has been divided destroyed Nigeria, someone also said Nigerians could Buhari’s lethargic regime, the statement, Mallam Shehu and calling for genocide, on ethnic lines with lopsided spoke against the evil." recall how the President bandits and terrorists have Garba, must have been high saying the Presidency has appointments in promotion The statement, which tagged those he believed become so emboldened that on negative substances. never hidden its hatred for and celebration of nepotism, claimed the governor did not vote for him; how they now attack military Ortom noted that he Ortom, and that its latest marginalisation and open believed in the words of he described citizens as “dot formations, including the read the statement, which outing only confirmed that repugnance of other Dr. Martin Luther King in a circle,” as well as the Nigerian Defence Academy was supposed to be the fact. Nigerians. At no time in the Jnr, ended by citing one hate language that attracted (NDA), where they killed presidency’s response to the "We are aware of the history of this country have of King’s famous quotes: sanctions by Twitter. and kidnapped officers for issues he raised, bordering presidency’s plot to cause impunity, blatant disregard “If peace means accepting "It is rather alarming that ransom. largely on the worsening crisis in Benue and make for laws, sectarian as well second class citizenship, I instead of taking steps to It therefore called on security situation across the state ungovernable and as ethnic differences, been don't want it. If peace means address the killings in Buhari to rein in his aides, the country, but that the declare a state of emergency. fueled by the government keeping my mouth shut in Benue state as well as wake up from his slumber tone showed the quality Whenever each of their plans as we now see. the midst of injustice and the worsening insecurity, and decisively address the of Presidency Nigeria fails as it happened with the "The agenda of the present evil, I don't want it. If peace carnages, banditry, terrorism worsening insecurity in the currently has, because “they impeachment attempt on the administration is to Islamise means being complacently and imminent humanitarian country under his watch. abandoned the message and Governor before the 2019 went for the messenger.” elections, they resort to cheap In the same stroke, the blackmail. Peoples Democratic Party 'They accuse Governor (PDP) has said against the Ortom of making a law to ICPC, FRSC Arrest 15 Road Safety Officials overExtortion of Motorists resort to shifting blame, the chase Fulani out of Benue, Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja during the enforcement they were raided while It was also found in the Buhari Presidency was the a claim that lacks substance of the sixth phase of extorting motorists. course of the operation one responsible for spreading and only goes to prove that Fifteen officials of the ‘Operation Tranquility’ by Also, the members of that two patrol teams in division and hatred among they have not read the Open Federal Road Safety Corps officers of ICPC, FRSC and Operation Tranquility Adamawa and Gombe Nigerians and not Ortom, Grazing Prohibition and (FRSC) were yesterday the Department of State arrested four FRSC officials States respectively, were as claimed in the Garba Ranches Establishment Law arrested through a joint Services (DSS). in Gombe State, along Gombe not involved in any corrupt statement. of the state. They can’t justify security operation led by A joint statement by township routes while four act as they were caught According to Ortom’s their narrative that Governor the Independent Corrupt ICPC and FRSC said the others were arrested within under surveillance checking statement signed by his Ortom hates Fulani, when Practices and Other Related operation, whose aim is to Ikare township routes in documentations and Chief Press Secretary, Mr some of his appointees are Offences Commission (ICPC) bring an end to extortion Ondo State. ensuring road worthiness Terver Akase, it stated, "To Fulani. for allegedly extorting of motorists and other The team noted that the of vehicles. describe as ‘undistinguished’, "The Presidency must monies from motorists on unwholesome practices officials would sometimes "All those arrested have the career of a man, who realise that no amount of highways across the country. by some FRSC officials, enter vehicles belonging to been granted administrative has held many key positions blackmail and media attack The officials were resulted in the arrest of motorists to negotiate and bail by the commission, at the state and national can discourage the governor arrested on August 12, seven officials along the collect the bribes to avoid however further levels, proves that those, from speaking against the 2021,p simultaneously Jimeta Township Routes being seen by passers-by as investigation activities who penned the piece were injustice and pain the present in Adamawa, Gombe, and Yola Expressway in well as employ the services are still on-going to ensure under the influence of some government has caused Ondo and Osun States, . of local government revenue that those culpable are negative substances. Nigerians. No amount of respectively with the Some money was collectors as agents to cover appropriately punished", "For the information sponsored smear campaigns extorted money on them recovered from them as their illicit acts. it said. Constitution Review: House Mulls Stripping SIEC of Power to Conduct LG Elections It’ll guarantee councils’ autonomy, says Wase Adedayo Akinwale and Speaker of the House, Hon. in Nigeria. to do in the constitutional uniform system in terms of 60 per cent of the challenges Udora Orizu in Abuja Ahmed Wase disclosed this He added that the House amendment is to make sure the election," he said. facing the country today on Thursday in Abuja, was considering empowering that the financial autonomy Wase said everyone was would be resolved if there The House of Representatives when the International the Independent National is there, the independence aware that prior to 1999, was good governance at has said it was considering Republican Institute and Electoral Commission (INEC) of the local government is the country had a unified the local government level, stripping State Independent Youth Leaders from all constitutional power to there. system and even after 1999, saying, "I want to believe Electoral Commission (SIEC) registered political parties conduct local government "We are trying to achieve the tenure was three years, that the President is with the power to conduct local paid him a courtesy visit, elections in order to have that by all standards. In adding theatrical government you on this 100 per cent. government elections in the saying the review would uniform elections in the terms of the tenure, we are autonomy was apt and That is in tandem with what ongoing constitutional review. guarantee the political and country. trying to take it away from the country had good the present government Chairman of the financial autonomy of Local "I want to inform you the states and take it back governance. wants to do in giving good Committee and Deputy Government administration that what we are trying to INEC so that we have a He was of the view that governance at that level." 12 FRIDAY, ͺͿ˜ͺ͸ͺ͹˾THISDAY NEWS ANALYSIS Alleged $75bn FDI Loss: Energy Sector Blackmailers Goofed Philip Ukpe

Just 48 hours after President Muhammadu Buhari signed his administration’s towering, flagship Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) 2021 into law (now the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA), on August 16, following its passage by the National Assembly, shadowy forces have gone to work to instigate crisis, smear and impugn the integrity of the nation’s energy sector managers. PIA provides a comprehensive legal, governance, regulatory and fiscal framework framework for Nigeria’s petroleum industry, the development of host communities and an impressive swathe of other related matters. President Buhari immediately appointed Timipre Silva, Minister of State, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, to head the implementation steering committee. Perhaps, the transformational implications of that bold, visionary executive action may have given spoilers the jitters and activated a serious, blackmail-tinted plot to create suspicion, distrust and disruption within the ranks of Buhari Kyari the key agencies that currently manage that strategic sector. PIA and its accompanying fiscal terms. way in incentivizing the market appetite for 2021, and this offer was never considered by On August 18, an article in THISDAY Thirdly, the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin oil projects. IOC’s restarting projects before NAPIMS as it was not part of the procurement Newspaper, authored by a certain Jones Edwin, Production Sharing Contract (PSC) (Amendment) the passage of the PIB and lease renewals plan of the organization. without a specific affiliation, purporting to write Act, 2019 significantly changed the fiscal terms is attributable to the personal interventions On the alleged stalling of deepwater projects by from Houston, Texas, US, made two specific under which most of Nigeria’s offshore blocks and hard work of NNPC Management, under NAPIMS leadership, this is neither substantiated allegations against NAPIMS. were assigned and PSCs executed. The Act Mele Kyari and NAPIMS, in the face of very nor supported by facts. Some of the deepwater NAPIMS - the National Petroleum Investment was a significant change in outlook for the challenging market indices. projects which are the subject of deliberate Management Services is a Corporate Services investing IOCs and its implementation conveyed However, circumspect industry observers misinformation include - PREOWEI Project Unit (CSU) in the Exploration and Production a significant change to the assumptions they had note that Mr. Wunti, both in his past role (PRP), BONGA Southwest/ Aparo Project (E&P) Directorate of the Nigerian National made in placing investments into Nigeria at the as the Chief Strategist of the corporation (BSWAP), BONGA North Project (BNP), Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) charged detriment of similar opportunities elsewhere. and GGM NAPIMS and the current GMD, OWOWO Project (OWP) and NSIKO Project with the responsibility of managing Nigeria Subsequently, IOCs deferred the long-delayed have worked assiduously to resolve a lot of (NSP). The facts concerning development of government's investment in the upstream sector projects and sought the renegotiation of the protracted disputes that lingered for so long. some of the deepwater projects referenced in of the oil and gas industry. PSCs (stabilization clauses) in some cases. These include the settlement of OML 118 the article speak for themselves. The publication basically ascribed the author’s For instance, some of the partners officially dispute which was described as a ‘watershed PREOWEI Project (PRP): PREOWEI alleged retardation of deepwater projects in notified NNPC of the suspension of projects moment’ by all the IOC parties in the development, conceived as a tie-back concept Nigeria to the leadership of NAPIMS and by like Owowo Project,and suspension of works on dispute’s paves way for the unlocking of to the EGINA FPSO. PREOWEI was on extension NNPC, hence, the loss of opportunity the FPSO Firenze which was to be used in the over 1bn of oil in the block, up to 1 TCF fast-track to achieve FID in Q4 2019, but the to attract FDI of about $75 billion to Nigeria. It Abo field redevelopment, and all discussions of gas, unprecedented partner alignment, contractor suspended all activities following also curiously alleged the contractual engagement on Bolia-Chota/Nnwa-Doro stalled completely. foreign direct Investment inflow of almost the passage of the Deep Offshore Inland Basin of Messrs. Contraco as an agent of NAPIMS More, while this market uncertainty persevered $10 billion, contract lifecycle revenue of over PSC (Amendment) Act in December 2019, citing for the lease of 10 flats at 27b Queen’s drive, in Nigeria, COVID-19 morphed into a global $50 billion that will create energy security business impacts due to the passage of the Oyinkan Abayomi close, Ikoyi, Lagos. pandemic in early 2020 and the global response and shared benefits for both the investor amendment. This was prior to resumption of the What is deducible is that certain interests are triggered severe constriction of energy demand. and nation. current leadership of NAPIMS in March 2020. better served by the old subjective processes This spawned extreme pressures both on IOC Then there is the settlement of OML However, NAPIMS has worked with industry and order. balance sheets and on external funding for 130 dispute production which unlocks gas partners to ensure that a steady production But it is crystal clear that adopting best oil & gas projects. Fitch’s Oil & Gas Global revenue to the tune of about US$225mn in state is achieved on EGINA. practices in industry operations serves the CAPEX report 2021 suggests that Global Oil & the short term, and US$510mn in the long BONGA Southwest/ Aparo Project (BSWAP): overall interest of Nigeria and the NNPC, Gas Capital expenditure shrunk 25% in 2020 run. Further, the OML 143 deal which is the The BSWA project was conceived following the far better. for IOCs and 48% for independents. first agreement in Nigeria that fully separates commissioning of BONGA Main in 2005. The On Friday, August 20, this same spurious, Consequently, several projects were put on gas development from oil production that objective of the project is to develop 3.2 billion page-length balderdash titled, “How NNPC’s hold, not only in Nigeria, but globally, while unlocks 1.2 trillion cubic feet of gas for power barrels of oil. This development opportunity has NAPIMS Contributed To Nigeria’s Losses In energy companies with weak balance sheets generation and domestic industries with a gone through 2 previous unsuccessful cycles $75bn Foreign Direct Investment,” was also went under and several have not recovered. In potential impact of over $600m. of tenders starting 2007. This highlights the published in the LEADERSHIP Newspapes. this fluid environment, with IOCs struggling With these huge accomplishments that complexity of balancing commercial, technical Some dislodged demons were clearly on for survival, no projects could be started in happened in the midst of COVID-19, the and regulatory considerations required for the war path. Nigeria. fortunes of Nigeria’s upstream sector - in Upstream capital investments/Projects. The shadowy author cleverly credited the It was perhaps providential for Nigeria that particular the deepwater terrain - clearly BONGA North Project (BNP): This source of his tale to oil professionals who NLNG had taken a Final Investment Decision would never be the same again. Against this development opportunity has suffered series of attended the just concluded Offshore Technology (FID) in December 2019 as this would surely background the hatchet writer’s allegation, reframing as standalone as well as tie-back to Conference in Houston, Texas. But then it is have been delayed if that decision was deferred or reference to ‘fleeing investors’ becomes the existing BONGA FPSO for over a decade. on record that all senior industry management to early 2020. even more curious and improbable. NAPIMS is driving several initiatives that will including the MDs of the IOCs were in Abuja, It was during this uncertain and turbulent It is noteworthy to recall that on Mr. Wunti’s accelerate the project execution. These include the meeting to resolve some of the protracted issues business climate that Mr. Bala Wunti assumed resumption in March 2020, one of the priority empowerment of the Joint (NAPIMS/ Operator) affecting the industry. This scenario specifically duty as GGM NAPIMS, in March 2020. In sync tasks he took was the emplacement of a robust Working Group concept and deployment of exposes the false tattle tales of the author. with the new leadership of NNPC ably led business continuity plan that ensured strong resources and processes to support the unique From the content of the publications, it was by Mallam Mele Kyari, the immediate task collaboration with industry players to guarantee tendering environment. also immediately apparent that the hatchet was not to secure project funding that was seamless oil production and national energy OWOWO Project (OWP): NAPIMS worked writer lacked proper knowledge of the workings globally unavailable at that time but to ensure security throughout the period. on the NAPIMS/ DPR/ Operator JWG to and processes of upstream operations and that NNPC itself survived as a viable entity. During the period, Mr. Wunti’s prominent conclude the OWOWO Field (OMLs 139/ investment - the highly specialised industry Having successfully navigated the worst period support to the NNPC GMD, to rally upstream 154) Unitization agreement within a record niche he was hired to sow disruption in. A and with global energy demand recovering, players to deploy one of the most successful 3-months timeline. The development was on cursory fact-check quickly establishes that the new challenge is the changing energy COVID-19 intervention programmes in the course to achieve a First Oil within 36-months his claims were not only false, malicious but demand patterns fueled by energy transition country cannot be easily forgotten. Medical from a Q4 2021 FID. But NAPIMS’ partners patently unfounded. trends (Decarbonization). It is indisputable that consumables, logistics facilities, temporary suspended all activities following the passage For one, investment in the upstream oil and securing long-term financing for oil projects and permanent healthcare facilities, worth of the DOIBPSC (Amendment) Act in 2019, gas sector requires certain key fundamentals to is getting more and more challenging today. over N21bn, were deployed across the nation. directly citing the impact of the Act on their be met. Topping the list here are fiscal regime But significantly, under adroit guidance of the Going forward, the two other fallacious investment models. certainty, contractual terms clarity and enabling GMD NNPC Kyari, NAPIMS has managed to allegations by the paid hack are on the so- NSIKO Project (NSP): The available oil and business environment. The upstream business, secure progress on major capital projects in called appointment of CONTRACO NIGERIA gas resources in NSIKO and neighboring specifically deepwater project development the deepwater even before passage of the LIMITED by NAPIMS to lease10 flats at 27b UGE Field makes standalone developments requires heavy upfront capital investments Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). Queens Drive, Oyinkan Abayomi Close, Ikoyi, uneconomical considering development costs running into billions of dollars and usually Some of the notable positives include kick- Lagos and stalling of deepwater projects by profiles in deepwater. NAPIMS in a bid to resolve with lengthy pay-back period. The complex starting the Owowo Project Development NAPIMS leadership. technical challenges facing the development nature of the projects and sophisticated extraction activities evidenced by resumption of Field A simple fact-check will disclose that NAPIMS proposed a Joint Development Concept between technology deployment make this an imperative. Development Planning activities. NAPIMS does not have any agency contract with Contraco NSIKO and UGE development opportunities. Secondly, the operational uncertainty placed has also secured the early renewal of OML Limited on the lease of 10 flats at 27b Queens One thing is clear, the NNPC, NAPIMS in the market by the protracted development 118 PSC/lease and restarted the Bonga North Drive, Oyinkan Abayomi Close, Ikoyi, Lagos and federal government at large must be on of the PIA (PIB then) since the year 2000 had Project activities and BONGA Southwest/ as alleged by the publication. their guard as even more disruptive attacks stalled investments in Nigeria and slowed Aparo Project (BSWAP) with other deepwater NAPIMS does not have any contract with by corrupt, frustrated forces of regression go down project developments. International partners pursuing renewal of their PSCs/ the company. For the records, Messrs. Contraco on further offensives. Oil Companies (IOCs) had already paused leases to enable them resume project activities. Limited submitted a proposal for sale of a projects like Bosi, Bolia-Chota/Nnwa-Doro, Of crucial importance here is that President property on 22 Thompson Avenue, Ikoyi to r6LQF BDPDPOWFOFSPG*OJUJBUJWFGPS1FBDFGVM Bonga North et cetera while awaiting the new Buhari’s assent to the PIA has gone a long NIPEX (a division of NAPIMS) on June 18, /JHFSJB XSJUFTGSPN"LXB*CPN FRIDAY AUGUST 27, 2021 • THISDAY 13 14 THISDAY • FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 2021

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA COMMENT Email [email protected] TWO CORONATIONS AND ONE WEDDING The coronation of Tsola Emiko as the Olu of Warri is well deserved, writes Dele Olowu verywhere we turn today in Nigeria, we encounter pain and distress. Our lives seem to be unusually denominated in the turn. The melange of entertainment was diverse, sensitive and reflective. currency of malevolence, banditry and widespread alarm. A I was quite surprised by the inclusion of Laz Ekwueme in the repertoire torrent of local and national mishaps leaves our conscious- but when the Olu himself led a chorus, it became evident that Warri ness numb from pain-fatigue. It could be a group of school was on the cusp of a creative rebirth. Dismayed by what I sometimes children kidnapped here; or some public infrastructure noted as the increased coarseness of the Warri social exchange, I had Ecollapsing in a remorseless inferno; while the deathless Boko Haram joked that if Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar were to be staged at the mows down our soldiers in a hail of villainous bullets. Last week was Memorial Hall Warri on any given weekend, attendance would be different. Nigeria sang from a new hymn sheet! scanty. The nite clubs would instead be more bountifully attended! Two coronations and one wedding, all of them high profile, took place Refinement is in recess in the oil city. So I thought. Now thanks to the in our country, providing considerable cultural excitement, as well as coronation I regret my prognosis. The Warri Choir is alive and well and serving to divert many of us from our familiar agonies. In Kano, Yusuf, is amply supported by a royal impetus. President Buhari’s son got married to the daughter of the Emir of Bichi But by far the most outstanding character of the Warri coronation who himself was also formally given his staff of office as Emir. The third was the decisiveness of the Olu, his consciousness of history and the big event was the coronation in Big Warri of a 37-year-old Tsola Emiko rapidity with which he stamped his authority on proceedings. He did as Atuwatse 111, the 21st Olu of Warri. not require a season of apprenticeship. When he spoke, he spoke as one The Marriage of President Buhari’s son might have been strategically who had been doing the royal chores for eternity! His speech was mov- muted hence its limited exposure in the media; the coronation of the ing and accomplished and the themes were well chosen. The speech Emir of Bichi attracted the customary social and political bigwigs but as had no ghost as I understand, it all came off the royal stylus. Forgive- an event it broke no new grounds. The coronation of the Olu of Warri ness was central and even though some have objected to the overtly however seemed to be an entirely different experience. Olu Atuwatse Christian tone, the speech was reconciliatory and welcoming. The new 111 is himself a figure of romance and history and perhaps carries a Olu is evangelical and evidently believes in the power of curses. In his unique flavor with him to the throne. Here is why. He is only 37 and first speech he revoked the curse placed on the federal government by his credential as a youth, guarantees him a fund of support not available Olu Erejuwa who was deposed by the NCNC-led regional government to any other Olu before him. He is the youngest Itsekiri Olu ever and in 1964. His first official function was to reverse this curse. arguably one of the youngest monarchs in the entire Nigerian federation Atuwatse 111 has not surprisingly enjoyed a centrality in the unfurl- today. In a season when there has been an increased clamor for youth ing of these events; he has summoned spirituality and deployed history empowerment, the emergence of Atuwatse 111 should enjoy consider- to great effect. But history unfurls in devious and surprising ways. The able resonance. same family implicated in the banning of Erejuwa in 1964 has now also But Atuwatse did not from the start, come to the throne at the head produced the regent, Prince Emmanuel Okotie Eboh. All through, this of a tumultuous welcoming party. He had to fight his way up. Or as he Regent stood as a pillar of support and has ensured that Olu Atuwatse might prefer to put it, destiny provided the stairway to exaltation. After prevails against all odds. the 20th Olu of Warri, Ogiamen Ikenwoli passed away last December, The Olu of Warri has the distinct good looks of his father, who there was a tussle for his replacement. While one group supported the then known as Godwin Emiko, was my classmate at Hussey College emergence of Tsola Emiko, who is the eldest son of the 19th Olu, Atu- Warri. Sports was an undying craze and Godwin Emiko was a watse 11, the other led by Ayiri Emami, the traditional prime minister mildly successful athlete. He had a bullying presence and occasionally thought differently. Onyowoli the eldest son of the 20th Olu instituted a intimidated even athletes of higher worth. Olu Atuwatse 111, his heir, legal action challenging the emergence of Tsola Emiko as the new king. will not lack resolution. He has forgiveness in his heart. But history will All that nastiness, though somewhat customary in pre-transition Royal also nudge him to look more heartily at his neighbors and extend the exchanges, has now been put behind. hand of friendship across historic divides. When his father, Atuwatse 11 And the coronation itself was a smart event profiting distinctly from died in 2015, a fiat of controversial provenance was one of the weapons its media savviness as well as from a quaint understanding by the Olu deployed to prevent the son from succeeding the father. It was a narrow of his place in history. Many have commented positively on the cuteness ethnically driven law, provoked by in-house animosities. The trap of the coronation ceremony, with some even suggesting that this level of crafted to ensnare him turned out to be futile. He must profit from that loud excellence ought really to be associated with well managed nation experience and use an emergent largeness of heart to build new bridges states. This applause is perhaps well deserved. The Itsekiris have tended between the Itsekiris and their neighbours. to loom large in politics and public affairs partly because of their early The coronation speaks richly of local indigenous capacities and of contact with Europeans and the cohesion wrought by their monarchy. the new edge skills which the new Olu can summon to transform his The Itsekiri tongue is one and has no dialect. Thus in spite of the early OLU ATUWATSE 111 HAS FORGIVENESS people. But we must becalm our perspective. Kings are only kings. tussles, in the end with one voice they seemed to rally behind the Olu. IN HIS HEART. BUT HISTORY WILL ALSO They can inspire and mobilize. But they cannot cause a coat of paint However, even though the Itsekiris are one, the coronation was to be applied on the city hall. Yet those who have kings worship them. probably not just an Itsekiri affair. It was the Olu’s show and reflected NUDGE HIM TO LOOK MORE HEARTILY AT HIS Those who do not have kings, curse them but envy them all the same. his urbane upbringing. The coronation was backed by a coterie of solid NEIGHBOURS AND EXTEND THE HAND OF Still we must face tomorrow with a heart of hope. professionals who seemed to have shown their gifted hands at every FRIENDSHIP ACROSS HISTORIC DIVIDES Olowu wrote from Abuja ELIGIBLE CUSTOMER REGULATION SUSPENSION Sunday Oduntan argues that no regulated market is sustainable where participants create their own rules

recent article titled “Investors battle distribution network of a distribution licensee under of Credit or Bank Guarantee in favour of the market Additionally, the article deliberately fails to state in electricity regulator over policy sus- a distribution use of system agreement with such operator in accordance with the market rules to clear terms that the stakeholders behind it (though pension” caught my interest in many distribution licensee for the connection and for the cover market administration charges, TUoS charge named), had not met and fulfilled the requirements ways. Whilst the concerns of the delivery of electrical energy; a customer or group of and DUoS charge and other charges as may be for NERC to grant them eligible customer status. author are misplaced, it is compelling end-use customers registered with the Commission approved by the commission. It however proves that they, in collusion with to set the records straight on the for the purpose, that is connected directly to a Summarily, the conditions that must be satisfied the GenCo, have indeed committed an illegality issuesA brought forward in the said publication. metered 132kV or 330kV delivery point on the by an applicant for eligible customer status are: meet- by declaring themselves eligible customers and Notably, it is true that the Eligible Customer Regu- transmission network under a Transmission Use of ing the requisite energy demand/usage requirement; contracted bilaterally outside the extant regulation. lation 2017 (the “Regulation”) is derived from the System Agreement for the connection and for the proof of excess capacity by the GENCOs to supply This illegality is of course punishable under the law. Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005, which gives delivery of electrical energy; a customer or group of energy to the eligible customer; payment of requisite Flowing from the above, and to further clarify, the Minister of Power the authority to declare the end-use customers registered with the Commission charges and fees to exist; procurement and submis- there were so many misgivings in the article in commencement of the eligible customers regime. The for the purpose, whose consumption is more than sion of requisite documents; and need for eligibility reference, whilst the minister did issue a directive to regulation further empowers the Nigerian Electricity two MWh/h over the course of one month, that is declaration status by NERC on the eligible customer the Commission, declaring the commencement of the Regulatory Commission to administer the regime connected directly to a metered 33kV delivery point upon fulfilment of the requisite requirements. eligible customer regime and specifying the class or to wit: receiving applications for eligibility customer on the transmission network under a TUoS Agree- Sadly, in a sweeping attempt to mislead the classes of end-use customers that would constitute status, considering/reviewing such applications and ment, and has entered into a bilateral agreement for unsuspecting readers, the author in reference merely eligible customers in compliance with Section 27 granting approval where the stipulated conditions the construction, installation, and operation of the mentioned in passing that “According to sources, of the ESPRA, the fact is that till date, no company have been met by such applicants. distribution system used to connect the customer the template of the policy indicates that electricity has met or fulfilled the conditions stipulated in the The regulation which was made in 2017 and to the 33kV delivery point, with the distribution consumers, who feel dissatisfied with the services regulation for the assumption of eligible customer became effective on November 1, 2017, created licensee, licensed to operate in the location where the of the Discos in their area, can request and receive status. Hence, available records indicate that NERC a framework for certain categories of electricity customer and the 33kV delivery point are located; alternative electricity distribution services from any of has not approved any application for eligible consumers to contract for power purchase directly and a customer or group of end-use customers the available eligible customer vendors in their area customer status. from the generation companies rather than through registered with the Commission for the purpose, if their power requirement is over two Megawatts.” It is clear that NERC has been unduly lenient with the traditional electricity market route which whose consumption is more than two MWh/h over As contrasted in the preceding paragraphs, this the stakeholders behind this article because, over involved the entire electricity value chain: Generation the course of one month, that is directly connected sweeping attempt by the author is shallow, and the last four years, as they blatantly and brazenly Companies, Nigerian Bulk Trader, Transmission through a metered delivery point, to the generation misleading, as it fails to reference the conditions disregarded, refused, and neglected to comply with Company of Nigeria and the Distribution Compa- facility of a generation licensee it intends to purchase which the stakeholders must fulfil before NERC several directives from NERC to follow the due nies. electrical energy from and has entered into a would approve eligible customer status for them process under the regulation to obtain the requisite By Section seven of the regulation, the category bilateral agreement for the construction, installation as required by the regulation. This is particularly NERC approval. These companies proceeded to of electricity consumers who can apply for eligible and operation of the distribution system used so as the author indicates the reason advanced arrogate the powers of NERC to themselves by customer status to participate in the regime are as to connect the customer to the generation facility by NERC according to Dr. Usman Abba Arabi as vesting in themselves eligible customer status and follows: a customer or group of end-use customers with the distribution licensee, licensed to operate in follows “…What is happening is that there were a continued the unlawful and illegal operations over registered with the Commission for the purpose, the location where the generation facility and the lot of illegal connections. A lot of connections that the years unperturbed. whose consumption is more than 2 MWh/h customer are located. were not approved by the Commission. This Eligible Oduntan is Executive Director, Research & over the course of one month, that is connected Furthermore, Section 9 of the regulation requires Customer thing was suspended pending when these Advocacy Association of Nigerian Electricity to a metered 11kV or 33kV delivery point on the that applicants for eligibility status shall post a Letter issues are sorted out....” Distributors THISDAY • FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 2021 15 EDITORIAL SCOURGE OF FOOD CONTAMINATION

There is need for public enlightenment on food preservation

he recent death in Sokoto State of 24 protect beans from weevils’ infection. It has also been members of the same family after established that other food items like banana, plantain, consuming poisoned food should alert corn, sorghum, apples, and vegetables are improperly Nigerians to this growing danger. The preserved or hurriedly ripened with dangerous chemi- incident, according to Ali Inname, cals. Commissioner for Health, occurred in Danzanke village, Isa Local Govern- niper, a dichlorovinyl, available across the ment Area of the state when a fertiliser counter, is a dangerous chemical used for killing popularly known as ‘Gishirin Lalle’ in Hausa was used bugs and insects. Indeed, the Director General Tas a food seasoning in place of salt. “Regrettably, the of the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, entire family who ate the meal lost their lives except two S(NAQS) Dr Vincent Isegbe said sniper is injurious to female members who merely tasted the food and are health, if applied as a pesticide. “Sniper in beans is a currently responding to treatment,” he said. material equivalent of death in pot,” he said. “So, it may While we commiserate with the family of the not be an exaggeration to say that sniper in beans is a deceased persons, authorities in Nigeria must pay atten- weapon of mass destruction.” Calcium Carbide, another tion to food poisoning. Available reports indicate that dangerous substance used by welders, is also often at least 200,000 persons die annually of food poison in used by many retailers in the ripening of banana and Nigeria. Indeed, hardly any day passes without reports plantain and other produce for quick money. of some families dying after eating food that may have There is therefore the urgent need to find an endur- been contaminated through improper processing, ing solution to ensure that the food we put on the table preservation, and service. Since the causes of most of meet some minimum standards. The National Orienta- these deaths were tion Agency (NOA) and other regulatory agencies MANY FOOD PRODUCTS never accurately deter- must ensure proper public awareness on the right use THISDAY SOLD IN THE OPEN mined, it is becoming EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU of chemicals. The National Agency for Food and Drug MARKET ACROSS increasingly clear that DEPUTY EDITOR WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA Administration and Control (NAFDAC) must be well MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO THE COUNTRY ARE some of them could DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR IWEGBU positioned to live up to its responsibilities. The Agri- REPORTEDLY PRESERVED have been avoidable. CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI culture Ministry itself could do a lot better by ensuring For instance, many EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN that useful and relevant information - from planting to WITH DANGEROUS MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI CHEMICALS food products sold THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE harvesting and preservation - is passed on to farmers in the open market and retailers many of whom are unaware of the risks. across the country are reportedly preserved with As we have reiterated several times on this page, dangerous chemicals. When you combine that with low THISDAY NEWSPAPERS LIMITED given the alarming rate at which people, including level of literacy, the danger is high. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA sometimes a whole family, die after meals, there is need GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, Two years ago, there was panic over beans, a ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI for public enlightenment on the danger associated with popular staple food. The worry came as result of the DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, some of the food items we consume. It is also important public health implications of misapplied chemicals on ANTHONY OGED ENGBE that people be alerted on the safe keeping of household DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI food consumers. A video had gone viral on how some SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH items that could be injurious to their health and the retailers were using Sniper, a powerful insecticide, to ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI safety of their families. Addressing this challenge will CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI preserve beans before bagging it for sale. The practice DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO require continuous sensitisation, especially in the rural is reportedly commonplace, often used to eliminate or TO SEND EMAIL: first [email protected] areas.

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RECTOR-SHIP OF FEDERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WHAT, POLYTECHNIC AUCHI NDA ATTACK NO MORE write to call the attention of the federal government to the rector-ship of the WATTS? Federal Polytechnic, Auchi in Edo State. Following the death on Friday October he recent happenings at the elite military training school is 3, 2020, of Dr. Momodu Sanusi Jimah, the former rector of the polytechnic, there bewildering and it has made me a sad man. Just imagine are ongoing efforts by the government of Nigeria to fill the vacant position, Sandhurst Training School in England taken over by the with several persons jostling for the seat even though they may not be qualified. IRA or West Point in America taken over by the Taliban. he passing To fulfil the requirements of equity, competence, social justice and geo-political That was the feeling I got from the story. There has been a of Rolling Ibalancing, the candidate for the position should be a PhD holder, an indigene of Edo lot of back and forth and outbursts but the pertinent part Stones drum- State and an experienced administrator. Tis to ask questions. Before that, my commiserations to the families of mer Charlie I appeal to the government to appoint an indigene of the state to the post and call the departed and especially to the wife of one of the officers that had Watts marks on His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, been expecting a child since 2017. Now that she finally got pregnant the end of Mallam Adamu Adamu, Minister of Education, Mr. Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the husband had been brutally murdered. It is a shame on Nigeria. This great drumming the Government of the Federation, and Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Chief of Staff to the Now my questions: Why did the terrorist come in through the career. His “evening President, to ensure the right thing is done. This is especially because the last rector back and the least secured area? I understand that the patrol do not job” with a blues band could not complete his tenure due to his untimely death. The tenure of Dr. Jimah normally visit the area the terrorist went through because it was not has seen him travel the began on March 5, 2018 and was to run until March 5, 2022, a period of four years, considered a security threat. Secondly I ask, Is there an alarm warning world and bring joy to but he died just a little over two years into his tenure. system in the NDA? What is the calibration threshold of response? so many. Auchi Polytechnic was established as a regional institution in 1963, and was taken This is because, if they shot sporadically as claimed in various dailies A lesson for all is that over by the federal government in 1994. It is one of the first four polytechnics estab- and there was no warning system going up, then there is a problem. there are few limits to lished in Nigeria. It is a citadel of high academic standards and excellence, and boasts Also is the area of attack covered by the CCTV camera and is it stored what we can do, even a list of distinguished alumni. It has consistently placed first among the polytechnics in the cloud platform? Also what is the layered security firewall as we age, reach our in Nigeria and is the second in Africa. The polytechnic currently awards Bachelor’s protocol in the Academy and most importantly, what is the estimated retirement age and in degrees in affiliation with the University, Awka, Anambra State. It response time for an attack on the NDA? If there was no response his case keep working should thus be headed not only by an experienced PhD holder and administrator at all to the attack then it is shocking. At least there is a five minutes for a few more decades. but by a person who is acceptable to the host state, preferably an indigene. It is only estimate response time threshold in military installations. I think Keep drumming in when the people take ownership of the appointment that they will give the incoming Nigerians demand to know these answers. Heaven. helmsman all the cooperation required to succeed. Rufai Oseni, [email protected] Dennis Fitzgerald, Amos Imasuen, Benin City Melbourne, Australia 16 FRIDAY AUGUST 27, 2021 •THISDAY FRIDAY AUGUST 27, 2021 • THISDAY 17 18 THISDAY ˾FRIDAY AUGUST 27, 2021

Group Politics Editor NSEOBONG OKON-EKONG Email: [email protected] POLITICS AUTOGRAPH 08114495324 SMS ONLY Why Peter Obi May Not Be President Nseobong Okon-Ekong regrets that a track record of performance in office does not matter in Nigeria, otherwise, Mr. Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State and former Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party wiould be a beautiful bride, strongly desired to replicate what he did in Anambra on a national scale

hile some Nigerians performance in office mattered, Mr. Peter think it is preposter- Obi, former Governor of Anambra State ous to have a mutual and former Vice Presidential candidate of agreement that can the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will ensure an unimpeded be a beautiful bride, strongly desired Whandover of the Nigerian presidency to replicate what he did in Anambra on to an Igbo man or woman in 2023, the a national scale. But that, as Americans din of voices calling for a president of say, ain’t happening! South-east extraction keeps growing The first predictable reason is that louder like deafening chatter from the Igbos are a greedy lot. Zone the presi- ever boisterous Onitsha Market. dency to the South-east and all manners For the cheerleaders of Igbo Presi- of cockcroaches will creep out of their dency, the rest of Nigeria, particularly dark crevices to be crowned King of Northern Nigeria is unjustifiably filled Nigeria! None of them will be willing with funk about what the Igbo man to get out of the way. While they are at can do with power. The longstanding their best cut-throat fight, a wild card conspiracy against the Igbos is that they entrant will slip through their porous will split Nigeria, despite the fact that ranks and lift the crown. There are the Igbos fought a 30-month war to own a Governor Hope Uzodinma types who country called Biafra, they lost. But Igbos betray the collective good for personal are not the only Nigerian ethnic group gain. to take up arms against the federation. The Nigerian political class does not Major Isaac Adaka Boro did. He declared like intelligent people. They put their a Niger Delta Republic which lasted nose in the air when a suave, urbane for 12 days in the 1960s. and educated contestant appears on the By some measure, the Bolo Haram scene. How does Peter Obi hope to win insurgents are, as well, secessionisst as among a people who hate deductical they have boldly declared war against analysis? Obi cannot be trusted to join Nigeria in a bloody pursuit of their in the heisting of the commonwealth. avowed ultimate goal of an Islamic What manner of politician leaves the Republic. kind of money he left in the coffers Lately, ethnic separatistism has become of Anambra State-USD86 billion and a pastime. The ambition of many youths N9 billion in liquid cash! Obi can be to lord it over a kingdom of sorts have President in Mars or another planet, been fired by the quick rise to fame of certainly not in Nigeria. He will ruin Gani Adams, the sturdy carpenter from the party for the political rogues. Who Mushin who became generalissimo of wants a killjoy? the Yoruba nation. Once upon a time, Obi had the best So, Igbos are not the first and may chance to strengthen his political hold not be the last Nigeeian ethnic group to with the All Progressives Grand Alliance seek self determination. That being the the North arrive the railway station into reckoning as multi-millionaires! (APGA); the party that gave him the case, what, exactly is the offence of the in Enugu. Kanu and his boys do no Since then Igbos have been ir- platform to govern Anambra. Instead Igbo man against Nigeria, apart from know that people committed suicide represible! They came back from of consolidating the South-east like the botched attempt to create Biafra? in Igboland, the day the then Col. the war, subjugated, depleted and Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu did with Why is the rest of Nigeria so scared of an received the systematically engineered to remain the South-west; using ACN, he turned Igbo in the political saddle of Nigeria? instrument of surrender from ‘Gen.’ under, but they fought back tooth his back on APGA and became President It certainly is not about being President Phillip Effiong. Kanu and his boys and nail for their rightful place in Jonathan’s campaign manager in the of Nigeria. Or is it? Are the Hausa/ care nothing about the humongous commerce, in industry, in the civil South-east. It was a tactical error for a Fulanis afraid of the enthronement of casualties and losses their method service, in education. Nine years long distance runner in politics. He is the kind of nepotism foisted on Nigeria of agitation for Biafra may incur. after the war, an Igbo man, Dr. still struggling to explain himself to a by President Muhammadu Buhari? Are To keep their head above the Alex Ekwueme, was elected Vice people who saw APGA ‘as their own.’ there other reasons for the conspiracy stormy waters of the Biafran President. A couple of years after, Another cardinal sin that will keep to keep Igbos away from the Nigerian struggle, Igbo elders have learnt to the leader of the Biafran secession, Peter Obi out of Aso Rock Villa is that presidency? For some of these reasons, be circumspect on matters concern- Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu he is a one woman man. How does which are not clear, there is a need to ing Kanu. They have been cowed to was pardoned and returned to the he manage all the pretty angels who continue to push lies about the Igbo walk with their tail between their country. He even sought political of- are on his case with Kaya Mata? If he presidency. It is not as if an Igbo man legs, lest Kanu’s boys destroy their fice on the platform of the National can’t keep a harem of women from all can also be the Vice President while country homes and declare them Party of Nigeria (NPN). Nigerian ethnic groups like his political his kinsman is President. We are not persona non grata in their ancestral Alhaji Aliko Dangote may be associate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar or talking about Ohaneze Ndigbo here. home. acknowledged as the wealthiest former President Olusegun Obasanjo, No! An Igbo can’t be Senate President The IPOB generation know noth- African, but there are many boys he can, at least, be as discreet as former or Speaker of the House of Representa- ing about the resilience of the Igbo in their early or late 30s from Anam- President Goodluck Jonathan. But Obi is tives. They have been all of these at spirit, that rose like the phoenix bra State who are not on the stock the one-woman and church going type. different times. It is the Office of the from the ashes of defeat after the exchange, but can buy out Dangote. That is not good for his reputation in Executive President of Nigeria that has civil war to build a personal and That is what the Caliphate and their Nigerian politics. eluded them, so far. regional fortune in less than three apologists in the South are afraid Has anyone seen Peter Obi laugh? Igbos of Nnamdi Kanu’s generation years! From a mere 20 Pounds that of-an Igbo man with the combined I mean real laughter from his soul; are all hot-headed and willing to shoot each Igbo man was given to start a control of business and politics. enjoying a good joke? He is too seri- from the hip. But what an elder sees from new life in 1970, the East Central And they find collaborators ously engaged with the business of how his seat, a youth may not see even if he State won the Gold Gong in the in some, not-so-smart Igbo men Nigeria can get out of the woods. He climbs the tallest palm tree. Now, Kanu’s National Arts Festival of 1973; Chief who like Esau prefer to sell their doesn’t know how to make light of things Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has Augustine Ilodibe, owner of Ekene birthright for a meal of Jacob’s like Obasanjo or put his legs up on a stampeded Ralph Uwazuruike’s Move- Dili Chukwu Transport and Chief porridge. If we were in a country stool, poking his teeth with sticks like ment for the Actualisation of the Sover- Onwuka Kalu had bounced back were a sparkling track record of President Muhammadu Buhari, while eign State of Biafra (MASSOB) into the the country burns. He has no sense of background, blackmailing him to merge humour, even if its morbid. with IPOB under curious circumstances. Obi goes to political rallies to talk Kanu has browbeaten everybody. His Has anyone seen Peter Obi laugh? I mean real laughter germane issues of nation building. Who boys force people to stay at home in does that? Political campaign rallies in the South-east, whenever they chose. from his soul; enjoying a good joke? He is too seriously Nigeria are colourful shows to sing, Any elder who does not worship at the engaged with the business of how Nigeria can get dance and abuse opponents; that’s all. feet of Kanu is deemed a traitor of the The Nigerian political class want a Igbo cause. Kanu may not know that out of the woods. He doesn’t know how to make president who is on their leech like a everything is for a time and a season. suspended dog; someone with a baggage The transient authority he commands light of things like Obasanjo or put his legs up on of corruption they can pull back when today is coveted by some of his boys, he barking too hard. But Obi is as clean who will push him aside one day, when a stool, poking his teeth with sticks like President as a whistle; or so it seems. He is not they find the nerve. Muhammadu Buhari, while the country burns. He known to ever be on a spending bazaar; Kanu and his boys did not see the so who is going to queue behind him, bodies of Igbos killed in the pogrom in has no sense of humour, even if its morbid when free spenders are out to buy votes? THISDAY ˾FRIDAY AUGUST 27, 2021 19

PERSPECTIVE Why Buhari Should Inaugurate Senate-Screened NDDC Board Buhari’s ‘Animal Farm’ and In the wake of the renewed tension that has enveloped the Niger Delta and the clarion calls by eminent groups Terrorism at the NDA from the region for the inauguration of the 2019 Senate- Chido Nwangwu finds fault with President Screened NDDC Board, Duke Okporua urges President Muhammadu Buhari over alleged nepotism and Muhammadu Buhari to write his name in gold by honouring ethnocentric impositions being perpetrated by his his commitment of June 24, 2021 to inaugurate the Board administration upon completion of the forensic audit s a frontline grass root and understand…. Civil Society Movement in Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed, Director of Nigeria, we reiterate our call on Publicity and Advocacy for the Northern President Muhammadu Buhari Elders Forum (NEF) took on Mallam Garba to inaugurate the board of the Shehu, Senior Special Assistant (Media and NigerA Delta Development Commission Publicity) to President Muhammadu Buhari (NDDC) that was screened and confirmed on the escalating insecurity, violence and by the Senate of the Federal Republic of divisive tension all over Nigeria on Tuesday Nigeria on the 5th of November, 2019. August 24, 2021 on Channels TV Lagos. The NDDC Governing Board was This was the same day “bandits/unknown appointed by President Muhammadu gunmen” attacked the iconic Nigeria Defence Buhari in October 2019. However, after the Academy. He simply told Shehu that regard- nominees were screened and confirmed by less of what he says or claims that “Nigerians the Nigerian Senate on the 5th of November know better. They just have to look around 2019, Mr President asked that the inaugura- the country. They know that this government tion of the Board be put on hold pending is failing to secure them…. The people on the completion of the forensic audit, for the streets know the truth and so are those in which an Interim Management Commit- towns and cities. People in the North know tee was appointed for the NDDC. The that what he (Shehu) is saying is not true. Federal Government announced during We still have millions of people living under the inauguration ceremony of the IMC that he political fable and satire, the influence of Boko Haram. The numbers the Senate-Confirmed NDDC Board will be promise and inaugurate the board immedi- Animal Farm, by the gifted writer change, towns and cities change. Today they inaugurated after the forensic audit. ately and without delay, now that the report George Orwell was published are in the hands of our troops, tomorrow, President Muhammadu Buhari has of the Forensic Auditors has been concluded in 1945. It is an engaging read. I they are in the hands of Boko Haram…. The already nominated a Board for the NDDC We firmly believe that inaugurating the think it’s one of the most accessible bottom line is that President Buhari came in October 2019 whose members were 2019 Senate screened board will put to worksT of literature, political science and at a time that Boko Haram was the only vetted by all relevant agencies of the federal shame those who are in doubt of President philosophy. security threat in the country but today, there government following which they were Buhari’s sincerity, commitment and sleep- For admirable style and context, it is based are multiple threats. There is also a threat to screened and confirmed by the Nigerian less nights in surmounting the challenges of on the events of Russia’s Bolshevik Revolu- national cohesion. It does not appear that Senate on November 5 2019. They are only moving Nigeria to the next level. tion and the betrayal of the cause by Josef the administration thinks that is a problem now waiting to be inaugurated. Mr Presi- We align ourselves and our members with Stalin. The novel characterizes a group of to fix. We are drifting apart from each other, dent has restated his intention to inaugurate the calls, demands and peaceful agitations barnyard animals who overthrow and chase creating enemies out of each other, we are the Board on the completion of the forensic of youths, men and women, political and off their exploitative human masters (zoo telling Nigerians living in one part of the audit by the end of July 2021. traditional leaders and civil society organ- keepers) on order to establish an egalitarian country to leave and it doesn’t appear that In a recent and renewed statement isations in Nigeria, that the inauguration society of their own. Over a period of time, that is a concern to the administration. Three to the press for the people of the Niger of the already screened board of NDDC the animals’ intelligent and power-loving things are basically wrong with this adminis- Delta region in particular and the entire will promote and sustain peace, equity and leaders, the pigs, undermine and subvert the tration.It doesn’t have a thinking capacity. It Nigerian people in general and signed by its fairness, transparency and accountability, revolution. There was self-serving seventh is living in denial, it doesn’t believe that the leadership –we stated as follows: “That Mr. good governance and rapid development commandment for the animals which stated: magnitude of this problem is real and so they President who is known both locally and and transformation of the Niger Delta “All animals are equal.” The emergence into don’t appreciate the fact that there is inter- globally as a man of unquestionable integ- Region, and douse the tension of militancy power by the pigs led to their formation of connection between their weakness and the rity and honesty, should fulfil his promise as well as curtail the menace of insecurity in a dictatorship even more oppressive and opportunism which crime is feeding into.” on the inauguration of the already screened the region. heartless than that of their former human Primarily, as a governance assessment and confirmed board of the NDDC.” We pledge our total support and loyalty masters. The pigs amassed more power and issue and matter of operational reality, one of We wish to remind Mr. President that to Mr. President in his determined efforts in a self-serving twist of that commandment the biggest problems Nigeria’s President, re- on the 24th of June 2021, while receiving a and sleepless nights in making Nigeria an concluded that “all animals are equal, but tired General Muhammadu Buhari, will face delegation of the Ijaw National Congress egalitarian, just, equitable and prosperous some animals are more equal than others….” long after he leaves office will be the issue of (INC), he promised in very clear terms that nation, bound in freedom, peace and unity, In terms of that historical long shadow of his nepotism and ethnocentric impositions. he would inaugurate the already screened far better than he met it in 2015. accountability, reckoning and legacy, Buhari Essentially, his different strokes for different and confirmed board of the NDDC on We also pledge our solidarity with the and his insular clique have shown over strokes biases. When very critical sections conclusion and receipt of the report of the President in the fight against terrorism and again, from their apologetically tribal, and productive members of the federation in forensic auditors. and banditry and his zeal to improve densely sectarian and heavy preference any society are treated and signally and bru- The president said: ‘‘Based on the mis- the economy, provide infrastructure and for certain geopolitical zones, that “some tally “told” that they deserve only to play in management that had previously bedeviled make life more meaningful to the Nigerian animals are more equal than others.” the supporting, second-class category for the the NDDC, a forensic audit was set up and people. The latest proof can be deducted in this same country their grand-parents champi- the result is expected by the end of July, The earnest inauguration of the NDDC very important point made by Nigeria’s oned its freedom from colonial overlords, it’s 2021. I want to assure you that as soon as Board will ensure fair representation of the controversial musician, activist and artiste a major mistake and offensive position. They the forensic audit report is submitted and nine constituent states, accountability in the Eedris Abdulkareem regarding the August don’t need IPOB or BOPI to sing redemption accepted, the NDDC Board will be inaugu- utilisation of the NDDC funds, checks and 24, 2021 brazen attack on the very significant songs of freedom and equity. rated” balances and due process in the Commis- and symbolic Nigeria Defence Academy I remember it was the late, great poet and On Monday, August 9, 2021, the Minister sion in compliance with the NDDC Act. (NDA) headquarters in Kaduna, the heart- freedom fighter Maya Angelou who wrote of Niger Delta, Senator Godswill Akpabio, land of the “core northern Nigeria.” The city that, “Prejudice is a burden that confuses the confirmed that the Forensic Audit Report is -Duke Okporua is a member of the Execu- of the erstwhile “Kaduna mafia.” Here’s past, threatens the future, and renders the now ready and would soon be submitted to tive Council of Mass Movement Against Eedris: “Let’s assume NDA is located in any present inaccessible.” President Buhari. INJUSTICE and Marginalizaion in the of the Igbo states and such attack took place. I believe that ethnic prejudice and religious We hereby call on him to live up to this South-south By now the Army will be burning down bigotry have combined to weaken both the Igbo villages and killing Igbos.” Some have present and the future of Nigeria! since the past 20 years called and tagged the Despite the doublespeak by some political RETRACTION courageous singer all manner of names but contractors and messengers of lies and hang- he’s on point, here. ers on around this embattled but parochial We inadvertently carried a story in our Tuesday 24, 2021 edition page Even for the most passionate defenders presidency, I can only hope that someday 20 titled “Ohakim vs Amuchienwa: A New Age Frenemies” where we of the President, they see Eedris’ factual soon — before it’s too late — Nigeria’s context. Especially those who want to engage president Buhari will awaken to the path erroneously described Ms. Chinyere Amuchienwa as a Political Associate in honest discussions and debates. of grace and true statesmanship by simply of former Imo State Governor, Dr. Ikedi Ohakim. We have since discovered There’s no reasonable dispute of the man- treating all Nigerians fairly and no section that Ms. Chinyere Amuchienwa was not a political associate of Dr. Ohakim ner of siege set upon the South-eastern Igbo and group “more equal than others.” Is that states of Nigeria — especially, the uniquely too much to ask? as stated in the said publication. We regret any embarrassment or eager and decisive push and giddy instinct distress this description may have caused Ms. Chinyere Amuchienwa. to occupy and subjugate by the police and -Dr. Nwangwu is the Founder & Pub- We hereby retract the offensive publication and apologise to Ms. Chinyere members of the Armed Forces. Or in Buhari- lisher of USAfrica magazine (Houston) and Amuchienwa who we hold in high esteem . Editor speak, to speak to them in the language they USAfricaonline.com 20 FRIDAY AUGUST 27, 2021 •THISDAY THISDAY ˾FRIDAY AUGUST 27, 2021 21

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Email [email protected] BUSINESSWORLD 08056356325 RATES AS AT AUGUST, 26, 2021 MONEY MARKET REPO S & P INDEX S & P INDEX EXCHANGE RATE OBB 10.00% CALL 4% INDEX LEVEL 563.54% 1/4 TO DATE 5.73% N410.88/ 1 US DOLLAR* OVERNIGHT 10.00 % 1-MONTH 6% 1-DAY 0.29% YEAR TO DATE -15.92% *AS AT LAST WEDNESDAY 3-MONTH 10% MONTH-TO-DATE 4.90% Agusto & Co: Elevated CRR Level Moderated Banking Industry’s Performance, Liquidity Position in FY 2020

Eromosele Abiodun year under review. have increased the Industry’s reserve requirement was Kenya and Ghana all have 31 December 2020.” The report reviewed the return on average equity by increased and standardised CRR’s of below 10 per cent. Agusto & Co. added that The Nigerian banking industry banking industry structure, 11 per cent to 31.6 per cent to 27.5 per cent for both We believe the elevated the reliability of business would have recorded a return financial condition, thein the financial year ended merchant and commercial CRR level moderated the continuity measures was on average equity (ROE) of regulatory environment in 31 December 2020. banks. The standardised CRR Industry’s performance and tested in 2020, considering 31.6 per cent if not for the addition to the macroeconomic According to Agusto & Co, was implemented alongside liquidity position during the the movement restrictions aggressive implementation of environment and its impact on “The CBN’s policies targeted discretionary deductions. As year under review. Assuming that lasted for months. the cash reserve requirement the Nigerian banking industry. at lowering interest rates have at FYE 2020, the Industry’s the sterile CRR were invested Most banks, Agusto & Co. (CRR) policy in 2020, Agusto Specifically, Agusto & Co in persisted especially given restricted cash reserves in treasury securities at 5%, stated, showed resilience & Co. Limited has said. the report stated that assuming the dire need to stimulate exceeded N9.5 trillion and N482 billion would have been through innovative measures In its flagship 2021 Banking the sterile CRR were invested the economy following translated to an effective CRR added to the Industry’s profit including remote work Industry Report, the rating in treasury securities at 5 per adversities created by the of 37 per cent. before taxation. This would arrangements and upgrade agency said the elevated CRR cent, N482 billion would have pandemic. However, given “It is noteworthy that have increased the Industry’s of network infrastructure to level moderated the banking been added to the Industry’s the need to moderate inflation Nigeria has the highest return on average equity (ROE) accommodate higher traffic industry’s performance and profit before taxation. amidst efforts to maintain a reserve requirement in sub- by 1110 per cent to 31.610 per liquidity position during the This, they argued, would stable exchange rate, the cash Saharan Africa. South Africa, cent in the financial year ended Continued on page 22 With ICT Compliant Officials Transferred, Over 5,000 Applications Allegedly Abandoned at Ikoyi Passport Office Chinedu Eze One of the applicants who that since the resumption of the skill to effectively manage transferred. Now, if you want production department and wished to renew his passport passport issuance in June, the the production systems. your application to be attended others have been transferred More than 5000 passport told THISDAY that a lot of Ikoyi Passport Office has not “They are now learning on to, you have to meet certain from Ikoyi Passport Office. applications have been scramble and scheming go on been able to process up to 7, the job and this is causing so officials and negotiate with them This, they revealed, has abandoned at Ikoyi Passport everyday he visited the office. 000 passports monthly. much delays. They locked so that yours will be part of hampered passport production Office since the resumption Ikoyi is the busiest passport Senior Immigration official up the applications of many the few that will be attended and given rise to delays never of issuance on June 8, 2021, office in Nigeria, which abreast of events at the office Nigerians who requested for to,” the official told THISDAY. experienced before in that Ikoyi THISDAY has learnt. processes average of 15,000- told THISDAY that a lot of the passports from that office. The who do not want their office. THISDAY also learnt that 20,000 monthly, while Festac and restructuring has taken place Many of them are renewing name in print for fear of been “The system is destabilised. everyday applicants throng to Alausa offices produce about in Ikoyi Passport Office and and others are requesting for persecuted told THISDAY that There is a kind of anarchy going the office and leave without 50 per cent of that figure of many officials who are ICT new passports. There are over since the current Passport on in the Ikoyi Passport Office positive response from the about 7,500 to 10, 000 passports compliant have been posted 5000 of them. But the problem Control Officer (PCO), Lima right now. If you go to Festac Nigerian Immigration Service monthly. out and replaced with former is that the good hands that have Abdullahi took over in June and Ikeja offices you will see officials. But THISDAY gathered field officers who don’t have been doing it before have been 2021, many officials from the Continued on page 22 MARKET DATA AS AT THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2021 FGN BONDS BILLS OTC FX FUTURES CPs DESCRIPTION Price Yield Change (%) MATURITY Discount Yield Change (%) CONTRACT MATURITY Discount Yield Change (%) TENOR Contract Current (MONTH) Rate ($/₦) 11.150 FGNSB 100.34 3.30 -0.01 NTB 9-Sep-21 2.80 2.80 0.00 UNCP CP III 27- 4.41 4.41 -0.01 11-SEP-2021 1 NGUS SEP 29 2021 420.93 AUG-21 12.364 FGNSB 0.00 NTB 16-Sep-21 2.96 2.96 0.00 VAAG CP I 27- -0.01 12-SEP-2021 100.41 3.30 2 NGUS OCT 27 2021 422.38 AUG-21 10.39 10.39 12.175 FGNSB NTB 30-Sep-21 3.27 3.28 0.00 TTNG CP II 31- 10-OCT-2021 101.07 3.31 0.00 3 NGUS NOV 24 2021 423.83 AUG-21 4.75 4.75 -0.01 11.244 FGNSB 0.01 NTB 14-Oct-21 3.59 3.60 0.00 SIBP CP I 2-SEP- -0.01 16-OCT-2021 101.09 3.31 4 NGUS DEC 29 2021 425.28 21 4.29 4.29 10.296 FGNSB NTB 28-Oct-21 3.90 3.93 0.00 NBRP CP XIII 13-NOV-2021 101.48 3.32 0.02 5 NGUS JAN 26 2022 426.73 2-SEP-21 4.97 4.97 -0.0 22 FRIDAY AUGUST 27,ͰͮͰͯ˾THISDAY BUSINESSWORLD NEWS AGUSTO & CO: ELEVATED CRR LEVEL MODERATED BANKING INDUSTRY’S PERFORMANCE, LIQUIDITY POSITION IN FY 2020

TOTAL on digital channels. as much as a 50 per cent of non-interest income, “the 2019 to about 3.9 million as at in 2020. Industry, given difficulties in “These arrangements also increase in digital banking report stated. 30 June 2021. Nigeria’s mortality “Proactive measures in the the operating environment. provided support during the transaction volumes. However, According to the report, the rate stood comparably lower form of forbearance granted Although gross loans and mandatory curfew elicited by these gains were limited by COVID-19 pandemic brought at about 1 per cent as at the by the Central Bank of Nigeria advances grew by 12 per cent, the civic unrest that followed the CBN-induced reduction about an extraordinary test for same date. However, the local CBN, enabled banks to provide loan growth was negative when the #EndSARS protests in in bank charges, which took the global community. economy had its fair share of temporary and time-limited the 19.3% naira devaluation is October 2020. Indeed, the effect in January 2020. As a It added, “Although the pandemic-related adversities. restructuring of facilities granted considered. Underpinned by pandemic brought to the fore, result, electronic banking global COVID mortality rate However, leveraging lessons to households and businesses the forbearance and proactive technology’s crucial role in income declined by 27.3 per stands low at about 2.2 per from the 2016/2017 economic severely affected by COVID-19. measures adopted by banks, deepening financial services cent, accounting for a lower cent, casualties increased from recessions, the Nigerian banking There was generally a cautious the NPL ratio improved to 6.6 as some banks recorded 13.2 per cent (FY 2019: 21.1%) less than 3,000 in December industry was better prepared approach to lending in the per cent (FYE 2019: 7.6%).” Court Remand 4 Guinea National over Attempt to Export N22.3bn Elephant Tusk Eromosele Abiodun Lagos early this month. and are made to answer charges Rigim, ordered that the accused the adjourned date. to newsmen in Lagos, Ali said The accused who were in Court. remain in the custody of the Akande said the five accused the 17,137.44 kilograms of A Federal High Court sitting in identified as Troare Djakonba, Meanwhile, all accused Nigeria Customs Service until persons were supposed to Pangolin scales (196 sacks), Lagos on yesterday, Ordered the Muyribein Bereye, Mohammed persons were arraigned on a September 1, 2021, when a have been arraigned in court 870.44 kilograms of Elephant remand in the custody of the Berete, Sediki Berete (Guinean) four count charges bordering on counter application for a bail on August 18, 2021 but was tusks and 4.60 kilograms of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and Isiaka Musa were arraigned collecting, loading, transporting application filed by the defense stalled by the absence in court Pangolin claws were evacuated five persons, who were accused before Justice Tijjani Rigim of the and attempting to export N22.3 counsel is filed by NCS. of a translator. at a location on eastern side of trying to export N22.3 billion Federal High Court, Lagos on billion worth of Pangolin scales Justice Tijjani Rigim adjourned The Comptroller General of of Ijeoma Street, Lekki, Lagos worth of Pangolin scale and a four-count charge. and Elephant tusk. the case till September 1, 2021, to NCS, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) State after proper examination. Elephant tusk. However, Muyribein Bereye The charges brought against allow the NIgeria Customs Service had on August 4, 2021, said He also said extensive The five accused persons and Sediki Berete were not in them in court were read in file a counter bail application. officials of the service arrested collaboration yielded credible include: four Guinea national court as they were said to be Manike language, a Guinean Briefing newsmen after three persons with different intelligence that triggered swift and a Nigerian. on the run. dialect by a translator. They the arraignment, Counsel to kilograms of Pangolin scales and comprehensive actions by Officials of the NCS arrested But counsel to Nigeria Customs however, pleaded not guilty to the Nigeria Customs Service, and Elephant tusks worth N22.3 the Customs Intelligence Unit three of the accused who were Service told the court that effort all four charges. Smart Akande said all necessary billion in Lagos. and Headquarters Strikeforce” present in court yesterday in was ongoing to ensure their arrest The trial Judge, Justice Tijjani application would be filed before While displaying the seizures Akande added. Sahara Group Provides 21% of Energy to Nigeria, Says Buhari Peter Uzoho of 25 years in business and for in a responsible and smart way The company continues to Group,” noting that the beyond Africa into Asia, providing 21 per cent of power wherever energy is consumed,” lead the charge towards energy transition of Sahara from Europe and the Middle East, President Muhammadu Buhari to Nigerians. the President wrote in a letter transition, environmental a modest enterprise which President Buhari said it was has commended energy “I am particularly enthused addressed to Sahara Group, sustainability, energy security, began as a trader in petroleum commendable that Sahara had conglomerate, Sahara Group for that you provide about 21 per dated August 26, 2021. and access to clean energy in products into a conglomerate deployed transformational hitting the landmark celebration cent of power to Nigerians and Sahara Group is a dynamic Africa. Buoyed by its vision to was heartwarming. energy initiatives to become distribute 15 per cent, and leader in Africa’s upstream, light up Africa, Sahara operates “This is very inspirational a business with proud African going forward, Sahara Group downstream, midstream, the largest privately owned to our teeming youths in heritage. has a vision to investing in power and infrastructure power business in sub-Saharan the country, and an example “May your dreams come gas development for energy, sectors and employs almost Africa. anywhere,” the President said. true, Nigeria remains proud data tech and monetisation, 5,000 employees from different In the letter, President Buhari Stressing that Nigeria was of you,” the President stated infrastructural development nationalities across Africa, Asia, said it gave him, “profound proud that Sahara Group came in the letter that he personally and in bringing energy to life Europe, and the Middle East. please to rejoice with Sahara from its loins and expanded signed.

Group Business Editor WITH ICT COMPLIANT OFFICIALS TRANSFERRED, OVER 5,000 APPLICATIONS ALLEGEDLY ABANDONED AT IKOYI PASSPORT OFFICE Eromosele Abiodun orderliness. Ironically those officials they will tell you that Udu dismissed the allegations The NIS had promised public to receive complaints Comms/e-Business Editor working there learnt from the you see them so that they will against the Ikoyi Passport that there would be zero- and reports on officers trying Emma Okonji Ikoyi office. Many Nigerians look for it for you or they will Office and told THISDAY that tolerance stance to all forms to deviate from prescribed Aviation Editor like to obtain their passports refer you to somebody that the major reason that there of touting adding that no guidelines and subversion of Chinedu Eze from the Ikoyi office because of will ‘assist’ and with knowing was delay was because many applicant would be made the process. Asst. Editor, Money Market the efficiency, which has now look, you will be motioned applicants did not have their to pay any illegitimate fees. “Applicants will have no Nume Ekeghe become a thing of the past. to go to him. So despite all National Identification Number The Nigerian Immigration basis for further communication The legacy past officials who the things they said that (NIN), which is compulsory Service said, “Security with officers, other than to Senior Correspondent headed that Office left behind there wouldn’t be physical for the issuance of passports. operatives – seen and unseen complete their application Raheem Akingbolu has been shattered; there is no interface in the process of After the suspension of – have been embedded in all process and leave the venue. (Advertising) more schedule in passport getting your passport, you issuance of passport in order passport offices. They will The date for the collection of Correspondents processing, no schedule and cannot obtain your passport by to clear the backlog for about wear body cameras. They will their passports or any challenge James Emejo (Finance) no passport for production,” following that official channel four weeks, the Nigerian detect and report any form of to the application will be Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) the official told THISDAY. of submitting your request Immigration Service (NIS) solicitations, inflation, improper communicated to them. The Chineme Okafo (Energy) Informed source also told through the Immigration resumed issuance of passports communications, extortion, technology for the efficient Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) THISDAY that many applicants portal. Sometimes they tell on June 8, 2021 with the diversion, hoarding and other running of this system has Reporters who came to check whether the applicants to start afresh conditions that passport corrupt practices. Those caught been acquired.” their passports were issued through regeneration of application processing will be dealt with according Contrarily, eyewitness told Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT) learnt that their files were applications, ”the official said. to collection would be to the law. THISDAY that these new Peter Uzoho (Energy) missing. But spokesperson of the standardised to take a total “An ombudsman has been directives have been negated Ugo Aliogo (Development) “If you complain to some Ikoyi Passport Office, Grace of six weeks. created for members of the at the Ikoyi Passport Office. THISDAY ˾FRIDAY AUGUST 27, 2021 23 BUSINESSWORLD MARITIME Nigeria’s Ravenous Ports On average, container traffic at the Nigeria’s seaports stands at 822,868 annually. With N7.5 million required to clear and transport a 20-foot container, shippers pay a whopping N5.1 trillion to have their cargoes yearly. The revelation that Chinese shipping lines and their agents in Nigeria have introduced double charges on the handling of groupage containers means that the country’s ports have become prohibitively expensive. Eromosele Abiodun writes

hile it is a well-established fact at 822,868 annually. about the threat of capital flight, saying that the cargo were paid upfront before shipment. that international shipping is quite THISDAY findings from customs agents most of the Chinese shipping agencies carry It is like someone travelling to England via complex and intricate, managers revealed that it takes about N7.5 million to out clearance of groupage containers with Lufthansa Airlines. All freight paid and passengers of the Nigerian maritime industry clear and transport a 20-foot container laden additional cost to be paid in foreign currency. luggage marked London. The transshipment have made the task even more with cargo worth N41.11 million ($100,000) Nicole said, “It is confirmed that one therefore is Frankfurt. Luggages meant for final complicated,W leaving stakeholders wondering imported into Nigeria from China. aspect of ripping off Shippers and Importers destination are loaded into the aircraft for final whose interest is being served. Of this amount, about N6.3 million, in Nigeria is through groupage shipments. the destination. The issue of shipping charges readily comes representing 82.1 per cent, is paid to the Freight charges are paid fully from Port of “The owners of cargo are not expected to to mind. For several years now, operators and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) as Import Duty, Loading to Port of Destination in foreign pay additional cost for handling. It is the same shipping companies have engaged in a battle Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme currency. No hidden charges are transferred thing with Groupage cargo. In considering the of wits on what operators see as the arbitrary (CISS), ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme to the Consignee whether or not there is difficulties in the Nigerian clearing systems, and exorbitant cost of clearing goods from the (ETLS), Port Development Surcharge and trans-shipment from another port during simplified methods must be put in place to nation’s seaports. Value Added Tax (VAT). Shipping companies transit. curtail excessive charges on shippers. Last year, customs brokers operating at the Lagos are responsible for 13.8 per cent of the port “On arrival, the Shipping Lines Agents “Alternatively, Importers should be paying ports declared war on terminal operators and cost (N997,000); terminal operators 1.8 per notifies the consignees who have the Original Freight charges in Nigeria Currency to Ship shipping companies over the N4 billion demurrage cent (N217,000); transporters 1.1 per cent House Bill Ladings indicating their own owners. We have a right to protect our that accrued as a result of a shelved industrial (N91,500) and clearing agents (N88,000). cargo to come and pick up their cargo after sovereignty. Afterall, we are one big family,” action by truck drivers. Also, early last year, This means that about N6.11 trillion is unstuffing. In some cases, the local receiving Nicole said. truckers shunned the lifting of cargoes at the required to clear the 822,868 containers Agency delays in receiving the Containers Also speaking, the NSC Coordinator of NPPM, ports in protest over alleged extortion by security annually, while the shipping companies’ for up to 1 or 2 months. Mr. Moses Fadipe, said COSCO Shipping Limited agencies, the result being the accumulation of over charges stands at N838.112 billion annually. “After receiving the containers and held three containers belonging to a Nigerian N4 billion as demurrages and storage charges unstuffing at their warehouse, the consignees shipper from March 2020 and was only released that importers had to offset. CHINESE INVASION are informed to come and pick their cargo. in June 2021 after the Council intervened. THISDAY investigations revealed that N668 An evolving development, which clearly Within this period, the local agent puts in He described the dispute between COSCO million in demurrage was incurred daily through the shows that things are not about to get better, a lot of charges against the consignees far Shipping and the consignee as an impediment to duration of the industrial action, which translated is the emergence of Chinese Shipping Lines and above the cost of the cargo. It is even cargo clearance processes, which NPPM frowns at. to N4 billion. The humongous amount resulted and their agents operating in Nigerian ports. cheaper to clear the container direct if all Fadipe said “We found out that they acted in a running battle between clearing agents and Inquiries revealed that they are taking the consignees agree.” arbitrarily being the stronger party in the transaction importers, on one hand, and the service providers, advantage of the chaos in the sector to rip He added, “The Master Bill Lading is and this made them liable for all storage and on the other. While the clearing agents were calling off Nigerian shippers through collection of normally consigned to the ship’s local demurrage charges during the period in question. for waivers over the strike period, the terminal double charges on handling of groupage agent while the House Bill Ladings shows The intervention by the officials of PSTT yielded operators remained indifferent. According to a containers, while also causing unnecessary owners of each cargo in the Container. We positive results for the consignee to take delivery manager in one of the container terminals in Lagos, delays in cargo delivery. have more Groupage issues mainly from the of his consignments after a long period.” the terminal operators eventually collected the A groupage container is a situation whereby Chinese shipping agencies handling groupage According to him, the shipping company should demurrage that accrued during the period. two or three consignees come together and Containers in Nigeria.” have deviced a means to recover the debts owed The cost of doing business in Nigerian ports put their cargoes into a single container as The SALS boss noted that most successful initially by the consignee rather to place lien on ranks amongst the highest in the world. Indeed, the a full container load. big importers in Nigeria today started with the consignments for a longer period. country’s ports are notorious for high demurrage Two days ago, Nigerian shippers raised the groupage shipments. charges resulting from delays in the cargo clearing alarm that local shipping agents have added According to him, back in the days, the SHIPPERS COUNCIL’S CRUSADE process; high insurance premium of vessels a lot of charges against the consignees, which Nigerian Ports Authority had warehouses In a bid to put an end to the persistent wrangling coming to Nigeria and trucks conveying was far and above the cost of the cargo itself. inside the ports and containers are moved between customs agents, importers and the containers to and from the ports, and higher Recently, the Nigerian Shippers Council directly from the ship or stacking areas to negative impact excessive charges is having on shipping and terminal charges. (NSC), through the Port Standing Task Team the warehouses for unstuffing. the economy, the NSC embarked on a mission to This is aside the total freight cost estimated (PSTT), the operational arm of the Nigeria “We really do not understand why it takes get the shipping companies to cut down charges. at between $5 billion and $6 billion annually, Port Process Manual (NPPM) domiciled 3-months to move groupage Containers from Initially, the move yielded results as the NSC according to the Ministry of Transportation. under the Council, secured the released of the Ports for unstuffing and nobody pays and shipping companies in late 2020 agreed to According to the World Bank in its 2017 Annual three consignments detained by a Chinese the Importers for delays. There is no aspect sign a landmark agreement to reduce charges. Ease of Doing Business Report, Nigeria was ranked Shipping Company, COSCO Shipping Limited, of clearance of groupage containers to attract However, the agreement was never signed. 145 among 185 countries, while Mauritius, at 32, after one year of delay. The company to the additional cost to be paid in foreign currency. Analysts and stakeholders had applauded the was ranked the best in Africa. From the report, consignee reportedly waived storage charges It should stop. effort, positing that the Nigerian economy will Trading Across borders, an indicator for measuring worth N1.9 million. “On storage charges, the bills must be be the ultimate beneficiary. a country’s ports’ effectiveness ranked Nigeria The President of Shippers Association commensurate with the number of days The former Executive Secretary/Chief Executive very low at 183 out of 185 countries. Lagos State, Rev Jonathan Nicole lamented the cargo was stuffed in the warehouse Officer of the NSC, Hassan Bello, early last year Also, figures released by the Nigerian Ports that it takes three months to move groupage and not the arrival date of the vessel. The told THISDAY that he was hopeful the agreement Authority (NPA) showed that averagely, container containers from the ports for unstuffing at consignee should not be subjected to excessive will be signed. traffic at the nation’s seaports, comprising of Lagos the warehouse, and yet, nobody pays the transfer charges from the designated Port to Port Complex, Tincan Island Port, Delta Port, importers for delays not caused by them. the receiving warehouses,” he said. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the Onne Port, Rivers Port and Calabar Port, stands In a statement, Nicole also raised alarm “All charges relating to the shipment of online edition on www.thisdaylive.com 24 THISDAY ˾FRIDAY AUGUST 27, 2021 BUSINESSWORLD AIR WATCH Concessionaire Formerly Takes Over Asaba Airport Chinedu Eze including Senior Policy Adviser, handling company. Professor Slyvester Monye, the The concessionaire had The Delta State government man who drove to concession paid one N1 billion to the has formerly handed over the to fruition. state government when the Asaba International Airport to On the Asaba Airport agreement was signed, and As Air Peace Expands Operations the Asaba Airport Company Company Limited team would pay an annual fee Limited, the company that won were the Executive Director of N100 million, while the the concession bid. Business Development/ agreement subsists. In a brief ceremony Government Relations, Okey The Asaba Airport to More Destinations the Secretary to the State Nelson Moore, Executive Company Limited, the Government (SSG), Patrick Director, Finance, Mr. Eyo, concessionaire is a consortium Ukah, who represented Group HR, Tayo Akinpelu, that has technical partners Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa said Group Project Manager, Ola which include Air Peace as the six months transition period Oluwa, Managing Director, the anchor airline and MRO had ended. Asaba Airport company, operator, Multifreight Cargo He said the state government Christophe Pinnick and and logistics for cargo and was happy about the concession General Manager Operations, logistics centre, Rainoil Ltd model, which the federal Linol Thorne. and Cybernetic Ltg to develop government and other state The Concession agreement, tank farm and supply Aviation governments have been which was signed in February fuel, Arbico construction studying to copy. 2021, would run for 30 years. company to build business After receiving the handover Prior to the ceremony the park, hotel and convention documents, the Chairman of concessionaire has positioned centre and Quorum Aviation Asaba Airport Company to make the airport to wear a Ltd to develop private jet Limited, Mr. Adebisi Adebutu new look. Car parks lights, and helicopter terminal of said the transition had been which were nonexistent, had the airport. fantastic and seamless, adding been installed and 120 staff According to the Managing that so far it was a fantastic employed and trained to put Director of the new company, relationship. the airport in full operation. three airlines - Air Peace, Adebutu assured that in Passengers enjoyed a free United Nigeria Airline and the concession agreement and wifi within the arrival and Aero are currently operating partnership the government departure halls. into the Airport, adding that would benefit, the people For the first time, the Air Peace would increase its would benefit and the objective concessionaire has been able daily flights. for the enterprise would be to attract a Ground Power Unit He said Ibom Air, Dana realised. (GPU) to the airport through Air and Arik have indicated Marketing Executive, Adekunle Aileru; Cabin Services Manager, Florence Opia; The SSG was accompanied Skyway Aviation Handling interest to operate into the Ground Operations Manager, Ayodeji Adeyemi and Captain Chijioke, all of Air by a number of advisers Company Plc (SAHCO, the airport. Peace at the inaugural flight ceremony of the airline to Douala, at the Douala International Airport, Cameroon… recently

Chinedu Eze “Do you know that there are a lot of challenges, FG to Partner Hungarian Coy for like passing through the water, it is a horrible ince the past 30 years Nigerian airlines thing? So many people are being drowned have been major operators in the West in the water, boats being destroyed and so Aircraft Manufacturing in Nigeria Coast destinations, including Central on and so forth. It has been horrible. On the and West Africa. Before the incursion road as well, a lot of accidents take placed and The federal government has very lightweight. further analysis to verify of the Chinese into the West African bandits can attack travellers. But I think now expressed its readiness to Aerobatics is the practice of the market and government Smarket, Nigeria businessmen and women held with Air Peace that is available, the problem is partner with the Magnus flying manoeuvres involving willingness to partner with a sway in the sub-region, providing goods and already solved. And we want to thank God. It Aircraft Manufacturing aircraft attitudes that are significant amount of money services to the growing market in the cities in is a very good initiative, wonderful, fantastic. industry in Hungary to not used in normal flight. and logistics. West and Central Africa that till today Nigerian I cannot imagine how to put it. establish an assembling plant Aerobatics are performed He emphasized that the made products like Milo, Bournvita, Indomie “It is a big victory that we have one of our own and begin to manufacture in in airplanes and gliders local production of aircraft in and Nigerian electric cables remain household airlines coming here, we can go home without items in many parts of the sub-region. passing through other countries. And as you Nigeria from start to finish for training, recreation, the country would facilitate So the destinations in the sub-region have know, it will boost trade, investment tourism before the end of the Buhari entertainment, and sport. the growth of Nigeria as remained veritable and robust market for for both countries. As you know, Doula is the administration. Sirika further said he a regional aviation super Nigerian carriers from the days of the Nigeria economic hub of the republic of Cameroon, The Minister of Aviation was very satisfied with power as it will also come Airways Limited to the time Bellview Airline just the way Lagos is to Nigeria. So it is a Senator Hadi Sirika, the features and more with maintenance and repair held sway to the time Virgin Nigeria Airways big win, win for both countries,”Okwuja said. expressed the interest when than willing to facilitate the facilities that will attract survived on proceeds from the West Coast and Addressing the dignitaries and others who he paid an inspection visit to production of the aeroplanes patronage from neighbouring the foray of Arik Air to all major cities in West welcomed the airline at Douala airport, Air the Magnus Aircraft Industry in Nigeria, saying one of the countries. and Central and farther to Angola. Peace Ground Operations Manager, Mr. Ayodeji in Pogany, Hungary. significant features of the According to him, the What is significant about these destinations Adeyemi said the airline was delighted to launch is that there is always Nigerian community flight service to Douala. He said: “If we venture Magnus aircraft is that it present administration yearning for Nigerian carriers to connect them “I feel excited that today, Air Peace, West we them, we may start with uses normal car petrol and has created an attractive so that they could be taken home regularly. Africa’s largest carrier, is making its entry into assembling plant and later outperforms any training environment for international That was also what happened on Thursday Cameroon from Lagos, Nigeria. We are delighted manufacturing, ”adding that aircraft of its kind.” investors in Nigeria, last week when Nigerian residents celebrated the this launch is happening, as we believe both the Magnus aircraft is an The Minister who was at especially in the aviation inaugural flight of Nigeria’s biggest carrier, Air countries will benefit enormously from it in aeroplane that is good for the facility on the invitation sector, with the ongoing Peace when it landed at the Douala international the areas of employment creation, promotion military training, has an of the company, said the implementation of the airport amid heavy downpour. of tourism, facilitation of a seamless movement aerobatic manoeuvre and proposed partnership with development roadmap, Not deterred by the rain, excited Nigerians of people and other forms of economic value. is made of fully composite the aircraft manufacturer which places emphasis on and Cameroonians waving Nigerian/Cameroon “Air Peace is famed for its no-city-left-behind flags welcomed the Nigerian carrier with so initiative, which is driving our route expansion. materials high strength and would be subjected to public private partnerships. much excitement and fanfare. The extension of our wings to Douala is resultant The President of Nigerian Community in from our vision to create affordable and safe Doula region, Mr. Bartholomew Okwuja who air travel for Africans, with our signature expressed so much happiness at the decision hospitality, connecting various cities across Dana Air Official Bag Security of Air Peace to start flight service to Douala Africa, especially the West Coast, thereby said direct connection between Nigeria and fostering socio-economic integration. Cameroon was a dream come true and regretted “Air Peace is committed to excellence and we’re Consciousness Awards the challenges Nigerians and others face trying bringing this excellent service to Cameroonians. Dana Air and its Chief Air’s safety and security award and this surely to come to Nigeria by road, by sea or by air. The airline has recorded tremendous feats in Security Officer have been record, and the efforts of encourages the entire team He said there is security threat on the road, just seven years and now operates 19 domestic on the water, the fear of drowning; conceding routes, six regional routes and two international awarded Best Security her Chief Security Officer, to keep up not just the that some people had lost their lives going to destinations (United Arab Emirates and South Conscious Airline and Mr. Edwin Ossai, the efforts and achievements Nigeria through the waters. He also said that Africa) with a varied fleet of 28 aircraft, including Best Security Conscious institute is giving an award thus far, but the eagle eye it was very costly flying to Nairobi or Addis three ultramodern Embraer 195-E2 airplanes,” Chief Security Officer at of excellence as the Best views with which we have Ababa and connecting flight to Nigeria for a he said. a Security Conference and Security Conscious Airline ensured the safety and destination, which a direct flight can do for Adeyemi also disclosed that the airline has Awards ceremony organised and the distinguished security of our customers.’’ 40 minutes. plans to start other international routes, such as by International Institute Security Personnel Awards The award is the second “Air Peace flight to Douala is going to solve Houston-USA, Mumbai-India, Guangzhou-China of Professional Security in respectively.’’ security excellence award so many problems for us, making our journey and London. Abuja. The airline’s Abuja station that the airline is receiving to be fast. You know as a businessman, time is “We’re constantly reviewing our route network money. And once you get something that can to reflect the needs of the flying public,” he According to the Director Manager, Ms. Anthonia from the institute. The first enable you to save your time, automatically added. General of the Institute, Aneke while receiving was in 2015 you are saving money and you are making The Nigerian Consul-General to Cameroon, Dr Tony Ofoyetan, ‘‘we both awards on behalf of Dana Air is one of more money. So it is already a good step Mrs. Efe A. Clark-Omeru who cut the cake commend the awesome the airline and the Chief Nigeria’s leading airlines forward between Nigeria and Cameroon. to usher in Air Peace into Cameroon, said efforts of Dana Air in Security Officer, said, Dana with a mixed fleet of 9 It is not only we from the South even the that the airline’s flight service to the Central ensuring passenger safety Air is resolute in ensuring aircraft and over 36 daily Cameroonian people that are going to do African country would reinforce the cordial and comfort over the years the safety, comfort and flights from Lagos to Abuja, business will also use the same route to make relationship between the two countries and in the Nigerian airspace. security of its passengers. Port Harcourt, Enugu, and sure that they get what they want on time, open more business opportunities for citizens ‘’In recognition of Dana ‘’We appreciate this Owerri. safe and in peace. of both nations. FRIDAY AUGUST 27, 2021 • THISDAY 25 26 FRIDAY AUGUST 27,ͰͮͰͯ˾THISDAY BUSINESSWORLD NEWS Piracy War: NIMASA on Track, Needs Stakeholders’ Encouragement, Say Shipowners Eromosele Abiodun Federal Ministry of Transporta- She called on traditional rulers fortable camps. The traditional about their reports because of that person to stay. I would also tion through Nigerian Maritime particularly those in riverine areas rulers should wake up to their the possible harm that could be challenge the press to highlight Chairman, Shipowners’ Forum, Administration and Safety to come to the assistance of the responsibilities and help this done to the Nigerian economy. those few things that’ll attract Mrs Margreth Orakwusi has Agency (NIMASA) and the government in the fight against nation to succeed in the deep She said, “At times I get foreign investors into the country stated that the Nigerian Mari- military and that’s what we’ve piracy by providing the right blue project.” upset when I read reports to create employment. We read time Administration and Safety been advocating for that agencies intelligence that can lead to the On her assessment of the from the people that are not about companies relocating to Agency (NIMASA) is track as should come together to arrest arrest of criminals. deep blue project after its in this country, we should all other African countries but have far as the war against piracy is whatever situation we’re facing Orakwusi said, ”I call on launch, she said with the ef- be very careful and stand up for we thought about the job losses, concerned. and in this project, we can all see the traditional rulers especially forts so far, the psychological Nigeria. I know some business- revenue loss and all that. It has Orakwusi said all the apex it happening. I’ve looked at the those of them in the riverine effects alone was capable of minded individuals that based a ripple effect so we should try maritime agency needs now was nature of their training and I’m areas and where these pirates draining the pirates and sea on what they’ve been reading to project our image in a positive a push, necessary support by satisfied. Some pirates have been take off from to provide the robbers, one of the reasons such about Nigeria they have fled light. In my own opinion, they stakeholders to enable NIMASA convicted under the Suppression right intelligence. When they efforts should be encouraged. to other African countries. I (NIMASA) are on track but I succeed in this national project. of Piracy and Other Maritime were kidnapping our people, She called on the media once had a visitor and I know think we the stakeholders need In an interview with newsmen Offences (SPOMO) Act, though they were being kept in com- to be patriotic and be careful what it took me to convince to push them forward.” in Lagos, she observed that there coming late but cheers us up has been cooperation between and gives us that confidence that the Federal Ministry of Trans- we can now go back to the sea portation through NIMASA with full force”. and the military on the fight Orakwusi recalled that the against piracy, adding that this issue of piracy has been a recur- is what stakeholders have been ring one and did not just start, advocating for. adding that what stakeholders She said the deep blue project need was to appreciate the efforts assets acquired by the agency made so far by NIMASA and and the accompanying training encourage them. programme was a good devel- She added, “Remember opment since it was Nigerian this problem has been there citizens that are being trained for many years so we need to and not foreigners. appreciate the efforts made so She said, “The training cuts far and encourage them and across all the armed forces includ- as stakeholders, we should ing the Police and Department of contribute our quota and be able State Service (DSS) also, there’s to advise them when things are this cooperation between the not working so”. WACT Onne Boosts Operations with Six EMPOWERING FAMERS… L-R: The Country Director, Mercy Corps Nigeria, Mr. Ndubusi Anyanwu; Managing Director/CEO, First City Monument Additional RTG Cranes Bank (FCMB), Mrs. Yemisi Edun; The Chief of Party, Feed the Future Nigeria Rural Resilience Activity, Mrs. Margarita APM Terminals’ West Africa is projected to grow. Therefore, Aswani and Divisional Head, Agribusiness, FCMB, Mr. Kudzai Gumunyu, during the signing of a Memorandum of Container Terminal Nigeria it is important that infrastructure Understanding between the Bank and Mercy Corps for the empowerment and uplift 500,000 farmers in the North- (WACT) has taken delivery of keeps pace with the projected east zone of Nigeria held in Lagos...recently six more state-of-the-art Rubber volume growth. This is why Tyred Gantry Cranes (RTGs) to APM Terminals is investing over enhance service delivery at its USD100 million in WACT for new terminal at the Onne Port, Rivers equipment and yard expansion, State, effectively consolidating its so as to keep pace with market Shippers’ Council Collaborates with position as the best equipped port growth and better serve our terminal in Nigeria’s eastern ports. customers in East Nigeria and The new addition brings the beyond,” Zafar said. FRSC, Harps on Safety Standard total number of RTGs at the Also speaking, the Commercial terminal to 14. The terminal also Manager of WACT, Noah Sheriff, Eromosele Abiodun appreciation for the visit said, has identified collaborative FRSC, especially as they relate has four Mobile Harbor Cranes, said the six new RTGs will increase “Today is another amazing partnerships with relevant to the development of a structural and several other cargo handling the overall terminal capacity and The Executive Secretary and Chief day to me, as I am delighted government agencies and and sustainable haulage system, equipment including Reach improve service delivery for both Executive Officer of the Nigerian and feel honoured to welcome Organized Private Sector as the standardization of trucks as Stackers, terminal trucks and liner and landside customers. Shippers’ Council (NSC), Hon. the Corp Marshal/CEO of the Key to solutions”, he added. it concerns the implementation empty container handler. “One of our challenges currently Emmanuel Jime has affirmed the Federal Road Safety Commission He noted that NSC and FRSC of Road Transport Safety The Managing Director of is high yard density due to agency’s readiness to collaborate to the Nigerian Shippers’ Council. have recorded great strides in Standardization Scheme RTSSS) WACT, Naved Zafar, who was high import volume, so these with the Federal Road Safety It is also gratifying to note that the on-going collaboration. and Inter-State Road Transit on hand to receive the new new arrivals will give us the Corps (FRSC), to address the you came from Abuja, on the This, he said, is evident in the (ISRT) Scheme. Other areas, RTGs alongside other senior opportunity to continue handling issue of the quality of articulated special visit, to welcome me as collaboration on development according to the ES/CEO include management staff of the company the strong volume growth we trucks used in the maritime sector the new Chief Executive Officer and operations of critical a joint awareness programme for on Tuesday last week, said the have seen throughout this year,” as a complement to FRSC’s efforts of the Council.” transport infrastructure, truck owners and drivers on the new cranes will increase yard Sheriff said. to make Nigeria’s highways safer. “Within the Council’s mandate particularly the Inland Dry use of reflective tapes, “he said. capacity, improve vessel operations He said volume growth at the Jime stated this when the as Port Economic Regulator and Ports (IDPs) and Vehicle Transit Addressing journalists, at the terminal and fast track the terminal is as a result of WACT’s Federal Road Safety Corps Trade Facilitation Agency, we Areas(VTAs). the Corps Marshal, FRSC, delivery of cargo. ability to provide premium top echelon led by the Corps identify critical issues challenging “The resolutions reached at the Boboye Oyeyemi lamented the He said, “For the terminal services to its customers. Marshal; Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi the performance of our nation’s meeting with stakeholders in May continuous breakdown of trucks operator, a crane is like a baby. “If you can recall, we changed paid a courtesy visit to the logistics sector and the growth 2021 have given further impetus on ports access roads, noting that Naturally, we are very happy to our quayside mode of operations agency’s Headquarters in Lagos. of our international trade. In to the collaborative partnership it is one of the issues causing welcome this baby to the APM last year from ship gear to The NSC boss who expressed response to them, the Council between the Council and the congestion. Terminals/WACT family. We Mobile Harbor Cranes and this already have eight RTGs and year we are transforming our it is good to see that these six main yard from reach stacker additional RTGs have arrived in to RTGs operations. International Breweries’ Initiative good time for proper testing and “Our e-commerce capabilities commissioning. We have been coupled with the ongoing recruiting new operators, and upgrade project, which Trains over 500 Young Entrepreneurs have trained them very well, so are key milestones in our they are very ready and excited transformation journey, has International Breweries Plc “With over 6,000 applications “The entrepreneurs’ businesses is the first time we’re having an to operate these cranes.” undoubtedly set us apart, as we has announced that over 500 received from the six geopolitical are directly aligned with online training and reaching Zafar said the new cranes were offer products second to none young entrepreneurs, who zones of the country, it’s safe to International Breweries 2025 a critical mass. COVID-19 has acquired as part of an investment in the east Nigeria market,” the were shortlisted, are currently conclude that a growing number Sustainability Goals, the UN made us more innovative in our of USD100 million upgrade of WACT Commercial Manager attending its 2021 edition of the of youths in Nigeria are embracing Sustainable Development Goals approach; hence we’re leveraging the terminal. said. Kickstart Entrepreneurship training entrepreneurship and taking (UN SDGs) as well as its business the technology available to us to The upgrade, according to Appreciating the role of Programme. advantage of the opportunity focus areas spanning Agriculture, increase the pool of applicants to him, includes the acquisition collaboration evident in the In a statement, it stated that the the Kickstart Entrepreneurship Circular Packaging, Technology, the over 500 shortlisted candidates, of additional Mobile Harbour progress of the upgrade project, training is part of AB InBev, the Programme provides. Retailing, Water Stewardship as who will attend the training.” Cranes, Rubber Tyre Gantry Senior Project Manager OF APM world’s largest brewer through its “The painstaking and merit- well as Renewable Energy, “the She also expressed the desire Cranes, Reach Stackers, terminal Terminals, Rutger ten Thij said Foundation efforts to empower oriented 2021 selection process statement reads. of International Breweries Plc to trucks and trailers and an empty a dedicated engaged project young business owners between considered the following criteria: Legal and Corporate Affairs expand the opportunity the 2021 container handler. team is working with several 18 and 35 years old. sustainability of the business, Director, International Breweries Kickstart offers to more young The upgrade, he added, will global contractors to realize the It added that the training, innovativeness, shared value, PLC, Temitope Oguntokun in the people to grow their businesses. also include the deployment different critical milestones in which is being implemented in impact on community and statement noted that the lucky According to the Nigerian Bureau of reefer racks with a 600-plug this ambitious project. partnership with the Enterprise experience. The Shortlist also entrepreneurs will undergo of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s current capacity, as well as expansion of “Teamwork is the keyword Development Centre of the Pan- drew about 100 beneficiaries rigorous training sessions on the unemployment rate rose to 33.3% the current yard, new workshop for proper timely handover from Atlantic University, will support the from IBPLC’s host communities, minimum requirements needed to in the last quarter of 2020, thereby and a new terminal gate complex. all the new assets to operations, federal government’s employment across the various locations where run a successful business. signifying the need for urgent “The eastern Nigeria market ”Thij said. agenda. its Plants are located. According to Oguntokun, “This intervention. THISDAY ˾FRIDAY AUGUST 27, 2021 27 BUSINESSWORLD NEWS Group Restates Commitment to Sustainable Development Strategy in ICT Sector, Advocates Public-private Sector Collaboration Emma Okonji The group restated the a successful sustainable ESG principles which look Centre for Women and Youth especially in areas such as the commitment at a recent webinar development strategy. at how organisations engage in Nigeria, Dr. Wunmi Hassan. establishment of smart cities As part of efforts to drive it organised to address various With the theme: “Collaboration their employees, communities, In her remarks, Udoma-Eniang and rural telephony. Operators collaboration and resilience national issues in the telecoms for Resilient ICT Sector”, government, businesses and the spoke on the impact of ICT sector should know that the sector is among stakeholders in and Information Technology (IT) panellists discussed opportunities environment. Therein lies the on other sectors of the economy stronger and must collaborate the telecommunications sector. to be derived from strategic intrinsic value of sustainability. and the need to do more through for sustainability.’’ and technology sector, the The event brought partnerships, policy formulation/ The ICT sector has presented itself collaboration. Also speaking on government Telecommunications and together key stakeholders in advocacy, events, and as forward-thinking and TTSWG According to her, ‘’ICT and private sector collaboration, Technology Sustainability telecommunications, government, programmes. is propelling its effectiveness.” providers need to revolve, Atanda stated that governance Working Group (TTSWG), legal, the private sectors, and Speaking on the impact of Panellists at the webinar reinvent, and reposition to move has been challenged during has restated its commitment to the media to discuss industry TTSWG while making a business included the Chair, Mobile from being traditional to basic the pandemic hence the need ensure sustainable development challenges and ways to achieve case for sustainability, the Chief Software Solutions Limited, Mr. innovative providers. There are to collaborate with the ICT in the Information and sustainable development in the Executive, CSR-in-Action, Chris Uwaje; Executive Director, already a few partnerships that sector for business sustainability Communications Technology sector. Bekeme Masade-Olowola, said: SystemSpecs, DeRemi Atanda; push digital and virtual solutions. to thrive. He emphasised (ICT) sector, through the The webinar, hosted for the “There is growing interest in Chairman, Legal and Regulatory We have made growth in various the importance of turning implementation of sustainable first time in 2021, is also expected sustainability around the world. Committee, Association of Licensed sectors including telemedicine, conversations into action and business practices that will to foster partnerships between This means more interest Telecoms Operators of Nigeria food sustainability, Agrotech and the role TTSWG is playing to benefit the sector and the governments, the commercial in investors as well because (ALTON), Eno Udoma-Eniang; payment solutions. There is more ensure development through country. sector, and civil society for within sustainability are the and President/CEO, High-Tech we can do with collaboration coopetition. Transport: FG Targets 50,000 Jobs from Aig-Imoukhuede Institute Selects 50 Nigerian Highway Dev Initiative, Says Fashola Public Sector Workers for Leadership Training Kasim Sumaina in Abuja Tagged, “Sustainable Funding other things, utilise private Peter Uzoho executive training programme through a rigorous and for Transport Infrastructure sector funds to bring about designed to equip future public competitive process, will all The federal government’s Development in Nigeria,” is to order, accountability and attract The Aig-Imoukhuede sector leaders with the skills receive academic scholarships has said that its Highway sought ways to sustain funding sustainable investment and Institute, a subsidiary of the and knowledge they need worth £11,500 from the Aigboje Development and Management for transport infrastructure in funding in the development Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, to run their organisations Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation Initiative (HDMI) is expected Nigeria. of road infrastructure and has announced the selection effectively. to enable them to participate to create 50,000 direct and over Fashola stated that road maximize the use of assets of 50 high-potential men and The institute announced in the programme. 200,000 indirect jobs, transportation accounts for along the Federal Highways women working in the Nigerian this in a statement, saying The Chairman and Founder The Minister of Works 95% of all freight and passenger Right of Way (RoW).” public service to participate amongst other skills, the of the Aig-Imoukhuede and Housing, Babatunde movement in Nigeria, making Under the government’s in the inaugural AIG Public participants will learn how to Institute, Mr. Aigboje Aig- Fashola, made the disclosure it a strategic economic tool for Value Added Concession Leaders Programme. lead effectively in a complex Imoukhuede, was quoted in at a just-ended national Nigeria’s economic growth and (VAC), he added, “75 investors The programme is offered by operating environment, foster the statement as saying, “We conference on transportation prosperity. He stressed that submitted bids for the Request the Aig-Imoukhuede Institute in collaboration within and are very pleased to partner infrastructure development federal government’s ongoing for Qualification. 18 of the firms partnership with the Blavatnik across agencies and spearhead with the Blavatnik School of financing in Nigeria, in Abuja. road works present ample have been shortlisted for the School of Government, innovation throughout Government at the University The conference, organised opportunities for investors. next stage of the procurement University of Oxford. government. According to of Oxford to offer world-class by the Nigerian Institute of According to the minister, process Request for Proposal The AIG Public Leaders the statement, the successful public leaders executive Transport Technology, Zaria, HDMI “is expected to, among (RFP). Programme is a unique candidates, who were selected education here in Nigeria. 28 FRIDAY AUGUST 27, 2021 •THISDAY NEWS METRO WEEKLY MAGAZINE THISLIFE THIS ART WEEKEND ENTERTAINMENT

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi [email protected] WEEKEND 07010510430

Onyinye Igbokwe: Bridging Skilled Manpower Gap between African Market and the World 30 THISDAY ˾ Ͱ͵˜ͰͮͰͯ COVER Onyinye Igbokwe: Bridging Skilled Manpower Gap between African Market and the World

Disturbed by shortage of skilled manpower in Nigeria and Africa as a whole, which in turn has affected the economies of most African countries, UK-based Nigerian and Founder Ujali Limited, Mrs. Onyinye Igbokwe, is building series of platform apps to bridge the gap between African businesses and the rest of the world especially in the area of human capacity development. In this interview with MARY NNAH, she disclosed how UjaliPro, one of such apps, is capable of levelling the playing field between Africa and the globe

hat is the impact of having a skill gap in an organisation? people to call me by my traditional name. I am The impact of having a skill gap not going to tell you what my English name is. in an organisation is the death of My name is Onyinye, so you try to call it and we that organisation. If you are not have a conversation about it and it’s an icebreaker. Wimproving, if you are not evolving, you will die And that is what I wanted to do with Ujali as well. or your competitors will take over. You are going Being in the UK comes with its own privileges but to lose competitive advantage and they are going the market I am trying to cater for is the Africa to run you off the market. So, the impact of not market. The skills gaps that I am trying to close getting quality training is that you have a workforce are in Africa, so if I am going to be doing that, that is not working at its optimal capacity. I feel that it is important I am authentic to that African name. Most times you notice that despite the training given, workers still do not live up to Let`s talk about the platform, UjaliPro. expectations, especially in government offices. How does it work? What should be done about that? UjaliPro, our pioneer web application is a virtual The funny thing is that the government is market place for connecting subject matter experts arguably the highest procurer of training. They from around the world with organisations who actually spend more budgets on training than the require their services in Africa, in order to help private sector but the thing is that it does not translate African economies close their skill gap and improve to their workforce; you find that in government the quality of work. institutions people are lacklustre. What does that You can access it through our website. It is say? Is the quality of training they are procuring an app that you access through the internet as a okay? We can only fix that problem by allowing facilitator or a company. As a company, you tell the government to procure quality training and us what you want and we provide for you. For ensuring that the training is carried out. The core the facilitators, it is a different ball game. We have of our value proposition is quality – we need to to do a lot of quality checks to make sure they are ensure that the training is held, that it is quality who they say they are; the qualifications they say driven and that value is realised from that training. they have and the training they have provided. We do all of this research for these companies so At what point did you conceive the idea that they don’t have to worry. Anybody you see for Ujali and what was the driving force? on the Ujali platform has already gone through a My competence is in engineering and products quality assurance process before they can get on. management but I have been able to run businesses We are trying to modulate and be like quality assurance, making sure companies are getting value over time apart from working for engineering Igbokwe companies. I started Ujali Limited in the UK as an for their money and the facilitators are getting Ed-Tech company. So, Ujali is basically a registered what they want to get and their minds are at rest. limited liability company in the UK. and our output. And I said, what can we do important. I had lived in Nigeria and had owned businesses to make sure that if we improve the quality We are an educational tech company that How long has Ujali existed? for a period of eight years. I had recruited people of the workforce that we have, we can in turn has built a platform to help connect facilitators We actually got incorporated in January 2020. and had people work for me. I`ve had to go through improve our quality of work, which leads to with companies in Africa that need to have I have been working on the technology before a lot of training for them and also get them trained. more productivity and in turn improves our their training needs met. We are basically until 2020 when we got incorporated and we I`ve had to pay for online training and all of that economy? concentrating on soft skills, which are leadership, built out the platform, and did a pre-launch of to make sure that they are up to par with what I Our greatest population is young people and business development, financial management our Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in August want to do. And in building a business, I have seen yet these people are not performing at their and personal development processes. 2020. It was during the pandemic, the heat of it, first-hand that recruiting people based on paper absolute best. We can only optimise what they The people we have in our faculty right so it basically affected us. What we did during qualification in Nigeria is not an ideal thing to already have by training. When they do better, now are people that you would not ordinarily that time up until 2021, was as people were at do. We know how to put together fantastic CVs, the organisation does better. If an organisation have access to, and even companies in Nigeria home doing the lockdown, we had some of the speak beautiful English but when they write you is doing better they are able to pay taxes and might not be able to have access to them. facilitators that we had already on-boarded do a an email, you cannot read it. I have had people thereby improve the economy of where they lot of free training courses. come in and that thing they have on papers does are residents. Why did you choose the name Ujali not translate in the quality of their work. So, it is a ripple effect for me. This is the being a UK-based firm? As a new company trying to make an Then I went to the UK to get a Masters to do thing - just trying to make a difference first of Ujali is an African name. One thing I have incursion into the global market, what is better in my company. The idea came when one all. And then how do I make the difference? learnt staying abroad is to maintain a certain your vision for the next five years in terms day I was sitting and thinking of what I wanted Being a business owner, what are the issues I level of authenticity. It translates to the things of platform training? to do after my Masters. I thought about how to have been through? How can I improve my that I do. I am an African woman and I am At bottom of what we do, we are a tech company improve my company. What is the new picture business? How can I make the training that very proud to be that. So, everything that I do, that is looking to compete globally. UjaliPro is first I wanted for my company after I have spent all I have gotten from abroad accessible to the I make sure it comes back to who I am as a of the many platforms and applications we are this time getting a Masters degree? How do I people that are working for me and other person. So, Ujai is actually my grandmother’s hoping to build but behind what we are building, take this back and transfer it to my workforce? organisations that are around me? I might nickname. It supposedly means strength or everything we are going to build would be centred I just felt I needed to build a platform to make be a very good organisation in a community courage. When she comes out at any gathering on improving the African market and bridging the accessible the sort of training I got while there. where the other organisations are not working. to do her solo dance or performance, they gap between the African and the rest of the world. I did a certificate programme at Sanford University I’m not an island. At some point in time I call her Ujali Nwanyi, basically depicting her Ujali is a tech company that is building a series in America, one of the best universities in the world, would have to sub-contract some of those elegance, courage and strength as an African of applications to bridge the gap between the Africa while I was doing that I saw how we were taught. organisations to work for me and their quality woman. So, whilst starting the company, I could market and the rest of the world. We started with I saw the quality of teaching, and I felt like the of work translated to my quality of work. I have gone for an English name because it will learning and development just to improve our average businessman in Nigeria and Africa as a can go and have all the training and come back actually open more doors for me - when I go workforce. We are going to move into other sectors whole is basically like when somebody is farming and train my workforce but what happens for some of these international conferences, once which we have already started work on. In the with bare hands while the other person has all to these other people. You have to be able to you hear the name, you know immediately next five years, we want to also be able to have the tractors and beautiful equipment to farm with. trickle it down. If you are able to train these that it is not English. You assume it is coming a presence in Nigeria and other African markets These people running business abroad have all of people in these other organisations, one of from an African person. It is just like when and as an African EdTech company we are able the knowledge and also have access to all of these them might leave, start their own company I went to the UK and people were happy to compete in the global market and say, we are facilitators but we are basically here in Nigeria, and train more people at the grassroots and using their English names but the challenge not just making money; we have also made a just trying to make ends meet; we are not building that person trains more people and before is that you send in a CV and you are basically social impact by building these applications. So businesses that go beyond our generation. If the you know it it`s a ripple effect. So, training screened out based on the fact that you have it is not just about money or revenue for us, it is owner of a business dies today, the business is and having access to quality trainers is very a traditional name but I don’t care. I allow about how it translates in terms of value for the dead because we are not building organisations African people and how we can move forward as based on structure. We are not trying to follow a people and compete with the rest of the world. anything; we are just basically free-balling and Ujali empowers African economies to We are going to be rolling out some applications learning as we go. We have no idea of what we but at the centre of it is basically to make sure that are doing. It’s only a few of us that know what strategically close the soft skill gap affecting we continue to close the divide between Africa we are doing in terms of running a business or and the rest of the world in terms of development what is expected of us in an organisation. So, I their quality of work, by enabling access to a and other areas of the economy. looked at what is obtainable there, the things that I was taught there and how I can translate this to community of quality trainers and training my African people. And I have heard researchers say that there is organisations from around the world via the NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the a prevalent skill gap in Africa’s economy, which online edition on www.thisdaylive.com is affecting our young people, our productivity UjaliPro platform THISDAY ˾ Ͱ͵˜ͰͮͰͯ ͱͯ 

A cross section of Christian faithfuls at the Sango crusade ground Lord’s Chosen Takes Crusade to Ogun State Uncommon miracles and the Church, Pastor Lazarus able blessings, repentance was God shall be ours and every- all the evil so that all these chal- Stories by Mary Nnah testimonies took centre stage as Muoka, who mounted the required. He therefore called thing you have lost would be lenges of the pandemic and it turned out to be an amazing altar after series of instant on the nation and the world at restore.” insecurity will be solved by The Lord’s Chosen Charis- spiritual outing for thousands miracles and testimonies, large to repent and embrace Speaking further on the need divine power. matic Revival Ministries, last of Christian faithfuls who said God has declared that God in all they do. for true repentance as the main “By your repentance God weekend, stormed Sango area gathered during the two days He is still the Almighty God, Condemning all forms attraction for God’s abundant will heal our nation and rise of Ogun State when it took its crusade at Sango. Omniscience and custodian of evil; Muoka said, “So, as blessing, he said “By extension, and fall shall be no more; crusade to Sango Secondary The programme, tagged, of blessings. we come to Him in true re- God will heal our land, our poverty and unemployment School, along Ijoko Road. ‘God has Sworn to Bless You’, He disclosed that God pentance, and do His will by nation, our souls, families and shall be no more; God’s bless- This proceeded from its La- addressed all the hues and blessed Abraham, and He genuine repentance we will businesses and all the evil in ing shall be upon us so much gos leg which took place from cries occasioned by COVID-19 blessed him in all things, add- be surely blessed.” the land shall be no more.” that we shall lend unto many Saturday, July 31 to Sunday, Pandemic and its attendant ing that God has remained God “If we forsake our sins, The cleric said further that nations and shall not borrow August 1, 2021 at the church economic, social and health and has not changed and that humble ourselves and ask God specifically brought the and you shall also have sound headquarters located along upset, not overlooking the His children still experience for God’s mercy over our message at this time that the health”. Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, threat of insecurity in the the same blessing today. past lives and promise God nation is going through so The crusade continues in Lagos. country. He said however that to be we would not go back to our many challenges adding “God other parts of the nation till The General Overseer of beneficiaries of God’s uncount- past lives, all the blessings of is calling for repentance from probably the end of the year. Davies Exotic Homes Makes Mercy Alexander, Slimcase Brand Ambassadors This must be happy times “The same goes for Slim- homes for Nigerians. The for media entrepreneur case who has transformed brand has come a long way and talk show host, Mercy into an icon for youths and I am proud to identify Alexander and hip-hop in Nigeria and beyond. with it.” act, Oluwafemi Oladapo Both Mercy Alexander Also speaking, Slimcase Oko-Eko aka Slimcase as and Slimcase’s dedication said it was a very impor- they have both been ap- and handwork stand them tant career move for him pointed brand ambassadors out as celebrities to be adding “I want to thank to leading property outfit, emulated and so it is with Davies Exotic Homes for Davies Exotic Homes. great joy that we unveil recognising my talent and It was a fun and exciting them today as our brand giving me this opportu- moment recently when the ambassador. nity.” platform officially unveiled “For us, they are hard- Davis Exotic Homes is them to the public at an working youths and ce- Nigeria’s firm to beat in event graced by industry lebrities to be emulated, real estate and related heavyweights and giants emblems of our rich his- investment. With many in Lagos. tory, bold, captivating, and projects delivered as prom- Speaking, the CEO of uninhibited”, Chukwuonu ised across the country, Davies Exotic Homes, said. the indigenous building, Mr. David Chukwuonu Reacting, Mercy Alex- construction, and archi- said what stands Davies ander thanked the plat- tectural firm has come of Exotic Homes out is its form for appointing her age and is a big player in commitment to service as its brand ambassador the Nigerian real estate delivery as its efforts to and promised to give the business. transform the property property outfit her best. Since opening its doors landscape in Nigeria by “I am really honoured to the public, Davis Exotic providing affordable and to have been appointed Homes has been committed sustainable housing for Davies Exotic Homes, CEO, David Chukwuonu flanked by the new ambassadors, popular talk brand ambassador of to two principles of ‘quality Nigerians. show host, Mercy Alexander and hip-hop act, Slimcase Davies Exotic Homes, delivery’ and ‘client’s satis- “We are proud today to a platform to transform faction’, the ideals that have unveil our brand ambas- and hip-hop act, Slimcase. exander’s TV programme, brand values hence we have the property landscape seen its client base grow sadors - Mercy Alexander, As an actress and a top talk D Gallery and her personal- appointed her our brand in Nigeria by building faster than anticipated, a popular talk show host show host, the values of Al- ity are in tandem with our ambassador.” sustainable and affordable especially in recent times. G-20 Club Tasks Members on Integrity, Corruption

Sunday Okobi group recently, the members M. Ifu, Nigeria ambassador to Yakubu, who were also in particular and Nigeria in According to the statement, of the club were celebrated Zimbabwe; Abdulhamid Ali elevated to the position of general. “The club has over the years and lauded over their recent Ibrahim, chief registrar/CEO, assistant directors in the The G20 Club Abuja is a embarked on humanitarian The G-20 Club, Abuja, has elevation by the government. Industrial Arbitration Panel; federal civil service. non-profit, non-partisan, activities in Taraba State, charged members of the club They were also charged and Hon. Angyu-Tsokwa Os- The statement further non-religious and non-tribal which included comple- who were recently promoted to shun corrupt tendencies borne Adi Jnr, special adviser indicated that all those organisation of experienced menting the government in their various places of that would bring the integrity on New Media to Governor of affected members should professionals from different in electrification projects in work as well as political of the club to disrepute in Taraba State, Darius Ishaku. view their appointments as works of life who are indi- some communities, scholar- appointments, to be good the eyes of right thinking Others are Director, Land a call to service, and must genes of Southern senatorial ship schemes and sponsor- ambassadors, and also add persons. Administration FCTA, Alhaji therefore continue to support district of Taraba State. ship of a Table Tennis club, value in their new roles for Some of the members, who Jibrin Adamu; Mr. Emmanuel every effort that would bring The club also thanked Gov- which won the 2021 national the growth of the country. were appointed into higher Shagaya, Chief Zeduwa Ke- about the peace and growth ernor Ishaku for honouring tournament.” In a statement issued by the positions, included: Zakariah fas; and Mr. Innocent Giwa initiative of Southern Taraba the club. 32 THISDAY ˾ Ͱ͵˜ͰͮͰͯ MUSIC SHOWBIZ E-TRENDS …Your weekly entertainment delight NOLLYWOOD

L-R: Spliff Star, Busta Rhymes, Fat Joe, LL Cool J, French Montana and Remy Ma at NYC Homecoming Concert New York Times

Vanessa Obioha rushed back as vaccinations vaccine. Younger children The Lagos State Govern- every event venue has one Lagos deserves a concert were not available yet. The who are still ineligible for ment should consider having concert or the other. Lagosians that will bring all and sundry city today, according to New the vaccines were required a homecoming concert for usually struggle to keep up under one canopy, enjoy live Recently, the Mayor of New York Times COVID-19 latest to wear masks. Lagosians. It is a well- with concerts, particularly music performances from the York City Bill de Blasio map and case count, records However, lightning cut deserved one for the city those with international stars. country’s best entertainers, if pooled New Yorkers to an average of more than 2,000 the concert short. Weather known to be the commercial Movie festivals were not possible, have stage plays or Central Park for a homecom- cases a day. The city has had reports had earlier warned and entertainment hub of left out. Festivals like Chioma film screenings in the mix. ing concert for the city. The to put up measures to curb of Hurricane Henri making the country. The entertain- Ude’s Africa International There should also be an art concert themed ‘We Love further spread with the new landfall in the city on Sunday. ment industry, which was Film Festival (AFRIFF) and exhibition, a runway display NYC: The Homecoming Delta variant upending plans The weather abruptly halted adversely affected by the Ugoma Adegoke’s Lights as well as food sampling. Concert’ was to celebrate to return to normal life. the concert which still had coronavirus, is yet to find Camera Africa Film Festival It should be a potpourri of the re-emergence of the city Yet, more than a handful Bruce Springsteen, Patti Smith its groove. In pre-pandemic were often held between some sort, after all, there is after a tumultuous lockdown of vaccinated New Yorkers and the Colombian music star times, Lagos was the place to September and November nothing like a Lagos party. caused by the Coronavirus thronged the Great Lawn of Maluma, in its star-studded be for live music, concerts, while the iREP Documentary Access Bank’s Born in Africa pandemic. Central Park on the evening lineup. festivals and shows. Popular Film Festival is scheduled for Festival (BAFEST) is one event Like Lagos, New York of Saturday, August 21 to From the moving images event venues like Eko Hotel March. The Africa Magic that brought all elements of was the epicentre of the watch Andrea Bocelli, the of the concert which CNN Convention Centre, Freedom Viewers’ Choice Awards is art and culture under one Coronavirus in the United New York Philharmonic, broadcast live, it was evident Park, Muson Centre, Federal another prominent event in roof. The Lagos State can States. Restaurants, theatres Jennifer Hudson, Carlos that New Yorkers are excited Palace Hotel, Hard Rock Cafe, the city’s calendar. There is partner with the bank or other and other businesses were Santana, Wyclef Jean, LL about the re-emergence of the Muri Okunola Park and the also the Lagos International innovative event organisers affected during the lockdown Cool J, Earth, Wind and Fire city. ‘New York is back’ was open grounds of Eko Atlantic Jazz Festival organised by to plan a similar event that and those who feared for their among others perform. The one of the exclamations from City bubbled with Lagosians Inspiro Productions. will depict Lagos resilience lives abandoned the city for organisers required everyone the concertgoers, celebrating during the weekends and The pandemic however shut and vivacious spirit in the safer destinations. from 12 years and above to the resilience of the city sometimes weekdays. Who out these festivities, although face of the pandemic; a place By June last year, the city show proof that they had battered by the capricious could forget the Detty De- pockets of shows have been where dreams come true and began to reopen but not all had at least one dose of a coronavirus. cember period where almost springing up recently. ethnicity is not a barrier. Tributes Pour in For Martin Mabutho The media and entertainment industry were shocked tory (MTF) West Africa has glowing memories of to hear about the passing of Martin Mabutho, the Chief Mabutho.“innovation and inspiration for me and many Customer Officer of MultiChoice Nigeria on Tuesday entrepreneurs in the creative and digital industries. evening. The leading media and entertainment company He was one of the most visionary enablers I have ever announced that Mabutho, a Botswanan who many met, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to build mistook for a South African died in the early hours of capacities in any creative enterprise. He was generous Tuesday, August 24 at Cape Town, South Africa after and always personable. He loved Nigeria and to many a brief illness. of us, Martin is family. He was a giant of a man with Until his death, he was responsible for driving the giant-sized ideas. He contributed immensely to the company’s customer group strategy covering customer success of the Multichoice Talent Factory teaching and value management, sales, marketing, customer ex- mentoring our students. He was a genius in designing perience and care with his appointment as the Chief the technologies that connected consumers and viewers Customer Officer in 2018. The deceased’s relationship to richer content all the time. It’s a huge loss and we with the MultiChoice Group started in 1999 when he can only pray for God to give comfort to his family joined MultiChoice Botswana as a Customer Service and his friends and colleagues across the continent.” Supervisor. He later became a Brand Manager at MNet CEO of BHM Ayeni Adekunle in a statement described in 2003 and led the Marketing and Sales effort for DStv him as a visionary marketing genius “who loved his Mobile in Sub-Saharan Africa before he was appointed brands, their users, and all the ideas that bring excite- MultiChoice Nigeria’s General Manager, Sales and ment and action. It was an honour to have been able Marketing in 2013. to work with and learn from him...His big personality, Mabutho was known for his lively spirit. At press brilliance, warmth, enthusiasm, humour and positive conferences and other media events, he was always energy which he brought to every room he entered will cheerful and fully embodied the friendly and humbling be sorely missed.” persona expected of a customer relations officer. His In his tribute to the deceased, the CEO of X3M Ideas gruff voice and towering height always stood him out called him a genius. in the crowd. “Martin was a valued client and a champion of In a statement, the CEO of MultiChoice Nigeria John everything X3M Ideas. His drive for excellence and Ugbe described him as “not just a colleague but a very out-of-the-box creativity inspired us to constantly close friend and most trusted adviser. He was well-loved expand our thinking. by everyone for his energy and hard work, his warmth, We’ll terribly miss his genius and the light with which good humour and the creativity and positive attitude he he brightened the lives of everyone who came in contact always brought to the team. He will be greatly missed.” with him.” Cerebral filmmaker Femi Odugbemi and pioneer- Mabutho was aged 47 and is survived by his aged ing Academy Director of MultiChoice Talent Fac- parents, his wife Thato and four children. Mabutho THISDAY ˾ Ͱ͵˜ͰͮͰͯ 33

ART WEEKEND…For pure art enthusiasts AREMU’s Playback on History Through the Eyes of OBJ The stage play ‘Aremu’ interrogates Nigeria’s former military Head of State and former President, Olusegun Matthew Okikiola Aremu Obasanjo with a mix of empathy, soul-searching and a glimmer of hope. Yinka Olatunbosun reports he actor-audience intimacy inside Glover Memorial Hall is indeed one-of-a-kind. Despite its impres- sive adherence to the Covid-19 protocol of physical distancing whichT is evident in the seat arrangement, the energy in the hall was enveloping at the recent command performance in Lagos. Last Sunday, the much-trumpeted play ‘Aremu’ produced by Duke of Somolu Productions kicked off with scenes of anticipation of the birth of the great Aremu what with a spectacular naming ceremony. With the protagonist-narrator characterisa- tion, the plot of ‘Aremu’ is carefully developed by the playwright, Prof. Ahmed Yerima to make the audience understand, empathise and exam- ine the character of ‘Aremu’ through historical accounts. Trailing his childhood years in Owu, the play ‘Aremu’ travels through the annals of the Nigerian civil war to establish Aremu’s persona as a warrior and a survivor. Infused with some comical elements, the playwright juxtaposes the narrator’s account of truth with a voice of reason and conscience which is embodied in the characters of Olohun Iyo and the oral poet. A controversial political figure, Aremu is seen from a vulnerable perspective in the prison scene. Reflecting the Yoruba worldview of afterlife, Mama Aremu’s character accentuates that cultural pathos that connects the power of the dead- and A scene from the play, Aremu the supernatural to the life of the living. At the scene lies the core of the play’s conflict. ‘Aremu’ also serves as a commentary on the culture clash-or student who morphed into a national figure, a state of depression to a state of honour while Awo, another Duke of Somolu production, culture assimilation-involving African traditional the story of Aremu chronicles a survival’s as his death sentence was turned around runs for every weekend in September. religion and post-colonial Christianity in Africa. story of grass-to-grace-to-disgrace and back into freedom. The Executive Producer of Aremu and Awo, Within the household of Aremu, the audience to glory. While seriously downplaying on Despite the Covid-19 constraints, ‘Aremu’ Joseph Edgar remarked that the two plays have had a first-hand peek into the cultural dilemma one of the unforgettable episodes in his managed to restore the theatre life and been positioned to rekindle in Nigerians not that colonialists In depicting Aremu, the veteran political life- the attack on Fela’s Kalakuta energy to Lagos. Sponsored by First Bank just the optimism that is much needed at these actor, Yemi Sodimu delivered a psycho-physical commune- with a brief mention, the play of Nigeria, Wema Bank, Timekeepers and times but also to portray the leadership ethos approach technique- devoid of a needless mimicry focuses on his courage through life’s un- Platform Capital, Aremu play continues that guided both styles of leadership- worthy of the mannerisms of the real life Aremu. A brilliant dulating experience. Aremu emerges from this Sunday at the Glover Memorial Hall of emulation. Top Winners Emerge at Premier International ‘Art Explosion’ Sunday Ehigiator while the judges decide on the other 50 per While reflecting on the performance of the cent, as they will sort out for works that fits students, the Head of School, Charles Husseni, Premier International School has demonstrated into the theme, and also meet up with other said: “One of them, Fatima Shehu, qualified its commitment to impacting the lives of students judgement parameters such as proportion and to the national level of the Toyota Dream Car positively through internal art competitions. use of space,’’ he explained. Art Contest. The others have been consistently One of these titled ‘2021 Art Explosion’ saw For the school’s art instructor, Ifeanyichukwu achieving and have represented the school in Hauwa Adamu, Fatima Shehu, and Jidenna Onyeiwu having a functional art Academy and art competitions in the past. We expect more Okechukwu emerge as winners of the secondary, art clubs had contributed immensely to shaping wins, more participation in any available art primary and pre-school categories respectively. the young creative minds. competitions around the country.’’ The virtual event which had as theme ‘The “The idea of the competition is to give the kids The Head of Primary, Rita Odubela harped New Normal’ was held between May 12 and every reason to believe that they can generate on quality of the school and significant of the 27, fetching each winner not less than N100,000 original concepts that could speak for them, and award, which according to her, justifies why each in prize worth. also one that could help them stand confidently the school was recognised as the best school in The founder of the intra-school competition in the presence of their contemporaries, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, in and Head of Department of Fine-Art, Agoreyo be able to own-up to the originality of their 2020 “by the Department of Quality Assurance, Armstrong, revealed how the contest began. work, by saying, yes, I made this piece of art Federal Ministry of Education.” “The students were required to make a one- Winner of the primary school competition, myself,” he said. “Premier International School has been at minute video of them working on the theme. Shehu One of the Judges, Onyekachi Bertha revealed the forefront of providing quality education in They were to interpret the theme to the best of that the best three artworks were selected in the past 24 years. Our Alumni are excelling in their knowledge using any medium of their their social media platform then tag the school. respect to originality of concept, use of colour, their various fields of endeavours and we can choice, either clay, or pencil, or water colour, “The students with the highest numbers of neatness, adherence to theme and attention to only continue to improve on our antecedents,” paint, or sculpture and upload the same on likes initially get 50 per cent chances of winning, details. she said. An All-female Exhibition Set to Rock Yemisi Shyllon Museum Yinka Olatunbosun Nigeria and create awareness tion of female artists, giving into our art education and art attention to the works of indig- arts, Bakare has stepped into of this disparity, the show will credence to their individuality, history. The exhibition is on enous and Pan-African artists the limelight by partnering celebrate the artistic contribu- voices and creativity. view at the museum from and maker-communities by with Yemisi Shyllon Museum With the theme, ‘The Invincible tion of female Nigerian artists The exhibition aims at be- August 28, 2021 through establishing unique platforms of Art to educate through the Hands; An exhibition of Art toward the growth and devel- ing an active agent in giving January 25, 2022. for accessibility. Positioned as arts. by Nigerian Women,’ an all- opment of Nigeria’s creative these artists higher visibility. Although art tends to be a cultural gatekeeper of Black Bakare is an integral part of female exhibition is set to ignite culture. The goal of ‘Invincible hands’ elitist, the exhibition takes a histories, she recognizes that the ‘Precolonial Societies of the prestigious Yemisi Shyllow In presenting these works is to celebrate the contribution historic gaze at the past, pay- educating the masses through Nigeria’ program, formulat- Museum, Pan Atlantic Univer- to a wide audience, the exhi- of underrepresented Nigerian ing homage to the founding artistic and cultural ecosystems ing the teaching manual for sity, Lekki-Epe Expressway on bition highlights artistry that women artists in post-colonial mothers of Art in Nigeria, is at the bedrock of society. By the Ile-Ife pre-colonial society. Saturday August 28. transcend stereotypes. A first and contemporary eras, to while drawing inferences in connecting varied dialogues Buttressing this, Bakare is an With the objective of ad- of its kind at the Museum, amplify their work and bridge the contemporary art space, through an exchange of ideas, active member of the ongo- dressing the disproportional the designer-cum-curator, inequality gaps in the art sec- and solidifying a foundation Bakare celebrates historical ing ‘Museums of the Future’ representation of male to Olufisayo Bakare, is tackling tor and to place The Invincible for the future. The designer- signposts. With over a decade program facilitated by Goethe female established artists in the issue of underrepresenta- Hands of women artists back cum-curator Bakare pays close dedicated to supporting the Institut. 36 THISDAY ˾ ˜27, 2021 BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE Federal Government Begins Budget Preparation Training for 900 MDAs

Ndubuisi Francis ÓØÌßÔË a series of engagements and relevant sections of the Budget stakeholder consultations with Circular. To this end, he disclosed The federal government has key revenue-generating agencies, that one of the modules at the commenced training for 4,000 civil society organisations (CSOs), training this year will address key workers drawn from 900 minis- the National Executive Council items and sections to note in the tries, departments and agencies (NEC), the National Assembly 2022 FGN Budget Call Circular. (MDAs), expressing its resolve as well as the Federal Executive The 2022 FGN Budget Call Circular, to ensure consistent and timely Council (FEC). Akabueze informed, had been preparation, submission and According to him, another issued ahead of the training to approval of annual budgets in key activity on the 2022 Budget ensure that all issues and ques- tandem with its public financial Calendar is the training of MDAs’ tions that participants may have management (PFM) reforms personnel who will be involved are adequately addressed during objective. in budget preparation adding that the course of the training sessions. The Director General, Budget the main goal of the training is to He stated: “For the avoid- Office of the Federation (BoF), provide continuous learning to ance of doubt, we have the Mr. Ben Akabueze stated this equip budget personnel with the BOF Helpdesk running at full in Abuja, yesterday during the requisite knowledge, skills and capacity currently to take care takeoff of the training of MDAs on the tools they require to prepare of all queries and questions that the 2022 budget preparation using and submit the 2022 Budget in Budget Officers may have in the Government Integrated Financial a timely manner. course of the preparation of their Management Information System The budget, he stated, is respective budgets. Distinguished - Budget Preparation Sub-System also intended to be in tandem participants, ladies and gentle- (GIFMIS/BPS) with extant FGN policies and men, we shall be training over To achieve consistent and guidelines as articulated in the 4,000 participants involved in MARKET INDICATORS timely preparation, submission 2022 FGN Budget Call Circular budget preparation from about and approval of annual budgets, and other relevant laws/policies. 900 MDAs. Each batch of the MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS (MILLION NAIRA) Akabueze stated that the BoF had He regretted that MDAs do not training programme is expected already commenced a series of study the Budget Call Circular in to take place over three days, JANUARY 2021 activities related to the process detail and as such make mistakes with participants from the same Money Supply (M3) 38,779,455.43 of preparing the 2022 Budget. that should ordinarily be avoided ministry grouped together and He said that these included if they had complied with the categorised for different sessions.” -- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors 1,039,129.55 Money Supply (M2) 37,740,325.88 Digital Invoice Factoring Processes -- Quasi Money 21,779,302.69 -- Narrow Money (M1) 15,961,023.19 N300m Payment in 30 Days ---- Currency Outside Banks 2,364,871.13 Nume Ekeghe Segun Dada in a statement made Speaking, Co-founder/CEO of ---- Demand Deposits 13,596,152.06 avaialble to THISDAY said: “The Capsa Mr. Mustapha Suberu, said: Net Foreign Assets (NFA) 7,414,275.50 As part of its efforts in helping ability to secure quick and afford- “We are the next big thing coming MSMEs access working capital, able working capital remains a out of the alternative financing Net Domestic Assets(NDA) 31,365,179.93 Nigeria’s first invoice factoring huge struggle for most businesses, space, and we are bringing more -- Net Domestic Credit (NDC) 42,916,586.63 platform, Getcapsa, processed over Getcapsa is fixing this with our exciting and innovative ways for N300 million payments through innovative digital platform with small businesses to fund their ---- Credit to Government (Net) 12,304,773.44 its platform in the last month, the just a few clicks, businesses can operations. We are allowing small ---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA 0.00 company has said. unlock much-needed financing businesses to access funds without Incorporated in November and convert their waiting time taking loans from banks or other ---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA) 0.00 2019, the company’s platform, to cash. Capsa achieved this loan sharks out there and for the GetCapsa enables MSMEs to trade transaction alongside its collabora- first time, businesses will have ---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS) 30,611,813.19 their unpaid invoices to corporate tion with the top multinational the power to determine what --Other Assets Net 3,892,112.74 and individual investors for cash brand, Olam group, and financial their financing cost would be within 48 hours. Co-founder/Chief institution groups, Stanbic IBTC with just a few clicks, and this Reserve Money (Base Money 13,264,585.14 Commercial Officer of Capsa, Mr Bank and Vetiva Capital.” is thanks to Getcapsa.” --Currency in Circulation 2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves 10,433,417.96 ˾ÙßÜÍÏ̋ OPay Assures Customers of --Special Intervention Reserves 317,234.17 Excellent Services Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month March 2018 Customers of OPay have been to fraudsters. The customers, remind our customers not to Inter-Bank Call Rate 15.16 assured of excellent service as a rightfully aggrieved, visited our share confidential information trusted financial partner. head office to speak with the with other persons. We implore Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) In a statement by Iniabasi customer support team. our customers never to share Akpan, the managing director “Our management team has information such as PIN, OTP Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) 14.00 of the company addressing the addressed these aggrieved cus- and passwords with anyone. Treasury Bill Rate 11.84 formal complaints received from tomers, and we assure them we “We want all our customers some customers on unauthorised will treat their complaints with to know that OPay remains Savings Deposit Rate 4.07 debits on their accounts, he said the highest priority. Accordingly, their trusted financial partner. the management team has ad- we have started working with Our platform has a robust and 1 Month Deposit Rate 8.82 dressed these aggrieved customers law enforcement agencies to tested infrastructure to keep by treating their complaints with investigate this matter properly”. their funds safe and secured 3 Months Deposit Rate 9.72 the highest priority. Akpan further stated at all times, and no funds can 6 Months Deposit Rate 10.93 According to Akpan, “We have that OPay has consistently be moved without confidential formally received complaints from advocated the importance information such as passwords 12 Months Deposit Rate 10.21 some of our customers who of customers keeping their or OTP on our platform. We might have recently exposed personal information safe via remain committed to providing Prime Lending rate 17.35 their personal or confidential its numerous channels. These our customers excellent service Maximum Lending Rate 31.55 information, unsuspectingly efforts have been directed to at all times,” he said.

˾ÙØÏÞËÜãÙÖÓÍãËÞÏ̋ͯͱϱ Propak W’Africa Promises to Re-energise Manufacturing Sector OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE  ˜ͰʹͰͮͰͯ Returning to the Landmark With 3500 visitors expected at Copco, Bobst, Canon, CIS Buro, Centre, Lagos from the the Landmark Centre next month Exact Solutions, Fas Agro, Ishida, The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $70.59 a barrel on Wednesday, 14th– 16thSeptember 2021, all eager to meet with the 80 or Miele, Neofyton, Reifenhauser compared with $69.71 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. Propak West Africa promises so brands from the region and to name but a few, “Propak The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan to re-energise the packaging, around the globe, all of them said in a statement. It added, Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light printing, plastics and food will be providing the missing “Alongside the exhibition and (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), processing industry and act links for supply chains to get the multitude of equipment as the catalyst to get the back up to full speed. Companies available to view onsite, the Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and manufacturing sector moving who will be showcasing their Propak West Africa conference Merey (Venezuela). once again. products this year include Atlas will also be returning. THISDAY ˾ ˜Ͱ͵˜ͰͮͰͯ 37

   Stock Market Appreciates Amid Expansion in GDP Darasimi Adebisi expanded by 5.01 per cent in sec- Analysing by sectors, the Development Company (UPDC). 7.45 per cent to close at N3.46, However, the total volume of ond quarter of 2021. In summary, Insurance (+2.3 per cent), Oil & Furthermore, the market per share. On the other hand, trades declined by 5.6 per cent The Nigerian equities market the Nigerian Exchange Limited Gas (+0.2 per cent) and Banking breadth closed positive with 27 Ikeja Hotel led the losers’ chart to 186.327 million units, valued yesterday closed trading activities (NGX) All-Share Index (ASI) grew (+0.1 per cent) indices recorded gainers as against 12 losers. Eterna by 10 per cent to close at N1.26, at N1.794 billion, and exchanged positive, as the market bounced by 27.36 basis points, representing gains while the Consumer Goods recorded the highest price gain per share. SCOA Nigeria followed in 3,595 deals. Transactions in back from the previous day trad- an increase of 0.07 per cent, to and Industrial Goods indices of 9.97 per cent to close at N7.50, with a decline of 9.43 per cent to the shares of Sovereign Trust ing session loss with a gain of close at 39,477.18 basis points. closed flat. per share. UPDC followed with close at N1.44, while Associated Insurance topped the activity 0.07 per cent. Yesterday’s positive Similarly, the overall market The market positive perfor- a gain 9.74 per cent to close at Bus Company down by 8.33 per chart with 19.672 million shares out turn was due to investors capitalisation value gained N14 mance was driven by price N1.69, while AIICO went up by cent to close at 33 kobo, per share. valued at N4.643 million. Lafarge increased buying interest in billion to close at N20.568 trillion. appreciation in large and medium 8.42 per cent to close at N1.03, Champion Breweries lost 4.55 Africa followed with 17.431 recently depreciated stock prices Accordingly, the Month-to-Date capitalised stocks which are; per share. per cent to close at N2.10, while million shares worth N382.415 across the major market sectors gain increased to +2.4 per cent, Eterna, GlaxoSmithKline Con- Glaxosmith rose by 7.94 per Japaul Gold and Ventures shed million, while Honeywell Flour and the news that the nation’s while the Year-to-Date loss moder- sumer Nigeria, Presco, Honeywell cent to close at N6.80, while 3.85 per cent to close at 50 kobo, Mills traded 15.038 million shares Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ated to –two per cent. Flour Mills and UACN Property Honeywell Flour Mills gained per share. valued at N52.410 million. PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED AS OF 26/08/2021

MAIN BOARD DEALS MARKET QUANTITY VALUE TRADED MAIN BOARD DEALS MARKET QUANTITY VALUE TRADED PRICE TRADED ( N ) PRICE TRADED ( N ) 34 THISDAY ˾ Ͱ͵˜ͰͮͰͯ

 The Meteoric Rise of Super Eagles Striker, Kayode Olarenwaju The rise of Olarenwaju Kayode in football did not come as a surprise to many due to his skillful display during the Under-20 World Cup in 2013. Kayode was among the brightest players in the tournament having scored three goals. Precious Ugwuzor, who profiled the Super Eagles striker, writes on his meteoric rise and his recent venture into real estate with the signature “Cave by LK8”

Kayode, wife, Dora and kids One of the buildings constructed by Kayode’s De J-s with the signature “Cave by LK8”

lanrewaju Ayobami Kayode started his football career at successful businesses in Lagos and Beach Estate to be precise, was behind every great/successful man there club level in February 2010 beyond through his company De J-s. The graced by a stellar cast of A-list stands a woman is epitomised in Kayode’s when he signed for Asec group has sponsored several construction personalities, comprising ex- success story. As he is busy focusing on Mimosas after he played for of homes with the signature “Cave by internationals, Obafemi Martins, making the money, his loving wife, Barrister Othe Nigeria Under-17 team at the 2009 LK8”. Kalu Uche, House of Representatives Dora Kayode, who is also his agent is FIFA, Under- 17 World Cup. In most circles, it’s noted that even member, Oloye Akin Alabi; music busy investing wisely. Her main hobby He was later called-up for the Under-20 if Kayode decides to retire from active crooner, Korede Bello; Dynamo is watching her hubby play football and Nigeria team to play for the qualifiers to football, he already has businesses to Moscow’s midfielder Sylvester score goals. They are happily married the African Youth Championship in Libya. sustain himself unlike others who after Igbonu; Austria Wien forward Bright and have three gorgeous sons together. He finally got his chance to play for the playing football for prominent clubs Edomwonyi; celebrity WAGS like Super Eagles when he was invited to play a abroad will still go broke because of wife of , thus reuniting Best Form friendly against Bafabafana of South Africa their extravagant lifestyle. old friends. Kayode is no doubt the hottest Nigerian in a game which ended 1-1. Kayode is, no doubt, one of the most It was a gathering of top celebrity striker. Since his return to Turkish Super He left Asec Mimosas on February 2, successful Nigerian footballers ever. football, political and entertainment League side , Kayode has netted 2012 and joined Swiss Club Fc Luzern on Unarguably, Kayode can boast of having stars. The mansion which was built twice. Reacting to his brilliant performance loan till November 30, 2012. On October 10, the most beautiful house in Lagos. His in less than a year is a two-storey after this season, the Nigerian forward 2013, Kayode signed a one year contract taste for quality and beauty is none building complete with all things reveals that his best is yet to come. with Israeli Club Maccabi Netanya. After to be compared with. His uniquely majestic, colourful and royal. The “What’s coming is better than what is a successful season with Maccabi Netanya, beautified property located at Pinnock ground floor has a palatial living gone, thank God for the brace and assist, scoring 13 goals and six assists, Kayode Beach Estate, which is one of the most room, kitchen, a convenience room, thanks to my teammates, coaching crew further went on to sign a four-year deal expensive estates in the state, is one a classy bar, an ultra-fit cinema room and of course the fans.” with Fk Austria Wien. that you hardly pass through without and a trendy elevator system that goes According to his wife and his agent, On August 17, 2017, the current England wowing. to the first and second floors. Kayode is battle ready for the challenges Champion, Manchester City signed Kayode In fact, the commissioning of his in Europe now as he is in his best possible on a four year deal and immediately loaned ultramodern deluxe mansion in the Kayode the Family Man form. His mindset is on the team, physically him out to Girona football club in Spain upscale Lekki area of Lagos Pinnock Of course, the popular saying that and mentally to contribute his very best for the 2017-2018 season. in order to ensure that Sivasspor has On March 2, 2018, Kayode was loaned an astoundingly excellent, brilliant and to Shakhtar Donetsk Ukraine after his loan fantastic season in the Europa Conference at Girona. On August 9, 2019, Kayode League, the Turkish Super League and Olanrewaju was loaned to Turkish super Kayode is battle ready for the challenges in the Domestic Cup competition in Turkey. league side Gazisehir Gaziantep and is Kayode is a proven scorer, who was currently on loan at Sivasspor where his Europe now as he is in his best possible form. among the Europa League leading scorers performance has been superb. in the last season where he finished behind His mindset is on the team, physically and Yusuf Yazıcı of Lille (six goals), Lukáš The Footballer as a Real Estate Investor Juliš of Sparta Praha and Mikael Ishak A silent achiever, he has silently built mentally to contribute his very best of Lech Pozna both with five goals. THISDAY ˾ Ͱͮ˜ͰͮͰͯ 35

áÓÞÒÎÎãÎÓàáÜÓ POLSCOPE ÏÎÎã˛ÙÎÓàáÜÓ̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙט͸΀͸ͽͻ͸;΁ͻͽ; Canticles…. Repentant Terrorists and PDP: A Kingdom Divided Against Itself id you hear the latest development in the the Arising Dilemma opposition party in Nigeria? DWhat development again? Have they said they won’t contest the 2023 presidential election? How can they say so? Don’t you know it is one of the most viable alternative political platforms in Nigeria? So what is happening within the Umbrella party? This is rainy season! The Political party is trying to restructure, so it can weather the Uche Secondus pending storm of 2023. you forget that these same persons be- (Mimicking) Viable political hind the court order against Secondus platform my foot! Is that how to be a are the same persons who funded and viable political party? Can’t you see influenced the court injunctions that that the so-called viable opposition barred the APC from participating in political party is wearing itself thin the 2019 contest in Rivers State? Have with needless troubles and crises? you forgotten? Can’t you see they are experienced political litigants? So, do Don’t worry, it is the way of not think that Secondus will soon be political parties. It will soon rejig out of the woods he has been thrown itself and get re-kitted for the battle into, not even if he suddenly becomes ahead. The elders of the party are Firstus. in the Board of Trustees. They will soon intervene and flog everybody The BoT will not spare anybody into line, trying to sabotage the reconcilia- tory efforts of the party, no matter You don’t seem to understand that how highly placed. The party’s this crisis is being brewed from the disciplinary measures will be fully same homestead. It is easier managed and unsparingly applied, no matter when it is existing between two far- whose Ox is gored. flung allies, not people of the same kindred spirit. Or did you not hear Sir, it is either you don’t know what that the Court injunction stopping you are saying or you do not mean the former National Chairman, Prince what you are saying. Are you imply- Uche Secondus, from parading himself ing that you need any investigation to as one, was granted by a court in his know that it is the River State governor, NSA, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd.) own Rivers State? Nyesom Wike that is behind the travails of Secondus? When the BoT forced t is no longer news that many of abducted. The infamous Chibok Girls What about the issue of stigmatization? Trust me, when I say the BoT will Secondus to survive the onslaught the Boko Haram insurgents are abduction took place seven years ago. Would the Boko Haram returnees be intervene and restore order very against him recently against the wish repenting and quitting terrorism. There have been many others since wholly accepted as normal members very soon. It is a family affair. The and moves of Wike, did you people It would not be the first time then, all carried out by the Boko Haram of the society? Would a responsible PDP is one big indivisible family. think that the Ikwerre politician will that these troublers of Nigeria terror gang. Many of the Chibok girls family, for instance, marry out their go home sulking and confounded? Iare claiming to have repented. Few are yet to return. A few returned recently daughter to a repentant Boko Haram Sir, you are not only deluding your- Wike and co wanted their kinsman years ago, the Kuje prisons, in Abuja (with their ‘husbands’), each of them member? self, you are deceiving yourself, if you removed. You Hausa people wanted was full of such persons. Federal with two children. The story is long, Should they be accepted just like still think the PDP is indivisible. This him retained. Now the rug has been Government was spending huge money sad and heavy. that? Not many think that even the is a political party that has lost two summarily pulled off his feet, right on “consultants” who said they are There has been no respite in the war. Pope will not grumble. major governors—one in the South from home. So tell me how you strang- experts in de-radicalisation of persons It has spread far beyond the north east But what is the option? Put them (Cross River) and another in the north ers will come and fix the crack in the with criminal tendencies. to almost every part of the country, through full scale trial? That leads to (Zamfara) in less than two months. domestic hearth. But we know that months after such with the intensity essentially still in the second option. The Ebonyi governor, Dave Umahi And I dare you tell me who will “de-radicalised” persons were released the northern part of the country. Boko Dilemma Two: the other option had earlier dumped the party. And sanction Wike in the PDP structure. and let into the society, they returned Haram had regenerated and produced is to re-arrest all those who are you say it is one indivisible political Who will discipline him, Is it BoT or to their old ways and became a pain satanic off springs like Banditry and surrendering, willfully or not willfully. family. Sir, this your PDP family is not ToB? to their various communities. While kidnappings, plus cattle rustling. None Get them quarantined and prepared better than the Cain-and-Abel family. You see why the PDP has ego a few truly turned a new leaf and of which is a lesser evil. to be arraigned before the laws of the problem? There are too many Big men started engaging in legitimate means of The federal government, on its part, land. They get prosecuted for all the Don’t be naïve. Don’t you know with Bigger ego in the PDP. Everybody livelihood, some others sharpened their had spent huge sums of money every crimes they committed, convicted and that the APC is fueling the crisis talks like he or she is a political Deus criminal skills by becoming informants year in fighting the Boko Haram menace. then get jailed. At that, prospective so it will have a smooth sail into Ex Machina. And unless the party is to those yet in the criminal trenches. Not much of a victory can be claimed repentant terrorists zip the thought 2023? But I tell you that Nigerians weaned of this malaise, it will cost the This explains why Senator Ali in the true sense of it, not minding the and continue the fight, killing and and indeed the PDP is wiser. We PDP the presidency again in 2023. Ndume has been shouting himself claim of having “technically defeated” maiming more innocent people. And have seen through the gimmick of hoarse about not believing wholesale, Boko Haram. the fire of insecurity rages on and on, the APC and all efforts are being I take exception to false prophecy. the claim of repentance of the Boko What is worse, it had further with all the attendant tension and put in place to foil the plan of our There is nothing like that. Nigerians Haram insurgents. metarmorphosed to different factions feelings of unrest. enemies. We shall emerge stronger, are tired of the antics and strategies Those who believe that there is a like ISWAP et al. Should the government pardon bigger and better from this little of poverty and suffering unleashed new dawn among the terrorist group, So, after a serious and sustained 12- the returnee terrorists and encourage shake up. on them by the APC-led government. must have been jolted when early this year fight, the Boko Haram insurgents, the remnants to come forth and They are waiting for the PDP to redeem week, the so-called “unknown gunmen” perhaps wearied or perhaps yielding to surrender, regardless of the huge You call this a “little shake-up”? Nigeria and wrest it from the grip of struck at the almighty Nigerian Defence the preachments for peace, have now irrecoverable harm and damage they Secondus has been stopped. Two hardship and stress. So don’t you speak Academy (NDA), Kaduna; killing two embarked on a wholesome surrender. had done to various families and Deputy National Chairmen of the of what you do not know here in the officers and kidnapping another. The As at last Wednesday, a total of 2,600 the nation in general, so the nation party are already feuding between name of political prophecy. attack on NDA had jolted the security insurgents from the Boko Haram camp will ultimately return to the path themselves on how to take-over the architecture in Nigeria, as it portrays had surrendered. More are prepared to of peace and quiet? party and whatever that is left of it. I am not a political prophet. But I the impression that indeed, no where surrender, but yet watching the reactions Or should the government insist Sir can’t you see that the PDP is like a can tell you that from what is on the is safe in Nigeria. of the rest of society. So, the debate has on dealing decisively with those who Kingdom fighting against itself? Did horizon, the PDP Is in for a long drive been running on what to do with those repented and returned, according the Holy Book not say, a Kingdom in the dark. A kingdom not governed So, here are the two scenarios: who have surrendered. Should they to the laws of the land and thus divided against itself cannot stand? by law and discipline can never make Dilemma one is that for twelve years, really be pardoned and re-integrated scare those who may yet be thinking sustained progress. The political dema- the Boko Haram “war” has been raging into the society, just like that? What of denouncing terrorism, and thus (cuts in)… Don’t quote unrelated gogues in the party are too many. If in northern Nigeria. First, it had begun about the crimes they committed? inadvertently stoke on the fire of scriptures here. The PDP Kingdom they are not careful, they will soon in Maiduguri, spread to Bauchi, then What about the people they killed? the offensives? is not divided against itself. It is feud till they will cancel themselves Adamawa, Yobe and other parts of What about the crimes of kidnap and Many Nigerians, including this a minor squabble, which is not out and the field will be open for the the North east. For the same period, forceful abductions, robbery and the writer believe the first option is unexpected in the quest for power APC all over again. Nigeria had recorded huge losses in like? Should their many sins be simply better in pursuing the agenda of matrix. Look, I advise you not to human and material sense. blotted out and admitted into the society peace and healing be hasty in judging the PDP. It will God forbid! But truth be told: Gov Babagana Zulum of Borno State, as if nothing ever happened? How will .The other concern for many bounce back to rescue Nigeria and Secondus also caused some of on Tuesday stated that Borno State alone those children who have been made Nigerians however, is that those so Nigerians from the maladministra- these uprisings. He suddenly and had lost over 100, 000 persons to the ire orphans by Boko Haram, or women pardoned must remain under intense tion we are experiencing now in this unilaterally shifted the early con- and fire of Boko Haram attacks, just as made widows react to re-absorbing those surveillance from the security agencies country. The APC knows this, that vention agreed to by the BoT to late many have been dislocated from their who killed their fathers and husbands as well as the community leaders for a is why it is not comfortable having November, instead of September homes. This is not to count the number in the same communities? Would the long time, to ensure that they have been a peaceful and cohesive PDP. We that was agreed to, all so he can of soldiers, policemen and civilian JTF swift and sweeping pardon not sell completely “de-radicalised” and have know these silly gimmicks! remain longer in power. members who have been killed by Boko the impression that crime pays and broken all ties with the terror group. Well, I agree that everybody must Haram terrorists. To their (dis)credit, those who commit the most heinous It is only when that happens will it I will remind you that the politicians be reined in if the party will survive. several schools have been attacked, with crimes sooner or later get pampered be that the pardon is neither foolish nor in Rivers are highly adept in the use of some children killed and many others by government? an act of arming one’s known enemy. the courts to fight their cause. Or did Good resolve. Go and implement!

38  ˾FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 2021 Friday, August 27, 2021 s

Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index fellrose by by 14bps 7bps

The dŚŝƐĚĂLJĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚϰϬ/ŶĚĞdžĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚďLJϭϰďƉƐƚŽƐĞƩůĞThisday Afrinvest 40 Index rose by 7bps to close at ϭ͕ϲϲϰ͘ϵϭƉŽŝŶƚƐĚƌŝǀĞŶďLJƉƌŝĐĞƵƉƟĐŬŝŶat 1,674.89 points due to sell-pressure on ACCESSZENITH (-0.6%),(+1.1%) THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX WAPCOand FBNH (-1.3%), ;нϭ͘ϰйͿ͘dŚĞƐĞƐƚŽĐŬƐĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJĂĐĐŽƵŶƚĨŽƌ and UBA (-0.7%). These stocks cumula- Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index ƟǀĞůLJĂĐĐŽƵŶƚĨŽƌϭϯ͘Ϯй͘5.9% of the index. Price Price Previous Current Current Change Change Divindend Earnings Ticker Price ROE ROA P/E P/BV Price Weighting YTD Index to Yield Yield Change Date ASIWƌĞůŝŶĞ up 11bps ŽŵƉůĞƚĞƐ as DANGCEM ĐƋƵŝƐŝƟŽŶ Gains ŽĨ 3.3% ϲϬ͘ϵϴй ^ƚĂŬĞ ŝŶ dZͲ THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 1,664.91 0.07% 13.4% 66.5% 15.0% 3.5% 5.2x 0.7x 5.6% 14.5% 1 750.00 0.0% NA... ^/ŐĂŝŶƐϳďƉƐ Airtel Africa PLC 29.5% -12.0% -12.0% 12.3% 4.4% 2.2% zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͕ ƉƌŝĐĞ ƵƉƟĐŬ ŝŶ ,KEz&>KhZ 2 BUA Cement Plc 68.00 0.0% 10.5% -12.1% -12.1% 19.1% 11.2% 32.7x 6.2x 3.1% 3 27.80 0.0% (+9.8%),zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͕ E'D ƉƌŝĐĞ ƵƉƟĐŬ ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͕ĂŶĚ&E, ŝŶ FBNH (+1.4%), (+0.7%) ACCESS bol- Guaranty Trust Holding Co PLC 8.5% -14.1% -14.1% 26.6% 4.3% 4.0x 1.0x 10.8% 25.0% 4 Zenith Bank PLC 24.30 -0.4% 7.0% -2.0% -2.0% 23.1% 2.9% 3.3x 0.7x 12.3% 30.5% (+1.1%),stered ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞŽŶ HONYFLOUR (+7.5%), the and local ETERNA bourse as(+10.0%) the All- 5 Dangote Cement PLC 249.60 0.0% 6.6% 1.9% 1.9% 44.7% 17.5% 12.5x 5.4x 6.5% 8.0% 6 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC 172.00 0.0% 5.2% 1.2% 1.2% 143.0% 12.4% 13.8x 17.5x 6.0% 7.2% ďƵŽLJĞĚShare ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ index ĂƐƚŚĞ ůůrose-Share index rose by 7 Nestle Nigeria PLC 1,400.00 0.0% 3.9% -7.0% -7.0% 143.5% 17.1% 28.4x 48.6x 4.3% 3.5% 8 Lafarge Africa PLC 22.00 0.0% 3.7% 4.5% 4.5% 9.9% 7.1% 9.9x 1.0x 4.5% 10.1% 7bps11bps to to close 39,550.36 at 39,477.18 points. ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘EĞǀĞƌƚŚĞůĞƐƐ͕zdůŽƐƐ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ zd ůŽƐƐ ŝŵͲ 9 Access Bank PLC 9.10 1.1% 3.2% 7.7% 7.7% 16.4% 1.4% 2.8x 0.4x 8.8% 36.2% remainedproved to unchanged -1.8% while at - Ϯ͘ϬйǁŚŝůĞŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ŵĂƌŬĞƚĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ 10 United Bank for Africa PLC 7.45 0.0% 2.5% -13.9% -13.9% 2.2x 0.3x 7.0% 45.7% 11 FBN Holdings Plc 7.50 1.4% 2.7% 4.9% 4.9% 10.6% 1.0% 3.5x 0.4x 6.0% 28.6% ŝŶĐŚĞĚŚŝŐŚĞƌďLJേϭϰ͘ϯďŶƚŽേϮϯ͘ϰďŶƚŽ േϮϬ͘ϲƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐĂĐƟǀŝƚLJǁĂƐŵŝdžĞĚĂƐǀŽůƵŵĞ േϮϬ͘ϲƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐĂĐƟǀŝƚLJǁĂƐ 12 Nigerian Brew eries PLC 52.00 0.0% 2.0% -7.1% -7.1% 5.6% 2.2% 43.6x 2.5x 2.0% 2.3% 13 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC 41.00 0.0% 2.3% 8.6% 8.6% 20.7% 2.9% 7.3x 1.4x 8.6% 13.7% mixedƚƌĂĚĞĚ as ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ volume ďLJ traded Ϯϭ͘ϲй fell ƚŽ 5.6% ϭϭϬ͘ϴŵ to 186.3m ƵŶŝƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ units whilevalue 14 International Brew eries PLC 4.70 0.0% 1.3% -21.0% -21.0% -5.9% -2.5% 0.8x -13.6% valueƚƌĂĚĞĚƌŽƐĞďLJϴϴ͘ϱйƚŽേϯ͘ϭďŶ͘ traded rose 70.1% to േϭ͘ϴďŶ͘ The most The traded most tradedstocks 15 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC 28.65 -0.7% 1.2% 10.2% 10.2% 0.7x 5.8% 16 SEPLAT Energy PLC 759.70 0.0% 2.1% 88.8% 88.8% 3.1% 1.7% 20.2x 0.6x 5.8% 5.0% stocksby volume by volumewere dZE^KZW were SOVRENINS ;ϭϭ͘ϵŵƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕&E, (19.7m units), (11.1m WAP- 17 11 PLC 0.0% -100.0% 7.4% 3.2% 18 Okomu Oil Palm PLC 110.00 0.0% 1.0% 20.9% 20.9% 37.4% 23.6% 8.1x 2.8x 6.8% 12.3% COƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ (17.4m ĂŶĚ KEKunits), and ;ϳ͘ϯŵ HONYFLOUR ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ (15.0m E^d> units) ;േϮ͘ϮďŶͿ͕ while 19 Fidelity Bank PLC 2.40 0.0% 0.7% -4.8% -4.8% 11.4% 1.1% 2.4x 0.3x 9.1% 41.8% 20 5.45 0.9% MTNNE'D ;േϰϵϲ͘ϳŵͿ͕;േϭϰϱ͘ϬŵͿ͕ĂŶĚ'dKWAPCO ;േϭϯϰ͘ϴŵͿůĞĚďLJǀĂůƵĞ͘ ;േϯϴϮ͘ϰŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ Ecobank Transnational Inc 0.7% -9.2% -9.2% 1.5% 0.1% 18.2x 0.2x 5.5% 21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC 17.50 0.0% 0.6% -0.6% -0.6% 25.6% 12.1% 6.8x 1.6x 8.6% 14.8% 22 3.07 2.3% GTCO ;േϭϰϳ͘ϮŵͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘ FCMB Group Plc 0.5% -7.8% -7.8% 4.9% 23 Sterling Bank PLC 1.53 0.0% 0.3% -25.0% -25.0% 8.9% 0.8% 3.9x 0.3x 3.3% 25.9% 24 NASCON Allied Industries PLC 15.70 0.0% 0.4% 8.3% 8.3% 20.7% 5.9% 15.7x 3.2x 2.7% 6.4% Bearish Sector Performance 25 0.95 0.0% Mixed Sector Performance Transnational Corp of Nigeria 0.4% 5.6% 5.6% -1.3% -0.3% 0.6x 1.0% -2.2% 26 Presco PLC 73.00 0.6% 0.3% 2.9% 2.9% 1.8x 2.7% Across sectors under our coverage, performance was 27 15.00 0.0% Across sectors under our coverage, performance was Unilever Nigeria PLC 0.2% 7.9% 7.9% -6.2% -4.1% 1.4x -4.6% bearish as 4 indices lost, 1 index gained ǁŚŝůĞƚŚĞ&Z-/d 28 PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC 5.75 0.0% 0.2% 8.5% 8.5% mixed as 3 indices gained while the AFR- 29 United Capital PLC 7.15 0.0% 0.3% 51.8% 51.8% 35.5% 4.2% 5.5x 1.8x 9.8% 18.3% ŝŶĚĞdžƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚŇĂƚ͘dŽƉƉŝŶŐƚŚĞůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐĂƌĞ ƚŚĞŽŶƐƵŵͲ 30 Guinness Nigeria PLC 31.00 0.0% 0.4% 63.2% 63.2% -17.8% -9.0% 0.9x -20.9% ICT, Industrial and Consumer Goods ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ 31 Custodian and Allied Insurance 6.35 0.0% 0.2% 8.5% 8.5% 24.7% 7.5% 3.1x 0.8x 8.7% 32.0% er 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ Insurance indices, down 4.6% and 32 A IICO Ins uranc e PLC 1.03 8.4% 0.2% -8.8% -8.8% 21.6% 3.3% 4.4x 0.5x 22.8% The Insurance index led gainers, up Ϯ͘ϯй ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJŽŶƚŚĞďĂĐŬŽĨƉƌŽĮƚ-ƚĂŬŝŶŐŝŶE^d> (- 33 Total Nigeria PLC 199.20 0.0% 0.3% 53.2% 53.2% 6.3x 2.0% 15.8% ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ //K ;нϴ͘ϰйͿ͕ tW/ ;нϮ͘ϬͿ͕ ĂŶĚ DE^Z 34 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC 25.00 0.0% 0.2% 41.9% 41.9% 18.3% 2.4% 5.0x 0.8x 1.6% 19.9% 9.1%), hE/>sZ (-3.5%), >/E<^^hZ (-6.4%), 35 Wema Bank PLC 0.89 0.0% 0.2% 29.0% 29.0% 11.7% 0.7% 5.0x 0.6x 4.5% 19.8% ;нϭ͘ϮйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ the Oil & Gas and ĂŶŬŝŶŐ indices 36 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC 0.0% 0.0% -100.0% 7.5% 0.9% 5.6x 0.6x 4.9% 17.7% and DE^Z (-Ϯ͘ϮйͿ͘^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞKŝůΘ'ĂƐĂŶĚĂŶŬͲ 37 Oando PLC 4.72 -0.4% 0.2% 27.6% 27.6% 14.5% 2.6% 2.0x 0.3x 49.2% rose Ϭ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϭй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ŐĂŝŶƐ ŝŶ dZE 38 62.50 0.0% ing indices fell by Ϭ͘ϮйĂŶĚϮďƉƐƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJĚƵĞƚŽƐĞůů- Notore Chemical Industries Ltd 0.1% 0.0% 0.0% -38.7% -9.5% 2.1x -21.2% ;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͕^^;нϭ͘ϭйͿ͕ĂŶĚ&E,;нϭ͘ϰйͿ͘ 39 Beta Glass PLC 52.95 0.0% 0.1% -4.4% -4.4% 12.8% 8.7% 5.4x 0.7x 2.0% 18.4% ŽīƐŝŶKEK (-0.8%), E/d, (-Ϭ͘ϮйͿ͕ĂŶĚ'dK;-Ϭ͘ϮйͿ͘ 40 Transcorp Hotels Plc 4.70 0.0% 0.0% 30.6% 30.6% 0.8x

ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ/ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů'ŽŽĚƐŝŶĚĞdžǁĂƐƚŚĞůŽŶĞŐĂŝŶͲ Top 10 Gainers Top 10 Trades by Volume Investor ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ er, up 1.8% driven by price apprecia- Ticker Price Price Chg % Ticker Volume Price Chg % ƟŽŶ/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ in E'D ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ (+3.3%). ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ETERNA 7.50 10.0% SOVRENINS 19.7 4.5% A IICO 1.03 8.4% WAPCO 17.4 0.0% ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ ƚŽϮ͘ϮdžĨƌŽŵϬ͘ϴdž GLAXOSM ITH 6.80 7.9% HONYFLOUR 15.0 7.5%

M BENEFIT 14.7 3.1% /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚLJĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJĂƐϮϲ ƐƚŽĐŬƐĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚǁŚŝůĞϭϮ stocks HONYFLOUR 3.46 7.5% FTNCOCOA 0.44 7.3% UBA 8.0 0.0% declined. ETERNA (+10.0%), AIICO (+8.4%), and GLAX- /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ UNITYBNK 0.60 7.1% JA IZB A NK 7.2 -1.6% OSMITH (+7.9%) led the gainers while IKEJAHOTEL (- LIVESTOCK 2.11 5.5% WEMABANK 5.3 0.0% ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ͕ ƐĞƩůŝŶŐ Ăƚ 1.6x ACADEMY 0.39 5.4% GTCO 5.3 0.0% 10.0%), SCOA (-9.4%), and ABCTRANS (-8.3%) led the los- ĨƌŽŵϭ͘ϯdžƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚŝŶƚŚĞůĂƐƚƚƌĂĚŝŶŐƐĞƐƐŝŽŶĂƐϮϰ stocks CHAM S 0.22 4.8% TRANSCORP 5.2 0.0% ers. /ŶƚŚĞĮŶĂůƚƌĂĚŝŶŐƐĞƐƐŝŽŶĨŽƌƚŚĞǁĞĞŬ͕ǁĞĞdžƉĞĐƚĂ SOVRENINS 0.23 4.5% WAPIC 5.0 2.0% advanced while 15 stocks declined. MRS (+9.9%), MAY- ďƵůůŝƐŚƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞĚƌŝǀĞŶďLJďĂƌŐĂŝŶŚƵŶƟŶŐĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ͘ Top 10 Losers Top 10 Trades by Value BAKER (+9.8%), and HONYFLOUR (+9.8%) led gainers Ticker Price Price Chg % Ticker Value Price Chg % while ABCTRANS (-8.3%), LASACO (-6.7%), and LIVE- IKEJAHOTEL 1.26 -10.0% MTNN 496.7 0.0% ŽƌƉŽƌĂƚĞĐƟŽŶSTOCK (-4.8%) led losers. Today, we expect the market SCOA 1.44 -9.4% WAPCO 382.4 0.0% ABCTRANS 0.33 -8.3% GTCO 147.2 0.0% ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚƚŽƌĞŵĂŝŶŵŝdžĞĚ͕ĂƐ earnings season gradually zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͕ƚĞƌŶĂŽŝů announced on the exchange the ac- CHAM PION 2.10 -4.5% SEPLAT 112.1 0.0% ZENITHBANK 95.7 -0.4% ƋƵŝƐŝƟŽŶŽĨϳϵϰ͕ϵϲϵ͕ϳϳϰ;ϲϬ͘ϵϴйͿĞƋƵŝƚLJƐƚĂŬĞďLJWƌĞůŝŶĞwinds up. JAPAULGOLD 0.50 -3.8% CUTIX 4.90 -2.0% UB A 60.0 0.0%

>ŝŵŝƚĞĚĂƐƉĂƌƚŽĨƚŚĞĚŝǀĞƐƚŵĞŶƚƉƌŽĐĞƐƐŽĨƐŝdžŽĨŝƚƐƐƵďͲ JAIZBANK 0.62 -1.6% HONYFLOUR 52.4 7.5% NESTLE 35.2 0.0% ƐƚĂŶƟĂůƐŚĂƌĞŚŽůĚĞƌƐ͘ VITAFOAM 16.50 -1.5% FLOURM ILL 28.65 -0.7% FBNH 30.7 1.4%

NEIMETH 1.99 -0.5% UCAP 30.3 0.0% Brokerage Asset Management Investment Research Afrinvest West Africa Limited Adedoyin Allen | [email protected] Robert Omotunde | [email protected] Abiodun Keripe | [email protected]

Taiwo Ogundipe | [email protected] Christopher Omoh | [email protected] Damilare Asimiyu| [email protected] FRIDAY AUGUST 27, 2021 • THISDAY 39 MARKET NEWS

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment fl oor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an ETF are bought by investors. Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. investment vehicle that allows both small and Bid Price: The price at which Investors Investors with similar objectives buy units of the large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total that willl generate their desired return. investments. The assets are divided into shares that return an investor would have earned on An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. his investment. Money Market Funds report of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, Yield while others report Year- to-date Total bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, GUIDE TO DATA: Return. etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 25- NAV: Is value per share of the real estate shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the Aug-2021, unless otherwise stated. assets held by a REIT on a specifi c date. DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED [email protected] AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD [email protected] Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Equity Fund 155.07 156.41 -4.21% Nigeria Entertainment Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 4.94% GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED [email protected] Nigeria International Debt Fund 321.93 321.93 -15.87% Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Afrinvest Dollar Fund 109.89 109.89 -1.95% Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD [email protected] GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD [email protected] Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 ACAP Canary Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Income Funds N/A N/A N/A Abacus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AIICO CAPITAL LTD [email protected] Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Vantage Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.49% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) N/A N/A N/A AIICO Balanced Fund 3.30 3.46 -2.99% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED [email protected] Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A [email protected] LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fi [email protected] Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market N/A N/A N/A Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.43 1.45 4.86% Anchoria Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,146.35 1,146.35 5.57% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD [email protected] ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD [email protected] Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 19.68 20.27 8.50% Meristem Equity Market Fund 11.43 11.46 9.29% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 432.48 445.52 8.02% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 9.32% ARM Ethical Fund 38.30 39.46 13.62% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD [email protected] ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.09 1.09 -1.01% Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 ARM Fixed Income Fund 0.97 0.98 -7.31% Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.14% PACAM Balanced Fund 1.67 1.69 7.15% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED [email protected] PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.54 11.53 -5.11% Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 6.01% Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Equity Fund 1.65 1.66 3.96% AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 105.86 105.86 4.08% PACAM EuroBond Fund 112.90 114.76 2.78% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,028.32 1,028.32 2.83% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED [email protected] AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED [email protected] Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A SCM Capital Frontier Fund 131.71 134.29 8.88% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.56% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD [email protected] CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED [email protected] Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 1.05 1.05 10.04% CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.03 2.03 -8.67% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD [email protected] Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.13 2.17 -7.38% Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED [email protected] Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com ; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,291.85 3,326.65 2.49% Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 232.50 232.50 3.40% CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.01 1.01 2.60% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.22 1.23 3.81% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD [email protected] Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 306.38 306.38 3.98% Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 224.50 227.82 2.86% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.74% Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 10,374.20 10,520.16 -1.15% Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.03% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.27 1.27 3.55% Paramount Equity Fund 16.47 16.78 3.00% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 115.38 115.38 3.87% Women’s Investment Fund 136.38 137.96 2.48% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 103.24 103.24 - CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED [email protected] UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.47% Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 117.99 118.75 United Capital Balanced Fund 1.30 1.32 1.61% United Capital Bond Fund 1.91 1.91 4.32% Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A United Capital Equity Fund 0.87 0.89 9.15% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 108.02 108.02 United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.17% CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT [email protected] United Capital Eurobond Fund 119.93 119.93 4.78% Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.06 1.07 3.72% Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United capital Sukuk Fund 1.06 1.06 6.04% Coronation Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD [email protected] Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED [email protected] Zenith Equity Fund 12.89 13.00 8.59% Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Ethical Fund 14.23 14.36 16.49% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A N/A N/A N/A Zenith Income Fund 24.31 24.31 1.35% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.99% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A REITS FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD [email protected] Fund Name NAV Per Share Yield / T-Rtn Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 SFS REIT 125.36 10.94% Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Union Homes REIT 51.90 2.86% FBN Bonds Fund 1,406.39 1,406.39 11.21% EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS FBN Balanced Fund 191.03 192.37 1.78% Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Halal Fund 112.06 112.06 8.35% Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund 13.35 13.45 1.04% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 9.34% SIAML Pension ETF 40 121.66 124.69 1.18% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 126.87 126.87 3.52% Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund 97.22 99.34 -2.01% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 155.97 159.28 3.17% MERGROWTH ETF 17.46 17.56 FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED [email protected] MERVALUE ETF 18.24 18.34 Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD [email protected] Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.72% Legacy Debt Fund 3.96 3.96 2.46% Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund 3.90 3.94 3.19% Legacy Equity Fund 1.59 1.62 4.45% Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund 5.54 5.62 -2.62% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.18 1.18 4.32% Vetiva Griffi n 30 Exchange Traded Fund 17.50 17.60 7.79% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD [email protected] Vetiva Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.32% Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund 19.67 19.87 -4.13% Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund 157.36 159.36 -28.43% Coral Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Fund Name NAV Per Share Yield / T-Rtn Coral Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund 107.40 13.11% 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. 40 FRIDAY AUGUST 27, 2021 •THISDAY FRIDAY AUGUST 27, 2021 • THISDAY 41 42 FRIDAY AUGUST 27, 2021 ˾THISDAY NEWS Finally, Bandits Release Tegina Islamiyya School Pupils How TB Joshua offered to pay ransom before dying

Laleye Dipo in Minna six of them had reportedly died had immediately left for Minna When contacted, Secretary to say anything until we see them.” been monitoring the development of cold, malnutrition and fever. would be received by Governor the State Government, Alhaji A top politician from the since the pupils were abducted, Bandits, late last night, eventually A competent source told Abubakar Sani Bello of the state Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, said, local government area, who told THISDAY that “they (Pupils) released pupils of the Salihu Tanko THISDAY that the children, who today after their profiling. “I have heard that too but I cannot pleaded anonymity and had are intact”. Islamiyya School, Tegina, in the Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, who had been abducted since May 30 this year. THISDAY learnt that the girls were dumped around Birnin-Gwari town in Kaduna State at about 7.30pm Thursday. Meanwhile, if not for his untimely passing, the late Pastor Temitope B. Joshua of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), had offered to pay the N200 million ransom the same day he died. But the girls, sources hinted, were not released until the school’s Head Teacher, Alhaji Alhassan Abubakar Garba, was available as demanded by the bandits. The pupils were allegedly loaded in some government vehicles and had headed to Minna, the state capital, as at press time. It was not known if additional ransom was paid before the release of the pupils but the bandits had EXCHANGE OF IDEAS… insisted on collecting N30m and L-R: President, African Public Relations Association (APRA), Mr. Yomi Badejo-Okusanya; President /Chairman of Council, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, six Bajaj Motorcycles before they Mallam Mukhtar Zubairu Sirajo; Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi; Chairman, Lagos State Chapter, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, would set them free. Mrs. Comfort Nwankwo; and Lead Consult, Addefort Limited/conference organiser, Mr. Olabamiji Adeleye, during the eighth Lagos Public Relations stakeholders’ The remaining 130 pupils were, however, released after conference on “ Policy Communication for Sustainable Healthcare and Wellness in Nigeria held in Lagos...yesterday Revealed: Niger Pupils NPDC: MOSOP Kicks against Oil Exploration in Ogoni Blessing Ibunge in Port (NNPC), wanted to resume oil discovered that NPDC, hastily MOSOP said: “We strongly Fed with Expired Rice Harcourt activities in the area through entered Ogoni through the believe that there are more to the back door. “back door and promising the actions of NPDC than Laleye Dipo in Minna meals. We are disturbed by this, Movement for the Survival of The Steering Committee of the heaven on earth to wow the meets the eye. Weighing as it will defeat the purpose of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has group warned that the NPDC people.” recent developments in Nigeria Some legislators in the Niger the programme. disagreed with the Nigerian was masking behind a Court In a statement issued by affecting the Niger Delta region, State House of Assembly have “We also received a lot of Petroleum Development of Appeal judgement in favour the Publicity Secretary of the especially Ogoni, against the alleged that school children messages showing pictures Company Limited (NPDC) over of the Federal Government, MOSOP, Friday Nkpah, the rapidity with which the NNPC under the Whole Grown of the type of food being fed resumption of oil exploration in without any recognizable group said there were more subsidiary rushed into the area, School Feeding Programme the children. Our investigation Ogoni land. This as the ethnic consultation, with the natives. to the promises made by the points to some unwholesome of the federal government are showed that the rice fed the group has insisted that NPDC, MOSOP said that at the company, judging by recent intent. Hence, we urge all being fed with expired rice in children is expired, and God a subsidiary of the Nigerian end of the Steering Committee’s developments in the Niger Ogonis to roundly reject the schools in the state. knows how it was prepared.” National Petroleum Corporation deliberations, yesterday, it was Delta. corporation. The lawmakers also claimed The lawmaker also claimed that four pupils share one egg their investigation revealed that during their meals. the ration given to the children Speaking under a motion was not enough, pointing out Police Rescue Three Kidnapped Victims in Kwara of ‘Urgent Public Importance’, that meals meant for one Hammed Shittu in Ilorin working on their farms. the public that the victims, one “The command also wishes to the member representing Suleja person “are often shared among In a statement that was issued Divine Favour ‘m,’ one Tosin assure the good people of Kwara constituency, Alhaji Liman Iya, three pupils. The Kwara State Police in Ilorin by the command’s Police Arogundade ‘m’, and one of the its readiness to confront who spoke on behalf of the The lawmaker said: “There Command yesterday said that it Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ajayi Mariam Salihu ‘f’, all of Elefo and bring to their knees all forms legislators that carried out the are so many complaints across rescued three kidnapped victims Okasanmi, said that the men Farm in Asa Local Government of criminality in the state. investigation, also alleged that the state. So many malpractices at Elefo Farm in Tafatafa village were rescued unhurt through Area have all been rescued He, therefore, hinted that a lot of malpractices have been are happening that need to be in Asa Local Government Area collaborative efforts of the police, unhurt and released to their efforts are on top gear to get discovered in the school feeding addressed.” of the state. vigilante and local hunter and families, through the collaborative the abducted 300 level female programme in the state. The lawmaker, therefore, They were kidnapped by handed over to their families. effort of the police, vigilante, local student of Kwara State University According to him, “We asked the Assembly to invite men suspected to be in army Okasanmi said: “The hunters and the family of the rescued as we are closing in on wonder why primary school the state Focal Person of the camouflage on Monday while command is happy to inform victims. the suspects. pupils in the state are served programme to defend all the poor and under-nutritious allegations. Man Hacks Wife to Death with Sledge Hammer, Commits Suicide Olusegun Samuel inYenagoa of their neighbors in shock and have swallowed a poisonous off Tombia- Amassoma Road, Gastroenteritis: Sokoto disbelief. substance suspected to be Yenagoa. A 43-year-old civil servant It was gathered that Markson, a popular insecticide called He said: “Preliminary Records 18 Deaths in One Week identified as Patrick Markson, who was a civil servant and ‘sniper’. investigation reveals that one has allegedly committed suicide worked with the Yenagoa Local Confirming the sad incident, Patrick Markson ‘m’ 46 years, Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto according to the commissioner, after hacking his wife to death Government Area, allegedly hit the Spokesman of the Bayelsa a native of Onopa, Yenagoa, would cost the state over N700 with a sledge hammer in the wife’s head with a sledge State Police Command, Asinim attacked and killed his wife, The Sokoto State Government million. Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State’s hammer while she was deep Butswat, said operatives of the Mrs. Hannah Markson ‘f’ with yesterday confirmed that it has One of these PHCs is in capital. asleep and watched her bleed command have evacuated the a hammer. Thereafter drank a recorded not less than 18 deaths Salam, which was awarded at The incident, which happened to death. corpses of the man and woman. poisonous substance suspected in the state within a week as a the cost of N125.6 million while yesterday in the couple’s After watching his wife bleed Butswat said the incident to be sniper, which led to his result of gastroenteritis. that of Sanyinna, in Tambuwal residence in Yenagoa, left many to death, the man was said to happened at Odede Street, death. The State Commissioner for Local Government would cost Health, Dr. Ali Muhammed N210.7 million. Inname, stated this while Another one in Kuchi town in Fayemi: Ekiti Will Get Airport in 2022 briefing newsmen at the end Kebbe Local Government would Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti by local and foreign investors development partners to lift the dams; construction of interstate of the State Executive Council cost N167 million as well as the to the collaboration between his state economy in defiance of roads, the ongoing Agro Cargo (SEC) meeting held at council’s one opposite market in Achida, The Ekiti State Governor, Dr. administration and development the global financial challenges. Airport, among others, chamber in Sokoto. Wurno Local Government at Kayode Fayemi, has assured partners. He said that some of He said the event was an Inname disclosed that the the cost of N 263.4 million. the people of the state that The governor, who was the projects facilitated by opportunity to shed light council has approved the He also stated that the state the International Cargo Airport represented Ekiti State Deputy government’s partnership with on various empowerment upgrading of four Primary recorded a total number of 252 under construction would be Governor, Mr. Bisi Egbeyemi, development partners include programmes and other human Health Centres (PHC) located positive case of gastro-enteritis completed before the expiration at the first edition of Ekiti Civic the resuscitated Ikun Dairy Farm; capital development initiatives for at different parts of the state to across 16 local government areas of his tenure on October 15, 2022. Engagement with various interest Rice Mills in Ado Ekiti; Cassava artisans, women, youths, owners general hospitals. between Friday, August 19, 2021, Fayemi attributed the millions groups in Ado Ekiti yesterday, Processing Plants in Oke Ako- of small scale businesses, farmers The upgrading of the PHCs, and today. of dollar investments in the state said that he had been pursuing Irele axis; rehabilitation of major and the aged. FRIDAY AUGUST 27, 2021 ˾THISDAY 43 NEWS XTRA MNJTF: 43 Insurgents, Seven Soldiers Killed in Firefight Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja around the engagement areas. recovered and four enemy gun paid the supreme sacrifice while military hospital.” The MNJTF was at the Headquarters, Sector 4 One terrorist suspected to be their trucks were destroyed. four other soldiers sustained said coincidently, the Force Diffa on August 25, 2021 on the The Multinational Joint Task leader was caught alive and large “Extremely regrettable, how- varying degrees of injuries Commander, MNJTF, Major final leg of his familiarisation/ Force (MNJTF) said yesterday cache of arms, ammunitions were ever, seven gallant MNJTF soldiers and are being treated in a General Abdul Khalifah Ibrahim, operational visit to the sectors. that troops killed 43 fighters of terrorist groups, Boko Haram and the Islamic State for West African Province (ISWAP) during a clash with troops of Sector 4 Diffa in Niger Republic, when their location was attacked by the terrorists. But the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Faruk Yahaya, has charged troops to continue to exhibit gallantry in the fight against banditry, insurgency and other sundry crimes. A war update issued by Chief of Military Public Information Headquarters, MNJTF, N`Djamena, Chad, Col. Muhammad Dole, said troops of the sector deployed in Baroua came under heavy attack by suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters in the wee hours of Wednesday, August 25, 2021. “Troops tactically canalised the criminals to their effective killing zone, brought heavy fire on them and neutralised scores of the terrorists while others escaped with various degrees of injury. “At the end of the encounter, a NEW CHEFS IN TOWN… total of 43 dead bodies of BHT/ L-R: Second runner-up, ONGAlicious Next Top Chef, Mrs. Rita Okon; Winner of the competition, Mrs Bibian Ugwumbara; and first runner up, Mrs.Joan Azonobor, during the final ISWAP insurgents were scattered competition in Lagos....recently ABIODUN AJALA Umahi Denies Receiving FG Decries Delay by Some States to Domesticate N6bn for Ranching Child Rights Act Okon Bassey in Uyo who noted that remarkable become the greatest threat to Violence against Children. in Ebonyi progress has been made with achieving lasting peace and “It is disheartening to note Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki “Any Ebonyi person who The federal government the Violence Against Person sustainable development.” that since the passage of the wishes to engage in personal yesterday expressed worry Prohibition (VAPP) Act 2015, She made these observations Child Rights Act in 2003 only Ebonyi State Governor, David ranching should see such that only 26 states of the which has been domesticated during the 21st National 26 states have domesticated it, Umahi, has denied that the venture as a personal decision federation have domesticated by 29 states. Council Meeting on Women with 10 states still outstanding. state was part of those that and must use his/her land for the Child Rights Act (CRA), Tallen regretted that violence Affairs, which was held in Remarkable progress has received N6 billion from the such purpose. This is because which was passed into law against children was the Uyo, Akwa Ibom State however been made with federal government, to create Ebonyi State Government has 19 years ago. most pronounced violation capital, and pointed out that the Violence Against Persons ranching reserves for herdsmen continued to maintain that there This statement was made of Human Rights across the the Nigeria in 2017 became Prohibition (VAPP) Act 2015 in the state. is no land for ranching in the by the Minister of Women globe, “yet it is one of the least a path finding country within with 29 states that have In a statement issued by the state, and won’t renege from Affairs, Mrs. Pauline Tallen, prosecuted offences and has the Global Partnership to End domesticated it.” Governor’s Special Assistant on the decision.” Media, Francis Nwaze, Umahi However, a chieftain of the faulted the claims made by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ekiti Assembly Passes 62 Bills in Two Years Linus Okorie, has commended Senior Special Assistant to the Victor Ogunje a total of 53 were sponsored declare a state of emergency maintained that the fact that the state government for speaking in Ado Ekiti President on media and Publicity, by the executive, while nine in the security sector of the the lawmakers have been Garba Shehu, that Ebonyi State up on vital issue, but urged it A member of the Ekiti State belonged to the private country. cooperating with the state had processed and received the to go further to clear all doubts. House of Assembly, Hon. category, from which he The lawmaker stated this Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, money. In a statement issued and Adeoye Aribasoye, has sponsored four to guarantee in Ado-Ekiti yesterday while and passed some bills speedily The governor said: “Ebonyi made available to THISDAY, disclosed that a total of 62 good governance at the interacting with journalists, to guarantee good governance State Government never at any the two-term member of the bills have been passed into grassroots. where he debunked the claim shouldn’t be a basis for them time received any money for House of Representatives stated law by the legislative arm of In tandem with the position by opposition that the state to be branded as stooges. ranching in the state, and will that the denial by the governor the state within the last 26 canvassed by the Zamfara Assembly is an appendage of According to him, “We have not receive any money for the was impressive as it shows that months it was inaugurated. State Governor, Hon. Bello the executive arm. passed nine private bills, four same purpose as there is no the government has exhibited Aribasoye, who represents Mutawalle, Aribasoye called on Speaking on the activities of them I personally sponsored available land for ranching in responsiveness to the concerns Ikole state constituency II, President Muhammadu Buhari of the Assembly in the last and had been passed and the state. of the people. stated that out of the bills, to as a matter of urgency two years, the lawmaker assented to by the governor. Herdsmen Attacks: Group Urges Minister Urges Political Elites to Support Youths for Nation’s Devt Michael Olugbode in Abuja country for development. functional. international cooperation. Rivers to Protect Citizens Speaking yesterday at the He said Nigeria was Abubakar noted that the Blessing Ibunge in Port among others. The Minister of Environment, launch of Nigeria’s long-term committed to Article 6 of inter-generational equity is Harcourt Some farmers in the state, Dr. Mohammad Abubakar, low emission Vision 2050 the Framework Convention one of the Article 3 principles especially those from Lueken has called on all political and Investment/Financial and Article 12 of the Paris underpinning the UNFCCC, Following the continuous community in the Ogoni area, elites in the country to Flow Assessment Reports, Agreement, which seeks to stressing that in a context invasion of farms, killings, where there has been reported commit towards supporting Abubakar said pledges empower citizens to engage in of all-inclusiveness, the rape, abduction and abuses of cases of herdsmen attacks, had the Nigerian youths for and supports are expected climate actions, through youth Nigerian youths have made rights of farmers by suspected thanked the governor, expressing climate innovation and in all forms to optimise the engagements, education, tremendous input into herdsmen in some communities their support for the smooth solutions in order to drawn energy and creativity of the training, public awareness, promoting climate actions, in Rivers State, a group, Youths implementation of the law, an attention to environmental Nigerian youths, and make public participation, public and these efforts must be and Environmental Advocacy appreciation for saving them challenges and reposition the the innovative hub fully access to information and encourage at all levels. Centre (YEAC), has urged the from herdsmen attack. state government to enforce the However, speaking with Anti-Open Grazing laws to end THISDAY yesterday, the One Student Feared Killed in Kwara Cult War the menace. Executive Director of YEAC, Hammed Shittuin Ilorin polytechnic, located in Adewole as axes and cutlasses to attack suspected cultist is yet unknown The group decried that despite Fyneface Dumnamene, revealed area of Ilorin. one another yesterday afternoon. as at the time of filing this report. the passage and assent to anti- that six days after assenting A student of the Kwara State An eyewitness account The two students who “One of the members of a open grazing laws, farmers still to the Anti-Open Grazing Polytechnic, Ilorin, has been told THISDAY yesterday that sustained severe injuries cult group died on the spot while lament over the incessant attacks law, herdsmen allegedly reportedly killed while two three suspected cultists were were rushed to a nearby the other two were rushed to the by the herdsmen. invaded farms in Eleme Local others sustained severe injuries reportedly attacked while in private hospital in Adewole nearest hospital,” the source said. The state Governor, Rivers Government Area, attacking in an ongoing cult war in Ilorin. a car at the mini campus of area for treatment while the The attacks of the suspected State, Nyesom Wike, had on farmers, shooting sporadically, THISDAY checks revealed the institution by a rival group. remains of the deceased were cultists in the car have prompted August 19, 2021, assented to creating fear, and abducting one that the cultists attacks occurred Consequently, members of the also evacuated and taken to a retaliation as the students were the Open Rearing and Grazing of the women said to have been at the Institute of Technology cult groups were seen freely mortuary. seen mobilising themselves for (Prohibition) Law No. 5 of 2021, hired to work in a cassava farm. (IoT), mini campus area of the using dangerous weapons such Also, the identity of the slain counter attack. 44 FRIDAY AUGUST 27, 2021 •THISDAY  ˾FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 2021 45 WORLD OF ISLAM Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email [email protected] Lost History of Women Scholars in Islam By: Al-Muhaddithat/IslamiCity (pbuh) say: I asked the Prophet (pbuh) Why are we [women] not mentioned in the Quran as the t surprises people to learn that women living men are mentioned? [...] Then, I was alerted that under an Islamic order could be scholars, that day by his call on the pulpit. [...] At that moment, is, hold the authority that attaches to being I was combing my hair. I gathered up my hair and knowledgeable about what Islam commands, went to one of the rooms; I listened hard. I heard and therefore sought after and deferred to. him saying on the pulpit: O people, God says in IThe typical Western view is that no social order His Book: The Muslim men and Muslim women; has (or aspires to have) more ‘religion’ in it than the believing men and believing women; the men Islam. The more “religion’ a society has in it, the who are obedient [to God] and women who are more restricted the scope in that society for women obedient [to God]; the men who are truthful and to enjoy agency and authority. Behind that is the the women who are truthful; the men who are assumption that religion is ‘really’ a human construct, persevering and patient and the women who are done mainly by men and therefore done to secure persevering and patient; the men who give alms advantages for them at the expense of women. and the women who give alms; the men who are Muslims, of course, do not share this view. humble and the women who are humble; the men In the Quran and Sunnah, Muslims believe who fast and the women who fast; the men who they have a framework of guidance that is strictly guard their chastity and the women who guard their impartial and sufficient because God’s knowledge and chastity, and the men who remember God much and mercy encompass all beings and all their pasts and the women who remember God much - God has futures. Any human derivation from and within that prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward. framework is subject to revision, but the framework (AL-HAKIM, al-Mustadrak, ii. 416. The verse cited itself is not. Accordingly, in the Islamic tradition, to is al-Ahzab, 33:35) say ‘God says in His Book’ decides the argument. Having ‘the knowledge’ and the conscientious Where it is not certain how the guidance of the preserving, transmitting and understanding it is the Quran is to be acted upon, Muslims look to the strong basis for the public authority that learned example of how God’s Messenger acted in the same or Muslims, men and women, were able to command. a similar situation. The record of his example (Sunnah) Sometimes there were different opinions on the import is now, for all practical purposes, conveyed through of the knowledge people had. Still, the differences a body of texts, known singly and collectively as were not settled based on the gender or the tribe, or hadith (lit. ‘saying). A man who becomes an expert socio-economic class of the person who conveyed it. in knowledge of the hadith is called a muhaddith; a A striking case is that of Amrah bint Abd al-Rahman, woman, muhaddithah (plural, muhaddithat). the great tabi’iyyah (Successor), muhaddithah and The Quran rebukes the people of the jahiliyyah faqihah, who intervened in a court case in Madinah (the Ignorance before Islam) for their negative attitude to prevent a miscarriage of justice. It is remarkable to women. “When news is brought to one of them enough that she knew that the case was in progress of [the birth of] a girl, his face darkens, and he is and the circumstances of it and what sentence the chafing within! He hides himself from his folk because qadr had passed but not yet carried out. Many famous of the evil he has had news of. Shall he keep it in men jurists were residents and active in the city; none disdain or bury it in the dust? Ah - how evil the of them intervened. What is astonishing is that she judgment they come to!” (Quran, 16:58-59) did intervene, and no one questioned her right to do The costly prospect of bringing up a daughter (a so. The defendant was a non-Muslim, not known son was expected to enhance a clan’s military and to Amrah except as the defendant in this suit, in economic potential) perhaps explains this negative which she had no personal, private interest. The qãdi response to the birth of a girl. Burying infant girls reversed his decision and released the defendant alive was a custom among some (not all) of the Arab only because he could have no argument against tribes of that time. The Quran warns of retribution the authority of the hadith she was able to cite. He for this gross atrocity on the day When the infant did not know or remember it, or simply failed to buried alive shall be asked for what sin she was bring it to bear when reaching his judgment. Once killed (Quran, 81:8-9) he knew the hadith, he did as a Muslim should – he Human rights and duties indicated in the Quran acted upon it. are pegged to two fundamentals that are the same The Quran speaks about women in general and for men and women - namely they being creatures specific terms. It does not associate womanhood with and slaves of God, their Creator, and Lord, and inferiority or deficiency of any sort, any primordial they being the issue of a single human self. God sin, or any disposition to sin not also found in men, or has said in the Quran; “O humankind, be wary of any disposition to induce sin in others not also found your Lord who created you from a single self, and in men. It does not regard women as an appendage from it created its pair, and from the pair of them of men but as distinct beings, each called individually, scattered many men and women. Be wary of God, just as are men. The language of the Quran, Arabic, through Whom you ask of one another [your rights like many others, uses masculine forms to mean and needs] and close kindred:! God is ever-watchful women also unless the context expressly excludes over you”. (al-Nisa 4:1) And (al-Araf, 7:189): “He, them. The grammar does not require women to it is Who created you from a single self, and made be expressly included; therefore, when that explicit from it its mate, so that he might settle at rest with inclusion occurs, it is all the more striking. The above her….”. Male and female are created for the same verse 33:35 enumerates the virtues, distinctly for men purpose: “I have not created jinn and humankind and women. Starting with the next verse in that except so that they worship Me” (al-Dhariyat, 51:56). surah, here are a few more examples: The Quranic term ‘abd signifies both ‘worshipper It is not for a believing man or believing woman and ‘slave’ in relation to God. when God and His Messenger have decided a matter The duties owed to God, and the virtues that [...] (al-Ahzab, 33:36). ensue from the effort to do them, are the same for Never will I allow to be lost the work of any of men and women. This is affirmed in a well-known you, male or female (Al Imran, 3:195). Quranic verse. The verse and the occasion of its revelation are recorded in this hadith, narrated by (Excerpted and adapted from Al-Muhaddithat: The Abd al-Rahman ibn Shaybah: Women Scholars in Islam by Mohammad Akram I heard Umm Salamah, the wife of the Prophet Nadwi). CHANGE OF NAME CHANGE OF NAME CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed I, formerly known and addressed I formally known and called AYO- as ADISA YETUNDE ABIODUN as POPOOLA ABOSEDE ABI- BAMI OLUGBEMISOLA OLU- now wish to be known and ad- DEMI, now wish to be known and SANYA now wishes to be known and called AYOBAMI OLUG- dressed as OLUWASEYI YE- addressed as ADEKANMBI ABO- TUNDE ABIODUN. All former BEMISOLA ENIOLA-OLAITAN. documents remain valid. The SEDE ABIDEMI. All former docu- Former documents remain valid. general public should please ments remain valid. The general General public to note, please. take note. public should please take note. I, formerly known and addressed I, formerly known and addressed as I formerly known and addressed as AMEDE IYEKEKPOLOR, MRS. GBADAMOSI BILIKIS MO- as FUNKE ALLISON-HIBBERT now wish to be known and ad- now wish to be known and ad- JISOLA, now wish to be known and dressed as ADADE AURELIA dressed as AMEDE UHEBAGUI. addressed as MRS. ADEMOYE BI- All former documents remain OLUFUNKE. All former docu- LIKIS MOJISOLA. All former docu- ments remain valid. The general valid. The general public should ments remain valid. The general public should please take note. please take note. public should please take note. This is to notify the general public that I formerly known and addressed I formerly known and addressed HALIRU ISMAILA DALHAT was the as MISS IDONGESIT MAT- name I used in the university and as AWOJULUGBE OLUSEYI NYSC, and HALLIRU ISMAIL on my SERAH, no wish to be known THEW ETIM now wish to be International passport belongs to one and addressed as OLAPOJU known and addressed as MRS and the same person. Henceforth, I OLUSEYI SERAH. All previous IDONGESIT CHIYEMEZU wish to be known and addressed as documents remain valid, Univer- OVUNDA. All former documents HALLIRU ISMAIL. All former docu- sity of Lagos and the general ments remain valid. The general public public should please take note. remain valid. The general public should take note. should please take note. I, ENEJOR EPHRAIM ENEJOR, I, formerly known and addressed I, formerly known and addressed my name was wrongly spelt as EN- as AINA FODILAT OMOWUN- as GLORIA NNEKA USIADE, EOJO EPHRAIM ENEOJO instead MI, now wish to be known and now wish to be known and ad- of ENEJOR EPHRAIM ENEJOR. My addressed as JIMOH FODILAT dressed as GLORIA NNEKA correct name is ENEJOR EPHRAIM OMOWUNMI. All former docu- CHUKWUEMEKA AMA. All ENEJOR. All former documents re- ments remain valid. The general former documents remain valid. main valid, the general public should public should please take note. The general public should please please take note. take note. 46 FRIDAY, ͺͿ˜ͺ͸ͺ͹˾THISDAY Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: [email protected] FRIDAYSPORTS 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY Latifat Tijani Begins Team Nigeria's Gold Rush Latifat Tijani yesterday 100 in successful 1st and won Nigeria's first gold second attempts. When medal of the ongoing she saw Lati had lifted Tokyo 2020 Paralympic 105, she booked 110 and Games in para-powerlift even increased it to 112 women’s - 45kg category. for her final attempt Latifat, 39, started with Justyna Kozdryk of 105. She failed the first Poland who started with attempt but lifted it in 93 and 95 successfully. the second attempt. She She then booked 101 for lifted 107 in her third and her final attempt knowing final attempt. she was already in the The Nigerian lifter podium for the bronze. attempted 117 to set a Cui, also seeing that games record but she Justyna stopped at 101, did succeed. She was not decided to respect herself prepared for it. It was and scaled down her 112 the Nigerian delegation booking to 102 to settle that urged her to attempt for silver. the games record as her So with the successful failure would not affect 105 in her second attempt, the result. Latifat had the gold before Silver medal went to her final attempt. She also Cui Zhe of China. She however did the 107 final started with 95, then attempt successfully. Latifat Tijani , proud winner of Nigeria's first gold medal in Tokyo NFF Opts for Plan B as Rohr Lists Musa, Ekong, Ndidi, 27 Others for Liberia, Cape Verde Femi Solaja Balogun. would head back to base after time to fill the void created THE FULL LIST WORLD CUP 2022 Midfielders include; Wilfred the clash with Liberia at the by the pandemic challenge The waiting game is finally decision not to allow players Ndidi and Oghenekaro Etebo, Teslim Balogun Stadium in the global soccer is currently GOALKEEPERS: over as Super Eagles' Head from its league to travel to with , Lagos on Friday,” he noted. facing. (APOEL Nicosia, Cyprus); Daniel Coach, , yesterday countries with higher risks and Victor There is a return for South According to the plans put Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South released his 30-man list of of catching covid-19. Osimhen as forwards on Africa-based goalkeeper together by NFF, the match Africa); Maduka Okoye (Sparta players to prosecute the Left with no choice than to the roster. whose last at Teslim Balogun Stadium Rotterdam, The Netherlands) Match-day 1 and 2 of the invite alternative players to According to NFF’s Director outing for Eagles was the in Lagos on Friday, 3rd DEFENDERS: World Cup 2022 qualifying prosecute the two matches of Media and Communication, 1-2 loss to Algeria in the September will kick-off by (FC Boavista, Portugal); Kenneth series starting next weekend. starting with the home match Ademola Olajire, “the situation semi-final of AFCON 2019 5pm and with Eagles traveling Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); The list however did not in Lagos against Lone Star with UK-based players, who in Egypt, defenders like to the island of Mindelo to (Glasgow include any player from the of Liberia. may not be heading to Cape and Kevin tango with the Blue Sharks Rangers, Scotland); William domestic league as previously The Franco/German coach, Verde (a country on red list Akpoguma also made their of Cape Verde on Tuesday, Ekong (Watford FC, England); speculated. as THISDAY reported during of the British Government), return same as Greece-based 7th September. Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); The Nigeria Football the week, retained most of caused the list of invited forward, . Central African Republic is (SC Padeborn 07, Federation (NFF) and Rohr. the reliable with goalkeepers players to be enlarged. Former junior international the other team in the group, Germany); Abdullahi Shehu (AC were forced to activate Maduka Okoye and Francis However, he insisted that Kingsley Michael was also and they will line up for Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi Nigeria's Plan B following Uzoho, defenders William should the situation remain called, as Innocent Bonke home-and-away encounters (FC Porto, Portugal); Kevin the English Premier Leagues' Ekong, Abdullahi Shehu, unchanged, the eight UK- from Sweden will join the with the Super Eagles in Akpoguma (TSG Hoffenheim, refusal to shift ground on its Chidozie Awaziem and Leon based players on the list Nigerian camp for the first October. Germany) MIDFIELDERS: Oghenekaro Etebo (Watford FC, England); (Leicester City, England); Agunbiade, Koleosho Fight Back to Reckoning in Para-table Tennis Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo After a shaky start in which they in a fight to the finish. Thomas Maxime of France, after (Galsgow Rangers, Scotland) lost their first matches, the duo His victory takes him into which he also lost 7-11, 7-11, 11-7 FORWARDS: Ahmed Musa (Fatih of Tajudeen Agunbiade and the quarter finals against Devos and 9-11 to Saleh Ahmed of Egypt. Karagumruk, Turkey); Alex Iwobi Koleosho Ahmed, stroked their Laurens of Belgium who won Olufemi Alabi did not fare better (Everton FC, England); Samuel way back into reckoning in the the Class 9 gold medal in Rio as he lost in three straight sets, Kalu (FC Bordeaux, France); men's singles table tennis event 2016 and the Lasko 2018 World 9-11, 8-11 and 6-11 to Australian (Napoli FC, on day two of the ongoing Tokyo Championships as well as having Joel Coughlan just as Farinloye Italy); (Leicester 2020 Paralympic Games. nine European Championships Victor fell 14-12, 5-11 and 6-11 to City, England); Moses Simon (FC Agunbiade, a Sydney 2000 titles to his credit. Great Britain's Billy Shilton. Nantes, France); Paul Onuachu double gold medallist defeated Koleosho jerked off from a 5-11 Nigeria's women's singles only (KRC Genk, Belgium) highly rated Zhao Yi Qing of first set loss to Ukrainian Petruniv entry, Faith Obazuaye, also fell in SEVEN OTHERS: Terem Moffi China 3-2 in what was seen as Victor to seize three straight sets at her second game to Zhao Xiaoping (FC Lorient, France); Henry the match of the evening. 13-11, 11-7 and 11-9 in another feisty of China 6-11, 5-11 and 9-11. Onyekuru (Olympiacos FC, The old war horse started match at the Tokyo Metropolitan She however has another chance Greece); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA strong, picking the first two sets Gymnasium. to proceed if she can make good Moscow, Russia); Innocent Bonke at 11-7, 11-5 but Zhao fought back Isau Ogunkunle who began his over Yang Qian of Australia in (Malmo FF, Sweden); Valentine to also claim the next two at 11-7, contest yesterday started well with her third match today just as Ozornwafor (Sporting Charleroi, 11-7. Agunbiade however stood an 11-8 first set lead but conceded Olufemi Alabi has a third chance Belgium); firm to win the final set at 11-9 three sets at 5-11, 11-13 and 7-11 to with Radovic Filip of Montenegro. (Venezia FC, Italy); Kingsley Agunbiade Michael (Bologna FC, Italy) FRIDAY, ͺͿ˜ͺ͸ͺ͹˾THISDAY 47 SPORTS PSG Draw Man City in UCL Group Stage Paris Saint-Germain and to Chelsea in Porto. move to Abu Dhabi-owned last 16 ahead of Manchester to advance from a section also saw Barcelona come out in a Manchester City, two of the Qatar-owned Paris responded City from Juventus before United. including Russian champions fascinating Group E along with leading candidates to win the to that disappointment by the European transfer window The Germans, who also lost Zenit Saint Petersburg and Bayern Munich, Benfica and Champions League, will face signing Lionel Messi and closes on Tuesday, August 31. to PSG in the 2020 semi-finals Malmo. Ukrainian champions, Dynamo each other in the group stage there is a chance that the two The clubs are in Group A in Lisbon, lost coach Julian The Swedish champions Kiev. of this season's competition meetings of the clubs could along with RB Leipzig and Nagelsmann to Bayern Munich knocked out Rangers in the For Barca it will be a first after coming out together in see the Argentine come up Belgian champions Club in the summer and replaced third qualifying round. meeting with Bayern since yesterday’s Pep Guardiola's City against his great rival Cristiano Brugge. him with Jesse Marsch. Saint Petersburg will host this they were humbled 8-2 by beat PSG in the semi-finals of Ronaldo. Leipzig were already in a Holders Chelsea will play season's Champions League the German giants in Benfica's last season's Champions League The Portuguese forward is group with PSG last season, Juventus in Group H and final on May 28 next year. Estadio da Luz in Lisbon in on the way to losing the final being strongly linked with a the two sides qualifying for the both clubs will be expected The draw in Istanbul also the quarterfinals a year ago. Liverpool will face Spanish champions Atletico Madrid, meaning a return to the Wanda Metropolitano stadium where they beat Tottenham Hostpur in the 2019 final to win the European Cup for the sixth time. Jurgen Klopp's side will also play AC Milan and FC Porto in Group B. Milan are back in the Champions League for the first time since 2013/14. Manchester United came out in Group F with Villarreal, Atalanta and Swiss champions, Young Boys. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side lost to Villarreal on penalties in last season's Europa League final. The first round of group fixtures will be played on September 14 and 15. GROUP STAGE DRAW Group A: Man City, PSG, Leipzig, Bruges Group B: Atletico, Liverpool, Porto, Milan Group C: Sporting Lisbon, Borussia Dortmund, Ajax, Besiktas Group D: Inter, Madrid, Shakhtar Messi and Neymar getting ready to face Guardiola's Manchester City in Champions League Donetsk,Tiraspol Group E: Bayern, Barcelona, Benfica, Dynamo Group F: Villarreal, Man Olo: Giving to Golf Gives Me Joy Utd, Atalanta, Young Boys The man who overlooked foothold for the youths’’. of amateur tourneys at the St. To further celebrate this real splendour and magnificence but Olo who has no time for top Marks Golf Club in his home Group G: Lille, Sevilla, SPORTS PEOPLE golf icon, a 40-page golf magazine Salzburg, gave his all so the Dolphin Golf down bureaucracy and takes town of Otukpo. Several golf that would herald his total golf Club situated inside the Naval always support the development every human as equal has equally professionals in Nigeria would story would be circulated around Wolfsburg Base at Ojo in Lagos, could rank of golf because I know that since ensured that top quality Pro-Am allude to the fact that Olo has the 150 golf clubs in Nigeria Group H: Chelsea, Juventus, among the very best golf clubs this game evokes emotions in tournaments are frequently gone beyond limits to ensure during the month of October. Zenit, Malmo in Nigeria, Engineer Francis Olo, humans, it will help in building a played at the Dolphin. He has that ailing pro golf has not totally has disclosed that he gets great virile Nigeria and set such strong indeed accounted for sponsorship gone into extinction in Nigeria. kicks out of life when he gives to golf. Olo, who recently witnessed a HiFL: UNN Lions Win, UNILAG five-star golf tourney played in his honour when he was bowing Marines Draw First Leg out of NNPC’s Department of Petroleum Resources as a top Quarter-final games in the UNICAL Malabites could notch management staff, said that ongoing Higher Institutions however do nothing against since the game of golf was just Football League (HiFL) kicked the resolute defense of the Lions. blossoming in Nigeria, wealthy off to an interesting beginning In Markurdi, 2018 champions individuals must come out to with games across four centres UAM Tillers had a narrow 1-0 support it so the game would in the country. win over the UNIMAID Desert not collapse eventually. In Lagos, the UNILAG Warriors from the 84th minute ‘’I can’t even say I rank among Marines played a goalless draw Aogo Okwupa. The Priscilla wealthy Nigerians”, Olo who with the AAUA Luminaries from Vande led Tillers laboured to has got an absolutely brilliant Akungba. The game which break a determined defense line and analytic mind said. ‘’I just was played at the Lagos State of the Desert Warriors which believe that people pass and money passes but the homeland University Sports Complex lived ended the Round of 16 as the remains. It is only what we do for up to its billing with several highest-scoring team. people that will endure. Besides I Francis Olo... giving back to golf gives him joy goal mouth squabbles. In Ilorin, the game between Goalkeeper of the Luminaries, UNILORIN Warriors and the Isaac Phillip put up a superlative FUTMinna Transformers ended performance to deter the striking in a goalless draw. The Warriors Ogunade, Adoki Extol Balogun's Book on B’ball Growth in Nigeria duo of Onitolo Jamiu and Salau were profligate in front of the The Vice-president of Nigeria Baketball, is an attempt at impactful effort at elevating beginners. Opeyemi of the Marines. goal as they lost so many scoring Basketball Federation (NBBF), simplifying the fundamentals the game beyond what can He said the 87-page book was The Luminaries had a goal chances and would have lost Babs Ogunade, has commended of the game of basketball to be imagined. a child of necessity. “I realised ruled out in the 60th minute the game if the Transformers the initiative of coach Mark beginners. “Do you want to understand that most of our coaches lack the for off-side while Opeyemi of have not had their goal ruled Balogun for his initiative in Ogunade said the book and play basketball? If you basic knowledge of the game the Marines also hit the upright out for an infraction. writing a book for beginners could not have come at a better are skilled, what about the and you can't give what you late in the second half as Abdul- In his reaction to the results of the game of basketball. time. “The book is a welcome rudiments, the history of how don't have,” he said. Khalil Nurudeen of the AAUA from across the centres, Chief At a well-attended ceremony development as it captures the basketball started in Nigeria?” Adding that concerned about Luminaries was voted as the Strategy Officers of Pace at Police College, in Ikeja which history and essence of basketball. Atoki added that all the answers the negative impact the wrong StanbicIBTC Man-of-the-Match. Sports, Goodness Onyejiaku attracted several stake holders of We lack data, statistics in this were provided in the book. teachings of basic skills could Meanwhile, in Enugu, UNN expressed delight at the level the sport, Ogunade noted that country and that is the gap He said the book also have on the younger ones. “I Lions defeated UNIBEN Royals of sportsmanship among the the effort of the author will no Balogun has attempted to fill teaches the basics of the game. noticed that most basketball 2-0 in a game played at the teams while also appreciating the doubt bosst the development in his book,” he remarked. “Movement with or without coaches are quacks and I feel University of Nigeria Sports sponsors for their commitment of the game for the young lads In the same vein, veteran the ball, when to dribble and bad when I see people teaching Complex. Stanbic Man-of-the- to youth development in Nigeria. who are interested in basketball basketball coach, teacher when to release the ball and wrong skills. I just felt the only Match, Anichebe Elvis scored a HiFL is organized by Pace Sports and many who would have and Technical Director of the many more. way to change all that was brace for the Lions in the 37th and the Nigeria University encouraged to embrace it. Nigeria Wheelchair Basketbal The author, Balogun said that putting the correct thing in and 52nd minutes. The high Games Association (NUGA) The book titled Federation, O'Brien Atoki, also it's a book for lecturers, teachers, print, hence my decision to scoring Royals which knocked and supported by StanbicIbtc, Understanding the Game commended the author for coaches, trainers, players and write this book,” he remarked. out defending champions Nivea Men, Bold and Minimie

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MISSILE

SOKAPU to Buhari

“This att ack, the killing of two offi cers and the kidnapping of another one at the NDA, to be honest, did not come to Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) as a 26years surprise at all. The President’s past words, actions and controversial policies show that he may not mind transferring power to such a crop of extremists” – SOKAPU Spokesman, Luka Binniyat, condemning the att ack on the Nigerian Defence Academy by bandits, warning that it could be for Nigeria another Afghanistan in the making. OKEYIKECHUKWU EDIFYING ELUCIDATIONS [email protected] Nigerians, Remember ‘E Kere Oru Eke’

here is no one called “E kere oru at the evening market. Today, the terms “His developed any people, throughout history. It eke”, so do not rack your head trying Excellency, Distinguished and Honourable” has also never created a healthy communal, to remember “who” we are talking do not always denote the intended original religious or family life. It is dangerous to about. The expression simply means meanings. Just as the original Nze title holders, social morality and the economic wellbeing “Tasks are divided, or shared.” It and still a few of them even today, stand for of the people. comesT from the Igbo infi nitive form ‘I ke oru’ principle and uprightness, their Excellencies of It is possible that some public offi ce holders (literally and loosely translated as ‘to divide yore and a few others of today, are insightful now measure their profi le by how easily they work’ – or division of labour). The underlying and forward-looking leaders. At all levels, can have their way in all things, and at all roots of this expression is that roles and tasks covering the cultural, religious and political, times. It is also possible that we are led, are assigned to individuals based on their we can say today that what is bigger than the at the political religious and cultural levels, abilities, endowments and inclinations. It snake has entered its lair (‘ife kariri agwo a mostly by people who ignore the principle implies three things. The fi rst is that certain batago n’onu agwo’, so the latter has made of E kere oru eke. Yes, it is possible that we individuals are better endowed for certain a hurried exit. are in an incomprehensible muddle, because tasks, based on their natural and acquired It is with the foregoing in mind that we we are mostly under the spell of a noxious skills, gender, background, general inclinations, should think again about our heroes of today, incubus, managed by groups from all over temperament, and ability to manage situations who are receiving all manner of Awards by the country who do not constitute any new, or challenges and much more. Some other hungry plaque distributors. They are being forward-looking force that is rooted in 21st individuals are not endowed in the same way swindled out of their questionable cash takings century values at the personal and group as others, in specifi c areas. And, fi nally, that it from the common till on a daily basis, all levels. Are these leaders genuine products is an act of impropriety for anyone to strive over the country. Are most of our heroes of the old, core values? Is it true that we are for, or claim, and occupy roles for which he of toady men and women of courage? What yet to stop deceiving ourselves in Nigeria? is not suited. Thus, not everyone should be incredible proof of their authenticity do we Is it true that we are yet to stand forth and allowed to carry out a task because he wants have, and in what fi elds of endeavour? Are say: “E kere oru eke! it, or because he is eager, available and willing some of their most advertised achievements The political profi le, economic rating and to carry out it out. Obiozor done in the name of the suffering people, or attitudinal excesses now associated with the The opposite of this principle is fi ght for, are they ‘records of expenditure’ in service of leadership elite of today is a danger to us all. or struggle over tasks (‘I zo uzo oru, or ‘I lu cash and bad manners not staggering into elite political patronage? Are they true heroes This is without denying the fact that even ogu”oru’), in any given situation. The latter political, religious and/or cultural gatherings who, though sometimes unpopular for their the people themselves are often the greatest refers to the seizure of roles and tasks for and becoming dominant? Is the nation not focus, serve the common good? Where are danger faced by the few public offi ce holders which one may not be the best endowed. now pervaded by a new normal, wherein the leaders today who will not follow the who wish to do the right things while in Disregard for Rules of Engagement in any violation of the principle of ‘E kere oru eke’ majority when they are wrong? Are the virtues offi ce. We need a reaffi rmation of the principle particular endeavour is one expression of this has made leadership to no longer be seen as of courage, clarifi ed moral standards, spirit of of E kere oru eke in the nation, and at all wrong principle. It refers to a tendency to act a job, with prescribed ways of doing it? Do sacrifi ce, focus on the common good, and the levels. For as long as most ‘workman’ do not with impunity and impose one’s will and we see broad visions, knowledge, wisdom, readiness to face concomitant adversity not know their trade, do not keep to the trade undue self-infl ation, without real substance. insight, relevant exposure and understanding missing everywhere today? E kere oru eke! for which they are best suited, and ply that The short, pithy, declarative saying/proverb, 21st Century principles of leadership success Charlatanry is one opposite expression of trade to the best of their ability, for so long “The Ijele does not dance for money,” speaks across the length and breadth of the nation? heroism. It may come in the form of imitating shall we remain in the trouble in which we to the fact of the ontological primacy of the When, and how, shall the awakening come? the refl exes of a hero, while you are in fact, the have found ourselves today. Not everyone Ijele. Masquerades like Ulaga may dance and It a fact of life that the breaking of the kolanut one ‘staging’ your presumed greatness. Another is suitable for every task. The fact that you receive acknowledging cheers and money. The in Igboland rests on the same principle of may boldly rig elections, receive applause for are a great wrestler, for instance, does not Okwonma, or Agaba masquerade will terrorise ‘E kere oru eke.’ Not everyone is deemed such daredevilry and subsequently display mean you can tell a medical doctor how to the crowd and make people run for their lives. qualifi ed to break the kolanut for others to the material benefi ts of his escapades. But to do his work. The fact that you own a car But the Ijele, as royalty embodied, has Right eat. Violation of the authentic process for the what end? Having rigged and won, having does not qualify you to tell a well-trained of Way at all times. That is why, as I have breaking of the kolanut, or an intervention by plunged the society into trouble, and as the auto engineer, or mechanic, how to do his often argued, the Ijele is not a masquerade. an unqualifi ed person, (called usoro iwa-oji), victory is celebrated, there is this: Leaders job. Mass endorsement of what is wrong will Masquerades vacate the village square, once voids the ceremony and wrecks the ontological of questionable credibility have all violated not, and cannot, make it right. E kere oru eke! the Ijele steps in. “The Ijele does not dance credentials of the kolanut thus violated. The the principle of E kere oru eke. Villainy and When the rules guiding the solemnity of for money” is a way of urging self-respecting same principle of ‘ike-oru’ was at play in the charlatanry are vices, not virtues. And vices religious gatherings, the dignifi ed ambience individuals not to compete below their level. It Igbo saying that disputations end, once and lead to unpleasant results, no matter how long of village meetings, etc. are routinely violated, could also be uttered in righteous indignation Nze title holder intervenes on any matter. it takes for the results to come. Living on the when roles assigned to specifi c individuals by a title holder who is reacting to an invitation But that was before the title itself turned up fringes of social and spiritual morality has never whose natural abilities, experience and exposure to debauchery. make incapable of fulfi lling same, the danger The foregoing also explains the Igbo saying: of annihilation looms. To change the rules for “The python never vacates its lair out of fear.” the breaking of the kolanut because there is a You may also hear this proverb in reaction To change the rules for the breaking of the kolanut big man who wants to break the kolanut, for to a presumptuous challenge, and dishonest instance, is wrong. To give the Igwe title to a self-presentation, by some upstart. Do not because there is a big man who wants to break never-do-well, simply because he has enough expose any food item you know to be on a cash to throw around, is not right. To retain goat’s natural men, because it will eat up you the kolanut, for instance, is wrong. To give the heads of various government agencies for too crops if the plants are part of its natural menu. long, especially under people who are not So, homesteads are advised not expose their Igwe title to a never-do-well, simply because he seeing public offi ce for the fi rst time, is to put yams, by locking their barns. If the goat gains has enough cash to throw around, is not right. a heavy stone over the future and fortunes of access to your barn of yams, it does not seek the leaders of tomorrow. Our people say that permission to eat its fi ll. Now, imagine that To retain heads of various government agencies there is a way you will carry out a legitimate your goat found its way into a neighbour’s barn errand and still be labelled a bad child. In and spent one hour there. If it winds up dead, for too long, especially under people who are not every situation of confl ict, misunderstanding, either in the barn or in the neighbourhood, injustice, agitation and social tension, there it will be because of the wrath of the barn seeing public offi ce for the fi rst time, is to put a will always be found the refusal, one way owner. Hence the proverb ‘A goat that died or another, to abide by the principle of E in a barn was not killed by hunger.’ (‘Ewu heavy stone over the future and fortunes of the kere oru eke. nwuru n’oba abughi aguru gburu ya). A leadership title does not automatically make Do we now have goats in our national barn leaders of tomorrow. Our people say that there is a anyone a leader. See the proof in most states of yams? Are the people fuming and pining way you will carry out a legitimate errand and still and local governments of the federation. We piteously? Is seething bitterness walking the are breeding a new generation of triumphant land? Are some individuals with plenty of be labelled a bad child value-violators. Printed and Published in Lagos by THISDAY Newspapers Limited. Lagos: 35 Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos. Abuja: Plot 1, Sector Centre B, Jabi Business District, Solomon Lar Way, Jabi North East, Abuja . All Correspondence to POBox 54749, Ikoyi, Lagos. 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